20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 658 Heckles
The word "fate" is not simple. It is the inevitability in coincidence.

If it is not destined, it cannot be called fate; if it is not chance, how can it be fate?
The so-called affairs between men and women mostly start with accidental encounters, and only with the help of good-hearted people who play a role in matchmaking and bring them together can they finally become a couple.

If you have the right time, place and people, it will be a perfect time. If you lack any one of them, you will inevitably be a passer-by in your life.

After ten years of cultivation, they can cross the boat together, and after a hundred years of cultivation, they can sleep together.

Life is like the vast ocean. It is not easy to meet and know each other. How easy is it to grow old together?
…………

After Li Zheng's cavalry left, Jiang Lianheng sent the soldiers away again, leaving only his own Xiangzi and Liu Kuaitui and a few others to keep him company, and temporarily stayed in Shenjia Inn.

Of course, there was also Erma, who couldn't be driven away. He also shamelessly stayed by Zhao Guoyan's side, running around and acting like a follower.

After the soldiers and bandits left, the villagers of the Lianzhuang Association finally gradually returned to normal.

The tenants worked from sunrise to sunset, busy taking care of the crops in the fields. The cycle repeated itself over and over again, which was a bit monotonous and boring.

After getting along for a long time, the armed team members were no longer so afraid of Jiang Lianheng and others. Sometimes when they met in the fields, they would nod to each other and say "busy". Although they did not become friends, they were no longer as unfamiliar as before.

But the villagers were still a little afraid. When they saw it head-on, they immediately walked away from it, looked around curiously, but never dared to go forward.

As the end of summer approaches, exchanges between the surrounding villages become more frequent, and it is common to see landlords from other places sending people to discuss business and do business with Mr. Shen.

During this period, Mr. Shen came to see Jiang Lianheng many times and asked everyone to move back into the blockhouse.

Jiang Lianheng was resentful and ignored it, still forcibly occupying the two earthen houses outside the village.

Master Shen did not dare to be negligent. He arranged for the reception to be held at a fixed time and place with good wine and meat, for fear of accidentally upsetting the Jiang family again.

However, the old man was also wondering: Since they were not happy staying here and the robbery case had been solved, why didn’t Jiang Lianheng and others leave?

The old man didn't understand what was going on, but the women in the village had gradually figured out what was going on.

Widow Yang, Second Lady Lu, and Third Aunt Huang from the intelligence department of Shenjia Store came out in person and after careful investigation, they finally came to the conclusion:

The Jiang family refused to leave, not for any other reason, but purely for the Hai family's girl Xiaoqing!
This is not difficult to detect. With a little attention, the truth will be revealed.

In order to create an opportunity for Zhao Guoyan, everyone was busy doing nothing. Today they went up the mountain to catch birds, and tomorrow they went to the river to catch fish. They never took him with them wherever they went, just to leave him alone so that the girl would not be embarrassed and dare not look for him.

After all, we are all men, and apart from this, we can't think of any other way to help bring them together.

Compared to matchmaking, Jiang Lianheng is obviously better at bullying men and women.

Isn’t it easy for the Jiang family to have a woman?

As long as Zhao Guoyan nodded, things would be done immediately, but a forced melon is not sweet and always lacks some love, so he didn't do it.

In addition, Zhao Guoyan's ambiguous attitude is also somewhat confusing.

Among all the people, Erma was the most enthusiastic. He racked his brains to find ways to let Zhao Guoyan and Xiaoqing be alone.

Judging from the situation, he is almost catching up with "Red Daddy".

His method is simple. To put it bluntly, it is to cheat both sides.

"Brother Zhao, Boss Jiang asked you to go to the east end of the village to find him!"

The voice on the other side said, "Miss Hai, your father wants you to go outside the village to help out!"

When the two met at the place, they were alone, a man and a woman, so where was the trace of Jiang Lianheng and Hai Chaoshan?

After just a few words and comparing them, we knew that it was Erma who was causing trouble.

Zhao Guoyan cursed a few times in a low voice. Xiaoqing was also embarrassed and kept silent. After waiting for a while, she saw that Zhao Guoyan had nothing else to say, so she left.

Even so, after several times, the two gradually became familiar with each other.

With the few words exchanged every time we met, the misunderstandings of the past were resolved and clarified one by one.

But then again, Erma's methods were not sophisticated, and Zhao Guoyan was not a fool. It would be fine if he was fooled once by the same rhetoric, but how could he be fooled again and again?
And that girl Xiaoqing, no matter how you look at her, doesn't seem like a silly girl who is obsessed with love. Why does she go wherever Erma tells her to go?

After thinking about it, I'm afraid that the two of them might be pretending to be ignorant even though they know the truth!
Where the love came from is no longer known.

But Xiaoqing is a country girl after all, with limited knowledge and is always accustomed to listening to the opinions of her parents.

Hai Chaoshan said that Zhao Guoyan was a person worthy of deep friendship, so Xiaoqing naturally had a better impression of him.

Looking at the Zhao Guo inkstone again, to be fair, it is indeed quite handsome.

