FIMA Ch113: The Hunter

“Lao Chen, how come you’ve aged so much in just a few days?”

In the office of the Revolutionary Committee.

Director Wang looked at Chen Pengfei, whose hair had turned completely white, and stared for a while before speaking.

Chen Pengfei pulled the corners of his mouth, forcing an awkward smile.

Director Wang understood and sighed deeply. “At least Zexin is still alive. Over the years, you’ve also accumulated a lot of good things. Ten years will pass in the blink of an eye, and you can take good care of your son when he returns.”

Chen Pengfei had come to ask for a favor this time.

To this, he could only nod in agreement. “Director, I think the same, but I’m still not reconciled to this matter. I can’t let those little bastards who harmed my son go.”

Director Wang frowned. “That girl named Fang Dandan has been in the spotlight lately. The newspapers and the public are paying attention to her. You’d better not have any reckless thoughts, or this matter will drag both you and me into it.”

“I know,” Chen Pengfei gritted his teeth. “But when I went to the Public Security Bureau before, I heard from the brats at home that the real cause of this trouble wasn’t that girl, but that damned couple. Especially that boy with the surname Gu—I want him dead.”

Director Wang nodded. “Tell me his name and what he does. I’ll help you look into it.”

Chen Pengfei’s face lit up with joy, and he immediately reported the name. “Gu Siyuan, works at the Agricultural Repair Factory.”

“Agricultural Repair Factory?” Director Wang hesitated.

The Agricultural Repair Factory was a place where Secretary Zhang from the county committee served as the factory director. If any trouble arose there, it would be asking for trouble.

Secretary Zhang was already dissatisfied with their Revolutionary Committee, and after the incident with Chen Pengfei, his attitude had worsened.

Chen Pengfei hurriedly took a few steps forward and anxiously explained, “That boy is just an ordinary worker. Director, you just need to make sure he loses his job, and I’ll handle the rest myself.”

Director Wang looked at his old colleague’s ferocious face with a complex expression.

After a while, he sighed. “Alright, I’ll call the Agricultural Repair Factory and ask.”

Chen Pengfei nodded excitedly.

Director Wang took out a small phone book from the drawer, looked at it, and dialed a number. The call was quickly connected.

He nodded. “Yes, I’d like to speak with your Deputy Director Sun.”

After a few beeps, a robust male voice answered, “Who is this?”

Director Wang smiled. “Director Sun, this is Old Wang from the Revolutionary Committee. I’d like to ask you about someone…”

However, as the conversation progressed, Director Wang’s frown deepened.

“Alright, I understand. Thank you.”

After a while, Director Wang hung up the phone.

He looked up at Chen Pengfei, who was waiting by the side, and said helplessly, “Lao Chen, give it up. That boy with the surname Gu isn’t someone we can easily touch. He’s not just an ordinary worker at the Agricultural Repair Factory; he’s a senior researcher. It’s said that he has a reputation with Secretary Zhang and the city leaders. He won’t be staying in Qingshui County for long; he’ll be going to the City Machinery Factory soon.”

Chen Pengfei stood frozen.

In the Xie family’s yard at the Soda Factory.

Mother Xie and Father Xie stood in front of a room door, worriedly knocking. “Sweetheart, it’s the festival today. We bought your favorite roast duck. Come out and eat something…”

Inside the room, Xie Jinyu sat on the bed, his eyelids twitched, but he didn’t respond.

After running home from the banks of Qingshui River that day, he immediately told Father Xie and Mother Xie about it.

They all thought that with the Revolutionary Committee and Chen Pengfei’s power, this matter might be resolved quickly.

Who knew that the next day they would learn that Chen Pengfei had lost his position in the Revolutionary Committee.

The whole family was shocked.

After a while, Chen Zexin was sentenced to ten years of reform through labor by the court.

When Xie Jinyu heard this, he was stunned for half a day before he finally realized with difficulty that his once-proud marriage was over.

Father Xie and Mother Xie, upon hearing the news, also cursed Gu Siyuan and Xie Yiyang at home almost every day.

But they could only curse. They didn’t dare to show up and attract attention.

