Northeast: My Absurd Woman

Chapter 120 A barrage of shitty things keeps happening

Yang Wuni frowned, her big eyes filled with worry and anxiety.

"Wu Ni, don't think about these worries. There's always a way out."

We don't know Liao Zhi either; maybe Lin Qiu deliberately spoke ill of him.

That way, if any conflicts arise in the future, they'll have a reasonable excuse.

Zhang Changyao let the donkey walk on its own, then turned around, crossed his legs, and held Yang Wuni in his arms to comfort her.

"Hmm! Sister Lin Qiu's man was able to become paralyzed to save her, so he probably can't be too bad."

If I treat him well then, I doubt he'll make things difficult for me.

Yang Wuni leaned against Zhang Changyao's chest, feeling much calmer.

"Wu Ni, there's still some time to prepare for autumn. I'm thinking of weaving some winnowing baskets and wicker baskets to store them."

That thing requires no capital; all you need are hands, tree branches, and a lump of wood to make it.

Zhang Changyao looked at the willow branches along the riverbank.

I was reminded of when I was a teenager, watching the basket makers weave baskets and winnowing trays.

He liked to weave baskets and hampers back then, as long as he didn't let pigs roam freely.

So he ran to the basket maker's house to watch the fun and helped him peel the bark off the willow branches.

Over time, I learned the craft quite well.

"Zhang Changyao, you can also weave baskets and winnowing trays, you're amazing!"

Yang Wuni looked up at Zhang Changyao with an adoring gaze, as if she were looking at a high and mighty god.

"Hmm! Your man has a lot of skills, supporting you won't be a problem."

The elderly often say, "Having a skill is like having money hidden away."

Even in the worst years, skilled craftsmen will never starve.

This was the first time Zhang Changyao had been looked up to, and a sense of pride welled up within him. He couldn't help but start reciting his literary works again.

"Zhang Changyao, does that mean someone like me, without any skills, is destined to starve to death during a famine?"

Upon hearing the words "starve to death," Yang Wuni became acutely worried about herself.

"Wu Ni, what are you saying? With your man here, how could you possibly go hungry?"

From now on, all you need to worry about is whether or not you'll experience any discomfort from eating.

Zhang Changyao touched Yang Wuni's protruding belly with a look of doting affection.

"Zhang Changyao, I've noticed something. It's better to go hungry than to eat too much."

At least you won't feel like you've swallowed back what you spat out.

Yang Wuni stretched her neck and made a swallowing motion.

"Hahaha! You silly woman, can't you control yourself and eat one less bite?"

Zhang Changyao chuckled and grabbed Yang Wuni by the neck, pulling her down.

"Third Uncle, are you trying to strangle my Third Aunt?"

Guan Yutian, who was waiting at the gate, hurried to the donkey cart.

He used his long arms to grab Zhang Changyao's neck, trying to drag him to the bottom of the donkey cart.

"Yutian, it's alright, it's alright, your third uncle is just joking with me."

Yang Wuni turned around and nudged Guan Yutian's hand with her elbow.

"Third Aunt, don't be afraid. I'm not trying to kill my Third Uncle. I'm just trying to save you."

"Hurry up and leave, or he'll pinch you again when I let go."

Guan Yutian told Yang Wuni in a muffled voice that his arm was not loose.

"Yutian, loosen your grip, or you'll strangle your third uncle to death."

Seeing Zhang Changyao's face turn bright red, Yang Wuni had no choice but to endure the pain and pry Guan Yutian's large hand away.

Guan Yutian saw that Yang Wuni's hand was wrapped in bandages and quickly loosened Zhang Changyao's grip.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Zhang Changyao squatted on the ground and coughed forcefully, his flushed face slowly turning white again.

"Third Uncle, I didn't even cough hard, why are you coughing like that?"

Guan Yutian squatted down next to Zhang Changyao, looking at his face.

"Yutian, you little tiger, with those thick arms and big hands, you're enough to make me choke if you don't use your strength."

"Your third aunt is my wife, would I strangle her?"

Zhang Changyao steadied his breathing, sat on the ground, and patted Guan Yutian's head with his hand.

"Third Uncle, you're wrong. My father was really going all out when he strangled my mother."

I watched as my mother stuck her tongue out before I went to help her.

My dad beat me for this, and my mom beat me too.

My dad said I was an unfilial son and shouldn't care about him. He said he was the father and could kill whoever he wanted.

My mother was crying when she hit me. She said I was a stupid child because I saw her being strangled to death before I intervened to save her.

Uncle, did I act too early or too late today? Was it just right?

Guan Yutian asked Zhang Changyao with a silly grin, and Zhang Changyao didn't know how to answer for a moment.

"Yutian, if your father hits your mother in the future, you should hit him back."

What's wrong with Dad? Dad can't just do whatever he wants and be left unchecked.

"If he dares to hit you, just run to my house. I don't believe he'll dare to chase you away."

Yang Wuni's hand was in so much pain that she put it back into her armpit to hold it in place.

"Wu Ni, you can't teach Yu Tian like that. He doesn't know his own strength."

If you make a mistake and something goes wrong, you'll be in deep trouble.

Go home and get some sleep, I'll make you some hot pot.

Zhang Changyao carried Yang Wuni into the car and led the donkey cart into the yard.

"Third Uncle, my father asked me to come over. Wang Fugui wants to marry my eldest sister, and my father said he wants to discuss it with you."

Guan Yutian followed them to Zhang Changyao's new house.

He stood at the door and didn't leave, waiting for Zhang Changyao to get out of the car and go with him.

"Yutian, go back first and tell your father that your third uncle will go after he finishes cooking for your third aunt."

Knowing that Guan Yutian was slow-paced, Zhang Changyao quickly sent him away.

"Zhang Changyao, Yuxiu is getting married, what can a cousin like you do?"

"Your second brother is a very decisive person; does he need you to make decisions for him?"

Yang Wuni was tucked into the quilt on the kang by Zhang Changyao, and couldn't help but ask curiously.

"I guess Yuxiu disagreed, and my second brother also had his eye on the woman because she had a wealthy family."

"Let me help persuade Yuxiu, and she'll listen to me." Zhang Changyao shook his head, looking helpless.

"Your second brother is really good to you. He never thinks of you when there are good things, but he always takes care of the bad things."

Don't push Yuxiu to the brink of despair just to please your second brother.

For a girl, getting married is like being reborn.

"Advising someone to marry the wrong person would ruin Yuxiu's life."

Yang Wuni leaned over the small window left on the kang (a heated brick bed) and spoke to Zhang Changyao, who was cooking on the floor outside the outer room.

"Hmm! I can't force you to agree; I need to find out more about Yuxiu first."

Don't let this seemingly quiet kid fool you, he's got a lot of ideas.

She didn't want to marry Wang Fugui, which must be because that guy did something wrong and didn't do what she wanted.

Wang Fugui has been eyeing Yuxiu for a long time.

Yuxiu had always been indifferent and had never formally rejected her.

Wang Fugui's father used to be the second-in-command of the production team.

When I was working alone, I made a lot of things, and I was better than everyone else.

Wang Fugui is a rough guy; he's the worst fighter in the village.

I reckon that's about it. If it gets to this point, things will get complicated.

Zhang Changyao brought the food to the table and fed Yang Wuni the food by blowing on it and feeding her bite by bite.

"Hey! Zhang Changyao, you're not bad, are you? This house is even better than the one I built."