Chapter 4

Fu Ming Shi was born and raised in a mansion, and had only ever seen foie gras on the dinner table. How would he know that geese could commit murder?

When the first big white goose stretched out its neck and came at him, Fu Ming Shi lifted his foot to kick it away. But from the corner of his eye, he glimpsed Zhen Bao standing with her arms crossed, sneering as she watched the fun unfold. Fu Ming Shi was both angry and confused. He was about to try negotiating peacefully again when his pants suddenly tightened. Before he knew it, a stabbing pain shot up his leg!

Did this goose actually know how to bite people?

Fu Ming Shi shook his leg in agony. One goose was flung away while another charged at him.

"Mr. Fu, Mr. Fu!"

The driver had been waiting for Fu Ming Shi's instructions on the cement road. Seeing his boss under attack by a flock of geese now, his face turned pale with fright. He sprinted over to rescue the man. Seeing they were in cahoots, Zhen Bao knew even if she called the cops, they wouldn't arrive in time. So she threatened sternly, "If you don't leave now, I'll call for help!" Still focused on fending off the big white geese, Fu Ming Shi heard her first. He looked up at her.

Morning sunlight spilled beautifully over the small farm courtyard, but while the woman looked harmless on the outside, her eyes were filled with hostility.

Fu Ming Shi froze. The Zhen Bao before him now was nothing like the refined, sweet girl in the photos.

As he stood motionless, the geese seized the opportunity to attack as one. With a tearing sound, a large chunk of fabric was ripped from Fu Ming Shi's left pant leg!

"Mr. Fu!" The driver finally reached them, brandishing a long stick he had grabbed from the road to drive the geese away. Hei Dan was just a two-month-old puppy. Knowing his bites didn't hurt, he only barked at his master's feet without leaving the fence.

The geese had twisted Fu Ming Shi's calf several times, drawing blood. He had never been fully committed to marrying a country bumpkin from the start. And now that Zhen Bao was condoning her poultry injuring people, Fu Ming Shi completely gave up. He would rather infuriate his grandfather than waste any more time in this backwater valley.

Without a word, Fu Ming Shi strode towards the cement road, his profile cold and imposing. Even with his torn pants leg, his dignified aura as a CEO remained perfectly intact.

The driver had wanted to say something on his boss's behalf, but seeing the geese charge again, he promptly fled. Once he reached the cement road, he happened to overhear Fu Ming Shi calling his assistant to book plane tickets.

"Mr. Fu?" The driver asked uneasily. Aren't you going to deal with the old master first?

"Go back to the hotel first, then head to the airport." Fu Ming Shi put down his phone, his attitude firm. His dark eyes coldly glanced back at the Zhen family's yard. He didn't think he could tolerate a crude, uneducated village girl, even one with a face that pleased him.

The black sedan reversed and drove off in a cloud of dust.

Zhen Bao stood at the door until she could no longer see the car. Only then did she close and bolt the fence gate properly before continuing with chores in the backyard. When noon arrived with its oppressive heat, Zhen Bao went back upstairs to the bedroom. She opened the windows and took a nap.

Half-asleep, she heard the honking of geese, but it soon faded. Some time later, excited voices drifted over from Granny Guo's yard next door. Zhen Bao rubbed her eyes in confusion as she sat up. Granny Guo's children and grandchildren all lived out of town. Who was the old lady talking to?

After changing out of her pajamas and sleeping shorts into a t-shirt and shorts, Zhen Bao quickly tied her hair in a ponytail. She went out to the balcony and peered east at Granny Guo's yard. Sure enough, the big liar from this morning had returned. Only this time, he was following an elderly white-haired man: the one Granny Guo was chatting with.

Because of the angle, Fu Ming Shi saw Zhen Bao first, his expression turning even more unpleasant.

He looked fierce, so Zhen Bao glanced again at the old man who resembled him and suddenly felt a little guilty...

"Feng Bao, come down quick! Your Fu grandfather is here to see you!" It had been over a decade since she last saw her friend. Granny Guo was elated. All smiles, she beckoned to Zhen Bao, even switching to clumsy Mandarin. Zhen Bao felt Granny Guo was smiling so widely her face might burst into bloom at any moment. Not even when her children and grandchildren came home did the old lady become this celebratory.

Of course, she didn't know Fu Senior was quite the hunk in his youth and had visited this area a few times. Although Granny Guo knew she was out of his league, that didn't stop her from admiring the handsome man. Even now that they had grown old, seeing her crush excited her like a schoolgirl.

What concerned Zhen Bao most, however, was the legendary war buddy of Grandpa Fu!

Surely Granny Guo wouldn't mistake the man?

Seeing Fu Senior's kindly smile, then Fu Ming Shi's icy expression, and recalling what she had done to Fu Ming Shi that morning, Zhen Bao's face suddenly burned hotly. She hurried back into her room. Granny Guo assumed the girl wanted to change her clothes and invited the Fu men over to her place first.

Fu Senior nodded and went inside, first confirming one thing with Granny Guo: "How is Feng Bao's mother?"

He had visited a total of three times. The first was right after the war ended when he concealed their childhood betrothal. Although Fu Senior wanted to take care of the Zhen family on behalf of Commander Zhen, his own family wasn't very wealthy then. All Fu Senior could do was give them a sum of money as a token of his regard.

The second visit occurred after his daughter died in a car accident. Fu Senior went to Commander Zhen's grave to pay respects, intending to bring the Zhen family to settle in the capital. But Commander Zhen's parents couldn't bear to leave their homeland and didn't even want his money, saying the amount from last time was still unused, displaying pure simplicity.

