Chapter 99: Taking Da Hu to Mess with Someone

Lu Cheng rode his bicycle at a leisurely pace, feeling that his sister was in a bad mood.

Even though they haven't started dating, it feels just like a breakup.

"Sis..."

"You men aren't any good!"

"Hey, that's not it, don't bring me along, I'm a good thing."

"Hmm, you are a good thing."

"Why are you insulting people?"

"You said it yourself."

Lu Cheng felt a sting, and normally he would have snapped back, but his sister was in a bad mood today.

His sister rarely showed genuine feeling, and before she could express it, she was discouraged.

But it's still better than the previous life, when Xu Wenjie was juggling three relationships, refusing to marry, and after his sister finally learned it, she nearly slit her wrists in suicide.

His sister was always strong-willed, and after many twists she married a man; at first the couple got along fairly well, and after marriage they started running a business.

She was sharp, expanding the business, but the brother‑in‑law, seeing the money, fell into bad habits, indulging in food, drink, women, and gambling in every way.

She tried to keep the marriage, but repeated disappointments wore her down, and finally they divorced.

Since then, she has been alone, but the only consolation is that she started a new venture, running another business successfully, and lives a refined, carefree life on her own.

If in this life she cannot meet anyone truly good to her, Lu Cheng would rather see her remain unmarried.

【7】 Back in the alley, Chen Xianglan cradled two big cabbages in her arms: "You two are just in time, come with me to Dong'an Shichang; a batch of cabbages just arrived, no tickets needed, everyone's going crazy for them."

Back in the alley, Chen Xianglan was cradling two large cabbages: "You two just came back at the right time—hurry and come with me to Dong'an Shichang; a batch of cabbages just arrived, they don't even need tickets, and everyone's going crazy for them."

These days resources are scarce, varieties few; in winter it's cabbage after cabbage—pickled, stewed, stir‑fried, cabbage soup—eaten everywhere.

Lu Ying walked toward her room: "Mom, I'm tired."

Chen Xianglan looked left and right, asking suspiciously: "San'er, what's up with your sister?"

"Oh, I just had a little argument with her, she's mad at me," Lu Cheng didn't mention that Xu Wenjie thing, to spare his mom the worry.

"Look at you, always picking on your sister—enough, enough, let's go snatch the cabbages with me; if we're late this batch will be gone."

Lu Cheng thought that a whole winter of only cabbage would give him a headache: "Mom, didn't you already buy two already?"

"Those two aren't enough for a whole winter; I need to stock more."

"Then the side‑dish shop won't lack cabbage later; you can eat and buy as you go, no need to blindly snatch with others."

"Look at what you're saying, it's cheap, stop the chatter and hurry with me."

"Alright, then go to the Backyard and borrow a three‑wheel cart, we can haul more."

Chen Xianglan clapped her hands: "Right, I'll go borrow it now, wait for me."

Lu Cheng didn't want to wait; normally they eat and buy as they go, mixing other foods, but if they go snatch cabbages and stockpile a heap, even if they don't want to eat them, Chen Xianglan would fear waste and make cabbage for every meal.

At the courtyard entrance, Da Hu was again climbing the wall for fun, his pant legs worn through, yet he didn't mind the cold.

"Da Hu, come, I'll take you for a walk around."

Da Hu looked over: "Lu San'er, where are you taking me?"

"A whole person."

"Targeting people?" Da Hu instantly became interested: "Is there any benefit?"

"Yes, I'll buy you a soda when we get back."

Hearing about soda, Da Hu slid down the wall quickly: "Then you can't lie to me; anyone who lies is a Turtle."

Lu Cheng gave a forced smile and patted Da Hu on the head: "Your dad—me—has ever lied to you?"

"You lie all the time, not a single truth comes out of your mouth."

Lu Cheng laughed in anger: "Fine, I definitely won't lie this time; let me buy it for you first."

Da Hu nodded vigorously: "Then I'm willing to go."

When Da Hu got on the bicycle, Lu Cheng saw his mom coming out and hurriedly rode off.

