"Hold it." Pei Zhengnian suddenly spoke up. "Do you come to my house often?"
Zheng Tongwei finally sensed something amiss and hastily waved his hands. "Captain Pei, I—I just come occasionally to discuss work matters!"
Shen Nanchu blinked, a mischievous glint flashing in her eyes. "Comrade Zheng is such a good person—he helps me out all the time."
"He fixed the roof last time it leaked."
"The time before that, he shoveled the coal briquettes when Meiqiu pooped."
"And the time before that, he watered the vegetable patch."
Pei Zhengnian’s eyes widened like copper bells.
"My roof leaking—why did he have to fix it?"
"My coal briquettes pooping—why did he have to shovel it?"
"My vegetable patch—why did he have to water it?"
"Who else was supposed to do it?" Shen Nanchu rolled her eyes. "You? Oh, right—if only you’d actually come home!"
Pei Zhengnian: "..."
Zheng Tongwei stood awkwardly between them, neither able to leave nor stay, sweating like an ant on a hot griddle.
He wiped his brow, trying to defuse the tension. "Captain Pei, don’t misunderstand—I just thought since Nanchu—er, Comrade Shen—was alone at home, it couldn’t be easy..."
This explanation only made things worse.
(╯°□°)╯
Pei Zhengnian’s chest heaved with anger as he abruptly set his bag down and unzipped it.
Shen Nanchu and Zheng Tongwei exchanged confused glances, unsure what he was doing.
A moment later, Pei Zhengnian pulled out ten one-yuan bills.
"Here." He shoved the money into Zheng Tongwei’s hands. "Comrade Zheng, thank you for helping out with so many things around our home. Consider this a token of appreciation. It’s not much, but don’t take offense."
Zheng Tongwei stared at the ten one-yuan bills in his hands, speechless.
Should he take it or not?
It was a pittance, but hey, even a fly’s leg has meat on it!
And lately, his pockets had been feeling a little too light.
Before he could decide, a fair, delicate hand snatched all ten bills right out of his grasp.
Shen Nanchu pocketed the money while scolding Pei Zhengnian.
"What do you think you’re doing?"
"Trying to flaunt how much money you have?"
"Comrade Zheng is a kind-hearted soul—how dare you insult him with money like this?"
[Disgust Points +30]
Zheng Tongwei was left swallowing his bitterness. To maintain his image, he tearfully refused the ten yuan.
"Ah, no need for this."
"Your family has it tough too."
Pei Zhengnian scoffed coldly.
"Comrade Zheng, do you find this payment too meager?"
"Or perhaps… what you really want isn’t payment, but something else?"
Zheng Tongwei didn’t dare respond, standing there like a mute.
This Pei Zhengnian’s jealousy was off the charts.
If only he’d picked someone else to cozy up to—like Pei Yunxi!
He’d rather act out a melodrama than deal with this walking vinegar jar.
Too bad hindsight was always 20/20.
Pei Zhengnian shot Shen Nanchu a look. "And you—you’re being ridiculous!"
"Me?" Shen Nanchu was baffled.
First, he attacked Zheng Tongwei, and now the gun was aimed at her?
"You—when things at home go wrong, you don’t even call me."
"Fine, you don’t call me."
"But when you ask Comrade Zheng for help, you don’t even thank him properly or give him anything in return?"
His tone was dripping with sarcasm.
Shen Nanchu considered playing along.
Blinking, she suddenly teared up. "Do you think it’s easy for me at home? Between work and taking care of the elderly, I’m busy all day..."
Zheng Tongwei was even more speechless.
Busy?
Wasn’t he the one running around like a spinning top every day?
When had she ever lifted a finger?
With that plump, well-fed look of hers, did she really seem overworked?
Zheng Tongwei was drowning in resentment.
[Disgust Points +50]
[Disgust Points +50]
[Disgust Points +50]
Shen Nanchu’s teary eyes threw Pei Zhengnian into a panic.
A steel-straight man like him couldn’t handle a woman’s tears. His military bearing vanished as he stood there, flustered.
"Nanchu, I—I didn’t mean..."
Zheng Tongwei forced a smile, trying to mediate.
"Captain Pei, Nanchu really does have it hard—you should be more understanding..."
"Who asked you to play the nice guy?!"
Pei Zhengnian and Shen Nanchu snapped in unison.
Zheng Tongwei turned to stone.
So now, in this marital spat, he was the villain no matter what.
Shen Nanchu wiped her nonexistent tears.
"Comrade Zheng, you should head back. I need to have a talk with this stubborn mule."
She emphasized the last word.
Zheng Tongwei bolted like a pardoned prisoner.
"Right, you two talk, you two talk..."
At the gate, he turned back.
"Captain Pei, I’ll… visit another day..."
Preferably never! Pei Zhengnian roared inwardly.
Once the gate shut, the yard fell silent. Pei Zhengnian and Shen Nanchu stared at each other, neither speaking first.
Finally, Pei Zhengnian cracked. "Shen Nanchu, you—"
"Me what?" Shen Nanchu marched over and jabbed his chest. "Pei Zhengnian, you’ve got some nerve! The moment you come home, you start giving me attitude?"
"You’re the one getting cozy with that—"
"That guy’s actually useful!" Another jab. "He’s helped me with a ton of chores! Don’t scare off my free labor!"
Pei Zhengnian caught her poking finger. "But you can’t just—"
"Can’t what?" Shen Nanchu leaned in, suddenly grinning. "Jealous?"
Pei Zhengnian turned away, his ears burning. "Nonsense!"
Shen Nanchu smirked like a cat that got the cream.
"Oh? Our mighty Captain Pei can blush?"
She pinched his cheek.
"Alright, stop sulking. With Zheng Tongwei’s spineless act, you think I’d ever be interested?"
Pei Zhengnian’s expression finally cleared.
Shen Nanchu pointed inside. "Go put your luggage away!" Then to the kitchen. "Then cook for me! Don’t forget the chili minced pork you promised!"
Pei Zhengnian’s lips twitched. "Yes, ma’am!"
Shen Nanchu burst out laughing. "You’re impossible!"
That night, Zheng Tongwei tossed and turned, unable to figure out how his attempt to cozy up to Pei Zhengnian had backfired so spectacularly.
Meanwhile, laughter from Shen Nanchu, Pei Zhengnian, and the Pei family drifted through their courtyard.
The next day at work, Shen Nanchu was radiant, while Zheng Tongwei sported dark circles. A villager asked, "Comrade Zheng, what’s wrong? Didn’t sleep well?"
Zheng Tongwei sighed. "Don’t ask. Captain Pei nearly glared two holes through me yesterday..."
...
