Chapter 94: , Success and Fame (Please subscribe!)

Watching Xiao Han and her daughter depart, Yang Yingwen took quite a while to regain his senses, still staring at Li Heng in disbelief:

"Li Heng, do you know how to cast a love charm?"

Li Heng rolled his eyes: "If I knew how to cast a love charm, I'd cast a pair on you and a male pig."

"Good, good, good!" Que Xinyan jumped up, clapping and cheering.

Xiao Feng covered her mouth and laughed; every time she traveled with them, the happiest part was when the two of them bickered.

Yang Yingwen glared at Zhang Zhiyong, "Then what is your relationship? Are you dating?"

If holding hands counted as dating, Li Heng would certainly be one hundred percent willing.

Even if Xiao Han, that black-bellied young lady, felt afraid afterward, today was still a huge step forward.

When it came to pursuing Xiao Han, Li Heng never played by the rules; his strategy was to be spontaneous and catch her off guard, never giving this young lady a chance to mentally predict or react, which was the only way to greatly increase his success rate.

Li Heng said seriously: "Holding hands means she is my woman."

Upon hearing this, Yang Yingwen was uncharacteristically silent, only speaking a sincere word of advice after a long while, "I hope you don't let Xiao Han down.

Also, it's best if your relationship isn't exposed in the short term; it will be better once you have achieved something in the future."

Li Heng understood that the old rag was giving this advice based on the rumors about him and Chen Zijin, and she wasn't wrong; it could be considered the loyal advice of a good friend.

He nodded, "Don't worry, I have it under control. I'm happy today, let me treat you all to rice noodles."

Seeing Xiao Feng about to wave her hand, he immediately added: "Don't feel bad about the money for me."

Zhang Zhiyong, who knew him inside and out, let out a strange cry, "Save the nonsense, I've been sour the whole way here, I want to eat two bowls."

Yang Yingwen didn't quite understand, "Treating us every day, did you really pick up money?

If you're still spending your scholarship, I have my own money, I don't need yours. You should save the money for your parents; your dad eats traditional medicine every day, and over the years, that's a huge expense."

Xiao Feng strongly agreed with this, "Li Heng, don't feel that just because you're a man, you have to take on everything. We've known each other for so many years, we know everything about each other.

When you make it big in the future, Yingwen and I will definitely come to your house every day to mooch food and drink."

Li Heng felt warm inside hearing this, and after pondering for a moment, he said: "Since we know each other so well, you should understand me—I wouldn't puff up my face to look fat if I didn't have the money. If you don't believe me, ask Que Xinyan."

Hearing this, Zhang Zhiyong proudly patted his chest and said: "That's right, my brother definitely has the money to treat you all, otherwise would I have been able to mooch food and drink with peace of mind for the last two months?"

Seeing Xiao Feng and Yang Yingwen still looking confused, Que Xinyan couldn't suppress his impulse, "Master Heng! Why don't you just tell them? We're all our own people, I'm really uncomfortable holding it in all by myself!"

Xiao Feng asked: "Tell us what? Is there a secret?"

Li Heng thought for a while, feeling that he would have to come clean to his parents when he went back tonight, and the village would surely know eventually. Since he couldn't hide it, he simply nodded readily:

"Yingwen and Xiao Feng aren't outsiders, go ahead and say it."

Zhang Zhiyong's mouth was almost stretched to the sky, "Really say it? You're allowing it, right?"

Li Heng nodded with a smile.

Yang Yingwen looked at the two of them, feeling very frustrated, "Stop talking in riddles, what on earth are you hiding from us? Hurry up and say it."

Zhang Zhiyong put his schoolbag on the ground, stood in front of the two women with his hands on his hips, and said with a smug expression: "Listen up, no screaming later!"

Yang Yingwen was about to hit him, "Hey, are you annoying or what?"

Zhang Zhiyong chuckled and said: "My brother is a great writer! He earned 4,000 in royalties for one book."

