The Sucker Comes Knocking

Wang Yonggui felt a bit embarrassed but continued to inquire. He knew that in this day and age, learning a skill wasn't easy. There was a saying: "When the apprentice learns everything, the master starves to death"—that was the logic.

"Uncle Cao, is there any other fee?"

Cao Runfa seemed to have a heavy smoking habit. He pulled another cigarette from his pocket, lit it, exhaled a cloud of gray smoke, and looked Wang Yonggui up and down.

"What fees? Living at my place, daily expenses—don't those cost money? You’re learning from me; do you expect me to support you too?"

The man had a point. Wang Yonggui nodded. "Ah! I have enough for living expenses."

Hearing this, Cao Runfa’s expression softened slightly. He began calculating right in front of Wang Yonggui.

"Let me break it down for you. This is a new house, so the rent is one hundred yuan a month. Food is ten yuan a meal. As your master, I’ll give you a discount; for example, lunch is free. But you have to pay for breakfast and dinner yourself. That’s twenty yuan a day, six hundred yuan a month. Plus the rent, it’s seven hundred yuan a month."

Seven hundred yuan a month! That was nearly three months' salary for most people. Even a guesthouse wasn't that expensive. Wang Yonggui took a step back, his face filled with shock.

"Uncle Cao, that’s way too expensive! My family is poor, which is why I’m here to learn a trade. Besides, twenty yuan a day for food is too high. I can go to a stall on the street and get a stir-fry with meat for only three yuan a meal."

Hearing Wang Yonggui’s words, Cao Runfa’s face darkened again, clearly displeased.

"Then go eat at the stalls."

Just then, the door to Cao Runfa’s room creaked open, and a middle-aged woman stepped out. Wang Yonggui looked up, and his eyes instantly lit up.

The woman looked elegant and refined, as gentle as water. She was very beautiful, exuding an aura of sophistication at first glance. She reminded him a bit of Su Wanhe; while perhaps not as enchanting, her figure was curvaceous and well-defined.

She was a bit on the shorter side, and from behind, her hips were wide and alluring. Her front wasn't as exaggerated as Su Wanhe’s, but she clearly had "assets"—her proportions were not small at all. Her soft, long hair cascaded down her back, making anyone who looked at her feel incredibly at ease.

"This dark-skinned, ugly old man with a wicked heart... I never expected him to have such a beautiful wife. She’s the definition of a virtuous wife and mother!"

The sight shook Wang Yonggui to his core. He marveled at the man’s luck—to look like that and still marry such a beautiful wife.

The woman slowly approached, evaluating Wang Yonggui a few times. She seemed satisfied and offered a gentle smile and a nod. She had likely heard their negotiation from inside the room. Cao Runfa’s voice was as loud as thunder; it would have been hard not to hear him.

Growing up in the countryside, Wang Yonggui truthfully had a weakness for mature, gentle, and beautiful women like this. Su Wanhe was the most perfect person in his heart. Yang Qiuju, after practicing the *Su Nu Jing*, was becoming increasingly charming, showing signs of surpassing Su Wanhe, the number one beauty of the surrounding villages. But Yang Qiuju was the seductive type, unlike this woman’s "virtuous wife" aura.

As she drew closer, he even caught the scent of shampoo from her long hair—a fragrance that rushed into his nose and made his heart pound. This woman was slightly behind Su Wanhe in beauty, but the gap wasn't large. It made his heart stir, and he sighed inwardly.

"Heh! The old men in the village were right. Homegrown flowers aren't as fragrant as wild ones, and wild ones aren't as good as stolen ones!"

He lamented silently but didn't dare show it. Over the past two days in town with Chen Xiaoyue, he had clearly been drained by her. Perhaps because practicing the *Ba Jiu Xuan Gong* required a balance of Yin and Yang, the moment he saw this woman, his heart flared with desire.

Wang Yonggui remembered the jokes of the village elders. Men were often lethargic in front of their own wives, but as soon as the wife went to her parents' house or wasn't around, they turned into vigorous tigers. Seeing someone else's wife was like being released from prison—he understood that feeling deeply now.

Of course, in front of Cao Runfa, Wang Yonggui only dared to steal a glance at the man's wife before immediately lowering his head, acting like a shy, innocent youth who knew nothing of the world.

Cao Runfa’s wife was Zhou Guihua. Seeing Wang Yonggui’s behavior, a few faint wrinkles appeared at the corners of her mature, beautiful eyes as she smiled warmly.

"Ah! Uncle Cao, I can pay the one hundred yuan rent. As for food, I saw some stalls on the street in the village; maybe I’ll just eat there!" Wang Yonggui nodded, his tone a bit timid.

Cao Runfa’s face instantly fell. "Fine! Then go eat at the stalls. And whoever's house you eat at, go learn how to build greenhouses from them. Don't come to my house anymore."

Wang Yonggui was stunned. This old man clearly wanted to treat him like a "sucker" to be fleeced.

The woman, as gentle as water, finally spoke, her voice as sweet as honey. She shot a glare at Cao Runfa.

"Cao Runfa, look at this boy. He looks so gentle and obedient. His family probably isn't well-off, so why must you be like this? Young man, what is your name? You don't need to pay for food; it's free. I’ve decided."

The woman’s words were heartwarming. Wang Yonggui quickly bowed his head and replied, "Auntie, my name is Wang Yonggui."

"Yonggui, that’s a good name. I am Zhou Guihua; you can just call me Aunt Guihua from now on. Don't listen to your uncle. Just pay the rent; food is on the house. Since you’re here to learn, you’ll be helping us with work anyway."

Wang Yonggui was overjoyed and nodded quickly. "Yes! Aunt Guihua, don't worry. I’m a country boy with plenty of strength. Working is absolutely no problem for me."

Seeing the two of them chatting, Cao Runfa was displeased. He glared at Zhou Guihua and barked angrily, "You woman! Long hair, short wit—what do you know? I make the decisions in this house. Wang Yonggui, do you want to learn or not? If you do, pay up. Seven hundred a month. If not, get back to wherever you came from right now."

Zhou Guihua wanted to help Wang Yonggui further, but Cao Runfa shouted, "There’s plenty of work to do in the house. Get inside and do your chores!"

Zhou Guihua knew her husband’s temperament and had no choice but to sigh. Cao Runfa was a man who wouldn't act without profit. He was incredibly petty and was known in Luwei Village as "the man who could squeeze oil from a whetstone." She stood by the door, not entering, only sighing in silence.

Wang Yonggui stood there with a look of regret and difficulty. If he went back like this, the villagers would surely mock him, especially Pan Daigen and his wife. If he wanted to build greenhouses later and Pan Daigen became the team leader, the man would surely squeeze him to death. His mind was a mess of conflicting thoughts.

He stole another look at Zhou Guihua, feeling a stir of emotion.

"You really take me for a fool, a total sucker! I already spent a hundred yuan as a greeting fee just getting off the bus, and now you’re charging this much in this godforsaken place. Old man, you don't know me. If you’re going to be heartless, don't blame me for being ungrateful. Just wait until I get the chance; I’ll deal with your wife."

Wang Yonggui cursed inwardly, but on the outside, he remained obedient, gritting his teeth as if in great pain.

"Uncle Cao, this price is really high. I saved up a thousand yuan my whole life, intending to use it as capital for the greenhouses after I finish learning. Could you lower it just a little bit for me?"