The Happy Farmer Wanderer-Chapter 146 Hu Wei’s Choice_1

When Li Qing returned from the city after making his deliveries, he was greeted by a familiar, rotund figure standing at his doorstep, which brought a smile to his face.

"Hu Fatty!" he shouted and hurried over.

The person waiting at Li Qing’s doorstep was none other than Hu Wei, who had been elusive lately.

When Hu Wei turned around to look, Li Qing was startled.

Although Hu Wei’s physique seemed as robust as before, his face had noticeably thinned, his eyes were sunken, and he looked particularly dejected, resembling a frostbitten eggplant.

"Now that things have come to this, you should try to look on the bright side," Li Qing advised.

"I indeed have let go," Hu Wei said with a bitter smile, "When my dad was around, I felt like a carefree knight-errant from the novels. But now, I’ve finally started to see some things. It’s not too bad."

"But you look like this..." Li Qing didn’t quite know how to console Hu Wei and paused before saying, "Never mind, it doesn’t seem necessary to say much else. Anyway, that’s how things are. Don’t go out to work. Stay and help me instead. I’ll give you six thousand a month, and you’ll be able to take care of your family."

"Six thousand?" Hu Wei looked at Li Qing and asked, "Does your business make that much money?"

"We grew up together wearing open-crotch pants, buddy. Even if my business doesn’t make money, your share will still be there," Li Qing laughed and said, "Because of your father’s issue, people in the village haven’t been friendly towards you and Auntie Yu Lan lately. If you stay, you can earn money right at your doorstep and take care of your family at the same time—it’s the best of both worlds."

"I visited my father yesterday. He has already arranged everything. Wu Xingxing will stay at my place temporarily to keep my stepmother company, and I’ll go out and make my way in the world," Hu Wei said, shaking his head.

"Qingzi, I appreciate your kindness, but I still want to go out and see the world for myself," he said.

"If you really want to help me, you could just give me some money for travel expenses."

"Are you really short on cash?" Li Qing was surprised.

"I actually am," Hu Wei said with a wry smile, "Although my dad is locked up now, we’ve spent a good deal of money recently. He tried to pull strings through his connections, throwing money left and right. He entrusted the business to someone else and didn’t leave much for my stepmother."

Li Qing was immediately annoyed.

Hu Youyu really was no good.

"How much do you need?" Li Qing asked.

"Two thousand should be enough. I have a relative who runs a factory, and I’m planning to go help him out," Hu Wei responded.

"Wait here for a moment!" Li Qing turned and went into the main room, counted out four thousand yuan, and handed it to Hu Wei.

"Fatty, if you can’t make it out there, come back and help me. Together, we can make it big and strong," he said.

Hu Wei gave a forced smile, "If the outside world isn’t for me, I’ll come back."

He counted the money, handed the extra two thousand back to Li Qing, "Good brother, I appreciate the sentiment, but two thousand is enough."

"Keep it, it’s my sponsorship for you!" said Li Qing.

"I really don’t need it, I have principles now," Hu Wei insisted, pushing the money back into Li Qing’s hands.

Li Qing was caught between a smile and a sigh.

It was clear he did have principles now.

To think he would refuse money.

"I’m off. If I make it big, I’ll invest in you," Hu Wei waved nonchalantly and walked away with an air of ease.

Yet this carefree departure, in Li Qing’s eyes, seemed forlorn no matter how one looked at it.

"Qingzi!"

Yang Xuelan came out from the yard," I’ve finished sorting through most of it. I’ll head back and start cooking. You, your sister-in-law, and Tian Yue’e should come over to my house for dinner later. I’ve already told them."

"Tonight, I’ll have Gao Li join you for a drink."

Li Qing instantly understood the profound and subtly spring-like look in her eyes.

It seemed Yang Xuelan was about to carry out the plan she had long devised but never managed to execute.

"I’ll go buy the liquor later, no need to prepare it at home," Li Qing said.

"We have liquor at home, but if you feel embarrassed coming empty-handed, suit yourself!" Yang Xuelan winked, swaying her plump hips, then turned around the corner to her place.

Li Qing watched her voluptuous rear disappear around the corner before he started walking towards the entrance of the village.

Gao Li had a penchant for drinking, but a small amount wouldn’t necessarily get him drunk.

Under the setting sun, Auntie Caili was sitting in front of the convenience store, chatting on the phone.

Li Qing couldn’t tell whom she was talking to as she laughed heartily, so much so that even the two mounds in front of her were trembling.

Upon seeing Li Qing approach, her already enthusiastic, laughing face suddenly took on an ambiguous hint.

"I’ll talk to you later, I have a visitor," she said into the phone.

After telling the person on the line, she slipped her phone into her pocket and pressed herself against Li Qing’s side, her hand resting on his crotch.

Li Qing jumped in shock, "Auntie, not in broad daylight, stop it!"

"No one’s around, what are you afraid of?" Auntie Caili giggled. "Go on, touch me, I’m not scared."

This woman was becoming bolder by the day.

Li Qing shoved Auntie Caili into the convenience store, slipping his right hand inside her neckline.

"How come there’s no reaction?" Auntie Caili pressed her hand on Li Qing’s crotch again.

"I’m not one of those overly passionate animals that reacts to a simple touch, that would be ridiculous," Li Qing said irritably.

"It seems that I’m not attractive enough to you," Auntie Caili lamented with self-pity.

Li Qing, speechless to the point of wanting to roll his eyes, lightly tugged on the full grape up top a few times until Auntie Caili’s voice changed in pitch, and then he stopped.

"Your allure has always been strong, Auntie, but if I were to react each time you touched me, that would probably mean something’s wrong with me," Li Qing said.

If it were before, he probably would react to the slightest touch.

But now, unless he was particularly in the mood for it, it was unlikely to happen.

He still felt sore from wrestling with Yu Lan the previous night and had no desire at all.

"Go, fetch me two bottles of the strong stuff!"

Li Qing pulled his hand out and gave Auntie Caili’s plump buttocks a solid smack.

With a soft moan, Auntie Caili twisted her waist and went behind the counter, placing two bottles on the table.

"They’re not expensive, but the old drinkers love this one," Auntie Caili purred.

"This one will do, how much?" Li Qing asked.

"I’ll give it to you at cost, 180 for two bottles," said Auntie Caili. "I feel guilty making money off you."

Li Qing gazed at Auntie Caili, who seemed almost boundless in her flirtations, and really wanted to pin her on the bed and have his way with her.

This woman was a true siren, the more you played with her, the wilder she became.

Now, just a casual glance from her almost seemed like it could drip water.

"Come over tonight, I’ll have cleaned up and I’ll be waiting for you. However you want to do it, I’ll cooperate," Auntie Caili said eagerly, seeing the heated look in Li Qing’s eyes.