The Little Life of a Big Landlord

Chapter 99 Strange Fragrance

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"Hehe, I never expected that Sister Hua would be such a tycoon..." Auntie Pang laughed.

"What do you mean 'big shot'?" Xue Hua asked with a self-deprecating smile. "We just moved out of our demolished house a few days ago."

"But you're actually driving a car worth a million now," Auntie Pang laughed.

"That's too pretentious..." Zhang Yingning chimed in, supporting the plump aunt and teasing Xue Hua.

"Pfft..." Xue Hua chuckled, nodding repeatedly, "Yes, yes, I was wrong, I was being dramatic..."

The donkey cart slowly returned to Zhengjia Village with a gentle bumpy sound, and Aunt Pang took everyone directly to Yang Ming's front door.

Zhang Yingning and Sun Fangfang took off their thick cotton-padded coats and returned them to Aunt Pang. This time, Aunt Pang was quite generous, leaving half a bag of millet for Xue Hua and the others to cook porridge. Then she drove her donkey cart home.

At this moment, Wei Jianguo and Xia Zhongshu had returned and were strolling in the yard. When they saw their wives return, they quickly came to greet them.

Xue Hua and Zhang Yingning exchanged a glance, then held hands and walked into the courtyard as if they hadn't seen the two people. They couldn't be bothered with these two; if they let them off easy today, they would only become more demanding and outrageous in the future.

"Hehe, you've had quite a good afternoon, haven't you?" Wei Jianguo eagerly picked up the flour sack and followed closely behind his wife, as if he were accompanying a leader on a work inspection.

"Hey! We caught eight yellow birds today. Old Huang gave each of us one, and they're all good birds..." Xia Zhongshu said with a serious expression.

"Really?" Sun Fangfang asked curiously.

"Of course it's true..." Xia Zhongshu nodded.

"Uncle Xia, can I take a look?" Sun Fangfang asked.

"Of course..." Xia Zhongshu nodded.

"Can I have it?" A sly glint flashed in Sun Fangfang's eyes.

"Uh..." To be honest, Xia Zhongshu was a little reluctant.

"Cough cough..." Zhang Yingning coughed hard twice.

"Sure...of course, I originally planned to give it to Yangyang, but since you like it, I'll give it to you..." Xia Zhongshu nodded rather dejectedly.

"Uncle Wei..." Sun Fangfang squinted her eyes and drew out the words.

"Oh my! The sky is so blue... the white clouds are floating around, the weather is just right, but the sun is too strong, it's really like the autumn tiger..." Wei Jianguo quickly changed the subject, pointing to the full moon in the dark night sky and exclaiming.

"Pfft..." Zhang Yingning couldn't help but laugh out loud first.

"Fangfang... I know where Lao Wei put that yellow bird. I'll take you to get it in a bit..." Xia Zhongshu was quite enthusiastic. "Mine are all gone, so don't keep yours either."

"Isn't that a bad idea? What if Uncle Wei can't bear to part with it?" Sun Fangfang said with a smile.

"He doesn't like yellow birds, is it because he doesn't build a nation?" Xue Hua said.

"Ah... I, I hate yellow birds the most..." Everyone present could tell how insincere Wei Jianguo's words were.

"Thank you so much, Uncle Wei. You're too kind of me." Sun Fangfang smiled, her eyes crinkling.

"You're welcome..." Wei Jianguo's heart was bleeding. All the fruits of his labor for the day had been taken away by this little girl with just one sentence.

The five people entered the house and saw Yang Ming and Wei Qingqing cooking in the outer room. Yang Ming was tending the fire and Wei Qingqing was stir-frying the vegetables; the two worked together seamlessly.

"Mom's back?" Yang Ming greeted.

"Yes! You're back, Mingming. Go inside and rest. We'll take care of dinner tonight," Xue Hua said.

"Can I go and rest too?" Wei Qingqing asked cautiously.

"What do you think?" Xue Hua glared at his daughter. This little girl was getting lazier and lazier the more she studied.

