Chapter 17 The Man's Innocence
Yu Junsheng and Cheng Jiajia quickly went back to their room to put down their things, and then rushed to the public toilet battlefield. Unexpectedly, they heard this sentence as soon as they arrived.
What the heck?!
Is it that exciting?!
Cheng Jiajia's gaze darted back and forth between Zheng Haiyang and Bao Dayan, her eyes sparkling with excited gossip.
Yu Junsheng stared at Zheng Haiyang and Bao Dayan in disbelief. This was truly unexpected! He had only plotted to have Zheng Haiyang come as a scapegoat and, incidentally, to annoy Bao Dayan!
Who would have thought? Who would have thought this?
These two have progressed so quickly, they've actually gotten to this point?
So, can Zheng Haiyang and Jiang Qiubai's marriage still go through?
These two absolutely must not separate! Not only Yu Junsheng, but even Cheng Jiajia is silently praying that these two will stay together forever and not go around teasing others.
As Zheng Haiyang shouted, the surrounding crowd fell silent.
Zheng Haiyang loudly explained, "Bao Dayan and I are completely innocent; we have absolutely no improper relationship!"
"Everyone, please don't misunderstand!"
"I'm not that kind of frivolous person!"
What's the big deal about Bao Dayan touching him? He's a grown man, and even if they had a relationship, he's still innocent.
How could a perfectly upright young man like him get involved with a widow like Bao Dayan?
He and Bao Dayan must be completely innocent, and can only be completely innocent.
He explained very earnestly, "Really, you have to believe me, you must believe me, I really have nothing to do with her!"
Zheng Haiyang found that even after his explanation, everyone remained silent and looked at him strangely.
"We know, we know. You're innocent. You're the one who was wronged. Nothing happened between you and Bao Dayan. After all, it's not a glorious thing for a man to be slept with by a woman, hehe~ We can all understand~ hehe~" someone said with a lewd laugh.
"That's right, that's right. Now everyone knows about it. Haiyang has had a tough time too. Don't worry, Haiyang, we've been neighbors for so many years, we definitely won't tell anyone." Someone patted their chest and assured them.
Then everyone exchanged knowing glances with Zheng Haiyang and Bao Dayan, gave an awkward laugh, and said, "Uh, Haiyang, my child is calling me home, I have to go back and check on them." After saying that, they disappeared in a flash.
An old woman slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "Oh dear, my grandson is crying at home! I have to go check on him right away!"
Then several others made excuses about having family matters to attend to and quickly slipped away.
The main point is to avoid getting involved with Zheng Haiyang.
"What's there to argue about?" someone muttered under their breath. "If nothing had really happened, would Aunt Chang and your boyfriend have been chasing after Bao Dayan and beating her up like that?"
"Would Bao Dayan really compensate your family? It's only 5 yuan, enough to buy more than 30 jin of rice. Who would give that away for free? She must be feeling guilty to compensate like that!"
"We just need to know. Haiyang has been wronged, so don't go around rubbing salt in his wounds."
Zheng Haiyang heard it clearly.
Zheng Haiyang's vision went black.
Zheng Haiyang was unable to defend himself.
Zheng Haiyang screamed in exasperation, "Ahhh!"
Zheng Haiyang never expected that because of the 5 yuan his mother extorted from Bao Dayan, not only would his innocence be "gone," but he would also be unable to get along with Bao Dayan from then on. Whenever Bao Dayan was mentioned in front of him, someone would show a meaningful smile.
On the other side, Bao Dayan racked her brains but still couldn't figure out why she had arranged to meet Yu Junsheng but was waiting for Zheng Haiyang instead, and why her little note had ended up in Zheng Haiyang's hands.
However, what she hates most now is Chang Dafeng and her mother-in-law, and Zheng Haiyang, that despicable man. When she first hugged him, he didn't push her away. Does he think everyone knows what he's up to? Now that things are not going well, he's using her reputation to get rid of himself completely. What a despicable person!
She stared gloomily at the family of three, thinking, "Just you wait, I'll make those who bullied me pay."
Cheng Jiajia was like a weasel in a melon patch, her shifty eyes darting from one thing to another, never getting enough of the sights!
