Lu Fan returned to the village to find his mother, Zhao Rongrong, anxiously peering out from the doorway. She worried about why her son hadn't returned all day, especially since he'd left without a single penny.
Sighing, Zhao Rongrong lamented. Treating Lu Changfu had drained all their savings. On top of that, the spring planting had just finished, and they'd spent a considerable amount on seeds and fertilizer. They were completely broke.
Guilt gnawed at her – guilt towards her son and her husband. What if something had happened to Lu Fan while he was out?
"Mom! I'm back!" A soft call suddenly reached her ears. Lu Fan appeared, riding his electric scooter.
Zhao Rongrong's eyes immediately welled up.
"Xiao Fan! Come inside and eat quickly!" Zhao Rongrong said, turning away hastily and wiping a tear from her eye.
"Mom! I have to go treat the village head. I'll eat when I get back! It'll be too late otherwise, and it's not proper to visit the village head's dormitory late," Lu Fan said urgently.
"Silly child! If the village head hasn't eaten, ask her to come eat at our place, alright!" Zhao Rongrong shot Lu Fan a look, thinking him foolish. That was a young woman's private room; others would be hesitant to go there late. Why was her son worried about being too late? If only she could find a village head to be her daughter-in-law… hehe!
"Mom! What are you smiling about?" Lu Fan parked his scooter in the yard and happened to see his mother chuckling foolishly. He asked out of curiosity.
"Smiling at how silly you are! My silly son! Hurry and go!" Zhao Rongrong gave Lu Fan another look and turned back into the house.
Lu Fan chuckled, turned, and left the yard, heading towards the village branch office.
Wang Yan sat by her doorstep. Seeing Lu Fan approach, she immediately stood up to meet him.
"Xiao Fan, you're not here to see your sister-in-law, are you!" Wang Yan deliberately pushed her chest forward, making the cleavage appear more profound and mysterious. She gazed at Lu Fan with alluring eyes.
"Lu Fan! You're here!"
Before Lu Fan could speak, Liu Ruyan emerged, carrying a bucket of bathwater. She was wearing only a pink bear pajama set, her hair still damp, and dewdrops clinging to her flushed cheeks, making her look like a lotus emerging from water.
Liu Ruyan poured the bathwater into the ditch by the roadside and looked at Lu Fan, saying, "Come in!"
"Ah… um… Sister-in-law, I need to see the village head about something. I'll go in now!" Lu Fan stammered, momentarily lost in thought at the sight of Liu Ruyan, before following her into the village branch office.
"Hmph!" Wang Yan stomped her foot in anger. That little vixen must have done it on purpose! She thought she'd intercepted him, but it turned out to be a bluff. This was infuriating.
Upon entering Liu Ruyan's room, a fragrant aroma immediately filled the air. Lu Fan felt a sense of exhilaration.
Liu Ruyan's heart also pounded. She dared not meet Lu Fan's eyes. How embarrassing it would be if Lu Fan had seen her bathing.
"Village Head Liu! Um… my mom said you haven't eaten. How about… coming to my place to eat?" Lu Fan spoke somewhat incoherently.
*Pfft…* Liu Ruyan burst out laughing. She hadn't expected Lu Fan, a tall man of 1.8 meters, to be nervous.
"What delicious food did Auntie make?" Liu Ruyan asked, composing herself and smiling.
"I… hehe! I don't know. I hadn't even entered the house when I got back!" Lu Fan scratched the back of his head and said with a grin.
With their conversation and laughter, both of them relaxed. They chatted while Lu Fan treated her, and neither felt tense or awkward again.
However, outside the main door, Wang Yan was growing extremely anxious. What were those two doing inside? That little enchantress had taken a bath specifically; she must be up to no good!
"Wang Yan! What are you peeking around for?" A voice suddenly called out.
Wang Yan turned to see Wang Laowai, a man from the village, looking at her and grinning foolishly.
Wang Laowai was a瘸子 in his forties, walking with a limp, which is why everyone in the village called him Wang Laowai.
The strong and healthy men had all gone out to work. Wang Laowai's legs were not nimble, so no one was willing to take him along.
"Wang Laowai! What business is it of yours? Go on, go do whatever you should be doing." Wang Yan said impatiently.
"Heh heh! Wang Yan! Have you been living alone for half a year and can't take it anymore? How about… I make a sacrifice and serve you?" Wang Laowai's eyes gleamed as he saw the deep ravine of Wang Yan's chest, speaking with a hint of excitement.
This woman usually liked to dress up, it was true, but she always maintained a serious demeanor. Many men harbored desires for her but dared not speak of them. Who would have thought that today… this was clearly an invitation. Heh heh! Who would have thought that I, Wang Laowai, would have a moment of glorious spring.
"Get lost! Even if I had to find a cucumber, I wouldn't use you!" Wang Yan immediately cursed, turned, and went home. She slammed the door shut with a bang, then bolted it.
"Damn it… did I, Wang Laowai, misjudge things? Hmph! Based on my forty years of experience as a pure man, this woman is definitely in heat." Wang Laowai smacked his lips. He hadn't caught the fox but got himself into trouble. Still, his heart itched.
Lu Fan continued to treat Liu Ruyan while they chatted.
"Lu Fan! Did you find a sales channel today?" Liu Ruyan asked, pressing her hands against her clothes and pants, feigning casualness.
"Heh heh! Didn't find one! I even caused some trouble and spent a day at the police station." Lu Fan chuckled and briefly recounted the day's events. Of course, he didn't mention his own subtle methods of causing trouble.
"Lu Fan! How could you not call me for such a big matter? Next time you encounter anything, remember to call me. I am your village head, after all, and I might be able to help you." Hearing that Lu Fan had spent a day at the police station, Liu Ruyan said with a hint of nervousness.
"Heh heh heh! It's fine! Besides, I'm a man. How can I let a woman help me with fighting?" Lu Fan quickly replied.
"Tsk! Who said I would help you fight? I was worried you'd be taken advantage of at the police station." Liu Ruyan retorted, giving Lu Fan a look.
"Heh heh! Alright! In the future, if something happens, I won't call the police uncles, I'll call the village head." Lu Fan said with a grin.
"Slippery tongue!" Liu Ruyan was amused and said with a playful pout.
"Alright! You can get up now." Lu Fan withdrew his hand, allowing Liu Ruyan to rise. He then closed his eyes slightly, refining the extremely yin energy he had just guided.
"Lu Fan… tomorrow… tomorrow evening, I'll come to your house… for dinner!" Seeing Lu Fan open his eyes, Liu Ruyan said with a flushed face.
"Okay! Alright! I… I'll go into the mountains and hunt some game for you to eat!" Lu Fan nodded.
"Mhm! Be careful!" Liu Ruyan said, her face turning even redder.
Originally, Liu Ruyan didn't want to be seen by Zhao Rongrong again. However, seeing Wang Yan's demeanor today, Liu Ruyan had guessed something. Therefore, she planned to go to the small clinic for treatment again tomorrow.
Lu Fan returned home to find Lu Changfu and Zhao Rongrong still waiting for him to eat.
"Mom! Village Head Liu is coming for dinner tomorrow evening." Lu Fan said while eating.
"Son! Is that true!?" Zhao Rongrong and Lu Changfu's faces lit up with surprise.
"Of course, it's true. She specifically told me when I got back." Lu Fan said quickly.
The surprise on Zhao Rongrong's face suddenly vanished. She hesitated for a moment, then looked at Lu Changfu and said, "Xiao Fan, tomorrow Mom will go borrow some money. You go to town and buy some groceries!"