The reborn of paranoid boss cannon fodder wife(236-240)

Chapter 236: Ding Ling Ling


A daughter married is like water thrown out; she is no longer a member of her parents' family, and after death, she cannot be buried in her parents' home.


This is the most obvious custom of this era.


Even in the future, in the twenty-first century, there are still some regions where customs remain unchanged.


In fact, it depends mainly on the individual and how the parents think; if you can't change the environment, it's best to stay away.


Staying away is simple in the future, but in this deeply rooted traditional mindset, it's not easy.


Bai Lu sympathized with Wang Cuihua for three seconds, but she still had to say what needed to be said: "Xiao Cheng is a person, not an object. Nobody can decide for him. Xiao Cheng has the right to make his own choices."


Wang Cuihua thought she had moved Bai Lu and became excited: "Xiao Cheng doesn't mind. As long as you agree, I can move in."


Bai Lu didn't understand where Wang Cuihua's confidence came from: "When did you ask Xiao Cheng? When did he agree?"


"As long as you agree, he will agree," Wang Cuihua pleaded, "Bai Lu, please let me move in."


Bai Lu refused: "You should ask Xiao Cheng."


The house belongs to Xiao Cheng, and Bai Lu is currently just renting, without decision-making power.


But Wang Cuihua insisted on asking Bai Lu: "Your agreement is enough. Xiao Cheng will definitely listen to you."


Bai Lu refused, "He has his own thoughts."


Wang Cuihua insisted, "He listens to you."


Bai Lu said, "Why don't you ask someone else?"


"No!" Wang Cuihua was firm, "No one compares to Xiao Cheng. As long as I'm with Xiao Cheng, no one will dare to bully me in the future."


"No one is bullying you now. Everyone knows you are Xiao Cheng's brother Ah Biao's wife."


"It's just temporary. When Xiao Cheng gets married, everyone will only remember Xiao Cheng's wife and forget about me. Then, people will bully me again."


Wang Cuihua looked helpless and pitiful, her eyes reddening as if she was about to cry any second.


"Bai Lu, please agree to let me move in."


Bai Lu heartlessly refused, "I don't agree."


Wang Cuihua wiped away imaginary tears, shamelessly saying, "I'll take that as a yes."


"Don't daydream."


Bai Lu tore the string beans into pieces and threw them into the basket in front of Wang Cuihua.


With a suddenly serious expression and a cold voice, Bai Lu startled Wang Cuihua, who dared not cry.


She could only pout and say, "Bai Lu, don't be like this. You're so kind. Can't you give me a chance?"


Bai Lu hadn't even said "no" yet when the phone on the high table suddenly rang— "Ding Ling Ling!"


"Ding Ling Ling—"


Wang Cuihua's house didn't have a phone, but when she came to Xiao Cheng's house earlier to get chestnuts, she envied the new phone she saw.


She had wanted to hear what a phone sounded like for a long time.


"It must be Xiao Cheng calling back at this time," Wang Cuihua rushed to the high table.


Imitating what she had seen Li Shuixian do in the shop on the street, she reached out and picked up the phone.


Coquettishly, she called out, "Xiao Cheng—"


Bai Lu felt goosebumps all over her body.


The phone paused for a moment, enough for Wang Cuihua to think she had dialed the wrong number and changed her posture several times.


She was about to ask Bai Lu if she had dialed the wrong number when a cold voice came through the phone, "Where's Bai Lu?"


Wang Cuihua turned her head to look, and Bai Lu was still tearing beans, her chilly gaze sweeping towards her.


"Bai Lu is washing vegetables in the yard," Wang Cuihua imitated Li Shuixian, covering the phone and whispered, "Xiao Cheng, I'll stay tonight and have dinner with you guys."


There was no emotional fluctuation in the voice from the other end of the phone, only colder and deeper, "Ask your sister-in-law."


Wang Cuihua's hand trembled, covering the phone, she turned to Bai Lu and whispered, "Bai Lu has agreed."


As soon as she finished speaking, a clear and loud female voice sounded from behind her, "I didn't agree."


Wang Cuihua: "..."


There was a low laugh from the other end of the phone, then it disappeared quickly, "Give the phone to Bai Lu."


Wang Cuihua didn't want to, holding the phone for a long time without moving, then finally spoke.


"Xiao Che—"


Click—"Beep beep beep!"


Wang Cuihua heard this kind of sound for the first time and was a little puzzled, looking at Bai Lu blankly.


"Why isn't brother Xiao Cheng talking anymore?"


The beeping sound was too loud; Bai Lu could hear it even across the table. She regretfully informed, "He hung up."


