Chapter 6: Suspicious Events

At this moment, Dazui spoke seriously: “I feel like something’s off about this situation, it seems strange and eerie.”

“How is it strange? It’s broad daylight, how could there be anything wrong?” Gou Sheng asked, puzzled.

“Listen to me, let me analyze this for you. First, you walked to Xiao Li’s house without even realizing it. Then, because you were messing around with Xiao Li, you bumped into a pig,” Dazui explained.

Gou Sheng chuckled and said, “Brother Zui, your wording is off, don’t you think?”

“What’s wrong?” Dazui asked, confused.

“I was just joking with Xiao Li, not messing around with her. There’s a huge difference!” Gou Sheng said seriously.

“I think it’s pretty much the same. Joking around with her is also messing with her,” Dazui insisted.

Gou Sheng didn’t know how to respond to that and didn’t bother explaining further. He just said, “Alright, alright, I was messing around, continue talking!”

Dazui continued, “This whole thing is planned by Zhang Tian. Last night, both you and Tong Chui were scared sick by him. Today, you were hit by a pig, right in front of his house. Don’t you think it’s eerie?”

Gou Sheng thought for a moment and began to get scared. “Dazui might be onto something. Could this really be Zhang Tian’s revenge?”

The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became.

He quickly changed the topic, “By the way, Dazui, is the noodle ready? I’m starving!”

“Alright, almost done, you can wash the bowls while I finish up,” Dazui said.

After Gou Sheng washed the bowls, they sat down to eat. As he served himself a bowl of noodles, he noticed there wasn’t a single vegetable, not even any scallions.

He made a face, scooped some noodles, and sat down to eat. But as soon as he took a bite, he spit it out.

With a grimace, he said, “Dazui, do you even know how to cook? This tastes like plain porridge, with no flavor at all. Even porridge has a rice fragrance! Your noodles have no oil, no salt, nothing!”

Dazui, however, was enjoying the noodles, eating heartily. “What’s wrong with it? It’s nice and light,” he said between bites.

Gou Sheng rolled his eyes and then shouted, “No wonder you’re called Dazui. You’re eating like a pig, scarfing down half a bowl with one bite. Seriously, you’re not picky at all. I’m impressed you’re enjoying it this much.”

Dazui wasn’t offended, he just kept smiling and eating. But then, as he laughed while eating, his runny nose made a big bubble, which looked like a bubble gum bubble hanging from his nostrils.

Gou Sheng couldn’t handle it anymore. He quickly put his noodles down on the table and bent over to vomit.

He gagged and then slowly stood up, saying, “Oh my god, that’s disgusting! You’re eating with a bubble hanging from your nose! You couldn’t wipe it? Are you saving it for the new year or something?”

Dazui chuckled and said, “I’m sick, I’m lazy, so I didn’t bother wiping it. It’s just a little runny nose. Come on, eat, there’s plenty of noodles.”

Gou Sheng couldn’t even look at the noodles now, thinking of the bubble in Dazui’s nose. He bent over again, about to vomit.

Dazui, puzzled, asked, “What’s wrong with you? Why are you throwing up all the time? Are you pregnant or something? But you’re a guy, so you can’t be.”

Gou Sheng angrily pointed at Dazui and shouted, “You! With your personality, you’ll be single for life. Who’s going to marry you? You’re so old and still can’t clean your nose!”

But Dazui wasn’t angry at all. He just smiled and kept eating, a completely laid-back attitude.

With a grin, he said, “Haha, you say I can’t find a wife, but you’re still single too. We’re both in the same boat, just different sides of the same coin.”

Gou Sheng had nothing to say to that.

He thought to himself, “Well, that’s true. We’re both in the same boat, both without wives.”

He sighed, “Forget it. You eat, I’m going home to see if there’s any leftover food. I can’t handle your gourmet noodles.”

Dazui shrugged and said, “You asked me to cook more, but now you’re not eating. You’re wasting food.”

Gou Sheng didn’t care and just walked home.

Back home, Shen Li was calling for Xiao Hui to wash her hands and come to eat.

Xiao Hui quickly ran out from the back room.

As she washed her hands, she asked, “Mom, what’s for lunch today?”

Shen Li smiled and replied, “I made all your favorite dishes, dear. Come over and eat.”

Xiao Hui washed her hands and sat down at the table, eagerly grabbing her chopsticks and starting to eat.

“Mmm, Mom’s cooking is so delicious,” Xiao Hui said happily.

Shen Li smiled warmly, “I’m glad you like it. Eat more, you’re so good.”

They both happily ate together.

At that moment, Shen Li’s thoughts drifted. “If only Zhang Tian were still alive, we’d be so happy, the three of us.”

Her heart grew heavy with sadness as she recalled the past.

Suddenly, a voice called from the door, an old man with a weathered voice, “Why wasn’t anyone home when I came by this morning? The door was locked.”

Xiao Hui rushed over and called out, “Grandpa…”

Her grandpa smiled and picked her up, saying, “Did you miss Grandpa?”

“Yes, did you have lunch already?” Xiao Hui asked, showing concern.

Shen Li stood up and said, “Dad, you came by this morning? I guess I was looking for Xiao Hui; she went out to play for a bit. Sit down, Dad.”

“I won’t sit down. I came to bring some vegetables and eggs. Your mom’s waiting for me in the field. You two eat, I’ll be on my way,” the old man said, as he walked towards the door.

Shen Li and Xiao Hui saw him out, and Xiao Hui shouted, “Goodbye, Grandpa!”

The old man smiled and waved them off before leaving.

Shen Li and Xiao Hui went back inside to continue their meal.

After lunch, Xiao Hui played with her toys and fell asleep, while Shen Li did some needlework but soon felt tired and decided to rest.

Just then, Aunt Zhang from next door walked over. She called out as she entered the yard, “Xiao Li, are you home?”

When Shen Li heard Aunt Zhang’s voice, she quickly put on her shoes, walked out, and opened the living room door with a smile. “Oh, Aunt Zhang, come in and sit for a bit.”

Aunt Zhang followed Shen Li inside and sat down on a stool.

“Why is it that every time I come in the afternoon, Xiao Hui is already asleep?” Aunt Zhang asked with a smile.

“She’s used to it, I guess,” Shen Li explained.

Aunt Zhang looked very cheerful, as if she had something good to share.

At that moment, Aunt Zhang said with a grin, “Xiao Li, did you know? Dazui and Tong Chui got scared sick! Now they’ll probably behave for a few days.”