Chapter Fifty-Seven: You've gone too far, haven't you?!
As soon as Zhong Chengyi finished speaking, Song Xingzhi chuckled and turned his gaze to him leisurely, with a hint of mockery.
"oh?"
"Chatting with you?"
Song Xingzhi slowly dusted off non-existent dust from the corner of his clothes, but his eyes glanced at Zhang Chunxue and Zhou Mingli, who were busy at the stove.
"I think chatting with Sister Chunxue and the others about their wives and everyday things is much more interesting than going to 'chat with men' with you."
He paused, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.
"Besides, when I chat with you, who knows when you'll find some 'small mistake' and pin a big label on me."
Zhong Chengyi's smile froze, as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water over his head.
Song Xingzhi's words were clearly a reference to his past.
Back then, because someone made a baseless accusation that Song Xingzhi was hiding some books, Zhong Chengyi, young and impetuous, got carried away and actually led a few people to Song Xingzhi's dormitory at the brigade headquarters, turning his pitiful belongings upside down.
The result was naturally that they found nothing and ended up slinking away in disgrace.
This matter has always been a thorn in Zhong Chengyi's side that he doesn't want to talk about.
At this moment, when Song Xingzhi pointed at him so casually in front of his mother and second sister-in-law, his still somewhat boyish face turned bright red instantly, the blush spreading all the way to his ears.
“That…that…” Zhong Chengyi stammered, his eyes darting around, so embarrassed he wished the ground would crack open so he could crawl into it.
He stammered for a long time before finally managing to say, "Secretary Song, you...you just love making fun of me! I'll go...I'll go chop some firewood!"
Before he could finish speaking, Zhong Chengyi dashed out of the kitchen like his pants were on fire, running towards the woodpile in the corner of the yard, leaving everyone in the house looking at each other in bewilderment.
As soon as Zhong Chengyi's disheveled figure disappeared into the corner of the yard, the atmosphere in the kitchen froze for a moment.
Zhang Chunxue burst out laughing, breaking the silence.
She shook her head and said to Song Xingzhi, "That brat, after that incident back then, I pinned him down in the main room and whipped him with bamboo strips until he screamed like a banshee. But afterwards, he still obediently knelt before me for half the night."
Song Xingzhi smiled and said gently, "I've heard about it."
He paused, then said with a hint of relief, "Just consider it as Sister Chunxue avenging me and venting my anger."
Zhang Chunxue raised an eyebrow, and the helplessness on her face caused by her son's embarrassment dissipated, replaced by a more cheerful expression.
"He deserved it! He acted without thinking and was used as a pawn!"
Zhou Mingli listened quietly from the side, a smile playing on her lips, clearly also recalling what happened back then.
She had just married Zhong Chengren at that time!
Thinking back to how the two of them were so sweet and loving back then, but now things have turned out like this... Zhou Mingli felt a little sad.
Zhong Xiaoxiao, on the other hand, had a "my brother is such a disgrace" expression on her face and secretly stuck out her tongue.
No sooner had he finished speaking than footsteps sounded at the courtyard gate, more composed than Zhong Chengyi's.
"Mom, I'm back! The team distributed some fish today, and I brought them home!"
Before he arrived, his voice preceded his arrival, revealing a hint of smugness.
Zhong Chengfa strode into the kitchen carrying a grass carp that was still wagging its tail.
When he looked up and saw Song Xingzhi, he was taken aback at first, but then his face was filled with a warm smile.
"Oh my! Clerk Song is here too! What a rare guest!"
His bright, darting eyes swept over Song Xingzhi, his mind racing with calculations.
This Clerk Song is quite capable; he even managed to get someone like my second sister-in-law admitted to the hospital. If you curry favor with him...
Zhong Chengfa's heart immediately burned with excitement.
He threw the fish into the bucket, not even bothering to wash his hands, and moved closer to Song Xingzhi.
"Secretary Song, you are truly a great benefactor to our family!"
"Look at my second sister-in-law, how presentable she is now! It's all thanks to you!"
He spoke with spittle flying, his tone exaggerated to the point of being almost obsequious.
"Let me tell you, my second sister-in-law used to be... well, let's not talk about it! Now, thanks to you, our whole family is grateful to you!"
Song Xingzhi simply smiled faintly, but his eyes subtly swept over Zhang Chunxue.
Zhong Chengfa was completely oblivious and continued to flatter Song: "Secretary Song, you see, I'm just sitting at home all day with nothing to do, and I have so much energy that I don't know where to use it."
"You're incredibly resourceful, could you... also show me the way?"
He rubbed his hands together, his face full of anticipation, almost as if he wanted to say, "Get me a job too."
Zhang Chunxue's face darkened, and her brows furrowed into a knot.
"Zhong Chengfa!" She slammed her hand on the cutting board, making the bowls and plates on it jump.
"Get out of here!"
"Can't you see they're busy cooking here? Stop blocking the way!"
"Looking for work? There's plenty of firewood in the backyard, go chop some! Or you can feed the pigs!"
Zhong Chengfa trembled at the shout, his smile froze, and he awkwardly touched his nose.
"Mom, I was just... talking to Clerk Song..."
"What are you talking about! Spit it out, and then get lost!" Zhang Chunxue showed no mercy, her eyes like knives.
Zhong Chengfa was rebuffed and dared not say another word. He glanced at Song Xingzhi sullenly and slunk out of the kitchen.
The kitchen had only been quiet for a short while when the last troublesome one returned.
Zhong Chengren slumped his head and slowly moved into the yard, where he immediately spotted Song Xingzhi in the kitchen.
He paused, his face turning pale and then flushed.
Thinking about how he had gossiped about Song Xingzhi in front of his mother that afternoon, Zhong Chengren felt his face burning with embarrassment.
He shuffled to the kitchen doorway, his voice barely audible, "Clerk Song...Clerk Song."
After greeting him, he felt that he was acting too cowardly and not like a real man.
His eyes darted around and he spotted Zhou Mingli washing vegetables with her head down next to him. A surge of anger immediately found an outlet.
"You jinx!" Zhong Chengren suddenly raised his voice and started cursing at Zhou Mingli.
"What are you standing there for? Don't you have any manners? Where's the tea? Don't you know to pour tea for Secretary Song?"
"All you do all day is eat and drink for free at home, you can't even lay an egg, what's the use of raising you!"
Zhou Mingli was stunned by his sudden insults, and the vegetables in her hand fell into the basin, splashing water out.
She suddenly raised her head, her eyes instantly reddening, her lips trembling, and tears welling up in her eyes, threatening to fall.
“I…” She wanted to argue, but couldn’t utter a single word.
"Zhong Chengren!"
Zhang Chunxue's angry shout was like a thunderclap from a clear sky!
The cleaver in her hand slammed down on the cutting board with a loud clang, sending half a piece of tofu flying.
"You little beast! You've gone too far, haven't you?!"
She rushed over and grabbed the iron tongs used for igniting the stove.
"I'm going to teach you a lesson today, you ungrateful wretch!"
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