Wang Cuihua didn't understand what it meant to be hung up, just thinking that Xiao Cheng must be busy with something.


Reluctantly, she put the phone handset back on the landline.


Barely three seconds after putting it down, the phone rang again, the ringing echoing in her eardrums.


"Ding Ling Ling!"


Wang Cuihua, who had just turned around, immediately turned back, picked up the phone, and shouted, "Xiao Cheng—"


"Give the phone to Bai Lu," Xiao Cheng said directly.


Wang Cuihua didn't want to, but she thought Xiao Cheng might have something important to tell Bai Lu.


She could only hand the phone to Bai Lu.


At the same time, she stood by to eavesdrop.


Bai Lu didn't care about her; she greeted Xiao Cheng and then fell silent.


Or rather, it wasn't silent; Xiao Cheng was speaking, and Bai Lu was listening, as if discussing some inventory list.


Wang Cuihua didn't dare to get too close; Bai Lu was covering the phone, and she couldn't hear clearly.


She only heard Bai Lu mention a location.


Xiao Cheng's electronics store, which opened yesterday, should be in some corner of the electronics store.


After Bai Lu finished speaking, there was a pause, as if Xiao Cheng was instructing someone to find something.


Soon, a man's voice came, saying "found it," and then Xiao Cheng's voice came again.


"What do you want to eat tonight?"


Wang Cuihua suddenly leaned closer and heard this sentence clearly; Bai Lu didn't hide anything anymore.


She said a word in front of her.


"Shrimp."


There are no shrimp sold in town, why does Bai Lu want shrimp? Is she daydreaming about eating shrimp?


Wang Cuihua waited for Xiao Cheng to say no, but what she got was another word: "Okay."


What's okay!


There are no shrimp sold in town, but Xiao Cheng agreed. Is he going to catch shrimp by the river? There aren't many shrimp by the river either. Normally, neighbors who go fishing only catch a few small crabs, and they rarely see shrimp for ten days or half a month. Even if there are shrimp, they are scarce.


At most, they can taste it, but they can't eat it as a dish.


Bai Lu is purely making things difficult for Xiao Cheng.


She didn't hear what was said later; her ears were still echoing with Bai Lu's request for shrimp.


So when the call ended, she couldn't help but say to Bai Lu, "How can you make things difficult for Xiao Cheng like this? You know there are no shrimp sold in town, yet you want to eat shrimp. Do you want Xiao Cheng to go to the river to catch them for you? There are no shrimp by the river either. How long do you want Xiao Cheng to catch them?"


"Didn't you just tear the string beans? Eating string beans is fine. Doing this will make Xiao Cheng angry. Should I stay and cook for you guys?"


Bai Lu heard the last sentence, she didn't understand why, and said foolishly, "Ah Cheng likes to catch shrimp for me, and he likes to cook for me. His cooking is delicious. He will cook when he comes back tonight, so you don't have to bother."


Wang Cuihua knew Bai Lu was deliberately saying false things to provoke her, but she couldn't help feeling jealous and envious.


"You can't do this. Xiao Cheng is so busy with his business..."

















Chapter 237: Helpless Indulgence


After listening to Wang Cuihua's earnest and lengthy discourse, Bai Lu asked, "Aren't you working today?"


The topic changed too quickly, and Wang Cuihua didn't react immediately. She subconsciously showed the small blister on her hand, saying, "I hurt my hand and it's not healed yet. I can't roast chestnuts."


"If you sell me the electric chestnut roasting machine, I can roast chestnuts to sell."


Bai Lu glanced at the already healed blister on her hand and calmly said, "It's already healed."


"It's not healed, it still hurts!"


Wang Cuihua shook her hand, looking pained. "I couldn't even cook at noon, it hurts too much."


Bai Lu sympathized for 0.1 seconds. "You can use your left hand."


"I'm not left-handed."


Realizing her mistake, Wang Cuihua immediately added, "Brother Xiao Cheng isn't left-handed; he's a versatile genius who can do everything. I can't learn from him at all."


"So I want to be with Brother Xiao Cheng and learn from him. Bai Lu, please let me have Brother Xiao Cheng."


She circled back to her original point.


Bai Lu didn't like hearing the word "let." "Xiao Cheng is a person, not a thing."


Wang Cuihua was now afraid of both Xiao Cheng's cold face and Bai Lu's cold face, although Bai Lu was usually very approachable, she could be cold occasionally, like now.


"Brother Xiao Cheng is definitely not a thing." Wang Cuihua promptly corrected her mistake.


