Chapter 695: Chapter 599: Mo Linghui’s Boyfriend

What stuck to the three of them weren’t real leaves, of course, but rather the Mold Disaster Talismans Xiao Man had created.

She had deliberately provoked Liang Panqiu and her mother, and goaded Zhang Lihua, stirring up their anger, resentment, and agitation. This created the perfect atmosphere, like preparing nutrient-rich soil for the Mold Disaster Talismans that had invaded their bodies, allowing them to quickly sprout, grow strong, and unleash their full effect.

From now on, Liang Panqiu would be plagued by misfortune and poverty for the rest of her life. No matter how hard she worked or how cunningly she schemed, nothing she did would ever succeed. She would never live a comfortable, prosperous life. Given her disposition, watching her neighbors’ lives flourish would surely drive her mad with envy and jealousy. In the end, she was bound to do something foolish that would drag down her children and relatives, leaving her utterly alone and deserted by all!

Wang Ligao would still get into an accident and become a cripple. On top of that, he would be beset by illness and constant pain. It would be a living hell, but he would be absolutely unable to die. He would live out his full, allotted lifespan.

Zhang Lihua would remain as promiscuous, vain, and hedonistic as ever. She could fool around with men from all the surrounding villages, cuckolding Wang Ligao to her heart’s content. Consequently, the wives of those men would want to tear her limb from limb, beating her half to death on sight. With constant injuries, major and minor, Zhang Lihua would become infertile. She would no longer be able to abandon the crippled Wang Ligao and remarry, as she had in her past life. And Wang Ligao, in turn, would have no opportunity to ruin another innocent young woman.

Since they were such a perfect, rotten match, so ’deeply in love’, it was only right they be bound together, with no escape for either of them. They would have to endure it all—poverty or wealth, disability or pain—and stay together until the day they died!

Since she was settling scores and handing out punishment, it wasn’t just about these few people. She would have to make a trip to Little Wang Village herself.

Xiao Man decided to wait a few days. Casting a Spell heavy with malevolent energy would alter her own aura, and getting close to anyone physically weak could harm their health. She had already made plans with her friends to go to the county seat tomorrow to visit their teachers and classmates, and then to see Lin Cunhua and her new baby. It wouldn’t be right to carry such a malevolent aura with her.

After closing the courtyard gate, she returned to hear Grandma, Fifth Auntie, and Yu Wumei in the main hall, discussing how they should handle Granny Mo’s side of the family in the future. Xiao Man didn’t go inside. Instead, she continued tending to her rose trellis and casually asked Gu Shaoqin if he wanted to go out with her tomorrow, since she would be gone for at least three or four days.

Without a second thought, Gu Shaoqin said he would go with her. Da Zhi, who was standing nearby, looked hesitant to speak, a flash of envy in his eyes.

Xiao Man knew that when Da Zhi and Dapeng weren’t in school, they were at home helping with chores and rarely got the chance to travel. Now that school was out, she figured she might as well take them out for a bit. Although it wasn’t purely a sightseeing tour, they would be passing through several counties, each with its own customs. Seeing novel things along the way would be exciting and fun, and most importantly, it would broaden their horizons and give them more life experience.

So, Xiao Man asked Da Zhi and Dapeng as well. Sure enough, the two of them grinned from ear to ear, eagerly shouting, "We want to go! We want to go!" Qiuyan, who had just popped a milk candy in her mouth and couldn’t speak, simply threw her arms around Xiao Man’s, tugging and shaking it with a look of desperation. Only when Xiao Man nodded did she let go, her eyes crinkling into a smile. She then spun around, dashed out of the courtyard, and ran to the neighbors’ houses to show off.

When she told the adults, Grandpa and Grandma only instructed Da Zhi and Dapeng to listen to their big sister, saying nothing more. They knew Xiao Man had a gentle and steady disposition and had looked after her younger siblings since she was a child. Years ago, when she was just a young girl, she had taken Hao Hao to Ping County, rented a place, and attended school. Everything had turned out fine, hadn’t it? Hao Hao had even gotten sturdier and gained a few pounds. It was just Mo Guoqiang and Liu Fengying who were blind and couldn’t appreciate what they had. Otherwise, if their brood of children had grown up with Xiao Man, who knew how much better off they’d be.

