Chapter 142
Xiao Zhuang was still a naive young man, and his face flushed red all at once. He lifted his foot to shake off the other person.
However, the weak young man’s strength was surprisingly strong. No matter how much Xiao Zhuang tried to shake or retreat, he refused to let go.
Seeing someone approaching from afar, Xiao Zhuang became anxious.
He bent down, grabbed the young man’s collar from behind, and whispered, “Someone’s coming. Let’s not talk here. Follow me back to the workshop.”
Upon hearing this, the young man finally released Xiao Zhuang’s ankle.
Xiao Zhuang kept his promise and didn’t run off even though his foot was released. They went one after the other to the blacksmith’s workshop, opened the door, and entered.
Once inside, with the door still wide open, Xiao Zhuang stood at the doorway and said sternly, “I don’t know why you suddenly came to find me and said those things. But I need to make it clear to you, what your father said was nonsense. I never agreed, and I won’t agree in the future. Don’t harbor any inappropriate thoughts!”
There were no lights in the workshop, and the stove was cold. Only a dim light shone in from the doorway.
Inside the room, the young man kept his head down quietly listening to Xiao Zhuang. He didn’t argue back or try to persuade him.
After Xiao Zhuang finished speaking, he remained silent.
Seeing the young man standing there pitifully, Xiao Zhuang thought of the young man’s experiences he had learned about earlier. He felt a bit of pity and found it hard to say some of the harsher words he had in mind.
Just as Xiao Zhuang sighed inwardly, the young man suddenly moved. It seemed he had made up his mind earlier, so his actions were now quite resolute and decisive. Without hesitation, he unbuttoned the clasp on his robe.
Xiao Zhuang blushed instantly and turned away, quickly closing the door.
He said sharply, “What are you doing?”
Behind him, the young man’s voice was soft and drifting, like a wandering soul.
“If you won’t marry me, then treat it as paying for a plaything. I’m willing to be your concubine, your servant, or even your livestock.”
Xiao Zhuang hurriedly said, “Put your clothes back on. Let’s discuss this again.”
The young man replied firmly, “I won’t put them on unless you promise me.”
Xiao Zhuang clenched his fist against the door, raising a cloud of dust.
He gritted his teeth and said, “I won’t let you into my house in any capacity. You and your father might be planning something, but I won’t fall for it again.”
There was silence for a moment behind him. Then Xiao Zhuang heard footsteps approaching the iron tool rack against the wall, and the sound of metal scraping against it.
Realizing what was happening, Xiao Zhuang’s face changed. He quickly turned around to look into the room.
The young man hadn’t taken off his robe at all; it was still properly draped around him, with only the neckline unfastened.
He was holding a firewood knife he had just taken down from the rack. When he saw Xiao Zhuang looking over, he smiled faintly, then without hesitation raised the knife and brushed it against his own neck.
Xiao Zhuang strode over and snatched the firewood knife, but it was too late. A thin line of blood had already been drawn on the young man’s neck.
The young man was thin and frail, his neck so slender it seemed it could snap with a slight twist. The visible vein made the wound look even more chilling.
Breathing heavily, Xiao Zhuang looked furious.
“We had no prior dealings, and I never wronged you. Why would you do this to me?”
The young man’s dry lips moved slightly.
“Then I’ll go outside and die.”
After saying this, he tried to walk out. However, Xiao Zhuang grabbed his arm, feeling like he was holding a skeleton.
The young man’s body swayed a bit but was forced to stop. He turned to look back at Xiao Zhuang.
With his head hanging low, Xiao Zhuang asked, “Did your father force you to come?”
The young man shook his head. “I came out on my own.”
After a while, Xiao Zhuang said, “Wait here for me. I’ll go find you a pair of shoes and get some food.”
The young man remained silent for a while, then suddenly said, “When I said I wanted to die, I was just scaring you. If I die, there will be no one to offer sacrifices to my parents.”
He pulled his arm out of Xiao Zhuang’s grip and said, “It’s too late. I have to go back. I’m sorry I scared you.”
With that, he pushed open the workshop door and walked barefoot into the cold wind.
Xiao Zhuang chased after him for a few steps but abruptly stopped, watching him stagger away.
“This is trouble,” Xiao Zhuang thought.
Once involved, it might never end peacefully. It won’t just affect me but also my parents, siblings, and everyone at home.
Regardless of the reasons, now that he had left on his own, this trouble was no longer his concern.
…
After dinner, Chen Yu brought Little Jiuliang to play at their home.
Zhang Wensheng also followed, carrying a plate of fried peanuts and a plate of sauce chicken feet.
Upon entering, Qiu Henian took these two plates and Zhang Wensheng ran back out, shouting over the fence, “Wait a moment, I’ll go fetch a jar of wine!”
When he returned with the wine, besides the two plates he brought, there were also a plate of braised pig elbows and a plate of cold radish skins on the outer dining table.
Qingyan wiped his hands with a towel and said, “Enjoy your meal. Let me know if you need anything.”
Zhang Wensheng said, “Thank you, Qingyan.”
He rubbed his hands together, sat down at the table, and asked Qiu Henian, “Shall we have a couple of drinks?”
Qiu Henian smiled as he fetched wine glasses, plates, and chopsticks. Sitting at the table, he asked, “Why is Mr. Zhang in such good spirits today?”
Zhang Wensheng cheerfully replied, “I’m relieved of my troubles, so naturally, I’m happy!”
Before Qiu Henian could respond, Chen Yu, who was watching the two children playing with their toy cars, frowned and snorted, “You still have the nerve to say that? How pathetic!”
At these words, Qiu Henian was surprised, and Qingyan, who was peeling an apple nearby, also looked up.
Chen Yu didn’t care about giving him face. Although Zhang Wensheng showed no sign of anger, he didn’t lose his smile.
He turned to his husband and said, “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. What’s there to worry about with those county yamen jobs? If he doesn’t want to do it, then he doesn’t have to do it. I’m willing to teach in our village!”
Chen Yu’s expression darkened further. With a snap, he threw the toy in his hand aside and said, “People aim higher, but you have the chance and won’t take it, just letting others take advantage of you for nothing!”
With that, Chen Yu’s eyes reddened, suggesting that the two had quarreled at home before.
Given his temperament, he wouldn’t have come to Qingyan’s house unless he was angry or wanted to see him embarrassed.
In previous years, Chen Yu had hoped that Zhang Wensheng would become a clerk at the county yamen.
It wasn’t surprising that he had such an idea. In recent years, the county frequently asked Zhang Wensheng to help out, and the county officials treated him with some respect, which brought some joy to Chen Yu’s face.
But Zhang Wensheng didn’t share this desire.
Earlier this year, the county’s magistrate had even invited him to take up a clerkship, which delighted Chen Yu. However, Zhang Wensheng had no intention of going.
The two argued over this matter for half a month, but in the end, he couldn’t wait any longer and asked someone else.
Chen Yu was really upset about this!
