Chapter 113: An Awkward Relationship (Part I)

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Jizi was Hui’s top henchman. Jiang Fan had never met him, only heard from Xiao Yuxin that he was quite loyal and a decent person. Hui valued him greatly, and he had even helped Xiao Yuxin out of trouble before.

Before Hui finished speaking, Jiang Fan, who kept sneaking glances at Yueyue’s chest, suddenly noticed a hint of panic on her face. He quickly released Hui’s arm.

Following her gaze, Jiang Fan saw a woman nearing forty, dressed plainly, looking no different from an ordinary rural woman, riding a half-new, half-old bicycle toward them.

The woman stopped beside the four of them and first said to Yueyue, “Xiao Yue, come by my place to visit when you’re free.”

Then, turning to Hui, she added, “Without Third Uncle’s sixtieth birthday tonight, come home early. We’ll see if we can help out.”

Her expression was neither happy nor sad, extremely calm. Jiang Fan was wondering who she could be.

Yueyue lowered her head awkwardly, nodded lightly without a word, and kicked a small stone on the ground with her toes, her mood complicated.

Hui looked at the woman with a hint of reproach: “I’ve told you countless times, don’t ride that old bike. I bought you a new one, but you won’t learn to ride it. The family’s motorcycle is just rusting away because you don’t use it.”

The woman smiled coldly and said, “After all these years, I’m used to it and don’t want to change anytime soon. This bicycle was the first gift you gave me. Though years have passed and everything has changed, I still like it.”

After speaking, she didn’t look at Hui again but rode off by herself.

Hui stood there, stunned, watching her retreating figure. It took him a long moment to come back to himself, and he awkwardly told Jiang Fan, “This is my wife, A Xia. We’ve been married for seventeen years.”

Seeing her husband’s mistress, the proper wife didn’t cause a scene but instead greeted them politely. Jiang Fan was surprised, initially wanting to tease Hui, but upon seeing his embarrassed expression, he held back.

He tactfully said to Hui, “You two go ahead; I’ll take the guys for a walk around the commercial street.”

Hui wanted to chat more with Jiang Fan, but after A Xia’s words, he was somewhat moved and no longer in the mood for small talk. He replied, “Okay, I’ll go change and then ask around. Wait for me at the fruit shop.”

Jiang Fan led Liu Zhengjun to the “Love Fruit” shop and saw Xiao Yuxin just opening her stall, with Wang Wenyu helping her arrange fruit on the outdoor shelves.

Jiang Fan approached Wang Wenyu, wrapped an arm around her waist, and playfully said, “My wife’s really hardworking. How come you’re up so early?”

Wang Wenyu kept busy, replying, “The sun’s already high. It’s not early.”

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As long as they weren’t alone in a room, Jiang Fan’s mouth started causing trouble again, replying flirtatiously, “The sun won’t shine on your backside.”

Hearing this, Wang Wenyu immediately recalled the teasing words Jiang Fan had used to seduce her before. Her face flushed slightly as she shot him a sideways glance, warning, “Are you trying to cause trouble again?”

Seeing that Wang Wenyu was wise to him, Jiang Fan quickly stepped inside and, along with Liu Zhengjun, helped move the remaining fruits outside the shop.

They couldn’t find the person they were looking for, and Liu Zhengjun had to go to work. After Jiang Fan introduced him and greeted Wang Wenyu and Xiao Yuxin, Liu left.

Xiao Yuxin entrusted her baby to Wang Wenyu and went to the market to buy ingredients for cooking.

The young couple ran the shop together. Jiang Fan casually told the story of Hui’s wife that morning as light conversation.

Noticing how animated Jiang Fan was, Wang Wenyu, holding the baby with one hand, used her free hand to pinch Jiang Fan’s ear and teased, “Getting so excited, are you thinking of finding a little sister for me like Hui did?”

Jiang Fan had only intended the story as idle gossip to please Wang Wenyu but ended up shooting himself in the foot.

She raised her hands in mock surrender, saying, “I can’t even handle one wife, how could I dare think about that?”

With no one else in the shop, Wang Wenyu boldly teased, “If you can’t handle it, you have to get help. Should I buy you some Viagra?”

Jiang Fan glanced outside to make sure no one was around and pinched Wang Wenyu’s ample side. “I’m so strong, I don’t need that stuff. You really underestimate men.”

Just then, Hui entered from the side of the shop and, hearing Jiang Fan mention strength, casually asked, “What strength?”

Seeing Hui come in, Wang Wenyu gave Jiang Fan a warning look and stayed silent.

Jiang Fan stuck out his tongue and joked, “Knowing you’d come, I wanted to prepare another two boxes of fruit to sell to you. My wife says I can’t carry them one-handed.”

Though Hui hadn’t heard Wang Wenyu’s words, he knew Jiang Fan was just making excuses. Whatever the young couple talked about didn’t concern him.

He didn’t press the topic and instead got to the point, telling Jiang Fan that Ergouzi was a subordinate of Asheng and had been with Asheng for over a year.

“Asheng? Has that bastard gone underground lately?”

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Mentioning Asheng reminded Jiang Fan that he hadn’t seen him recently. Also, many of the usual loafers wandering the commercial street had noticeably decreased since yesterday.

Hui laughed, “It’s not that Asheng went underground; most of Luzi’s men went home. Why Asheng is still around, I don’t know.”

Hui had received intelligence about Luzi temporarily dismissing his men yesterday and shared all the information he had with Jiang Fan.

Hearing that most of Luzi’s men had gone home, Jiang Fan felt disappointed. “So Ergouzi might have gone home too?”

“Not necessarily. Most who left were people Luzi trusted. Whether Ergouzi is still here, Jiwawa will find out this afternoon. Just wait here for news.”

Unable to find Gou Biao for the moment and recalling Hui didn’t trouble the old scavenger that morning, Jiang Fan saw Hui’s expression had returned to normal.

He teased, “It shouldn’t take that long to get info. Did you go home to apologize to your sister-in-law?”

Hui gave a wry smile and thought for a moment. “We’re an old married couple now. What’s there to apologize for? Ever since I got together with Yueyue, seeing A Xia every day just stirs up feelings I can’t explain.”

Among local wealthy men, many kept mistresses outside the village. Such affairs were no secret. Most village women faced it quietly, as long as the men brought money home on time.

Perhaps burdened by this for years and craving to vent, Hui shared his past with A Xia.

Hui was thirty-eight; A Xia was three years older. They were distant relatives in a marriage based on affection, not love.

Hui had grown up following A Xia around. She cared for him like a younger brother, and he respected her like an elder sister.

When Hui was twenty, he was sentenced to a year for speculation and fraud. His parents disowned him, but every three months, A Xia would bring food and walk to the prison to visit him.

After his release, his parents separated from him, and the village looked down on him. Only A Xia continued to care for him as always.