"Brother Xiao Cheng is the most amazing person, so Bai Lu, please agree with me."


Bai Lu snapped the green beans.


Wang Cuihua's face twitched, and she promptly backed down. "What I mean is, will you agree to let me stay for dinner?"


She wanted to see if Brother Xiao Cheng would really go to the riverbank to catch shrimp for Bai Lu and catch a few shrimp.


Bai Lu already knew her little thoughts. "If you want to eat shrimp, there are many in the southern market."


Wang Cuihua was shocked, her eyes as wide as a cow's eyes. "Are you saying that Brother Xiao Cheng didn't go to the riverbank to catch shrimp but bought them in the southern market?"


"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! It takes hours to go from Xinzheng to the southern market. How could Brother Xiao Cheng go to the southern market to buy shrimp? It's impossible to buy shrimp from so far away! They would all die on the way back!"


Bai Lu just smiled and said nothing.


The crabs and shrimp that Xiao Cheng had brought back yesterday were still alive and well.


Wang Cuihua was struck by Bai Lu's calmness. "Are you lying to me?"


"You must be lying to me. Brother Xiaocheng is so busy with business, how could he have time to go to the southern market to buy shrimp."


Wang Cuihua would rather believe that Brother Xiao Cheng went to the riverbank to catch shrimp than believe that Brother Xiao Cheng went to the southern market to buy shrimp.


Even if someone called and brought them back from the southern market, she wouldn't believe it. It must not be true.


The southern market is so far from Xinzheng, and Brother Xiao Cheng hates trouble the most. How could he specially ask someone to bring shrimp back from such a far place just to please Bai Lu?


This isn't true!

It must not be true!

It's just that Bai Lu didn't want to let Brother Xiao Cheng go, so she deliberately said false things to anger her. It must not be true!


Wang Cuihua kept going around in circles and refused to leave. She wanted to wait for Brother Xiaocheng to come back and see for herself.


At this moment, Xiao Cheng was serving guests in the store, not ordinary guests, but the distinguished guest, Liu Zhengguo.


Liu Zhengguo was indeed a rare guest. In the period when investigations should have been low-key, he openly made two inspections.


Both times were at the South City Electrical Appliance Store, and both times were because of Bai Lu.


The first time was mutual help.


The second time was a thank-you: "Thanks to the information provided by Bai Lu this time, we were able to successfully break the major human trafficking case."


Xiao Cheng remembered that Bai Lu had mentioned to him the conditions for bringing Liu Zhengguo out of hiding, which was the underground gambling den.


What does it have to do with the human trafficking case?


Xiao Cheng asked before Liu Zhengguo, "Yesterday, our people were patrolling the gambling den and unexpectedly saw a man carrying a child to the outskirts. They found it suspicious and followed him. Later, they found a hidden cave on the opposite side of the den with 26 abducted children."


Child abduction is a heinous crime that occurs across the country, and there are missing children in Pingcheng as well.


Especially recently, there have been more parents reporting missing children than in the previous three months combined.


It shows how serious the situation is.


The child trafficking gang also has anti-surveillance capabilities. The time and place of the crime are different every time, and the escape route is planned in advance, deliberately avoiding crowded areas.


All the routes where the police might appear are avoided in advance, making it difficult for them to find clues.


If a large number of people had not been sent to the gambling den to monitor, they would not have encountered suspicious individuals, let alone unravel a bigger conspiracy.


As soon as Liu Zhengguo thought about the results of last night's interrogation, the ceramic teacup in his hand cracked: "These scum traffickers don't sell children to wealthy families, they take them to big cities, cut off their limbs, and throw them on the streets to beg."


"This time they revealed their feet because it was time to meet with the outside gang, and they were still short of one child. They had to follow the normal route out of urgency and were exposed. Our people discovered and rescued them. Otherwise, those twenty-six children would have been taken away overnight..."


"As long as there is one child left," Xiao Cheng thought of something and a hint of hostility appeared in his deep eyes.


"Are the two groups connected?" Liu Zhengguo initially thought there was a connection, but after a thorough investigation, he found out that there wasn't.


"The head of the trafficking gang is in another province, and there are dens in many places, not from our province,"


Liu Zhengguo has already contacted the police in other provinces, and they are also planning to take action.


However, what surprised him was Bai Lu: "You've married a smart wife who suddenly became enlightened. Not only did she happen to encounter people from the underground den going out, but there was also a human trafficking gang hiding near the den. If it were before, she would have been terrified as a naive girl."


Thinking of all the information about Bai Lu from childhood to adulthood, Liu Zhengguo effortlessly pieced it together.


