After visiting North Mountain, the two of them went to the small workshop. Eldest Maternal Aunt and Eldest Cousin had gone to the fruit mountain. The snow the previous night had not been heavy, but they were worried it might crush the young trees, so mother and son decided to go take a look. Mama Wang had stayed behind. The fruit Wang Cheng had bought from other growers was arriving one batch after another, so lately she had become busy again.
The miniature pig rooted through the path ahead as though it had never seen snow in its life. The thin layer on the ground was pushed aside by its snout until the soil underneath showed through.
Wang Cheng nudged its backside with the toe of his shoe. “Stupid pig, all you know how to do is play. Walk faster or I’m leaving you behind.” Because of it, the two men were moving much more slowly.
“Is this how you usually treat it?” Chu Yifeng asked.
“When do I ever have time to walk a pig? Back when my family was busy, my mom sent it to stay with Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma likes little animals, so she spoils it in everything. It’s gotten more and more unruly. Don’t let the fact that it’s a pig fool you. I think it’s craftier than some people.” As Wang Cheng spoke, he moved to nudge its backside again with his toe. Perhaps it noticed this time, because it immediately darted behind him.
That was exactly what Wang Cheng wanted. He grabbed the leash and simply dragged it forward. The miniature pig resisted, digging in its feet, but how could one pig possibly outmuscle Wang Cheng? Its four hooves left four trails in the snow, while it squealed so dramatically that anyone listening might think Wang Cheng was torturing it.
Several villagers who did not know what was happening passed by. None said anything, but the looks they gave Wang Cheng were decidedly strange.
The stupid pig nearly drove Wang Cheng mad. When it had first come to their house, he had trained it until it behaved perfectly well. He never expected that after staying with Grandma for less than two months, it would learn how to put on an act.
“If you don’t like it, throw it away,” Chu Yifeng suddenly said.
Both man and pig froze in shock.
Wang Cheng looked at him, then lowered his eyes to the miniature pig, which had gone instantly still. “Really throw it away? I’m worried it’ll run to Grandma’s house. It knows the way there.”
“If it annoys you, there’s no reason to keep it. Send it back to the forest on Fengxia Mountain. Even if it manages to get out, it won’t find its way back. Besides, it probably can’t get out at all.” The place had already been developed, with walls around it and staff stationed there. If people could not casually enter, a pig certainly could not casually escape.
“You have a point,” Wang Cheng agreed.
The miniature pig immediately kicked off on all four hooves, trying to flee. Unfortunately for it, Wang Cheng was holding the leash. No matter how fast it ran, if Wang Cheng did not move, all it could do was sprint in place.
At last, he had found its weakness.
Wang Cheng gave a sinister grin. “Stupid pig, if you dare act up again, I’ll send you back to Fengxia Mountain. Got it?”
The miniature pig glanced back at him and slowly quieted down. Humans had a saying: it was easy to go from frugality to luxury but hard to go back again. The same principle apparently applied to pigs. After growing used to delicious food, plenty to drink, and people waiting on it, there was no chance it wanted to return to a dangerous forest where it might go hungry.
“Boss Chu, you finally said something sensible today,” Wang Cheng said, not forgetting to tease him.
Chu Yifeng smiled. “Do I get a reward?”
“Sure. Want a punch?”
“Can I lick it?”
“…”
The small workshop had expanded to twenty employees, not counting Mama Wang. Cooking the jam was relatively complicated. Although they had hired several people skilled at it, Mama Wang still worried. Their jam had won so many repeat customers precisely because it tasted better than ordinary jam, and she did not want to ruin the family’s reputation, so she frequently came over to check on things.
After looking around, Chu Yifeng frowned slightly.
Wang Cheng noticed. “What’s wrong?”
“The workshop is too small. Once the business develops further, you’ll still have to move.” Chu Yifeng did not believe Wang Cheng intended to keep the business at this scale forever.
“I know. But there isn’t a place that large in Guanjia Village, and the situation was urgent at the time, so this was the only temporary location we could find.” Wang Cheng knew the family jam had prospects beyond its present scale. The fact that it had reached this point so quickly already proved as much. “And look at how happy my mom is now. Even if we expand later, I still plan to keep this place. This size is enough for it.”
“Why do I get the feeling you’re rather content with what you have?” Chu Yifeng knew him fairly well.
“Am I? I just prefer letting things take their course.”
Wang Cheng’s temperament had actually been shaped by the old monk. The old monk was a secluded master. He drank wine and ate meat as he pleased, yet none of that interfered with his devotion to Buddhism. He might have lived in obscurity, but compared with famous monks from grand temples who filled their mouths with scripture and Zen sayings, he was much stronger. Great principles were not something to preach, but something to live. The greatest kindness he had shown Wang Cheng was teaching him that broad, open heart. It was a kind of character that neither money nor power could buy.
