Chapter 299: I Have A Heart Of Stone!
Feeling the cool dampness of the jade hand on his arm, the viciousness in Cao Weida’s eyes dissipated quite a bit, but his anger only increased instead of diminishing.
The current weather wasn’t cold at all, and even showed signs of early summer; the chill from his arm was clearly cold sweat from being startled!
He turned around and looked at Luo Mengyun, whose face showed worry; his gaze instantly softened.
He patted the hand on his arm and asked with concern, “Mengyun, are you okay?”
Luo Mengyun’s face was somewhat pale, but her expression was actually pretty good; she gently shook her head.
She had indeed been scared just now, and the moment she saw Cao Weida arrive, a complex emotion suddenly surged in her heart.
“Is this the feeling of a hero saving the beauty?”
Luo Mengyun gazed at Cao Weida in a daze; as a literary young woman, she had no resistance to the “hero saves the beauty” trope she had only seen in novels.
She only felt her heart pounding; the originally pale cheeks gradually flushed with red.
“Good that you’re okay.” Cao Weida breathed a sigh of relief, glancing at the three thugs groaning lowly on the ground; his gaze turned icy cold again.
He took out the whistle he carried with him and blew a sharp whistle.
Soon, several patrolmen in uniforms hurried over and were all stunned by the scene before them.
At this moment, one of the patrolmen suddenly recognized Cao Weida’s face; his whole body trembled involuntarily, and he immediately stood straight, saluted, and shouted loudly, “Good day, Director!!”
Cao Weida remembered this man; he was one of the two patrolmen who had arrested Liu Er.
The other patrolmen were shocked upon hearing this; those who didn’t know Cao Weida’s appearance sneaked a glance—this lord was actually the new director?!
These three thugs on the ground—could it be that the director took them down?!
With no time to think more, they hurriedly saluted and shouted in the same way, “Good day, Director!”
Cao Weida nodded with a stern face, pointed at the three thugs on the ground, and said coldly, “Drag these three things back to the police station and ‘question’ them properly.”
“Yes!”
The patrolmen didn’t dare to slack off and immediately stepped forward, roughly dragging the three thugs out of the alley.
From the situation inside, they could guess with their butts that these three thugs must have been unlucky and provoked the director’s woman—or future woman—and now was the time to show off, so why wait?
The patrolmen’s rough actions made the three thugs, who were already in pain all over, cry out even more miserably, but not a single patrolman sympathized with them; someone immediately stepped forward to gag their mouths, turning their screams into muffled whimpers.
After arranging everything, Cao Weida looked down at Luo Mengyun, his tone softening again, “I’ll take you home.”
As he spoke, he imperceptibly took her hand and walked step by step toward the outside of the alley.
Feeling the strength from the hand holding hers and looking at his mountain-like back, Luo Mengyun felt an unprecedented sense of safety enveloping her heart.
The street was bustling with people coming and going, filled with incessant clamor.
It hadn’t felt like it in the small alley before, but now on the street, Luo Mengyun immediately felt a bit shy.
She wanted to pull her hand back, but looking at Cao Weida’s back, she suddenly felt reluctant.
Cao Weida felt the hand he was holding tremble lightly and thought she was afraid because of what had just happened; he grew even more furious at those three thugs.
He thought for a moment, slowed his pace a bit, cleared his throat, and said, “Let me tell you a story about something we encountered at the police station.”
“You know, at our police station, we always get some reports and such.”
“Just a few days ago, our police station received a report from someone who said someone wanted to kill him.”
Luo Mengyun’s starry eyes gathered on him, quietly waiting for his next words.
She felt very shy inside and wanted to distract herself this way.
Otherwise, she always felt that when people around looked over, their gazes seemed meaningful, making her extremely shy.
Seeing that he had attracted her attention, Cao Weida continued, “The reporter was covered in bandages; I asked him if it was the killer who did it, and he said yes. I immediately asked him what happened.”
“He told me that just last night, while he was sleeping at home, a killer suddenly broke in and stabbed him on the left without a word, but he didn’t die.”
Luo Mengyun’s hand suddenly tightened, tense yet incredulous, “It went in?”
Cao Weida nodded, “It went in.”
“Ah? And the reporter didn’t die? That’s too unbelievable!” Luo Mengyun’s eyes widened as she covered her mouth in surprise.
