The Little Life of a Big Landlord

Chapter 256 Dowry

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"I'm not that kind of person..." Zheng Dazhuang looked aggrieved and pitifully at Wang Li.

"Hmph..." Wang Li's lips curled slightly as she glared at Zheng Dazhuang. "You can know a person's face but not their heart. You think you're not true just because you say so? I initially thought you were an honest person, but you're not..." She paused, her face flushing red. "You're so good at sweet talk..." Clearly, what truly made her blush wasn't those sweet words...

"I learned all this from Brother Yang. Don't let Brother Yang's serious appearance fool you, he's actually quite mischievous and often plays tricks on Sister Yang..." Zheng Dazhuang confidently shifted all the blame onto Yang Ming.

"Tch..." Wang Li rolled her eyes at Zheng Dazhuang dismissively. "They're a couple, it's normal for them to flirt. What's our relationship??? We're completely unrelated..."

Hearing Wang Li's words, Zheng Dazhuang tried to squeeze out tears, but instead of tears, he squeezed out eye boogers. Clutching his chest, he sobbed, "Lili, what you're saying hurts me so much! My heart aches like it's being cut by a knife! Since you've taken me for yourself, how can you not take responsibility for me? Don't you have any social responsibility? Don't you have any conscience?"

"Just say you want a beating..." Wang Li looked at Zheng Dazhuang's pretentious antics and couldn't help but feel both annoyed and amused. She glared at Zheng Dazhuang with her beautiful eyes.

"I, Zheng Dazhuang, am faithful to you. No matter how much domestic violence you inflict on me, I'm still with you for life. If you want to dump me, forget about it, there's no way you'll get away with it..." Zheng Dazhuang looked so loyal that he was practically begging Wang Li to erect a memorial arch for him.

"Pfft..." Wang Li laughed, her small fist pounding hard on Zheng Dazhuang's shoulder. "Since you've decided to follow me for life, you'd better behave yourself, or I'll divorce you..."

"Yes, yes, yes..." Zheng Dazhuang said obsequiously, "You're so kind. From now on, if you say go east, we'll never go west; if you say you want water, we'll never let you have diarrhea..."

"You annoying jerk, you're disgusting..." Wang Li punched Zheng Dazhuang's shoulder again. "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and get going, I need to get back before noon to teach the children..."

"Yes, yes, yes..." Zheng Dazhuang nodded repeatedly. "Sit properly..." he said, and with a strong push of his legs, the bicycle flew up again.

Zheng Dazhuang was in excellent physical condition and reached Zhengjia Village in just over half an hour. The village was bustling with activity, with many tourists strolling around. The frozen river was filled with the sounds of people making noise.

"Speaking of winter, besides Brother Yang's hot spring, this river in our village is the most attractive. In the past, every winter, my brothers and I would go to the river to slide and wade, break ice and catch fish..." Zheng Dazhuang stopped his bicycle, put one leg on the ground, propped the bicycle up, pointed to the frozen river, and said with a hint of pride.

"Childish..." Wang Li said dismissively, but there was a longing in her eyes. When she was a child, she was a well-behaved girl, but she had never played on the ice. After all, ice is very dangerous. You never know where the ice is thin and you could fall into a hole.

(Speaking of which, when I was a kid, I once fell into an ice hole while playing on the ice. However, only half of me went in before my cousin pulled me out. Even now, just thinking about that scene gives me the chills.)

"It's childish..." Zheng Dazhuang chuckled, turning to look at Wang Li. "Want to be childish with me for a bit?"

"Uh..." Wang Li's eyes lit up, and she was about to agree, but then she thought about her position and shook her head. "No, I'm a teacher. If I go to play on the ice and the children see me, they'll all follow my example. It's not a big deal now that there are so many people, but what if the children go to play on the ice when no one is around and something happens? It will be too late then..."

"You're so thoughtful..." Zheng Dazhuang thought of Zheng Yu. Back then, it was on this very riverbank that Zheng Yu pushed his friend, resulting in a human tragedy that tormented him for thirty years. "When you get back, remember to tell the children that they must never go to Ling. You know what happened to Uncle Zheng Yu..."

