310: Chapter 108: Full Bellies Invite Reflection on Life 310: Chapter 108: Full Bellies Invite Reflection on Life It’s time for men to marry and women to wed.
In the past, when people couldn’t get enough to eat, nobody would think about this issue.
But now, not only are our stomachs full, but we also practice martial arts every day, with energy that has no outlet.
Naturally, these kinds of thoughts start to occupy one’s mind.
This is a human biological instinct.
Youtiao’s implication wasn’t lost on Wang Yunxiao, who realized it wasn’t just Little Gourd who had some feelings for him—the brothers also harbored varying degrees of sentiment towards her.
But without the eldest brother giving a nod, they wouldn’t dare to talk nonsense.
Wang Yunxiao couldn’t say “I don’t want her, you guys go ahead,” as this kind of remark would be an extreme humiliation for a woman in this era.
If Little Gourd were the least bit sensitive, she would have sought out a rope to hang herself that very evening.
Then, the school would be left with another ghost story.
I don’t think Little Gourd is bad, it’s just that my wife just died… well, she wasn’t really my wife to begin with.
Unlike those with obstructed meridians who devoted their cultivation to their lower bodies, Wang Yunxiao only felt hungrier and hungrier.
He had to eat two extra bowls of rice every meal and felt utterly empty after practicing two sets of boxing, leaving no room for any physiological urges.
He might as well go cultivate the Void Sword Technique.
Speaking of Little Gourd, Wang Yunxiao recalled another matter, “Do you think Cui Xiaoying’s injury is almost healed?”
Youtiao was shocked, “Big brother, are you actually into that?!”
“Fuck off, that’s not what I’m talking about!”
Wang Yunxiao was helpless too.
He didn’t dare visit Cui Xiaoying much while she was in the hospital.
It wasn’t a big deal for him, but he was concerned about the criticism and gossip that the mother and daughter couldn’t handle.
“I’ll take Little Gourd to see her tomorrow.
Veronica mentioned she’s technically skilled and could help us make some equipment.”
After hesitating, Youtiao whispered, “Big brother, I’ve heard it’s not very peaceful lately…”
Wang Yunxiao was aware of the concerns Youtiao harbored.
Recently, newspapers had gradually begun to shift their tone, as the upper class of the Red Lantern Society had vanished, leaving no one to refute or respond, thus turning the tide of public opinion.
The harsh criticism directed at the Red Lantern Society was replaced by a more rational, objective, and neutral perspective in newspaper articles.
The discourse shifted towards modern education for women, advocating that they shake off feudal superstitions and embrace learning and new cultural education.
This was a correct direction indeed.
And those scholars and experts who had previously lamented in newspapers, urging women to return to the home to support their husbands and raise their children, had overnight changed their tune, now vociferously advocating for women to reject feudal superstitions and support modern education for females.
Up to yesterday, the most radical newspaper article demanded that the women who had joined the Red Lantern Society come forward to write letters of assurance to distance themselves from these superstitious forces.
“No worries, it won’t reach us here.”
Wang Yunxiao guaranteed with a thump on his chest.
Despite the ruckus in newspapers, in reality, relative to the whole of Tianmen City, both the press publishing the newspapers and magazines, and their readers, constituted a rather niche group.
Most people were still illiterate anyway.
What was written in the newspapers had nothing to do with them, nor did they care about it.
However, the next day someone came knocking, proving him wrong.
After breakfast in the cafeteria, a cheerful Little Gourd and Wang Yunxiao had just reached the school gate when they saw a familiar face.
It was the reporter who, back then, had skulked around the entrance of Qinghe Middle School, secretly taking pictures of him and Chen Yan, and then indirectly forced Zhou Qing to her death with his articles.
Damn the inertia of fate!
The man’s courage hadn’t diminished with time, and upon seeing the two emerge, his eyes lit up and he rushed forward to snap photos.
Wang Yunxiao was amused.
He had encountered those who courted death, but never one who so willingly delivered himself to it.
He had been searching for this man, who now had the audacity to present himself on a platter?
What noble sacrifice, laying down one’s life for others!
The reporter holding the camera finished taking pictures, turned around, and left without any interest in conducting an interview.
He knew that when he got back, there would be people specifically tasked with looking at the pictures and writing the stories.
The only thing was that photos couldn’t be Photoshopped in those days; otherwise, he wouldn’t have needed to make the trip.
“You stop right there!”
Wang Yunxiao rushed over and kicked him in the butt, toppling him to the ground on the spot.
“Hey, how can you hit someone?
You’re hitting someone!
A student is hitting someone!
Is anyone going to do something about this?”
The reporter still had that rascally look on his face, and as soon as he opened his mouth, it was like he was rattling off a list of vegetables, wishing he could shout loudly enough for the whole street to turn their attention to him.
But unfortunately for him, the street outside Qinghe Middle School was usually quiet with very few pedestrians.
Moreover, he had run into a genuine, universally acknowledged local troublemaker.
Wang Yunxiao grabbed him by the collar, his fist already clenched, but then he thought better of it and relaxed his hand… Things were different for him now, and he feared that one punch might send the man to his grave.
Wouldn’t that be letting him off easy?
So he opened his hand and, like dealing cards, he gave the reporter a dozen slaps across the face.
After the slapping, the reporter’s eyes rolled back, he foamed at the mouth, and urine and feces flowed together; he became unable to utter a single word.
“Don’t worry, someone will come to settle the cause and effect with you.”
Wang Yunxiao dragged him to the security booth and said to the guard with a smile, “Uncle, I’m stepping out for a bit.
Could you please keep an eye on this guy for me?”
The security guard frowned and said, “What if he wakes up?”
“He won’t come to before nightfall.”
Wang Yunxiao chuckled and said, “When he wakes up, he can go wherever he wants, it’s none of our concern.”
This wasn’t just thanks to his mighty slaps; Little Gourd had also taken a mental note on the side to ensure the man wouldn’t wake up until nightfall.
Walking along, Little Gourd was skipping along with her hands clasped behind her back.
She had been very happy since she got up this morning, and now she was even happier.
Because she was about to spend some alone time with her big brother again, and they had just made a little secret shared only between the two of them.
Seeing her acting all smug, Wang Yunxiao suppressed the urge to give her a furious noogie.
He reminded himself inwardly that she was not a little girl anymore, but a young lady, and he shouldn’t casually touch her.
However, the question raised by Youtiao really did need to be addressed.
Otherwise, the longer it was delayed, the more troublesome it would become.
With that in mind, seeing that no one was around, Wang Yunxiao moved closer to Little Gourd and softened his voice, “Jiang Xiaotang, I want to ask you about something.”
Hearing Wang Yunxiao call her by her full name, Little Gourd involuntarily shuddered.
“What is it?”
“That incident from two years ago.”
Wang Yunxiao didn’t need to say much more.
As soon as he mentioned the event from two years prior, Little Gourd immediately recalled it.
Then she fell into a long silence.
“Why are you suddenly asking me this?”
“I just suddenly remembered it.”
Seeing the look of hurt on Little Gourd’s face, Wang Yunxiao thought to himself that he had screwed up by stepping on a landmine.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it…”
“It’s not that I don’t want to talk about it.”
Little Gourd shook her head, “If I told you now, it might change the past.”