Chapter 52 - Don't Lose Me
It must be acknowledged, Zhang Xiaoloong possessed quite a handsome visage, which immediately caught Liu Changyue's attention.
Those two women in town could possibly be romantically involved with him. If he marred his countenance, would those two scheming women still be drawn to him?
These musings occupied Liu Changyue's thoughts. It seemed that offering more money wasn't an option, but she couldn't allow the other party to escape without consequences.
Zhang Xiaoloong had anticipated another outburst from this volatile woman. He swiftly extended his arm to shield himself.
Despite Liu Changyue's frenzied attempts, flailing like a monkey with a mouthful of garlic, Zhang Xiaoloong's reach exceeded hers, eluding her grasp.
In a moment of desperation, the woman resorted to launching a kick towards her adversary's vulnerable area.
If this kick landed, it could potentially incapacitate even a robust man, causing them to crumple and writhe in pain.
Liu Changyue was seething with anger. In village disputes, she had always been skilled at taking advantage and never suffered losses. Zhang Xiaoloong was just a youngster, daring to dispute with her without a hint of courtesy. There was no way she would back down.
What incensed her even more was his audacious idea to have Zhang Daniu deliver delectable food, embarrassing her. Her uncle might tolerate such antics, but her aunt certainly wouldn't.
Liu Changyue immediately regretted her impulsive kick. She was a master at being audacious. After all, she had honed her craft for many years. But if this kick resulted in Zhang Xiaoloong's expulsion, it could trigger a fierce battle with Zhang Daniu and his wife, potentially leading to his capture and confinement in an iron cage.
Unfortunately, she lacked martial arts expertise. Her punches and kicks lacked precision, and controlling her movements was beyond her capabilities. Nevertheless, the thought of the consequences compelled her to try and rein in her kick.
“Ah…” Witnessing this spectacle, Yang Jingjing and Chen Yaru were left aghast, with both beauties instinctively covering their mouths in shock.
While everyone anticipated a calamity from this kick, Zhang Xiaoloong remained unfazed, deftly raising his knee to deflect the impending danger.
Bang.
The forceful kick struck his knee with a resounding thud. Although it was not a gentle blow, Zhang Xiaoloong managed to maintain his composure without tumbling or showing any distress.
Zhang Daniu, who was known for his honesty, suddenly rushed forward and shoved the agitated woman aside. He exclaimed, “Liu Changyue, why are you so merciless? Do you intend to sever our family line? Try pulling such a stunt again. Even the villagers in our community usually avoid arguing with you. If you lay a finger on my son today, I'll dig up your ancestors' graves before sundown.”
Liu Changyue found herself taken aback. Not only had she never witnessed Zhang Daniu lose his cool, but she also hadn't fully recovered from the shock of her previous kick. She swore to herself that she hadn't intended to harm him to the extent of leaving him childless.
After regaining some composure, she suddenly bent over and exclaimed, “Ouch!” Clutching her foot, she began to cry, “Oh, my goodness…”
“What's going on here?” Before Zhang Xiaoloong and the others could react, Wang Tiezhu and his group arrived.
“Oh, Uncle Zhu Zi,” Liu Changyue said upon seeing the village chief's arrival. She hastily wiped away her tears and explained, “It's nothing serious. I just sprained my ankle.”
Wang Tiezhu didn't press the issue and seemed to understand what had happened. He took a few puffs from his cigarette and commented, “Changyue, your timing for spraining your ankle is quite impeccable. You did it right in front of the car and now can't move. Would you like me to arrange for someone to carry you?”
“Well, I'll be fine after resting for a bit.” Despite Liu Changyue's tantrum, she didn't dare to play games with Wang Tiezhu.
“Make sure to rest in your own bed. Do you recognize this person?” Wang Tiezhu pointed towards Chen Yaru. “This is the individual Xiaoloong invited to construct a greenhouse for our village. He holds a prominent position within the village administration. It's a significant project, and it could potentially lead Qinghe Village to prosperity. Regardless of your capabilities, your actions have disrupted the financial prospects of all the men in our village. Even Uncle Zhu has to step in, right?”
“I didn't…” Liu Changyue hadn't expected to be implicated in such a major issue. She had only wanted greater compensation for her damaged wheat field. Why was she suddenly obstructing the entire village's path to wealth? “Isn't it just because of my wheat field being damaged…”
Zhang Daniu, still simmering with anger, interjected, “It's not even as big as your rear end. You asked for 200 yuan. Don't you think that's more than sufficient?”
Wang Tiezhu raised his hand, signaling Zhang Daniu to calm down. He approached the pit created by the car's wheels and gestured with both hands. “Well, it might be slightly bigger than your rear end. Two hundred yuan really isn't enough. Can we use it to fill in the hole on Uncle Zhu's venerable face?”
Liu Changyue responded with a slight bow, her tone filled with indifference. “Uncle Zhu Zi, how could I ever dare…”
Wang Tiezhu's expression grew darker as he urged, “Wipe your face with your hands. What else are you afraid to do? Why aren't you heading back to your place? Do you really expect me to kneel and kowtow to you?”
Upon hearing this, Liu Changyue promptly rose to her feet. She even managed a grin as her feet touched the ground, though she refrained from uttering further words. She hobbled away.
She felt a deep sense of awkwardness and had put on a facade. In the end, nothing transpired after her outburst. That kick she had delivered had nothing to do with Zhang Xiaoloong; it was as though she had kicked a steel plate. Her feet still throbbed painfully, as if struck by a hammer. She had indeed suffered a significant loss.
Observing that the situation had been resolved, Zhang Xiaoloong expressed his gratitude to Wang Tiezhu. “Thank you, Uncle Zhu Zi. If you hadn't come, I wouldn't have known what to do.”
Wang Tiezhu chuckled and replied, “Why are you thanking me, child? But remember, if you encounter such a situation in the future, seek out Uncle Zhu Zi. When it comes to major matters, my wisdom may not compare to yours, but in handling issues in Qinghe Village, my words carry weight. Moreover, you shouldn't always rely solely on your own strength to overcome challenges. There's no shame in seeking help from your family!”
“I'll remember, Uncle Zhu Zi,” Zhang Xiaoloong said thoughtfully, finding his words to be sensible and accepting the advice humbly.
Turning to Chen Yaru, Wang Tiezhu apologized, saying, “I apologize, ma'am. They say that unfavorable environments breed difficult people. You've visited Qinghe Village twice now, and on both occasions, you've encountered some unreasonable individuals. However, I assure you, as the leader of Qinghe Village, that 99% of our villagers are good-hearted. Otherwise, we wouldn't have someone like Xiaoloong here. Please don't let this affect your perception of our village.”
Chen Yaru responded with a smile, “I understand, Chief. I'm grateful for your assistance this time.”
Zhang Xiaoloong chimed in, explaining further, “Aunt Changyue is different from her brother. She has two teenagers in her family who need education and sustenance. Don't think she's always trying to take advantage. In the end, it's because her family is struggling financially. Who wouldn't care about their dignity?”
Wang Tiezhu sighed and affectionately patted Xiaoloong's shoulder. “Let's not dwell on this matter. Uncle Zhu Zi, the village chief, doesn't possess much capability. We rely on you to lead the village to prosperity.”
Laughter filled the air as everyone made their way back. Chen Yaru had lost track of her conversation with Yang Jingjing and had even forgotten about her car, joining the group on foot.
Suddenly, a resentful voice emanated from the car, “Cousin, you're not taking the car? Don't leave me behind!”
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