"Okay..." Wang Li readily agreed, saying smugly, "I'm very good at scaring children. As soon as I put on a stern face, the kids will be terrified..."

"My God..." Zheng Dazhuang turned his head in surprise, "When we have a son in the future, we absolutely can't let you take care of him, otherwise, won't you give him psychological trauma???"

"You're so annoying! Who wants to have a son for you???" Wang Li blushed and gave Zheng Dazhuang a shy glare.

"Hehehe..." Zheng Dazhuang chuckled foolishly.

"Oh... Teacher Wang and her husband are back together..." Several children who were playing shouted when they saw Wang Li and Zheng Dazhuang.

"Master??? You mean me???" Zheng Dazhuang pointed to his nose in surprise.

"Silly boy, hurry up and leave..." Wang Li was so embarrassed that she wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground. She buried her pretty face in Zheng Dazhuang's back and pounded his shoulder with her pink fists.

"Hehehe..." Zheng Dazhuang immediately started up again, speeding towards his home. It was time to bring Teacher Wang Li home to meet his parents.

The courtyard of Aunt Liu's house was filled with antique furniture of various styles. The intricate grain of the furniture indicated that it was made of precious hardwood.

"What's wrong with you? Did you slap me in the face?!" Li Tinggui glared angrily at Zheng Dayong, pointing her finger at his nose.

"Dad..." Zheng Dayong smiled bitterly.

"Don't call me Dad, who's your dad???" Li Tinggui said sternly.

"Uncle..." Zheng Dayong quickly corrected himself.

"Who's your uncle???" Li Tinggui was even angrier. He had never seen such an ignorant brat. Just because he wasn't allowed to call him Dad, he started calling him Uncle???

"Um..." Zheng Dayong was in a dilemma, scratching his head with a pained expression.

"Who am I??? Who am I???" Seeing Zheng Dayong's pathetic state, Li Tinggui's anger burned even more fiercely.

"Are you ever going to stop? Why are you making things so difficult for him?" Zhao Yu pulled Li Tinggui, who was throwing a tantrum, and tried to calm her down.

That said, although Zhao Yu usually acts like the head of the household, bossing everyone around, she really doesn't dare to be presumptuous when Li Tinggui gets angry.

"I'm making things difficult for him???" Li Tinggui's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, spitting as she spoke. "Look at what he's done! What's the point of all this furniture??? Do you think I need his junk???"

"Ahem, Old Li..." Tao Yangdong coughed, "These are all made of huanghuali wood..."

"Even if it's made of sandalwood, it's still not as good as one of my daughter's fingers..." Li Tinggui's eyes widened as she glared at her old friend.

"Ahem..." Tao Yangdong coughed awkwardly twice and then stopped talking.

"Well..." Zheng Dayong said with a bitter face, "Dad, it's the custom. You have to give a dowry when you get a wife, otherwise it's bad luck..."

"What's so unlucky about it??? I'm marrying off my daughter, not selling her. If you don't want to marry my daughter, get the hell out of here..." Li Tinggui pointed at Zheng Dayong's nose and cursed.

"Dad..." Zheng Dayong's face showed even more bitterness.

"Cough cough..." Li Yuting coughed twice, then quickly stepped forward, grabbed Zheng Dayong's arm, and whispered in his ear, "Are you stupid??? Aren't you slapping my dad in the face??? Have you forgotten how we met??? My dad lost so much face because of these solid wood furniture, and you're using this as a betrothal gift..."

"Oh dear..." Zheng Dayong suddenly realized why his father-in-law was so angry. Wasn't that whole farce just because two antique dealers had their eyes on the solid wood furniture from Zhengjia Village?

"Aren't you going to apologize to my dad right now?" Li Yuting said.

"Dad..." Zheng Dayong knelt down with a thud, then kowtowed repeatedly, "I know I was wrong, please forgive me this time..."

"Hey..." Zheng Dayong's kneeling immediately calmed Li Tinggui's anger. "Alright, get up. It's not New Year's, nor is it my funeral. Why are you kowtowing?"

"Look at you, old man, your daughter is married off, and you're saying such discouraging things..." Zhao Yu quickly smiled and went to help her son-in-law.

