Chapter 23: The Lethal Power of Sweet Nothings

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Chapter 23: The Deadly Power of Sweet Talk

“All right, there’s quite a bit of stuff here. You better get busy!”

After packing up the radio, Chen Jianghai waved his hand.

“All right, Brother Hai, just wait for my good news!” Fang Aiguo waved his hands excitedly, clearly ready to work hard.

Chen Jianghai nodded. “Mm, try to earn enough to get you married. Don’t let your parents worry.”

Fang Aiguo blushed immediately. “Brother Hai, why do you always talk about such things!”

With that, he kicked the tricycle and fled in a hurry.

After Fang Aiguo left, Chen Jianghai hopped on his bicycle and headed toward Youth Road, planning to inquire about shops there to get a clear idea.

There was also another matter—he would be visiting Lin Wanqiu’s house in a few days, so naturally, he needed to buy some gifts.

At a small convenience store, Chen Jianghai parked his bike and called out at the counter, “Boss, give me a pack of Da Qian Men!”

The shopkeeper handed over the cigarettes, surprised for a moment when he saw Chen Jianghai, then said, “Oh, it’s you!”

“It’s me,” Chen Jianghai replied with a smile, paid, took the cigarettes, tore open the pack, and offered one to the boss.

The boss was quick on the uptake. Before Chen Jianghai could ask, he said, “Haven’t seen the landlord these past few days. Sorry about that.”

Chen Jianghai heard this with some disappointment but didn’t show it on his face. Instead, he struck a match, lit the cigarette, and said, “Hey, no problem. Thanks for your concern!”

“You’re welcome.”

The boss lit his cigarette, took a puff, and chuckled.

After some trivial small talk and finishing the cigarette, Chen Jianghai left.

Finding a good shop to rent wasn’t so easy after all.

Well, no need to rush. Take it slow!

Next, Chen Jianghai went to the county’s top grocery store and bought two packs of cigarettes and two bottles of liquor as gifts for his father-in-law.

Lin Wanqiu’s father’s only indulgences were tobacco and alcohol.

Of course, gifts for the mother-in-law were essential too—he picked out some fine fabric.

Having bought everything, Chen Jianghai wandered near Pozi Street but indeed found no suitable storefront, so he turned and headed home.

He parked his bike, carrying bags and packages as he walked back.

This scene was just spotted by a neighbor next door.

“Hey, Jianghai, what’s with all those bags?”

The neighbor couldn’t help but approach curiously.

Chen Jianghai glanced at her.

Her name was Qiu Jinfeng; her family lived fairly well, and she often liked to brag.

“I’m going to my mother-in-law’s soon. Can’t go empty-handed,” Chen Jianghai replied simply.

Qiu Jinfeng heard this with a touch of bitterness. “I heard your family just got a TV yesterday? Now you’re buying all these things? Looks like you’ve hit the jackpot.”

“Not really,” Chen Jianghai smiled faintly. “Just enough to get by. Big money isn’t that easy to make.”

To him, he was only earning a little for now, building his foundation; the chance to make big money hadn’t arrived yet.

“I heard people say Jianghai is making it big. At first, I didn’t believe it, but now it seems true,” another neighbor emerged with a flattering tone.

She lived diagonally opposite Chen Jianghai’s house. Her name was Mo Xinmei, and Fu Qiang, who appeared at the Chen family’s door yesterday, was her husband.

Chen Jianghai naturally didn’t pick up the bait, smiling, “Hey, I’m just fixing things. Not making much money.”

That was true enough.

After all, repairing a radio only earned a few yuan; it was insignificant.

Qiu Jinfeng’s bitterness deepened.

She couldn’t help but sneer, “Jianghai’s making it now! Unlike my deadbeat husband, working in the factory every day, earning only four or five hundred a month.”

At first, a little envy, then outright boasting.

Sure enough, hearing this, Mo Xinmei’s face darkened.

Her husband earned barely over two hundred a month, less than half of Qiu Jinfeng’s husband.

“Jianghai, how much do you make in a month?”

Qiu Jinfeng glanced smugly at Mo Xinmei, then asked curiously.

Chen Jianghai casually said, “I’ve only been at it less than a month. Made just a bit, nothing worth mentioning.”

Seeing Chen Jianghai decline to say more, Qiu Jinfeng seemed disappointed.

Then, her eyes shifted, fixating on the bags in Chen Jianghai’s hands.

“Say, Jianghai, what exactly did you buy? Let us have a look!”

Without waiting for his reply, she stepped forward, eager to see what was inside.

Chen Jianghai was about to offer, but Qiu Jinfeng was faster, yanking the bag open.

At first glance, she saw the cigarettes and alcohol Chen Jianghai had bought.

Two packs of cigarettes and two bottles of liquor.

The cigarettes were Red Pagoda Mountain brand, but the liquor was Maotai!

Seeing these, Qiu Jinfeng was at a loss for words.

The cigarettes were okay—about sixty yuan per pack, her husband wouldn’t hesitate to smoke them, so no big deal.

But the Maotai was expensive, over a hundred yuan a bottle.

Just these few items matched her husband’s entire monthly salary.

Chen Jianghai smiled and zipped the bag closed. “You’ve seen enough. I’m going home now.”

With that, he turned and went inside, closing the door behind him.

“Hmph, look at him acting all high and mighty!” Mo Xinmei said with a hint of jealousy, staring at the shut door and pouting.

Normally, Qiu Jinfeng would have chimed in and joined Mo Xinmei gossiping about Chen Jianghai.

But this time, Qiu Jinfeng frowned and stayed silent.

Mo Xinmei, seeing Qiu Jinfeng’s quietness, asked curiously, “What did you see just now?”

“That Chen Jianghai, looks like he really made it big,” Qiu Jinfeng whispered.

Mo Xinmei grew even more curious.

She widened her eyes and asked, “What exactly did you see? Tell me quickly!”

…

That evening, as soon as Lin Wanqiu returned home, she headed straight to the television.

Soon, the room was filled with the opening theme of a TV drama: “The cold wind howls, snowflakes drift, the long road stretches on, singing as I go…”

Chen Jianghai watched this with a wry smile.

Great, she was hooked on “Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain” again.

“Dinner’s ready, dinner’s ready.”

Chen Jianghai said as he reached to turn off the TV.

Lin Wanqiu pleaded hurriedly, “Don’t turn it off! Jianghai, I promise I’ll eat well.”

Chen Jianghai had never seen Lin Wanqiu act so coquettishly before and was momentarily stunned.

Lin Wanqiu felt a bit shy under his gaze, her cheeks flushing. “Why… why are you looking at me like that?”

“Because you’re beautiful!” Chen Jianghai blurted out without hesitation.

Hearing this, Lin Wanqiu blushed deeply and buried her face in her chest.

Such sweet words were overwhelmingly powerful for Lin Wanqiu.

Just as the atmosphere in the living room grew a little tender, a knock sounded at the door.

Chen Jianghai frowned and asked sharply, “Who is it?”

(End of chapter)
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