After all, to be honest, the famous saying “My dad is from the Revolutionary Committee” was spread entirely by Xie Jinyu.

Before the verdict came down, the Xie family secretly went out to the police station to see Chen Zexin. After all, the Chen family’s conditions were indeed good. If Chen Zexin turned the tables, he might remember their kindness.

However, that day happened to be the day Chen Zexin was transferred from the Public Security Bureau to the court. They watched as Chen Zexin was publicly denounced, pelted with rotten eggs, had shoes thrown at him, and was furiously criticized by the crowd.

The scene was unforgettable, leaving a deep impression for life.

As a result, the family no longer dared to hold on to any illusions. They did not show their faces and hurriedly returned home.

Xie Jinyu was so frightened by this scene that he hadn’t stepped out of his room for several days.

He really couldn’t understand why his life had turned out this way.

He hated himself for being tricked by Gu Siyuan and saying such irreversible words.

He hated Chen Zexin for not being able to behave properly and for acting indecently, ruining himself and ruining Xie Jinyu as well.

He also hated Fang Dandan for not knowing how to let things slide. She was just touched once, why did she have to be so unforgiving?

But he hated Gu Siyuan and Xie Yiyang even more. If it weren’t for their meddling, things definitely wouldn’t have turned out this way. They completely destroyed his life.

Every time Xie Jinyu thought about this, his heart and soul burned with hatred.

“Sweetheart, please open the door. You need to eat something…” Mother Xie’s voice sounded again outside.

Xie Jinyu suddenly looked up and shouted gloomily, “Stop calling, I don’t want to eat.”

He pounded the pillow irritably.

He couldn’t help but also hate his parents. Why did they adopt that troublemaker Xie Yiyang? If it weren’t for that, maybe none of this would have happened.

Mother Xie and Father Xie were startled by Xie Jinyu’s voice. Their hands, about to knock on the door again, paused mid-air. They looked at each other, forced a dry smile, and said nothing more.

At this moment, there was a noise at the front door.

Mother Xie sighed and went to open the door. When she saw the two people standing there, her fingers twitched, and she instinctively wanted to close the door.

However, the two had already walked in directly.

“Who is it…” Father Xie asked, hearing footsteps, but when he saw the two figures entering, his expression changed instantly.

After a while, he murmured, “Brother Chen and Sister-in-law, why are you here?”

Chen Pengfei looked at the two and said nothing.

“Hmph, do you think we wouldn’t come? Do you still remember the Chen family in your hearts?” Mrs. Chen sneered and sat directly on the sofa impolitely.

Father Xie and Mother Xie smiled awkwardly and explained, “These days, it’s been chaotic outside. I haven’t been out for a long time, and old Xie’s work has been stopped for a few days.”

“Is that so? I misunderstood you then. I thought you were also the type to change with the circumstances. After all, the relationship between our two families is quite unusual.” Mrs. Chen smiled faintly at the two.

“Yes, yes…” Mother Xie nodded hastily in agreement.

Over the years, the Chen family had become powerful, and she had become accustomed to flattering Mrs. Chen. At this moment, she instinctively continued to fawn.

Mrs. Chen lifted her chin slightly, “Where is Jinyu? Why haven’t I seen him? Zexin is going to the farm in Beidahuang tomorrow. Jinyu should be ready, right?”

Father Xie and Mother Xie were stunned. “What… what do you mean?”

Chen Pengfei, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke, “It’s not good for the young couple to be separated by distance. It’s not conducive to nurturing their relationship. Jinyu should go to Beidahuang with Zexin to take care of him. I will arrange the money and the proof.”

“What?” Mother Xie screamed. “You… you want Jinyu to go too?”

Father Xie was also shocked. “Brother Chen, Sister-in-law, isn’t this too much?”

Mrs. Chen sneered, “What’s wrong with it? They were engaged. If it weren’t for the incident, they would be married by now.”

Father Xie frowned, “But they aren’t married after all.”

Mother Xie quickly shook her head, “No, Beidahuang is such a harsh place. Jinyu has never suffered. He can’t go!”

