Chapter 1416 - 1410: Huang Mengqi’s Home
Meng Hui and the others didn't dare make a sound and slipped out in embarrassment.
Looking at the mess in the massage shop, Huang Liyong smiled wryly and shook his head, looking at Lin Chuan and said, "Lin Chuan, be honest with me, did you come here just to cause trouble for Yang Biao and his group?"
Lin Chuan nodded and said, "That's right, this guy offended a friend of a friend of mine, and I promised my friend that I'd help get some justice for them."
At this moment, Huang Liyong's sister, Huang Mengqi, also looked at Lin Chuan, with an indescribable expression in her eyes.
Huang Liyong asked the waiter to clean up the mess. He initially wanted to accompany Lin Chuan to dinner, but just then a call came in. After taking the call, he seemed to have some urgent business and asked his sister, Huang Mengqi, to entertain Lin Chuan and said he would host a welcome dinner for Lin Chuan in the evening.
After Huang Liyong left, Huang Mengqi led Lin Chuan to her room, poured him a glass of water, and before they could say much, her phone rang.
After apologizing, Huang Mengqi turned and walked out of the room to take the call.
Lin Chuan looked around Huang Mengqi's room; it was neatly organized with a faint fragrance.
A few minutes later, Huang Mengqi came back in, her face full of panic, and said to Lin Chuan, "Brother Lin, I can't stay with you; I need to hurry home, there's some trouble at home."
Lin Chuan was startled and asked, "What's the matter?"
Huang Mengqi hesitated for a moment and said, "My mom called and said the village chief is trying to force her to agree to marry me off to his son, I need to go back and see what's happening."
Lin Chuan wanted to say goodbye but instead asked politely, "Did you tell your brother?"
Huang Mengqi said, "I called my brother; he told me to go back first. I really don't know what to do back there."
Seeing Huang Mengqi's helpless expression, Lin Chuan couldn't help but say, "Why don't I go back with you and take a look?"
As soon as Lin Chuan said this, Huang Mengqi's eyes lit up, and her face immediately brightened with happiness, "Brother Lin, it would be great if you could come with me."
Lin Chuan smiled wryly; he originally came here to deal with Yang Biao, but who would have thought he'd end up getting involved in another matter.
Fortunately, Huang Liyong's hometown was not far from the county, just about half an hour's drive away.
Huang Liyong's hometown was located west of the county in a place called Stone Village.
Upon reaching the outskirts of the village, the road became difficult to navigate, but they managed to drive up to a shabby bungalow where Huang Mengqi asked Lin Chuan to stop the car, saying they'd arrived at her home.
After getting out of the car, Lin Chuan followed Huang Mengqi into the yard, where an old man and an old lady were talking. On seeing the lady, Huang Mengqi immediately called out, "Mom."
The old man saw Huang Mengqi, glanced at Lin Chuan, and said, "Mengqi, glad you're back, I'm heading off now."
The old man didn't wait for anyone to respond, turned around, and left.
The old lady was Huang Liyong's mother, who burst into tears on seeing Huang Mengqi.
Huang Mengqi comforted the old lady a little and introduced Lin Chuan to her.
Lin Chuan still didn't know what was happening, but since nobody explained, he didn't feel it appropriate to ask.
At this moment, a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy came out of the house, and after introductions, Lin Chuan learned he was Huang Liyong's younger brother, Huang Tianyi.
Inside the house, Huang Mengqi and her mother were talking, and Lin Chuan felt there was nothing for him to contribute, so feeling bored, he said he'd step out to make a phone call.
He stepped out and called Huang Liyong, who said he couldn't leave his business temporarily, asking Lin Chuan to look after things at their home in the meantime.
With another smile, Lin Chuan ended the call and then called Du Yuwei, telling her to stay at home and wait for his call.
After making the calls, Lin Chuan looked around, feeling a bit awkward about going back inside, so he decided to wander around.
He set off along the dirt road of the village, unexpectedly wandering around the area for three or four hours before returning to Huang Mengqi's home, by then it was nearly afternoon.
As Lin Chuan entered the house, he saw that apart from Huang Mengqi and her mother, there was also a man in his fifties or sixties in the main room.
The old man was holding a cigarette, sitting at the head of the table, chatting with Huang Mengqi's mother, and from time to time, he sighed as if he had endless woes in his heart.
Lin Chuan recognized the old man; he was the same man Lin Chuan had seen that morning at Huang Mengqi's house. He lived next door and was a neighbor of Huang Mengqi's family. Lin Chuan was puzzled about why he was here now.
"Brother Lin, come, let me introduce you. This is my fourth uncle," Huang Mengqi said as she pulled Lin Chuan by the arm and pointed at the old man in the main seat.
The old man noticed Lin Chuan at this moment, lifted his head, and said with a cheerful smile, "Come on in and sit down. We're all family here, not as formal as you city folks. Of course, we're not that particular either, so just take it easy!"