After seeing Mama Wang, the two started back. Halfway home, Wang Cheng received a call from Papa Wang. He said he was already on his way to Guanjia Village, and Mr. Zheng was coming with him. Guan Jiahe was watching the shop because there were no deliveries to make today.
Wang Cheng immediately blanked. He could understand Zheng Jingen coming to see him, but how had Papa Wang suddenly ended up bringing the man home?
“What’s wrong?” Chu Yifeng asked.
Wang Cheng put away his phone. “My dad’s bringing Mr. Zheng over. No idea what happened. Looks like we can’t keep wandering around.”
“Zheng Jingen?”
Wang Cheng nodded.
Ever since seeing Zheng Jingen at the jam shop, Chu Yifeng had known that while the man bore Wang Cheng’s family no ill will, he clearly had some other purpose. Otherwise, a favored son of heaven would never suddenly come all the way to a country village and act so close to an ordinary family. Zheng Jingen was not even trying to hide his behavior. Chu Yifeng had investigated afterward, but the information showed no previous connection between the Wang family and Zheng Jingen. That only made him more curious about why Zheng Jingen wanted to approach them.
The two changed course and returned home. Wang Cheng went to the kitchen, washed some fruit, and arranged it on a plate for the guests. Then he and Chu Yifeng waited in the living room.
Zheng Jingen clearly had not expected to see Chu Yifeng in Wang Cheng’s home. He froze very slightly, but recovered so smoothly that no one else noticed anything amiss.
Papa Wang welcomed him in enthusiastically. He did not know the two men already knew each other and even began introducing Chu Yifeng, only for Zheng Jingen to point out that they had met before.
“Even better if you already know each other.” Papa Wang looked delighted.
Zheng Jingen smiled at Chu Yifeng. “Mr. Chu has plenty of free time. You came over first thing in the morning.”
Chu Yifeng’s next sentence nearly wiped the smile from his face.
“Of course not first thing in the morning. I simply spent the night here.”
Zheng Jingen very much wanted to ask why Chu Yifeng had slept at the Wang residence, but as an outsider, it would have been inappropriate. He was not worried Papa Wang would notice anything. After talking with the man, Zheng Jingen already knew he was good-natured and trusting. He was more concerned that Chu Yifeng or Wang Cheng might realize something. Fortunately, talkative Papa Wang immediately opened his mouth and supplied the explanation himself.
“What kind of person would dare lay a hand on Wang Cheng?” Coldness seeped into Zheng Jingen’s eyes. “Just some thug. But Chengcheng said that thug won’t be getting out of the police station anytime soon. Since no one was hurt, we’ll let it go,” Papa Wang said.
“You’re right, Uncle Wang. As long as he’s fine, that’s what matters.” Zheng Jingen looked at Wang Cheng. Although Papa Wang had skipped some details, he could more or less guess why Chu Yifeng had spent the night at the Wang house. Before, he had only suspected it. Now he could practically be certain. Chu Yifeng definitely had intentions toward Wang Cheng. The only thing he did not know was whether Wang Cheng understood that.
The remark pleased Papa Wang enormously. The more he looked at Zheng Jingen, the more agreeable he found him. Once Papa Wang started talking, there was no stopping him, and remarkably both Chu Yifeng and Zheng Jingen cooperated.
Perhaps Wang Cheng was imagining things, but he kept feeling that Chu Yifeng and Mr. Zheng were competing with each other. Competing over what, though? He could not work it out.
Before long, it was eleven. The landline in the living room rang, and Wang Cheng went to answer it. Mama Wang was calling. She said she would stay at the workshop and eat lunch with the workers, so Wang Cheng and his father would have to handle their own meal today. With that, she decisively hung up.
Papa Wang wanted the two guests to stay for lunch, but there were not enough ingredients in the refrigerator. Wang Cheng could not let Papa Wang make the trip, so he volunteered to go buy groceries.
“I’ll go with you.” Chu Yifeng stood up.
“I’ll come too. I haven’t seen much of Guanjia Village yet, so I can take a look around while we’re out,” Zheng Jingen said as he rose as well. The excuse was perfectly legitimate, and his refined smile made it difficult to refuse.
Before Wang Cheng could speak, Papa Wang enthusiastically approved with both hands. He reminded his son to go and return quickly, then added that he was not to neglect the guests. Hidden inside that last instruction was another message: do not make the guests carry things. Papa Wang understood his son well enough to know that if he did not say it in advance, Wang Cheng absolutely would.