146: Chapter 46: Seeing Through the Ruse 146: Chapter 46: Seeing Through the Ruse Wu Xiaoyu had been waiting around Liu Sheng’s ho for a long ti.
He didn’t see anyone delivering shiitake mushrooms, and Liu Sheng didn’t seem to be ho either, so he went back ho to eat first.
While having breakfast, his mother, Wang Aifeng, kept asking who it was that was secretly competing with their family to buy the shiitake mushrooms.
Wu Xiaoyu feared she might cause a scene at Liu Sheng’s ho if she found out, making them seem unreasonable despite being in the right.
He could only reassure her with kind words and repeatedly promised to handle it.
Hearing her son’s words, Wang Aifeng reluctantly gave up and stopped asking about it.
However, after breakfast, Wu Xiaoyu didn’t leave the house but went back to his room instead.
This puzzled Wang Aifeng.
Why wasn’t the boy anxious?
Wu Youliang, seeing her pacing around anxiously, got a bit annoyed and scolded, “Can’t you stop worrying like the Emperor when it doesn’t concern you?
If Xiaoyu says he’ll handle it, he will.
Can you just calm down for a bit?”
Although Wang Aifeng got scolded, she was still unwilling to let it go.
After washing the dishes, she rushed out to the street to gather information.
Near noon, Wang Aifeng ca running back from the street looking worried.
She pushed open Wu Xiaoyu’s door and demanded, “Xiaoyu, is it Liu Sheng who’s competing with us for the shiitake business?”
Hearing this, Wu Xiaoyu sat up in surprise and asked curiously, “Mom, you are amazing!
How did you figure it out?”
Wang Aifeng felt guilty upon hearing this and murmured, “I thought it was odd seeing him riding a tricycle back and forth.
Turns out he was delivering goods to the town.”
Wu Youliang also rembered that a few days ago, Liu Sheng had borrowed a tricycle from Niu Mansheng’s house.
So, the kid borrowed the tricycle to transport shiitake mushrooms!
“Isn’t he good friends with Xiaoyu?
How could he do sothing like this?
Using such shady tactics behind our backs!”
“Xiaoyu, is it really Liu Sheng?” Wu Youliang asked in disbelief.
Wu Xiaoyu nodded, indicating that it was indeed Liu Sheng working against him.
Wu Youliang sighed and said, “You two were good friends!
Why did he start competing with you silently?
It’s unbelievable!”
“What’s so strange about that?
Since ancient tis, there have been people who abandon morals for money and forget loyalty for profit!” Wang Aifeng said indignantly.
Since the parents already knew that it was Liu Sheng opposing them, Wu Xiaoyu narrated all the previous incidents to them.
Upon learning that Liu Sheng had tried to sabotage their chicken farm earlier, Wang Aifeng was furious and wanted to go confront him imdiately.
Wu Xiaoyu grabbed her and quickly persuaded, “What’s the point of arguing with him?
We don’t have evidence.
He’s not going to admit anything.”
“Besides, he’s also buying shiitake mushrooms now.
If you make a fuss about it, he’ll just say we’re slandering him because we can’t compete.”
Hearing this, Wang Aifeng stood still, her face full of anger, and exclaid, “So we just let him go?
How can I swallow this?
Who knew he’d be so toxic behind that smiling face!”
“Alright!
Let Xiaoyu handle it!
You don’t ddle in this anymore!” Wu Youliang persuaded.
In this world, there aren’t many ways to deal with respectable and upright people, but there are countless ans to handle despicable, two-faced individuals.
After comforting his mother, Wu Xiaoyu ate a little and then set off up the mountain again.
He practiced all afternoon and only ca down after nightfall, heading straight to Liu Sheng’s ho.
When he arrived at Liu Sheng’s house, unfortunately, Liu Sheng wasn’t ho again!
Liu Sheng’s parents saw him co in and said nervously, “Xiao…
Xiaoyu, Liu Sheng isn’t here.
Maybe…
you should co back tomorrow?”
Wu Xiaoyu smiled and said, “Uncle, Auntie, it’s alright.
I’ll just wait for him!”
After saying this, he unceremoniously found a stool and sat down, looking around the room.
In the corner, he noticed a bulging sack and sniffed, detecting a strong shiitake mushroom scent.
Liu Sheng’s parents saw him staring at the sack of mushrooms and quickly said, “Just so…
wheat we gathered.
We haven’t had ti…
to process them yet, so we just…
left it there!”
The couple had lived straightforward lives for half their lives and hadn’t lied much.
Even this simple lie was tough for them to say smoothly.
Not wanting to make things difficult for them, Wu Xiaoyu didn’t go forward to check; he just smiled and said nothing.
Liu Sheng’s parents were eager for Wu Xiaoyu to leave but couldn’t bring themselves to say it directly since they were all neighbors.
Wu Xiaoyu just sat there as if oblivious to their discomfort.
The atmosphere inside the house was awkward.
“Um…
Xiaoyu, have you eaten?
Should I get you a bowl of rice?” Liu Sheng’s mother broke the silence, trying to sound hospitable.
Wu Xiaoyu quickly waved his hand and said, “Auntie, no need.
I’ll leave after saying a few words to Liu Sheng when he gets back!”
“Alright…
alright…”
Once again, the three fell into silence, the room filled only with the chatter of an infertility advertisent on the TV.
Liu Sheng’s parents were too preoccupied to change the channel.
Listening to the terms “blocked fallopian tubes” and “non-liquefying sen,” Wu Xiaoyu felt even more awkward and coughed dryly, but the couple still didn’t notice.
Just as Wu Xiaoyu was about to get up to grab the remote control, he heard Liu Sheng’s voice outside, “Damn it!
Let’s see how Wu Xiaoyu likes it now, who’s going to praise him anymore!”
The words were muttered quietly but clearly heard by Wu Xiaoyu.
He stood up and said, “Uncle, Auntie, Liu Sheng is back.
I’ll go outside for a bit!”
Saying that, he rushed out and ca face to face with Liu Sheng.
The bag of shiitake mushrooms in Liu Sheng’s hand suddenly slipped.
Wu Xiaoyu smiled and said, “Quick, pick up the mushrooms, don’t let them get dirty!”
Liu Sheng’s parents heard this and realized their son had been found out.
They quickly said, “Xiaoyu, please don’t…”
Before they could finish, Wu Xiaoyu interrupted, “Uncle, don’t worry, I’m not going to do anything.
I just want to have a few words with him!”
Wu Xiaoyu walked over, put his arm around Liu Sheng’s shoulder, and pulled him out the door, whispering, “Oh, you kid, you have this trick up your sleeve?
How much did you pay to buy those shiitake mushrooms from the villagers?”
Greatly alard, Liu Sheng stamred, “Don’t…
don’t ss around.
Or else…
I’ll call for help!”
Not wanting to start a fight in front of Liu Sheng’s parents, Wu Xiaoyu warned:
“Liu Sheng, you think you’re so smart by buying the villagers’ shiitake mushrooms?
Do you believe I can make sure you have no mushrooms to buy at all tomorrow?”
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