?59: Chapter 59 Bad Person 59: Chapter 59 Bad Person These oranges were just delicious; after eating one, you were left wanting more.

    Fen Ran casually picked a ripe-looking orange from the tree beside her, peeled it in no time, and shoved it into her mouth.

    “Oh, my gosh, what is this?

    Why is it so sour?”

    Liu Hun laughed and explained immediately, “Sister Yue, these oranges need to be treated to taste good.

    Didn’t Sister Bai Lian tell you before?

    My temple has special agricultural chemicals for processing crops, and I guarantee after treatment, they’ll all taste great.”

    Fen Ran let out a yelp, the sourness making her shiver all over; the two things in front of her shook like ripe papayas for a while, seemingly about to drop if she wasn’t careful.

    Fen Ran rushed home to change clothes, not even minding the lack of underwear, but the orange’s interruption had made her forget what she was planning to do.

    The jiggling of those burdens reminded her, so she tossed the remaining oranges to the ground, puffed up her already ample chest, and massaged her own heart while saying to Liu Hun, “Hun, it seems this orange made me feel a bit uncomfortable.

    Can you take a look at it for me?”

    After saying this, her heart was pounding like a grasshopper, contemplating that if Liu Hun came closer and saw through her thin top, he wouldn’t be able to resist.

    By then, it would be like a pile driver hitting a springside in the sandy soil, and a poke would make Shui’er spray out.

    “Hun, what are you gawking at?

    Are you just comfortable looking at me?

    Want to see something else too?” Fen Ran’s voice was so sultry that it made your legs go numb.

    She looked at Liu Hun with a half-smile, one hand slowly unbuttoning the lowest button on her shirt.

    Suddenly!

    Liu Hun took a step toward Fen Ran, and she felt her heart blossom like a peach.

    As her wrist was grabbed by Liu Hun, she couldn’t help but let out a contented hum from her throat, thinking the moment had come.

    “Hun, I’ve been neglected for too long...

    you have to cherish it.” Fen Ran watched as Liu Hun dragged her towards the thatched hut in the garden, and instantly a blend of tingling and maddening sensations surged within her.

    “Shh...

    lower your voice, someone’s coming!” Liu Hun didn’t wait for Fen Ran to continue blabbering and dragged her to hide beside the thatched hut.

    Earlier, while watching Fen Ran eat the orange, Liu Hun had heard someone approaching from that direction, so he zoned out to listen for a while.

    Once sure someone was indeed coming, he quickly took Fen Ran to hide.

    Fen Ran now understood why Liu Hun had been staring at her earlier; he was actually focusing on listening and wasn’t attracted at all.

    She felt as though she had been kicked off a ladder atop a roof, stuck neither here nor there, alive but not living, feeling utterly miserable.

    “Sister Yue, look who that is.” Liu Hun extended his jaw to signal Fen Ran to look in that direction.

    Fen Ran suppressed the discomfort crawling over her body like insects, casting a long-suffering glance at Liu Hun before looking over.

    She saw Mo Wen and another man she didn’t recognize, walking and talking, “Who has Mo Wen come with?

    Could it be that boss, Xu Gaowang?”

    “Seeing them shoulder to shoulder like that, it’s most likely that black-hearted Boss Xu,” Liu Hun judged, eyeing the two.

    As they chatted, the two men edged closer to the hut, on the path that inevitably led to Ye Canghai’s home.

    “Brother Xu!

    What do you think of my proposal?” Mo Wen asked Xu Gaowang, lowering his head and looking around furtively.

    Slightly chubby Xu Gaowang, whose eyes were nearly rolled up to the top of his head, looked even more detestable than Mo Wen.

    He lifted his head, picked an orange to sniff, and, disliking it, tossed it on the ground, saying, “Bah!

    These oranges are really no good.

    But, you know...”

    Xu Gaowang grinned roguishly at Mo Wen, saying, “We’re close, aren’t we?

    Since you’ve brought it up, everything’s negotiable.”

    “Thanks a lot, Brother Xu!

    But... how do you plan to handle these oranges?” Mo Wen asked curiously.

    “Sell them!

    Turn them into money!” Xu Gaowang said, as if it were the most obvious thing.

    “Sell them?

    These...

    will sell?” Mo Wen asked in confusion.

    Xu Gaowang chuckled, “This, young lad, you don’t get!

    I have connections at the Cooperative.

    Sell them with the oranges from your Orange Garden, and they definitely won’t sell.

    But think about it, if I mix these half-ripe ones with good oranges?

    With nine pounds of good oranges, I add a pound of your oranges.

    Wouldn’t they all sell at the price of good oranges?”

    “But...

    what if someone finds out?” Mo Wen continued questioning.

    Xu Gaowang pointed at Mo Wen’s nose and said, “Hah!

    I know what you’re thinking.

    Don’t worry; it won’t implicate you!

    We cooked the books together before, and no one found out; this is barely an issue!

    Once these oranges are in my hands, they’ll go to the Cooperative and become money.

    Whoever the unlucky sap is that buys them, well, sucks to be them.

    Besides, don’t those ten pounds still have nine pounds of good fruit?

    We’re quite considerate.

