Chapter 168 You're Amazing
Another auntie, with sharp eyes, pointed at Qin Haifeng's bright red ears and neck, laughing so hard she almost fell over, "As red as a monkey's bottom! Hahaha!"
These words were like adding fuel to the fire! Qin Haifeng felt his face flush even more intensely! He forced a polite but stiff smile, nodded vaguely to the crowd, and then—
With a sudden burst of power, the bicycle shot off like an arrow, speeding away from the spot.
The Qin family courtyard.
Shi Hanqiao and Qin Erni were not home, and the yard was quiet.
"Let's go inside and talk." Qin Haifeng's voice still carried a slight, almost imperceptible breathlessness.
Lin Baozhu jumped out of the car, put her hands behind her back, and followed him briskly, curiously looking around at this place she had never set foot in before.
The two entered the house one after the other, and Qin Haifeng fumbled to light the kerosene lamp on the table. The dim, flickering flame dispelled the darkness, casting a hazy glow that bathed the small room in a soft and ambiguous light.
The room was small and simply furnished.
The most conspicuous thing was a plank bed against the wall, about 1.5 meters wide and 2 meters long. It was covered with faded sheets and the army green quilt was folded into a neat square.
A faint, clean scent of mint lingered in the air, mixed with the smell of sun-dried cotton fabric—a scent unique to Qin Haifeng.
Against the other wall was a small square table with an enamel mug and a kettle on it.
Qin Haifeng stood by the table, picked up the kettle, poured Lin Baozhu a cup of water, and gently pushed the teacup towards her. He took a deep breath, lowered his voice, and said solemnly:
"The phone call Zhao Xiaoyu made... was actually to 'tell someone's fortune'."
He paused, then lowered his voice even further: "I can't tell you who that person is. You just need to know that everyone is avoiding that family now; no one dares to provoke them for fear of being targeted."
“We were also… forced by circumstances.” His tone was helpless.
"Ha, they still dare to practice feudal superstition now? They've got some nerve."
Lin Baozhu chuckled, her tone slightly sarcastic: "But her 'what the hell' approach actually turned this dead end into a winning one! Impressive!"
Qin Haifeng sneered: "Officially, the higher-ups don't allow it, but how many of those people down there really don't believe in superstitions? Aren't there plenty of people secretly burning incense and praying to Buddha on the first and fifteenth of the lunar month? And who doesn't know one or two so-called 'masters'?"
As he spoke, his gaze swept over Lin Baozhu, and he added, "By the way, Commander Wei asked me to pass on a message: as long as you keep your hands clean and don't leave any evidence, you can do whatever you want with the Bi family. But don't touch Zhao Xiaoyu for now. The person above... values her highly right now."
Lin Baozhu tapped her fingertips lightly on the table: "I thought I'd be lucky to escape with my life this time, maybe even spend ten or eight years in reformatory work at a farm. Hey, it turned out they just 'took a sip' of prison and came out right after dusting themselves off!"
She then frowned and continued, "I don't believe Zhao Xiaoyu really understands metaphysics... but how exactly did she get involved with that big shot in Beijing?"
Although Qin Haifeng didn't explicitly say so, the only people everyone feared were a few in the capital. He wouldn't reveal their identities, and she didn't press the matter—with her current strength, even if she knew, she couldn't shake them in the slightest.
'Instead of dwelling on this, let's dig deep into Zhao Xiaoyu's past! Let's see what tricks this woman is up to! Then we can launch a precise strike!'
She picked up her teacup and took a sip. As she looked up, she met Qin Haifeng's burning gaze. In the dim light, the emotions in his eyes were not clear, but his gaze was so intense it seemed to be branding a mark on her heart.
"Ahem!" Lin Baozhu coughed lightly, steer the conversation back to the main topic, "When are they coming back?"
"Barring any unforeseen circumstances, tomorrow."
“Well, it just so happens that I don’t have to go to the factory these two days.” Lin Baozhu put down her teacup, stood up, and a cold smile appeared on her lips. “Perfect, I can free up my hands to ‘properly’ welcome them.”
After saying that, he put down the cup and chuckled, "I know what I need to know. It's getting late, I still have to go to the cowshed."
She's been so busy lately with her promise to study medicine with Master Yan that she's been working non-stop. Tonight, she needs to bring something to apologize.
“I haven’t seen Old Yan for a while either, let’s go together.” Qin Haifeng followed.
Instead of riding bicycles, the two walked side by side out of the village in the dim night.
They encountered many villagers seeking respite from the heat along the way, who greeted them with smiles. Lin Baozhu responded readily, chatting and laughing; Qin Haifeng, however, remained somewhat embarrassed, his cheeks flushed slightly in the night.
Passing by the Lin family's house, Lin Baozhu ran inside and soon came out carrying a small basket containing a bag of freshly made cornbread and some fragrant dried meat that her mother had dried.
The two arrived at the cowshed, and Lin Baozhu was quite surprised by the changes inside—the dilapidated fence gate that used to collapse with a push had been replaced by a sturdier wooden door. Although the windows were still old, the paper window coverings were intact, without a single hole.
Looking through the open window, Old Yan was sitting at a square table. Compared to his previous haggard appearance, the old man's complexion was now much rosier, and his cheeks were noticeably fuller. A man was sitting opposite him, his back to the door, so it was impossible to tell who he was.
Lin Baozhu looked at Qin Haifeng in surprise: "I've only been busy for a few days and haven't been here. What... happened?"
Qin Haifeng chuckled: "Ever since Old Yan's reputation for curing 'men's diseases' spread, the men in the village have all come back to life! After work and after meals, they love to come here to help repair doors, patch windows, and deliver firewood or something."
His eyes held a mischievous glint: "You know what, Old Yan's medical skills are truly miraculous! Have you noticed that several women in their forties in the village have recently been rumored to be pregnant!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Baozhu raised an eyebrow and slowly, with a hint of mockery, scanned Qin Haifeng's waist and abdomen down, finally settling on his crotch.
"And what about you?" she drawled. "Do you also need to see Old Master Yan? He's a cure-all, and he's honest and reliable! He might even give you a discount because of me!"
Qin Haifeng's face stiffened, then he glared and gritted his teeth, saying, "I'm... really... good!!" A man's dignity, especially in front of her, must never be questioned!
Seeing his reaction, Lin Baozhu smiled wickedly, took a step closer, lowered her voice, and teased him seductively, "I know~ I know you're 'good'~ Seven times a night is no problem for you!"
After saying that, while Qin Haifeng was still in a daze, she grabbed the basket and ran away in a flash—
She wanted to take advantage of the fact that no one was around to put the things into the small kitchen in the cowshed!
Although Old Master Yan and Zhang Wenzhuo's situation has improved a lot, they still have to avoid people when delivering things to avoid causing unnecessary trouble.
Lin Baozhu tiptoed to the small kitchen next door and gently pushed open the door. On the small stove, there were a few handfuls of fresh wild vegetables and several flatbreads made from a mixture of wheat, water, and vegetables. Inside the stove, a few embers still flickered in the ashes…
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com