The Jiang family's Taibao has a face as white as jade. The corners of his eyes are upturned and slightly flushed, as if he has just had a drink and is just a little tipsy; his eyebrows are as sharp as knives, like clouds floating on green mountains, and even if he glares, he still looks dashing.

Just this appearance attracted many young girls and wives in Shenjia Store to look at her sideways and whisper to each other.

He doesn't smoke, drink, or gamble, and apart from murder and arson, he doesn't have any bad habits in his life.

Such a man, walking around the streets with a lantern, is one in a million.

Killing is certainly not glorious, but it depends on how you look at it.

If you kill him in anger, you are just an ordinary man; if you kill him out of conspiracy, you are a hero.

What's more, the world is like this, men kill women, wives kill concubines, soldiers kill bandits, bandits kill civilians, either you eat me or I eat you. Without thunder-like means, how can you have a kind heart like a bodhisattva?

There are so many gangs in Guandong that the people have long been accustomed to them.

In a village, there are always a few people who have dealt with bandits, or even those who have lived in the mountains.

Although the common people do not yearn for the bandits, they do not think it is shameful to become a bandit.

If a local official causes trouble to an area, the common people will inevitably close their windows and doors after dinner and cheer for the bandit.

There is no way, Kongzi is blind, everything he sees is through a veil, and everything he sees is what he thinks.

Only when you are in it, you will know how dangerous the world is.

Be self-reflective at all times and be cautious at all times. Behind the glory, there is anxiety.

…………

That day, at noon and dusk, the tenants and villagers returned to the village to have dinner.

Zhao Guoyan was drawing water from the well in Shenjiadian. Just as he put down the bucket and straightened his back, he heard the sound of footsteps behind him.

Startled, he turned his head sharply and put his right hand on his waist, which scared Xiaoqing.

"Oh, it's Miss Hai!"

Zhao Guoyan breathed a sigh of relief, but saw Xiaoqing's right hand hanging in the air. He thought that she was trying to scare him, but unexpectedly she backfired and frightened him instead. He was startled and then a little annoyed.

"What's wrong with you?" Xiao Qing asked, "Why are you always so startled?"

Zhao Guoyan hesitated twice, but said: "It's nothing, I'm used to it."

As he said this, he subconsciously walked half a circle around the well, changed direction, and faced Xiaoqing.

But in this way, the water-drawing windlass would turn in the opposite direction, which always looked a bit awkward.

Xiao Qing frowned, feeling both angry and amused, and asked, "What do you mean? Can I push you into the well from behind and hurt you?"

Zhao Guoyan was stunned. He was not aware of his behavior at all. Years of experience in the martial arts world had already formed an instinct in him - never turn his back on others, even if the other person was a girl, he could not take it lightly.

After thinking for a while, he suddenly shook his head and said with a hint of self-mockery, "It's nothing. I'm used to it."

Xiao Qing joked, "I think you must have done too many bad things, and you always feel that others want to harm you!"

Zhao Guoyan did not deny it. While fetching water, he asked, "Do you know what I do?"

"Tsk, aren't they just bullies, bandits, and hooligans? They act as if no one has ever seen them before. There are even a few people in our armed team who have been to the mountains before!"

"You know slang?"

"My second brother told me. I've seen the world, too. Don't look down on others."

"Okay, okay, blame me for looking down on you."

Zhao Guoyan did not argue with her. Seeing the girl holding a bucket, he asked, "Are you here to fetch water?"

Xiaoqing rolled her eyes and said, "No, I'll jump into the well."

Zhao Guoyan smacked his lips and said, "Are all your family members so hot-tempered?"

"You asked the wrong question!" Xiao Qing said, "At this hour, I still have a bucket in my hand. If I don't come to fetch water, what else can I do? Come to see you?"

As he spoke, he was suddenly startled, as if he had accidentally let something slip and was immediately choked.

Zhao Guoyan didn't react, thinking Xiaoqing was teasing him, and asked her, "Where's your brother?"

Xiao Qing woke up with a start and said quickly, "Oh, they went on patrol with my father and won't be back until the evening."

The Lianzhuang Association not only guards the village of Shenjiadian, but also takes care of the surrounding villages. However, Mr. Shen has the greatest reputation and contributes the most, so the Lianzhuang Association's headquarters is located in Shenjiadian, not other places.

Zhao Guoyan nodded, picked up a bucket of water, then lowered another bucket, and suddenly raised his hand and said, "Give me the bucket, I'll help you!"

"No need!" Xiaoqing immediately took the bucket behind her, "I've told you so many times, I'm not a lady, I'm not that noble, I still need a man's help to carry a bucket of water!"

Zhao Guoyan was a little embarrassed. He retracted his hand and had nothing to say.

Then, there was silence for a while.

At the Lianzhuanghui, the barking of dogs could be heard from afar, and nearby there was only the sound of gurgling well water.

Xiao Qing suddenly asked: "It's been almost a month, why haven't you left yet?"

"You're asking the wrong person." Zhao Guoyan shrugged and said, "I'm just a messenger. It's not my turn to make the decision on this matter."

