Chapter 232: Chapter 228: Old Workhorse

“Heh,” Yang Dingbang scoffed. “Art? Don’t you go tarnishing the word. I’ve found out everything about what you and that man did.”

“When you were doing those things, did you ever stop to think that you were a wife and a mother? Your actions brought shame upon your husband and your son. It was like a knife to their hearts.”

Xie Tian’s expression flickered as she stared at Yang Dingbang. “You dared to investigate me?”

Yang Dingbang said in a low voice, “That’s right, I did. And let me tell you something. I, Yang Dingbang, and my son are not your playthings for when you’re feeling empty and lonely! I will absolutely never give you my son, so you’d better give up that idea. Don’t go disturbing my grandmother, or don’t blame me for what happens next.”

Xie Tian couldn’t believe Yang Dingbang would treat her this way. She stared at him, unblinking. “You must have fallen for another woman. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be doing this to me.”

“That’s right. There is someone I like,” Yang Dingbang said, looking at her coolly. “I told you last time: just because I don’t say anything doesn’t mean I don’t know. I was saving face for you in front of Dandan and your sister. I don’t want Dandan to know he has such a shameless mother.”

Xie Tian shook her head repeatedly. “That’s not it. You said you would love me forever…”

“Everything has a limit, and you crossed mine. From the day I agreed to divorce you, I never once considered getting back together.” Yang Dingbang looked at Xie Tian. “I’m telling you one last time: if you want to see Dandan, you notify me in advance. You are not to disturb my grandmother.”

“I came all this way, and this is how you treat me! I want Dandan! Just you wait, I’m going to sue you for invading my privacy!” Humiliated, Xie Tian flew into a rage. She tearfully kicked Yang Dingbang before turning and running out.

Yang Dingbang grunted, clutching his injured leg as he watched her run out the door. His head throbbed with a pulsing pain.

He slowly got to his feet, grabbed his crutch, and headed out the door. He went downstairs and walked toward the police station, planning to tell Yang Xiaoman about what had happened with Xie Tian.

When he got to the police station, Yang Xiaoman and Yao Xiuyun were just wheeling their bicycles out. Seeing Yang Dingbang standing at the main gate, Yao Xiuyun grinned. “Looks like you’ve got someone to pick you up today. I’ll make myself scarce, then, so I’m not a third wheel.”

Yang Xiaoman rolled her eyes at her. “We weren’t going the same way to begin with.”

Yao Xiuyun chuckled. “I’m judging you. Ditching your friends for a man.”

Yang Dingbang greeted Yao Xiuyun, then said to Yang Xiaoman, “There’s something I need to talk to you about. Let’s find a restaurant where we can sit down.”

“Okay!” Yang Xiaoman patted the back of her bicycle seat. “Hop on. I’ll give you a ride.”

Yang Dingbang smiled, nodded, and got on the back of the bike. The two of them went to Limin Restaurant and found a table in a corner.

Yang Xiaoman looked at Yang Dingbang. “What do you want to eat?”

Yang Dingbang smiled. “How about some fish-fragrant shredded pork, stir-fried cabbage, and a soup? What do you think?”

Yang Xiaoman realized those were all her favorite dishes, and a sweet warmth spread through her. She nodded, went to place their order, and then returned to the table. “Didn’t you have something to tell me?”

Yang Dingbang looked at her. “Let’s eat first.”

Yang Xiaoman said, “The way you’re frowning, you could kill a mosquito between your eyebrows. It’s obviously not good news, so you’d better just tell me now. Otherwise, I won’t be able to eat a thing!”

“Is it that obvious?” Yang Dingbang rubbed his forehead with a self-deprecating smile. “Dandan’s mother came to East Market. She went to my workplace, heard I was on leave, and then went to Lexing to find me…” He finished and looked at Yang Xiaoman. “I’m worried that if she finds out about us, she’ll come to you and say nasty things.”

