CH 46

“There is no such thing as repaying grievances with kindness.”

Lu-Ge’er didn’t expect that Cheng Yun would actually expose the matter in front of so many people. He felt both embarrassed and annoyed, with his face turning red and pale alternately.

He gritted his teeth, and in front of so many people, could only pretend to be clueless. He awkwardly smiled and said, “Is there something wrong with my vegetables? Well, it’s okay. I’ll come again next time.”

He tried to save face for himself, but Cheng Yun didn’t give him a chance at all. He straightforwardly said, “There’s no need for you to come again next time. I won’t accept your vegetables. I have already explained the reasons just now.”

Lu-Ge’er’s face instantly turned dark, and the people around started whispering. Although Lu-Ge’er couldn’t hear anything, the feeling was even more uncomfortable than if they were talking about him in front of his face.

Before this incident, he always looked down on Cheng-Ge’er. He had a low social status and had a problem with low fertility since birth. In the end, he even married the village idiot. Cheng-Ge’er had to consider it a favor to have a conversation with people who were ‘normal’ like him.

However, he didn’t know where Cheng-Ge’er found his connections, which allowed him to establish a relationship with Yueqiong Tower making his social status in the village suddenly skyrocket.

They were all ‘Ge’er’s’, so why could Cheng-Ge’er achieve such success while he still had to rely on others? The more Lu-Ge’er thought about it, the angrier he became. Moreover, his family had a good amount of vegetables in stock that needed to be sold. These perishable vegetables couldn’t be kept for too long. Even if Cheng-Ge’er lowered the price to a single cent, he would sell them.

But when he saw everyone talking and laughing with Cheng-Ge’er, he had to put on a fake smile and show goodwill towards him. Lu-Ge’er felt a surge of frustration. Only by selling some vegetables could he relieve that feeling, and then he would start badmouthing Cheng-Ge’er again. It was only by doing so that he could finally ease that pent-up frustration.

Coincidentally, there were rumors going around these days about the newly added Sauerkraut jar at Yueqiong Tower. Lu-Ge’er inquired everywhere and finally confirmed the fact that Cheng-Ge’er was reselling vegetables. It was as if he had caught Cheng-Ge’er by the scruff of the neck. He relentlessly spread the news about this matter.

He and a few others who shared the same thoughts about Cheng-Ge’er spoke ill of him incessantly. When they gathered together, their accumulated anger grew stronger. Eventually, they couldn’t restrain themselves and went to Cheng’s house. They pretended to chat with Cheng’s mother, but in reality, they kept criticizing Cheng Yun in front of her.

Cheng’s mother had been in better health recently, and Cheng Chuan didn’t object to her occasionally going out. At first, when Lu-Ge’er and his group came to talk to her, she was still happy. However, as she listened, things started sounding more and more suspicious. In the end, Cheng’s mother realized that they were subtly mocking Cheng Yun and got so angry that she closed the door on them, refusing to speak to those people anymore.

Seeing Cheng’s mother’s reaction, Lu-Ge’er felt like he had finally won a small victory. He didn’t consider that a weak woman like Cheng’s mother would complain to her family or that someone like Cheng-Ge’er, who he saw as a ‘weakling’, would dare to confront him head-on.

Up until this moment, he still didn’t believe that Cheng-Ge’er would do anything to him. After all, in his eyes, Cheng Yun was an isolated figure in the village, and everyone only interacted with him for their own interests. Once the money was exchanged, everyone would still look down on him just like before.

After realizing this, he stiffened his neck and said, “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

Cheng Yun glanced at him as if he were an insignificant object, making Lu-Ge’er’s heart skip a beat, and he subconsciously took a step back.

Cheng Yun stood up. Since Lu-Ge’er had no shame, he didn’t intend to continue talking to him. He coldly sneered and said, “Lu-Ge’er, do you really not understand or are you pretending not to understand?” He continued, “On one hand, you come to me to sell your vegetables, and on the other hand, you go behind my back and spread rumors that I’m reselling them in town, making ill-gotten money. I can tolerate all that. I do my work and make my money. I don’t want to argue about these things with you. But you really shouldn’t have gone to my mother and said those things!”

He glared fiercely at Lu-Ge’er and continued, “My mother is not in good health and rarely goes out. Yet you managed to bring those words to her, hurting her. I just want to ask you, who has the darker heart, me or you, after doing such things?”

“I—”

Lu-Ge’er wanted to refute his words, but Cheng Yun raised his hand to stop him. “You’ve already received the money, and I won’t pursue it or ask for it back. But please, don’t appear in front of me again. I accepted your vegetables in a fair and honest manner, at a fair price. There was no cheating involved. While you enjoy the money I gave you, you go behind my back and badmouth me.

Cheng Yun spoke forcefully, each word resounding clearly, “I am just an ordinary person. If you still repay kindness with grievances, then forgive me for not being generous enough to repay grievances with kindness. Please take your things and leave.”

After finishing his words, Cheng Yun didn’t even look at Lu-Ge’er and sat down directly, bypassing him to welcome the next person with a smile.