Wei Qingqing pouted.

"No need, you've been busy all afternoon and must be tired. Go inside and rest..." Yang Ming quickly said.

"Look at Mingming, she's much more sensible than some people..." Xue Hua praised, then poured water to wash her hands and started helping with the cooking, not even glancing at the other person, which made Wei Jianguo blush.

"Ambition knows no age; a life without ambition is a wasted life. Brother, don't let your youth fool you, you're more sensible than some people..." Zhang Yingning glared fiercely at Xia Zhongshu, who was indulging in frivolous pursuits, and then washed his hands to help.

Someone may have forgotten that the ambitious young man she praised had put on a remarkable show of single-handedly venturing into a wolf's den that morning.

"Ambitious? Unambitious? Is that a suitable word to use here?" Yang Ming muttered to himself.

"Where's your brother-in-law?" Sun Fangfang nudged Yang Ming's thigh with her toe.

"They're at the construction site, aren't they?" Yang Ming slapped Sun Fangfang's foot, making her jump up and down, clutching her foot. "Can't you see? Those construction workers are building makeshift shelters."

"Aren't they going home?" Sun Fangfang asked in surprise, jumping up and down to look outside. She saw a group of construction workers building a shack under a row of energy-saving lights.

"Go back to what home? They're all from the county town, it's a long way, wouldn't it be a huge hassle to go home every day?" Yang Ming said.

"That's true..." Sun Fangfang didn't join in making dinner, but went straight into the east room. Inside, Xiao Bao was doing her homework while watching TV, with Teacher Zhang Hong tutoring her. It was as if the little guy had a free tutor now.

Aunt Liu sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), her embroidery needle flying swiftly as she sewed, leaving behind fine, dense stitches wherever the needle passed.

"This afternoon was really tiring..." Sun Fangfang took off her shoes, climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed), and sat down next to Aunt Liu.

"Hmph, you're tired? I know you, you're lazy and greedy, how can you make yourself tired?" Aunt Liu bluntly exposed the ugly side of some people.

"You mean me? I thought you meant Ugly Girl. Sister Liu, I haven't offended you, have I?" Sun Fangfang was a little surprised. She really didn't expect that Sister Liu would actually launch such a fierce attack on her.

"Sun Fangfang, what nonsense are you spouting? Who's lazy and greedy?" Wei Qingqing's disgruntled voice came from the outer room.

"Fangfang is absolutely right..." Xue Hua, being a mother, understands her daughter well.

"Haven't you offended me?" Aunt Liu glanced at Sun Fangfang sideways. "Think about it again..."

"I can't think of anything..." Sun Fangfang answered quite readily.

"Then you'll just have to keep it to yourself..." Aunt Liu chimed in, continuing her work.

"Are you deliberately teasing me?" Sun Fangfang pinched Liu Sao's arm.

"Ouch, you're really tough..." Aunt Liu screamed in pain, putting down her work and ready to fight Sun Fangfang.

"How dare you give me attitude for no reason? Do you think I'm easy to bully? Let's see how I deal with you..." Sun Fangfang pounced on Aunt Liu.

"Hmph..." Aunt Liu was quite strong, so dealing with Sun Fangfang was a piece of cake for her. In a few moves, she pressed Sun Fangfang down on the kang (a heated brick bed), and her small, tender hands reached into Sun Fangfang's armpits and gently scratched her.

"Hehehehe... I can't take it anymore... hehehehe..." Sun Fangfang laughed painfully, her voice distorted, and tears welled up in her eyes...

"Do you still dare to pinch me?" Aunt Liu kept pinching me.

"Hehehehe... I won't do it again, I won't do it again, good Aunt Liu, I will never do it again, hehehehe..." Sun Fangfang laughed so hard she almost choked.

"Alright, alright, that's enough of this commotion, lest things get out of hand..." Yang Ming said from the outer room.

"Hmph, I'll let you off this time..." Aunt Liu reluctantly let Sun Fangfang go.