After Chen Xianglan came out, she waved her hand and shouted: "Lu Cheng, where are you going again? Come back!"

"Mom, I'm going to take care of something important."

Although just now, taking his sister to the riverside scene, she must have given up completely, the matter wasn't over.

Rushing back to the riverside, Xu Wenjie hadn't left yet; he was sitting on a bench, chatting warmly with a little girl.

Lu Cheng stopped his bike, whispered a few words to Da Hu, who nodded, got off the bike and ran over.

"Hey Da Hu, leave the soda; I'll hold it for you first."

Da Hu first glanced at the half‑drunk soda, then at Lu Cheng: "What if you end up drinking it for me!"

"Who would drink your crappy soda? I'm just worried holding it is inconvenient and hampers your performance."

Da Hu still didn't believe it, rolled his eyes and spat twice into the soda bottle.

That way I'm not afraid you'll steal a sip.

"Here, you hold it."

Lu Cheng was speechless; after Da Hu ran off, he also gagged twice, spitting two mouthfuls into the soda bottle.

Looking at Da Hu, his little legs pumped fast as he ran to the bench, fell to the ground, clasped Xu Wenjie's thigh with both hands, and shouted hoarsely: "Dad!"

Xu Wenjie, who had been whispering sweet nothings to the little girl, was stunned.

"Hey, kid, who are you?"

"Dad, I'm Da Hu, don't abandon me, please, my mom is still at home waiting for you."

Upon hearing that, Xu Wenjie panicked on the spot, and the little girl also panicked: "Teacher Xu, he—he's your son? You've been married before?"

"I—I haven't been married; I don't even know him."

Da Hu clutched his thigh and wouldn't let go, Xu Wenjie swung him forcefully a few times: "Whose child are you? How can you call me like that? I'm not your father; let go of me quickly."

"Father, please, don't abandon Da Hu. Mom's health is poor, I know father works hard caring for Mom. If father is afraid of fatigue and wants to find another aunt, Mom and I would agree; I just beg father not to abandon me, wuwu…"

Da Hu's performance was full of tension, crying and speaking, and the little girl couldn't bear watching.

Seeing that Da Hu's crotch was torn and his clothes were patched over patched, the little girl, feeling sorry, lifted him up.

"Thank you, auntie, quickly tell my father not to abandon me. When you marry my father, I'll fetch his waste and take care of you like a real mother."

Seeing the pitiful Da Hu, the little girl, angry, said: "Don't be afraid, I won't take your mother away."

The little girl turned back to Teacher Xu, her eyes full of anger: "Teacher Xu, I didn't expect you to be like this; you're married with children, why are you still bothering me?"

"I'm not married; listen to my explanation. Never mind, I'll ask him…"

Xu Wenjie was left speechless, unable to defend himself: "You child, whose family are you really from? How can you call someone father at random? Do you even know me?"

Da Hu said confidently: "You are my father, of course I know you. You are called Xu Wenjie, I am called Xu Da Hu, the name you gave me. You said the tiger is the king of beasts, so in the future I will help the Xu family bring honor to the clan."

Da Hu's story was improvised on the spot, but the little girl thought it sounded reasonable and took it seriously.

"Teacher Xu, you're still trying to deceive me! I even called out your name; why wouldn't he call someone else father, why only you?"

Xu Wenjie spread his hands: "I… how could I possibly know?"

"I really misjudged you; I even respected you as a teacher. Abandoning wife and child, a beast, worse than a beast!"

The little girl, recalling being hugged by Xu Wenjie earlier, felt nauseated, slapped Xu Wenjie hard, and turned to leave.

Xu Wenjie remained, covering his face, standing there in a daze.

Seeing Da Hu's triumphant grin, Xu Wenjie finally reacted, rolled up his sleeve and prepared to strike Da Hu.

"Father, help me quickly."

This time Da Hu called out Lu Cheng.

Lu Cheng jumped off his bicycle; this time he must deliver a double blow—both physical and mental—to Xu Wenjie.