Zhou Lao'er stammered: "I..."
"Besides, who spread the rumor that I asked him to deliver vegetables to Zuixiao Restaurant?" Fang Zichen asked curiously.
Zhou Lao'er's combat effectiveness was lacking. After being rebutted by Fang Zichen a couple of times, he didn't dare reply now. Zhou Laoda's wife said: "People outside all say that."
"Oh! So that's how it is!" Fang Zichen rubbed his temples, his gaze falling on her face: "I heard last time that someone saw you and Liu Laizi pulling and tugging near the small grove at the edge of the village. It seemed as though you were..."
Zhou Laoda's wife screamed: "Don't talk nonsense!" She pulled on Zhou Laoda, whose face was gloomy: "Husband, don't believe him, he's just talking rubbish."
"How am I talking rubbish?" Fang Zichen curled his lip: "Obviously everyone outside is spreading it too, some even claim to have seen it with their own eyes."
Although Zhou Laoda's wife was no longer young, she still retained some of her former charm.
It was said that in her youth, she had been known as the most beautiful girl in Shilitun village. While Fang Zichen personally considered her looks merely average, he had to admit she possessed an attractive figure with pleasing curves and fair complexion.
The village girls and ger weathered by wind and sun, and reluctant to buy skincare products, all had somewhat darker skin tones.
Her skin could cover a hundred flaws, making Zhou Laoda's wife appear quite attractive despite her age.
[一白遮百丑 (yī bái zhē bǎi chǒu): lit. Fair skin can cover a hundred flaws; fig. A fair complexion is seen as such a dominant beauty standard that it can overshadow other perceived physical imperfections.]
Her thing with Liu Laizi wasn't something Fang Zichen made up, he'd seen it himself a few times.
Liu Laizi, that old bachelor, whenever he had money, would visit brothels. His skills at flattering girls were quite proficient.
Everyone enjoys hearing flattering words.
Liu Laizi had complimented Zhou Laoda's wife a few times. During those interactions, he had also behaved appropriately and never overstepped any boundaries. Gradually, Zhou Laoda's wife began to feel that he might not be as terrible as the villagers made him out to be.
While Liu Laizi often spoke dismissively of the other women and gers in the village, he consistently praised Zhou Laoda's wife as the only one who stood out, comparing her beauty to a blooming flower.
Liu Laizi had developed a fondness for her. Whenever he saw her, he would shower her with sweet talk. His humble and deferential attitude made Zhou Laoda's wife feel both flattered and pleased with herself.
Before Zhou Laoda married her, he was like that too, but after marriage, once he had her body, he started putting on airs as the man.
After years of being submissive in the Zhou family, now enjoying a bit of a 'superior' attitude, Zhou Laoda's wife felt indescribably pleased.
She liked this feeling of being high and above and receiving flattery.
Liu Laizi had managed to create a favorable impression. When he greeted her on subsequent occasions, Zhou Laoda's wife no longer avoided him. She would even engage in conversation and occasionally laugh at his jokes.
These interactions happened repeatedly over time, and eventually villagers began to take notice.
Zhou Laoda had previously confronted his wife about her interactions with Liu Laizi, and their arguments had nearly turned physical. However, Zhou Laoda was not like Fang Zichen—he and Liu Laizi were similar in size and strength, if a real fight started, it was hard to say who would beat whom. As a result, Zhou Laoda only dared to act tough at home. Had his wife not sworn solemn oaths denying any wrongdoing, Zhou Laoda would probably have slapped her a few times.
"I clearly asked the Liu family to deliver vegetables. Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu are old. I felt sorry for the two elderly folks, so I found them some work." Fang Zichen said: "What does this have to do with Zhou Ger? You Zhou family members are crazy for money?"
"How is this possible?" Zhou's father didn't believe it.
Hearing his doubtful tone, Fang Zichen hugged his chest and laughed: "Believe it or not."
Zhou's father swayed unsteadily. The laughter coming from outside grew increasingly piercing. His heart felt both stifled and pained.
If it was really like this, then the Zhou family's actions today were truly drawing water with a bamboo basket—all in vain.
They lost both face and reputation, gained nothing good, and became a laughingstock for nothing.
Seeing him like this, Fang Zichen grinned and offered Zhou's father some advice: "Old man, if you really want to, you could actually take Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu in! You become their son, provide for them in their old age. When they earn money, wouldn't you get a share!"
"Pfft......"
Zhao Ger poked Fang Zichen, couldn't help but laugh.
His husband's idea was really terrible.
Uncle Liu and Zhou's father looked about the same age, but actually, Zhou's father was a few years older than Uncle Liu!
And Zhou Ger was Uncle Liu's daughter-in-law. If Zhou's father became his son, wouldn't that make him and Zhou Ger brothers?
Zhou's father was about to be angered to death by Fang Zichen.
He breathed like an ox, his face turning bluish, lips trembling.
Elderly people often struggled to control their temper. Fang Zichen was genuinely concerned the old man might collapse right there in the courtyard—what terrible luck that would bring!
He quickly waved his hand: "Old man, you should hurry back!"
Telling someone to go back, he couldn't say it nicely, and had to add salt to Zhou's father's 'wound'.
"If you collapse here, that really wouldn't be too good." He used a very serious tone, slightly shaking his head, sighing: "But I think, for someone like you, acting so shamelessly in your old age, losing face in front of the fellow villagers and elders to this extent, if it were me, I'm afraid I wouldn't want to live either. It's really awkward."
Zhou's father: "......"
Zhao Ger: "......"
Village Chief: "......"
"Father, father, father, what's wrong with you?"
"Husband......"
Zhou's father fainted on the spot.
Fang Zichen snorted.
He really was prescient.
Zhou Laoda and Zhou Lao'er rushed to support their father. Seeing that he had merely fainted from rage, they breathed a sigh of relief.
Fang Zichen humphed. He truly was able to predict events with miraculous accuracy.
No comments:
Post a Comment