Chapter 11

The next day, Ding Hao and Xia Lin both took leave and stayed at home. Ding Hao didn't dare to be the slightest bit negligent; he got up and stayed by Xia Lin's side until her parents returned home, then he went back to his own house.

The whole village soon learned a major piece of news: the village chief, Zhou Fuquan, had been beaten up. The person who beat him was the orphan Ding Hao. Many people were happy about Zhou Fuquan being beaten, but more were speculating why Zhou Fuquan had been beaten so badly by Ding Hao, who weighed less than 90 pounds, while Zhou Fuquan was around 160 pounds. Moreover, Zhou Fuquan was the village chief, and it was said that he even paid for his own medical expenses and had no intention of pursuing Ding Hao...

After beating the village chief Zhou Fuquan, it was hard for Ding Hao to remain unknown. In less than a morning, almost everyone in the village knew. Even people from nearby streets knew that a good kid had emerged from Hengmu! The villagers didn't know about Ding Hao's fights with Yu Feng, Zhang Yongwei, and others, but they all felt that Ding Hao had grown up and had a bright future. So the way the villagers looked at Ding Hao was different from before!

Especially Chen Fang, the owner of the village convenience store. When Ding Hao went to the store to buy some daily necessities at noon, Chen Fang's eyes sparkled.

"Little Hao, it's really you!" Chen Fang acted as if she hadn't seen him for a long time.

"Chen Fang, could you get me some oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar? We're out of stock at home..."

"Sure, sure, come here, let me take a look. You've really grown stronger, no wonder that big fatty Zhou was beaten up so badly." Chen Fang pulled Ding Hao behind the counter, holding his hand and touching his chest freely.

Ding Hao was a grown man, and Chen Fang usually spoke in a sweet, coquettish tone. Today, she was wearing a purple short dress, black stockings, and black high heels about 7-8 centimeters high, her head reaching Ding Hao's shoulder.

Ding Hao, looking down, couldn't help but notice the waves of her chest. He swallowed hard, thinking that Chen Fang was just like the female lead in the videos, equally seductive! But Chen Fang was more real, younger, and prettier, only 23 years old. She was actually seducing him openly in the convenience store? What should he do?

"Chen Fang, could you quickly get me the things? I need to go home and cook."

"Why the rush? Let me take a good look at you. After a few years of high school, you've grown up, and now you look down on me, a country woman?"

"Chen Fang, that's not what I meant." Ding Hao scratched his head, not knowing how to deal with such a woman. In high school, he occasionally went to the video hall with his desk mate, Su Jin, to watch art films. Seeing Japanese love action films was purely accidental, as the video hall clearly advertised "Smiling, Proud Wanderer" at the entrance.

"Then sit down and tell me about last night." Chen Fang said, moving closer to Ding Hao.

"Ah? There's not much to say! And don't you all know already?"

Ding Hao was telling the truth, but Chen Fang didn't believe him. She looked at him again, and the changes in this boy were indeed significant. Although Ding Hao was nearly 1.75 meters tall, he used to be very thin. The school had really been a good place for him; he had grown taller and stronger, and with well-fitting clothes, he looked much more handsome. Especially after hearing that Ding Hao had beaten Zhou Fuquan, Chen Fang was very happy.

Although Chen Fang's heart was restless, she didn't like old men, especially fat ones like Zhou Fuquan. Most of the men in the village had gone out to work, leaving only old men or young boys. Zhou Fuquan had been纠缠 her for years, and Ding Hao beating him up made her feel very relieved.

Moreover, Ding Hao's ability to easily defeat Zhou Fuquan meant that this young man had grown up! So she insisted on pulling Ding Hao to talk about last night's story. But Ding Hao had nothing to say, especially since it involved Xia Lin. As long as Zhou Fuquan didn't say anything, he wouldn't either. Of course, even if the story had been more exciting, with Chen Fang so close, her fragrance wafting over, he had no heart to talk.

Chen Fang thought about it and realized that Ding Hao had always been honest. He went to school to study, not to drink and gamble like her husband. She smiled, "Then just tell me why you beat Zhou Fatso?"

"Ah? Don't you already know?" Ding Hao thought Zhou Fuquan had cleverly deceived his wife last night, but Chen Fang was still pressing him.

"You little Hao." Chen Fang giggled, "Do you think I'm as stupid as Zhou Fuquan's wife, that I can be fooled by such a lie? Is there something in your house that attracts thieves?" Chen Fang's words made Ding Hao's face turn red. He couldn't say why he beat Zhou Fuquan, but how could he get through this?

"Hey, your face is red. Fine, fine, if you don't want to say, I won't ask. Your family doesn't cook, why don't you stay for lunch? I'll make some food."

"Thank you, Chen Fang, but I'll go home to eat." Ding Hao wasn't afraid to stay for lunch; he had eaten at Chen Fang's place many times as a child. But today, he felt that Chen Fang was looking at him differently and seemed very curious about last night. He was afraid that staying longer would expose him.