"Hmph! I have to thank my brother. At the crucial moment, it was the older brother who stepped forward to protect his younger sister..." Sun Fangfang got up and hid on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), keeping a distance from Liu Sao, this "dangerous element".

"Thank you, thank you..." Aunt Liu rolled her eyes and continued working quickly, secretly laughing to herself.

Sun Fangfang sat back down next to Liu Sao, watching her insert the needle. She felt a pang of anxiety; Liu Sao's hands and feet were so nimble, if she accidentally pricked her, it would be a fatal blow.

"Aunt Liu, are you scared?" Sun Fangfang asked.

"What's there to be afraid of at home?" Aunt Liu asked without even looking up.

"I mean, what if you prick yourself with that needle? Wouldn't it hurt terribly?" Sun Fangfang said.

"Hiss, what a jinx..." Suddenly, Aunt Liu gasped, sucking on her left middle finger.

"Aunt Liu, are you alright?" Sun Fangfang asked.

"What could possibly be wrong with me? I just got pricked by a needle. But you, stop talking nonsense and trying to distract me," Aunt Liu said, rolling her eyes at Sun Fangfang.

"Yes, yes, yes..." Sun Fangfang said dejectedly.

After sewing for a while, this part is finished; it's time to trim the loose threads...

"Don't cut your hand..." Sun Fangfang looked at Aunt Liu holding the scissors, which looked like a big, clawing crab, and felt a little dizzy, so she kindly reminded her.

When Aunt Liu snapped the scissors shut, she almost cut off her own finger. Luckily, the scissors weren't sharp, and her finger was spared. However, the scissors did leave several small cuts on her finger. Although there was no bleeding, it looked quite dangerous...

"..." Sun Fangfang felt a cold sweat breaking out on her forehead, and she felt like a football player, "Pelé, the King of Football..."

"You... stay away from me..." Aunt Liu was a little scared of Sun Fangfang; this person's mouth was really terrifying today.

"Hmm..." Sun Fangfang pouted and moved away from Aunt Liu, looking hurt.

"I was so scared just now, I almost lost my finger..." Aunt Liu said while sewing Hanfu.

"What happened? What happened to your finger?" Yang Ming rushed into the house and took Liu Sao's finger to examine it closely. He saw that a small piece of skin had been cut.

"It's nothing, it's nothing..." Aunt Liu blushed and quickly pulled her hand back.

"What do you mean 'nothing'? Your fingers are almost gone, and you call that nothing?" Wei Qingqing's face darkened.

The young couple immediately turned their reproachful gazes toward Sun Fangfang.

"Sister Liu, I'm sorry." Sun Fangfang felt a bit uncomfortable when she sensed the reproach in her brother and sister-in-law's eyes. She felt especially sorry for Sister Liu, who now earns her living with her fingers. If she loses her fingers, how will she live in the future?

"It's alright, it's alright, I was just startled, don't worry about it..." Aunt Liu quickly comforted Sun Fangfang.

"Look at you, you silly thing. Aunt Liu is thirsty, why don't you go and get her a glass of water?" Yang Ming said, looking at Sun Fangfang.

"Oh, oh, oh..." Sun Fangfang quickly climbed off the bed to pour water for Aunt Liu.

"I don't want water, I'll have milk instead..." said Aunt Liu.

"No problem, no problem..." Sun Fangfang hurriedly ran to the west room.

Yang Ming and Wei Qingqing exchanged a glance, then gave Liu Sao a look before going back to the outer room to cook.

"Sister Liu, have some milk..." Sun Fangfang held a carton of fresh milk, inserted a straw into it, and handed it to Sister Liu solicitously.

"Thank you, Fangfang..." Aunt Liu said gently.

"It's my fault, it's all because of my loose tongue, I almost..." Sun Fangfang felt very guilty.

"It's alright, it's all fate. What's meant to be will be, and what's not meant to be shouldn't be forced. I've already accepted my fate..." Aunt Liu said sadly.

