Quick Transmigration: The Gossip Master Took the Black Lotus Script - Chapter 18

After nearly ruining Shao Jing’s reputation, Luo An was satisfied. She just wanted to see how he could still gather a bunch of girls to fight over him under these circumstances.

After all, trash belongs in the trash heap to be spat on, not standing high above, eating soft rice while acting tough.

“Uncle Zhang, take Dahua to clean her wound. We’ll head to the educated youth courtyard ourselves.”

The man’s daughter had just been helped by Luo An; how could he really let them go on their own? Usually, the task ended with dropping them at the village entrance, but today he insisted on escorting Luo An, along with her luggage, all the way to the educated youth dormitory.

As for Shao Jing’s luggage? He pretended not to see it, cracked his whip, and left under Shao Jing’s black-as-a-pot-bottom glare. A gaggle of chattering children trailed behind, along with Zhang Dahua.

Shao Jing tried hard to ignore the villagers’ disdainful stares and the loudly spoken words that carried no attempt at secrecy. Picking up his bag, he pushed through the circle—only to accidentally bump into a sturdy, broad-shouldered woman.

“Hey! Boy, do you not have eyes? The road’s so wide, and you just had to bump into me?”

Other women, who loved to stir the pot, immediately teased:
“Xinghua! Maybe this young lad has his eye on you. Otherwise, with so many people here, why’d he bump into you of all people?”

“Hahaha, Second Zhang’s wife is right!”

The women’s laughter rang in his ears as the big woman yanked his backpack away. Veins bulged at Shao Jing’s temples. These bumpkins dared humiliate him like this? Once he made it big, he’d make them pay!

“Pah! Who do you think you’re disgusting with that nonsense? With this weak little pretty boy who can’t lift or carry, being liked by him would be an eight-lifetime curse! Those of you with daughters, keep an eye on them. Don’t let them get fooled by this useless face, or they’ll be doomed to a life of suffering!”

No one had thought much before. He was just a slightly better-looking educated youth. But in this village, even dragons had to curl up, and tigers had to lie low. If the villagers didn’t lend food, these city youths would suffer plenty.

Now, after Xinghua’s reminder, families with daughters grew wary. Parents couldn’t out-stubborn their children—if a girl got tricked, they’d have nowhere to cry.

Families with sons were equally on guard. If all the village girls were chasing after this pretty city boy, who would their sons marry? That wouldn’t do at all!

When Shao Jing heard this burly, ugly woman disparaging him, he suppressed his anger and growled, “It was just an accident. Don’t push me too far.”

The woman had been around from the beginning and saw all the farce. She already had a thousand reasons to despise him. Hearing him raise his voice, she immediately smacked the back of his head.

“What’s this ‘too far, not too far’? I’ve never read books, so I don’t understand that! But I do know you’re just asking for a beating!”

Shao Jing usually wore a mask, his reputation outside fairly good. But after the long journey and repeated setbacks, the temper he’d been suppressing finally snapped. He raised his hand high, ready to return the slap—

—but the woman caught his wrist in a vice-like grip. Her strength was so great he thought his bones would snap.

“You, go tell my man that someone dared to hit his wife! That useless man’s still squatting in the latrine!”

Her voice was plenty loud, but that didn’t stop her from summoning her man.

Someone heading out after dinner to watch the show laughed and rushed to the latrine to report. Her husband, another burly man with a body full of muscle, rushed out with his pants half-tied. Hearing someone had dared lay a hand on his shrewish wife, he hurried over.

“Good heavens! Xinghua, why are you grabbing such a weak pretty boy? If it’s a man you want to fight, you’ve got me!”

Wang Xinghua rolled her eyes at him. There he went again! Why did this big man always pick the wrong time to play the fool?

Still… she had to admit, she liked it.

“Husband, this brat tried to hit me!”

The man’s face darkened instantly. He charged forward and pried her hand off, glaring at Shao Jing. “Where are you from? Looking for a beating?”

With Wang Xinghua, Shao Jing could still barely manage, since she was a woman. But facing a man taller and stronger than him, he had to admit—he was scared.

“I’m a new educated youth. I didn’t mean to hit Auntie, it’s all a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding.”

As he spoke, he repeated to himself inside: A wise man knows when to bend. I’m not being cowardly, I’m being clever.

“Auntie? My wife’s barely over thirty, still a blooming flower! Young bachelors without wives really can’t be trusted. Don’t be angry, sweetheart.”

Since Shao Jing hadn’t actually hit anyone, Wang Xinghua’s family couldn’t go too far, even if they looked down on him. If it escalated to the commune, the village head would be the one in trouble.

In the end, Shao Jing was forced to bow ninety degrees and apologize in front of everyone before the man let him go back to the educated youth dormitory.

As for Luo An and the others, they hadn’t left at all.

Seeing more drama unfold, she grabbed a bag of sunflower seeds, handed everyone a handful, and they sat there cracking seeds while watching the show—nodding in approval, sneering in disdain—until Zhang Dahua couldn’t hold back her curiosity anymore.

She kept sneaking glances at Luo An.

“What is it?”

Caught, Dahua blushed, but she really wanted to know. She asked softly, “That guy looks pretty good. Why don’t you like him?”

Her innocent eyes and words made Luo An feel it was her duty to brainwash the girl. “Jiajia, tell Dahua—does Shao Jing count as a once-in-a-lifetime handsome man?”

Duan Jia was stunned the topic landed on her, paused two seconds, then said, “He looks okay, I guess. But unique? No way. My cousin looks better than him.”

“Really? You city folks sure produce good looks. Our village is full of rough guys.” Dahua sounded envious, but was that the point?

Luo An wanted to shake the junk out of her head.

“Look closely at him now. Doesn’t he seem cowardly and sleazy? Compared to that other man, isn’t he much less of a man? The other guy’s strong, protects his wife, and treats her well. Would you rather have someone who cherishes you, or someone who constantly nitpicks and looks at you like you’re a pile of dog crap?”

Thinking about her own disgust toward dog crap, Dahua immediately shook her head. She didn’t want to be that pile of dog crap. But…

“Can’t we find someone both handsome and good to us?”

Luo An nodded instantly. “Of course! Who said you can’t have a handsome husband? Beautiful things lift the mood, that’s undeniable. What I mean is: don’t fall for a piece of shiny dog crap. Good-looking on the outside, rotten on the inside. Like that one.”

She jerked her chin toward Shao Jing. The meaning was obvious.