Xiao Feng had no reaction.

Yang Yingwen was the same.

Zhang Zhiyong brought his two eyeballs together and asked anxiously: "No, why don't you have any reaction? Aren't you excited?"

Yang Yingwen said: "Because you're treating us like fools."

Xiao Feng didn't speak, but that was exactly what she meant.

"Hah! Hah!" Zhang Zhiyong was dizzy with anger, and immediately, like pouring beans, recounted Li Heng's writing from beginning to end.

It took a full 5 minutes.

This time, after listening, Xiao Feng turned her head sharply to look for Li Heng, only to find that this guy was buying newspapers and "Harvest" magazine at the newsstand across the street.

The two women looked at each other and asked in unison: "Really?"

Zhang Zhiyong nodded like a chick, "Authentic and genuine, otherwise why would he always run to the English teacher's house? It's just for the convenience of writing and making phone calls."

Xiao Feng asked in surprise: "So your English teacher knows about it too?"

Zhang Zhiyong was rarely this triumphant: "Isn't that a waste of words?"

Xiao Feng turned left, Yang Yingwen turned right, their gazes collided again, their eyes full of shock! Shock! Shock!

They stood there foolishly for a long time, until Li Heng came over after buying the newspapers and magazines, and the two women looked at him in unison.

For the first time, she saw such an exaggerated expression on Xiao Feng's face, "Li Heng, are you the author of 'To Live'? Is it true?"

Li Heng handed the two women a newspaper, "It's true, but keep it a secret for me."

The two women took the newspaper, leaned their heads in, and then...

And then there was no then.

Until they reached Qian Yuejin's noodle shop, they still hadn't said a word, looking at Li Heng like he was a monster, blankly, stupidly, dazed...

Li Heng waved his hand in front of the two women and asked with a smile: "Do you still insist on paying for yourselves?"

Yang Yingwen took a deep breath, then another, "No, do you take me for a fool? I'm not paying, I'm going to eat the rich guy, two bowls!"

Xiao Feng chuckled, agreeing with this logic.

This meal of noodles was eaten very harmoniously, the atmosphere was very cordial, and the two women had many questions they wanted to ask Li Heng, but they didn't dare to make a scene. Because the tables all around were full of people, and they were afraid of leaking such a big secret.

By now, the two women seemed to sympathize a bit with Zhang Zhiyong; such a big thing, holding it in all by himself, how uncomfortable it must be.

Zhang Zhiyong really ate two bowls.

Yang Yingwen and Xiao Feng were both a bit carsick and starving, so the two women shared three bowls, which meant one and a half bowls each.

Of course, as a foodie, Li Heng's portion certainly couldn't be less than theirs, and he also finished two big bowls.

After eating and drinking their fill, Xiao Feng, whose home was at the gold mine, left first.

Li Heng looked up at the sky, "It's getting dark, it will take you several hours to walk home. Why don't you stay at Yingwen's place for the night and we'll send you over tomorrow?"

Xiao Feng refused: "No need, my second brother will be waiting for me at the gate of the Shiqiaopu Central Primary School."

Hearing this, the few of them felt relieved. Xiao Feng's family conditions were quite decent; her parents were both dual-income employees at the gold mine, and they had a telephone to contact.

Unlike the three of them, Upper Bay Village still didn't have a landline phone to this day, and usually, if they wanted to report their safety to their families, they could only do so by writing letters.

After seeing Xiao Feng off, Li Heng took the two of them to stroll around the farmers' market, but unfortunately, it was too late and the sellers had already packed up and gone back, making him give up on the idea of buying something for his parents.

It was ten miles from the town to Upper Bay Village. Although many sections were uphill mountain roads, fortunately, it had been sunny for a few days, the road surface was dry, and it wasn't too strenuous for the three of them to walk.

Ever since learning that Li Heng was a great writer, Yang Yingwen hadn't said much, walking ahead of the two of them in a dull mood.