"Let me tell you, get all this junk out of here. We don't need this stuff..." Li Tinggui said, putting his hands behind his back and going into the house.

"Hehe...you guys are busy...we're going out for a walk..." Tao Yangdong said with a smile, pulling his wife away quickly.

"Hey..." Zhao Yu smiled broadly, affectionately pointing out to Zheng Dayong, "You really don't know any better. You're taking betrothal gifts, who takes this??? Even if your dad likes it, he'll still be furious..."

"Mom, I know I was wrong. I was just trying to please Dad..." Zheng Dayong never expected that his attempt to flatter her would backfire.

"Alright, alright, you two can play in the yard..." Zhao Yu said, turning around and going into the house.

"Look at you, you silly thing..." Li Yuting couldn't help but laugh at Zheng Dayong's sullen expression.

"My first attempt at flattery backfired..." Zheng Dayong said with a wry smile.

"Hehe..." Li Yuting laughed, feigning anger, "How dare you call your father-in-law a horse, and even try to pat my dad's butt..."

"You..." Zheng Daqi hesitated, "Keep your voice down, don't let Dad hear..."

"Hehe..." Li Yuting leaned closer and whispered in Zheng Dayong's ear with a grin, "How is it??? Are the soles of my dad's shoes comfortable???"

"That felt good..." Zheng Dayong said, both amused and exasperated. "I really wish he could do it a couple more times..."

"Giggle..." Li Yuting giggled, gently patting Zheng Dayong as she laughed, "You're so naughty..."

"What's wrong, old man?" Zhao Yu entered the room and saw Li Tinggui sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed), looking unhappy.

"That adds up to tens of millions..." Li Tinggui muttered, looking pained.

"Hey..." Zhao Yu rolled her eyes. "Regretting it now, huh??? Who told you to be so high and mighty???"

"It's not that I regret it, it's just..." Li Tinggui said with a bitter expression, "It's just... after making such a scene, I'll be too embarrassed to buy it again..."

"Heh...heh heh..." Zhao Yu chuckled, "You really are something else, reeking of money..."

"If I weren't so obsessed with money, how would I support you and your child???" Li Tinggui rolled her eyes. "Aren't you going to eat??? Aren't you going to buy new clothes??? Aren't you going to buy cosmetics???"

"Fine, fine, you're right, you're right..." Zhao Yu just smiled and didn't argue with him.

"Tell him to take it away quickly, it's so annoying to look at it..." Li Tinggui muttered.

"Okay, okay, wait a minute, I'll have him take him away right away..." Zhao Yu chuckled to himself, then turned and walked out.

"What a pity, what a pity, this silly boy..." Li Tinggui looked pained, his face wrinkled tightly.

They had just moved the furniture into the yard, and now they had to move it back. Luckily, the people helping Zheng Dayong move these "betrothal gifts" were all his childhood friends. They were also considerate of his upcoming wedding, so after Zheng Dayong promised a big meal, they grumbled as they moved the furniture to the car outside, secretly delighted. After all, they had seen the whole show through the crack in the door, and they knew they would have plenty of entertainment later.

"Wow??? This little village is quite rich??? Tan Tan, look, look, all of this is rosewood..." The naughty boy was strolling through the village streets with the pretty girl by the hand when he happened to see furniture being moved here. His eyes lit up and he dragged the pretty girl over to join them.

"Is this really huanghuali wood??? It must be worth a lot of money, right???" The pretty young girl was also dazzled by these solid wood furniture.

"Of course, this truckload of furniture must be worth tens of millions..." The bad boy clicked his tongue as he looked at the truckload of furniture.

"Hey... buddy, what are you talking about??? This truckload of broken furniture is worth tens of millions???" Just then, two young men carrying furniture slowly walked out of the yard. One of them, who was walking backwards, couldn't help but be skeptical after hearing what the bad boy said.

"Of course..." the bad boy glared, "You can doubt my character, because I'm not a good person to begin with, but you can't doubt my taste. See this girl next to me??? In my opinion, she's just passable..."

"You're asking for trouble..." The pretty girl glared at the naughty boy again as he boasted, and kicked his butt.

