Chapter Sixty-Two: Xu Cuihua Wants to Register Too

After wandering around the village, Le’er returned home. He had no desire to go out again and lay on the bamboo sofa, reading a book. The main room contained only a somewhat long bamboo dining table and chairs, and on two other sides, four single bamboo sofas were arranged. His true place of rest was another room, where, besides a long bamboo sofa, there were two single sofas, and the coffee table, wine cabinet, and TV stand were all made of bamboo. On the long sofa, several large fabric cushions with sponge cores served as perfect pillows when lying down.

The book he was reading concerned snake breeding. If he couldn’t reach Li Ying, he would have to handle things himself. He possessed the knowledge and skills for snake breeding, but was unpracticed in building a breeding site. The section he was reading detailed how to construct such a facility.

He didn’t recognize many of the characters and had to look them up one by one in the dictionary. He had read little in the past, and if Li Ying hadn’t taught him so much while in Foshan, he’d understand even less.

Thinking of Li Ying filled his eyes with melancholy.

As he read, dusk gradually crept in. He was just about to make dinner when the gate rang; the yellow dog only whimpered, clearly recognizing a familiar person. And not just any acquaintance—only his uncle or Luo Yunxiang could make the dog behave so.

“Le’er, are you home?”

“I’m inside,” Le’er replied lazily. The visitor was, indeed, Luo Yunxiang. She entered the main room, took off her shoes, and stepped onto the wooden floor. Today, she wore a denim outfit, her hair tied in a ponytail. Le’er’s gaze naturally slid to her tightly wrapped hips and the curves outlined by her white underwear.

“Do I look good?” she asked, spinning lightly, her face full of charm. The vitality of youth radiated from her face and body. If not for the burdens of these past years, and especially the blows dealt by Shajin Hai, at twenty-one, her pretty features would still reveal traces of girlish playfulness.

“You look great, like a foxtail flower,” Le’er laughed cheerfully. “What are you carrying?”

“Can’t you say something nicer? I know you think of me as just a wildflower, but must you call me a foxtail?” Luo Yunxiang pouted. “I went to my mother’s home for a banquet today and didn’t bring much, just some dried persimmons.”

“All right, let’s call you a wild chrysanthemum then.”

“Wild chrysanthemum… Yes, I like that,” Luo Yunxiang replied happily. “I can only be a chrysanthemum now. In this life, I’ll never become those peach or plum blossoms swaying in spring breezes… Let me be a wild chrysanthemum that withstands the frost.”

She sat down beside Le’er, and he wrapped his arm around her. She nestled against him.

“I don’t care about any damn flower…” His hand slipped under her t-shirt and cupped her breast. “This is better. It’s not a flower, just a little strawberry.”

“The flower’s below, want to see?” she giggled, slapping away the hand trying to unbuckle her belt and reach into her pants. “It’s not dark yet, let me go close the door.”

“There’s only grass below, no flower.”

“There is a flower, you just haven’t seen it.”

Her face flushed, her voice soft. She rose, went out to close the courtyard and main room doors, and then returned to Le’er. Whether he was looking at strawberries, grass, or flowers, no one could say.

————————————————————————————————

The next day, Le’er arrived early at the village committee office. Oddly, someone was there before him: Tao Wen’s wife, Xu Cuihua, was cleaning.

“Le’er, you’re here so early?”

He knew Xu Cuihua, though they hadn’t exchanged many words. Seeing her cheerful demeanor, Le’er greeted her with a smile.

“Sister-in-law, you’re much earlier than me.”

“Ah… I took on cleaning here as a job,” Xu Cuihua replied, sweeping. “I’ve been busy these past days and heard you’ve been cleaning for me. Thank you.”

“No need for thanks, it’s just a bit of effort.”

Le’er thought to himself, the sun must be rising in the west. This woman clearly had some motive. But he didn’t care; it wasn’t his concern.

“Le’er, you know my Tao Wen isn’t much of a person, filled with bull-headed foolishness. Please bear with him.”

“How could you say that, sister-in-law?” Le’er helped sweep. “Director Tao is the leader, I’m just a helper. It’s right for me to do errands and work. He’s never criticized me and treats me well.”

Le’er didn’t bother to argue, smoothing things over.

“You’re really good with words, Le’er. That reassures me.”

They chatted idly as they worked, but before they finished mopping, Secretary Tao arrived.

“Uncle, you’re here.”

Xu Cuihua greeted him with a smile.

“What are you doing here so early? Where’s Wen?”

“That fool is still sleeping. He said he won’t come.” Xu Cuihua cursed her husband, then smiled slyly. “I’m here to clean and to sign up.”

“You’re signing up? For what?”

Secretary Tao looked at her in surprise.

“Aren’t you organizing performances?” Xu Cuihua paused mopping. “I’m signing up to join the show.”

“Sign up your mother’s toe,” Secretary Tao burst out laughing. “Look at your figure and age—performing, wouldn’t that make people laugh?”

Le’er glanced at Xu Cuihua’s body and laughed as well. She was sturdier than Sister Peach, and if she danced, even a water buffalo could join. But she didn’t feel embarrassed at all, laughing naturally.

“I can’t dance, but I can help backstage,” she grinned, baring her yellow teeth. “There’s an eight-yuan daily subsidy for performers. I’m here to earn a bit myself.”

So that was her angle. She wasn’t here to perform, just to grab some money. With her husband as village director, it would be odd if she didn’t profit.

“You’re talking nonsense… You think this is easy money? The town allocates funds based on the number of performers. Only actual performers get paid. Are you going to dance the sow dance on stage?”

The old secretary cursed as well.

——

“Uncle, why so rigid? Isn’t there someone to serve tea and water? When the performers are tired and thirsty, shouldn’t someone bring drinks? When the stage is dirty, shouldn’t there be a cleaner?”

Xu Cuihua had a belly full of reasons and was clearly determined to get the subsidy.

“Don’t bother me. I’m not in charge, Le’er is. If he agrees, I have no objections.”

Secretary Tao passed the buck, kicking the ball into Le’er’s lap. Xu Cuihua immediately smiled at Le’er, who felt a headache coming.

“Le’er, I know you’re a good man. Help me this once and I’ll treat you to dinner.”

“Sister-in-law… I really have no say in this.”

“I hear Secretary Huang from the town is fond of you. Just say a word and one more person won’t be a problem.”

“Uh… I’ll discuss it with Secretary Huang. If he doesn’t agree, I can’t help.”

“You’ll find a way,” Xu Cuihua grinned like a sow. “It’s settled then—I’ll come for the subsidy.”

With that, Xu Cuihua put down her mop, said she needed to feed her sow at home, stopped cleaning, and wobbled off with her large, unattractive hips.

“Damn it, what a mess. Tao Wen must have stirred this up. Hmph… I don’t think he wants to work anymore.”

Secretary Tao was fuming.

“Uncle, don’t be upset.” As he spoke, Tian Sihua entered. “Le’er, you’re still sweeping?”

Le’er forced a smile.

“All right, Uncle Tao, don’t be mad. It’s just a couple hundred yuan. I’ll ask Secretary Huang for it. I’ll get Director Tian a share, too.”

“What for?” Tian Sihua was puzzled.

“Performance subsidy,” Le’er laughed. “You can be our performance team’s advisor.”

“Uh… If there’s money, that’s great. Thank you, Le’er.”

Tian Sihua smiled, and Secretary Tao’s mood improved.

“I won’t interfere—everything’s up to you.”

The old fox’s face relaxed into a smile as he strolled out. Le’er, still smiling wryly, picked up his phone and dialed Secretary Huang.