After walking more than half the way, Zhang Zhiyong couldn't help but ask her, "Hehe, do you feel the gap is too big and you can't accept it?"

Unexpectedly, Yang Yingwen wasn't hypocritical at all, saying very frankly: "It really is a bit. Before, apart from this guy looking decent, I looked down on him in every way."

Li Heng's face twitched, "I didn't offend you, why did you look down on me?"

Hearing this, Yang Yingwen immediately displayed the spirit of a fighting cock, "Why did I look down on you? Don't you have any idea in your heart? Song Yu, Xiao Han, and Zijin—if you picked one to treat wholeheartedly, would I look down on you?"

Li Heng defended himself: "I am a man of letters."

Yang Yingwen was unconvinced: "So what if you're a man of letters? Can a man of letters be a philanderer..."

Halfway through, she suddenly choked up, her cheeks puffed out, and she couldn't continue.

After a long while, Yang Yingwen cursed loudly: "Which bastard coined that phrase, putting men of letters and philandering together."

Li Heng and Zhang Zhiyong laughed out loud.

After breaking the silence, the three of them stepped on the moonlight, talking and laughing, and finally returned to Upper Bay Village just past 8 o'clock in the evening.

There were still people throwing fish grass into the pond at the entrance of the village, a couple picking corn had filled their baskets, and an old gentleman who had lost at cards was cursing all the way.

The crossroads were crowded with people and dogs, people chatting, dogs mating, each doing their own thing, lively and bustling.

Someone recognized the three of them from far away, and immediately shouted in a comedic tone, "Yo! The three future college students are back."

The other party was of a higher generation, so the three of them had to obediently follow the crowd and call out: "Fifth Grandpa."

Someone else shouted at Li Heng, "Li Heng, where is your wife? Why didn't you bring her back together?"

Li Heng was in high spirits now, and asked slowly: "Uncle Zou, I'm about to be a college student, do you have any more daughters?"

"Hahaha!"

Hearing this, the twenty or thirty people at the crossroads opened their mouths and laughed, laughing crazily. What is called stealing a chicken only to lose the rice?

This is it!

Perhaps hearing her son's voice, Tian Rune came out of the main room wearing an apron, holding a wooden ladle in her hand, which was full of coarse bran. It looked like his mother had just been feeding the pigs in the backyard.

"Mom, are you happy to see your precious son?"

Li Heng happily leaned over, spinning around in front of her like a show-off.

Tian Rune treasured this son the most, having spoiled him since he was a child. Seeing him playing around like a child, a flower of smiles squeezed out on her wind-worn face:

"It's good that you're back, you seem a bit fatter, but still thin. You go take a bath first, Mom will cook for you."

"Eh, alright."

Because he hadn't come back for the previous few monthly breaks and didn't have phone contact, Tian Rune thought her son wouldn't come back this time either, so she hadn't prepared dinner for him.

Rice was precious in these years; she knew exactly how much rice to cook for each meal, and not a single grain would be added once it was in the pot, all to save money.

Therefore, the rice had to be cooked again.

Li Heng bathed very quickly, coming out in less than 10 minutes. As for his clothes, hey! That stuff, except for his underwear which had to be washed immediately, was clear.

Walking around the house, Li Heng asked: "Where is my dear dad? Why don't I see him at this hour?"

Tian Rune stuffed a handful of firewood into the stove and looked up: "Your dad and your eldest and second sisters went to the cornfield to pick corn. They probably won't be back for another half hour."

Li Heng asked: "Is the second sister home too?"

Tian Rune nodded, "She came back last night, and arrived home at about this time too."

Li Heng immediately asked: "Has the second sister changed? Did she tell you anything special?"

Tian Rune looked confused, "What change? Her mouth is moving all day long, always secretly stuffing rock candy into her mouth. I don't know where this ghost girl got the money?"

Li Heng was happy. If the second sister didn't eat snacks, would she still be the second sister?