Mo Jiabao told Yu Wumei to give them some extra money and supplies. Yu Wumei was worried about such a large group descending on someone’s home, saying that just making room for them would be an imposition. Xiao Man smiled and said, "With so many of us, we can just stay in a guesthouse. We won’t inconvenience our hosts. We’ll set out tomorrow, spend one night in Ping County, and then stay for two nights at Sister Liu Ping’s place. Her area is a minority autonomous county, and there are some fun places to see. Have you guys ever seen a Miao Village or experienced their unique culture? We’ll spend a whole day exploring and then head back!"

Da Zhi and Dapeng let out another cheer. Gu Shaoqin said excitedly, "In that case, I’d better bring extra film! I want to take lots of pictures to show everyone!"

Xinghua couldn’t help but feel a stir of excitement and tugged on the corner of Jiang Junlin’s shirt. Jiang Junlin laughed. "Why don’t you go and have fun with them? I’ll stay behind. Before the New Year, Grandpa wants to hurry up and clear that plot of land by the pine forest on the mountain. The more people helping, the better. Plus, I have my own work to deal with. I’m in charge of the teaching and research group this year. If I put it off until after the New Year starts, the endless cycle of visiting family and friends and drinking will begin."

Xinghua fell silent at his words. If Jiang Junlin wasn’t going, she had no interest in going either.

Jiang Junlin comforted her, "I’ll take you during summer vacation next year. We’ll have plenty of time and can visit several places!"

"Okay." Xinghua nodded with a smile, a sweet feeling blooming in her heart.

The next day, Guan Ailan, Mo Linghui, and Mo Shuixia came to meet Xiao Man, and they all waited for the bus at the courtyard gate. They were stunned to see a whole troupe of people behind Xiao Man, all in new clothes with backpacks, looking ready for a journey. The three girls’ younger siblings had naturally tagged along to see what was going on. When they found out Xiao Man was taking Gu Shaoqin, Da Zhi, Dapeng, and Qiuyan, they grew frantic, swarming their own older sisters and clamoring to go too.

The three had no choice. Guan Ailan announced she could only take two and had her four younger siblings play rock-paper-scissors for the spots. Mo Shuixia decided to bring all three of hers, while Mo Linghui only brought her eldest niece, Mo Qingqing, with whom she was closest. The children who were given permission to go immediately dashed home to change into the nice clothes they rarely wore, grab a spare set, and then raced back like the wind, terrified of missing the bus and squandering the golden opportunity.

Once they were on the bus, Xiao Man organized the extra travelers into a small ’tour group’ and put Da Zhi, Mo Zhiyuan, and Guan Er in charge. She told them that once they got settled in their lodgings in Ping County, they were free to wander the streets of the county seat, but they’d be responsible for their own food and drinks. The four older ’sisters’ wouldn’t be with them during the day; they would only meet up again in the evening. The younger siblings weren’t scared at all, assuring them they could handle it and that the sisters had nothing to worry about.

The large, lively group chatted all the way to Ping County, arriving in no time. The first thing they did was find a public telephone. Xiao Man needed to call Teacher Yu, whose aunt could arrange for them to stay at the County Committee Guesthouse.

However, Mo Linghui volunteered for the task, her face flushing as she picked up the phone to dial. Guan Ailan and Mo Shuixia shot Xiao Man a meaningful look, and it dawned on her. ’I completely forgot! Isn’t Mo Linghui’s boyfriend from the county seat? And he lives in the County Committee Compound, no less. This is perfect! A chance to check out her boyfriend!’

About ten minutes after the call, her boyfriend, a young man named Chen Deming, showed up. He had a fair complexion, handsome features, and wore black-rimmed glasses. Though tall, he didn’t seem frail, and his disposition was similar to Jiang Junlin’s. He had the distinct air of a future teacher.

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