Northeast: My Absurd Woman

Chapter 143 Even the most coveted delicacy will eventually turn to rotten meat if eaten by flies.

Yang Wuni covered her mouth and laughed at Zhang Changyao. Zhang Kaiju, who pushed the door open and came in, did not hear what Yang Wuni said.

He went inside and told him about Zhao Xiulan's decision, then looked around the new house.

"what?"

Zhang Changyao, who had been like a fighter just moments before, was completely deflated by Zhang Kaiju's words.

This blow came at just the right time, completely crushing his spirit.

"My dear son, Guiye and Guibao are shy around strangers, and I'm worried about your Aunt Xiulan looking after them."

"She's a very hard worker, so you just need to drive the cart back." Zhang Kaiju explained cautiously.

"Dad, my Aunt Xiulan is very old, she doesn't need to work in the fields, I can do it myself."

"I'll bring those few acres of land back to you in a few days."

Zhang Changyao was genuinely afraid that the old woman would follow him.

"My dear son, that won't do. We should let her come with us. Otherwise, she won't have peace at home."

While you're working, could you please try to persuade your Aunt Xiulan?

She's been making a huge fuss these past few days, saying she wants to find a wife for Pengsheng.

"Let me get you some money. If I don't have any, you won't stay with me and you'll go find Zheng Jingren."

Zhang Kaiju sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), secretly watching Liao Zhi on the kang.

"Dad, you can't be afraid of her. It's her own business to find a wife for her son."

Besides, if a man in a stable can't even do *that* at night, how can he possibly get married? That would be a terrible situation.

You can't always give in to her. I think she's just looking for an excuse to leave you.

Zhang Changyao's eyes darted around, and he sensed something was amiss, so he tried to analyze the situation for Zhang Kaiju.

"My dear son, I've thought about what you said, and I don't think it's that kind of thing."

Your Aunt Xiulan is very good to me. She treats me like her own man, which is why she let me pay for Pengsheng's wedding.

She's good-looking; who wouldn't be happy to be with her and spend her money?

I think your bacon is almost dry.

Why don't you sell it first and lend me the money to tide me over?

We have plenty of large hemp seeds at home. If the price is right, I'll sell them and pay you back.

Zhang Kaiju looked at Zhang Changyao with worry. Zhang Changyao lowered his head, unsure how to refuse. Neither of them spoke.

"Dad, you go back first. We can talk about borrowing money after Mao Ke'er is sold."

Aunt Xiulan, if you're really as capable as you say, then drive the donkey cart to the fields yourself.

I haven't been feeling well these past few days, and I reckon I'm about to give birth. I can't go on without someone by my side.

After you finish using the donkey cart, remember to bring it back tonight.

Our donkey is wary of strangers. I'm worried it won't get enough to eat if other people feed it, which would make it less likely to pull the cart.

After feeding Liao Zhi, Yang Wuni couldn't help but chime in Zhang Changyao's defense.

Zhang Kaiju frowned, glanced at the silent Zhang Changyao, and angrily slammed the door shut as he left.

"How about that? Zhang Changyao, huh! I guessed right, didn't I?"

Yang Wuni wiped Liao Zhi's face clean and went to wash the dishes.

"Ah...ah...ah..."

Zhang Changyao leaned against the wall, hugged his head, and shouted loudly to release the pressure.

"Zhang Changyao, your father has you cornered, and your stepmother won't give up until she gets what she wants from you."

When Wu Ni first told me, I didn't believe that such people and things could exist in the countryside.

I never imagined that such a colorful world was hidden beneath its seemingly simple exterior.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. What old ox wouldn't want to eat tender, juicy grass? Liao Zhi smiled, pursing his lips.

"Liao Zhi, I've noticed that you're starting to sound more and more like Wu Ni."

Instead of helping me solve the problem, they just stood there mocking and ridiculing me.

Zhang Changyao pulled on the rope, lifting Liao Zhi up so he could look at him.

"Zhang Changyao, it's not that we don't want to help you find a solution to the problem."