The queue of more than ten people fell into a mysterious silence. Lu-Ge’er’s face turned red, but it was unclear whether it was due to embarrassment or anger.

Right behind him was Aunt Luo. Previously, her family’s chili peppers had piled up into mountains, and if it weren’t for Cheng Yun’s help in collecting them, she didn’t know how long she would have to store them. She simply pushed Lu-Ge’er, who was standing still, aside with a “hmph” and asked him not to block her way.

“Cheng-Ge’er, don’t get angry at these heartless people. It’s not worth getting worked up about them,” Aunt Luo said as she took out her vegetables. “They are busybodies who take others’ money. Let them be idle. If they went to sell vegetables in town every day, I bet they wouldn’t have the time to gossip all day long.”

Cheng Yun smiled faintly instead of adding any more unnecessary drama, and he calmly weighed Aunt Luo’s vegetables.

Seeing him like this, Aunt Luo felt even more fond of him and couldn’t help but say a few more words, “Cheng-Ge’er, you are too softhearted. We shouldn’t accept vegetables from such people. If it were up to me, I would make him spit out the money he received earlier and return the vegetables to him! In this day and age, whose family doesn’t have a few catties of vegetables? If it were so easy to sell them all, why would so many people come and queue up at your place to sell vegetables? Our men work hard every day, and we still can’t sell many vegetables. Thanks to you, our family doesn’t have to worry about anything we grow anymore!”

As Aunt Luo spoke, the people behind her resonated and nodded, speaking one after another.

“Yes, my husband is the same. Recently, we don’t have to take the vegetables to town to sell them anymore, nor do we have to worry about things getting spoiled. Life is much more comfortable.”

“That’s right, my husband hurt his leg when he was working in the fields. We were worried that these vegetables would rot at home, and I couldn’t carry so many to sell in town alone. Thankfully, we have Cheng-Ge’er. Now we can use the money we earn to buy medicine for his foot. It has been a great help.”

“Yes, before when we sold vegetables in town, we had to budget our money for daily expenses. We were afraid that the vegetables would spoil at home and go to waste. We had to eat what we grew ourselves. Now, our little Ge’er at home can enjoy more fresh vegetables. He’s so happy.”

…

As everyone spoke, their enthusiasm grew. At first, some people had some reservations about Cheng Yun, as the price they received for their vegetables was indeed slightly lower than in town. When they added it all up, the amount became substantial, and coupled with what others were saying, they naturally felt uneasy.

However, now that everyone listed the benefits of selling vegetables with Cheng Yun, each person mentioning one, two, or three points, they discovered so many advantages to selling vegetables with him. Those who had harbored doubts were suddenly glad that they hadn’t spoken ill of Cheng Yun. Comparing his words from earlier, even their gazes toward Lu-Ge’er changed.

Repaying kindness with resentment was one thing, but going to someone’s sick mother and spreading gossip was truly a despicable act.

Upon hearing the words of the others, Lu-Ge’er, who was originally filled with anger, gradually became anxious.

Initially, he didn’t want to sell vegetables with Cheng Yun. It was his husband who insisted he had to come here. The reason was simple: they had too many vegetables at home, and these things didn’t last. If they left them there without selling, they would rot, and he could only watch them go to waste.

But after selling twice, Lu-Ge’er forgot about it. Money came too easily, and after a few times, he started thinking that their future days would be comfortable. He never expected Cheng Yun to do this, directly cutting off his retreat!

Only at this moment did Lu-Ge’er begin to feel regret. He didn’t dare to go home. The two baskets of vegetables on the ground were like hot potatoes. When he brought them back home intact, he would be met with his husband’s furious rage.

But all of this had nothing to do with Cheng Yun anymore. After saying his piece, he felt incredibly relieved and continued focusing on his work. He glanced slightly at the end of the queue, and those who had previously badmouthed him in front of his mother quietly left after experiencing what had happened to Lu-Ge’er.

Cheng Yun hoped that this incident would teach them a lesson and make them more restrained in the future. However, human hearts are unpredictable, especially when it comes to matters involving money. Cheng Yun couldn’t control how others thought; all he could do was ask them to think twice before speaking.

This incident quickly spread throughout Tie Village, and every household was discussing it. People who were in the know mentioned that after returning home, Lu-Ge’er was scolded severely by his husband. Later, he was even dragged to Cheng Yun’s house to apologize. However, it was said that Cheng Yun refused to see anyone and closed the door, so they didn’t even catch a glimpse of his face.

Some people criticized Cheng Yun for being too heartless, but others stepped up to defend him. They argued that Lu-Ge’er gossiped every day, and there was no way his husband was unaware of it. If he didn’t advise him against it, that’s one thing, but to take advantage of the situation and blame his own wife, no one was better than anyone else in this matter.

As more and more people spoke up for Cheng Yun, gradually everyone started to discern right from wrong. The number of people speaking ill of Cheng Yun behind his back decreased day by day.

Cheng Yun paid no attention to these discussions. He was focused solely on his work. Finally, after a week, he encountered another opportunity to use the Word Spirit.