I am chasing a rough man in the 80s
Chapter 19: I Predict Misfortune For You

Chapter 19: Chapter 19: I Predict Misfortune For You

The big iron pot was stewing pork ribs, with pancakes sticking to the rim of the pot, with some bean threads and a couple of potatoes added.

As Yu Jingting returned with his characteristic swagger, Suizi was just lifting the lid of the pot, and a delicious aroma greeted them.

From his expression, Suizi knew he had accomplished his task.

He was standing at her side, hands on his hips, remaining silent. His expression was that of smugness, and he seemed to be hinting at something.

Suizi was confused about what he was thinking, she tilted her head to the side, staring at him with puzzlement.

"What have you learned at school if you can’t even understand this? Little lady, show some respect for me," Yu Jingting commanded, gesturing to his face.

Oh, obliged Suizi, as she unknowingly picked up a piece of rib from the pot and fed him.

Yu Jingting was extremely frustrated. Why was his wife, who had the highest level of education in their village, so dense about matters between a man and a woman?

He was just looking for a peck on the cheek from her, that’s all.

The ribs were eaten, but he was not satisfied. He decided to take things into his own greasy hands, pulling his wife over and planting a greasy kiss on her face. Only then did he feel content.

This guy must be a dog... thought Suizi, wanting to clean her face, but quickly lowered her hand when she received a glare from him.

"Are you disgusted?" he queried.

Suizi shook her head like a rattle drum. This guy was too sensitive, she could not afford to upset him.

While Wang Cuihua was out, Yu Jingting recounted his battle achievements to Suizi.

He had ambushed Li Youcai outside his house, and when the man came out to throw out dirty water, he put a sack over his head and dragged him behind the firewood pile, beating the tar out of him.

"Just like you said, he got a small thrashing, no bones were hurt, but the most precious thing on him got broken."

Suizi held her breath, glancing at his crotch area, could it be...

"What are you thinking? I’m talking about his glasses. I pulled off his glasses and crushed them."

"Oh! You really are mean! He must be heartbroken now, hahaha!" Suizi laughed with glee.

"He bought those glasses with the most expensive Jingyu Brand using the scholarship given by school."

"Oh, you seem to know him quite well! You even know what brand his glasses are?" said Yu Jingting sarcastically.

"It’s not that I paid particular attention to him, we were in the same grade after all. He was always a show-off at school. Didn’t you notice his accent was different from our hometown dialect? Even Lun Lamei mimicked him, changing ’mom’ to ’mama’."

Li Youcai was particularly conscious of his ancestral background in a rustic village. He was always neat and clean at school, never mentioned that he was from the countryside. If you didn’t know better, you would think he was a privileged child sent to experience life.

Luckily, he ran into a tight-lipped hometown girl like Suizi. If it had been anyone else, his secret would have been exposed long ago.

"Exactly, he deserved what he got for being such a poseur," Yu Jingting snorted.

"You didn’t let him see your face, right?" Suizi asked.

"You look down on your man? Do you think I am a coward who gives dirty punches and then gets caught?"

After being sacked by him, Li Youcai was squealing and crying so hard, burying his head into the firewood stack. Yu Jingting had no respect for such a spineless wimp.

"Alright, wash your hands and get ready for dinner."

Yu Jingting felt that she was keeping something from him.

"Why does he team up with Lun Lamei against you?"

"It’s all about an old grudge with Lamei, he probably just wants to help her out," Suizi stammered, trying to dismiss him.

"I don’t think so - that guy has had a thing for you since way back. When you were at vocational school, the whole village was saying you two were an item. I had my eye on him since then."

"That was all his rumors, not mine!" Suizi blurted out anxiously, unsure how to explain.

"I know. He was trying to tarnish your reputation, so he could marry you without a dowry or, worse, have your mother pay a dowry to him. But my clever mother-in-law wouldn’t fall for his tricks. She had me drag him to a secluded place and gave him a good beating. And then, he finally stopped, clearing up the rumors himself."

"When did all this happen?" Suizi exclaimed, completely taken aback.

She hadn’t known any of this in her previous life.

"All that’s old news, I wouldn’t have said anything if you hadn’t asked."

Yu Jingting stretched lazily. For some reason, he always felt refreshed and invigorated after beating up Li Youcai.

Yu Jingting didn’t tell Suizi about the particularly nasty rumors that had circulated in the village at the time.

Rumors like Suizi and Li Youcai sneaking into the woods at school and scattering their clothes everywhere. Such rumors could ruin a girl’s marriage prospects in the village. If it hadn’t been for Suizi’s mother, who was sharp enough to realize this was Li Youcai’s deliberate action, Suizi would have been badly hurt.

"He started scheming against me so early..."

Suizi found Li Youcai revolting—he’d targeted her singularly.

"If you still feel wronged, I’ll find another opportunity to throw a sack over him."

"No rush, let’s see his reaction first."

That night, there was great joy in the Yu family. Eating ribs was like celebrating the New Year, and everyone was very happy.

Li Youcai didn’t sleep a wink.

He tossed and turned, wondering who had hit him.

The first one to come to mind was Yu Jingting.

Yu Jingting had beaten him once before for spreading rumors that tarnished Suizi’s reputation. In the village, only this scapegrace was so idle. Yu Jingting had many faults, but he was transparent in his dealings. The scapegrace considered underhanded actions beneath his dignity—he’d gone at him head-on last time.

Plus, he hadn’t offended Suizi or the scapegrace—at least not recently.

Yu Jingting didn’t like to attack in a sneaky way, and Li Youcai had no idea that Suizi had been reborn or that she would suspect him and Lamei of conspiring against her. Hadn’t they had a perfectly normal conversation that day?

Having ruled out the Yu family, Li Youcai started wondering about Lamei.

This woman had always claimed to hold deep affection for him, but behind his back, she was involved with several other men. Could it have been them, acting out of jealousy?

Then there were Mrs. Zhao and Widow Wang... It had been so long, he couldn’t remember all of the women in the village he’d flirted with.

He hadn’t slept with all of them; in his younger days, he’d found joy in verbally taking advantage of them. Could it be that their husbands had found out?

Not knowing who he’d offended was truly terrifying. Li Youcai rose the next day with dark circles under his eyes. Just as he did, the young wife from next door came over. She was carrying her baby, who started crying as soon as he saw Li Youcai.

Li Youcai didn’t think much of it, until the young woman said something as she was leaving that left him unsettled.

"Could it be that the child saw something unclean? I should ask my fourth aunt to read his fortune."

Something unclean!

These words sent chills down Li Youcai’s spine. Looking around, he felt his shabby mud-brick house was draughty and eerie, and cold.

With a guilty conscience, Li Youcai found the whole situation terrifying. He went outside to take a stroll and bask in the sun, hoping it would drive away the bad luck.

He’d only taken a few steps when he ran into the three Yang boys.

"Intellectual, there’s a woman behind you!" the third Yang boy said, a sugar cigarette dangling from his mouth.

Li Youcai turned around—broad daylight, where was the woman?

"Stop talking nonsense!"

"Really, her hair is so long and... does she kinda look like Aunt Suizi? She’s really thin though." the third Yang boy continued, mulling over his words with every sentence.

Was it something like this? Aunt Suizi had promised a reward of ten sugar cigarettes! Ten!

Li Youcai staggered back. He almost fell over.

Su... Suizi?!