Je vends des vêtements et j'achète du vin à boire avec toi

Chapitre 51

Author's Note: Jinjiang is acting up; I can't reply to comments, and the system keeps saying there's an error. I'm letting everyone know here.

Some readers have said that there's been too much focus on the child, but I think the child is the biggest obstacle in Long San and Feng Ning's relationship. So, to resolve this issue, some plot development is needed. Otherwise, it would be strange if it were too simple for the two of them to not care about being cuckolded and just live happily ever after.

Some people suggest rushing to find the truth, but I think for Long San, it would be more reasonable to first secure his wife's position and win her over before seeking the truth. Otherwise, if he loses his wife, the truth will be meaningless.

38

38. Master Long, seeking to unravel the mystery...

In the days that followed, there were not many unexpected events to test Feng Ning. She could no longer perform for money, and every day she just spent time with Bao'er, played hide-and-seek with Long San, and pondered what to do.

She discovered that Long San was indeed a shrewd and calculating person. He always made you tense for a moment, then left you hanging, a constant cycle of tension and relaxation that left you bewildered, and eventually, you naturally followed his lead. Feng Ning felt she couldn't make such a hasty decision. Ever since she hit her head and woke up, one thing after another had been making her miserable. Her past optimism and positivity had proven to be nothing but foolishness.

She believed Long San was sincere, but could sincerity overcome the cruelty of reality? She didn't know. Putting herself in his shoes, she was sincere too; she so desperately wanted to be with Long San, and being with him made her so happy, yet she still felt lost and afraid. So Long San must feel the same way. If he couldn't hold on, then according to her heart, she feared she wouldn't be able to be as strong as she was when she ran away with Bao'er.

Long San didn't force her to make a decision, so Feng Ning let herself hesitate. She felt selfish, enjoying the comfortable life he provided, his indulgence and love, while secretly planning her escape route and self-protection. She didn't even dare to think about what Long San might do; she couldn't even take care of herself, let alone him. But what troubled her most was actually Bao'er.

Ever since Bao'er thought she had a chance to get a father figure for herself, she's been trying her best to please Long San. When it's time to comb her hair, she'd rather have Long San comb it than anyone else, because she thought her uncle liked to comb her hair. At mealtimes, if Long San tells her not to be picky about food, she immediately swallows even the dishes she doesn't like. If Long San tells her not to bother her when her mother is resting, she'll refrain from bothering Feng Ning.

Feng Ning saw all this and was anxious. She spent a lot of time with Bao'er, trying to win Bao'er's heart back. However, Bao'er still frequently mentioned what her uncle had said and done, and asked the Bodhisattva every day if he had given his consent. Feng Ning was a little annoyed. She felt that as a mother, she had no reason to lose to an uncle.

But then Tianlong San suddenly said he was going on a long trip, which not only made Bao'er anxious, but also made Feng Ning feel a sudden shock.

"Uncle, are you going to find the baby?" Bao'er asked.

"No, Uncle already has Bao'er, Uncle won't look for other babies." Long San picked up Bao'er and rubbed her little face against him.

"Are we going to find the Bodhisattva?" Bao'er asked.

"Yes, there's a chance we'll run into her. Uncle, if you see her, ask her for Bao'er."

"If I find out who my daddy is, then I'll have a daddy, right?" Bao'er blinked, her eyes filled with longing.

"We'll discuss this with your mother when your uncle gets back."

"Can't we discuss this now?"

"Alright, let's discuss it now." Long San handed Bao'er over to Aunt Cao and went to find Feng Ning.

Feng Ning was pacing anxiously when she saw Long San arrive. She asked him directly, "Are you coming back?"

Long San laughed, pulled her over and kissed her: "My wife and kids are here, where else would I go if I didn't come back?"

Feng Ning was annoyed by his nonchalant attitude lately, so she pushed him away and glared at him: "A wife and children aren't something you can just decide to have."

"Yes, yes. It only counts if you give your permission." Long San pulled her into his arms again.

"How long are you going to be gone? What business do you have there?"

"It will take at least two months, and at most three months." Long San seemed pleased with her questioning and answered readily, "The matter is complicated and cannot be explained in a short time. I will tell you when I get back."