Having known her for so long, it was the first time Liu Zhengguo had seen Xiaocheng, who was fearless and uninhibited, feeling helpless because of a girl.


It's quite magical.


It seems that this time he really is going back on the right path.


Liu Zhengguo felt relieved and emotional: "It's good that you came out to find me. I welcome you and haven't had enough yet. Do your business well. I won't disturb you anymore. Let's have another drink when you're free."


"I'll be ready at any time."

















Chapter 238: Big Brother's Fondness for Big Sister-in-Law



After Zhang San watched Liu Zhengguo sit in the police car and leave, he couldn't help but complain, "Director Liu is too stingy."


"He only said thanks to my sister-in-law, but there wasn't even a penny of reward. Saying thanks is just lip service."


Li Si also complained, "My sister-in-law cracked a major case, but there was no reward at all. It's really unfair."


Xiao Cheng's little brothers had already been won over by Bai Lu, and they were all indignant on behalf of my sister-in-law.


Xiao Cheng was originally reluctant to speak, but he broke his silence and said, "He still has a plan."


The hideout hasn't been cleaned up yet, and thanks are still commendations. Until the last moment, it's all fake.


Zhang San and Li Si seemed to understand, but in fact, they didn't.


They didn't dare to ask more. Getting an explanation from the big brother was already a blessing gained through three lifetimes.


If you don't understand, just wait and see how things develop.


In the evening.


Xiao Wei, who was returning home from school, saw a tall and familiar figure ahead and immediately ran over.


With short legs moving like a motor, he ran very fast, only slowing down when he was ten meters away from the tall figure.


He tiptoed to catch up, curious about what was in the plastic bag his big brother was carrying.


Big brother went to the city in the afternoon, so it should be vegetables bought in the city. I wonder what vegetables they are.


It's bulging and seems to be moving.


Xiao Wei became more and more curious as he walked closer.


His eyes widened as he stared fixedly at the black plastic bag, not even noticing when the tall figure stopped, and he bumped straight into the copper wall and iron legs.


He took three small steps back after bouncing off before stopping steadily.


"Big brother... I didn't mean to," Xiao Wei apologized, not daring to rub his sore nose.


Xiao Cheng looked at the stiff little figure in front of him, and the scene that suddenly appeared in his mind in the afternoon surfaced again.


The little figure was chained around the neck, struggling in a dark and damp corner, full of fear.


If the chains weren't broken, hands and feet would be cut off.


Blood splattered over the tender face, over the dark and bright eyes, the small body writhed in pain, convulsing all over.


The limbless body, helpless on the ground, rolled around, covered in blood, the fragile and painful voice hoarse: "Big brother... brother... it hurts so much..."


The old cloth bag was abandoned on the ground, the clothes of the little figure's big brother, daily necessities, scattered all over.


There was also a flattened aluminum lunch box, delicious food spilled out, stained red by the blood on the ground.


The incomplete little figure, with a tender face covered in blood and tears, gradually overlapped with the small figure in front of him.


Exactly the same, without any difference.


Xiao Cheng didn't know why these scenes appeared. Since he dreamed about them last night, they had been lingering in his mind.


Until today, after hearing Liu Zhengguo's words, the bloody scenes resurfaced clearly and then disappeared completely.


Xiao Cheng looked at the little figure in front of him who was looking down at his toes. For the first time, his tone was not as cold as usual, much lighter: "Come home earlier after school, don't run around."


Xiao Wei was already mentally prepared, waiting for his big brother's usual cold words like "get lost," but unexpectedly, he was treated gently. He raised his head in surprise.


Seeing that there was no one else around, and his big brother was indeed talking to him, his eyes immediately lit up with little light bulbs.


Nodding vigorously, "Okay! I got it."


In Xiao Cheng's mind, the gentle smile of the girl and the layers of softness in her calm eyes unfolded.


"Listen to your sister-in-law."


"Yes! I will." Xiao Wei knew that his big brother was busy with work in the city. He had always listened to his sister-in-law.


His sister-in-law was so good to him. Not only would he listen now, but he would also listen to her in the future.


Of course, he didn't forget to report, no, to provide a little information: "Today, Wang Cuihua came to find my sister-in-law."


Xiao Cheng responded with a "Hmm" and turned back towards home.


Xiao Wei, carrying his small school bag, immediately followed, "Wang Cuihua said you and my sister-in-law haven't obtained a marriage certificate."


Xiao Cheng paused his steps, "What did she say?"


Xiao Wei thought he was asking about how Wang Cuihua said it at that time, and the scene quickly replayed in his mind.