In his previous life, she ate until she was old, chewing all her life, but she never got fat, which was also a strange thing.

Li Heng found a flashlight on the shrine and asked: "Mom, where are they picking corn? I'll go pick them up."

Tian Rune said: "Zeng Family Hollow."

Li Heng stopped in his tracks immediately.

It wasn't that he was timid, but Zeng Family Hollow was a notoriously eerie place in the surrounding ten miles, and there had always been rumors of ghosts.

During the war, it was the place where a big landlord named Zeng lived, and later, the whole family was wiped out overnight, along with more than 80 servants and tenant farmers.

According to the elders, the fire was blazing on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, and there were tragic wails everywhere in Zengjia'ao, but no one dared to approach. Some brave villagers tried to check the situation, but before they arrived, they were ambushed halfway, all killed by gunfire.

Seeing her son's frightened look, Tian Rune smiled gently for once and said: "Don't worry about them, there are some neighbors picking corn inside too, they'll come back together in a while."

Li Heng went anyway, calling Que Xinyan with a flashlight, each holding a firewood knife, and walked three miles of mountain road with a heavy heart.

When they were almost there, Zhang Zhiyong pointed to a large ancient tree in front and said:

"If a female ghost in red stands on the treetop, damn it! I'll turn around and leave immediately."

In this desolate mountain, hearing this abruptly, Li Heng was startled and kicked him:

"Can you speak like a human? If you say that again, I'll tie you to that tree."

Zhang Zhiyong chuckled, but his eyes never moved from the ancient tree, "My second uncle passed by here on a night walk 3 years ago and said there was a female ghost in red standing on it. She even made faces at him."

Li Heng looked up: "Did your second uncle really say that?"

Zhang Zhiyong said: "I don't know if it's true or not, anyway, he doesn't dare to walk here anymore, he takes a detour during the day."

In this hollow, there was no village in front and no shop behind, and there was no human smoke for three miles around. Li Heng was a bit scared, "Que Xinyan, you go first."

Zhang Zhiyong was also a bit scared and didn't move: "Let's play rock-paper-scissors."

Li Heng said: "What if an extra hand appears when we play rock-paper-scissors?"

Zhang Zhiyong took a step back: "Screw your grandpa! If you say that again, I'm running away."

Li Heng shone his flashlight around, afraid that there was something unclean standing on some treetop. After a long while, he bit the bullet and walked forward:

"Afraid of what, I haven't eaten tonight, I'll just catch one and roast it."

That's what he said, but when the two of them passed the ancient tree, a chill went straight to their scalps, and their legs almost couldn't move.

Fortunately, at this time, voices came from the hollow, "Li Heng? Zhang Zhiyong?"

"Second sister, it's me." Li Heng happily swung the flashlight beam.

Li Lan carried the basket over, "What are you two dawdling about here?"

Li Heng asked back: "Why are you alone? Where are Dad and the eldest sister?"

"Oh, they are still busy in the cornfield, there is too much corn, they can't carry it all at once, I'll send a load back first." Li Lan replied.

Zhang Zhiyong gasped: "Just, just you alone dare to pass here?"

Li Lan glanced at him with contempt, "As long as you are bad enough, ghosts will be afraid of you too, right, female ghost in red."

Li Heng and Zhang Zhiyong instinctively turned their heads to check behind them.

Li Lan put the basket on the ground and said to the two cowards: "Rumors are all psychological, no need to be afraid.

Two years ago, the family's cow didn't come home, Mom accompanied Dad to the county to see a doctor, and I searched for an hour or so in the mountains and fields alone, and finally led the cow home, and I didn't see any ghosts."

Zhang Zhiyong's lips trembled violently, he didn't know what to say, and finally could only give a thumbs up: "You're awesome!"

With the second sister to embolden them, the three of them went back and forth twice smoothly.

In the middle, Li Heng asked the second sister about the novel.

Li Lan said: "This is your glory, you have to tell Mom and Dad."

