C89 – My Heart Is Racing
At Qinghe Village, Ermao sat with a few companions, clinking glasses of wine together. Liu Changsheng also joined them at the table.
Upon hearing that Ermao had resolved the issue, Liu Changsheng joyfully drove his recently acquired second-hand Santana over.
“Uncle, no exaggeration. I raised my hand, and in no time, along with others, we shattered the kid’s glass house. And guess what? The kid didn’t even dare to make a sound. Haha… Uncle, am I not impressive?” Ermao, slightly intoxicated, gestured vividly as he recounted the incident.
Though he was the son of Liu Changsheng’s late second sister, he had lost his mother at a young age. Growing up, he learned much from Liu Changsheng, and his temperament bore resemblance to his uncle’s.
“Impressive, Ermao, you’ve truly put your uncle at ease this time. Come on, let’s have another round!” Liu Changsheng understood Ermao’s capabilities well. Had it not been for the dog bite incident, even ten Ermaos wouldn’t have been enough to handle Zhang Xiaoloong.
Discovering his opponent’s weakness filled him with pride. Fighting prowess mattered little; as long as he could exploit a vulnerability, dismantling the newly acquired glass structure was achievable.
Although winter hadn’t set in, the weather had turned notably colder. With the greenhouse destroyed, considerable financial loss loomed. The Zhang Xiaoloong family alone couldn’t afford reconstruction. Moreover, all the vegetables inside were ruined. This was the consequence of refusing to sell corn to him!
What irked him most was the loss of dignity through the beating. He had aimed to reclaim that plot of land. Its mysteriously bountiful corn suggested foul play.
Driven by determination, he brought soil samples for analysis. Disappointingly, tests revealed nothing exceptional about the land.
Undeterred, he tried elsewhere. This time, a deficiency was identified—the land lacked fertility.
Frustration mounted. The toil to reclaim the land seemed futile; besides its barrenness, it held no benefits.
Unwilling to accept fault, he pinned blame on Zhang Xiaoloong.
The incident fueled his vengeful resolve, fueled by wounded pride and insufficient land rental income. His grudge against Liu Changsheng ran deep, prompting deceitful schemes against Zhang Xiaoloong.
This incident brought Liu Changsheng a sense of satisfaction, even though he remained behind the scenes. Observers could discern his orchestrations.
Nonetheless, regardless of Liu Changsheng’s machinations, Zhang Xiaoloong couldn’t find a suitable outlet for his anger, a fact Liu Changsheng took pride in.
Amidst their jovial revelry, wine flowed freely, accompanied by boisterous singing. They reveled in relaxation and pride, unable to restrain their mirth. Abruptly, a newcomer burst in, his pallid face betraying evident fear.
“What’s the matter, Bruiser? Did someone rattle your cage?” Ermao’s boastful tone faltered as he observed the terror-stricken visage of his companion.
“Brother Ermao, it’s rather…” Bruiser, the young man, struggled to articulate, visibly attempting to suppress his astonishment. “Something dreadful has occurred.”
“What sort of calamity has befallen us? Speak! Despite your fear, don’t lose your composure!” Ermao, inebriated, scoffed at any potential divine retribution.
Bruiser drew a deep breath before continuing. “The crystal house we vandalized… it has somehow repaired itself.”
“Bruiser, speak plainly. What do you mean ‘repaired itself’?” Liu Changsheng’s curiosity piqued.
The others turned their attention, recognizing the significance of the mention of the crystal house.
“I’ve heard it from others too. They claim the shattered glass structure… I could hardly believe it myself. Within half a day, it was as if nothing had happened. I had to see for myself, so I ventured beyond the village, and there it was… the glass house, restored to its former glory, even more pristine than before. It chilled me to the bone. I ran back without pause…” Bruiser’s expression soured as he recounted his experience.
He seized a bottle of wine from the table, taking a few gulps to fortify his resolve.
Apart from Liu Changsheng and Ermao, the atmosphere at the table grew tense.
They vividly remembered the laborious construction of the glass house, an endeavor that demanded considerable time and effort. Even with professional assistance, restoration within half a day seemed implausible.
Furthermore, Qinghe Village was relatively small; any influx of workers would have attracted attention. Yet, no outsiders had been sighted.
Recalling Zhang Xiaoloong’s cryptic parting words about celestial intervention, a shiver of apprehension swept through them. Could this be an omen of something sinister?
“Bruiser, are you certain of what you saw?” A tentative inquiry broke the uneasy silence.
“I haven’t touched a drop, and I’ve observed carefully. My eyes deceive me not!” Bruiser affirmed with conviction.
Pata…
Amidst the shock, nobody could ascertain whose chopsticks had fallen to the ground.
“What’s the hesitation? I instructed you to break that thing. If there’s indeed an issue…” Ermao rose slowly. “I’ll inspect the glass shards on the floor. How did they assemble themselves piece by piece?”
“Well, something peculiar is happening in my home…”
“I may have overindulged earlier. My stomach is aching slightly…”
“No, no, I can’t bear it any longer…”
Suddenly, the individuals who assisted in shattering the glass collectively encountered an issue. After exchanging alarmed glances, they hastily departed.
While Ermao berated the cowardice, he seized a stout individual, asserting that if the glass truly regenerated, they would shatter it once more.
Liu Changsheng sensed the peculiarity. Bruiser’s observations couldn’t be erroneous, yet glass couldn’t conceivably regenerate. Thus, he resolved to accompany Hairy #2 for an inspection.
By the time the duo ventured out, darkness had enveloped the sky. As they departed the village, night had fully descended.
With no illumination within the greenhouse, they discerned only a vague outline of the structure. Unable to ascertain the presence of glass from a distance, they approached for a closer examination.
Approximately 100 meters away, Ermao halted. The moon had emerged by this time. Utilizing the moon’s luminance, he discerned the reflections on the greenhouse glass. The silvery gleam was piercing, sending a shiver down his spine. The alcohol haze began to dissipate, leaving him semi-alert.
Simultaneously, Zhang Xiaoloong reclined leisurely in Lee Xiulian’s embrace.
Unaware of his precise location, it felt akin to resting on a bed. He bobbed his head from side to side, molding the soft “pillow” until it lost its shape.
Lee Xiulian had embraced him for a while, feeling a blend of fatigue and yearning. Stimulated, she emitted a soft moan, her hands seeking out smooth surfaces to touch.
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