Chapter 68

The next morning.

At the dining table.

The family sat together, enjoying breakfast in a warm and lively atmosphere.

Casually, Cha Jiuzhang mentioned, “Yesterday, after Cha Baiwan came back, he said the whole town was talking about how Erlai got stung by poisonous bees and became dumb.”

After saying this, he instinctively stared at Jiang Tiantian, curious about her reaction.

Unexpectedly, Zuo Mingyan slammed her chopsticks onto her bowl with a loud bang.

The sudden sound startled everyone at the table.

Cha Chengye even shrank his shoulders, trying to minimize his presence.

It was rare to see Zuo Mingyan react so strongly.

Then, she slapped the table and righteously declared, “Serves him right! That bastard finally got what he deserved. The heavens have eyes!”

Last night, while watching a movie, she saw Songzi’s mother and Chunni.

Though Chunni was young, she had a good memory. Stammering, she told them how she and her mother were bullied by the bad man. Both of them had been terrified, and her mother had cried so much.

She also mentioned that it was an uncle and a pretty aunt who saved them…

Hearing Chunni’s words, Songzi’s mother had been shaken with fear. She held onto Zuo Mingyan’s hand tightly, repeatedly expressing her gratitude towards Cha Jiuzhang and Jiang Tiantian.

She kept praising their family’s good fortune for having such a capable daughter-in-law.

She was truly happy for their family and for Cha Jiuzhang.

She even said that if Songzi were watching from the afterlife, he would also be happy to see his brother marry such a wonderful wife.

—–

As she spoke, she was overcome with emotion and started crying.

Zuo Mingyan felt a deep sense of sorrow in her heart.

In the past two years, Songzi’s mother had visibly aged. Though she was only a couple of years older than Zuo Mingyan, she now looked as if she had aged over a decade.

After all, she had become a widow at a young age. She had worked hard to raise her only son, and just when he was about to start his own family, he…

Songzi’s mother used to be a bold and lively woman.

Now, she seemed as fragile as water.

Sigh…

Fate had been far too cruel to this family.

Zuo Mingyan hadn’t slept well all night.

Cha Jiuzhang and Songzi had been childhood friends, and when she first moved here with Cha Chengye from the provincial capital, she barely knew anyone.

In those first two years, the only people she got close to were Cha Jiuzhang’s childhood friends.

To her, Songzi and the others were practically her own sons, and Songzi’s mother was like a sister to her.

They had shared so many heartfelt conversations over the years.

Now, all that remained of Songzi’s family were a lonely mother and daughter struggling to survive, still suffering at the hands of others.

She felt helpless, and her heart ached.

That night, as she tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, Cha Chengye thought it was because he hadn’t satisfied her.

He rubbed his sore waist and sighed.

What now?

My wife wants it…

No difficulty should stand in the way!

If there is a difficulty, I’ll create a solution!

In the darkness, he snuggled up to her and skillfully started making his move.

But Zuo Mingyan was so furious that she kicked him straight to the foot of the bed.

“Owww~”

Cha Chengye covered his mouth, stifling his cry of pain.

Then, clutching his sore waist, he huddled at the foot of the bed all night, feeling utterly wronged.

Tomorrow, he decided he had to secretly ask his father if his wife was going through menopause—why was she so irritable?

Also, he needed his father to check his waist. Should he get acupuncture or cupping therapy?

He still wanted to be useful for another twenty years—he couldn’t afford to be kicked out of commission!

So, this morning, he absolutely did not dare to provoke his wife any further.

“Yes! Erlai deserved it! The heavens did the right thing!”

Cha Chengye quickly echoed his wife’s words, looking just as outraged.

Whatever his wife said, he agreed!

“Hahaha…” Jiang Tiantian, on the other hand, burst into laughter.

She triumphantly put down her chopsticks and patted Cha Jiuzhang’s shoulder hard. “See? I was right! That scumbag was bound to have bad luck soon! Hmph… and you didn’t believe me.”

“We made a bet—whoever lost has to act like a little dog.”

“Come on, let’s hear you bark!”

Cha Jiuzhang paused, set down his bowl and chopsticks, and glanced at the reactions of the people around the table.

Then, he smirked slightly, turned to Jiang Tiantian, and said sincerely and gently, “How do I do it? I don’t know how.”

Jiang Tiantian stared at him like he was an idiot. How can he be this dumb? He doesn’t even know how to bark like a dog?

“You just imitate a puppy.”

Jiang Tiantian clenched her fists, raised them to her cheeks, and demonstrated in a soft, cutesy voice, “Like this—woof, woof, woof~”

Her big eyes sparkled, looking particularly innocent and adorable, her voice sweet and soft like a little milk puppy.

She was unbearably cute!

Cha Jiuzhang’s hands itched.

Holding back his laughter, he sincerely praised, “Mmm, that sounds great~~~”

Then, his charming peach blossom eyes blinked at her flirtatiously.

“Pfft~”

Zuo Mingyan couldn’t help but laugh, and her mood instantly brightened. She rarely saw Jiang Tiantian acting so silly.

Cha Jizu remained composed, quietly sipping his porridge.

Not bad. The kid was making progress.

Ever since the two went out together yesterday afternoon, the atmosphere between them had clearly changed.

As an experienced man, Cha Jizu understood exactly what was going on.

Thankfully, this time, the boy hadn’t messed up.

He had taken advantage of the opportunity Cha Jizu had created for him.

Young men and women—good-looking and well-matched—just needed a little time together, and feelings would naturally develop!

Damn it!

Jiang Tiantian was stunned for a moment before realizing that she had been tricked by this shameless man.

Daring to play tricks in front of a lion? If she didn’t teach him a lesson, he might actually think she was just a little kitten!

Furious, Jiang Tiantian pounced on him, straddling Cha Jiuzhang’s lap as she reached for his lips, determined to make him bark like a dog.

Cha Jiuzhang grinned and wrapped his arms around her, catching her flailing hands.

He glanced at the other people at the table and leaned in to whisper in her ear, “Sweetheart, everyone’s watching. I’ll call you ‘woof woof’ in private later, okay?”

Jiang Tiantian’s body stiffened as she finally came to her senses.

She awkwardly turned her head and saw the elders at the table.

Oh crap!

She had lost her mind.

She had completely forgotten this was the dining table.

Forcing a laugh, she shrank back into her seat like a quail and buried her face in her bowl.

In her mind, a tiny version of herself drew a sword and slashed furiously at the air.

This shameless man deliberately embarrassed her!

Just wait! She’d deal with him later!

The elders at the table suppressed their laughter, speeding up their meal in silence.

Soon, only the two of them were left.

“Hmph…”

Jiang Tiantian hurriedly gulped down the last of her porridge, wiped her mouth boldly, and declared, “You’re the last one eating, so you do the dishes!”

Then she bared her tiny teeth, waved her delicate fists at him, and dashed away.

Like a fluffy little fox who thought she was fierce.

But in the eyes of a true jungle predator, she was just a silly little chick—completely harmless.

Cha Jiuzhang smiled lazily, finished his breakfast, cleaned up, and then grabbed the revised design plans from last night before heading to the village committee meeting.

Time was short—he needed to finalize everything before leaving.