Unruly

Her voice was clear and bright, her neck slightly raised, like a proud white swan.

"Why are you here again?"

"Every month, you come to my house to mooch food and drink. Fine, whatever. But this time, you even brought someone else along."

"You have no shame at all."

The haughty young girl tilted up her nose, treating Fang Yue and Fang Ergou entirely like poor country relatives.

"You, you, you—"

Fang Ergou's face flushed red with anger. He huffed and puffed, but clumsy with words as he was, he could not get anything out.

"You can't even speak properly. Go play somewhere else."

Zhang Shu shoved Fang Ergou aside with one hand. She was incredibly strong. Though Fang Ergou was much bigger than her, he could not last even a single move against her.

She looked at Fang Yue, her gaze falling on his face. She was slightly startled. This boy was rather good-looking.

But she was still not polite. "I just saw my father give you Silver Beans. How about this? The two of us have a match. If you lose, you give me those Silver Beans."

Zhang Shu was brimming with fighting spirit, eager to give it a try.

"No match, no match." Fang Yue shook his head. There was no way he would fall for this little girl's trick.

He had not learned anything yet. He was not even a match for Er Gou, and this girl was even stronger than Er Gou.

He would have to be an idiot to compete with her.

Wouldn't that just be asking for a beating?

Besides, even putting all that aside, competing with a girl would not look good if he lost.

And if he won, there was nothing glorious about it either.

No matter how he looked at it, it was a losing proposition. He would not compete with this girl.

Zhang Shu seemed not to have expected Fang Yue to so readily and decisively refuse to compete.

She froze, unable to stop herself from sizing Fang Yue up from head to toe.

"You really are a coward. Er Gou, where did you find such a scaredy-cat, such a country bumpkin? You have no shame at all."

Just then, Zhang Baiyang's voice came from the main hall.

"Shu'er, are you being naughty again? Hurry and bring your two junior brothers in. It's time to eat."

"Got it, Father."

Zhang Shu answered sweetly. A smile bloomed across her face like a lotus about to open, beautiful and captivating.

She blinked at Fang Yue. "Junior Brothers, it's time to eat."

"Oh."

Fang Yue and Fang Ergou answered together and followed Zhang Shu into the main hall.

When they reached the hall, a whole table of dishes had already been laid out.

Four meat dishes and six vegetable dishes—it was quite a feast.

They had color, aroma, and flavor in equal measure.

Though the dishes were simple, they had been prepared with exquisite care. The cook was clearly exceptional.

It was obvious that Zhang Baiyang's family was quite particular about food.

"Sit, all of you, sit."

They were all martial artists, so there was no need for so much etiquette.

Besides, Zhang Baiyang doted greatly on his daughter. Rules such as women not being allowed at the table did not exist in the Zhang Family.

Fang Ergou had long since sat down at the table in eager anticipation. The moment the two elders gave permission, he immediately began wolfing down the food.

"Junior Brother Fang, hurry and try this dried bamboo shoots stir-fried with meat. It's absolutely first-rate."

Zhang Shu called out to him, smiling at Fang Yue with great kindness. There was not a trace left of her earlier overbearing manner.

It could only be said that women were born actors. Their faces changed faster than the pages of a book.

Fang Yue did not stand on ceremony. He picked up a chopstickful and put it in his mouth, chewing.

It really did taste good.

The food was delicious, and he ate with relish. Before long, he had finished a large bowl of rice.

A jar of wine was brought out as well. Fang Yue and Fang Ergou could only follow the two elders and drink some.

This was Fang Yue's first time drinking wine, so he merely took small sips.

But when Zhang Shu saw this, Fang Yue became even more displeasing to her eyes.

"Go serve your two junior brothers a bowl of rice," Zhang Baiyang said to Zhang Shu.

"Oh, got it, Father."

Zhang Shu obediently agreed, then rose from her seat and went to the kitchen.

By then, Fang Yue had also drunk a bowl of wine.

He felt the urge to urinate. After excusing himself to the two elders, he went outside.

Having just used the latrine and preparing to return, he saw Zhang Shu in the kitchen, constantly adding something to a bowl.

When he stepped a little closer, he saw that Zhang Shu was holding chili paste, spoonful after spoonful, adding it to the bowl. Finally, she covered the chili paste with a layer of rice.

Once she was done, she kept muttering, "Hmph, mooching food, are you? Mooching wine, are you? Spicy enough to kill you... kill you with spice..."

Seeing this, Fang Yue could not help looking at Zhang Shu's delicate face and making a heavy note of it in his heart.

There was no need to guess. That specially prepared bowl of rice was definitely for him.

Just because he had not competed with her—did she really have to retaliate like this?

Women and petty men were truly the hardest to deal with!

Fang Yue promptly slipped away quietly.

Not long after he returned to the table, he drank another cup with the two elders. Then, taking the chance, he pretended to be unable to hold his liquor and collapsed onto the table.

"Er Gou, help your Junior Brother Fang go rest."

Seeing this, Zhang Baiyang immediately spoke to Er Gou.

Soon, Fang Ergou and Fang Yue left the table, leaving only Fang Hu and Zhang Baiyang to drink together.

At that very moment, Zhang Shu entered, smiling like a flower as she carried two bowls of rice.

"Father, where are the two Junior Brothers Fang?"

Seeing the situation in the room, Zhang Shu was instantly dumbfounded and hurriedly asked.

"They went to rest. You came at just the right time. Uncle Fang and I happen to be hungry."

Zhang Baiyang had his daughter give the rice to the two of them.

"Shu'er, what's wrong? What are you standing there for?"

When Zhang Baiyang saw that Zhang Shu had not moved for a long while, he stepped forward himself, took the rice from her hands, gave one bowl to Fang Hu, and kept the other for himself.

"Ah, Father, I just remembered—I still have something to do. I'll head out first."

Zhang Shu finally came to her senses. Seeing her own father holding the specially doctored bowl of rice and preparing to eat, she hurriedly came up with an excuse.

Then, without waiting for Zhang Baiyang to respond, she hurried away.

"That child is always so rash and impetuous. How will she ever find a good husband's family in the future?" Zhang Baiyang shook his head and smiled unconcernedly.

"Heh heh, Shu'er is naturally gifted and intelligent. Her future achievements will surely be extraordinary. Why should Senior Brother worry so much?" Fang Hu echoed.

Zhang Baiyang agreed with that.

His daughter's talent was indeed excellent. Perhaps she might even surpass him in martial cultivation someday. When that time came, she would naturally be able to support this family.

With that thought, Zhang Baiyang immediately took a huge bite of rice.

"Shu'er!"

"You wretched girl, you've spiced me to death!"

"Brother Zhi, did you hear someone say they were spiced to death?" In truth, the moment Fang Ergou had helped Fang Yue out—

Fang Yue had woken up, and the two of them had gone to the Zhang Family's guest room.

"No. You must have heard wrong." Fang Yue naturally knew what had happened, but he had to play dumb.

"No? I really think I heard it!" Fang Ergou scratched his head. Forget it, whoever got spiced was not his concern.

Chili peppers were so expensive. To get spiced that badly, how much would it take?