This courtyard is truly extraordinary; the melons inside are absolutely amazing!
However, she was very curious whether these two actually had... hehe.
Her gossipy heart was itching to know the whole story, and her eyes kept searching around.
Yu Junsheng knew what she was up to as soon as he saw her sneaky look, so he considerately led her through the crowd and squeezed her next to Aunt Cao.
Cheng Jiajia raised an eyebrow and glanced at him. This guy's got it; he's pretty savvy.
Cheng Jiajia's eyes darted around, and she pulled out a few fruit candies she had just bought that day from her pocket. She then casually linked arms with Aunt Cao and said sweetly, "Auntie, what's going on here? You know so much, please tell us!"
Aunt Cao's eyes lit up. She looked around furtively, then quickly took the candy and stuffed it into her pocket. With a warm smile, she said, "Oh, Junsheng, you really didn't choose the wrong person! You're such a good kid!"
"Let me tell you..."
"Oh my god? Really... They actually..." Cheng Jiajia cooperated with Aunt Cao, making various shocked expressions, and the two whispered about Zheng Haiyang being... well, you know... by Bao Dayan.
According to Aunt Cao's speculation, "These two probably didn't do anything. Auntie's eyes are sharp; their clothes weren't torn open, and there was nothing unusual on their faces. Even if Zheng Haiyang wasn't capable, it shouldn't have been like that. It should have lasted at least three to five minutes."
Who says people these days are conservative? Look at how Aunt Cao drives! Cheng Jiajia wasn't shy at all. She chuckled, "So it really is like Zheng Haiyang said, that they're completely innocent?" Is there anything going on between them? She was dying of curiosity. How did these two get together?
Yu Junsheng: He kept his merits and fame hidden.
Aunt Cao spat disdainfully, "Don't listen to Zheng Haiyang's blabbering. Even if this didn't happen, those two are definitely not innocent! Otherwise, Chang Dafeng wouldn't have admitted to framing Bao Dayan." She knew that this girl wasn't as honest and timid as she seemed. In the years since her husband died, her shifty eyes had always been darting around the unmarried young men in the courtyard. She was clearly up to no good.
Looking at it today, sure enough, sure enough!
Bao Dayan boldly set her sights on the unmarried young men in the courtyard!
When those eyes dart around, they're probably thinking about how to take advantage of someone!
I never expected that Zheng Haiyang would be the first to suffer.
Aunt Cao's shrewd old eyes gleamed with gossip. "No, I have to talk to someone about this, otherwise I won't feel at ease!"
Fortunately, there were no unmarried young men in her family, otherwise Bao Dayan would have made fun of her.
Aunt Cao was quite a character. Before leaving, she gave Yu Junsheng a meaningful look and left Cheng Jiajia with the words, "Little Cheng, you'd better keep a close eye on your Junsheng. Don't let anyone take advantage of him. A man's innocence is his innocence!"
Yu Junsheng's face darkened. "!!!"
Cheng Jiajia didn't care about the unpleasant expression on the faces of the people next to her; she was quite satisfied with having enjoyed the whole melon.
Out of the corner of her eye, Cheng Jiajia caught a glimpse of Bao Dayan's youngest daughter, Bao Xinxin, glaring fiercely at Chang Dafeng and Zheng Haiyang's backs. Cheng Jiajia was startled. This child, with those eyes, was no ordinary person. Indeed, this compound was full of hidden talents, and no one should be underestimated.
She had a vague premonition that Chang Dafeng was about to be in trouble.
...
The farce of two women fighting over one man ended with Bao Dayan paying the Zheng family 5 yuan in compensation. Although everyone agreed not to spread the news, well, how could they keep it to themselves?
What a strange thing it is that this honest, simple widow did that to Zheng Haiyang, a grown man!
The story spread like wildfire, and soon everyone in the neighborhood knew about it. They were all very curious about the two main characters, and some even went to the No. 35 compound to see what kind of amazing man the young widow had forced herself on, much to Zheng Haiyang's annoyance.
