Chapter 25 TGBW

 FlamingoBees 

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 Chapter 25: 

Bun Crusts・Cleaning Up

"Leng'er, what are you doing? The crust is burnt, and you still want to give it to your wife? That's really thoughtless. Give that one to Mother, and give the good one to your wife." Madam Zhao said discontentedly.

However, Chu Wei Leng ignored Madam Zhao's request and still handed it to Lou Jian Jia.

Seeing that Lou Jian Jia didn't take it, he thought she was rejecting him, so he added, "I just washed my hands."

The burnt bun crust was too tempting for Lou Jian Jia. She pursed her lips and took the bun crust.

"Ah, you child, I already said not to give it to your wife, why did you still give it to her?" Madam Zhao lightly scolded her son, then turned to Lou Jian Jia and said, "Jian Jia, since the crust is burnt, don't eat it. Let me get you a good one."

Lou Jian Jia took a bite of the burnt bun crust and said, "It's okay, thank you, Mother."

Chu Wei Leng then fetched a freshly baked bun and said, "Mother, the wife likes this one. You don't need to persuade her."

Madam Zhao paused for a moment, looked at Lou Jian Jia, and seeing that she indeed seemed to like it, she stopped persuading.

"You're not young anymore, finally knowing how to treat your wife."

After saying that, seeing her son and his wife not speaking, she exchanged a glance with Old Master Chu and smiled.

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

Feeling emotional, she thought, this young couple has a really good relationship.

When Chu Wei Leng ate the second bun, he finally had time to eat some vegetables. The freshly cooked hot buns, along with the slightly spicy eggplant, were really delicious. However, he found the plate of spicy pickled vegetables even more delicious.

The steaming hot buns paired with the mildly spicy and salty pickled vegetables were simply amazing.

After that, Chu Wei Leng hugged the pickled vegetables and started eating.

No matter who persuaded him, Chu Wei Leng remained unaffected.

Madam Zhao tried to serve him countless times, but he kept refusing and just continued eating the pickled vegetables.

Madam Zhao chuckled and said, "I never thought you'd have a taste for these pickled vegetables. Previously, customers found them too strong, hardly touched them, yet you seem to love them. Spending a few years at the military camp changed your taste buds."

Chu Wei Leng swallowed the bun in his mouth and replied, "The weather at the northern border is bitterly cold. Spicy food helps keep you warm."

Old Master Chu nodded knowingly, "You've worked hard these past few years. Eat more."

"Okay, Father."

Chu Wei Leng quickly finished six hot buns, three plates of pickled vegetables, and two bowls of chicken soup.

Meanwhile, Lou Jian Jia received six crispy bun skins.

Lou Jian Jia was quite grateful to Chu Wei Leng.

After all, bun skins belonged to the buns. Back when she was at home, she would occasionally peel them off to eat. However, doing so would leave the bun incomplete and unattractive, so the adults at home didn't allow it.

If she peeled one off, she had to finish that bun.

And once she was full, she couldn't eat any more bun skins.

This time, thanks to Chu Wei Leng, she got her fill.

Old Master Chu and Madam Zhao loved egg fried rice.

This meal left all four of them happy and satisfied.

After the meal, Old Master Chu and Madam Zhao retired to their room.

Lou Jian Jia and Chu Wei Leng started clearing the tableware.

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

Seeing Chu Wei Leng doing the chores, Lou Jian Jia didn't leave this time; she decided to help him.

However, Chu Wei Leng refused her, saying, "Wife, go and rest. I'll handle it."

"Let's do it together," Lou Jian Jia insisted.

After all, Chu Wei Leng had treated her to a delicious meal, and she wanted to repay the kindness.

"No need, I can handle it myself," Chu Wei Leng insisted.

Lou Jian Jia had been tired all morning. Seeing that Chu Wei Leng truly didn't need help, she didn't insist further and went back to their room.

As soon as she entered, she saw the bed in front of her.

Looking at the bed, she hesitated.

Would Chu Wei Leng come back soon? Then wouldn't they have to lie on the same bed again?

At night it was somewhat more tolerable, after all, it was darker and they couldn't see each other clearly.

But during the day, everything would be visible.

Lou Jian Jia sat on the edge of the bed, hesitating for a moment, before lying down in her clothes.

Forget it, there was no need to deceive herself.

They had already slept on the same bed last night, so there was no need to be pretentious now.

What substantial difference was there between day and night?

The male lead's official partner was the female lead, and the male lead didn't like her, so she didn't need to worry.

Moreover, even if the male lead wanted to do something, he might not necessarily succeed. She was strong, and if she really fought back, who knew who would win?

Last time, she had been careless and was restrained by him.

Not long after lying down on the bed, Lou Jian Jia heard the sound of the front door opening. She peeked through the curtains and saw that Chu Wei Leng had gone out.

Lou Jian Jia felt even more relieved and closed her eyes to rest.

Although Chu Wei Leng hadn't been home for three years, his reputation in the surrounding villages was still prominent.

Not only was he good-looking, but he was also extremely capable.

While others toiled in the fields for their meals, Chu Wei Leng became a guard at the royal palace.

Not only did he receive a high monthly salary, but he also appeared imposing every time he returned, with a sword hanging from his waist, which made him seem very formidable.

Therefore, even though Chu Wei Leng had gone to the border, the people in the surrounding villages dared not bully his parents.

However, rumors spread from the palace that Chu Wei Leng had died.

Upon hearing this news, the Sun family felt emboldened to harass their family.

