Chapter 579: Hard to Be Foolish

Mai Dong would rather go blind than have seen what he just witnessed.

He would rather remain in the dark.

But he knew it was real.

His daughter had always been picky about food, never touching dishes others had eaten from; yet now, she shared chopsticks with Li Heng, moving with such natural ease, her gaze so tender—it was clear she had done this many times before.

No wonder!

No wonder, when she missed Peking University by two points two years ago, she initially planned to retake the exam—but after he and her teachers had made all the arrangements, she suddenly changed her mind and refused to retake it.

Back then, he had been pleased; after all, Fudan University was also prestigious, and attending it instead of Peking University was still a great honor for the family.

Now.

Looking back now, he realized it wasn't that simple.

…

Sour cabbage fish wasn't a particularly difficult dish—just a bit of knife skill and proper heat control, and it wouldn't taste bad.

During dinner, Mai Dong quietly observed every move his daughter and Li Heng made. Though suspicious, he said nothing to anyone—not even his wife or parents—keeping his lips sealed.

He didn't speak to his daughter either.

Because Mai Dong felt: his daughter was grown, with her own thoughts. If he acted rashly without concrete proof, he would only damage their relationship.

At the same time, deep inside, he harbored a quiet thought: even if his daughter had feelings for Li Heng, he didn't want to expose it—he wanted to help keep the secret.

His daughter was a university student, a top graduate from a prestigious school, stunningly beautiful, with an incredible future—he couldn't ruin her reputation.

The dinner was lavish; Li Heng's cooking was exceptional and earned universal praise, leaving the entire table cleared—even Mai Sui's grandfather drank several cups of wine with him.

After dinner, night gradually fell.

Mai Sui found Li Heng and said: "Let's go for a walk, help digest."

"Alright," Li Heng agreed readily.

Later, they called Sun Manning, and the three of them left the courtyard, strolling leisurely along Mao Ma Road.

Mai Dong quietly appeared at a corner of the second-floor corridor, gazing down at his daughter and Li Heng's backs.

About four or five minutes later, Mai's wife found her husband: "Dongzi, what are you doing here?"

Mai Dong turned around: "Bored, having a smoke."

Mai's wife pushed past him to the window, peering outside, then asked: "It's winter, everything's covered in weeds—what's there to look at?"

Mai Dong smiled: "I already said I'm smoking. Don't you believe me?"

Mai's wife dropped the subject and mentioned her purpose: "Mom wants you—she needs to talk to you."

"Mom" here referred to his mother-in-law, Mai Sui's grandmother.

Mai Dong asked: "Now?"

Mai's wife said: "Yes, she's waiting for you in her room."

Hearing this, Mai Dong finished his cigarette in one drag, then crushed the butt against the wall until it went out, and headed downstairs.

Arriving at his mother's room, Mai Dong pushed the door open and asked: "Mom, what do you need?"

The grandmother said: "Close the door."

Mai Dong didn't understand, but he closed it.

After his son sat down, the grandmother suddenly asked: "Were you spying on Sui Bao upstairs?"

His secret exposed, Mai Dong felt awkward and forced a smile: "Mom, what are you saying? Do I have nothing better to do than spy on my own daughter?"

The grandmother stared at her son for a long while: "Just now at dinner, you were watching Sui Bao and that Li Heng closely. Do you really think I'm old and blind?"

Mai Dong stubbornly denied everything.

After a tense standoff, the grandmother said no more, then turned and picked up a piece of calligraphy from her desk, handing it to him.

Though a woman, the grandmother was cultured—she had once worked in propaganda for the military and possessed exquisite brush calligraphy.

Mai Dong took the paper, looked closely, and saw four characters clearly written: Nán Dé Hú Tu.

Mai Dong was stunned, staring at the four characters for a long while before asking: "Mom, what does this mean?"

The grandmother pointed to the door: "Think about it yourself. Go now."

Mai Dong was a well-known filial son—he immediately obeyed, taking the calligraphy and leaving, troubled.

Outside, he unfolded the paper again and stared blankly.

It wasn't just him who noticed something—his mother had seen it too, long ago, and never mentioned it.

And indeed, that was true.

What kind of woman was the grandmother? In her youth, she had been a rare beauty, pursued by countless men—otherwise, how could she have passed such good genes to Mai Sui?

As someone who had been courted by so many men, she understood love and romance intimately; the moment her beloved granddaughter first brought Li Heng home, she sensed the signs.

