Chapter 4: 004

Chapter 4

Fu Ming Shi was born and raised in a mansion, and had only ever seen foie gras on the dinner table. How would he know that geese could commit murder?

When the first big white goose stretched out its neck and came at him, Fu Ming Shi lifted his foot to kick it away. But from the corner of his eye, he glimpsed Zhen Bao standing with her arms crossed, sneering as she watched the fun unfold. Fu Ming Shi was both angry and confused. He was about to try negotiating peacefully again when his pants suddenly tightened. Before he knew it, a stabbing pain shot up his leg!

Did this goose actually know how to bite people?

Fu Ming Shi shook his leg in agony. One goose was flung away while another charged at him.

"Mr. Fu, Mr. Fu!"

The driver had been waiting for Fu Ming Shi's instructions on the cement road. Seeing his boss under attack by a flock of geese now, his face turned pale with fright. He sprinted over to rescue the man. Seeing they were in cahoots, Zhen Bao knew even if she called the cops, they wouldn't arrive in time. So she threatened sternly, "If you don't leave now, I'll call for help!"

Still focused on fending off the big white geese, Fu Ming Shi heard her first. He looked up at her.

Morning sunlight spilled beautifully over the small farm courtyard, but while the woman looked harmless on the outside, her eyes were filled with hostility.

Fu Ming Shi froze. The Zhen Bao before him now was nothing like the refined, sweet girl in the photos. Discover new chapters at novelhall.com

As he stood motionless, the geese seized the opportunity to attack as one. With a tearing sound, a large chunk of fabric was ripped from Fu Ming Shi's left pant leg!

"Mr. Fu!" The driver finally reached them, brandishing a long stick he had grabbed from the road to drive the geese away. Hei Dan was just a two-month-old puppy. Knowing his bites didn't hurt, he only barked at his master's feet without leaving the fence.

The geese had twisted Fu Ming Shi's calf several times, drawing blood. He had never been fully committed to marrying a country bumpkin from the start. And now that Zhen Bao was condoning her poultry injuring people, Fu Ming Shi completely gave up. He would rather infuriate his grandfather than waste any more time in this backwater valley.

Without a word, Fu Ming Shi strode towards the cement road, his profile cold and imposing. Even with his torn pants leg, his dignified aura as a CEO remained perfectly intact.

The driver had wanted to say something on his boss's behalf, but seeing the geese charge again, he promptly fled. Once he reached the cement road, he happened to overhear Fu Ming Shi calling his assistant to book plane tickets.

"Mr. Fu?" The driver asked uneasily. Aren't you going to deal with the old master first?

"Go back to the hotel first, then head to the airport." Fu Ming Shi put down his phone, his attitude firm. His dark eyes coldly glanced back at the Zhen family's yard. He didn't think he could tolerate a crude, uneducated village girl, even one with a face that pleased him.

The black sedan reversed and drove off in a cloud of dust.

Zhen Bao stood at the door until she could no longer see the car. Only then did she close and bolt the fence gate properly before continuing with chores in the backyard.

When noon arrived with its oppressive heat, Zhen Bao went back upstairs to the bedroom. She opened the windows and took a nap.

Half-asleep, she heard the honking of geese, but it soon faded. Some time later, excited voices drifted over from Granny Guo's yard next door. Zhen Bao rubbed her eyes in confusion as she sat up. Granny Guo's children and grandchildren all lived out of town. Who was the old lady talking to?

After changing out of her pajamas and sleeping shorts into a t-shirt and shorts, Zhen Bao quickly tied her hair in a ponytail. She went out to the balcony and peered east at Granny Guo's yard. Sure enough, the big liar from this morning had returned. Only this time, he was following an elderly white-haired man: the one Granny Guo was chatting with.

Her mind chaotic, she first expressed concern for Fu Senior's health. "Are you really ill, sir?"

Fu Senior heaved a long sigh. Seeing Granny Guo's confusion, he explained the purpose of their visit to her like two old friends chatting. Granny Guo was elderly and not as dramatic as the young people once Fu Senior clarified he had accepted the situation. Instead, she advised Feng Bao earnestly, "Feng Bao, this is blessed fortune your grandfather has cultivated for you. Hurry and agree!"

Extremely satisfied, she gave Fu Ming Shi an approving look. Young people were so handsome these days, and he was so rich too. If it were her, she would have agreed long ago.

Feng Bao kept her head lowered without responding.

Fu Senior seized the opportunity and rose unsteadily with his cane. "Let's go over to your place and sit down first. Our families can have dinner together tonight." He already regarded Feng Bao as his grandson's fiancée.

"Alright, you two talk it over. I'll start preparing dinner." Granny Guo watched him affectionately.

Fu Senior smiled and turned to ask Feng Bao, "Shall we go over first?"

Feng Bao nodded and nervously led the way.

In the Zhen family yard, the big white geese all stood up as their mistress approached but didn't act aggressively anymore. Only Hei Dan kept scampering devotedly at his mistress's feet, his beady dog eyes occasionally eyeing Fu Ming Shi warily. When Fu Ming Shi entered the house, Hei Dan even barked once.

"Good dog, knows how to guard the home." Fu Senior praised.

Feng Bao brought over two wooden stools for them to sit on and said awkwardly, "The house is a bit shabby, please don't look down on it."

The Zhen residence really was quite run-down, not to mention compared to Granny Guo's.

But neither Fu Senior nor Fu Ming Shi seemed to mind as they sat down steadily.

Feng Bao also calmed down now. She looked at Fu Senior helplessly, "Grandfather Fu, I appreciate your kindness but really, there's no need to compensate me. I'm living quite well now. I only hope you take care of your health and recover from your illness soon so we can all be healthy and well."

"That won't do. Every day you refuse to marry Ming Shi, my conscience pains me for an extra day, preventing my recovery." Fu Senior spoke calmly. Meeting Feng Bao's startled gaze, he pointed at himself and switched to a pitiful tone, "Feng Bao, look at me. If there was another way, would I have undertaken such an arduous journey here? You don't know how my old bones nearly crumbled from the bumpy ride between the airport and your home. Feng Bao, take pity on this old man and keep me company in the city for a few years?"

He leaned forward earnestly, looking at Feng Bao.

Suddenly Feng Bao felt extremely...guilty. It was the old man who had insisted on coming, yet imagining him battling such a terrifying illness as liver cancer, Feng Bao couldn't remain rationally aloof.

Fu Senior pressed his advantage. "Come with us, Feng Bao. Don't worry, with Grandpa here, Ming Shi absolutely won't dare mistreat you."

Still Feng Bao didn't want to go, but she didn't know how to refuse either when the old man looked at her like that. She couldn't withstand his gaze.

Fu Senior promptly compromised. "Or you two can get engaged first, spend more time together cultivating your relationship. If it really doesn't work out, I'll treat you like a granddaughter. That should be fine, right? Feng Bao, I just can't stop worrying about you. Take pity on this old man and keep me company in the city for a few years?"

He leaned forward eagerly, watching Feng Bao.