"It's just a mistake, is it really that serious? It feels like the end of the world..." Sun Fangfang was quite upset, but she didn't dare to say it out loud. She could only comfort her repeatedly, "Sister Liu, have you had your palm read? Look at your life line, wisdom line, and heart line, they're all in your palm. What does that mean? It means that your destiny is in your own hands..."

"I know you're trying to comfort me, thank you. What can a woman like me do raising a child alone? It's only because we met Yang Ming and Qingqing that my daughter and I have such pity..." Aunt Liu's expression darkened even more.

"Waaah..." Little Bao'er, who was doing her homework, couldn't help but cry when she heard her mother's pitiful words and thought about the days before her father.

"Don't cry, baby, don't cry..." Zhang Hong quickly stroked the little guy's head, comforting him repeatedly.

"Don't cry, baby, it's all Mommy's fault..." Aunt Liu didn't expect her daughter to cry like this, and she felt a pang of sadness in her heart, tears welling up in her eyes.

Sun Fangfang's scalp was practically tingling with fear. With a mournful face, she said, "Aunt Liu, I'm so sorry. Hit me, scold me..."

"It's nothing, it's nothing. It's just that my sister-in-law was thinking about those sad things from the past. It has nothing to do with you..." Aunt Liu rubbed her eyes, and tears started falling down her face, no matter how hard she blinked.

Seeing that the other person was crying so much, yet she kept comforting herself, Sun Fangfang felt extremely distressed and covered her mouth to cry as well. "Sister-in-law, if you ever need anything, just let me know. We'll be living close by now, and I'll definitely help if I can. Even if we can't help, there's always my brother, isn't there?"

"Yes, Aunt Liu, if you need anything in the future, just say so. What kind of relationship do we have? I'm Bao'er's godfather. Whether I can help or not, we can't refuse, right?" Yang Ming said loudly while tending the fire in the outer room.

"Okay... Sister-in-law, go wash your face..." Aunt Liu quickly got off the kang (a heated brick bed) and ran out.

Xue Hua and Zhang Yingning were somewhat at a loss. Why was someone crying so suddenly in the room? What was going on? Wei Jianguo and Xia Zhongshu were also dumbfounded, feeling that the world of young people was truly unpredictable.

"This scallion is way too spicy!" Aunt Liu's eyes were red and tearful as she grimaced at Yang Ming and muttered a complaint in a low voice before quickly pouring water to wash her face.

"Brother Yang, Sister Qingqing, do you want more scallions? They're freshly picked..." Liu Nannan ran in carrying two large melons and two scallions.

The little girl went to pick melons for Wei Jianguo and Xia Zhongshu, since they wouldn't get to eat any at noon... and also picked a couple of scallions.

"Yes! I need to fry eggs later..." Yang Ming quickly got up and took the scallion from the little girl's hand.

Yang Ming took the scallion, peeled it in a few quick movements, washed it in water, then chopped it into sections on the cutting board and put it into a large enamel basin. This basin was already filled with a full amount of beaten egg liquid... Anyway, don't expect to be able to tell what the egg yolk looks like.

Add some salt, then stir the egg mixture and scallions for a while.

Pour oil into a hot pan and heat it up. Then pour in the egg mixture along with the chopped scallions.

wow...

A wisp of smoke rose up, and the egg liquid immediately turned white. A rich aroma instantly filled the air. This aroma was different from that of ordinary eggs, and also different from that of the seven-colored bird. It was a rather domineering and strange aroma. This aroma was almost tangible, with extremely strong penetrating power. It frantically entered people's noses and stimulated their olfactory nerves.

As Yang Ming stirred the eggs with a spatula, the most noticeable sensation was that his mouth was practically watering. Xue Hua, Zhang Yingning, Wei Jianguo, Xia Zhongshu, Wei Qingqing, Aunt Liu, and Liu Nannan all gathered around, pressing their faces against the edge of the pan and sniffing intently, their expressions utterly captivated.

Slurp...

Yang Ming swallowed his saliva, turned his head and looked around, and was surprised to find everyone gathered here, eyes closed, with expressions of rapture. He couldn't help but shiver.

cough cough...

