Chapter 55 So Brave!

Chapter 55: Too Bold!

Chen Qiao had run into Li Pandi while setting up her stall, and quietly told Lu Yun that Li Pandi had set up her own stall, trying to earn extra money before year-end just like Chen Qiao. Unfortunately, running a stall really put one's aesthetic sense to the test, and Li Pandi's aesthetic was truly lacking—she'd stocked up on goods that were all stuck in her hands.

Chen Qiao: "I think she's going to have to offload those goods at a loss. If she doesn't mark them down soon, once next year's new styles hit the market, those goods will be even harder to move, and she'll lose even more. But honestly, she doesn't seem all that capable. She probably won't want to sell at a loss—she's stingy even when people try to bargain."

Lu Yun thought about this Li Pandi. She saw things differently from Chen Qiao. Li Pandi was indeed stingy, but she did have some ability. If she didn't have any capability, she wouldn't have dared to approach Sister He, let alone have partnered with her before.

Lu Yun: "Not necessarily. Let's wait and see."

Zhou Yanze came by to see Lu Yun, bringing her some large yellow croaker. Lu Yun loved eating them, and the fish Zhou Yanze brought was top-notch.

The weather was nice today, so Lu Yun walked home with him. It was cold and everything was bare—nothing much to look at. Lu Yun was looking forward to spring.

As they passed the park, Lu Yun told Zhou Yanze that the peach blossoms there were especially beautiful in spring.

Zhou Yanze: "When the peach blossoms bloom in spring, let's take a stroll in the park together."

Lu Yun: "Sure."

Matchmaker Zhao hadn't come by to see Lu Yun since last time—maybe she hadn't gotten any dirt on the Zhou family, or something else had come up. Lu Yun was a bit curious about Zhou Jun and Sun Chun, especially since Chen Shu was caught in the middle of it all.

Lu Yun: "Your nephew."

At the mention of his nephew, Zhou Yanze pressed his lips together. Why bring him up?

Lu Yun smiled. "What's with that look? You're not upset, are you?"

Zhou Yanze: "Why would I be upset? I just wonder why you suddenly brought him up."

Lu Yun: "I heard that to win over Sun Chun, he wanted the whole Zhou family to go apologize to her."

Zhou Yanze genuinely had no idea, so Lu Yun didn't push it. Zhou Yanze was busy enough to afford a car—how would he have time to keep tabs on Zhou Jun and Sun Chun? Especially since Zhou Yanze's relationship with the Zhou family was pretty strained.

Zhou Yanze: "I actually need to visit the Zhou family in the next few days."

Lu Yun: "What a coincidence?"

Zhou Yanze: "Yeah, coincidence."

Lu Yun took the large yellow croaker home. Her father kept praising Zhou Yanze for his fish-picking skills and planned to cook it up.

Lu Yun said, "It's not certain he picked it himself. Maybe someone gave it to him, and he just passed it along to me?"

Her father: "Even so, didn't he think of you when he got this fish and bring it over to you?"

That evening the Lu family had the yellow croaker. Lu Yun ate a bit too much, and after finishing, she stood in the courtyard, planning to wait a bit before heading back inside. In winter, going for a stroll wasn't very convenient—Lu Yun was scared of the cold. If it were warm spring weather, she'd definitely take a walk around the neighborhood.

Thinking about business, Lu Yun figured she couldn't keep running a stall. She wanted to rent a storefront. After all, she was barely a ten-thousand-yuan household now, and she really didn't want to put herself through the wringer.

Lu Yun went back inside. Her parents were talking, and she went over to listen for a bit. Before they could continue their conversation, a commotion broke out outside again.

Aunt Han was back.

Aunt Han had returned from her mother's house, carrying quite a lot of stuff they'd given her. She was in good spirits, but as soon as she entered the compound, she felt people pointing at her and giving her pitying looks. Aunt Han immediately asked around to find out what was going on, thinking Zhao Lan was behind it. To her surprise, everyone said that Sun's father had taken a fancy to Aunt Jiang, and while Aunt Jiang's husband was away, he'd tried to ask her out—only to get beaten up by Aunt Jiang. Even Sun Zhi, who'd come out to help, got a beating from Aunt Jiang too.

Some people were even praising Aunt Jiang, saying she was great to the women in the compound, and telling Zhao Lan that if the Sun family ever dared to bully her, she should go to Aunt Jiang for help.