Yang Xiaoman recalled the time Xie Tian had cornered and harassed her and Yang Dingbang while they were on a mission. She looked at him and gave a wry smile. “Have you forgotten? I’ve already had a taste of Xie Tian’s talent for making a scene. What do you want me to do? Let her walk all over me?”

“If she says anything rude to you, you don’t have to be polite.” Yang Dingbang looked at Yang Xiaoman guiltily. “I’m sorry. I’ve dragged you into my problems.”

Yang Xiaoman laughed. “Don’t worry. You could never drag me down.”

“Little Man,” Yang Dingbang said, looking at her with concern, “you’re not planning on dumping me, are you?”

Yang Xiaoman lifted her chin and gave him a sidelong glance. “Dumping you? That would be letting you off too easy. I expect you to work like an ox for me for the rest of your life!”

Yang Dingbang raised his hand as if taking an oath and looked at her earnestly. “I, Yang Dingbang, willingly vow to be Yang Xiaoman’s faithful workhorse.”

Looking at him, Yang Xiaoman burst out laughing.

****

When Li Xiangyang got home, he told Old Li everything he’d seen and heard at Shishanling, including that Lin Lan wanted to open a shop selling local sundries.

Old Li laughed. “Little Lin sure has a good head on her shoulders. With the economy opening up, more and more restaurants are bound to appear, which means spices and dried goods will be in high demand. Tell her the best selection of spices is still in the provincial capital. I’ve heard that if you leave the train station and turn left, there’s a military supply depot. In an alley next to it, there’s a state-run hotel that wholesales spices.”

Li Xiangyang gave him a thumbs-up. “You sit at home, yet you know everything that’s going on in the world!”

Old Li rolled his eyes. “Enough with the flattery. Hurry over to the pig farm. They’re sending a shipment of pigs down from the mountains today.”

Li Xiangyang smiled and nodded. “That’s exactly why I rushed back.”

Old Li waved him off and headed to the kitchen with his things.

When Li Xiangyang arrived at the pig farm, Yang Zhigang was already there. He was happy to see him return and called out, “Brother, you’re back!”

“Yeah.” Li Xiangyang parked his bike and looked at him. “How many head came in?”

“Fifteen head. Uncle Gou said another batch is coming tomorrow. He also said you should wait for him here when you get back; he has something to tell you.”

As he spoke, Yang Zhigang pulled a slip of paper from his pocket. “This is the payment from the slaughterhouse for the last batch of pigs. I already gave the money to Old Li.”

Li Xiangyang nodded. “Good. That means we’ve completed our quota for the year. If the slaughterhouse comes asking for more pigs, don’t give them any. We need to save a batch to sell on the open market.”

“Got it,” Yang Zhigang replied.

Li Xiangyang said to him, “I was in Shilian and heard from Uncle Lin that they’re planning to grow something called Jerusalem artichokes. They have a high starch content and can be made into glass noodles. Let’s plant a few mu of it at the pig farm next year.”

Yang Zhigang frowned. “From what I heard from Uncle Gou, it sounds like the production team is going to raise the rent on our pig farm next year!”

“Raise the rent?” Li Xiangyang looked at Yang Zhigang. “What exactly did he say? Tell me everything, word for word.”

“Uncle Gou said someone from their team went to Captain Gou. They argued that since we’re outsiders, our rent for the pig farm shouldn’t be the same as a local’s. They demanded that Captain Gou raise our rent, or else lease the farm to them instead.”

Li Xiangyang nodded. “I see. I’ll be here tomorrow.”

Yang Zhigang said, “Alright, I’ll head out then. The people at the black market are waiting for me to deliver the pork!”

“Go on.”

Li Xiangyang went into the pigpens and inspected each one. On his way out, he exchanged greetings with the old man who looked after the farm and then started riding back. Just as he reached the mouth of the alley, he saw Old Miao cycling out.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep