Chapter 121: Internet-Addicted Youth Xiao Hu

Xiao Hu wore a vexed and aggrieved expression, "This thing's level is too high, I can't beat it."

No rush, take your time chopping him, sir. I'll go to Old Duan's place first; you keep going, keep playing dead.

Ye Cheng spoke while taking the money and heading out; given Xiao Hu's current skill level, he'll probably have to play dead several more times.

By the time he reached Duan Chunsheng's home, they had already finished dinner; Duan Chunsheng and Duan Shen sat silently in the room, not speaking.

"Uncle Chunsheng, are you home?" Ye Cheng shouted from the doorway.

Hearing Ye Cheng's voice, Duan Chunsheng and his wife's faces lit up with joy; they hurriedly stood and loudly replied, "Yes, yes, Lao Er, come in quickly, come in quickly."

Duan Shen glanced at Ye Cheng, a hint of embarrassment flashing across her face, but she quickly concealed it and pulled Ye Cheng inside.

"Come, come, Lao Er, have you eaten? Would you like something more to drink? I'll stir-fry two dishes," Duan Shen said politely, rolling up her sleeves.

Ye Cheng guessed she genuinely wanted to cook, not just pretending.

He quickly grabbed her, saying, "No, Aunt, I've already eaten in town; I'll just give you the money."

After saying that, Ye Cheng told Duan Chunsheng, "Uncle, I had a lot to do in town today, so I came back late, but I still got the money out—ten thousand yuan, have a look."

Ye Cheng pushed a thick stack of big bills in front of Duan Chunsheng.

Duan Chunsheng's face broke into a simple, honest smile; holding the money, he was a bit at a loss and just smiled foolishly.

"Uncle, please count it," Ye Cheng reminded him.

"Oh, okay, okay," Duan Chunsheng replied happily; just as he was about to count, he suddenly changed his mind, set the money down, and told Ye Cheng, "Lao Er, Uncle trusts you, no need to count."

"Uncle, whether you believe me or not, you have to count it; I myself didn't count the money I withdrew from the bank."

"Once you've counted the money clearly, give me an IOU, and we'll settle things cleanly."

"Okay, okay, then I'll count it."

Duan Chunsheng licked his finger, counting the bills one by one, while Duan Shen stood aside watching intently.

Ye Cheng guessed Duan Shen was counting the money with her eyes.

After counting twice, Duan Chunsheng stopped, smiling at Ye Cheng, and said, "Lao Er, that's correct—it's ten thousand."

Seeing her husband accept the money, Duan Shen fidgeted with her hands, then told Ye Cheng, "Lao Er, thank you so much this time; just treat whatever I said before as my farting—it's all just hot air."

"Uncle, Aunt, we're from the same village—why say all this? Besides, I'm also collecting interest."

"Lao Er, the interest you're charging Uncle is so low it's practically nothing; Uncle knows that."

Duan Chunsheng got a bit emotional, speaking very earnestly.

This sentimental talk made Ye Cheng a bit unable to bear it; as a kid watching TV he disliked melodrama, and as an adult he's still prone to getting goosebumps.

He quickly handed over a cigarette, staunching the tears Duan Chunsheng was about to shed.

While smoking, Duan Chunsheng wrote Ye Cheng an IOU: repayment in one year, ten percent annual interest, payable anytime.

After pocketing the IOU, Ye Cheng casually asked, "Is Duan Yong not home?"

"Ah, he said he found a girlfriend and went out to have fun, and with hardly any money he just knows how to squander it." When talking about their sons, all old fathers share the same tone.

"At this age, finding a girlfriend isn't exactly abnormal," Ye Cheng remarked offhand.

"A man needs a career before he can start a family; he's still young, he should work hard like you, Lao Er—what's the point of getting a girlfriend so early?" Duan Chunsheng puffed angrily on his cigarette, then started coughing.

Ye Cheng neither agreed nor disagreed with that view; it's just like parents nowadays: no dating in middle school, focus on studies in high school, aim for graduate exams in college, then marry quickly after graduation.

Having never experienced a relationship in between, where would marriage come from?

After chatting idly for a while, Ye Cheng got up and went home.

Duan Shen chased after him again, stuffing a few pieces of cured meat into his hands, which Ye Cheng also accepted.

Back at his own home, the lights were still on, the mouse clicks went pat-pat, the keyboard was covered in ash, and Ye Cheng felt his anger rise.

"Xiao Hu, if you keep getting ash everywhere next time, just don't play—this is our home, not an internet cafe."

Although he likes playing computer games, likes smoking, and especially likes smoking while gaming, Ye Cheng just doesn't like ash making the keyboard filthy.

"Hu," Xiao Hu blew a mouthful directly onto the keyboard, kicking up a cloud of ash, "Brother, isn't this fine?"

"Fine, fine, if you say it's fine then it's fine," Ye Cheng said, speechless, "I bought some seasoned dishes—want to eat?"

"Brother, you eat it yourself; I still need to level up."

Alright, definitely an internet-addicted teenager.

Ye Cheng himself was once young, of course he knows this feeling, especially the first time playing—it really gets to you.

Back in the day at the arcade, how many parents rushed in, then there was a chorus of wailing and howling; Ye Cheng himself was caught three times as a kid, and he got used to it.

Watching Xiao Hu play so intensely, Ye Cheng also sat behind him with interest.

Drinking beer and eating the seasoned dishes, giving Xiao Hu some pointers, it was actually quite fun.

However, Xiao Hu's skill is truly terrible; Ye Cheng shook his head repeatedly, "Xiao Hu, next time you should just pick the Necromancer, summon a bunch of skeletons to fight—it'll be stronger than you fighting yourself."

"No, I just think this bald guy looks cool and fierce," Xiao Hu stubbornly pressed the respawn button, returning to the camp once again.

Ye Cheng checked the time—it was already 8 p. m.

He patted Xiao Hu, "Stop playing, go set the fish trap."

Setting the fish trap doesn't take much time—just toss it in; throw it in at night, check it in the daytime, it's not much work.

Hearing they had to work, Xiao Hu reluctantly saved his game, repeatedly urging Ye Cheng not to touch his save file.

Ye Cheng wore a look of speechlessness, "With your pathetic progress—no amulet, no dark gold set—you might as well delete it."

"What? What's an amulet? Is the dark gold set powerful?"

Xiao Hu instantly turned into a curious baby, circling Ye Cheng and firing questions.

So Ye Cheng had to direct Xiao Hu to fetch things while answering his various questions.

The fish traps are still the same six from last time; Ye Cheng originally wanted to exchange for something else, but there aren't enough points—this time he spent all his points on bait, leaving only a few dozen.

That's only enough to exchange for some bait for the fish traps.

The two dragged the fish traps out, planning to place them near the village entrance; no need to ride a motorcycle.

Around eight in the evening, the village gradually grew quiet; the two carried the Fish Trap past the village entrance and arrived at the seaside.

Tonight the wind was a bit strong, blowing and making people feel chilly.

"Brother, just find a random spot to toss it in, it's a bit cold." Xiao Hu shrank his neck.