Chapter 531 Is This a Place to Eat?

Chapter 531 This Is Where We Eat?

The moment the door opened, A Chang's filthy hand came down on Jiao Zongyao's polished leather shoe.

His hand was still visibly caked with chunks of feces.

Jiao Zongyao recoiled violently, staring at the hand in disbelief. Almost reflexively, he kicked A Chang back into the cesspool.

Then, he doubled over retching into the sewage.

A Chang, who had just resurfaced after swallowing a mouthful of excrement-filled water, sputtered between retches: "Ugh... Deputy Director... ugh ugh ugh... you puked on my head... save me..."

Old Wang grimaced in disgust as he glanced at Jiao's men.

"Get over there and help him!"

The men simultaneously took two steps back.

"Old Wang, why don’t you go?"

Old Wang retreated three meters, quickly distancing himself. "I'm not on the payroll, so why should I lift a finger? You’re different—you took the money but just stand there watching. Wait till Deputy Director Jiao comes after you later!"

The men exchanged uneasy glances, frightened by Old Wang’s words.

Swallowing their disgust, they psyched themselves up—for the sake of money, they had to get their hands dirty!

Old Wang stood to the side with arms crossed, directing them. "Hurry, hurry! First, get Deputy Director Jiao away, then pull the man out."

But the leader of the group tripped over something, stumbling forward uncontrollably.

Jiao Zongyao had just turned around, covering his mouth, when he saw a figure crashing into him at lightning speed.

Before he could react, he was sent sprawling, suspended midair, before plummeting into the cesspool with a huge, disgusting splash.

Old Wang yelped, "Oh no!"

Time to make myself scarce.

The man who had knocked Jiao Zongyao into the pit stood frozen, staring blankly at the scene inside, his ears filled with the sounds of retching.

"I... I didn’t mean to! Deputy Director, don’t take it out of my paycheck, I didn’t mean to!"

Jiao Zongyao’s nose and mouth were assaulted by the putrid stench. He didn’t dare think about it, but he had definitely swallowed a mouthful of raw sewage.

The moment he opened his mouth, he couldn’t stop vomiting.

"Help... me... ugh ugh..."

Jiao Zongyao flailed a desperate hand, but the man only backed away further.

"Deputy Director, don’t take it out of my paycheck, and I’ll pull you up, okay?"

Jiao Zongyao was seeing red—he wanted nothing more than to pound this guy into the ground.

"Get me out first!" he roared.

"If you don’t promise, I won’t pull you up."

Jiao Zongyao was heaving with rage, veins bulging on his forehead, his teeth gritted.

Here's the improved translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

"Yes! I promise!"

The man lit up and ran off to find a stick.

"Chief, I'll pull you up."

Jiao Zongyao grabbed the stick, thinking he could finally escape the cesspit.

But as soon as he stepped onto it, the stick snapped with a crack, and he fell backward again, landing on top of A Chang and the others who were just about to climb out.

Bang!

Sewage splashed everywhere.

By the time they finally managed to pull Jiao Zongyao out, the contents of the cesspit had been completely stirred up by their struggles.

When a local villager came to gather fertilizer and saw the mess, he was furious.

"Y'all must be starving—this ain't no dining hall!"

Jiao Zongyao was so enraged that his blood rushed to his head. He saw stars, and fainted on the spot.

"Chang, the chief's out cold—what do we do?"

A Chang looked utterly defeated. "Fall back, we're done here!"

Ugh! Just our damn luck.

"Chang, but what about Section Chief He..."

A Chang was furious and roared, "Are you blind? They're still fishing! If they really had other intentions, they would've acted by now!"

He finally understood—Jiang Yu really was just here to fish. Everything they'd done had been completely unnecessary.

Jiao Zongyao and his group beat a hasty retreat, leaving behind only the reek of waste as proof they'd ever been to Tangdian.

Jiang Yu remained completely clueless of all this, happily enjoying her grilled fish.

Cai Xiaole had brought all the right spices, making the fish perfectly crispy outside, juicy inside.

Just as she finished eating, Old Man Wang came running back.

"Old Man Wang, are you still fishing?"

Wang waved his hands repeatedly. "No, no, I'm throwing in the towel. How 'bout you spare me a couple to try?"

Jiang Yu was generous and pointed to the bucket.

"Take your pick."

Wang chose two medium-sized fish, threaded them on a grass rope, and headed home.

With Jiao Zongyao gone, there was no reason for him to stick around.

Jiang Yu watched his retreating figure, baffled.

"Jiao Zongyao left?" Everyone said he was careful—where'd his patience go?

Jiang Yu thought he would at least stay until evening before leaving.

Soon after, Xiaoqi returned.

He gave Jiang Yu an exaggerated account of Jiao Zongyao falling into the manure pit.

Jiang Yu covered her mouth in shock.

"No way! That’s insane!"

Too bad—she missed such a juicy scene.

"So they left?"

Xiaoqi nodded. "All of them, even Old Wang."

Jiang Yu snorted. "Good riddance."

Xiaoqi was itching. "Sis, what’s the plan?"

Jiang Yu tapped her fingers. "Xiaole, d’you know the brigade leader in Tangdian?"

Cai Xiaole scratched her nose. "He’s my uncle by relation, but I don’t really roll with anyone in Tangdian."

Especially after the whole Tong Qilin mess—she doubted the Tongs had any love for her.

Hanging out in Tangdian was one thing, but interacting with the locals wasn’t necessary.

"Doesn’t matter if you’re close—just get us an intro."

Cai Xiaole didn’t refuse. "Let’s go."

Unfortunately, they ran into Tong Qilin right at the doorstep.

The second Tong Qilin spotted Cai Xiaole, he exploded.

"You disgraceful brat! How dare you come crawling back here!"

No warning—he raised his hand to strike her.

Lai Liuzi yanked Cai Xiaole back and shoved his arm away.

"We ain’t here for you. Step off."

Tong Qilin sneered. "This is my damn house! Who the hell are you to tell me to move?"

The Tongs were a big clan—branched out, but still under one roof.

After getting canned, Tong Qilin had returned to his hometown, doing jack all.

But with that clan behind him, he’d never starve.

"Xiaoqi, take this comrade aside for a chat."

Xiaoqi grunted "yeah, yeah" and hooked an arm around Tong Qilin’s neck, pulling him away.

"C’mon, uncle—let’s chat over here."

Tuning out Tong Qilin’s swearing, Jiang Yu marched up and rapped on the door.

"Is Captain Tong around?"

After a while, Cai Xiaole's paternal uncle came out of the house.

Before he could ask their business, Jiang Yu heard Old Wang's voice.

"Jiang Yu, what brings you here?"

Jiang Yu turned to look at him, visibly surprised he hadn't left yet.

"You know exactly why we're here, Old Wang!"

Old Wang wouldn't meet her eyes and lowered his voice.

"Jiang Yu, why do you insist on holding onto skills that aren’t yours?"

Jiang Yu laughed. "If they’re not mine, does that mean they belong to Jiao Zongyao?"

Old Wang gritted his teeth. "If they’re in his hands, shouldn’t they be his?"

"That’s absurd! Skills he stole from others—how do they become his? Old Wang, what’s he paying you? Jiao Zongyao has a notorious reputation, yet I’ve never seen anyone defend him like you do."

Years ago, the crimes Jiao Zongyao committed were so vile that everyone cursed his name.

Old Wang averted her scrutinizing gaze. "I don’t know what you’re talking about. I never accepted anything from him."

Jiang Yu chuckled, her voice low and deliberate.

"So, does that mean he has dirt on you? Something that forces you to defend him?"