CHAPTER 75: CHAPTER 74: YOU THINK YOU’RE THE CENTER OF THE WORLD?

Xiaotong couldn’t believe that He Chen, who scraped a living from the fields, and Ye Manman, who was lazy and gluttonous, could afford to buy so many things.

After all, Ye Manman’s dowry was used by He Chen to buy this bicycle, so where did they get the money and tickets to buy so many things?

It must have been with the money and tickets they swindled from her!

Looking at those pastries, rock candy, wrapped items, and new clothes, Xiaotong wanted nothing more than to rush over and take all those things for herself.

Clearly, those things should have been hers!

And if it weren’t for Ye Manman cheating her, she wouldn’t have been so hated by Xie Fengmian and wouldn’t have been hit.

Thinking about this, Xiaotong not only felt an unbearable pain in her arm but also an intense hatred for Ye Manman, wishing misfortune would strike her immediately.

Under Xiaotong’s malicious glare, He Chen’s face darkened, while Ye Manman thought her illness had not only not healed but worsened.

"Are you okay? Not to mention how much those things cost, even if I used it, so what? It’s my money. I can use it however I want. What’s it to you?"

"What right do you have to question me here? I haven’t even asked you when you plan to return the tickets you promised last time."

She didn’t want to cause trouble and even considered letting Xiaotong save face by leaving directly, but Xiaotong seemed determined to stir up issues.

Ye Manman suspected that she had no idea of the situation.

Everything they wore and used was better than hers, but she couldn’t see that and kept thinking that the 100 yuan Xie Fengmian helped to repay was a big deal, always reminded of it.

When writing the IOU, she was counting on marrying into the Xie family, not even caring about that money.

"I’ll give you the tickets, but you tricked me into writing the IOU! Sooner or later, I’ll sue you for cheating me into writing and signing it! The money you got from me will have to be returned sooner or later!"

Xiaotong didn’t understand the law much, but she believed she was deceived, trusting not even the police would side with Ye Manman the swindler, but with her.

She would get her comeuppance sooner or later!

Ye Manman almost burst out laughing at what she said.

She didn’t know whether to call her stupid or naive.

"Go ahead and sue me when you want. I have witnesses. Wang Li helped write the IOU, and she watched you fingerprint it."

"If you couldn’t repay the money, you shouldn’t have acted confident back then. Weren’t five yuan a big deal then? What’s the matter now? Life not as great as you thought, coming to blame me for making you repay?"

"Please, you’re an adult now, right? Adults should take responsibility for what they say and do. Can you stop thinking the world revolves around you? Whatever you say goes, and you can backtrack whenever you want."

"Do you think you’re the center of the universe?"

Ye Manman patted He Chen’s back, signaling him they could cycle away.

Neither wanted to stay and chat with someone whose mind seemed elsewhere, only thinking wishfully.

Eating dust, unable to argue with Ye Manman’s articulate retorts, Xiaotong stomped in frustration.

Soon their bikes disappeared from sight while Xiaotong had to walk step by step back to the village.

She initially tried to appear sophisticated, but now her face was grim, like someone owed her hundreds of bucks.

Seeing her empty-handed and gloomy, villagers gossiped, some mockingly noting her life in town wasn’t better than Ye Manman’s in the village.

They said she couldn’t even bring a bicycle home and that her husband didn’t accompany her, while Ye Manman was always taken to town by He Chen, never seen walking to the field, returning with heaps of stuff, making others envious.

Hearing this, Xiaotong’s hate intensified, wishing she could tear the speaker’s mouth.

But ultimately, she held back, silently returning to the Ye family’s home, shutting the door, and starting to cry.

...

The flu struck forcefully but also vanished quickly.

After Yang Xiumei and Li Hongmei got injections at the town and recovered, villagers with colds also went to the town for shots, ending the flu without casualties.

Ye Manman’s scars now fell off, leaving only faint traces. They weren’t noticeable, and she applied scar-removal ointment daily, likely erasing them completely soon.

Recently, He Chen hadn’t delivered supplies to town, leaving customers asking about Sweet and Spicy Duck.

Worried about losing customers, Ye Manman insisted He Chen stop staying home to care for her, as she no longer felt any pain.

Before, urging him to deliver supplies again, he refused, wanting to stay until her scars healed completely.

He Chen returned from town unexpectedly fast this time, bringing back good news.

"Manman! Our business license application was approved; we’ve got our permit!"

He Chen returned excitedly, overflowing with joy, dropping his bicycle and rushing to hug Ye Manman, spinning her around several times.

Ye Manman almost got dizzy from the spin.

"Now the policy for individual business is just out, and I’m glad I applied early. We managed to get in the first batch, so we can open our own shop now, Manman."

He rarely talked this much, and Ye Manman knew he was genuinely happy.

The shop location was now set too, making his start in business much earlier than in the original text, undoubtedly influenced by her support.

Ye Manman was equally elated, hugging him back, wrapping her legs around his waist with robust affection, kissing him fervently on the face.

"You’re amazing!"

"This is a reward!"

"Do you like it?"

Holding her close, breathing in her feminine scent, and feeling her soft body against his chest, He Chen snapped out of his excitement while meeting her moist eyes.

His Adam’s apple bobbed quickly, his deep eyes lowering slightly, and his ears blushing red.

"...I like it."

How could there be such an adorable girl in the world, and she was his wife?

He was truly the happiest man on earth!

He Chen silently rejoiced, unable to suppress his joy, his lips curving uncontrollably upward.

Ye Manman giggled, her slender white fingers poking his cheek.

"You’re so thick-skinned～"

The two, flying with happiness, planned to move to town quickly.

But moving wasn’t something done in a moment. They’d bought lots of things over recent months, many odds and ends, so He Chen decided to cut some bamboo on the mountain for two large baskets.

Then he’d hang them on the bike’s back, taking multiple trips to town for the setup, finally bringing Ye Manman last.

With a plan, He Chen packed the large items, Ye Manman gathered her bits and pieces, and he took a machete to the mountain immediately.

Although Gao Huifang had recently recovered, unsuccessfully attempting to "accidentally" encounter and talk with He Chen on the road, she began waiting nearby the He family.

Seeing He Chen happily returning and soon grabbing a machete to the mountain, she figured something joyous happened at home.

She couldn’t miss such a golden opportunity.

Moreover, if something happened between a man and a woman alone on the mountain, it would be all too easy!

She was determined to win him over today!

With no one around, Gao Huifang quickly jogged, stealthily following He Chen into the mountain.