"Looks like your taste isn't so great either..." Another young man glanced at the pretty girl, then shook his head slightly, giving the rascal a sidelong look. "You haven't met Mrs. Yang. The girl next to you is nowhere near as good as Mrs. Yang..."

"Tch..." The pretty girl's face immediately turned sour.

"Sister Yang??? Who is Sister Yang??? Where does she live???" The naughty boy's eyes lit up.

"Are you trying to kill me???" The pretty girl's face turned pale, and she reached her small hands to the bad boy's waist and twisted it hard.

"Ouch..." The naughty boy jumped up and down in pain, making strange noises all over his face.

"Hahaha..." The two young men carrying the furniture couldn't help but burst into laughter, and then slowly and carefully placed the furniture onto the car.

"Tan Tan, Tan Tan, I was wrong, I was so wrong, please have mercy..." The bad boy cried and begged for mercy.

"Didn't you want to know where that Aunt Yang lives???" The pretty girl's face contorted with rage.

"I don't want to know, I don't want to know at all..." The naughty boy grimaced in pain.

"Really???" The pretty girl pursed her lips, her big eyes fixed on the bad boy's. "You're not lying to me???"

"I'm innocent! When have I ever lied to you? Everything I said is true..." the bad boy cried out loudly.

"Then why are you asking where that Mrs. Yang lives?" The pretty young woman was clearly not so easily fooled.

"Just curious, that's all. I'm going to expose them. They're exaggerating too much..." The bad boy said with a mournful face, his eyes brimming with tears, as if he was in so much pain that they were about to burst into tears.

"Hmph..." The pretty girl snorted coldly, angrily letting go of her hand, her eyes fixed on the sky, still looking sullen.

"Hiss..." The pretty girl had just let go when the naughty boy suddenly jumped to the side, getting away from the tigress, and then rubbed his waist hard.

"Hehehe..." The two young men chuckled and shoved each other as they entered the yard to continue moving furniture.

"What's going on here??? It's so noisy..." A stunningly beautiful girl peeked out from Yang Ming's doorway, looking in this direction. The 'screams' from earlier were so terrifying that even Jixiang, who was doing housework at home, couldn't help but peek out.

"Hiss..." The naughty boy gasped when he saw Ji Xiang, muttering to himself, "A celestial being..." Drooling dripped from the corner of his mouth.

"Uh..." Jixiang's beauty was so captivating that even women would be mesmerized. The pretty young girl gazed at Jixiang's face and was instantly captivated.

"You two, stop making so much noise..." Jixiang glared at them. "If our dogs misunderstand, they might bite you..."

"Sister, what's your name?" The naughty boy shamelessly approached.

"Hmph..." The boy's ingratiation immediately snapped the pretty girl out of her infatuation with Jixiang. She gave a cold snort and turned her head away.

"Little brat, who's your sister???" Jixiang glared and scolded.

"You said I'm a little kid, so of course you can be my older sister..." the naughty boy said with a grin.

"Hmph..." Jixiang snorted coldly, glared at the naughty boy, and turned back into the courtyard.

"Hehe..." The mischievous boy shamelessly tried to follow him inside...

Wang Wang Wang...

A barking sound came from the gate, and two big black dogs barked wildly as they emerged from the fence and pounced on the bad boy.

"Oh my god..." the naughty boy screamed and took off running. Two big black dogs chased after him closely. It's said that when you encounter dogs, the more you run, the more they chase you.

"Serves him right..." The pretty girl felt a surge of satisfaction upon seeing the bad boy's pathetic state, and a sweet smile appeared on her face.

"Hehe, when did the transvestite offend you???" Officer Zhu's voice rang out from behind. The pretty girl turned around and was pleasantly surprised.

"Sister Yan Yan..." The pretty girl quickly ran over and hugged Officer Zhu's arm.

"Now you know what that kid really is, right?" Officer Zhu patted the pretty girl's head.

"I already knew..." the pretty girl pouted, "but I just like him..."

"You're hopeless..." Officer Zhu said helplessly. "Come here, let me introduce you to some of the older ladies..."

At this moment, the pretty girl noticed the three women walking with Officer Zhu.

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(End of this chapter)