He replied without missing a word, "Wang Cuihua said, since Bai Lu and my brother haven't registered for a marriage certificate, why can't she be with brother."


Xiao Cheng's face turned cold, gloomy, but there was a flicker of nervousness in his eyes, "What did she say?"


"Wang Cuihua?" 


"To Your sister-in-law."


Xiao Wei recalled and stole a glance at the dark and icy face of his big brother. He shrank back and cautiously said, "At that time, before my sister-in-law answered, I asked, and then my sister-in-law told me, not Wang Cuihua."


"Sister-in-law said, big brother and she haven't obtained a marriage certificate, not because of anything else, but because she haven't reached the legal marriage age yet, so you two can't get the marriage certificate."


Xiao Cheng's dark and icy face suddenly stopped, and he glanced sideways at Xiao Wei, his gaze half surprised and half doubtful.


"Did she really say that?"


Xiao Wei decisively raised three fingers, "I swear, sister-in-law said so."


"Your Brother and I haven't obtained a marriage certificate, not because of anything else, but because I haven't reached the legal marriage age yet, so we can't get the marriage certificate." He repeated the words exactly as they were.


Xiao Cheng nodded, expressionless, and strode home.


Everything seemed no different from before, but Xiao Wei couldn't keep up. He had to jog to catch up.


By chance, he looked up and saw, under the red sunset glow, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his big brother's mouth.


It aroused a faint hint of pleasure.

Xiao Wei was about to speak, but decisively held back. What his sister-in-law said behind didn't matter.

It didn't matter anyway; they were going to register with his older brother. What difference did it make between next year and now?

No difference.

Wang Cuihua shamelessly persisted until Xiao Cheng returned, pretending not to understand whatever Bai Lu said.

Until—

Seeing the plastic bag in Xiao Cheng's hand, she had a foreboding feeling, and her steps to greet him became stiff.

She stepped heavily on the concrete floor, making a "thud thud" sound, not knowing how she came in front of Xiao Cheng.

"Big brother Xiao Cheng," she stammered.

As expected, Wang Cuihua only received a cold face and an emotionless "Hmm."

Nevertheless, she still stared at the plastic bag in Xiao Cheng's hand, looking and looking again.

She wanted to ask something, but didn't want to hear an answer she didn't like, so suddenly she didn't want to ask anymore.

Xiao Wei kindly told her, "These are shrimp."

"Do you know shrimp? Not the skinny little ones from the riverbank, but big ones, full of meat. My brother bought them from the southern market for my sister-in-law."

Wang Cuihua felt a blow, but still forced a smile and pretended to be surprised, "So it's shrimp."

Xiao Wei nodded vigorously, very happy that Wang Cuihua could understand. He explained enthusiastically, "There was once an emperor who loved Yang Guifei very much. Yang Guifei liked to eat lychee, so the emperor had people bring lychee from far away to make Yang Guifei happy, even if it tired many horses."

"My sister-in-law likes to eat shrimp, so my brother has people bring shrimp from the far southern market to make my sister-in-law happy, no matter how much it costs, he wants my sister-in-law to be happy. My brother loves my sister-in-law, just like the emperor loved Yang Guifei."



















Chapter 239: Ignition


Wang Cuihua was directly angered.


Of course, most of the reason was that Xiao Cheng's cold face was too frightening. Wang Cuihua was afraid that if she hesitated for a second, she would be rewarded with a "get lost" or "get far away."


After all, in Xiao Cheng's indifferent and ruthless eyes, the words "get far away" were engraved.


Wang Cuihua couldn't even pretend to be blind.


Xiao Wei's talk of affection was still too conservative. It wasn't until dinner that evening that he knew what true affection was.


Big brother not only peeled shrimp for his sister-in-law but also coated them with seasoning before putting them in her bowl.


If he hadn't been present, he suspected that his big brother would have directly fed the shrimp to his sister-in-law's mouth.


Xiao Wei had seen it once before, his big brother peeling shrimp and crabs for his sister-in-law, so he wouldn't be shocked again.


What was shattered was only his understanding of his big brother.


Although it had been shattered many times, every time something new appeared and his sister-in-law was present, his big brother's unprecedented behavior would shatter his understanding again.


The moon was high in the sky.


Bai Lu was in a daze, hearing the telephone ringing, she groped for a coat and got up to answer it.


By the telephone next to the tall table, there was already a tall and burly figure standing there, holding the receiver. After speaking a few cold sentences, he turned and walked out.


"Ah Cheng."


