Chapter 210: Rebirth in the Nineties: The Tyrannical Flower Chapter 211: Pure Man

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Protagonist:

Chai Mi

Song Qiushui said Liu Zhanggui was an old cow eating tender grass, and she said it very loudly...

Everyone immediately gathered around.

And today, most of the hardworking people were Chai Mi's own clan; besides Song Qiushui, Liu Zhanggui was basically an outsider.

Though normally everyone's relationship was just so-so.

But this didn't stop everyone from sharing the surname Chai...

The looks in everyone's eyes wanting to kill someone couldn't be hidden.

Liu Zhanggui's calves were almost cramping, and he inwardly complained that this crazy girl Song Qiushui was talking nonsense: Song Qiushui wasn't just making trouble for no reason—could such words be spoken recklessly... Liu Zhanggui was how old already; this era didn't go for that sort of thing.

"You girl, you're hopeless," Liu Zhanggui said helplessly, then leaned close to Song Qiushui's ear and whispered: "Qiushui, I'm begging you. Don't say another word... Next time, I'll bring you two pig heads, okay? I'll let you eat your fill of pig head meat, what do you say? That thing, I'll have it all braised and cut at my house, then deliver it to you. You mustn't talk nonsense—there are so many people here, I don't care about face, but Chai Mi still cares about face, don't just say anything at random..."

Hearing about two pig heads, Song Qiushui's attitude immediately improved.

But then she spread her hands, indicating that spilled water couldn't be gathered back: I won't chatter anymore, but once words are out, I can't take them back.

Chai Mi didn't care at all about what Song Qiushui said; after all, this spiritual little sister had been talking nonsense for a day or two, and she was used to it.

But these two pigs were indeed too valuable. To say Liu Zhanggui was sending over two pigs was indeed improper.

Chai Mi knew Liu Zhanggui might be doing this because his wife had returned and wanted to show something to her, but with so many people, this kind of showing was a bit too much...

"That... Uncle, your gift money is too much. Even if my aunt has returned, you don't need to spend so much... But since my aunt has returned, Uncle, you're happy today, so treating everyone to a meat meal is just right." Chai Mi raised her voice and said to everyone: "That... I'll tell everyone some good news. Our Village Chief's wife has returned. The Village Chief is happy today and has gifted two pigs. Everyone knows what that's equivalent to, right..."

Everyone asked: "Equivalent to what..."

"Equivalent to the Village Chief no longer being a bachelor and no longer pining for a young widow..."

"Equivalent to the village dog being off duty at midnight, no longer needing to bite around because the Village Chief is sneaking out at midnight... hahaha..."

Liu Zhanggui: Watch your influence!!!

What Chai Mi wanted to say was similar to everyone else, but she couldn't say it like that: "Don't talk nonsense. When did the Village Chief ever pine for a young widow? Those are all rumors. This is equivalent to an old bachelor entering the bridal chamber and enjoying a second spring. Everyone, go back and spread the word for the Village Chief—just say the Village Chief and my aunt have remarried recently, that's one. Second, today the Village Chief is treating everyone to pork, and it's not free. You all have relatives of various degrees at home, so keep an eye out for Da Zhi and introduce him to a partner or something..."

After Chai Mi said this, everyone's expressions immediately improved a lot, and they felt Liu Zhanggui gifting two pigs wasn't such a big deal...

But Liu Zhanggui's mouth was twisted with anger; he clearly felt these two pigs had been given away for nothing...

Originally, Liu Zhanggui sending pigs was to repay a favor, but after Chai Mi said this, not only had his pigs been eaten for nothing, he now owed Chai Mi a favor.

Everyone discussed animatedly; some said: Village Chief, your wife is back, great news, arrange a few tables...

Others said: Village Chief, your wife is back, I remember my great-uncle's great-aunt's niece's daughter is just twenty this year...

Someone else said: Village Chief, what do you think of my wife? Introduce her to Da Zhi. My wife is such a piece of work, I don't want her anymore...

Everyone laughed.

"Look, the Village Chief is so happy his mouth is split up to the sky..."

"The Village Chief is truly happy, his hands are shaking..."

"How could he not be happy? If you had a wife weighing over two hundred catties, you'd be happy too. Marrying her home with one bride price is worth two of someone else's..."

As for why the Chai family's own clan mocked Liu Zhanggui coldly, it's a long story. But in short, there was a bit of clan pride involved. Sanjiacun had three surnames, and only the Chai family were commoners... You have to know, decades ago, the Chai family had produced an old County Magistrate, a pity... Ever since democratic elections began, the Liu family, relying on their large population, had gripped the Village Chief position tightly, refusing to let go.

This made many Chai family members dissatisfied, but there was nothing they could do. Who told them the old Liu family had so many people... So, mocking Liu Zhanggui was hardly surprising.

