Chapter 59: Zhang Weilong Tattles

Chapter 59: Zhang Weilong Tells Tales

The customers who had covered their ears wore excited expressions, believing that the thunderbolt had been called down by Jiang Yingxue. Otherwise, why would she have told them to cover their ears beforehand? The moment they just covered their ears, the thunder struck.

That's way too much of a coincidence!

But Boss Jiang is incredible! She can summon thunder!

Most of them looked at Jiang Yingxue with admiration, while the few who felt scared remembered that Jiang Yingxue was usually friendly and stopped being afraid.

A few bold students asked, "Sis, was that thunder…"

"Sis, were you Leigong in your past life?"

Jiang Yingxue smiled and waved her hand in denial. "No, I don't have that kind of ability. I just suddenly felt something was off and told you to stay away from her."

A student said, "Intuition? Sixth sense?"

Jiang Yingxue nodded. "Something like that, yeah."

Admitting it would only invite trouble, possibly lead to being taken in for questioning by the police, or even attract unwanted attention and research. She absolutely could not admit it at this moment.

Seeing Jiang Yingxue's sincere expression, the trusting students believed her.

"What would you like to buy?"

"I'll have 2 fish ball skewers."

"I'll have a pork cutlet seaweed rice ball."

...

About five minutes later, an ambulance arrived and took Zhuang Liuhong away. The discussions about the "unlucky person" gradually faded, and the street returned to normal.

The bolt of dry lightning wouldn't kill Zhuang Liuhong, but it certainly caused physical and mental damage. She'd have to lie in bed for a year or two, which was no less than she deserved for attracting that specific thunderbolt.

After being rescued and waking up in the hospital, Zhuang Liuhong refused to talk about the incident and even started acting strange. But that's a story for later, and it was her retribution.

*

Weekend, Zhangjia Village.

The morning sun and breeze were warm. The crowing of roosters and barking of dogs made up the standard rural chorus.

Zhang Weilong was washing his tricycle used for his stall at his doorstep. Yesterday, after returning home, he had stuffed all the leftover food into the freezer to sell next week. The dirty tricycle was only being washed today.

For the past week or two, business at Huilong Rice Balls had been particularly poor, with half the food left over every day. If this continued, he would either have to change his stall location or find another job.

Meanwhile, the Xuehe Rice Ball stall next door was booming. Not only did they sell out almost every day, but students also constantly praised Xuehe Rice Ball as divine while disparaging Huilong Rice Balls' food as garbage. This infuriated him so much that he wanted to argue with the students, but fearing it would affect his already poor business, he held back, seething inside.

He was irritable every day. He wanted to cause trouble for Jiang Yingxue but was wary of the surveillance camera at her stall. His resentment grew stronger, and he gave a stone on the ground a frustrated kick.

"Ouch!" Zhang Fuyao, who was walking peacefully on the road, was hit by the stone. He stumbled forward before regaining his balance.

Turning around, he saw only his uncle, Zhang Weilong, nearby.

Zhang Fuyao said with some displeasure, "Uncle Weilong, why did you kick a stone at me?"

Zhang Weilong grinned. "Didn't notice you there. Oh, home for the weekend?"

Zhang Fuyao gave an "Mhm" and walked away. His mother had asked him to buy soy sauce from the village grocery store. That stumble almost made him fall.

Luckily he didn't fall. If the soy sauce bottle had broken, would Zhang Weilong even pay? His clothes would have gotten dirty too.

Zhang Weilong watched Zhang Fuyao's retreating back with a nasty grin. The person who could help him cause trouble for Jiang Yingxue had arrived. Talk about perfect timing.

In his eyes, Zhang Fuyao was a traitorous idiot. Recently, he saw Zhang Fuyao buying food from Xuehe Rice Ball every other day, which infuriated him each time.

He knew full well the prices at Xuehe Rice Ball were steep, and he also knew Zhang Fuyao's family's financial situation.

He let out a low, nasty chuckle. Did Sister-in-law Xiuhua know her son was spending money so lavishly at school? It didn't matter if she didn't know; he would go tell her right now.

Shen Xiuhua was Zhang Fuyao's mother. Shen Xiuhua and her husband Zhang Guiqiang had two daughters and one son: 18-year-old Zhang Fudi, 17-year-old Zhang Tiandi, and 15-year-old Zhang Weilong. Zhang Guiqiang and Zhang Fudi worked in another city and only returned home during holidays, though they sent money back every month, more or less. Zhang Tiandi had dropped out of school to help Shen Xiuhua with farm work at home, and Zhang Weilong was in his third year of junior high at Taoxi Middle School in town.

*Thud!* He threw down the rag, gave the tricycle a quick rinse with water, and then Zhang Weilong headed towards Zhang Fuyao's house with a malicious grin.

"Sister-in-law Xiuhua, do you know about that outrageously priced stall at the entrance of the town middle school? Their stuff is so expensive. Let me show you the prices…"

Zhang Weilong had a photo on his phone of the price list on Xuehe Rice Ball's small blackboard. He opened the picture and showed it to Shen Xiuhua. "Who knows what they put in the food at that stall. The students seem bewitched, running there every day. They feel uncomfortable if they don't eat it for a day. It's really strange."

"Tsk tsk, the way those students eat looks almost like how Uncle Lao Er's son at the end of the village acts when he's on that stuff."

Looking at the prices in the picture, Shen Xiuhua's eyes widened. 20 yuan for a rice ball? 20 yuan for a cup of juice? And 50, 100 yuan? Is it plated with gold, selling it so expensive! She couldn't spend 20 yuan in three days!

Shen Xiuhua wasn't stupid either. She knew Zhang Weilong wouldn't tell her these things for no reason. Thinking of her son attending junior high in town, she looked up at Zhang Weilong suspiciously and said, "Fuyao, he…" He wouldn't be buying it often too, would he?

Before Shen Xiuhua could finish her sentence, Zhang Weilong hurriedly said, "That's right! I've seen him go buy it not just once or twice, but many times! And every time he comes back with a small bag. I saw him go buy it again yesterday… He must spend three or four hundred yuan a month. Sister-in-law Xiuhua, I'm only doing this for Fuyao's own good. If eating that stuff is fine, then it's okay. But if something's wrong with it, and I knew but didn't tell you, I'd be letting down you and Brother Guiqiang!"

Shen Xiuhua was filled with rage. Suppressing her anger, she smiled at Zhang Weilong and said, "Thank you, Weilong. I'm going to go teach that little brat a lesson right now!"

A flash of triumph crossed Zhang Weilong's eyes. He smiled and said, "We're fellow villagers, no need for thanks. The child is grown now, better not to hit him. A good talking-to is enough. Otherwise, if you hit him, he might buy even more, and that would be troublesome." In his heart, he wished Shen Xiuhua would use a telephone pole to beat him.

"He wouldn't dare!" Shen Xiuhua insisted on using a stick.

Seeing that he had achieved his goal, Zhang Weilong left. Zhang Fuyao came out of the house and saw Zhang Weilong's back as he was leaving their yard. He asked, "Mom, what did Uncle Weilong come to our house for?"

Shen Xiuhua roared at him angrily, "It's all because of the good things you've done!"

Zhang Fuyao was completely confused. "What did I do?"

"You still have the nerve to ask! Tell me, what have you been eating for lunch at school recently? How much money have you spent?" Shen Xiuhua stared angrily at his face, not blinking.