Around 9 o'clock in the evening.

The Li family gathered together. Including Li Jianguo, Tian Rune, Li Yan, and Li Lan.

Tian Rune put the hoe on the threshold and asked her son: "Youngest, what is it that you have to call the whole family over?

Hurry up and say it, I have to go to the field to check the water later."

Li Heng said happily: "Of course it's a big thing, a big happy event."

Li Jianguo asked while peeling corn husks: "Happy event? Did you get the special scholarship?"

He knew his son's grades, and he had always received the first-class scholarship in the past.

If he could go up a level, it would indeed be a big happy event for a student.

Li Heng replied: "I did get the special scholarship, but that's not a happy event."

Then, under the gaze of his parents and two sisters, he spat out word by word:

"Dad, Mom, I wrote a novel, became a writer, and earned 3,800 yuan in royalties."

Hearing this, Tian Rune reached out to touch her son's forehead, stood up, and was about to walk out with the hoe:

"Sleep early, everything is in dreams. Your dad often dreams and says his body is better and he can go to the capital to climb the Great Wall."

Li Jianguo smiled awkwardly. In this poor scene at home, let alone going to the capital, it was difficult to leave the province.

Seeing that the two elders didn't believe him, Li Heng immediately used his ultimate move.

He took out 3,800 yuan from his schoolbag and placed it on the table: "Mom, you count it, 3,800 yuan, not a cent less."

Sure enough, the power of cash was the most shocking and the most convincing.

Tian Rune was stunned for a full ten seconds, hurriedly closed the main door, then walked over, picked up the money, and began to count it one by one.

Seeing this, Li Jianguo stopped peeling corn, moved the small stool under his butt, and moved closer.

After a while, Tian Rune finished counting, but she also fell silent.

Her husband Li Jianguo asked her, "How much?"

Tian Rune handed the money to him, "3,800."

Li Jianguo took the money and weighed it, didn't count it, and put it back on the table, also silent for a long while before asking: "So, it's true?"

Li Heng took out the "Harvest" magazine and newspapers he bought and placed them in front of the two elders. Facts speak louder than words.

It took a long time to filter through the newspapers, and finally Tian Rune asked: "Besides money, who else can prove it?"

Li Heng felt a pain in his balls, "Mom, you don't trust your son?"

Tian Rune said: "It's not that I don't trust you, my son is still a few days away from turning 18."

Li Heng looked at the second sister.

Unexpectedly, Li Lan opened her mouth with a king bomb, "What my younger brother said is true, I looked for their English teacher."

Li Heng was full of question marks, "Hmm???"

Li Lan said to herself: "Last time he told me he was a writer, I didn't rest well for a week, so I went to No. 1 Middle School the second weekend.

I happened to see my younger brother and his English teacher eating egg fried rice at the stall on the left side of the school gate, and they went back to the third floor together."

Li Heng was speechless, "Why didn't you come over to eat egg fried rice together?"

Li Lan gave him a meaningful look.

Li Heng stopped asking instantly, feeling sad alone on the side. Even if I am a writer and earn money, she still thinks I am lustful.

With the second sister as a witness, the two elders had to believe it even if they didn't. Li Jianguo read the newspaper news again, and asked later:

"The news says 'To Live' is amazing, how did you write it?"

Li Heng pointed his chin at his bedroom, "Dad, I've read all those books of yours."

Li Jianguo didn't believe it: "You've read them all?"

Li Heng nodded.

Li Jianguo was dumbfounded. After looking at his wife several times, he supported the table with his right hand, climbed up, took 5 books from the study at will, and tested Li Heng on what the content of the books was about?

He had indeed read these books, and many of them had been read two or three times. Even though most of them were read in his previous life, it didn't affect Li Heng's ability to answer fluently.

After testing 5 books, Li Jianguo was panting a bit, and ran back to the bedroom to change 5 more.

Li Heng still answered every question, and in many places, his understanding was even better than his old father's.

