Due to someone’s strange persistence, Jiang Wang managed to finish a bowl and a half of food without rinsing it even once.
When Jiang Wang finally put down his chopsticks, he let out a long, satisfied breath. The fatigue and coldness had been completely driven away by the spiciness, and he truly enjoyed the meal.
He turned his head and saw that Ji Linqiu’s complexion remained normal, not even breaking a sweat.
Jiang Wang fell into deep thought.
“You’re making me lose face like this.”
“Not at all,” Ji Linqiu chuckled. “In a few days, it’ll be me losing face, which is why I brought you along as my savior.”
That’s true. Jiang Wang came to his senses and followed Ji Linqiu upstairs to settle their luggage, casually asking about the situation.
Ji Linqiu’s mother’s surname was Chen, and his father’s surname was Ji. Both families were well-established in the local area. Although many children had taken their parents to live comfortably in big cities, most of the older generation remained here.
“Today was just to welcome you, so four or five of us had a simple meal together,” Ji Linqiu said, rubbing his forehead. “Starting tomorrow, we’ll have to take turns hosting feasts… I suspect it’s going to be a headache for several days.”
Ji Linqiu’s bedroom was very close to Jiang Wang’s guest room, with only a bathroom and a study in between.
The house had clearly been renovated. Though it was a rural home, the decor was elegant, with calligraphy and paintings placed just right, perfectly complementing the wooden furnishings.
Jiang Wang first went to his room to casually unpack his things, then checked out Ji Linqiu’s room.
It was similarly spacious and bright, with excellent natural lighting.
However… there weren’t many items from his adult life, as if time had stopped during his college years.
The magazines and newspapers were from the early 2000s, clearly wiped clean but disconnected from their owner.
Realizing something, Jiang Wang softly said, “You really haven’t been back in a long time.”
Ji Linqiu was lost in thought for a moment, gazing out the window as he slowly spoke. “Actually, if someone comes here for the first time, they’d think it’s a wonderful place.”
“The scenery is beautiful, and it’s great for nourishing the mind and body.”
He shook his head slightly, as if refuting himself.
“What traps people has always been other people, not the mountain town.”
Jiang Wang was still examining the single bed in the corner and the slightly damaged wooden bell hanging from the doorknob.
“By the way,” Jiang Wang said, “if we run into that idiot who touched your thigh later, just blink at me.”
Ji Linqiu’s eyes suddenly filled with amusement. “You want to chop off his hand?”
“Then marinate it with chopped chili for a few years,” Jiang Wang said with a straight face. “It’s no big deal.”
Ji Linqiu burst out laughing, his eyes full of admiration.
“I could never say things like you do.”
“Even if I went somewhere where there was no one around, I still wouldn’t dare say it.”
Jiang Wang raised an eyebrow. “You can’t hit someone, and you can’t even talk tough?”
Ji Linqiu shrugged.
Once word spread that Ji Linqiu had finally returned to his hometown, several relatives came by that evening to snack on sunflower seeds, drink tea, and take a look at the foreign guest Jiang Wang.
With more people around, the house warmed up considerably. The local dialect filled the air, creating a lively and cheerful atmosphere.
Ji Linqiu’s parents, finally seeing their son return for the New Year, spoke with an uncharacteristic caution, constantly smiling and being especially polite.
After several rounds of questioning Jiang Wang about things like “Are you married?” “How much does your bookstore make a year?” and “Can you help us set up an online shop?” all eyes turned to Ji Linqiu.
“Little Qiu… you must be thirty by now?”
“No, twenty-seven, still young,” Father Ji interjected with a smile, trying to maintain face. “In the city, kids marry later. It’s the trend there.”
“It’s not even a big city,” someone muttered. “Doesn’t sound like they’re better off than we are.”
The uncle who asked the question didn’t agree with this, and with a tone like a concerned father, he said earnestly, “Look at you—handsome, your job isn’t bad either… You’re a teacher after all, right? How come no girl fancies you?”
Someone next to him chimed in, “Exactly, almost thirty…”
Jiang Wang suddenly spat out his tea with a snort.
Everyone turned to look at him.
“Nothing, carry on,” Jiang Wang said, suppressing his laughter. “Pretend I didn’t hear anything.”
Ji Guoshen hadn’t spoken much to his son in a long time and was hoping for a father-son chat. But with relatives arriving so quickly, he felt a bit awkward and tried to change the subject. “Why don’t we talk about the bookstore you run? How does your online shop work?”
Before he could finish, an aunt cut in. “We’re not done with the other topic yet.”
“Old Ji, your son is almost thirty, and you’re not helping him find a match? People would think you and his mom don’t care!”
“After the New Year, it’s a good time to start looking. Our village has plenty of wonderful girls, all of them kind and capable—much better than those over-educated city girls!”
Jiang Wang couldn’t help but laugh again.