As everyone knew, the human heart was on the left side; being stabbed there, and not dying?
That was too incredible!
“Who says it isn’t!” Cao Weida said solemnly, “I was startled at the time and quickly asked him if he was human or ghost; he said he was human, and the reason he didn’t die was that his organs were different from most people—his heart was on the right side.”
Luo Mengyun realized, “Oh, so that’s it; he was really lucky.”
There were all kinds of wonders in the world; she had heard of people whose organs were positioned differently.
“Who says it isn’t, but the killer saw this and seemed to realize it, then stabbed his right chest as well.”
“Ah? And he still didn’t die?!” Luo Mengyun exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with curiosity: And then? And then?
Since the reporter had come to report, he obviously hadn’t died, but how was that possible?
Stabbed on the left and didn’t die, saying his heart was on the right, but then stabbed on the right too—surely that hit the heart?
But why didn’t he die?
“You can say that; I was shocked too. Guess what the reporter said.”
“What did he say?” Luo Mengyun’s curiosity was fully piqued; she really couldn’t imagine how the reporter survived in such a situation.
“The reporter said…” Cao Weida deliberately slowed his speech, making Luo Mengyun’s two delicate ears perk up involuntarily.
A sly smile flashed in Cao Weida’s eyes, “He said: I still didn’t die at that moment because my heart jumped to my throat.”
Luo Mengyun: “？？？？？”
She slightly opened her mouth, her expression a bit dazed and cute.
“Seeing this, the killer pulled out the knife and stabbed at my neck, but I still didn’t die because when I saw this, my heart sank heavily!”
“Seeing this, the killer frantically stabbed my upper, lower, left, right, and center, but I still didn’t die because I have a heart of stone!”
“Pfft~~goose goose goose~~~” Luo Mengyun couldn’t hold back her laughter anymore; tears came out as a series of goose calls issued from her lark-like throat, her two shoulders shaking nonstop.
“You’re so annoying; how could there be such a thing.” After laughing for a good while, Luo Mengyun finally stopped, nearly laughing herself breathless; she rubbed her aching cheeks hard, her eyes curved into crescents.
Cao Weida turned his head to look at her and saw the fear in her brows dissipated; he breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, “I thought he was deliberately messing with me too, so I scolded him and threw him out.”
Luo Mengyun wiped the tears from laughing at the corners of her eyes; she knew in her heart that Cao Weida was deliberately trying to cheer her up.
A warm current flowed through her heart.
To avoid an awkward silence, Cao Weida looked at the bag in her hand, “I saw you clutching this cloth bag like a treasure earlier; is there something precious inside?”
“It’s precious to me.” Luo Mengyun opened the cloth bag and took out a book; the five large words “Pushkin’s Poetry Collection” stood out prominently.
“This is the Chinese edition poetry collection I bought with great difficulty.” Her face showed delight.
Cao Weida praised, “I’ve seen many people read poetry; some read for leisure, some for show, but the way you grip the book reminds me of a line from Pushkin: My soul forever races ahead like a singing stream.”
Luo Mengyun’s face blushed slightly as her slender fingers brushed the stray hair by her ear, “No way, I can’t reach the poetic realm.”
She felt both shy and delighted inside; so this was how he saw her. Happy.
They chatted all the way, and time flew by.
Unknowingly, they had arrived at the door of Luo Mengyun’s home.
“Big Brother Cao, thanks to you today.” Standing in front of the vermilion gate, Luo Mengyun’s voice was soft yet filled with sincere gratitude, “If Big Brother Cao doesn’t mind, why not come in for a cup of hot tea?”
“Hey, no need to be polite; it was just a small effort.” Cao Weida waved his hand with a smile, “Not today; I have something to do. In a couple of days when I’m free, I’ll bring something and visit Professor Luo properly. Last time I promised Professor Luo to have him appraise some antiques.”
As the saying goes, haste makes waste; having already done the hero saves the beauty today and left a deep impression on Luo Mengyun, there was no need to push further now.
Being too eager would instead seem like leveraging a favor.
Seeing he wouldn’t come in, Luo Mengyun felt a bit reluctant; people tend to feel dependent during crises, “Then I’ll go in first.”