At the same time, Bao Dayan's reputation for having ulterior motives towards the young men in the compound spread. The unmarried young men in the compound were filled with fear. Whenever they saw Bao Dayan, they would run away in fright as if they had seen a ghost, for fear of being targeted by her and falling into her clutches.
Of course, that's a story for another time.
Right now, the male protagonist of this story is on his way to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get his marriage certificate with his girlfriend.
It has to be said that Jiang Qiubai's stomach is quite good. His stomach was originally hurting terribly, but after fighting with Bao Dayan, the pain miraculously disappeared, and he no longer felt the urgent urge to go to the toilet. The next day, he was still full of energy and went to get the marriage certificate with Zheng Haiyang.
Just like Cheng Jiajia and her husband, the two of them went to the department store to buy wedding supplies after getting their marriage certificate.
To be honest, Zheng Haiyang hadn't originally planned to buy anything. He already had everything at home, so what was there to buy? Wouldn't that be a waste of money? Well, as expected of Aunt Chang's son, he really inherited his mother Chang Dafeng's consistent style.
But now the situation has changed, hasn't it?
Although Jiang Qiubai trusted Zheng Haiyang and beat up Bao Dayan that day, who knows if she might resent him in her heart?
Moreover, there's the precedent of Yu Junsheng buying so many things for Cheng Jiajia.
To be fair, although Cheng Jiajia and Yu Junsheng tried to avoid people that day, it wasn't like no one saw them. It's just that everyone was busy gossiping about Zheng Haiyang and Bao Dayan these past few days and didn't pay much attention to them. But Zheng Haiyang is different. He cares a lot about everything about Yu Junsheng and secretly compares himself to him. How could he let himself be outdone? Naturally, he's keeping a close eye on him all the time.
Zheng Haiyang was also afraid that Jiang Qiubai would feel too disappointed and dissatisfied with him if he found out, which would cause changes in his work. So he had to find someone to exchange some receipts and bring people out to buy a few things he needed.
Jiang Qiubai had no idea that today's trip to the department store was a way of compensating and comforting her; she thought that was exactly what Zheng Haiyang had planned.
She felt incredibly sweet inside, thinking that she had truly found the right person, and that Haiyang really considered her needs in everything he did.
I'm also very glad that I didn't have a falling out with Haiyang yesterday because of Bao Dayan's matter.
Who doesn't want to use new things when they get married?
Jiang Qiubai was no exception; she would buy whatever other people bought for their weddings.
The enamel basin, new towel, toothpaste, and toothbrush cost less than thirty yuan, but Jiang Qiubai was already very satisfied. After all, Haiyang's money wasn't easy to earn, and she understood that he had to support his family and had a heavy burden on his shoulders. She couldn't just joke around; she wasn't the kind of woman who didn't know how to manage a household.
Jiang Qiubai inwardly scorned Cheng Jiajia. Yes, Jiang Qiubai knew that Yu Junsheng had taken Cheng Jiajia to buy a lot of nice things yesterday, and she was extremely jealous. A sour feeling welled up inside her, and she couldn't help but think, "If only Yu Junsheng hadn't changed partners, would all these things be mine now?" She quickly suppressed this thought. How could she think like that? Her Haiyang brother was the best man in the world, incomparable to a stingy, useless man like Yu Junsheng!
Yu Junsheng is only good enough for a woman like Cheng Jiajia who has nothing but a pretty face. A virtuous and good woman like herself would never be interested in him!
She even cursed in her heart that someone like Cheng Jiajia, who encouraged men to spend money extravagantly, and someone as stingy as Yu Junsheng, would definitely not last long!
As they passed a counter, Jiang Qiubai couldn't help but purse her lips. "Brother Haiyang, I heard that applying snow cream makes your skin really good, keeping it moisturized and not dry at all even in winter. Let's go buy a box and try it." She remembered that Cheng Jiajia had this scent, which Yu Junsheng must have bought for her. For some reason, Jiang Qiubai also wanted Zheng Haiyang to buy it for her.
Upon hearing this, Zheng Haiyang's expression stiffened for a moment, but then he said affectionately, "Qiu Bai, in my heart you are the most beautiful. Why do you need those external things to embellish yourself? Those who use those things are just cowards who lack self-confidence and dare not face their own shortcomings. Qiu Bai, in my heart, you have always been a brave and confident girl, and you would never be a coward."
