Chapter 654: Back to Xue County for a Meal

We walked very fast,

In no time we walked out from the One Line Sky of Hulutao,

As long as we climb over one more hill, we can get out of the enclosure.

Going further down the slope, we can see Mantousi.

This Mantousi, I don't know what year it was first built, and its incense has never been thriving.

Why is it called Mantousi?

My mother once told me,

That life is just this one lifetime: while alive you have mantou to eat, after death you have a mantou grave, and that's enough.

People live just for a mantou.

So it's called Mantousi.

When I was on the run back then, I once hid at this Mantousi for a night,

This temple is different from other temples,

It has no doors, only windows, and you have to climb through the windows; inside are the mantou that people offer to the deities.

I want to go see Mantousi, to see how the temple is now.

Shi Yong and I quickly arrived in front of Mantousi,

But the temple had collapsed, leaving only a pile of broken bricks and shattered tiles.

Alas, it was quite helpless.

I looked around and thought to myself, someday I will definitely rebuild Mantousi.

After all, I have received its kindness.

Shi Yong and I didn't linger; we hurried down the mountain.

I finally left the mountainous region of Hulutao.

We arrived at a town in Xue County.

Shi Yong shouted, "Brother, I won't go on; my feet are blistered."

I said, "Alright, we'll rent a vehicle to Xue County."

We found a van in the town,

and then had the driver take us to Xue County.

After we reached the foot of the mountain and the phone got signal, Shi Yong's phone started ringing nonstop.

All were WeChat messages.

Shi Yong stared at the messages, busy replying.

My phone also rang,

and I saw it was Yang Tao calling.

Yang Tao's call was very timely,

so I answered,

"Jianqiang, where did you go, why can't I reach you?

You left me in Xue County and never asked about me. Who are you?" Yang Tao complained on the phone.

"Hehe, Yang Tao, weren't you having a great time in Xue County with Cui Chengshan? You don't need me at all.

I'm a bit redundant in Xue County, so I left." I said with a smile.

"You, you're just talking nonsense. You tossed me aside and left; you're so irresponsible. Come pick me up quickly." Yang Tao said on the phone.

"Alright, I'm heading back to Xue County now. Where are you in Xue County?"

"I'm waiting for you at the Xueguo Dajiudian." Yang Tao said.

"Half an hour away; have the food ready. Shi Yong and I are both hungry." I instructed Yang Tao.

After saying that, I hung up.

Shi Yong, still holding his phone, kept sending voice messages.

I found it odd; we could call, so why send voice messages?

Isn't the meaning the same?

I heard the voice of the female Nurse Xiao Qi coming through Shi Yong's phone,

"Brother Yong, you must not drink alcohol."

"Don't worry, Xiao Qi, I won't drink. I went to Beishan today; it's really fun. Do you know Hama Spring,

By the way, there's a Lying Ox Stone there; lying on it is extremely comfortable.

When the time comes, I'll invite you to Beishan; you can drink Hama Spring while I lie on the Lying Ox Stone.

We'll watch Beishan's scenery together." Shi Yong said into his phone.

This Shi Yong really put today's information to immediate practical use.

"Shi Yong, Hama Spring water isn't something you drink casually. It can cause trouble. Do you know that?" I said to Shi Yong on purpose.

"Brother, I know. Summer Sister drank it before. Actually, I feel that as long as you like a woman, bring her to Hama Spring; that guarantees success 100%." A different smile appeared on Shi Yong's face.

I originally wanted to say a couple more sentences, but never mind; I'll just let Shi Yong have a good mood.

We arrived at Xue County quickly,

Yang Tao was waiting at the hotel for Shi Yong and me.

When Yang Tao saw us arriving in the van, a surprised expression appeared on his face.

"Jianqiang, why did you come in this vehicle? Where's your original car?"

"We left our car in Beishan; Shi Yong and I went there specifically to scout the area for future tourism development." I said as I stepped out of the van.

I thought you guys got robbed. How is Shi Yong's body recovering? Yang Tao said with a smile.

Almost done, how about Cui Chengshan? I asked.

Cui Chengshan returned to Xin Cheng. His father's birthday. Yang Tao said.

You didn't go along. I said with a smile.

Going along counts for nothing, seriously. Jianqiang, if you keep joking like this with me, I'll ignore you. Yang Tao said angrily.

Is the food ready? Shi Yong and I are both hungry.

It's ready, let's go, we're going to the private room. Yang Tao said, then she took me and Shi Yong into the private room.

Shi Yong, you can't drink alcohol. Don't forget to take your medicine, I reminded Shi Yong.

Brother, I know, don't worry, I won't drink. Shi Yong said, then took out several boxes of medicine from his bag.

Shi Yong, your health has always been good, but you're already taking medicine in your forties—what will happen later? Yang Tao said concernedly.

Living however long counts as however long, Yang Tao, I have something I can't figure out. In the foreign adult films I watched, I saw that foreigners are all chaotic.

Yang Tao, you live abroad—are they really as chaotic as in the movies?

Anyone can be chaotic with anyone. Shi Yong asked, looking at Yang Tao.

Yang Tao was stunned by Shi Yong's question,

she of course knew what Shi Yong meant by asking that question,

Shi Yong, take your medicine, let's not worry about these messy things.

Your body hasn't recovered yet; it's better not to think too much about some things. Here, have a pig's trotter. Yang Tao said, then she gave Shi Yong a pig's trotter.

Shi Yong immediately said: "Xiao Qi told me I can't eat greasy dishes. Yang Tao, you're harming me."

How am I harming you? I'm doing this out of care for you—my good intentions are being treated like waste. Yang Tao angrily put the pig's trotter back.

I watched Shi Yong and Yang Tao bicker, feeling quite happy.

They bicker their own, I eat mine.

After Yang Tao finished eating the pig's trotter, she asked Shi Yong again,

Hey, Shi Yong, isn't your wife named Ya Ling? Who is this Xiao Qi?

He's my friend, a nurse I met in the hospital, very beautiful and gentle. We are now close confidantes. Shi Yong said shamelessly.

What close confidante? You might as well just say you're lovers. Men aren't good at anything—they're always eyeing the pot while eating from the bowl. Yang Tao deliberately said to Shi Yong.

Yang Tao, please respect others. If it were before, I'd have already slapped you.

I've reined in my temper now.

We're just friends, just friends, not as vulgar as you think.

You think, therefore everyone is the same,

there's nothing else in your mind—seeing a man makes you think of that.

I, Shi Yong, have long since left lowbrow tastes behind.

Yang Tao, if you provoke me again, I won't spare you any face,

I'll expose your background. Shi Yong's loud voice boomed out like a cannon.

Yang Tao's face looked awful,

then she angrily stood up,

I'm not eating anymore. Honestly, you're too bullying.

Yang Tao, Shi Yong, both of you say a few less words—eat, eat. You two start bickering the moment you meet.

Men aren't bad, women don't love. Likewise, women are the same. I muddled along in the middle.

Yang Tao was very angry, stood up, ignored us and left directly.

Only me and Shi Yong remained in the private room,

Brother, it's good she left—I get angry whenever I see that woman. She's always putting on airs; nobody knows her, and she doesn't even know her own weight. She's basically a sellout, yet she pretends to be pure. Shi Yong said, then picked up a piece of meat and started eating.