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

Now that news had spread that the son of Old Master Chu, who had once served as a guard in the palace, had returned, the Sun family became extremely cautious, suspecting every rustle of the leaves to be a potential sign of Chu Wei Leng seeking revenge.

~ Part 2 ~

Today, naturally, they didn't dare to go to the pier to sell food, fearing they might encounter Chu Wei Leng and get beaten by him.

But fate had other plans.

That day, just after they finished lunch, they saw Chu Wei Leng.

"Well, well, seems like you're living quite comfortably," Chu Wei Leng surveyed the Sun family's courtyard.

The Sun family members looked at Chu Wei Leng's expressionless face, their bodies involuntarily trembling.

"I... I... I..."

"Please, spare us."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's our fault."

"We'll give you money, all the money we have."

"We won't go there again."

...

Before Chu Wei Leng could even say anything, the Sun family members started begging for mercy.

Glancing at the pale-faced individuals who were visibly scared, Chu Wei Leng stated, "Doing business, it's every man for himself. The dock is a public place, anyone can go there if they wish. I can't control it, nor do I want to."

With these words, the Sun family members visibly relaxed a bit.

"Just one thing, don't think that because I am not around, you can bully my relatives! If there's another incident, don't blame me for being tough!"

The Sun family's faces turned pale again.

"No, no, no, it won't happen again, it won't happen again, never again."

After spending some time at the Sun family's residence, Chu Wei Leng proceeded to the village chief's house.

In the Sun family's yard behind him, the members of the Sun family were all trembling on the ground.

Though Chu Wei Leng hadn't laid a hand on them, in that instant just now, they felt as if they had entered hell.

Men who crawled out from among the dead bodies were indeed not to be trifled with.

Even though Chu Wei Leng hadn't explicitly forbidden them from continuing their business, they dared not.

Although Chu Wei Leng was currently only a vice-official of the ninth rank, in the Chu family village, that was enough.

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

Previously, the village chief had been extremely cold towards his family, but now he greeted them with a smile.

Chu Wei Leng wasted no time in beating around the bush and went straight to the point.

"Uncle, my parents and wife are now running a small business to make a living. Even if you don't help, you shouldn't hinder them, right?" 

The village chief immediately turned serious and said, "That's for sure. Don't worry, young lad, I will take care of your parents and wife. You're serving the country outside."

Hearing the village chief's words, Chu Wei Leng didn't even raise an eyebrow and said calmly, "But how come I've heard some things?"

"What do you mean by that, young lad?" The village chief's voice trembled slightly.

Looking back over the past few years, although his treatment of Old Master Chu and his family had worsened, they had never lacked anything. It was just that the care they received was not as meticulous as when Chu Wei Leng was in the royal palace.

"Uncle, just ask your eldest daughter-in-law, and you'll know. I won't say more. We can't turn our backs on each other, because after all, we share the same Chu surname, right?" 

The village chief wiped the sweat from his face and forced a smile. "Of course not, of course not."

He didn't really know what his daughter-in-law had done. He would have to ask her about it later.

After discussing this matter, the village chief brought up the matter he mentioned in the morning again.

"Leng'er, what do you think? When should we hold a ceremony at the ancestral hall? You're an official now; it's a great honor for our family."

Chu Wei Leng once again declined the village chief's suggestion. "There's no need, Uncle. I'm not a high-ranking official. I have matters to attend to at home, so I'll be leaving."

"Your father? What does he think?" 

Upon hearing this question, Chu Wei Leng furrowed his brow.

It suddenly occurred to him that he hadn't discussed this matter with his father yet.

"My father's stance is the same as mine. We both said there's no need to make a fuss."

With that, Chu Wei Leng left the village chief's house.

The village chief watched as Chu Wei Leng walked away, feeling quite uneasy. He regretted that some people had believed the rumors of his death and had neglected his parents. Now that Chu Wei Leng had made a name for himself in the military camp, who knew what great future lay ahead for him.

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

He thought he hadn't had a chance to curry favor with Chu Wei Leng yet, so how could he offend him? 

But as soon as he thought about what his own daughter-in-law might have done behind the family's back, the village chief's expression immediately turned cold. He instructed his wife to call their daughter-in-law, Madam Li, over.

Upon hearing that Chu Wei Leng had returned and had even attained a minor position in the military camp, Madam Li felt uncomfortable. She had heard from her father-in-law in the morning about his new position. 

She couldn't help but feel upset. After all, she was just like that Luo Jian Jia, or even better. But it was only because of her lack of shame that Luo Jian Jia could marry Chu Wei Leng. 

And now, she was going to become the lady of the house, but she was still just a villager.

When summoned by her father-in-law, Madam Li was lying on the bed feeling unwell.

Upon hearing her father-in-law's question, Madam Li was startled.

She had almost forgotten about what she had done.

The Sun family...

Just by looking at Madam Li's expression, the village chief understood everything.

Madam Li didn't dare to hide anything and recounted the whole story truthfully.

"I just gave them an idea to make money, I didn't expect them to dare encroach on their land and try to take their reputation," Madam Li explained.

"You didn't expect? It seems like you thought about it a lot!" the village chief was furious.

"You go back to your mother's house for a month. If I don't call you back, don't bother coming back!" the village chief said sternly, his face cold. "Dan'er, take your wife back to her mother's house."

For a married woman to be sent back to her parents' home by her husband's family is a great insult. Madam Li's face immediately turned extremely ugly, and she cried, begging her father-in-law not to send her back home.

However, just as Chu Wei Leng returned, the village chief, wanting to ingratiate himself with him and mend relations with their family, had no intention of relenting. He urged his son to quickly send his wife back.

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

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