Bai Lu ran out from the doorway and stood in front of Xiao Cheng, rubbing her eyes, still half-asleep.


Xiao Cheng was still wearing slippers, dressed casually in all black, his face as cold and stern as usual, but the deep and dark eyes couldn't hide the surging killing intent.


It was clear that he was about to do "something big"!


Bai Lu's half-awake mind suddenly became clear, decisively blocking his way and grabbing Xiao Cheng's arm with both hands.


"It's so late, where are you going?"


Xiao Cheng looked at the girl with disheveled hair beside him, his hand reached out and then dropped, resisting the urge to tidy her hair, his tone was beyond doubt: "I have to go out for something."


When Bai Lu went out, she glanced at the just-hung-up landline. The number belonged to the city's electronics store.


"What's wrong with the electronics store?"


Xiao Cheng's arm was tightly gripped for a moment. After a moment of silence, he replied, "It's on fire."


Bai Lu was suddenly startled, "Are Zhang San and Li Si okay?"


They both lived in the warehouse of the store. If there was a sudden fire late at night, if...


"They're fine." Xiao Cheng interrupted Bai Lu's instant nervous thoughts and explained, "There's a skylight in the warehouse. As soon as the fire started, they climbed out and weren't injured."


Bai Lu breathed a sigh of relief and then asked, "What about the damage to the store?"


There were still dozens of TVs in the store, hundreds or even thousands of large and small electronics. If they were all burned down, not only would there be huge losses, but without goods, they would have to close the next day, and all of Xiao Cheng's efforts would be in vain.


Xiao Cheng felt his arm being tightened again, hugged, his cold eyebrows and eyes unconsciously relaxed.


"The electronics are undamaged. The fire was just starting, and Zhang San and Li Si, who escaped, used fire extinguishers to put it out."


The fire extinguishers in the store were prepared by Bai Lu before the new store opened, just in case.


Unexpectedly, it really came in handy.


Zhang San and Li Si were sleeping in the store, and someone outside was pouring gasoline and setting fire to the door. If it weren't for the fire extinguishers, the electronics store would have been a ruin by now.


Bai Lu didn't notice Xiao Cheng's change of gaze. In her mind, she was analyzing that there were no casualties or losses of electronics, so why was Xiao Cheng's face so sinister.


There was only one reason.


"Hu Biao set the fire?"


"His people." Xiao Cheng's tone was cold, his eyelids lifted slightly, revealing a glimpse of ferocity and cruelty.


Something that doesn't know its place.


A few shouts from the little lackeys, and they think they can rule the roost in Pingcheng. They come looking for trouble every few days.


They insist on provoking the evil dragon until both sides are injured before they will give up. Bai Lu really wanted to give Hu Biao a piece of her mind.


But it's not the time yet, and she doesn't need to intervene, and Xiao Cheng doesn't need to intervene either. Hu Biao will soon be taught a lesson, and the most important thing now is to stabilize Xiao Cheng.


Bai Lu looked at the clock on the wall, "It's already two o'clock, too late. Let's go tomorrow."


Bai Lu knew what Xiao Cheng was going to do, and Xiao Cheng knew that Bai Lu knew what he was going to do. He raised his hand and touched her hair, smoothing out the messy strands.


"You go back to sleep first."


It meant that he was going to take revenge!


Bai Lu wouldn't let go, holding onto his arm, "It's too late now. Let's figure things out tomorrow."


"Zhang San and Li Si have already identified the person who ran away." Xiao Cheng lightly patted Bai Lu's hand, trying to remove it.


Bai Lu held on tightly, refusing to let go, "The monk may run away, but the temple won't. Let's wait until tomorrow. There will be a better solution tomorrow. Trust me once, okay?"


In Xiao Cheng's eyes, the best solution had always been to seek revenge when wronged, and to do it on the spot.


If it could be solved with fists, there was no need for idle talk.


"I trust you. Go back to sleep." he said.


Bai Lu pulled Xiao Cheng back to the room directly, "When I got up just now, I seemed to see a mouse run past the foot of the bed. Can you help me look for it... I'm scared."


Xiao Cheng knew it was a delaying tactic, but he still followed Bai Lu back to the room and looked for the foot of the bed and the head of the bed.


After searching around and around, even in the corners, as expected, there was no sign of a mouse.


Bai Lu still hugged Xiao Cheng's arm and didn't let go. Wherever he went, she followed. Even if they didn't find the mouse, she didn't let go.


"It might be hiding. Let's look again..."


Before she finished speaking, the telephone rang suddenly.