Li Jianguo changed again, this time taking out 10 books, and to verify it thoroughly, he specifically picked complex and difficult books.

The result...

The result is self-evident, Tian Rune's face was full of surprise.

Li Lan tilted her head and looked at her younger brother, her brain full of?????

Could it be that this is the same father and mother but different fates?

I am a life of hard labor, and this kid is born to eat the bowl of a cultural person?

Li Yan was much simpler than the two, her eyes shining with brilliance at the moment. In her eyes, her younger brother was like the God of Wealth on the shrine. She didn't understand literature, she only understood money.

At this moment, Li Jianguo could no longer be calm. He flipped through the books in his hand, thinking that he was obsessed with books, why could his son taste the truth, but he never tasted it?

Why could his son become a writer after reading hundreds or thousands of stored books and write things, why couldn't he?

His son was only 18, and he was 48. At this moment, he felt that the extra 30 years were really lived on a dog.

Li Jianguo wanted to ask the last doubt, how did his son manage to read all these books in just ten or so winter and summer vacations?

But thinking of the constant face-slapping just now, he immediately shut up.

Could he not shut up?

He, the father, had no ability, but he had a set of questioning his son. He felt ashamed just thinking about it.

Seeing her husband dumbfounded, Tian Rune asked again: "Youngest, you are a writer, who else knows?"

Li Heng replied: "My English teacher, and Que Xinyan and Yingwen, a few good friends."

Tian Rune asked: "Then, then Chen Zijin from across the street?"

Li Heng replied: "She knows, I called and told her."

Li Lan was dissatisfied, "You are still in contact? So spineless?"

Tian Rune glared at her second daughter, "Don't interrupt, wait until I finish asking."

If it were in the past, if her mother dared to favor boys over girls and scold her, she would definitely get up and leave. If she was very angry, she might even overturn the table.

But today, for the first time, Li Lan felt that her mother didn't seem to have spoiled her wrong. If she had really forced her younger brother to work in the mountains and fields like herself since childhood, where would he have time to read?

Where would he have time to write?

Where would the money come from to buy her clothes and snacks?

Tian Rune continued to ask: "What did Chen Zijin say?"

Li Heng replied, "I plan to go to the capital to see her during the summer vacation."

Tian Rune frowned, her face changed instantly, "Go to the Chen family? Not allowed!"

Li Heng looked at his mother.

Tian Rune divided 100 from the money on the table to him, and put the remaining 3700 in her pocket:

"That bitch Zhong Lan once satirized me to my face, saying she would rather kill Zijin than let her marry into our Li family. I won't allow you to go to the Chen family."

That bitch Zhong Lan?

Everyone was stunned. After so many years, it was the first time they heard Comrade Tian Rune curse, and it was also the first time they heard her speak ill of others behind their backs, and it was even more unprecedented to see hatred in her eyes.

Thinking back then, when the long-tongued woman Fatty Aunt chewed her tongue like that, Tian Rune could suppress her anger with her personal cultivation without breaking her defense, but facing Zhong Lan, she lost her composure for the first time.

How much grievance must this be?

What excessive things must Zhong Lan have done?

Li Jianguo pondered for a long time, sighed and said: "Even if Zhong Lan has a thousand faults, Zijin is innocent, and Youngest is sorry for her. I think you should go see her during the summer vacation."

Seeing his wife about to say something, Li Jianguo reached out and patted her shoulder, "You don't have to go to the Chen family for the time being, but you still have to see Zijin. It's hard to say if she will be your daughter-in-law in the future.

For the sake of Zijin, let's just let the past be the past. After all, we were at fault first. We are all parents, so we should learn to understand more."

Unexpectedly, Tian Rune's stubborn temper also came up, "I don't oppose Chen Zijin, but I oppose the Chen family.

At that time, I almost knelt down and begged them, but they still scolded me for an afternoon without letting go. I can't swallow this breath!"

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(Ten thousand words updated.)

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 95 =====