Chapter 13: Chapter 13: If the Heart Isn't Sweet, Neither Are the Words
Fu Song nodded earnestly, "If there are too many people, I'll wait."
Hearing him say this, Meng Chuyue knew he truly understood and felt reassured, "Go ahead, I'll follow behind you. If Zhao Aihua chases you, I'll go up and entangle him."
...
A few minutes later, Fu Song arrived at the only live poultry store in the market.
Zhao Aihua was the junior boss here.
It was already time to close, and he was alone in the store.
Fu Song looked around, deciding that escaping back the way he came was the wisest choice. He leisurely walked up to Zhao Aihua, who was humming a tune with his eyes half-closed on the recliner, and unexpectedly handed him a letter.
Zhao Aihua was a shrewd man. He jolted upright, but didn't immediately take the letter. He furrowed his brows, grabbed Fu Song's arm tightly, and demanded loudly, "Who are you? Who sent you with this letter?"
He was a big, burly man who easily lifted Fu Song with one hand while snatching the letter with the other. Upon seeing the prominent words "Zhao Aihua, recipient" on the envelope, his temples started throbbing uncontrollably.
He suddenly felt a bit panicked, although he didn't know why.
Fu Song kept trying to break free, but unfortunately, he was too slight and Zhao Aihua's grip was too strong. He couldn't free himself and was close to crying.
From a distance, Meng Chuyue saw this scene, thought "This is bad," but did not hesitate to walk towards them. She smiled and called out to Zhao Aihua, "Brother-in-law, do you still have live chickens at your place? Oh, and who is this little girl? She's quite pretty. What has she done to you? Are you going to hit her?"
Zhao Aihua had always had his eye on Meng Chuyue, his beautiful and obedient sister-in-law. Seeing her approaching, he felt slightly uneasy. Now, reminded by her that he was holding a little girl, he subconsciously loosened his grip...
Fu Song seized the opportunity, broke free, and escaped.
Zhao Aihua thought about chasing him, but Fu Song screamed as he ran, "I don't know the person who asked me to deliver the letter; he just gave me a dollar to do it."
Hearing this, Zhao Aihua, thinking of the many similar scenes on TV, understood that keeping Fu Song would be pointless. He turned back and smiled warmly at Meng Chuyue, "Little sister Chuyue, what brings you here at this time?"
Meng Chuyue internally rolled her eyes and smiled, "I've been sick; I was at the hospital getting an IV until now.
The doctor said I'm weak and suggested I buy some ginseng to stew with chicken. Do you have any in stock, brother-in-law? If so, I'll buy two to take back."
Ginseng chicken soup was a common nourishing recipe. Zhao Aihua looked at Meng Chuyue's frail body and completely believed her.
He said with some difficulty, "It's too late now, there aren't any left. Why don't you come back tomorrow? I'll save two fat ones for you?"
Meng Chuyue was silent for a moment, "Tomorrow... I don't have time, how about the day after? I'll come over then?"
Of course, there was no problem, and Zhao Aihua cheerily agreed.
Seeing his response, Meng Chuyue quickly took her leave.
She left the market and spotted Fu Song from a distance. The two exchanged a smile and maintained a not-too-close, not-too-distant distance as they walked toward Xiaoliu Village.
Halfway there, with no one around, Fu Song changed back into his previous clothes and shoes, washed his face, grabbed the bottle of fresh juice Meng Chuyue had given him, and raced home.
When Meng Chuyue arrived home, her maternal grandfather, grandmother, uncle, Fu Hongfang, Meng Jingfen, and Meng Jingfen's younger brother Meng Hui were having dinner.
Seeing her, her grandmother scowled and scolded, "Where have you been all day? What kind of behavior is this for a young lady, gallivanting all over the place?"
Grandmother Zhao Tianzhi's name contained the character for 'sweet,' but her heart wasn't sweet, nor was her mouth.
She not only loved to scold Meng Chuyue but everyone in the family; and when it came to scolding, she never needed a reason.
She scolded whenever she felt like it.