Bai Lu immediately let go, "I'll answer the phone outside. There really is a mouse in the room. It may have hidden when it heard us. I don't know if it's hiding in the bed."


"If the mouse is hiding in the bed, it will definitely bite me while I sleep. Can you help me look for it again?"


Bai Lu went out and closed the door directly.


Xiao Cheng: "..."


The caller ID was from the electronics store.


As soon as Bai Lu picked up the phone, Zhang San's voice came through, "Brother Cheng, the brothers are all here. Tonight, let Hu Biao, that bastard, have a hard time! He dared to set fire to the store, he's tired of living. If we don't teach him a lesson, he won't know how to write the word 'death'!"


Bai Lu asked, "How many brothers have come?"


Obviously, Zhang San didn't expect Bai Lu to answer the phone. He hesitated for a moment and answered truthfully, "Thirty-one of the closest ones have come, and the others haven't been notified."


At two in the morning, less than ten minutes later, thirty-one people had gathered. It could be seen how loyal these people were to Xiao Cheng.


Bai Lu glanced at the tightly closed door and quickly said, "Brother Cheng has urgent matters to attend to tonight, so he won't be coming over. You take the brothers out for a late-night snack and go back to sleep early. If there's anything, we'll talk about it tomorrow."


It was very quiet on Zhang San's end, so quiet that the sound of the knife accidentally touching the ground was particularly clear.


After a moment of silence and hesitation, Zhang San dared to ask, "Brother Cheng isn't coming tonight?"


"He's not coming. He's very busy."


Before hanging up the phone, Bai Lu suddenly remembered that there was no late-night market in Pingcheng, so there was no late-night snack at this hour.


"Zhang San, there are cigarettes in the cabinet under the cash register. You give each of the brothers a pack and let them go back to sleep early. Thank you!"


















Chapter 240: Hard Work


Xiao Cheng's new store opened, and he received many congratulatory gifts, including tobacco, alcohol, tea, and various other gifts.


At that time, the store was full of customers, and Bai Lu was too busy to tidy up, so she just stuffed all the cigarettes into the cabinet.


Other things were piled up inside the cash register, and it wasn't until after dinner that Zhang San and Li Si cleaned up.


Bai Lu turned around and saw that the door, which should have been tightly closed, was already open, and Xiao Cheng stood at the door expressionless.


She didn't know how long he had been standing there until their eyes met and he spoke lightly, "No rats."


Bai Lu's mouth twitched, "Maybe they're hiding."


Xiao Cheng had barely taken a step when Bai Lu pushed him back into the room, not into her room, but in a different direction.


She pushed him back into his room and closed the door.


With her back against the door, Bai Lu looked at the clean and dim room in front of her, the neatly arranged items in the corner, and the simple bed opposite.


She weakly said to Xiao Cheng, "The rats in my room must be hiding. They'll come out when I turn off the lights. I'm afraid to sleep; the rats might bite me..."


She just didn't want him to go out.


She didn't even bother pretending to tremble anymore; she just stood at the door, looking at him with those clear, pure eyes.


She wasn't scared, but her determination was evident. Xiao Cheng's coldness softened slightly.


After a moment of eye contact, she still didn't budge. Xiao Cheng sighed lightly and turned back.


"So, what do you suggest?"


Bai Lu quickly stepped up behind Xiao Cheng, pushing him forward with both hands, and they lay down on the bed together.


She tucked in the blankets.


"Your room doesn't have any rats, much safer than mine. Can I stay for one night?"


Xiao Cheng could feel under the blankets that a small paw was tightly gripping the corner of his clothes.


Whether it was surveillance or lodging, it was already obvious.


Listening to the shallow and nervous breath next to him, the last hint of hostility disappeared from Xiao Cheng's eyes, and he turned off the light.


With a slight smile on his lips, he said, "As you wish."


Bai Lu, adhering to the tragic mission of having to sleep later than Xiao Cheng and making sure he wouldn't go out, tossed and turned on the bed. After driving away all traces of sleepiness, she found she couldn't sleep, even after Xiao Cheng had fallen asleep.


Later, Bai Lu couldn't even remember how many sheep she had counted, how many times she had loosened and tightened her grip on her clothes, or when she finally hugged her familiar pillow and entered dreamland.


Xiao Cheng, still asleep, tightened his arms around the girl's back, his large hands gently patting her, gradually slowing down.


They slept until dawn.


Xiao Wei found that his elder brother was very busy today. He hadn't finished breakfast yet and was forced to agree to help Bai Lu.


Bai Lu wanted to weed the vegetable garden, so she asked his brother to help carry grass to feed the fish in the creek. It was such a simple task; the vegetable garden was too close to the creek.