Lin Chuan chuckled lightly and nodded, then sat next to the old man. He noticed a few side dishes on the table and a bottle of baijiu, realizing that these were specifically bought by Huang Mengqi's mother to entertain him, and that the chicken in the pot was home-reared and freshly killed.
Although it wasn't a lavish dinner, seeing how warmly Huang Mengqi's family was treating him, Lin Chuan felt deeply grateful.
"Brother Lin Chuan, please feel at home here. I have to study tonight, so I can't drink with you. You can drink with my fourth uncle instead tonight! No one usually drinks with him, but now that you're here, you can both drink more," said Huang Tianyi, Mengqi's little brother, pointing at the liquor and dishes on the table with a smile.
Lin Chuan didn't say much, picking up the bottle of baijiu on the table and poured a glass first for Huang Mengqi's fourth uncle, then filled his own glass.
"I'll call you Fourth Uncle like Mengqi does. Today is our first meeting, so I'll toast you with this first drink in respect," said Lin Chuan, downing the glass in one gulp.
Though the glass was small, the liquor was strong. Lin Chuan could feel the fiery liquid rushing down his throat and into his stomach, making his insides churn, possibly because he drank on an empty stomach. He quickly took a bite of food to calm the effects of the alcohol.
Even though it wasn't anything expensive, it was certainly strong enough.
"Ha ha." Huang Guiguo, Mengqi's fourth uncle, also without saying much, lifted his glass and drank it all in one go.
At this moment, Huang Mengqi's mother took two big drumsticks out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. "We don't have much to offer in the countryside, but here are two drumsticks for you. I hope you like them." With that, she placed the bowl with the drumsticks in front of Lin Chuan.
Lin Chuan thanked her, and before he could even pick up the bowl to enjoy the drumsticks, in the blink of an eye, one of them disappeared.
Having not eaten all day, despite his cultivation, Lin Chuan was indeed hungry. To prevent the second drumstick from 'falling into the wrong hands,' he quickly grabbed it and began eating it ravenously.
"Did you really eat… both drumsticks?" Huang Mengqi looked at Lin Chuan, whose face seemed slightly off, then at the two bones on the table, and said incredulously.
Lin Chuan awkwardly smiled, wiped his hands with a towel, nodded, and said unclearly, "I guess I was really hungry, so I ate a bit fast."
"But…," Mengqi wanted to say more but was stopped by her mother because even though they often ate together, she had never seen Lin Chuan eat so quickly.
Huang's mother stopped Mengqi at this time, saying, "Mengqi, don't ask anymore. If Xiao Lin is really hungry, let him eat more, and no more alcohol. Mengqi's fourth uncle can drink by himself."
"Yes, yes, yes, Xiao Lin, don't be shy, make yourself at home and eat and drink as you please. This old man usually enjoys drinking alone," Huang Guiguo chimed in quickly.
Lin Chuan was somewhat embarrassed, just kept nodding, smiling as he said, "No problem, I've had two drumsticks, feeling much better. Fourth Uncle, let me toast you again..."
The meal was a joyous occasion, and between drinking and chatting with Huang Guiguo, Lin Chuan gradually became infected by this warm family atmosphere.
After dinner, Mengqi and her mother went to the kitchen to clean up the dishes, while Huang Tianyi gave a nod to Lin Chuan before heading to the back room to study. Unlike city kids, rural children have a harder time getting into college, and the more they study, the better their chance to catch up with their city peers.
In the room, only Lin Chuan and Huang Guiguo remained. Huang Guiguo took out a pack of cigarettes, lit one for himself, and handed one to Lin Chuan. Lin Chuan didn't refuse; he took it and lit up.
Only while drinking and smoking do men tend to feel the urge to chat, making it easier for them to get along. Otherwise, two grown men just staring at each other awkwardly while chatting just doesn't feel right.
The cigarette was of poor quality, typical of those found in the countryside, harsher than usual. Lin Chuan took a couple of puffs and decided not to inhale too deeply, merely taking light draws. By the look of Huang Guiguo's left hand, with nails yellowed from holding cigarettes over the years, Lin Chuan knew he was a heavy smoker.
"Xiao Lin, normally as an elder, I wouldn't pry into your personal matters, but since Mengqi's father isn't around and her mother doesn't know much, it's just me as the fourth uncle to look after Mengqi's affairs. I'm just curious about what's going on between you and Mengqi..." Huang Guiguo finally couldn't resist his curiosity and asked. It was understandable for an uncle to care about Mengqi, though apparent awkwardness made him stop mid-question.
"Mengqi's brother and I were comrades, but there's really nothing between us," Lin Chuan responded. After all, nothing had transpired romantically with Mengqi yet, and he couldn't very well tell her family they were a couple.
Huang Guiguo nodded knowingly, giving a mysterious smile, "Oh, I get it. In the city, people call dating 'being boyfriend and girlfriend.'"
"I..." Lin Chuan wanted to explain, but after thinking it over, decided against it. In the end, because the village leader's son was pressuring Mengqi into marriage, appearing as Mengqi's boyfriend would actually benefit her. If anyone learned he wasn't really her boyfriend, it would complicate matters.