Jiang Qiubai, who had initially felt a pang of jealousy, was now both shy and sweet after hearing his words. She had no interest in buying face cream anymore and gave Zheng Haiyang a reproachful look, "Am I really that good?"
"Of course, you're the most beautiful in my heart."
Jiang Qiubai's lips curled up slightly, but when she saw her rough, cracked hands, she felt a pang of sadness. "My hands are so ugly." At home, she not only had to cook but also wash the family's clothes. In winter, she dared not use hot water to save coal, and her hands were red and rough from the cold, with some places oozing yellow pus, which made her feel very inferior.
Zheng Haiyang noticed it too, but he quickly looked away after a glance and said considerately, "Then let's go buy a box of clam oil to try. I heard it's very effective for treating chapped skin. With it, your skin won't crack anymore when you do housework. I feel sorry for you." Clam oil costing three cents is cheaper than face cream costing a few cents, and it will also prevent her hands from oozing pus, which would be disgusting to look at.
"Comrade, could you please give us a box of clam oil? Thank you."
With a loud thud, a box of clam oil shaped like a seashell slammed heavily onto the counter. The sales clerk rolled her eyes and said sarcastically, "Three cents a minute, no credit!"
In an instant, Jiang Qiubai's face flushed red as she glared angrily at the sales clerk. "How dare you talk like that? Who do you think you are?! Who asked for credit?" Her Haiyang brother was the best man in the world—generous, righteous, responsible, and dependable. How could this person slander his character like that?!
Zheng Haiyang's face was also very bad. How could a grown man like him be mocked for buying on credit? Where was his pride?
The sales clerk immediately raised an eyebrow. "Hey, comrade, explain yourself! How did I look down on you? Our department store doesn't offer credit. I kindly reminded you, and you didn't appreciate it, but now you're slandering me! I've never seen anyone like you before, you're really biting the hand that feeds you!"
She spoke quickly and urgently, rattling off a barrage of rebuttals. Jiang Qiubai was no match for her. She trembled with anger, "You...you clearly didn't mean that! You're clearly insulting me!"
"I didn't insult anyone!" The saleswoman rolled her eyes at the two of them, speaking with righteous indignation. She was just reminding them; how could that be considered insulting?
Don't think she didn't hear what that man just said. It's like he's seen it all before her eyes. Fine, you're stingy, but why all the fuss about this and that, and even dragging other women who use face cream into it? What, did they eat your food or steal your ancestral graves by using face cream?
Cowards who dare not face their own shortcomings, ugh!
I heard these two just got married, and I've never seen such a stingy man!
This girl is really dim-witted; she was easily fooled by a man's few words. She's utterly despicable!
Jiang Qiubai was about to say something when Zheng Haiyang, with a dark face, pulled her back. He took out three cents and slammed them heavily on the counter, saying in a deep voice, "Comrade, keep it safe. It's only three cents. We're not going to extend credit."
"Hmph! Pay up and hurry up, don't hold up the people behind you!" the saleswoman said irritably. What's with the attitude? It's only three cents, why are you making it sound like it's thirty dollars!
He dresses himself up so well, but he won't even buy his new wife a face cream. Pshaw!
After this incident, Jiang Qiubai, who was holding a box of clam oil, was naturally not in a good mood, especially when she saw a woman wearing a newly bought mechanical watch and a happy smile on her lips walk past her.
These days, it's fashionable for young women to wear a mechanical watch on their wrist, and Jiang Qiubai is no exception. She looked at the woman in front of her with envy.
"When will Haiyang buy me a mechanical watch?" Jiang Qiubai was startled.
No, no, how could she think like that? How could she be worthy of Haiyang's kindness to her if she thought like that?
Haiyang Ge earns money with difficulty and has to support his family. She can't be so selfish. She's not the kind of woman who doesn't know how to manage a household.
Jiang Qiu glared at the woman who was wearing a watch as she walked by, thinking bitterly, "A woman who squanders a man's money like this won't last long!"
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