Northeast: My Absurd Woman

Chapter 246 For the sake of profit, even a face is worth less than a backside

As soon as Zhang Changyao entered Yang Deming's room, he saw Sha Dunzi clutching his wrist, pouting angrily.

"Young master, you should quickly draw a watch for her. This child has been like this ever since the day after you left."

Her mother was worried that you would come to pay your respects, so she thought she should wash her clean.

Who would have thought that her precious watch couldn't withstand rubbing; it was rubbed clean in just a few strokes.

Yang Deming saw the savior grabbing Sha Dunzi's arm and showed it to Zhang Changyao.

"Silly boy, you can't wear this watch all the time. You have to wear it for a few days and then let it rest for a few days."

"After you marry Ma Pengsheng, our two families will be closer. Whenever you want to wear a watch, just come find me."

Zhang Changyao took out a pen from his shirt pocket and drew another watch for Shadunzi.

Several people led a donkey cart to Wang Fengxian's house to pay their respects to Shadunzi.

Wang Fengxian is offering incense and kowtowing to the gods and bodhisattvas on the lid of the box.

He got up and turned around, and saw that Ma Pengsheng behind Zhang Changyao had a look of disgust on his face.

It is said that those who fly with the phoenix must be magnificent birds, and this stable boy was standing next to Zhang Changyao.

That's like a tall, strong horse and a skinny, blind donkey—don't even try to make a comparison.

If it's a woman, she might glance at him briefly, but she wouldn't even want to look at him a second time.

"Auntie, this is Ma Pengsheng. He's here today to celebrate Sha Dunzi's birthday."

Zhang Changyao picked up Ma Pengsheng and pushed him in front of him.

"Brother Deming, this child was born to Zhao Xiulan? You're not in cahoots to lie to me, are you?"

I, Wang Fengxian, have been telling fortunes for others for half my life, and I've never seen such a beautiful woman give birth to this lecherous creature.

People say that sons resemble their mothers; this is an experience passed down from the older generation.

Her father is so ugly that it affects his daughter's appearance.

It's unlikely that a mother could give birth to a son who doesn't resemble her at all.

"Maybe there's something going on in their family; could this kid have been adopted?"

Wang Fengxian, relying on her extensive experience in judging people, rummaged through the stables.

He turned around, and a pair of eyes swept over him.

"Wang Fengxian, I think you've fallen into your old habits again. You're marrying off your daughter, not checking her household registration."

Whether it's born or found, it doesn't matter. As long as they bring you what you need and the money, that's fine.

Don't worry about whether Ma Pengsheng was born to Zhao Xiulan or not. We married this person, not his mother.

If she married into the Zhang family, she would be called Sister-in-law Zhang; if she married into the Li family, she would be called Madam Li.

Even if Ma Pengsheng isn't Zhao Xiulan's biological son in the future, so what?

"As long as he treats our silly son well, whatever his surname is, our silly son will take his surname."

Yang Deming pulled Wang Fengxian to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), preventing her from looking closely at Ma Pengsheng.

"Auntie, my dad is right. As long as Ma Pengsheng doesn't mistreat our silly son, it doesn't matter whose son he is."

Zhang Changyao chimed in from the side, jokingly challenging Ma Pengsheng to say something himself.

"Auntie, I promise I'll treat Shadun well from now on. I'm an honest person and not very talkative, so just wait and see how I do it."

Ma Pengsheng raised his head slightly, his eyelids drooping, and stared at Wang Fengxian with his few black pupils.

"Sigh! Forget it, it'll be the same as before. You're not good to Shadunzi."

I won't let your family have a peaceful time either. Just don't forget what I do for a living.

Wang Fengxian turned around and bowed again to the various deities on the lid of the box.

"Auntie, my mother said she'll come to pick up Shadun on the sixth of this month."

Ma Pengsheng glanced at the silly guy who was shaking his head with a grin.

"Auntie, it doesn't sound good to call him 'Silly Dude' when he goes to his husband's family. Doesn't this child have a proper name?"

