Chapter 461 - Capítulo 461: 461: Pampering a Man
Capítulo 461: Chapter 461: Pampering a Man
Isn’t that obvious? Tang Chuxia never wanted to listen to a bunch of women belittling another young widow.
Regardless of whether her actions were questionable, at least she hadn’t done anything outrageous and deserved respect.
Fortunately, those women never lacked topics to talk about, and soon Tang Chuxia had steered them away.
When Gu Beihuai came over, they were all teasing her about her good fortune, having found someone who dotes on his wife.
Tang Chuxia beckoned Gu Beihuai with her fingers, and he, not knowing what was up, naturally walked over.
“Oh my, you aunts really have sharp eyes. My man here truly dotes on his wife!”
Tang Chuxia looped her arm through Gu Beihuai’s: “You aunts keep chatting, I’ve got to go home and pamper my man!”
She laughed flirtatiously and pulled Gu Beihuai away with her.
Gu Beihuai was utterly confused by Tang Chuxia’s maneuvers.
“What are you doing?”
No wonder he was curious; Tang Chuxia’s behavior was somewhat awkward.
Not to mention how exaggerated it was.
Although it was exaggerated, he could see that Tang Chuxia really didn’t want to stay there any longer, so he obediently followed her as they left.
Once they were far away, ensuring that their conversation couldn’t be overheard by those women, Tang Chuxia finally breathed a sigh of relief and naturally let go of Gu Beihuai’s arm.
“What are you doing?”
Gu Beihuai, looking at his freed arm, felt a bit displeased. She could have continued holding on, so why let go?
Tang Chuxia hadn’t even noticed this, she was just emphasizing, “My, oh my, those people are simply devils!”
The young widow was just running a small tavern out of necessity, and instead of thinking about how to take care of their own men, those women kept gossiping about her.
These days, the malice towards women, especially widows, was rather excessive.
Tang Chuxia could not empathize with them and criticize the widow, nor did she want to defend her, but she felt that women’s status still needed to be elevated.
Gu Beihuai listened to Tang Chuxia recount the whole matter and actually started to laugh.
“Are you really that angry?”
Tang Chuxia glared at him, not understanding what Gu Beihuai found so amusing.
But seeing her puffed up with anger only made Gu Beihuai laugh harder.
“You think the widow is innocent and feel sorry for her because she’s being wronged so unjustly?” Gu Beihuai’s careless demeanor, combined with his tone, gave Tang Chuxia the impression that he didn’t necessarily think the widow was innocent.
Tang Chuxia didn’t speak, and Gu Beihuai had no choice but to pull her along in a certain direction.
When the two arrived at the tavern, this place was mainly for drinking, serving only snacks to accompany the alcohol, and the patrons were local neighborhood folks, predominantly men.
Gu Beihuai and Tang Chuxia, one being young and also having a young woman with him, were not the usual clientele for this small tavern.
The landlady was taken aback to see the two walk in, but after all, every visitor was a guest, and there was no reason to turn guests away.
After they took their seats, Gu Beihuai ordered two shots of sorghum liquor and two appetizers.
This was standard fare for the drinking tables here, and many of the local neighbors teased Gu Beihuai and Tang Chuxia upon seeing them come in: “What brings you two youngsters here to drink?”
Gu Beihuai said, “I’m not just curious about the quality of the alcohol here. If it’s decent, I’d like to get some for my grandfather to try!”
The older patrons all agreed that the drinks were excellent and not watered down!
The landlady of the small tavern chuckled, “This young brother is…?”
She was also adept at reading the room and noticed that regardless of age, all the neighbors were very attentive to Gu Beihuai’s demeanor.
Leaning back in his chair, Beihuai said with a grin, “Landlady, I’m a resident of this neighborhood as well!”
The other neighbors, seeing that Beihuai didn’t wish to divulge more about his own affairs, helped steer the conversation elsewhere.
Tang Chuxia sat across from Gu Beihuai, clutching her wine cup, sizing up the clients in the tavern. Most were middle-aged and elderly folks, discussing not the domestic trivialities which women typically enjoy, but the men’s gossip and current affairs that they found intriguing. Perhaps because of her presence, some of the bawdier jokes that were usually part of the banter seemed conspicuously absent.
Tang Chuxia was tossing peanuts into her mouth while listening to Gu Beihuai shoot the breeze with them. Possibly due to the influence of alcohol, the nature of their conversation rapidly shifted.
Tang Chuxia was quite skilled at controlling her presence. When she wanted to go unnoticed, she would simply blend into the background. Her eyes were currently on the landlady.
She quickly observed that the landlady was very perceptive. She’d sprinkle a few words into topics the men were interested in, keeping the conversation lively. And whenever she spotted a patron hesitating to leave, she engaged them warmly. The business of alcohol wasn’t just about the drinks; sometimes, it was about the exchange of favors.
Chuxia’s appearance was too unique to be ignored by men, but the landlady didn’t overlook her.
Soon, Gu Beihuai made Tang Chuxia aware of this!
Chuxia didn’t understand what Beihuai meant, nor what she was supposed to observe.
Yet, when she saw how the landlady quickly moved aside for a woman who barged in looking for a man, then stealthily hid behind other patrons to have the woman ushered out—without forgetting to collect for her drinks—it dawned on Tang Chuxia.
Seizing the opportunity, Gu Beihuai inquired, “Do you see now?”
Tang Chuxia nodded her head.
The two left the tavern, and the landlady followed them out, “Big sister, I run a small business; I haven’t done anything illegal or disorderly!”
Tang Chuxia found the landlady’s actions puzzling, but Gu Beihuai assured her, “Landlady, don’t worry. Today, it’s just us—a couple craving some drinks—not wanting to get caught by the elders at home, that’s why we came here!”
The landlady smiled heartily, “The young brother sure knows how to talk! Well, whenever you’re craving, come to your sister here!”
Gu Beihuai put his arm around Tang Chuxia, indicating they definitely would.
They had walked quite a distance before Tang Chuxia poked Beihuai, “Let go, everyone has gone inside!”
Tang Chuxia was speechless; Beihuai really took the opportunity to make his move.
“Did you notice?” Gu Beihuai released his arm and stared into Tang Chuxia’s eyes as he asked.
Tang Chuxia nodded, “Of course, I noticed. You just wanted me to see that the landlady isn’t a simple character, each as shrewd as the other. It’s her own choice how to run her place, and she has to live with the gossip.”
What’s there not to see? It was just that Beihuai was being overly cautious, worried that Tang Chuxia might feel sorry for the landlady.
But what is there to feel sorry about? It’s just a personal choice.
“It’s good that you understand,” Beihuai sighed. “I was really afraid you’d take pity on the ‘poor widow’ and want to help her!”
Tang Chuxia scoffed, “I just think that women sometimes harbor too much malice toward other women. I never said the widow was innocent. You’re the one who was too nervous!”
Turning to face Gu Beihuai, Tang Chuxia pinched his chin and inquired, “Now tell me, why did you think I’d blindly sympathize with the widow?”