"You're still looking down on me. Well, you're a grown man now. If you don't want to eat, fine. Wait a moment, I'll get your things."

Soon, Chen Fang handed Ding Hao a bag full of oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. Ding Hao glanced at it and asked, "Chen Fang, how much do I owe you?"

"Since you're back so rarely, how can I charge you? You can pay next time, next time."

"How can that be? I have money now."

"You're just a student, what money do you have? Are you dissatisfied with the goods here?"

"Not..."

"Then that's fine. Come back next time, and I'll charge you. Okay?"

"Okay, thank you, Chen Fang!" Ding Hao knew he couldn't argue with her.

"Little Hao, wait. Your pocket is bulging; did you buy a phone? What's your number?"

"186..." Ding Hao told Chen Fang his number and hurried home with a big bag of things. Passing by the village chief's house, he saw Zhou Fuquan's wife standing at the door, glaring at him. Ding Hao had to lower his head and quickly pass by.

Just as he got home, Xia Lin's mother, Wang Zhen, came over with a bag of things.

"Auntie, what's this?"

"Little Hao, thanks to you yesterday. Xia Lin has been afraid of ghosts since she was little, but she likes to read ghost stories when she's alone... We don't have much at home, but take these cured meats and sausages."

"..." Ding Hao knew Xia Lin hadn't told her parents the truth, so he quickly responded. Clearly, Xia Lin's parents weren't fools; they noticed their daughter's mood was off after she came home, and then everyone in the village knew that Ding Hao had beaten the village chief last night. They guessed the general situation.

But Wang Zhen couldn't imagine the specific details. In her and her husband's view, Ding Hao and Xia Lin were just doing homework when Zhou Fuquan came to bully Xia Lin, and Ding Hao naturally stepped in. They didn't expect Ding Hao to be so strong, beating Zhou Fuquan into a pig's head. Regardless, Ding Hao must have offended the village chief to protect Xia Lin.

"Take it! Don't be so polite with me!"

"Okay, thank you, Auntie."

Ding Hao took the bag and saw that it was full of dried tofu, cured meat, sausages, and dried peppers. This was almost as good as the village chief's New Year's feast. Was this just a reward for helping to drive away the ghost? He said, "Auntie, this is too much. How about I pay you for it?"

"Little Hao, don't be so polite. It will go bad if left too long. Your house has nothing, so these cured meats will be convenient."

"Thank you, Auntie!" Ding Hao didn't argue further. He had grown up eating from many households, and accepting Wang Zhen's gift seemed more justified than Chen Fang's. For one, their houses were the closest, and second, he had saved Xia Lin from a bad situation last night.

After Wang Zhen left, Ding Hao looked at the empty house and felt a bit lost. He regretted not staying for lunch at Chen Fang's. Having gotten used to eating in the school cafeteria for the past half year, he felt a bit anxious looking at the dusty pots and bowls. This was reality, the reality he would face in the future.

After a moment of reflection, Ding Hao had lunch and prepared to rest on the bed. Last night, due to the commotion with Zhou Fuquan, he hadn't slept much in the second half of the night while taking care of Xia Lin's emotions.

Ding Hao slept soundly until the sun set, and his stomach growled, waking him up. But when he opened his eyes, he saw Chen Fang smiling at him by the bed. The room was dim, but the fragrance made him more alert: "Chen Fang, why are you here?"

"If I didn't come, you would have slept all day. You refused to stay for lunch, and your house is so empty. Come on, let's go to my place for dinner!"

Ding Hao jumped out of bed, turned on the light, and saw that Chen Fang had changed into a light yellow short dress. The dress was tight, clearly outlining her curves. Ding Hao swallowed hard and looked at her: "Chen Fang, that's not good. I have to get used to living on my own!"

"Oh, Little Hao, what's wrong? Did that fatso bully you? Tell me what happened!"

"No, really not." Ding Hao knew Chen Fang was concerned, but Zhou Fuquan hadn't bullied him.

"Then what's wrong?" In Chen Fang's memory, the old Ding Hao was thin but not so melancholic. Had he grown up in just one year? Chen Fang felt a bit excited: "Since you won't come to my place for dinner, I'll stay here and have dinner with you. I'll cook, and I brought some wine!"

---

Ding Hao got up, opened the light, and saw Chen Fang in a light yellow short dress, which was very tight, clearly outlining her curves. He swallowed hard and looked at her: "Chen Fang, that's not good. I have to get used to living on my own!"

"Oh, Little Hao, what's wrong? Did that fatso bully you? Tell me what happened!"

"No, really not." Ding Hao knew Chen Fang was concerned, but Zhou Fuquan hadn't bullied him.

"Then what's wrong?" In Chen Fang's memory, the old Ding Hao was thin but not so melancholic. Had he grown up in just one year? Chen Fang felt a bit excited: "Since you won't come to my place for dinner, I'll stay here and have dinner with you. I'll cook, and I brought some wine!"