Chapter 24 The Kind Side
"You can't play like this. How about I forgo my prize money in Xijing and consider it your appearance fee?"
"No, one thing at a time, unless..."
Zhang Qian kept everyone in suspense.
"Unless what?"
"Unless you obediently listen to me from now on, don't make me angry, and don't talk back, I won't take this money."
Zhang Qian is not short of money at all. She comes from a privileged family with immense wealth. This kind of talk is just a way for her to manipulate Chen Cheng and gain satisfaction.
"Sure, sure, as long as you don't want money, I'll agree to anything. Even if you're scared tonight, I'll still sleep with you!"
"Get out, and don't mention last night again."
The two bickered the whole way there, and it was the same on the way back. Zhang Qian couldn't understand how she could have so much to say to him, especially since some of the things she said were swear words she would never have used before.
Back in Fengjiang, it was almost 1 p.m. Lu Gan found a pretty good local restaurant and ordered his favorite braised pork ribs and beer duck, as well as two vegetarian dishes. Zhang Qian was delighted with the meal. Since meeting this annoying guy, he had never taken the initiative to treat her to a meal. This time, he had made an unprecedented move to treat her. Well, this guy must be afraid of sharing his bonus.
Despite her thoughts, she still enjoyed her meal very much. After finishing, she returned to the old teahouse at around 2 PM.
It's already mid-July, and the weather is unusually hot, but this is the busiest time of the year for the old teahouse. Many regular customers are already seated in the front hall. Although the hot tea is steaming, the room is still cool because of the powerful air conditioning.
As Chen Cheng entered, many regular tea drinkers greeted him warmly. Chen Cheng, mimicking his master's gesture, clasped his hands in a fist salute and smiled in response. Upon seeing Zhang Qian, the crowd greeted her enthusiastically as well, with some even teasing, "Cheng's girlfriend is quite pretty. Now Xiao Shuang has a rival!" The crowd erupted in laughter.
"Drink up, everyone! Drink up! Haha!"
Chen Cheng chuckled and quickly walked through the front hall back to his backyard. Old Zhang followed and said, "Xiao Cheng, is the matter in Jingcheng settled?"
"Yes, it's been resolved. Uncle Zhang, what's the situation at home?"
"This morning, a man rushed over and said he needed to talk to you. When he heard you weren't there, he left. I asked him what it was, but he didn't say. He seemed very anxious."
Uncle Zhang said.
"Well, never mind him. He'll come back if he needs anything. I'll go offer incense to the ancestral master first."
Old Zhang returned to the front hall to busy himself, while Chen Cheng returned to the main room, lit three incense sticks, respectfully placed them in the incense burner, knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times before getting up.
Zhang Qian looked at all this in surprise, then at the statue on the table, thinking to herself: This must be the ancestral master Chen Cheng was talking about! She then stepped forward devoutly, put her hands together, and bowed three times.
Back in Chen Cheng's room, she saw that although the bedroom furniture was simple, it was very clean. His clothes were neatly hung in the wardrobe, and two pairs of shoes were also arranged in a corner. "He is a very self-disciplined man," Zhang Qian thought.
"This is where I grew up," Chen Cheng said.
"Who is Xiao Shuang that they were talking about just now?"
Zhang Qian didn't respond to his question, but instead asked in a seemingly calm manner.
"what"?
"Why don't you explain to them that I'm not your girlfriend?"
"Have you forgotten what I told you this morning? The more you explain, the less clear it becomes."
Chen Cheng said with a grin.
Zhang Qian pouted, looking quite dissatisfied, but she could tell from the tone of the other tea drinkers that there were other girls with Chen Cheng, and they seemed to be very close. A strange feeling immediately rose in her heart.
Just then, Old Zhang's voice rang out: "Xiao Cheng, Old Man Yan from Xicheng wants you to help interpret a dream!"
Old Yan was also a regular tea drinker here, and he and Master were like brothers. He couldn't refuse to help, so he replied, "Okay, tell Old Yan I'll be right there!"
"Little sister Sisi, I'm going to interpret someone's dream, do you want to come along?"
Zhang Qian originally wanted to go, but then she thought that if she went, she might cause a commotion and make things more awkward, so she shook her head and said, "I'm not going. Dream interpretation isn't exciting at all. I'll rest for a while!"
"Okay, my bed may be small, but it's very comfortable!"
After saying that, he laughed heartily and walked out.
By the time Zhang Qian realized what was happening, Chen Cheng had already walked outside. Her face flushed red, and she muttered under her breath, "Get lost!"
After Chen Cheng left, Zhang Qian carefully examined his bedroom. The three-drawer table by the window caught her attention. On it were not only two potted succulents, but also several yellowed photos. One of them was of a person with an otherworldly appearance, with a six or seven-year-old child standing next to him. The child's features looked exactly like Chen Cheng's now. This must be what this scoundrel looked like when he was a child.
She inexplicably opened one of the drawers, which was filled with yellow paper. Zhang Qian recognized it as the paper he used to draw talismans.
Opening the second drawer, Zhang Qian found rows of bank transfer records and some letters. Curious, she picked up a letter—letter like this is rare these days—and read: "Thank you so much, Brother Chen Cheng, for your help in adding air conditioning to our orphanage. It's so wonderful—warm in winter and cool in summer..."
Picking up another one: Thank you, Mr. Chen, for your selfless dedication. Now the school has been built, and the children can finally learn in bright classrooms...
Thank you, Mr. Chen, for your boundless love and compassion, allowing us elderly people living alone to enjoy our later years in the nursing home you helped create.
Thank you, Xiao Cheng...
Zhang Qian read through several letters in one go, all expressing gratitude and thanks to Chen Cheng. Some were from within the province and city, others from other provinces and cities. She also looked at the bank transfer records, ranging from a few thousand to over ten thousand yuan. Adding up all these transfer records, the total was at least two million yuan. This guy wasn't the stingy miser she had imagined; he donated all his earnings to those in need, from children to the elderly, from disaster victims to the sick.
At this moment, she seemed to see Chen Cheng in a new light. Despite his wealth, he dressed simply and even shabbily. Compared to those second-generation rich kids who wore suits and ties and flaunted their wealth everywhere, his spiritual level was not even on the same level!
She didn't look through the remaining letters. She closed the drawer, stood in a daze for a while, then stood up and walked out.
At this point, Chen Cheng and Elder Yan's explanations were nearing their end, and the tea drinkers were listening with great interest.
"So, Mr. Yan, your dream of flying represents freedom. The fact that your body can fly means that you live a relaxed and unrestrained life. On the other hand, it also means that you are healthy and free from illness. That's why you were in the clouds. You can just enjoy your life!"
As soon as Zhang Qian arrived in the front hall, she heard everyone applauding and shouting, "Well said!" The cheers were deafening.
Old Yan was a magnanimous man. He was overjoyed to hear Chen Cheng's interpretation of the dream. After everyone had calmed down, he said, "Xiao Quansheng has gone on a journey, but he left us all with little Chen Cheng. He is also a treasure of Fengjiang. I am happy today, so please feel free to drink and have plenty of tea, my friends and neighbors!"
The crowd cheered again, pushing the lively atmosphere of the old teahouse to a climax!