Chapter 25

Last night, a thunderstorm raged, and the rain hammered against the begonia trees, knocking off countless petals. Outside, the ground was covered in pink.

Aunt Dafu next door was sweeping the rainwater, grumbling about the begonia tree being troublesome and suggesting that the street committee should come and cut it down.

Lin Yao grabbed a small broom and came over to help. “Aunt, begonia flowers are very useful. If possible, let’s not cut it.”

“A flower is just a flower. What use could it possibly have?” Aunt Dafu was confused.

Lin Yao smiled and explained, “Generally, begonia flowers aren’t edible. They’re usually used for tea, or you can pick the best ones, wrap them in cloth, and squeeze out the juice to dye your nails. The begonia flowers here are called apple begonia, and they taste like hawthorn. If you pickle them with sugar, they make a sweet treat. Begonia roots and fruits can be used in traditional medicine. They help with thirst, digestion, and can even treat hemorrhoids.”

“Begonia fruits can treat hemorrhoids?”

Aunt Dafu’s eyes immediately lit up.

“Really? That’s true?” She thought of her husband, Uncle Dafu, who had gotten hemorrhoids after years of eating too many chili peppers and smoking. It had become so bad that the local doctor said surgery was needed. But Uncle Dafu was so stubborn that he refused to go to the hospital.

Aunt Dafu had been trying to find any remedy she could for him.

After hearing Lin Yao’s explanation, she immediately decided not to cut down the tree. The flowers were so bright and beautiful—red and pink, they looked festive!

Aunt Dafu complimented the begonia tree and then turned to praise Lin Yao.

“Yao Yao, you’re such a diligent girl. It’s good for girls to study more. The more books you read, the more you know. You must have graduated from high school, right? Even if you only went to the second year of high school, you are still quite cultured. I’ve never touched a book in my life, and Uncle Dafu’s illiterate too. Oh, how hard it was back then. I wanted to go to school but couldn’t. Now, things are better, and even the little ones can go to school. Time passes so quickly! In the blink of an eye, I’m already over fifty. What? You think I’m just in my forties? No, no, I’m an old woman now!”

Lin Yao’s words made Aunt Dafu so happy that her face bloomed with a smile, looking like a chrysanthemum in full bloom.

Whatever Aunt Dafu said, Lin Yao listened obediently, her smile making her look incredibly charming.

When Aunt Dafu returned to the house, she couldn’t stop talking.

Lin Yao placed the little broom by the wall, the sun shining brightly after the rain. She lazily washed her face and thought to herself, Why hasn’t Dongzi returned from fetching water from the front yard? That naughty boy isn’t sneaking off to cause trouble again, is he?

This wasn’t the first time he had done such a thing. Earlier, Uncle Mancang had called his son to fetch water, but after a long time, there was no sign of him.

Uncle Mancang searched everywhere but couldn’t find him. In the entire big courtyard, there was no sign of the boy, just the lonely iron water bucket left quietly by the water tank.

That evening, as expected, the mischievous boy received a good beating.

Lin Yao took a sip of water from her enamel cup. The cool boiled water had sugar in it, which helped to cool her down on a hot day, though it was a bit too sweet.

Just as she put the cup down, Gu Shidong rushed in with the water bucket, excitedly telling Lin Yao, “Sister-in-law, hurry up and come with me, Lin Daguo and Li Aifeng are fighting in the old street!”

Lin Yao was confused, “Lin Daguo has nothing better to do? Why is he fighting in the city?”

“With Li Aifeng, of all people? Where are they fighting?”

“They’re at the entrance of the Grain and Oil Cooperative on Old Street!”

“Didn’t you go to fetch water? How do you know?”

“My classmate Huzi told me.”

Ah, it was Huzi. That made sense. Huzi’s grandmother came from Linjia Village.

When Lin Yao thought about it, she had a feeling that the two troublemakers were up to something again.

“When did the fight start?”

“Who knows? Sister-in-law, are you coming or not? If not, I’m leaving without you!”

Gu Shidong was so anxious, jumping around in the courtyard.

The good show wouldn’t wait for them. What if the two of them finished fighting and ran off?

“Fine, if the gossip is being served on a plate, I’m not going to miss it!”

Lin Yao stood up and calmly locked the door to the side room. Gu Shidong grabbed her, pulling her outside as fast as he could.

The two of them ran at full speed for two streets, finally reaching Old Street. They saw the Grain and Oil Cooperative surrounded by people, the crowd packed in layers. Some aunties, unable to get through, climbed up the low wall next door, munching on sunflower seeds while watching the spectacle.

And that wasn’t all—behind them, a group of elderly women quickly ran over, their little feet moving fast.

Lin Yao exchanged a look with Gu Shidong, both took a deep breath, closed their eyes, and rushed into the crowd for the best view of the show.

Lin Yao led the way, pushing through the crowd, finally reaching the front row, with Gu Shidong following closely behind.

In the clearing in front of the Grain and Oil Cooperative, dust flew as the fierce battle between Li Aifeng and Lin Daguo unfolded.