The eldest uncle, who had already been displeased with the outsider meddling in family matters, was slightly annoyed and feigned politeness. “What’s so funny?”
“Well,” Jiang Wang said slowly, “he’s already had five or six girlfriends.”
The room fell silent as everyone turned to Ji Linqiu, their expressions clearly saying, “How could you have kept this from us?”
Ji Linqiu: …?
Jiang Wang thought to himself, ‘It’s better to invent some non-existent ex-girlfriends than to let innocent girls suffer.’ Casually taking a cigarette from someone nearby, he lit it, took a light puff, and began his tale.
“I’ve known him for quite a while now. You know, his student is in my class, and I see him every day when I drop off and pick up my kid.”
“So, I noticed,” Jiang Wang lowered his voice, “a girl came over to bring him lunch. I think she works at the tax bureau.”
An aunt nearby gasped, “That’s a good catch!”
“But then,” Jiang Wang glanced at Ji Linqiu, blatantly betraying him, “just after that short-haired girl left, another one with long flowing hair showed up, bringing him fruit—already washed and cut.”
“Huh—” Everyone turned to Ji Linqiu, staring in disbelief. “Who would’ve thought!”
Ji Linqiu raised a hand to his forehead, surprised that Jiang Wang had gone so far, “That’s not true at all.”
“No, absolutely not, I made it all up.” Jiang Wang quickly fell silent, mimicking the motion of zipping his lips. “I was just joking. I’m off to shower, goodbye.”
“Hey, hey, don’t go!”
“Linqiu, what kind of host are you? Let people talk!”
“It’s still early, let’s chat a bit more!”
Meanwhile, some of the bachelors in the group started muttering, “Is it true that he’s been seeing girls outside?”
“You wouldn’t know.” Jiang Wang, known for his loose tongue, continued to spew nonsense. “Do you know what kind of guys girls like nowadays?”
“Full of muscles? Looks like butchers? Nope, now they all like his type.” Jiang Wang squinted at Ji Linqiu, both envious and a bit jealous. “Bookish, refined, and gentle. Just a few words and they’re hooked, coming to see him every day.”
“Last time, I took him to the provincial capital, and he helped me negotiate a contract with one of my clients — you know my company, right? The one that sells books internationally.”
Everyone nodded in unison, “Yes, yes, we know.”
Jiang Wang clapped his hands, “So after he finished the contract negotiation, he disappeared. Guess what?”
Even Ji Guoshen was intrigued. “Where did Linqiu go?”
“He secretly went on a date with an American girl. To have coffee.”
Before the words were even out, the room exploded with gasps and sarcastic exclamations, far livelier than watching a New Year’s Eve gala.
Ji Linqiu tried to explain, “That was just—”
“It was just business,” Jiang Wang cut him off with a knowing look, “I get it, we all get it.”
“Who would’ve thought,” an aunt sighed, “Little Qiu used to be so quiet and well-behaved, but he’s really good at charming the ladies?”
“That’s the kind of guy who’s the most dangerous nowadays!” A man chimed in, “The girl I liked ran off with someone just like him! And after only a few days, she got dumped and came crying back to me. Isn’t that infuriating?”
Ji Linqiu hadn’t been home in five years, but within just a few minutes, his image had shifted from “honest, awkward teacher” to “smooth-talking ladies’ man” with at least six ex-girlfriends.
“It’s not that exaggerated,” Ji Linqiu pressed a hand to his forehead. “You need to tone it down a bit, I won’t be able to explain myself later.”
“Then explain about those two girls from last time,” Jiang Wang, now eating a pear someone had peeled for him, casually took a bite. “We were having dinner, and they suddenly came down from upstairs looking for you, asking when you’d text them back. Who were they?”
The uncle was stunned, “Not the girl from the tax bureau?”
“No,” Jiang Wang gestured, “One had big waves in her hair and wore red lipstick. You could tell she was from the big city. Linqiu, how did you meet her? Are you planning to settle down with her?”
Ji Linqiu: …
The uncle, halfway through trying to act like a responsible elder, was now unsure, “Little Ji, as a man, how can you not take responsibility?”
“You can’t just go around breaking girls’ hearts!”
Ji Linqiu, frustrated but resigned, played along with Jiang Wang’s story, lowering his head with an innocent smile. “What can I do? Every time I date for a couple of days, I get bored. I really don’t want to commit.”
The relatives, now fully engaged as if they were watching a prime-time soap opera, buzzed with excitement, completely forgetting their original intentions.
“You can’t go on like this!”
“Hey, hey, which one was the prettiest? Got any photos?”
“Wow, you’ve got skills! Not even introducing one to your cousin?”
Jiang Wang pulled out his phone, “I do have a photo. I secretly took one of the girl with the big waves last time!”
“Let me see! Let me see!”
“Boss Jiang, have another cigarette, don’t be shy!”