    In business, the mind has to be nimble.

    Look at you folks from Wanbao Village, a bunch of stubborn mules—who would be poor if not you?”

    “Brother Xu, you’re truly brilliant!

    I deeply admire you!

    We’ll have to collaborate well in the future!” Mo Wen flattered Xu Gaowang, almost ready to grovel at his feet.

    “By the way!

    Mo Wen, your village’s poverty relief funds are coming soon.

    I heard your village suffered a flood last time, destroying many houses.

    Do you know about this?” Xu Gaowang inquired, probing rather than genuinely asking.

    Mo Wen slicked back his greasy hair with a know-it-all air, replying, “What don’t I know?

    Those unruly villagers in our village, they deserved it if they died.

    When the Mayor came to inspect, they dared to block him and demand money, making a scene?

    Aren’t they just courting death?

    Oh yes!

    Later, a female director from the town came once, too.

    She was also surrounded and caused a lot of trouble; I heard when she left, her legs were still shaking.

    Aren’t these villagers shining a light in the restroom, asking for trouble?”

    “That’s not right!

    Why do I remember when Director Ren returned to the town, she seemed flush with health, looking a lot more replenished?

    I thought she had a good time in your village.

    What happened with the siege?” Xu Gaowang asked Mo Wen in confusion.

    He often maneuvered through the Township Government and knew quite a few things, but why Ren Peiling’s legs shook while her face was all radiant was beyond his maneuvering to find out.

    Mo Wen’s sly mouse eyes twinkled as he chuckled to Xu Gaowang, “Brother Xu, aren’t you thinking about dipping your toe into some flavor?

    I see that female director has a face and a body, plus a whole official demeanor, something not just anybody can handle.”

    “Go, go, go, stop spouting nonsense.

    You, once you pick up a gun, you’re thinking about shooting cats.

    Let me tell you, this Director Ren isn’t someone small-time.” Xu Gaowang waved at Mo Wen, then continued seriously, “After Director Ren went back, she reported your village’s situation upstairs.

    This time, your village will get at least forty percent more poverty alleviation funds.

    You know what to do, right?” He finished by rubbing his fingers at Mo Wen.

    Mo Wen naturally understood Xu Gaowang’s meaning, patting his chest and saying, “Rest assured, this money we will skim oil not leaving a single drop, and you won’t be short-changed.

    I’m the accountant of Wanbao Village; all accounts go through my hands, and it’ll be seamless, nothing even a god could detect.

    Brother Xu, I have another little dream...”

    “What dream?” Xu Gaowang asked Mo Wen.

    Mo Wen chuckled slyly, “You know I’ve got a couple of women in town.

    Can you share a bit more of the money?”

    “Look at you!

    Such small ambitions!

    Don’t worry, you won’t miss out.” Xu Gaowang laughed heartily.

    After a few more steps, Mo Wen dragged Xu Gaowang again, saying, “Brother Xu, this time it’s Ye Canghai coming to you for help; keep pressing the price down, press it hard.

    The more we press, the more we earn selling at normal orange prices.”

    Xu Gaowang gave Mo Wen a contemptuous look, saying, “You’ve got nothing but wickedness in that belly of yours!

    Alright, I’ll go along with your idea, let’s go!”

    Arm in arm, they headed to Ye Canghai’s house, while Liu Hun and Fen Ran, inside the thatched hut, fumed with indignation.

    They hadn’t expected Mo Wen to be so bold to the point of being a village turncoat.

    “That Mo Wen!

    He’s colluding with Xu Gaowang to scheme against our village’s poverty funds and trying to press down our orange prices.

    It’s infuriating.

    No way!

    We must tell Canghai about this!” Fen Ran suddenly stood up, speaking angrily as she prepared to leave, all her unrighteous anger turned into outright fury.

    Just as Fen Ran stood, Liu Hun stopped her, advising, “Sister Yue, we can’t be so rash.”

    “Then what do you suggest?” Fen Ran asked Liu Hun, suddenly realizing that even at home, she was the one in charge, unexpected now to seek the advice of this man before her.

    Liu Hun had already been planning to deal with Mo Wen.

    Now he had brought himself to the knife’s point, “I have a plan.

    Just keep quiet, okay?

    Let’s go!”

    When the two returned home, Ye Canghai was inside, entertaining Xu Gaowang and Mo Wen with tea.

    “Everyone’s here!

    Perfect!

    Let me introduce you.” Ye Canghai stood enthusiastically to introduce Liu Hun and his own wife to Xu Gaowang.

    Xu Gaowang’s lascivious eyes lingered on Fen Ran for quite a while, while Fen Ran gave him a disdainful look, quickly crossed her arms in front of her to shield the crucial empty part inside.

    Once everyone was acquainted, Ye Canghai asked Xu Gaowang, “I heard from Accountant Mo that Boss Xu is willing to take in the oranges from our garden.

    What are your thoughts, Boss Xu?”

    Xu Gaowang chuckled, his sly eyes occasionally sliding towards Fen Ran as he spoke to Ye Canghai, “I’m old buddies with Detian; we’re close, needless to say.

    I’m definitely willing to help with his affairs.”