Northeast: My Absurd Woman

Chapter 239 I wish I could stick my head in my pocket

Wang Ga pulled out his trump card, immediately silencing Zhang Changyao and making him lower his head.

He never expected that Wang Ga would be the first to know how to make popcorn.

"Changyao, Brother Ga will always be your Brother Ga, and I will never let you down."

I'll have Du Qiu and Hou Jiu bring all those things back to you in a bit.

Even though you withdrew the money from the noodle shop, you can still take as many noodles as you want whenever you want in the future.

Wang Ga patted Zhang Changyao on the shoulder, and with a victorious air, opened the door and walked out.

"When you gain something, you rejoice; when you lose it, you grieve. Human relationships are like a cold wind. Where are the emperors and generals now? After they die, they are nothing but piles of white bones."

Liao Zhi heard Zhang Changyao crying and didn't know how to comfort him.

"Liao Zhi, I knew it would be like this, but I just can't accept it right now."

I anticipated that we would one day turn against each other, and I also came up with a way to deal with him.

I never expected to be blackmailed by this kid. Sigh! Man proposes, God disposes; I'm no match for his cunning.

Zhang Changyao wiped away his tears and spoke as if reflecting on his own actions.

"Zhang Changyao, we can't just stand it when we're being bullied. I'm going to Wang Ga's house to settle the score with him in a bit."

He's taking advantage of our honesty, so I'll make sure his noodle shop can't stay open.

Yang Wuni was spitting out corn kernels in the outer room, already so angry she was picking at her fingernails.

"Wu Ni, you can't go. He knows how we make popcorn at home."

"If I get angry and tell the merchants in town how to make popcorn, then our family will have no way to make money!"

Zhang Changyao pulled Yang Wuni over and tied the apron she had taken off back on.

"Zhang Changyao, you're wrong. If we don't go to him, will he stop talking about it?"

So you mean that as long as we sell popcorn, we'll always be blackmailed by him?

If someone says, "If you don't die, I'll tell outsiders how to make popcorn," then does that mean I have to die?

Yang Wuni pushed Zhang Changyao away and sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), watching him angrily.

"Wu Ni, you were just saying that out of anger. Wang Ga would never take our lives."

He just wants to kick us out without paying us.

"We won't lose anything by swallowing this insult. As long as people keep buying popcorn, our lives won't be any worse than his."

Zhang Changyao patted and stroked Yang Wuni's thigh, coaxing her like a donkey being stroked.

"Changyao, what's wrong with Wuni? Why is she acting like a donkey again?"

I saw Du Qiu and Hou Jiu and a few others trying to take the stone mill that Wang Ga's family no longer uses to our house. What's going on?

Yang Deshan, who had just returned from Wang Ga's house, noticed that the two men looked unwell and asked Zhang Changyao in a low voice.

"Uncle, it's alright, Wang Ga's family doesn't need it anymore, so they gave it to us."

Zhang Changyao didn't want Yang Deshan to know the reason behind the matter, so he made up a lie to deceive him.

"Uncle, you should stop hanging around with that big shot Wang Fenjiang tomorrow."

They sold our house, and you're still foolishly thinking they're a good person?

Wang Ga found out how our family makes popcorn and used it to blackmail Zhang Changyao.

They wouldn't give us the money for our investment, but they even gave us all the junk they didn't want as compensation. Are you happy now?

Yang Wuni was full of anger and had nowhere to vent it, so she started scolding Yang Deshan.

"Damn it, this old beast, he told me he was just curious and asking around."

He also said that his family ran a rice noodle shop, so it was impossible for him to sell cheap popcorn, which is why I told him that.

No, I have to go and find out what happened today. If he dares to bully us, I'll kill him.

Yang Deshan paced around the room, searching everywhere, before finally picking up a broom and heading to settle accounts with Wang the powder maker.

"Uncle, Wu Ni, can't you two just give me a break?"

Zhang Changyao pushed the door shut and leaned against it, preventing the father and son from leaving.

"You two promise me now that neither of you will go after Wang Ga."

I know what's going on. Even if Wang Ga gives us nothing, I'll accept it.

You learn from your mistakes; that's how life goes—if you don't suffer this loss, you'll suffer that one.

Now we know, no matter what happens in our family, we can't tell anyone, understand?

Zhang Changyao was shouting at Yang Deshan and Yang Wuni as if he were giving them a lesson.

"Got it!"

"Okay! Got it!"

Like a child who had made a mistake, Yang Deshan lowered his head, wishing he could shove his head into his pocket, and climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed) after taking off his shoes.

Seeing that her uncle knew he was wrong, Yang Wuni was too embarrassed to say anything more, so she pushed Zhang Changyao aside and went out of the house.

"Zhang Changyao, it's over, something's happened." Yang Wuni, who had just stormed out, turned around and ran back.

Before Zhang Changyao could even ask, she grabbed him and tried to hide him away.

"Wu Ni, what's wrong? Did Wang Ga come to cause trouble for our family?"

"He's come to our house this time, we can't let him leave looking all high and mighty." Yang Deshan put on his shoes and was about to get out of bed.

"Uncle, it's not Wang Ga, it's Zhang Changyao's father and his older brother."

Having nowhere to hide Zhang Changyao, Yang Wuni had no choice but to give up and lean against the door.

"Wu Ni, there's nothing you can hide from. Dad just found out I'm going to be a substitute teacher, so he can't bully us."

My older brother rarely comes to our house; I guess he's here to congratulate me.

As Zhang Changyao spoke, he couldn't help but feel happy, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.

"Dad, why can't we open this door?" Zhang Changguang pushed the door open and turned to ask Zhang Kaiju.

"Wu Ni!" Zhang Changyao shook his head, signaling Yang Wu Ni to move away from the door.

"My dear son, your elder brother was so happy to hear that you were going to be a substitute teacher that he insisted on coming to your house to see you."

As soon as Zhang Kaiju entered the room, he pushed Zhang Changguang in front of Zhang Changyao.

"Wu Ni, your eldest brother never comes. Go and cook some food. Dad, my eldest brother, and I will have some drinks."

Zhang Changyao was delighted, not expecting his elder brother to come and congratulate him, so he decided to invite him to stay for dinner.

"Wu Ni, don't go cook yet. Your older brother has something to discuss with you and Chang Yao."

Just as Yang Wuni was about to open the door, Zhang Kaiju blocked her with his outstretched hand.

"What's wrong? You need to discuss this with us? My family doesn't have any money." Yang Wuni covered her pants pocket.

"Wu Ni, Big Brother, I didn't come here to borrow money from your family."

"Your sister-in-law moved her luggage to Guan Shu's house this morning, leaving me and the children behind." After saying this, Zhang Changguang squatted down on the ground, holding his head.

"Brother, you're coming to me with your problems, what am I supposed to do?"

Zhang Changyao tried to pull Zhang Changguang up, but he was pushed away, so he could only sit on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and remain silent.

"My dear son, you're educated, yet you're going to be a substitute teacher."

If my older brother needs something, who else would he turn to if not you? People say that brothers fight side by side, and fathers and sons go to war together.

"Isn't your brother's family's business your own family's business?" Zhang Kaiju tried to persuade Zhang Changyao.

"Dad, I have to go to the post office and report to the village tomorrow. I don't have time to worry about your affairs."

You and my older brother should go find my aunt and ask her to persuade my sister-in-law.

Zhang Changyao ignored his nonsense and continued to give him perfunctory responses.

"Changyao, I know you and Wuni are still holding a grudge against my family and Dad for cheating your family out of the donkey."

As long as you two can bring your sister-in-law back to live with me.

I'll return the donkey I tricked you out of.