Xiao Qing lowered her head and kicked the stone, mumbling, "Then why are you still staying here? There must be a reason, right?"

The girl was not stupid, and the rumors in the village had already gradually reached her ears.

Although she was annoyed, she was also curious and wanted to verify it, but she refused to say it directly.

Asking even though you already know the answer is already a bit unreserved, and if you make it clear, it would really make it difficult for the girl.

"I don't know!" Zhao Guoyan's tone suddenly stiffened. "There is a rule in my line of work: when you are doing something, don't ask why. If the boss doesn't tell you, you can't ask more."

"Tsk, if you don't want to tell me, then don't tell me. You're acting like someone wants to know!" Xiao Qing was not forgiving. After thinking for a while, she asked again, "If you leave, are you going back to Fengtian?"

"My boss is in Fengtian, so of course I have to go back to Fengtian as well."

"Can you please stop talking so pretentiously? Aren't you tired of it?"

"No, I'm just speaking the truth."

"Is Fengtian fun?"

"Hmm?" Zhao Guoyan didn't expect the girl to ask this. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Then who is the one who got the points?"

"It's fun, so what's the point of dividing it among people?" Xiao Qing didn't understand.

Zhao Guoyan said: "If you are rich and powerful, you can have fun anywhere; if you are poor and powerless, it doesn't matter where you go."

Xiao Qing became more and more curious: "From what you said, it seems that you have been to many places?"

"Yingkou, Luda, Cangzhou, the foreign concessions..." Zhao Guoyan counted them to himself, "It's indeed quite a lot, but not too many either."

Xiaoqing was a little envious and muttered, "I have only been to Ning'an County, and I can only go there during the Chinese New Year."

"People are cheap when they leave their hometown, but things are expensive when they leave their hometown." Zhao Guoyan suddenly sighed, "Shen's store is pretty good. It's a mess outside, and people are looking down on us everywhere."

Then he raised his head and asked again: "You really don't need my help?"

Xiaoqing looked at the bucket that was gradually filling up and shook her head silently.

"Then I'll go first." Zhao Guoyan made way, holding a bucket in each hand and straightened his back.

Just as he was about to leave, Xiaoqing suddenly called him back, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Hey, who is Dong Erniang?"

"Dangdang!"

Half of the two buckets of water were immediately spilled. Zhao Guoyan almost sprained his waist. He immediately turned around and asked in surprise: "Who told you that?"

Xiao Qing was both proud and worried. She smiled brightly, but her eyes were not bright. She just asked him, "Don't worry about who said it. Just tell me who she is. Is she your old lover? Let me guess, right?"

"Don't listen to their nonsense. Dong Erniang is old enough to be my aunt. The old lover is just a rumor!"

Xiao Qing frowned, looking a little puzzled: "You like older people?"

Zhao Guoyan suddenly became serious, put down the two buckets, and stopped walking. He pointed to the well mouth and said, "Come, sit here, I will explain it to you. I must clarify this matter..."

…………

In the mud house outside the village, Jiang Lianheng and others were sitting around the kang table, so bored that they had to play chess to pass the time.

Erma served tea and water, running back and forth, busy serving the bureau.

Liu Kuaitui was fiddling with the chess pieces while muttering, "Boss Jiang, what's going on with Lao Zhao? Is he interested in that girl? If you have any ideas, just tell me and take her away. It's boring to stay in this shabby place all day!"

"Who said it wasn't true!" Yang Lazi also nodded, "What does Brother Yan think? He doesn't admit it when he says he has some thoughts. He also doesn't have any thoughts, but when we mention the girl from the Hai family, he seems to care a lot. Why is he being so hypocritical?"

Jiang Lianheng saw through it all. He groaned for a moment, then said, "I know Guo Yan. He definitely has his intentions, but he also has concerns. Let's see what he wants to do!"

At this time, Erma came over and said, "Boss Jiang, I have figured it out. Brother Zhao is a typical person who dares to be naked in front of his brothers and never raises his head in front of girls. If we wait for him to make a decision, I guess we can't leave. I think you have to help him make a decision."

Jiang Lianheng squinted his eyes and said, "It's between two people, I have no right to make the decision!"

"You are the boss!" Erma said, "What's so strange about the boss arranging marriages for his subordinates? In my opinion, it's impossible for them to just talk like that. You have to go to Haichaoshan and propose marriage directly. How dare you disobey your parents' orders and the matchmaker's words? When the rice is cooked, I don't believe that Brother Zhao can abandon that girl and ignore her."

Having said that, if Hu Xiaoyan were here, she might be able to help out, but Jiang Lianheng has always been unwilling to get involved in these messy matters.

Being sentimental is not what a real man should do.

If it were someone else, Jiang Lianheng would have patted his butt and left long ago, but Zhao Guoyan was different. The two of them were friends who had risked their lives together, so he could make an exception this time.

It just so happened that Jiang Lianheng was also bored of staying at Shen's store. After thinking it over, he decided:
"Okay, I'll find a chance in the next two days and talk to Hai Chaoshan. It's just about money. At worst, I can buy his daughter and give her to Guo Yan, so we can go back earlier!"

(End of this chapter)