Zhao Rongrong glared fiercely at Lu Fan when she heard him ask Wang Yan to follow him, wondering if he was trying to juggle multiple relationships. What a rascal!
Although Wang Yan was attractive, had a good figure, and knew how to dress up, she was still a young widow and several years older than Lu Fan. Zhao Rongrong didn't want Lu Fan to marry such a woman, nor did she want him to tarnish the Lu family's reputation by playing the field.
"Then... Little Fan! Can you help me take the mushrooms to my place?" Wang Yan asked Lu Fan with a soft voice and a flirtatious glance.
"This temptress!" Zhao Rongrong almost stumbled. Wang Yan's gaze was too captivating; even she, another woman, found it hard to resist. She couldn't let her son...
"Sure!" Lu Fan had already agreed and picked up the two bags of mushrooms, ready to leave.
"Little Fan! Let me go instead!" Suddenly, Lu Changfu stumbled out from the doorway.
"Get lost! Where do you think you're going?" Zhao Rongrong glared at him, thinking the old man was trying to chase after younger women again.
"Wang Yan! Let's go, I'll take them over for you! Drying mushrooms has its own techniques; they mustn't be crushed, nor should they be exposed to the sun for too long..." Zhao Rongrong said, picking up the bags of mushrooms and placing them onto a two-wheeled cart in the yard.
Wang Yan glanced at Lu Fan, the small flame of desire burning within her making her impatient. But she could only endure. Hmph! All that makeup was for nothing!
"Heh heh! That little temptress really knows how to charm people!" Lu Changfu said, smacking his lips after Zhao Rongrong and Wang Yan had left.
After breakfast, Master Wu arrived with the crew to build the greenhouse.
Lu Fan didn't stay to watch. He didn't understand these things, and the people were introduced by Liu Ruyan, whom he trusted. So, Lu Fan went back into the mountains.
This time, he intended to go to the mountain hollow where the big-leaf ash grew and transplant them. The few big-leaf ash plants he had transplanted last time had survived, indicating that they could grow well even on the slopes. This was good news.
He entered the mountain hollow and dug up the big-leaf ash plants, roots and all. After digging up over a hundred plants, Lu Fan prepared to return to the slope to plant them. Suddenly, he heard footsteps. Turning around, he saw Wang Laowai appearing behind him.
"Uncle Wang! What are you doing up the mountain?" Lu Fan asked, puzzled. He had contracted this mountain, so why was this old fellow here?
"I'm going up the mountain to pick mushrooms!" Wang Laowai said, walking over with a limp.
"Uncle Wang! I've contracted this mountain! Don't tell me you don't know!" Lu Fan said with a frown.
"Hmph! So what if you've contracted it? Can't I come up the mountain just because you have?" Wang Laowai retorted defiantly, looking disdainful.
Recently, the village had been abuzz with talk about Lu Fan. The kid had suddenly become rich, contracted the north slope, planned to start a breeding farm, and spent tens of thousands on a greenhouse. Wang Laowai hadn't paid much attention to these matters. He couldn't do such work himself, mainly because he had no money and was too lazy! This guy hated working the most. He used his bad leg as an excuse to wander around the village all day.
However, hearing that Lu Fan made his money by picking mushrooms, Wang Laowai couldn't sit still. Could picking mushrooms really earn so much money? Then he could pick mushrooms too! Why should he be able to earn money and not himself? So, Wang Laowai came.
But after wandering around the mountain for half a day, he hadn't picked a single mushroom. He was beginning to doubt the rumors! He was already annoyed, and seeing Lu Fan made him even angrier.
"I say, Wang Laowai, you come to my contracted mountain to pick mushrooms, and you're still so arrogant?" Lu Fan was amused and angry. He knew Wang Laowai relied on his physical disability, so no one dared to touch him. Therefore, he was usually very overbearing. However, his family's conditions were truly poor; he was the type of person who was both poor and belligerent.
"Damn it! You little brat dare to call me Wang Laowai? Believe it or not, I'll beat you to death." Wang Laowai's boldness grew when he saw Lu Fan smiling, and he pointed at Lu Fan, shouting insults.
"Heh heh! I called you Uncle Wang twice, but I realized you didn't understand. So I called you Wang Laowai! What of it? Can you hit me?" Lu Fan said with a grin.
"You think I don't dare to hit you? Damn it! Forget you, even your dad, I'd dare to beat him up. You little bastard!" Wang Laowai said, then lunged forward, swinging his fists at Lu Fan.
"Tch! If you dare, hit me. If you dare, hit me." Lu Fan turned and ran, taunting as he went. This infuriated Wang Laowai, who chased after him with a limp, but couldn't even touch a single hair on Lu Fan.
After a while, Wang Laowai suddenly realized something: it was getting cloudy, and very heavily so.
"Wang Laowai! I'm done playing with you. I'm going down the mountain. Heh heh!" Lu Fan said, turning and running.
"You little brat! I won't let you off!" Wang Laowai shouted defiantly, but limped hastily down the mountain. The slope here was already quite steep, and if it rained, he might break his leg if he slipped.
Especially seeing Lu Fan disappear in an instant, Wang Laowai became even more anxious. The rain was about to fall, and his leg...
Pitter-patter...
As if heaven itself was conspiring against Wang Laowai, the rain came faster the more anxious he became. It started pouring down!
Sliiiip... Wang Laowai's foot slipped, and he fell to the ground, sliding down the mountain.
"Ah... Ah...! Help!" Wang Laowai cried out in terror.
However, there was no one in the vast mountain. Wang Laowai slid down dozens of meters, heading straight for a large tree ahead!
Wang Laowai was terrified. He was sliding down with his legs spread apart, and hitting the tree would mean a severe injury to his reproductive organs!
"Ah... Ah..." Wang Laowai shouted in fear, his voice cracking.
As he was about to crash into the tree, Wang Laowai instinctively covered his crotch with his hands...
Bang... Suddenly, a hand grabbed Wang Laowai's collar. Wang Laowai felt his body tighten and stop abruptly. His face had turned pale with fear.
"Heh heh! Wang Laowai! Are you trying to castrate yourself? You're quite ruthless to yourself! Hahaha!" Lu Fan burst into laughter. This old scoundrel, he deserved to be scared witless!
"Lu Fan... Wuwuwu..." Wang Laowai was so scared he started crying.
"Damn! You're a man, aren't you? Besides, you already have a wife and kids. What's the big deal if that thing is ruined! Hahaha!" Lu Fan was surprised that the old fellow had started crying and couldn't help but laugh heartily.