Sniffing the lingering fragrance in the air, Cao Weida pinched his nose, hummed a tune, and headed back home.
When Cao Weida returned to the siheyuan, Xiangzi was seriously learning to repair the car.
Drivers these days couldn’t just drive; they had to know how to repair cars too.
In this era, repair shops weren’t everywhere; if the car broke down on the road, most of the time you had to fix it yourself.
“Master Cao, you’re back.” Xiangzi was covered in grease and greeted him enthusiastically.
The current Xiangzi was completely different from the confused and helpless Xiangzi in the original work; the Xiangzi in the original thought that as long as he worked steadily and tirelessly, he could live a good life, but he suffered blow after blow, his spiritual pillar collapsed, exhausting Xiangzi’s fighting spirit and kindness, eventually turning the diligent and resilient youth into numb, degenerate walking corpse surviving by begging.
Thanks to Cao Weida’s presence, the current Xiangzi was full of hope for the future, in great spirits, full of energy every day, his face filled with hope for tomorrow.
“Mm, how’s the learning going? Tired?” Cao Weida’s attitude toward Xiangzi was quite amiable; Xiangzi was one of the first people to follow him after arriving in this world.
Xiangzi was diligent, hardworking, kind, down-to-earth, never gossipy, did whatever he was told; such a temperament was very much to Cao Weida’s liking.
Xiangzi showed a honest smile, wanted to scratch his head but remembered his hands were full of grease, “It’s okay, not tired; much easier than pulling rickshaws before.”
“Master Cao, rest assured; I’ll study hard and learn everything as soon as possible, so it’ll be convenient for you when you go out later.”
“Having that intention is good; study well. Once mastered, it’ll be a fine way to make a living.” Cao Weida smiled and nodded, patted his shoulder encouragingly, then turned and entered the courtyard.
“Master.” Zhong Chunhong, who was wiping Zhuzi with a rag, saw Cao Weida return and quickly greeted him.
Cao Weida patted his forehead and smiled wryly, “Cousin, I’ve told you so many times: call me Little Cao or Weida, or even my full name is fine.”
Zhong Chunhong was resolute, “That won’t do; propriety cannot be discarded.”
“.”
Fine, whatever makes you happy.
“Cousin, these things can be done by the servants; why are you doing them yourself?”
“How could that be,” Zhong Chunhong shook her head repeatedly, showing a grateful expression, “For you to kindly take me in, I’m already deeply grateful; I came to be a servant—taking a salary without working won’t do.”
Most Chinese people were simple in character: you treat me one part well, and I’ll repay three parts.
Zhong Chunhong was clearly one of the majority.
He showed a helpless expression and said, “Alright then, do as you like, but while working is fine, don’t wear yourself out; you’re Shi Niang’s cousin, so you’re my cousin too—we’re all family.”
“I had you come here to work so I could take care of you; if you tire yourself out, it’ll be hard for me to explain to Shi Niang.”
Though a bit helpless, Cao Weida was very satisfied with Zhong Chunhong’s attitude.
After all, no one wants to spend money to hire a lord.
“By the way, Master, Fifth Master Fan came looking for you today with a box in hand; since you weren’t here, Third Madam is keeping him company.”
“Fifth Brother came?” Cao Weida nodded to show he understood, “Cousin, that’s enough; this pillar is almost a mirror now—why bother wiping it more? Go rest.”
Zhong Chunhong smiled and agreed, though whether she would actually rest was unknown.
Entering the back courtyard, Fan Wu Ye’s distinctive hearty laughter came from Mohe’s room.
Cao Weida smiled and walked in, seeing Fan Wu Ye in a brand-new satin jacket, cuffs worn shiny, face ruddy and glowing—clearly living a good easy life lately: “Yo, what wind blew Fifth Brother here?”
“Of course a good wind!” Seeing Cao Weida enter, Fan Wu Ye stood up, beaming, opened his arms for a big hug, and patted Cao Weida’s back hard:
“Brother-in-law, your Fifth Brother came this time with something good for you—guaranteed to make your eyes light up!”
“If Fifth Brother says it’s good, then it definitely is.”
They sat down, and Cao Weida handed over a cigarette, asking curiously, “Fifth Brother, what good thing? Take it out and let me see.”
As he spoke, his gaze fixed on the brocade box on the nearby table.