Zhang Changyao glanced at Shadunzi, then turned to ask Wang Fengxian.

"She has a formal name, Hu Xiuer, but no one calls her that anymore; we've almost forgotten it."

Wang Fengxian took off the apron hanging on the wall, slung it around her neck, and went to the outer room to prepare to cook.

"Auntie, I'll cook. Just tell me where everything is."

Ma Pengsheng followed Wang Fengxian out, untied her apron, took it off, and hung it around his own neck.

He deftly lifted the pot lid, found the water vat, scooped out a ladle of water, and began scrubbing the pot.

Wang Fengxian, who had just been keeping a straight face, suddenly grinned from ear to ear.

One moment he'd light a fire in the stable, the next he'd fetch him rice and vegetables.

After the group finished eating, Zhang Changyao and Ma Pengsheng drove the donkey cart back home.

As soon as I entered the house, I saw Yang Wuni humming a little tune as she returned from Zhang the carpenter's house.

Judging from his appearance, this matchmaker didn't have to use much of his words.

For the first time ever, Hou Jiu knelt down next to Liao Zhi and massaged his arms and legs.

Liao Zhi told him what to do next and also told him to read more books.

"Brother Liao Zhi, from now on, you are my second father and mother."

If you tell me to go east, I will never go west; if you tell me to beat a dog, I will never chase a chicken.

I'll take all of Changyao's books to my house in a little while. If there's a word I don't know, I'll come to you and ask you to teach me."

Hou Jiu lost his carefree and unruly demeanor and his eyes became clear.

"Xiao Jiu, how's it going? Did Miao Yu say she's going to take care of Zheng Meizhi and the child?"

Zhang Changyao pulled off the cotton glove and handed it to Yang Wuni.

Put your hands on the kang (heated brick bed), place them on the hottest part of the kang, and warm them up.

"Brother Changyao, Director Miao Yu said she'll find a car to bring her here tomorrow."

She said she had to take care of Zheng Meizhi's matter, even though the family planning policy didn't allow for more children.

Abuse of women and newborn children is also unacceptable.

Hou Jiu mimicked Miao Yu's tone, pointing at Zhang Changyao with the air of a leader.

"Xiao Jiu, Miao Yu isn't a bad person. You should seize this opportunity."

As long as you're with her, she won't do anything else.

This way, you'll both benefit, and she'll be saved.

Zhang Changyao sighed, looked at the popcorn bucket on the ground, and frowned.

"Wu Ni, give me the note with Wang Ga's fingerprint on it."

Since he shows no mercy, there's no need for me to talk about brotherhood with him.

Since the fish is dead, the net must be broken; no one can expect to benefit without suffering a loss.

Zhang Changyao picked up a half-full bucket of popcorn and poured half of it onto the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Zhang Changyao, you need to be careful that Wang Ga doesn't turn his back on you. People will do anything for profit.

Liao Zhi looked at the popcorn on the kang (a heated brick bed), grabbed a handful, put it in his mouth, and reminded him as he ate.

"Liao Zhi, don't worry, I was prepared for this move."

He's illiterate; he'll have to find someone to read the document himself later.

The evidence is in black and white, and there's even his own fingerprint on it; he can't deny it even if he wants to.

He was unkind first, and I didn't hold it against him. Now he's acting unjustly, plotting against me behind my back. I absolutely cannot let him get away with this.

Yang Wuni handed the note to Zhang Changyao, who put it in his shirt pocket, picked up the half-bucket of popcorn, and left.

"Zhang Changyao, I'll go with you. If Wang Ga dares to hit you, I'll knock him on the head."

Yang Wuni quickly tied her headscarf, grabbed a broken pickaxe handle from the floor outside the outer room, and headed to protect Zhang Changyao.

"Uncle, hurry up and pull Wu Ni back, or you'll have to go with her."

Wu Ni, don't use dirty tricks; don't kill Wang Ga outright and cause a death.