This is a problem that only you can solve.

Just now, Wu Ni helped you refuse your father's unreasonable request.

Tomorrow, your father will come crying to you again, asking you to help Zhao Xiulan drive the carriage.

Knowing your personality, you wouldn't be able to stand not helping.

Alright then! You and Zhao Xiulan are a single man and a single woman, one old and one young.

When no one is around, she throws herself into your arms and takes off her own clothes.

Even if you don't have the desire, you won't have sex with her.

But when passersby saw you two embracing each other with your clothes disheveled, I ask you, can you explain yourself clearly?

You can't explain it clearly, and even if you did, no one would believe you.

You might end up carrying this terrible reputation for the rest of your life.

They might even be controlled by others, being coerced by Zhao Xiulan into paying money to help her son get married.

This is the result Zhao Xiulan wanted, and it's also her real purpose in marrying your father.

Liao Zhi thoroughly analyzed the success or failure of the matter, which terrified Zhang Changyao.

"Zhang Changyao, if you keep going like this, you'll end up in Zhao Xiulan's pocket sooner or later."

She used the excuse of her child to snuggle into your arms several times.

"It's just that I arrived in time, otherwise, haha..."

Yang Wuni brought the food up and then teased Zhang Changyao, continuing Liao Zhi's words.

"No, I have to think of a way to deal with this. It would be terrible if this old woman schemed against me."

Zhang Changyao slurped up a mouthful of corn porridge, feeling at a loss.

"Zhang Changyao, people who have affairs are just attracting bees and butterflies."

You attract nothing but green beetles, fluttering moths, and dung beetles.

If we don't find a solution, this hot commodity will be devoured by them and eventually turn into rotten meat.

Liao Zhi has fallen back into his old habit of speaking in a sarcastic and mean way.

Yang Wuni noticed that Zhang Changyao's expression was not good, so she turned around.

They stuffed a piece of potato into Liao Zhi's mouth to stop him from speaking.

After finishing his meal, Zhang Changyao pondered for a while and then went straight to Hou Jiu's house.

Before it got dark, Hou Jiu crawled into his mother's bed.

Inside a century-old cotton quilt, slightly softer than a wooden board.

Half of her white, plump buttocks was exposed, with a bluish-purple birthmark standing out prominently.

When Zhang Changyao entered the room, Hou Jiu either didn't hear him or didn't want to talk to him.

The broom in my hand clattered and smacked against a dying mouse on the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Little Jiu, how can you, a grown man of eighteen or nineteen, sleep with your bottom naked?"

Zhang Changyao tried to pull the blanket up to cover his bottom, but despite using a lot of force, he couldn't budge the century-old blanket.

"So what if I'm naked? It's comfortable this way, and nobody comes to my house, what do I have to be afraid of?"

Hou Jiu turned around and saw that it was Zhang Changyao, so he didn't get up.

He continued to photograph the baby mouse that was about to die.

"Xiao Jiu, Wang Ga is going to open a flour mill in a while, and he'll probably need to hire some workers."

I'm on good terms with him; I'll see if I can talk to him and get him to hire you.

Zhang Changyao strolled around the room casually, pretending to speak in a nonchalant manner.

"Brother Changyao, you tell him that as long as he gets food, he doesn't need to pay."

Upon hearing this, Hou Jiu perked up, pulled on his baggy trousers, and was about to get down to pour water for Zhang Changyao.

"I think it'll work, but I'll be helping my dad with the autumn harvest these next few days, so I won't have time."

"Once I get all the grains back for my dad, I'll go ask for you."

Zhang Changyao feigned reluctance and opened the door as if to leave.

"Hey! Brother Changyao, that won't do. People will be idle in a few days."

If they provide meals without paying, the demand at Wang Ga's house would probably be so high that they'd break down the threshold.

"Brother Changyao, go ask Wang Ga for me right now."

I'll get up early tomorrow to help you with the field work; don't let the autumn harvest interfere with my livelihood.