Bai Lu used to do it herself, but today she actually asked his brother for help, and his brother agreed for the first time.


In addition to helping feed the fish, Bai Lu also asked his brother to do other small things, things that he could usually help with but Bai Lu didn't need his help. Bai Lu asked his brother to help with everything.


Xiao Wei was puzzled as he left with his school bag.


Since his sister-in-law didn't have to roast chestnuts anymore, she had a lot more time to study and do her homework.


Even finding a pen, something as simple as that, was something his sister-in-law let his brother help with today, which was something Xiao Wei never expected.


After lunch, his brother was still busy helping his sister-in-law, which was even more unexpected for Xiao Wei.


Until he was about to go to school, the phone suddenly rang, and his brother went to answer it.


After answering the phone, his brother finally didn't have to help anymore because he had to go out.


And it was his brother and sister-in-law going out together.


Xiao Wei also went to school.


A timely fire was extinguished, and although there was no damage to any electrical appliances in the city's appliance store, the roller shutter door was blackened.


The walls around the store were also blackened, and Zhang San and Li Si had been cleaning since morning until Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu arrived, before they finally cleaned up all the black marks.


"Brother and sister-in-law."


Seeing Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu from a distance, Zhang San and Li Si stopped their cleaning work and came out to greet them.


"Hard working." Bai Lu took out two red envelopes from Xiao Cheng's pocket and gave them to Zhang San and Li Si.


"In adversity, there will be blessings."


Zhang San and Li Si were stunned for a moment, thinking about what happened last night, and quickly accepted them with both hands, "Thank you, brother and sister-in-law."


Red envelopes were not only condolences but also auspicious.


Zhang San and Li Si knew that this was Bai Lu's intention. Bai Lu always handled things gracefully and thoughtfully.


Their brother couldn't do this. Whenever something happened, it was settled over a meal, a bottle of wine, and a smoke.


That's how things were between men. Everyone had been used to it for so many years. Suddenly being comforted openly, Zhang San and Li Si felt a warm flow in their hearts.


It's really better to have a sister-in-law! They had long felt that their brother lacked a sister-in-law!


The red envelopes were taken out of their brother's pocket by their sister-in-law, and their brother and sister-in-law's blessings were shared. Sister-in-law was so clever!


Xiao Cheng saw the pathetic look of Zhang San and Li Si and didn't want to look anymore. His eyes fell on the girl beside him, and his expression was replaced with pride.


He said lightly, "Where did he go?"


Zhang San and Li Si's foolish look was immediately replaced by seriousness, "He said he's going to familiarize himself with the area and will be back in a while."


As soon as the words fell, a crowd of black figures appeared at the corner across the street.


"Here he comes."


A tall figure in a black windbreaker, accompanied by ten sturdy men, strode toward Xiao Cheng.


Pedestrians around them stepped aside.


Some even stopped to watch out of curiosity, retreating to the safest place hundreds of meters away from the appliance store before stopping.


The appliance store had just opened the day before, and after the trouble caused by Hu Biao's gang, a fire had occurred overnight.


Although there was no significant damage, the roller shutter door was blackened, clearly a private struggle between forces in the Jianghu.


People also wanted to see if this new appliance store could continue to operate, and which side's power was stronger.


"Cheng Ge long time no see."


In full view of the public, Li Jianfeng greeted Xiao Cheng from ten meters away.


After exchanging greetings with Xiao Cheng, Li Jianfeng glanced admiringly at Bai Lu standing next to Xiao Cheng.


"Is this the sister-in-law? Sure enough, seeing is believing. Beautiful and generous."


Bai Lu nodded gently.


Xiao Cheng nodded slightly, his deep eyes calm and indifferent, "How come you have time to come over?"


Li Jianfeng seemed completely unconcerned about the crowd around him. He laughed loudly twice and said, "Hu Biao didn't handle things properly. He was sent to work in a black factory by the boss early in the morning. Before he left, he was beaten up and had his front teeth knocked out. The enemy still doesn't know who did it. I think it's most likely that enemies took advantage of the situation to seek revenge."


"Being too arrogant is not acceptable. Once a tiger falls, it will be bullied by dogs, let alone Hu Biao is not even a tiger, just a dog. After being taught a lesson, he'll be a good dog."


After the joke, Li Jianfeng laughed heartily, "The dog is gone, but the home is still there. Someone has to take over. So, the boss sent me to be your neighbor."


"Cheng Ge, we've known each other for a long time. Let's not talk about these empty words. Please take care of me in the future!"