Chapter 60: Stay at My Place
In an instant, the entire crowd was struck dumb with shock!
The members of the Jin family, who had just been itching for a fight, now stood rooted to the spot, completely cowed.
“My goodness, what just happened?”
“Did Xiaofan just crush the handle of a hoe with his bare hands?”
“That grip is terrifying!”
“When did he become so formidable?”
The crowd erupted in astonishment. Li Bixian, looking at Zeng Xiaofan’s imposing figure, felt an overwhelming sense of security blossom in her heart.
Even Ye Shuilian’s breath quickened, her eyes shining as she watched him. She had always looked down on this poor young man, never allowing her daughter to associate with him too much.
But today, everything changed.
In the span of just one day, Zeng Xiaofan had spent four hundred thousand for their family.
And now, he had singlehandedly stunned the entire crowd!
Everyone began to reassess this young man:
“How did I never notice before? He’s actually quite handsome...”
“Who would have thought he’d be such a man’s man—so commanding, so strong-willed...”
As Ye Shuilian watched, her cheeks flushed redder than her daughter’s.
Jin Youcai’s face was twisted in humiliation and anger, but though he seethed inside, he didn’t dare take another step forward.
The other clan members, catching sight of the murderous look in Zeng Xiaofan’s eyes, quickly snapped out of their stupor, hastily tossing aside whatever weapons they held and backing away:
“Well... Village Chief, I haven’t fed my pigs yet... I’d better go home and do that first~”
“Oh right! I haven’t fed my chickens either! I’ll head home too~”
“Yeah, yeah... I haven’t fed my wife yet, I’d better go home as well...”
Jin Youcai’s relatives weren’t fools; they all knew how to judge the wind and set their sails accordingly. Seeing that there was nothing to be gained from crossing Zeng Xiaofan, each of them beat a hasty retreat.
In no time at all, only Jin Youcai and his half-witted son remained.
“Fine! Zeng Xiaofan! You dare meddle in my affairs!”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
With a few venomous words, Jin Youcai shot Li Bixian a resentful glance, then slunk away, unwilling but unable to do more.
The onlookers, seeing this, broke into spontaneous applause for Zeng Xiaofan.
Only then did the tension in Li Bixian’s heart finally ease.
“Thank you... Xiaofan...”
“Don’t worry, I’ve remembered this twenty thousand you gave me! I’ll pay you back, bit by bit.”
Zeng Xiaofan smiled gently. “Silly girl, why are you talking about repayment with me?”
“Besides, that money isn’t all mine—you have a share in it too!”
“Huh? My share? How could that be... I never gave you any money...”
“Have you forgotten that night you helped me catch frogs?”
“I sold them for tens of thousands! Half of it is yours, so you’ve got several thousand coming!”
Li Bixian shook her head with a smile. “That’s impossible!”
“Even if they’re wild frogs, a hundred per pound would be the most you could get—how could you have made tens of thousands?”
“You’re just trying to comfort me, aren’t you? You think I can’t pay you back?”
“It’s fine. If I really can’t repay you, I can always find another way...”
As she spoke, Li Bixian shot him a mischievous look.
Zeng Xiaofan instantly understood, grinning sheepishly.
“No, really—I’m not lying. I sold them as part of a prescription...”
He recounted to Li Bixian how he had sold the frogs that day. She listened, her jaw dropping in disbelief.
“Seriously, Xiaofan? Since when did your skills in Chinese medicine become so impressive?”
“You could diagnose people’s ailments just by glancing at them?”
Zeng Xiaofan smiled. “It’s all thanks to you, Sister Xian. If it weren’t for those days you spent helping me learn the pressure points...”
“If you hadn’t encouraged and accompanied me, I could never have mastered so much!”
“In fact, half of my medical knowledge comes from you!”
“So, please—don’t talk about paying me back anymore.”
He spoke with heartfelt earnestness, and indeed, his opportunities had begun with those days spent studying with Li Bixian in the farmhouse. In a way, it was truly thanks to her that his fortunes had changed, so his words weren’t entirely untrue.
“All right, enough talk. You’re soaked—you’d better go home and take a hot shower before you catch a cold!”
Frowning slightly, Zeng Xiaofan glanced at Ye Shuilian and Li Dagou, then said in a low, stern voice:
“Tonight, you’re coming home with me, so certain people don’t get any more ideas!”
“Li Dagou, let me warn you—if you ever dare force my Sister Xian again, I won’t let you off!”
At the fierceness in Zeng Xiaofan’s tone, Li Dagou’s knees buckled—he wouldn’t dare disobey now.
Ye Shuilian, who had never truly wanted her daughter to marry the village chief’s foolish son but had been forced by circumstances, had nothing more to say.
With that, Zeng Xiaofan took Li Bixian by the arm and brought her to Aunt Yao’s house.
When Bai Qingyao heard what had happened to Li Bixian, she didn’t hesitate to offer her own clothes and said warmly,
“Don’t worry, dear, you’re welcome to stay as long as you like!”
“And your mother—honestly, how could she do such a foolish thing!”
“As for that Jin Youcai, with his shifty eyes—he’s been caught peeping at women bathing more than once. What sort of good man could he possibly be?”
Bai Qingyao was indignant on Li Bixian’s behalf, and after Li Bixian had bathed, she pulled her aside for a long chat.
Watching the two women’s easy intimacy, Zeng Xiaofan found a strange thought popping into his mind:
These two really were each beautiful in her own way—one dignified and mature, the other voluptuous and alluring...
If only they could both be mine...
If only they could both serve me together...
“My god... Zeng Xiaofan, you really dare to dream!”
He shook his head with a laugh, muttering to himself.
“Xiaofan, what did you just say?” Both Bai Qingyao and Li Bixian turned to him in confusion.
He gave a sheepish smile and quickly waved his hand. “It’s nothing...”
“I just meant Sister Xian should sleep in my room tonight.”
At that, both Bai Qingyao and Li Bixian were momentarily stunned.
Seeing their reaction, Zeng Xiaofan realized they had misunderstood and quickly added with a laugh,
“No, no—I mean, I’ll sleep in the living room. Sister Xian can have my room—it’s more comfortable.”
Bai Qingyao chuckled in understanding. “Exactly! Dear, you take his room. He’s a grown man—he can handle the living room. He could sleep in the woodshed for all I care!”
Li Bixian giggled. “I’m so sorry, Aunt Yao, I’m really imposing...”
“Nonsense! We’re all family—don’t say such things.”
After a bit more polite back-and-forth, the two women soon fell into lively conversation, laughing together.
It almost seemed as if Zeng Xiaofan had become an outsider. But as he watched the two of them, their laughter making their chests quiver with delight, he found himself quite enjoying the view...