Chapter 341 - 298: Not Welcome
Chapter 341: Chapter 298: Not Welcome
When Mo Chengfu saw the girl staring at Xiao Man, he frowned and said, "I can handle things here myself. You should head back first."
Xiao Man had heard from Grandpa and Grandma that someone was trying to set Mo Chengfu up with a woman who worked in some department at the commune, though nothing was official yet. Since Mo Chengfu didn’t introduce these two girls, she had no intention of prying. She nodded, ready to leave. Zheng Shaolian was waiting for her at home, and after lunch, they had to return to the county seat and Wancheng.
But just as Xiao Man turned to leave, the girl in the dress moved to block her path. The other one in the yellow shirt also closed in from the side, her eyes narrowed and the corner of her mouth twisting into a sinister sneer.
"Why are you leaving the second we get here? Got a guilty conscience or something?"
"Why would I have a guilty conscience? And who are you?" Little Manman asked coldly. The girl in the yellow shirt snorted. "Why don’t you ask Mo Chengfu who we are? We’re his wife and sister-in-law, the mistresses of this house! You little..."
"Zhang Lisha! Are you insane?!"
Mo Chengfu rushed over, decisively grabbing one in each hand, and started dragging the two uninvited guests out the door. The girl in the dress took the opportunity to cling tightly to Mo Chengfu’s arm, crying out in a delicate voice, "Chengfu! Chengfu, slow down! You’re hurting me. Look, my wrist is all red!"
Mo Chengfu pushed her away slightly, then turned to glare furiously at the girl in the yellow shirt. Pointing at the gate, he roared, "Zhang Lisha, I told you you’re not welcome here! Get out!"
Zhang Lisha, not to be outdone, jutted out her chin and roared back, "Why should I get out? You listen to me, Mo Chengfu! My sister slept with you and had an abortion for you! Everyone at the cement factory knows it! If you dare dump my sister and start seeing that damned homewrecker, I’ll kill you, believe it or not!"
Hearing Zhang Lisha’s outburst, the girl in the dress instantly flushed beet red. Her eyes darted around, then she shot Xiao Man a look full of hidden meaning before turning her tear-filled, resentful gaze on Mo Chengfu. Tears welled up as she covered her mouth and began to sob pitifully.
Xiao Man was speechless. ’So they’re sisters. And the younger one just casually announced her older sister’s private business to the world. And more importantly, this girl in the dress is the girlfriend Mo Chengfu had when he was a temp at the cement factory!’
’Didn’t they break up? Mo Chengfu was so dejected about it for a while. He spent all that time gathering herbs with Grandpa and not a single woman came looking for him. So why is she suddenly showing up now?’
Six or seven villagers who had been waiting in the clinic all ran out to watch the commotion. When they heard a girl shouting about "sleeping with him" and "having an abortion" in broad daylight, the expressions on their faces were simply priceless. The older women, in particular, immediately put their heads together, whispering amongst themselves. The more gossipy ones were itching to jump in and ask for details.
Mo Chengfu was both furious and frantic, his face turning pale. But he was naturally tongue-tied, and the more flustered he became, the harder it was for him to explain himself. His clenched fists trembled slightly, but he didn’t raise a hand to strike the girl in the yellow shirt.
Xiao Man knew he was holding back. When Grandpa had taught them the Five Animals Qigong, he had laid down a strict rule: its purpose was fitness and self-defense, not to be used to bully or strike others, and especially not to be used on women.
Xiao Man walked to Mo Chengfu’s side and asked, "Is this that girlfriend you had at the cement factory? The one who broke up with you because she thought you’d be a cripple after you severed the tendons in your hand?"
Mo Chengfu grunted in affirmation. Zhang Lisha glared at Xiao Man. "Who said my sister broke up with him? What right does he have to break up? He and my sister..."
Xiao Man asked Mo Chengfu, "Did you do the things she’s talking about?"
Mo Chengfu shook his head firmly. "No! I swear I didn’t!"
The girl in the dress stopped crying and looked up. Gazing at Mo Chengfu with tear-brimmed eyes, her voice trembled as if she were heartbroken. "Chengfu, how can you say that? You had your coworkers come looking for me so many times. I wouldn’t agree to meet you, so you wrote letters and sent gifts. I only agreed to see you because you seemed so sincere. In the woods..."
A faint blush rose on Mo Chengfu’s face. "That time in the woods was the first time I ever held your hand, but we only held hands and walked! We didn’t do anything else! And that happened after we were already dating! Don’t you forget, Zhang Yunsha, you were the one who wanted to date me in the first place. I had just started at the factory, and my family had bought me a new bicycle. You borrowed it to ride to the market, and that very night, you said you wanted to be my girlfriend. I’d never had a girlfriend before, so of course I was happy that someone was interested in me! But less than a month later, you broke up with me. I was too upset to even focus on work. I looked for you every day, but you avoided me. I had to ask my coworkers for help, getting them to deliver letters, candy, and the steamed buns and meat buns you liked... Finally, you agreed to meet me in the woods, and we got back together! I was so happy that I let your brother take my new bike that same night and never asked for it back, choosing to walk home every Sunday instead. You said you wanted a watch, so I lied to my parents that the factory needed money. I took the forty yuan my family had worked so hard to save and bought you a ladies’ watch... You never gave any of those things back when we broke up. But I can swear a solemn oath: I, Mo Chengfu, have done nothing more than hold your hand, Zhang Yunsha. I have absolutely never touched you! If I’m lying, may I be struck down by lightning!"
After listening to Mo Chengfu, the girl in the dress, Zhang Yunsha, stood there stunned, her mouth hanging open, having forgotten to even wipe away her tears.
Zhang Lisha pointed at Mo Chengfu’s nose and shrieked, "You’re lying! My sister totally slept with you and had two abortions for you! And you still won’t admit it? Are you even a man?"
"Lisha!" Zhang Yunsha shrieked, her eyes flying wide as if waking from a dream.
’At first, the threat was useful. It was meant to be intimidating, to declare that I was his woman so he’d have to take responsibility, and so no other woman would dare try to get close to him. But now that he’s gone and made a solemn oath, the situation has completely changed. Is there any point in saying things that will only ruin my own reputation?’
Xiao Man glanced at Zhang Lisha, then said to Zhang Yunsha, "She’s not your real sister, is she? What kind of sister would be so eager for the whole world to know she’d had an abortion? Next time you have something important to do, you’d be better off finding an actual relative. Otherwise, look what happens: your plan failed, and your reputation is in tatters. Do you really think Mo Chengfu could ever look at you the same way again?"
Surprisingly, Mo Chengfu was composed enough to add an explanation for Xiao Man. "They aren’t real sisters. Not even cousins. They’re just ’sworn’ sisters."
Xiao Man laughed. "No wonder. She doesn’t seem like she’s here to help her sister at all. It’s more like she came to stomp all over her and see what she could get out of it."
Zhang Yunsha’s expression turned extremely ugly. She whipped her head around to glare at Zhang Lisha. Zhang Lisha flinched but tried to act unfazed, pointing a finger at Xiao Man. "Don’t think I don’t know who you are! You’re that woman from the commune’s post and telecommunications office, right? You stole my sister’s man, and now you’re trying to sow discord. Dream on!"