Aunt Han had lived in this compound and this alley for so long. Thanks to her complaining, everyone knew that Zhao Lan, her daughter-in-law, was using her pregnancy to boss everyone around. Now the story had flipped to Aunt Han bullying her daughter-in-law.

How could Aunt Han put up with that? She came straight back to the compound and marched right over to Aunt Jiang's door!

Aunt Han: "My husband asked you out? I think it was you who asked my husband out! And you dared to hit my husband and my son? Get out here! I'll rip your mouth apart!"

Aunt Han was furious. Sun's father's first love was Widow Li, and she'd been keeping tabs on Widow Li while hating her. Now Aunt Jiang might also have some connection to Sun's father? Though Aunt Han came back cursing, she didn't actually know what had gone down. She didn't fully trust Sun's father, but that didn't stop her from coming to curse Aunt Jiang out!

Widow Li led her son Li Zhuang and daughter-in-law Li Cai out to watch the show, a smug look flashing across her face!

Why should Sun's father have promised to marry her, only to dump her as a country girl after returning to the city?

Let their family make a scene—the more drama, the better!

Aunt Han: "Get out here! Get out here right now!"

Aunt Han: "Slandering my husband! I think she's the one who wanted my husband, and when he turned her down, she flew into a rage out of humiliation!"

Widow Li: "Don't act like your husband is some saint. A good man? Don't you know what he's really like?"

Aunt Han: "You widow, always talking about men! Don't you have any shame!"

Li Zhuang and Li Cai were still the timid couple they'd always been. But Li Zhuang couldn't just stand there while Aunt Han cursed Widow Li.

Li Zhuang was timid, but he was tall and sturdy. He stepped forward. "Aunt Han, you're the shameless one, aren't you?"

The timid Li Cai gathered her courage and said, "That's right! You're the shameless one!"

After saying that, Li Cai looked even more timid. She added, "If you keep this up, I'm going back to my mom's house!"

Even Lu Yun couldn't help but look at Li Cai more closely. This girl was timid, sure, but she was also genuinely kind-hearted. She might not dare to stand up for herself, but she'd stepped up for Widow Li.

Aunt Han was genuinely scared of Li Cai's family. She didn't want to offend Li Cai, but deep down, she hated Lu Yun even more. If Li Cai were her own daughter-in-law, she could be in Widow Li's shoes too.

Aunt Han: "You widow, what does someone else's business have to do with you? Mind your own business! And you—if your mother-in-law hadn't been so shameless first, I wouldn't have said a word about her. I know your family's tough, but even tough families have to be reasonable!"

Aunt Han kept cursing Aunt Jiang in the compound. She cursed until her throat was dry, but Aunt Jiang never came out. Aunt Han went over to kick the door, but even after several kicks, Aunt Jiang didn't show.

Aunt Jiang wasn't someone who'd take things lying down. For her not to come out after all that cursing was weird.

Han Gang from the compound said, "Aunt Jiang seems to have stepped out."

Aunt Han turned and cursed at Han Gang: "You knew and didn't say anything earlier? You let me curse all over the compound—are you trying to make me look like a fool?!"

Han Gang had a hot temper too. "We all saw what happened between your husband and Aunt Jiang that day. You come here cursing at her—she's being nice by not going to your house to curse you out!"

Han Gang: "What are you staring at? I don't hit women, but if you keep staring at me, I can't guarantee I won't go after Sun Zhi!"

Han Gang was single, a rough guy with a fierce temper. If he said he'd go beat up Sun Zhi, he actually would. Aunt Han didn't dare say another word.

Aunt Han cursed for quite a while, but in the end, she was the one who came out on the losing end. She stopped cursing and shouted, "I'm going to the neighborhood committee! I'm going to get them to help me get justice!"

When Aunt Han arrived at the neighborhood committee, the staff were at a loss for words. Last time, her family had made a scene right there at the committee office, and now she was back to stir up more trouble!

Aunt Han: "I know what kind of man my husband is. I know him very well. How could he be interested in Aunt Jiang? It must be Aunt Jiang who's interested in my husband, and he turned her down!"

Aunt Han: "When my husband and I first met through the matchmaker, we decided to get married right then and there. Aunt Jiang has lived in that compound for years. If my husband had feelings for her, why would he have married me then? You have to help me—I can't let people slander my husband! And that Han Gang from our compound threatened to beat my son! And Widow Li from our compound is bullying me because her daughter-in-law has a bunch of brothers in her family! You have to back me up!"

Lu Yun stood outside the neighborhood committee office with her mother. Her father had gone out to buy groceries and hadn't returned yet—he'd missed all the excitement.

