It must be said, Lin Jia’s mother’s cooking was truly exceptional. The dishes weren’t particularly rare, just ordinary home-style meals, but the taste was so enchanting that even Shen Fanyun, a man who had sampled every delicacy imaginable, was captivated. There was stir-fried pork, cured meat with winter bamboo shoots, and an assortment of vegetable dishes. The meal was a perfect balance of meat and vegetables, both satisfying and filling without being greasy.
Lin Jia ate with him, and during their idle chatter, Shen Fanyun learned that she had grown up without a father; her mother had raised her all on her own. Thankfully, her mother was a diligent worker. Although their life was ordinary, they were self-sufficient. Over the years, she had not only raised Lin Jia to adulthood but had also paid for her entire college education.
Shen Fanyun was thoroughly impressed. A widow? And such a stunningly beautiful one at that. Plus, with a daughter who outshines her... I’m afraid that must attract trouble from time to time, doesn’t it?
"My mother is the person I respect most in this world!" Lin Jia said.
Shen Fanyun nodded. She was indeed worthy of respect. Given Mama Lin’s personal qualities, remarrying would have been easy. He guessed she had chosen to remain single out of fear that a new marriage might negatively affect Lin Jia’s upbringing.
"Honestly, your auntie’s cooking is superb," Shen Fanyun praised.
This delighted Lin Jia, who eagerly boasted, "Of course! My mother’s cooking is famous all around these parts."
I’d bet it’s not her cooking that’s most famous, but Mama Lin’s beauty and poise, Shen Fanyun thought to himself.
The two chatted and laughed as the dishes on the table quickly disappeared.
"Should I ask my mother to cook a few more?" Lin Jia asked, worried Shen Fanyun was still hungry.
"I’m full, really," Shen Fanyun replied. "It’s never too late for good food, though. I’ll just have to come back often."
This little restaurant really suited his taste. What a hidden gem. Given how much I like it, I’ll have to add it to my list of regular haunts.
"Really?" Lin Jia’s eyes lit up. "So you’ll come back often?"
"Absolutely," Shen Fanyun nodded, then added a condition. "I’ll come to eat, but I’ll be paying my own way."
At that moment, Lin Jia’s mother finally had a moment to rest. Seeing her daughter’s happy expression, a kind smile graced her face.
"Lin Meiqing!"
A coarse voice shattered the tranquility. "You slut! How dare you seduce my husband! I’m going to smash this place to pieces today!"
Shen Fanyun and Lin Jia both looked up to see a woman in a fur coat, hands on her hips, glaring furiously at Lin Jia’s mother.
Lin Meiqing was her mother’s name; Lin Jia had taken her mother’s surname at birth. The woman was clearly looking for a fight. Noticing curious onlookers gathering, she raised her voice and began screaming an unceasing torrent of filth.
Trouble always finds a widow’s doorstep, doesn’t it? Shen Fanyun winced internally. He meant no offense to Lin Meiqing, but it was a simple fact that a single mother and her child were far more likely to be bullied than an ordinary family.
"You are...?" Lin Meiqing stood up, looking at the woman with confusion.
The woman sneered. "Stop playing dumb! You seduced another woman’s husband, and now you don’t have the guts to admit it?"
"Lin Meiqing, today I’m going to expose all your vile deeds! Since you’ve chosen to be shameless, don’t even think about holding your head up high ever again! Hmph!"
Lin Meiqing remained composed. "I believe there must be some misunderstanding here."
"Misunderstanding, my ass! You bitch, I’m going to rip your face off today!" the woman shrieked, her explosive temper earning disgusted looks from the passersby and neighbors.
"Watch your mouth! We’ve worked with Meiqing for years. We know exactly what kind of person she is, so stop spreading lies!"
"Exactly! Where did this mad dog come from, barking like that?"
A group of indignant neighbors stepped forward, forming a protective circle around Lin Meiqing. The sight made Shen Fanyun marvel once more. It seemed Lin Meiqing’s character was excellent, earning her the unanimous support of her neighbors.
"You say she seduced your husband? Who is your husband?" one of the plump aunties demanded. "Call him over! Let’s get this sorted out face-to-face!"
At this, the woman, whose name was Wang Fei, faltered for a second. She quickly recovered her composure, attempting to use sheer intimidation to cow the crowd. "It’s true because I say it is! What’s there to call him for?"
"Lin Meiqing is a whore! She seduced my husband!"
Standing beside her mother, Lin Jia couldn’t take it anymore. She stepped forward and warned, "Watch your mouth! How dare you make such accusations without a shred of proof?"
"Oh? A sharp-tongued little girl, are we?" Wang Fei shot Lin Jia a disdainful look. "You must be the slut’s daughter, right?"
"Like mother, like daughter. You look like a little tramp yourself. I bet you’re just like your mother, being some man’s plaything on the side!"
"You!" Lin Jia seethed.
Where did this crazy woman come from? Why is she targeting us?
She desperately wanted to rush forward and fight Wang Fei, but the sight of the four or five burly men standing behind her was intimidating. It was only natural for a girl to feel a surge of fear.
Shen Fanyun had pretty much figured it out. The woman was obviously here to cause trouble. The accusation about her husband was just a convenient, baseless excuse. He moved through the crowd and stopped in front of Wang Fei, speaking calmly. "In my opinion, it’s best if you call your husband over. Let’s settle this face-to-face."
"This has nothing to do with you, you little punk. Get lost," she snapped. "Heh. Nowadays, any random nobody thinks they can talk back to me. They should take a good look at themselves first."
The woman had quite a temper.
No matter. Shen Fanyun didn’t mind helping her cool down. He lifted his hand and slapped her across the face. The blow was so hard it sent a mist of blood into the air and knocked two or three of her teeth loose.
The sudden violence stunned everyone into silence. Even Lin Meiqing and Lin Jia never expected Shen Fanyun to be so direct and brutal, resorting to violence without a word of warning.
"If I find out you don’t actually have a husband and this whole seduction story is a lie," Shen Fanyun said, his voice cold, "the consequences for you will be severe."
"Understand?"
His fingers shot out and clamped around Wang Fei’s throat, moving so fast that the four or five thugs she’d brought had no chance to intervene.
Her breathing cut off, Wang Fei’s face began to turn purple. "You... you dare disrespect me? Are you trying to die? Do you have any idea who I am?"
"I’d dare to kill you, so what is a little disrespect?" Shen Fanyun sneered. He had just finished eating and could use a little activity to help with digestion. "You love causing trouble so much? Did you really think no one could handle you?"
"Twenty minutes. Call your so-called husband. That should be more than enough time, right?"
Wang Fei tried to threaten him again, but as Shen Fanyun’s grip gradually tightened, a wave of inexplicable terror washed over the woman. It felt as if the specter of death was looming right over her head.