But she didn't stop it—instead, she secretly consulted someone to cast a divination for Li Heng and Mai Sui.

The omen showed: the two were destined for a great trial.

The grandmother believed in such things. Since her granddaughter's fate held this trial, she chose to pretend blindness—publicly interfering not at all, only quietly observing.

…

After their walk returned.

Li Heng noticed the neighboring uncle's house was bustling with people; he approached and saw someone writing couplets.

Mai Sui explained: "My second cousin is getting married the day after tomorrow."

Sun Manning then said: "Suisui, take him away! If anyone sees him, they'll demand he write the couplets."

Mai Sui realized it was true and immediately led Li Heng back to their home.

"So boring—your TV doesn't even work. Let's play cards," Sun Manning muttered, restless.

Mai Sui asked: "How do you play with three people?"

Li Heng said: "If you want to play, you can—either play Zi Pai or Dou Di Zhu."

"What's Dou Di Zhu?" both girls asked together.

Li Heng briefly explained the rules. Sun Manning got excited and dragged them into a whole night of Dou Di Zhu.

Tonight, the girl was lucky—she won a lot of small bills.

Sun Manning danced around, laughing: "As long as I don't play against Shihe, I'm basically invincible, hahaha!"

Li Heng and Mai Sui exchanged a glance, both knowing—they were letting her win, to avoid her complaining endlessly.

At bedtime, Sun Manning whispered to Li Heng: "Set a secret signal?"

Li Heng asked: "What signal?"

"When everyone's asleep, I'll knock on your door—three long, three short—you open up," Sun Manning said.

Li Heng was confused: "Why knock on my door? I only love beautiful women."

"You bastard, you're so annoying! Don't you want to sleep with Mai Sui? I'll swap beds with you!" Sun Manning got furious, ready to hit him.

This left him speechless.

He waved his hand: "No, don't. Today, Mai Sui's father already got suspicious—if we switch rooms again and get caught, we can't explain it."

"Do you think you can explain it now? Pfft! Stop pretending!" Sun Manning ranted.

Li Heng: "…"

He suppressed his temper: "Enough. Don't stir up trouble now. Get some rest."

Saying this, he entered the bedroom.

Sun Manning rolled her eyes, went inside, and told Mai Sui: "Li Heng came all this way to see you—why aren't you sleeping with him tonight?"

Mai Sui tidied the bed: "Manning, don't mess around. My father's already noticed me."

Hearing this, Sun Manning sat down heavily, dropped her teasing tone, and asked: "So what are you going to do? Do you have a plan?"

Mai Sui shook her head: "We'll see how it goes."

Sun Manning asked the question she'd held back for a long time: "What did you really say to Song Yu that day? Why does it feel like you willingly accepted being a concubine to her?"

At this, Mai Sui lay on the bed, turning her back and saying nothing.

After Sun Manning pestered her for a long time, she finally whispered: "Neither Chen Zijin nor I can compete with Song Yu and Teacher Yu. Why bother fighting?"

Sun Manning asked: "What about Xiao Han?"

Mai Sui hesitated, then said: "I'd rather face Chen Zijin and Teacher Yu than confront Xiao Han."

Sun Manning asked: "Why?"

Mai Sui gave no explanation.

Sun Manning pressed: "Are you really just giving up?"

Mai Sui said: "Shihe asked me this before. I told her: I promised Li Heng I'd never interfere in his personal romantic affairs."

Sun Manning was stunned, then sighed heavily: "Ah! Ah! Stubborn fool! You're driving me crazy! If I were you, if I had your looks, your charm, I'd sleep with him every night, cling to him until he had no energy left for any other woman—I'd see if he even cared about them!"

Mai Sui: "…"

At one a. ., Sun Manning got up to knock on Li Heng's door.

Fortunately, Mai Sui stopped her in time: "You're serious?"

Sun Manning was surprised: "How are you awake? Did I wake you?"

Mai Sui laughed bitterly: "I've been waiting for you."

Sun Manning grinned foolishly: "Oh, you two are so boring. No fun at all."

Mai Sui: "…"

The next day, after breakfast, Li Heng and the two girls followed Mai Dong up the mountain to dig winter bamboo shoots.

He looked around: "Why is there still so much snow left unmelting?"

Mai Dong said: "This terrain is shaded; it'll take at least ten to fifteen days to win. By the way, Li Heng, have you ever dug winter bamboo shoots before?"