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Chen’s sneer turned icy. She almost gnashed her teeth as she spoke, “Your Jinyu has never suffered, but has my Zexin suffered? Hmph, my Chen family has become like this all thanks to your two good sons. One is so foolish it’s unbelievable, and the other loves to meddle!”

“My son has to suffer, and you think you can wait until things blow over and live a good life again? Dream on!”

Chen Pengfei looked up at the two and said word by word, “Your adopted son found a good husband. I can’t touch him for now. But do you think your biological son can stay out of this? I’ve lost power now, but as the saying goes, ‘a starved camel is still bigger than a horse.’ It’s still easy for me to deal with you.”

Father Xie frowned deeply, “Brother Chen, this is going to completely ruin our relationship. All parents love their children.”

Chen Pengfei stood up coldly, “Don’t talk nonsense with me. Now that my son is like this, you’d better behave yourselves. Otherwise, who knows what might happen if you suddenly encounter something while walking down the street!”

After speaking, he and Mrs. Chen left the Xie family’s house directly.

Mother Xie watched their departing figures and collapsed onto the sofa, crying out, “Oh, what a sin! How is this fair? They can’t control their son’s hands and feet, acting indecently towards others. Why should my Jinyu suffer along with him?”

After crying for a while.

Mother Xie sat up and scolded Father Xie, “It’s all your fault, insisting on arranging this marriage for Jinyu!”

Father Xie rubbed his temples and sighed, “Wasn’t this originally arranged for Xie Yiyang?”

Mother Xie immediately found a vent for her anger and started yelling louder, “Yes, it’s all Xie Yiyang’s fault, that jinx. This marriage was supposed to be his. He should be the one going to Beidahuang. He has caused my Jinyu so much suffering…”

…

At the same time, in the dormitory courtyard of the neighboring agricultural repair factory.

The autumn wind rustled the curtains, slipping quietly into the room.

A fair calf that had inadvertently stretched out from under the blanket, sensing the coolness, immediately retreated back in.

Gu Siyuan looked up from the book in his hand, smiling as he watched the little one snuggling closer to him. He slipped his strong, straight legs around those slightly cool, slender ankles under the blanket.

“Mm…” Xie Yiyang felt the warmth from his legs and rubbed his face against Gu Siyuan’s chest, exhaling contentedly.

Gu Siyuan reached out and pinched his sleep-flushed cheek.

Xie Yiyang murmured, “Husband…”

“Mm.” Gu Siyuan responded softly, looking at him.

Xie Yiyang blinked sleepily, his eyes meeting his handsome husband’s face, and couldn’t help but stare for a moment. His heart started to beat faster.

Today, Gu Siyuan looked a bit different from usual. Sitting in bed reading, he wore a pair of simple tea-colored framed glasses on his tall nose.

Originally stern and deep-set features were softened by this, exuding a mysterious scholarly aura. Combined with his strong, muscular upper body, it created a contradictory and enticing charm that made one want to pounce on him and strip him bare.

“…” Xie Yiyang couldn’t help but curl his toes shyly.

Seeing him staring blankly, then blushing inexplicably, Gu Siyuan found it amusing.

His thumb moved slowly from Xie Yiyang’s cheek to his soft, red lips, and he whispered, “Mr. Xie, tell me, what are you thinking about?”

“…”

Hearing the lingering “Mr. Xie,” Xie Yiyang’s face turned even redder.

Gu Siyuan raised an eyebrow, “Mr. Xie, do you have any secrets you can’t share?”

Xie Yiyang quickly shook his head.

He shrank entirely under the blanket, like a curled-up cat, disappearing completely.

“…” Gu Siyuan.

It had been a while since he’d seen his wife this shy.

He chuckled softly and took off his glasses, placing them on the bedside table.

These were a farewell gift from Section Chief Lu two days ago.

The day before yesterday was his last day working at the agricultural repair factory, and after the Mid-Autumn Festival, he and Xie Yiyang were moving to the city.

Oh. Today was the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Remembering this, Gu Siyuan gently patted the round lump under the blanket and said lightly, “It’s already past ten o’clock. Shouldn’t we go out and buy groceries?”

The next moment, like a carp leaping out of the water, the entire blanket was lifted, bringing a breeze with it.

Xie Yiyang glared at him, panicking, “It’s already past ten?”