Yang Ming covered his mouth and coughed lightly twice, which startled everyone, who all took three steps back in unison.

"What's wrong? What is this? Why does it smell like this?" Zhang Yingning was the first to react. She worked in the hotel industry and was most passionate about food. In her eyes, food meant money, reputation, and a shortcut to success.

"Too..." Although Xue Hua was a Chinese teacher, he couldn't think of an adjective to describe the fragrance at this moment, because the smell was just too strong, so strong that it made people dizzy, but at the same time, he was deeply attracted by it.

"I've never smelled this before, ss..." Xia Zhongshu felt a little lost, unsure whether he should categorize this strange smell as a fragrance.

"There are so many good things here... I don't want to leave..." Wei Jianguo sighed and started to worry. Although tomorrow is Saturday, the high school schedule is different. They have classes on weekends. That means they have to leave tomorrow morning and go to school in the afternoon (for more formal high school exams, it usually takes two and a half days. Of course, if you are in a hurry, you can finish the exam in one day and one evening self-study session).

"After smelling this, I don't want to eat anything anymore..." Aunt Liu swallowed and said.

"I feel the same way..." Wei Qingqing nodded seriously.

"The only thing that can rival this taste is Brother Yang's peaches..." Liu Nannan's mind raced, and she dashed to the west room. She took a big peach from the large basket on the kang (a heated brick bed), took a bite, and the soft flesh and sweet juice instantly filled her mouth. Sure enough, the strange smell that had been lingering in her mind was immediately diluted by the peach flavor.

As Liu Nannan happily ate the peaches and walked into the outer room, the others exchanged glances, then swarmed into the west room to get peaches from the kang (heated brick bed).

Liu Nannan rolled her eyes and also went into the west room.

"What's going on? Why does it smell so good?" At this moment, the fragrance had already wafted through the curtain into the east room, attracting the three people inside. However, they found that there was no one in the outer room. Sun Fangfang's small nose kept twitching as she slowly approached the big pot, saliva splattering everywhere. If Zhang Hong hadn't pulled her back, not to mention whether this girl's saliva would have fallen into the pot, she would definitely have been burned.

At dinner time, twelve people sat on the spacious kang (heated brick bed): Xue Hua, Wei Jianguo, Zhang Yingning, Xia Zhongshu, Yang Ming, Wei Qingqing, Zhang Yang, Sun Fangfang, Aunt Liu, Liu Nannan, Zhang Hong, and Xiao Bao'er.

A table full of delicious food sat untouched; everyone just stared at each other, except for Zhang Yang, who seemed puzzled. What was going on? Why were they just staring at a table full of good food? Could they get full from looking?

Zhang Yang reached out with his chopsticks to grab a large bowl of fragrant scrambled eggs from the center of the kang table, but Sun Fangfang tapped his hand with her chopsticks... Do you know what kind of eggs these are? It's certain that these are not chicken eggs, duck eggs, goose eggs, quail eggs, or ostrich eggs. Before figuring out what these things are, who would dare to eat them?

Zhang Yang glanced at his wife with a hint of resentment, only to see her glare back fiercely. He immediately lowered his head, behaving as obediently as a primary school student.

"Everyone... pick up your chopsticks..." Yang Ming saw everyone staring at the scrambled eggs in the middle with curious expressions, so he couldn't help but reach out with his chopsticks, pick up a piece, and slowly eat it.

"How is it? How is it? How does it taste?" Zhang Yingning asked anxiously.

"The taste? It tastes amazing, so fragrant and tender, with a subtle grape flavor, not too strong, just right..." Yang Ming chewed slowly, looking savoring the taste.

"Are you feeling unwell anywhere?" Xue Hua asked with concern.

She had initially intended to stop Yang Ming from eating, but then she thought, "These are eggs someone else brought, how could they be poisonous?" So she didn't say anything.

"Not feeling well? Yes..." Yang Ming nodded.

Everyone's hearts immediately tightened.

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(End of this chapter)