Chapter 12

Zhang Xiaobei tried to intervene, but it was already too late.

"Zhang Xiaobei, what is going on here?"

Hearing Sun Changgui's loud questioning, Zhang Xiaobei's body couldn't help shaking, but on thinking it over, it seemed something wasn't quite right again?

If he had discovered Cao Chusheng and Sun Meio messing around in the sorghum field, with Sun Changgui's temper, he would have already taken action, wouldn't he? Would he still be asking these questions?

Could it be that the old fellow was confused by anger?

By the time Zhang Xiaobei followed over, he finally felt relieved.

The two culprits had run off without his noticing, despite being so close by.

Clearly, these two's guerrilla tactics weren't honed in just a day or two!

"Tell me, what exactly happened?"

"Uncle Sun, to tell you the truth, some no-gooder let the pigs out, and just look at the damage they've done to our sorghum field."

"To be honest, I know you're a very responsible village official. You'd definitely take care of this matter once you learned of it, but your intervention could offend someone, so to avoid causing you trouble, I..."

With a barrage of flattery, Zhang Xiaobei left Sun Changgui dizzy and disoriented.

"Xiaobei, you're wrong for thinking that. You should have told me at the first opportunity. Dealing with these kinds of things sooner is better for the villagers..." Sun Changgui stood with hands behind his back and chest out, the very picture of a people's champion.

"Yes, it's my fault. I'll remember that. Next time something happens, I'll report to Uncle Sun right away."

Sun Changgui was very pleased with Zhang Xiaobei's attitude and patted him lightly on the shoulder, "Son, I've heard about your family situation. Take my advice—there are times in life when it's wise to yield, otherwise you'll suffer."

"Uncle Sun, you're right, but it depends on the situation. When it comes to Meng Qingdong, I will never bow down."

Sun Changgui sighed as he watched Zhang Xiaobei, then walked away with his hands behind his back.

"Xiaobei bro, you're truly a great brother to me, Cao Chusheng. If it weren't for you today, that old man would have had my hide."

No sooner had Sun Changgui left than Cao Chusheng, holding Sun Meio's hand, sneakily emerged from the nearby brush.

"What did you say? Say it again so I can hear it." Sun Meio glared, pinching Cao Chusheng's lower back painfully.

"Alright, alright, I was wrong, I shouldn't have called your dad an old man, I should respect him as father." Cao Chusheng said, cheekily pulling Sun Meio into his arms. "Baby, could you pinch me a little gentler next time? You've practically scratched my back open, don't you know?"

Watching the two of them shamelessly flaunt their affection in front of him, a million "grass mud horses" galloped through Zhang Xiaobei's mind.

"I won't talk to you any longer, I need to rush home, if my dad finds me with you, he'll surely break my legs." Saying this, Sun Meio turned to look at Zhang Xiaobei, her eyes filled with gratitude.

"Baby, don't forget, tonight..." Cao Chusheng said, pinching Sun Meio's buttocks hard, his eyes full of reluctant affection that made one queasy.

"Chusheng, how did it feel to turn the world upside down in my sorghum field?"

"Great!" Cao Chusheng replied nonchalantly, smugly savoring the memory...

"You might have felt great, but what about my sorghum?"

"What sorghum, what's with the sorghum?" Cao Chusheng thickened his skin, feigning complete ignorance.

Zhang Xiaobei's face immediately darkened, "Cao, you're playing dumb with me, aren't you? Fine, just don't regret it later!"

"Boss… Boss… My dear boss, I'll treat you to dinner tonight. Beggar's Chicken, Erguotou, how about that?"

Cao Chusheng immediately showed weakness; he dared not take a stand in front of Zhang Xiaobei, for every time he did, Zhang Xiaobei taught him a lesson worse than what a grandchild gets.

"That's more like it. Oh, and about that Beggar's Chicken, where's the chicken coming from? I remember your house doesn't raise chickens, right?"

"We don't raise chickens at my house, but Sun Changgui does!"

"And the Erguotou?"

"At Changgui's place!"

"…Well, that's promising."

"Of course. Once Changgui dies, everything he owns will belong to me, Cao Chusheng. Then you can ask for whatever you want to eat or drink, brother. I won't ever let you down."

Puffing out his chest and swaggering, Cao Chusheng carried an air of bravado.

"Cao Chusheng, what the hell are you so happy about, mumbling to yourself there?" Cao Chusheng was in high spirits when suddenly, Sun Changgui appeared behind him and nearly frightened the piss out of him with his shout.

"Sun… Uncle Sun, I… I wasn't saying anything?"

"Not saying anything? What are you nervous about? Did you do something shameful again?" Sun Changgui's face was stern, holding Cao Chusheng in low regard.

"How could that be! If you don't believe me, ask Zhang Xiaobei. I'm a young man who's positively striving to improve himself." Cao Chusheng's face was full of apologetic smiles, his earlier arrogance gone.

Sun Changgui gave him a fierce glance and strode away.

Just entering the village, he could see his sister-in-law He Xiaoya standing at the door of her house from a distance, peering towards the entrance of the village.

"Xiaobei bro, you're quite the lucky man, having such a beautiful sister-in-law to keep you company every day. Truly blissful. If I had a sister-in-law like that to accompany me daily, I'd willingly lay down my life."

Cao Chusheng's face was full of envy.

"Stop your nonsense; that's my sister-in-law." Seeing this rascal about to babble again, Zhang Xiaobei lifted his leg and kicked him.

"What's wrong with that? Everyone in the village knows that both you and Zhang Dadao were taken in by old man Zhang, you're not blood-related to begin with. And Zhang Dadao died right after they got their marriage certificate, if you think about it, He Xiaoya is still a virgin. Brother, if it weren't for me wanting to give you a chance, I might have had kids by now."

Cao Chusheng hadn't realized that his words inadvertently touched the bottom of Zhang Xiaobei's heart. That eternal line never to be crossed suddenly seemed to waver slightly at this moment.

"Shut up, or I'll knock your teeth out!"

"Alright, alright, I'll stop talking. But as a brother, let me remind you one last time, He Xiaoya is a rare good girl, and there are countless guys eyeing her, if not a thousand, then at least eight hundred. So, you better make a move early, or else you'll be too late even to cry about it."

Zhang Xiaobei gazed at the distant silhouette and couldn't help but fall deep into thought.

"Xiaobei, why are you only back now, and what happened to the wound on your face?"

Seeing the injury on Zhang Xiaobei's face, He Xiaoya immediately ran over to ask, examining it closely while she spoke.

But when her fingers, through the fabric of his clothes, touched his strong arms and firm chest, an unusual feeling arose in her heart. Her body went numb, and her legs grew weak…