Gu Siyuan nodded, “Yes.”

“You…” Xie Yiyang gave him an angry look, then quickly jumped out of bed, hurriedly putting on his clothes and shoes. “Why didn’t you say so earlier? Today is a holiday. Everyone must have gone out early. If we go now, forget mooncakes; we might not even find a few vegetable leaves…”

“If we can’t find any, then forget it. Didn’t we still have some leftovers from yesterday?” Gu Siyuan stood up and said leisurely.

Seeing him like this, Xie Yiyang got even angrier and pounced on him, “It’s a holiday! Don’t we need fresh food?”

Gu Siyuan held him and lifted him slightly, saying calmly, “Then let’s go now. If we’re lucky, we might still find something.”

“Hmph!”

Xie Yiyang, in a fit of anger, bit him hard on the lips.

As a result, Gu Siyuan countered, pinning him against the wall and kissing him for a long time.

By the time they actually left the house, Xie Yiyang’s lips were already swollen.

They ran to the supply and marketing cooperative and the department store, only to find that the mooncakes had long been snapped up. In the end, they could only buy a pound of flour and a handful of green beans.

Xie Yiyang tugged at Gu Siyuan’s fingers, “It’s all your fault.”

Gu Siyuan pinched his chin, “You’re unreasonable. Who got up late?”

Xie Yiyang pouted, “That’s because you were too… too… last night. I went to bed too late.”

Gu Siyuan chuckled softly, “Too what?”

Xie Yiyang saw through his mischief and blushed, ignoring him as he walked quickly ahead.

With his long legs, Gu Siyuan caught up in no time.

Seeing his little wife’s disappointed face, he thought for a moment and seriously comforted him, “It’s okay if we don’t have mooncakes. Didn’t we just buy flour? We can make buns or stuffed pancakes at home. They’re round, too.”

“…” Xie Yiyang was shocked.

Round?

Is that how it works?

If Xie Yiyang were in the 21st century, he’d probably know the term “straight man.”

The two of them bantered as they returned to the agricultural repair factory courtyard.

Smoke was already rising from the stoves of the other families in the yard.

In the open space, a few children were playing, each holding a small piece of mooncake tightly. It seemed the adults had cut them from a whole to appease their clamor.

Xie Yiyang gave Gu Siyuan another angry look.

Even the kids had some…

Gu Siyuan found it amusing. Was his wife still a child, so obsessed with a mooncake?

He cleared his throat, glanced at Xie Yiyang, and said seriously, “Wait, I’ll make a mooncake appear for you.”

“…” Xie Yiyang.

What is he up to?

Gu Siyuan took something out of his pocket, walked over to the kids, and said loudly, “Little comrades, whoever lets Mr. Xie take a bite of their mooncake will get this toy.”

“…” Xie Yiyang.

Xie Yiyang wanted to find a hole to crawl into.

But he couldn’t.

Because a kid had already eagerly come over, raising his hand high, “Mr. Xie, mine, mine, you can have it…”

Xie Yiyang closed his eyes, forcing a smile at the eager children, “Brother doesn’t eat mooncakes, really. You all can play with the toy together…”

Then he grabbed Gu Siyuan, who had been standing aside, and hurriedly ran upstairs.

As he ran, Xie Yiyang swore to himself.

He wouldn’t talk to this annoying guy, Gu Siyuan, for the rest of the day.

After entering their home, Gu Siyuan put down the groceries.

Xie Yiyang sat angrily on the sofa.

Gu Siyuan reached out and pinched his cheek, “What, not going to cook?”

Xie Yiyang huffed and turned his head away.

Gu Siyuan watched him for a moment, then went into the kitchen.

Since they were moving to the city soon, there wasn’t much food left in the house, most of it already eaten.

Apart from the cured meat hanging under the eaves, there were only two potatoes.

He poked his head out of the kitchen and said, “We still have some cured meat. With the green beans we just bought, let’s make buns with cured meat and green bean filling, and a cold potato salad.”

“Cured meat and green bean filling? Do buns like that exist?” Xie Yiyang asked, eyes wide with curiosity.