Fu Senior came a third time after receiving a letter from the Zhen family saying Feng Bao's father was getting married. It was wonderful news, so despite his busy business, Fu Senior made time to visit. Only upon arriving did he learn the Zhen elders had both passed on. Feng Bao's father was honest while her mother was clearly shrewd. She had also egged Feng Bao's father into writing that letter.

Unable to interfere with his marriage views, Fu Senior offered again to bring the newlyweds to the capital. Feng Bao's mother was quite keen, but her father stubbornly refused to leave his homeland. So the matter fell through once more. Before leaving, Fu Senior gave Feng Bao's father a bank card.

As the Fu family business grew larger, the Zhens never contacted him proactively. Busy with work, Fu Senior also forgot about them until he was diagnosed with liver cancer. Only then did he remember this place again. He sent people to investigate the situation and learned Feng Bao's mother had run off with another man when Feng Bao was three, taking the bank card with her. Feng Bao's father had also fallen ill and passed away while Feng Bao was in high school.

Fu Senior felt terrible for Feng Bao. Wanting to repay his debt and thinking she was pretty enough not to slight his grandson, he conceived the idea of having his grandson marry her. If Feng Bao had been truly ordinary, Fu Senior might only have provided material assistance since it was he who had wronged Commander Zhen after all. He couldn't force his innocent grandson too much.

~

Just as Granny Guo was angrily denouncing Feng Bao's mother for being heartless, Feng Bao finally trudged over, still in the same clothes from before. Her freshly washed, moist face showed she had just splashed water on it.

"Grandfather Fu, why have you come?" Feng Bao clasped her hands uneasily as she asked, sneaking curious peeks at Fu Senior.

Fu Senior had taken a red eye flight arriving past midnight. After resting in the city for a night, he called his grandson upon waking and learned about the morning's events. Now looking at the sweet and delicate Feng Bao, Fu Senior refused to believe she would attack first. His clumsy grandson must have provoked the geese himself, then bit back at Feng Bao.

"Grandpa was afraid Ming Shi couldn't explain clearly, so I thought I should come in person."

Hearing this, Feng Bao couldn't help glancing again at Fu Ming Shi. He faced expressionlessly out the door, ignoring her.

Now Feng Bao finally understood everything Fu Ming Shi said yesterday was true.

Her mind chaotic, she first expressed concern for Fu Senior's health. "Are you really ill, sir?"

Fu Senior heaved a long sigh. Seeing Granny Guo's confusion, he explained the purpose of their visit to her like two old friends chatting. Granny Guo was elderly and not as dramatic as the young people once Fu Senior clarified he had accepted the situation. Instead, she advised Feng Bao earnestly, "Feng Bao, this is blessed fortune your grandfather has cultivated for you. Hurry and agree!"

Extremely satisfied, she gave Fu Ming Shi an approving look. Young people were so handsome these days, and he was so rich too. If it were her, she would have agreed long ago.

Feng Bao kept her head lowered without responding.

Fu Senior seized the opportunity and rose unsteadily with his cane. "Let's go over to your place and sit down first. Our families can have dinner together tonight." He already regarded Feng Bao as his grandson's fiancée.

"Alright, you two talk it over. I'll start preparing dinner." Granny Guo watched him affectionately.

Fu Senior smiled and turned to ask Feng Bao, "Shall we go over first?"

Feng Bao nodded and nervously led the way.

In the Zhen family yard, the big white geese all stood up as their mistress approached but didn't act aggressively anymore. Only Hei Dan kept scampering devotedly at his mistress's feet, his beady dog eyes occasionally eyeing Fu Ming Shi warily. When Fu Ming Shi entered the house, Hei Dan even barked once.

"Good dog, knows how to guard the home." Fu Senior praised.

Feng Bao brought over two wooden stools for them to sit on and said awkwardly, "The house is a bit shabby, please don't look down on it."

The Zhen residence really was quite run-down, not to mention compared to Granny Guo's.

But neither Fu Senior nor Fu Ming Shi seemed to mind as they sat down steadily.

Feng Bao also calmed down now. She looked at Fu Senior helplessly, "Grandfather Fu, I appreciate your kindness but really, there's no need to compensate me. I'm living quite well now. I only hope you take care of your health and recover from your illness soon so we can all be healthy and well."

"That won't do. Every day you refuse to marry Ming Shi, my conscience pains me for an extra day, preventing my recovery." Fu Senior spoke calmly. Meeting Feng Bao's startled gaze, he pointed at himself and switched to a pitiful tone, "Feng Bao, look at me. If there was another way, would I have undertaken such an arduous journey here? You don't know how my old bones nearly crumbled from the bumpy ride between the airport and your home. Feng Bao, take pity on this old man and keep me company in the city for a few years?"

He leaned forward earnestly, looking at Feng Bao.

Suddenly Feng Bao felt extremely...guilty. It was the old man who had insisted on coming, yet imagining him battling such a terrifying illness as liver cancer, Feng Bao couldn't remain rationally aloof.

Fu Senior pressed his advantage. "Come with us, Feng Bao. Don't worry, with Grandpa here, Ming Shi absolutely won't dare mistreat you."

Still Feng Bao didn't want to go, but she didn't know how to refuse either when the old man looked at her like that. She couldn't withstand his gaze.

Fu Senior promptly compromised. "Or you two can get engaged first, spend more time together cultivating your relationship. If it really doesn't work out, I'll treat you like a granddaughter. That should be fine, right? Feng Bao, I just can't stop worrying about you. Take pity on this old man and keep me company in the city for a few years?"

He leaned forward eagerly, watching Feng Bao.