Chapter 57: Are you sick in the head?

Cheng Yuzhu frowned and said, "I asked, but she didn't tell me."

Upon learning that was the case.

Qiao Sheng said, "Since that's the case, don't ask me anymore. If your sister really needs your help, she'll definitely tell you."

Cheng Yuzhu didn't say anything else.

They arrived at the shop.

Cheng Yuzhu looked around and said, "The shop you rented is a bit small."

"That's true, but the location is good."

Qiao Sheng replied casually.

Cheng Yuzhu and his crew needed to pick a day to start work; he checked the almanac and said, "The day after tomorrow is a good day to begin work. How about starting work formally the day after tomorrow?"

"Sure, I don't know how much it will cost, and do you need me to prepare lunch for you?"

Qiao Sheng asked Cheng Yuzhu as he spoke.

Cheng Yuzhu said in a moderate tone, "Normally you need to prepare a lunch; what exactly to eat is up to you, anything goes. But if you don't have time to prepare, it can be counted toward the wages: at forty wen per day, or if you have us handle it outright, six hundred fifty wen will do."

Usually the fee would be eight hundred wen.

Cheng Yuzhu, considering Qiao Sheng's close relationship with his sister, charged a bit less than usual.

Qiao Sheng pondered for a moment and said, "Just have you handle it all; I'll prepare the lunch."

"Good!"

Cheng Yuzhu agreed.

At first, Qiao Sheng didn't know the situation in Cheng Yuzhu's household.

After getting along for a few days,

listening to his foreman talk about his family affairs, he learned that Cheng Yuzhu had a jealous wife; they had been married for seven years and had three children, two sons and a daughter.

Despite that,

his wife still couldn't rest easy about him.

When Qiao Sheng first heard this, he found it a bit amusing, until that day a round-faced woman blocked her path.

"Are you Qiao Sheng?"

"Who are you?"

Qiao Sheng sized her up, realized he didn't know her, and asked.

The round-faced woman puffed out her chest, looked at Qiao Sheng, and said, "Who am I? I am Cheng Yuzhu's wife, Hao Meili!"

"How beautiful?"

"Must be Hao Meili?"

"So you're the sister-in-law..."

Qiao Sheng immediately said.

Hao Meili gave Qiao Sheng a sideways glance: "Are you calling me sister-in-law? I don't have a sister like you. I came to find you to warn you to stay away from my husband."

If she had spoken politely, Qiao Sheng might have been courteous.

She said that.

How could Qiao Sheng possibly be courteous to her?

"Are you sick in the head? What have I done? You tell me to stay away from my husband, treating him like silver or gold that everyone desires?"

"Instead of coming here to say this to me, you'd better go find your husband and tell him not to take any jobs at other people's houses where there are women."

"You..."

Hao Meili's chest heaved with anger.

Qiao Sheng retorted: "You, you what you, I hate people like you who pick fights for no reason. If you keep this up, don't blame me for being rude!"

The words fell.

Qiao Sheng raised his small fists.

Hao Meili still didn't believe it, thinking Qiao Sheng could truly be her match.

Relying on being older than her,

Hao Meili lunged at Qiao Sheng.

Qiao Sheng nimbly dodged, not giving Hao Meili a chance to strike again.

She kicked her in the buttocks.

The kick sent her staggering.

Had she not grabbed hold in time, she would have fallen to the ground.

"Convinced? If not, come again?"

Hao Meili broke free, looking at Qiao Sheng with a complex expression: "My husband really wouldn't take a liking to you?"

"Still worried?"

Qiao Sheng said seriously: "He has a wife as beautiful as you—who would he look at? Besides, you've borne him several children; who would be so foolish as to want to become a stepmother to your kids?"

(End of chapter)