But Liu Zhanggui was obviously not happy with his mouth split open; he was angry...

But Liu Zhanggui was no longer young, thick-skinned, with a good mindset.

He then said: "You people, all you do is talk nonsense. If my wife hears this, she'll divorce me anyway... Hahaha. Today's noon meal, pork is on the house. Let me, Liu Zhanggui, share some joy with everyone. By the way, Chai Mi is right—my son Da Zhi is actually not bad, no missing arms or legs, a fine young man. If you have suitable relatives at home, keep an eye out for him. I'll say thank you right here..."

Instantly it became a high-end event of introducing a partner for his son.

Hearing that pork was on the house, everyone instantly boiled over, it could be said they were eagerly looking forward to it.

Chai Mi was also quite happy, so she told her clan's sisters-in-law to cut the pork vigorously, first cutting thirty catties of blood neck meat directly and throwing it into the pot, adding cabbage vermicelli, and stewing it.

Zhou Fang, hiding in the corner of the courtyard, had originally been sleeping while everyone chatted and worked. Now that everyone was busy, he was still sleeping.

Until Liu Zhanggui treated everyone to meat, did he narrow his eyes and get up.

The noon sunlight, along with basin after basin of pig-butchering dishes, couldn't dispel the melancholy in his eyes: Probably, this Liu Zhanggui had been influenced by his son's constant exposure... That being said, that fellow called Da Zhi must have said behind the scenes that he liked Chai Mi.

Hmph.

Zhou Fang got up and left secretly.

Liu Zhanggui helped Chai Mi establish prestige and increase reputation; this matter... I will do it too.

As a result, Zhou Fang had just walked a few steps out of the courtyard gate when Chai Mi called him: "Hey... what's wrong with you? It's time to eat, and you're leaving?"

"I didn't do any work, I can't eat this meal," Zhou Fang said, turning around.

"No work, no food? That's great. There are forty or fifty people here, only about ten or eight did work, originally they were all going to stay and eat anyway." Chai Mi teased: "It's just that you're thin-skinned, just that you care about face. Besides, you're not an outsider. Old friends meeting, last time I couldn't treat you to a meal, this time is just right to have one."

Zhou Fang's complexion had just improved a bit, but hearing "old friends," he suddenly didn't know whether to be cold or warm again.

"Go back, eat before leaving."

"Mm."

So Zhou Fang obediently followed Chai Mi back.

In this era, having pork to one's fill was extremely valuable, comparable to a five or six-story building.

Chai Mi wasn't a stingy person; of course, being stingy now was useless anyway.

After all, those who eat are those who cook. If Chai Mi didn't let these sisters-in-law and aunts add more pork to the dishes, afterward she would definitely be talked about.

Not worth the loss.

The noon meal featured rice with unlimited refills, and a generous portion of braised pork with vermicelli.

Unlike the morning, the custom here meant the midday fare was relatively better. Besides the braised pork with vermicelli, there were also the mung bean gene Su Wan had specially stayed up late last night to make, stir-fried celery with shredded pork, and a stir-fry of leeks, bean sprouts, and eggs.

(This mung bean gene dish is quite peculiar — a soup stewed with mung bean soft cakes and daylilies or garlic shoots. In this era the quality was especially tough, because later on those who make mung bean soft cakes have basically become impossible to find.)

These several dishes were all rice-friendly dishes.

Chai Mi seated Song Qiushui and her father plus Liu Zhanggui, as well as Lao Liutou, the eldest of the Chai family present today, at the same table as her parents.

After Chai Mi went to call Zhou Fang back just now, she also incidentally seated Zhou Fang at this table, then gave a simple introduction: Zhou Fang, everyone knows him now — the pure tough guy who was hung up and beaten for over four hours on the big willow tree by Village Chief Liu Zhanggui a few days ago……

Because the introduction was so effective, even Chai Mi's mother Su Wan looked at Zhou Fang with new eyes……

Su Wan: This young man looks fair and clean, didn't expect he's so tough! This physique…… is truly good.

Su Wan couldn't help but steal a few more glances at Zhou Fang, and the more she looked the more she liked him. Zhou Fang's height was very tall, 1.8-something meters, plus a somewhat scholarly air, making Su Wan feel one look showed Zhou Fang was a decent person, and he definitely read a lot.

On top of that, Zhou Fang's skin was much fairer and tenderer than the village youths'; although it couldn't compare to those effeminate men of later generations, his skin was certainly excellent too.

Most key of all, he's good-looking.

As the saying goes, one white covers a hundred flaws. Zhou Fang not only looks a bit fairer, the point is he's also tough, the point is he also looks like a cultured person, plus he dresses appropriately — instantly earning him quite a few bonus points in Su Wan's heart.