Feng Ning frowned and said, "If you are injured, missing an arm or a leg, or if you have another girl with you when you come back, then don't come in through this door."

Long San smiled and said, "Okay."

Feng Ning thought for a moment and then said, "If they don't come back after more than three months, then they shouldn't come in through this door."

Long San's smile deepened, his forehead touching hers: "If I come back before three months are up, you have to make Bao'er call me Dad."

"That won't work."

"Why not? It's unfair to only punish without rewarding."

"Who will speak up for you on fairness? I never speak up for fairness." Feng Ning retorted, "I just do what I want and what makes me happy."

Long San turned his head and mimicked her tone: "Okay, then you wait for me to come back and see how willing and happy I am." The ambiguity in his tone made Feng Ning blush, and she spat out a soft "Pah!" in a coquettish tone.

Little Bamboo called from outside the door, "Third Master, someone is looking for you."

Feng Ning narrowed her eyes and tugged at Long San's collar: "If you're looking for a woman, you don't need to come back."

Long San laughed heartily, "They know there are assassins here, so they won't dare to come. Come on, I'll introduce you to my friend." He pulled her along and walked out.

A tall, burly man stood in the courtyard, dressed in black, with a full beard and a dark black broadsword tucked into his back, standing there imposingly like a pillar. Upon seeing Long San, he called out, "Big Brother."

His voice was booming, and the "elder brother" he called out was so loud that Feng Ning was startled. Upon closer inspection, the man with the thick beard was clearly older than Long San. Long San smiled at the man and said, "Brother Zhong." He then pulled Feng Ning forward, put his arm around her waist, and led her to the burly man, saying, "Feng'er, this is my good brother Zhong Sheng from the martial world, and this is my wife."

Just as Feng Ning was about to protest that she wasn't his wife, Zhong Sheng loudly greeted, "Greetings, sister-in-law." The voice was even louder than when he called out to his elder brother earlier, and Feng Ning refrained from covering her ears.

Long San said to Feng Ning, "I was worried that you and Bao'er would be left unattended while I was away, so I asked Brother Zhong for help. If you need anything, just tell him. I'll have Xiao Zhu tidy up the west room for Brother Zhong to stay in temporarily. You must take good care of our guest while I'm away."

Feng Ning opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Zhong Sheng clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, saying loudly, "Thank you for your trouble, sister-in-law." Feng Ning frowned, thinking to herself, "Does this person not allow others to speak?" Just as she was about to speak, Zhong Sheng said again, "I am a rough man, nothing special, except that I eat a lot, three bowls of rice per meal, and I'll be fine with meat."

Feng Ning was stunned upon hearing this. Long San laughed heartily, hugged Feng Ning, and said to her, "Brother Zhong is an honest and trustworthy man. Take good care of him. I have to go now." He went back to his room to get his bundle, slung his long sword over his shoulder, hugged Bao'er to say goodbye, and then truly left Zhong Sheng behind and departed.

Zhong Sheng saw a little girl looking at him and quickly clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Miss Bao'er, I am Zhong Sheng." Bao'er blinked, hid behind Feng Ning, tugged at the back of her clothes, and secretly peeked out to examine this strange uncle.

After Long San left, Feng Ning crossed her arms and looked up at the tall bell. Just as she was about to speak, the bell asked first, "What can I do for you, sister-in-law?"

Feng Ning was annoyed that he had been interrupted again. He pursed his lips and was about to speak when Zhong Sheng said again, "Just say what you need. My brother and I have a life-or-death bond. I will do my best to help him if I can."

Feng Ning shut her mouth and stopped talking, only glaring at Zhong Sheng. Zhong Sheng was confused by the glare and just opened his mouth to ask, "Sister-in-law..." Before he could finish speaking, Feng Ning stretched out her hand and made a gesture to stop him. Zhong Sheng looked at the hand and finally shut his mouth.

Feng Ning asked, "Can I speak now?" Zhong Sheng was about to speak when Feng Ning waved her hand to stop him. Zhong Sheng looked at the hand, closed his mouth tightly, and nodded vigorously.

Feng Ning was satisfied. She told Bao'er to go find Xiao Zhu Zi, and then asked Zhong Sheng, "Did Long San send you here to look after me, or to monitor me?"