Han Gang: "If you hadn't cursed at me, would I have said I'd beat your son? Did I actually lay a hand on him?"

Aunt Han: "You're threatening me! See, he dares to threaten me right here!"

Aunt Jiang had slipped back in without anyone noticing. She charged forward and slapped Aunt Han right across the face a few times. "I almost forgot—I haven't hit you yet!"

Aunt Jiang was a total badass!

The staff at the street office stepped forward to stop Aunt Jiang, but she shoved people left and right, pushing them aside, slapping Aunt Han over and over!

Aunt Han: "I'm calling the police!"

Aunt Jiang: "You'd better call the cops right now. If you don't, I will. So I'm asking you—do you dare to call them?!"

Aunt Han didn't dare call the police. She really didn't trust Sun Zhi all that much. And in that hesitation, everyone instantly sided with Aunt Jiang.

"She kicks up all this fuss, but she doesn't even dare call the police."

"Look at Aunt Jiang—why's she brave enough to hit them? Because she's not afraid to call the cops!"

"Aunt Han comes raising hell, and she only dares to do it at the street office!"

Lu's dad finally fought his way back through the crowd to Lu Yun and Lu's mom. "What the heck's going on here?"

Lu's mom: "Aunt Han came back to cause trouble. She ranted and raved in the courtyard for a long time, even managed to tick off Han Gang along the way, and only then found out Aunt Jiang wasn't home. So she came to the street office to ask them to back her up. Aunt Jiang rolled up and whooped her."

Aunt Han tried to hit back—no way she was taking that lying down—but Aunt Jiang didn't even give her a chance, just kept slapping her!

Aunt Han: "Call the police! I'm calling the cops!"

Sun's dad rushed over. "What are you doing? Knock it off!"

Aunt Han: "Get over here and help me! We're calling the cops!"

Both their faces were still red and swollen from Aunt Jiang's slaps!

Sun's dad: "Call the cops for what? We're all neighbors in the same courtyard. Let's not make a scene. Let's just go home. As for the truth, I think everyone here knows the real story. I've been completely faithful to my marriage. Let's go home!"

Aunt Han was touched and threw her arms around Sun's dad. "My husband would never want anything to do with her!"

Aunt Jiang sneered. "Everyone knows now, right? Two people who won't dare call the cops—who do you trust?"

Sun's dad: "If you're so set on calling the cops, go right ahead!"

Aunt Jiang: "I've got witnesses!"

Sun's dad: "Witnesses? What witnesses? Bring 'em out! Let me see who you've got!"

Aunt Jiang: "The security cameras that were just put up outside!"

Sun's dad: "You crazy woman! What cameras? It's you who chased after me, and I didn't want you. You're just pissed because I turned you down!"

Aunt Han saw the two of them about to go at it again and promptly fainted. Sun's dad stopped arguing with Aunt Jiang, scooped Aunt Han up and carried her off. "Out of the way, out of the way! My wife's blood sugar's low!"

What a circus!

Lu Yun asked Lu's dad, "Is there really surveillance?"

Lu's dad: "There's no surveillance."

Aunt Jiang was formidable!

Lu Yun felt a bit excited when she saw Zhou Yanze. Last time, Zhou Yanze mentioned he happened to need to return to the Zhou family. She wondered how things were going with Zhou Jun.

Lu Yun looked at Zhou Yanze with curved, smiling eyes. Zhou Yanze deliberately stayed silent.

Lu Yun: "If you won't say anything, then I won't listen."

Zhou Yanze immediately laughed. "I'm wrong, I'm wrong."

He wasn't deliberately teasing Lu Yun—it was that Lu Yun looked at him with such focus that he couldn't look away, as if he were drowning in it.

Author's Note:

"*The Pretty Troublemaker of the Era Novel Stops Acting*" — I'll start this one next. If you're interested, you can bookmark it on the author's page. Sun Tian is a supporting female character in a period novel. Everyone knows how much she likes the male lead. After breaking up with the male lead, Sun Tian successfully completed the novel's plot. Everyone urged Sun Tian to go on blind dates and find someone—she would definitely find someone better. Sun Tian: "Of course I will." After some time, the male lead remembered the gentle and sweet Sun Tian. He asked his friend, "How has Sun Tian been lately?" The male lead's friend: "She's getting married. Her fiancé is 188 cm, tall with long legs, and very obedient." The male lead: "???" Pre-orders open on 7.27.