As for the others, aside from Song Qiushui, the rest weren't very keen on Zhou Fang. Although he's tough, he's not the only tough one……

For instance, Chai You De, who Chai Mi had just summoned with a roll of her eyes.

Chai Mi first glared at Chai You De and said: "Chai Lao San, I'm warning you. Don't play any tricks. Those few sentences you said this morning — I haven't settled accounts with you yet. Don't think because I'm busy I have no time to deal with you. Right now I can beat you half to death and everyone would have to pretend not to see…… So, I advise you to behave honestly at lunch today, don't try to challenge my extremely limited patience."

Chai You De lowered his head and said nothing.

Then Chai Mi switched faces, pulled Chai You De over: "Oh, Third Uncle, hurry and sit next to the Village Chief. I was just saying, today I'll make sure everyone eats and drinks well. But how can drinks be without my Third Uncle?"

As Chai Mi spoke, she pressed Chai You De down into his seat: "My Third Uncle, if he doesn't talk, accompanying drinks is absolutely number one in our Sanjiacun."

Chai You De was messed with by Chai Mi until he doubted his life: One moment scolding me, wanting to deal with me, the next moment this person instantly changes faces…… Chai Mi, don't bully people too much! I, Chai You De, also have a temper……

Chai You De still wanted to say something, but Chai Mi whispered in his ear: "Don't speak, just drink your wine. If you behave today and don't cause trouble, I'll send you two catties of pig head meat later. If you cause trouble for me, look at your right leg…… do you want that broken too?"

Chai You De's face color instantly changed drastically……

The pain of a broken leg instantly made him shudder with lingering fear.

He instantly not only lost all drunkenness but became wide awake, and immediately replied in a low voice: "I guarantee I won't speak nonsense, but those two catties of pig head meat — you'd better give them to me when the time comes."

Chai Mi hehe cold-laughed and walked off, turning to say to her mother Su Wan: "Mom, I'll go see what Xiu'er is up to, it's already what time, still not back, surely this girl didn't come behind my maternal aunt's back…… it's been two or three hours, my maternal aunt should've come long ago."

Su Wan nodded in permission.

Only then did Chai Mi say: "You all drink tea first, in a bit at eleven o'clock sharp we'll start the meal. I'll go call my maternal aunt."

Everyone agreed.

So Chai Mi went out.

Result: she searched all the way but couldn't find Chai Xiu, until she reached Chai Mi's maternal aunt Su Jin's house and discovered Chai Xiu was eating at her maternal aunt's house……

Chai Mi was dumbfounded: Xiu'er, you've really made something of yourself. Asked her to call maternal aunt for the meal, and she's gone and ended up eating at their place instead.

"Maternal aunt, wasn't it to have you come over to eat? How come you're eating at home instead?"

"I'm not going." Su Jin refused directly: "Noisy and annoying, I'm not going. Xiu'er is at your place with nowhere to stay today, so I let her eat here. No need to call me for the meal, I'm not going."

Chai Mi didn't persuade much either, because this matter is actually quite taboo.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have had Chai Xiu come call her.

Because for the Chai family, Chai Mi's mother gave birth to three daughters and no sons, which would cause Su Wan to be slighted by the Chai family old house.

But, conversely.

Tomorrow is Chai Mi's little sister's full-month banquet; for Chai Mi's maternal aunt Su Jin, it is indeed incomparable torment.

Chai Mi's maternal cousin and his wife have been married many years with no children. This is a heartache.

When there are few people, maybe Su Jin wouldn't feel it so obviously, but once there's a crowd, one look at other people's children and thinking of her own lack of grandsons or granddaughters makes her uneasy.

In the previous life, Chai Mi remembers this matter got more and more severe later on, severe to the point Su Jin even had some mental confusion.

And Chai Mi's maternal uncle Liu Qiyuan was even more severe; in the later stage, he'd get drunk whenever he drank, and cry when drunk — eventually no one dared invite him to eat anymore.

So after weighing it all, Chai Mi had Chai Xiu come call her maternal aunt.

"Then maternal aunt, you keep an eye on Xiu'er, don't let Xiu'er run around."

Su Jin agreed.

So Chai Mi left her maternal aunt's house. Turned around and went home.

Arriving home, Chai Mi discovered Liu Zhijing had also returned driving a tractor. So Chai Mi called Liu Zhijing along to eat at her table.

"Chai Mi, I'm going back to Zhang Shunshu's place. Zhang Shunshu said that chicken should've been given to Song Qiushui……"

"And then?"

"After that…… I can't say Zhang Shunshu lied, but Song Qiushui says it wasn't given. I can't just pay out of pocket to buy three big roosters……" Liu Zhijing looked like he wanted to cry but had no tears. "Wait, help me out — just say one of these was the one that made Song Qiushui faint at the sight of blood……"

"Deal."