To be accurate, it was more like Li Aifeng single-handedly overpowering Lin Daguo, along with his little… old white flower?

“Lin Daguo, you shameless scoundrel! I’ve been married to you for twenty years, worked hard raising children, and played both father and mother. You can’t even help when the soy sauce bottle falls at home, and now you’re washing that old hag’s underwear! Aren’t you afraid of getting a disease? Even Hongwu hasn’t gotten married yet, and you’re fooling around outside with a rotten woman! What? A misunderstanding? Go to hell, tell me, have you and this old hag been involved for a long time?!”

Li Aifeng was just as fierce as ever, grabbing the old white flower’s hair with one hand while fiercely pinching Lin Daguo’s thigh with the other.

Lin Daguo rolled on the ground in pain, continuously trying to explain, “Aifeng, it’s all a misunderstanding. I’m just good friends with Taohong. Please, let go, it hurts…”

The old white flower struggled under Li Aifeng’s grip but was ruthlessly subdued and slapped across the face.

“Shut your damn mouth! Lin Daguo, do you think I’m a fool? I’ve caught you two kissing, and you still try to act innocent? Pfft! Don’t you see the wrinkles on that old hag’s face? You actually had the nerve to kiss her! Why don’t you go eat some more of the filth outside!”

Li Aifeng didn’t even pause to take a breath as she berated him, slapping him and the old white flower with relentless force, leaving them both dizzy.

Standing at the front of the crowd, Lin Yao thought, Wow, today’s gossip is truly spicy!

To make the experience even better, Lin Yao pulled out some sunflower seeds she had prepared earlier and handed some to Gu Shidong.

“Don’t toss the shells around, put them in the trash later.”

“I know.”

The two of them cracked the seeds and enjoyed the show with great pleasure.

Gu Shidong, pretending not to understand, slipped some seeds to the aunt next to them and quietly asked, “Auntie, what’s going on?”

The aunt immediately started gossiping, “Well, here’s the story…”

The gossiping aunt explained, and Lin Yao and Gu Shidong finally understood.

To put it simply, Lin Daguo had made the mistake that many men do—he thought the flowers at home weren’t as sweet as the ones outside. He met an “old white flower” and began sneaking off to meet her from time to time.

Li Aifeng had noticed but had no solid evidence until today when she caught Lin Daguo and the old white flower meeting in the old street. Furious like a tiger, she charged in and the fight erupted.

The drama had grown so big that the head of the county’s Grain and Oil Cooperative feared it might escalate, so he quickly sent someone to the police station to report it.

When the police arrived, among them was Deputy Director Gu.

As soon as the officers arrived, the crowd of onlookers scattered like birds. Half of them ran off, while the rest stayed, still eager to watch the show.

Gu Shi’an, dressed in his neat police uniform, had sharp features and a cold demeanor. His broad shoulders and long legs gave him a commanding presence that stood out in the crowd. The onlookers, who were watching the scene unfold, instinctively made way for him.

Just as Gu Shi’an was about to ask the staff present, his gaze lifted, and he immediately spotted his little girl, Yao Yao, in the crowd. She was happily munching on sunflower seeds, completely engrossed in the snack. Beside her was Gu Shidong, also enthusiastically eating sunflower seeds.

“Old Gu, what are you standing there for?” Xu Xiangqian jumped down from the jeep. It was a scorching hot day, and sweat was pouring from his forehead. He took off his big cap and fanned himself while complaining about the old jeep of the police station. “This old jeep from our police station should have been retired ages ago. We got it back in the 50s from the Americans. It looked good then, but now the wheels rattle and bump. Old Gu, you should talk to the old chief and ask him to get us a new one.”

Da Tou Brother was still talking non-stop when he suddenly looked over and froze.

“Old Gu, am I seeing things, or is that really our Dongzi and Yao Yao?”

In the end, it was Lin Yao, happily snacking, who was grabbed by Deputy Director Gu and taken home.

As for Gu Shidong, Da Tou Brother took him away, saying that his future brother-in-law would have a good talk with the kid and teach him a lesson.

Lin Daguo and his group were escorted away by the young police officers for a mediation session.

Lin Yao never expected that she was just casually eating a melon when she would end up being caught by Gu Shi’an.

And she was caught red-handed, right on the spot!

However, at this moment, she wasn’t afraid of Gu Shi’an at all!

As long as I have thick skin, it’s them who will be embarrassed!

Back at home, Gu Shi’an went to change his clothes, and Lin Yao sat with her legs crossed, happily eating braised pork.

The braised pork was something Gu Shi’an bought from the state-run restaurant on the way back. He got lucky that day and didn’t have to wait in line. The pork, glossy with sugar color, was rich and shiny, fatty yet not greasy, soft and tender, with a savory aroma that made anyone’s mouth water.

Lin Yao squinted her eyes, savoring two pieces of the braised pork. After a few bites, she was content and licked her lips.

When Gu Shi’an came out, she called out to him, “Hey, this braised pork is delicious. Want to try a piece?”

With her rosy lips, Lin Yao looked up at him. Gu Shi’an, expressionless, walked over and lifted her up in his arms.