But as soon as he finished speaking, he remembered his vow not to talk to Gu Siyuan today.

But it was too late.

“Yes.” Gu Siyuan nodded seriously, holding back a laugh.

Though he’d never had such buns, if they could be stir-fried together, why couldn’t they be used as a filling?

“…” Xie Yiyang was fooled by his husband’s serious expression.

But he was quite curious about the cured meat and green bean buns. He wondered if they would taste good…

At that moment, Gu Siyuan beckoned him, “Come, let’s cook together.”

Xie Yiyang’s eyes darted around, then he slowly got up and walked over.

Well, he wasn’t intentionally breaking his promise.

He was just being forced by Gu Siyuan. If he didn’t cooperate now, what if Gu Siyuan didn’t give him any buns later or punished him at night?

After considering this, Xie Yiyang felt at ease.

Face is important, but is it more important than good food and a harmonious sex life?

Gu Siyuan took charge of preparing the filling, finely chopping the cured meat and green beans, then stir-frying them with soy sauce, salt, and chili powder.

Xie Yiyang mixed warm water into the flour, kneading and letting it rise.

They finished their tasks almost simultaneously and then started making the buns.

Xie Yiyang felt a surge of pride and satisfaction.

Haha…

His otherwise capable husband made such ugly buns out of simple dough!

Gu Siyuan placed his deformed buns behind Xie Yiyang’s neat and smooth ones, like unsightly lumps in a well-ordered lineup.

They used up all the flour, making twelve buns in total. Xie Yiyang made eight, while Gu Siyuan managed four.

In his original world, despite not growing up in a well-off family, he could do all kinds of farm work and household chores. But being from the south, he rarely ate wheat-based foods or made steamed buns at home.

Not being picky about food and finding it troublesome, he never bothered to learn how to make buns.

Now, he was quite embarrassed.

Xie Yiyang looked at his husband’s lumpy buns and mischievously said, “This is what they call ‘as inside, so outside.’ Because you’re a big bad guy inside, the buns you make look so improper, not like good ones at all.”

“…” Gu Siyuan looked at him expressionlessly.

Do you think I can’t tell you’re insulting me?

Xie Yiyang giggled, dodging his gaze, and ran off with the steaming basket of buns.

The stove in the corridor already had boiling water. The steaming basket was placed on top, and they started steaming the buns.

Gu Siyuan leaned against the wall, watching his little wife busy at work.

Xie Yiyang squatted at the doorway, staring intently at the steaming basket.

When the buns were ready, the one he had criticized as improper was the first he grabbed and stuffed into his mouth.

Gu Siyuan asked, “Does it taste different?”

Xie Yiyang’s eyes shifted, and he stubbornly said, “It’s definitely not as good as the ones I made.”

Gu Siyuan looked at his proud wife, then picked up the three remaining misshapen buns, his creations.

Seeing this, Xie Yiyang got anxious, “Are you only going to eat those? You’re such a big guy, will you be full?”

Gu Siyuan nodded, “Yes.”

“…” Xie Yiyang glared at him.

Was he purposely avoiding his buns?

Pouting, Xie Yiyang picked a well-made bun from the basket and placed it in Gu Siyuan’s bowl, saying haughtily, “I noticed you’ve lost weight recently. Is work too hard? Here, eat more. I had one of yours earlier, so this one’s for you.”

Gu Siyuan glanced down, suppressing a smile, then took a bite of the bun.

The savory taste of cured meat and the sweetness of green beans exploded in his mouth.

Xie Yiyang watched him intently and immediately asked, “How is it? Tasty?”

Gu Siyuan looked at him silently.

“…” Xie Yiyang was anxious, “Not good?”

Gu Siyuan took another big bite, chewed slowly, swallowed, and finally said, “It’s delicious, very delicious. It does seem to taste better than mine.”

“Hehe…” Xie Yiyang beamed with pride.

Then, he took several of the best-looking buns from the basket and placed them in Gu Siyuan’s bowl, “Eat up. If you like it, eat more. Hehe…”

Gu Siyuan nodded.

Indeed, a high-level hunter often appears in the form of prey.

Sure enough, his wife was no longer angry, and the delicious food was delivered right to him.