It looks like a fallen tiger would even get bullied by mere dogs. Even these weaklings dare to provoke me now, huh?
“I wonder who mentioned earlier that he would eat a table up if my brother-in-law wins!” a teasing voice sounded.
Chu Huanzhao was still lying on the stretcher in a tragic state, but judging from how she was shaking her fair legs leisurely in the air, it would seem that she was in a good mood.
Had it been any other occasion, Hong Xingying would find his heartstrings being pulled along by the movements of her long, slender legs, but the words she had spoken earlier had riled him up.
Chu Huanzhao patted on the table and said, “Look, I’ve kindly prepared a superior redwood table just for you. It might be made of good material, but it’s much softer than most other tables out there, so don’t say that I’m taking advantage of you. Oh right, I’ve prepared a pot of water for you to aid in your digestion too. If it isn’t enough, feel free to tell me. I can get the other servants to bring more over.”
“I…” Hong Xingying’s mouth opened and closed, but he couldn’t find any words to say at all. He was starting to regret not feigning unconscious earlier on, leading to him being placed in such an awkward situation.
It’s all that Zu An’s fault!
You have successfully trolled Hong Xingying for +999 Rage!
Zu An was still happily accepting the crowd’s gifts when he noticed this inflow in Rage points. He turned to look over in Hong Xingying’s direction, only to see Chu Huanzhao ordering the servants to place a massive table right before him.
Oh? It looks like my sister-in-law is helping me get even with him, huh?
It was around then that Chu Zhongtian and Qin Wanru noticed the awkward position Hong Xingying was in. Chu Zhongtian glared at his younger daughter and bellowed, “Ridiculous! What are you doing?”
Chu Huanzhao pouted unhappily as she replied, “He was the one who said earlier that if my brother-in-law can win the duel, he would gobble down a table right on the spot. You should have heard him loud and clear. It’s not as if I’m forcing him into anything!”
“Enough! How can you take such jokes seriously?” Qin Wanru shot a glance at the servants, and they immediately carried the table away anxiously. “We’re all one family here. It’s also out of concern that Xingying said those words earlier. You should stop causing trouble here.”
Be it out of consideration of Butler Hong or Hong Xingying’s contribution toward the Chu clan over the last few years, Qin Wanru was obliged to stand up for him. Nevertheless, she couldn’t help but think that Hong Xingying wasn’t as trustworthy as a person she thought he was.
Chu Huanzhao still wanted to argue about the matter, but her older sister tugged her arm to stop her. So, she could only turn her head away unhappily and sulk.
“Thank you, Master and Madam.” Hong Xingying quickly bowed down to thank Chu Zhongtian and Qin Wanru. However, he was feeling incredibly bitter inside. He could feel the piercing stares coming from the others.
It’s all Zu An’s fault!
You have successfully trolled Hong Xingying for +999 Rage!
Zu An was utterly flabbergasted. What the hell? You’re blaming me for that too?
It was obvious that there was no room for reconciliation between the two of them anyway, so Zu An decided to make use of this opportunity to squeeze out as many Rage points as he could. “Actually, it’s not that hard to eat a table. You can soak it in water for a few days to soften it before munching down on it. Otherwise, you can also have it grounded and mixed in water before drinking it. If you find it flavorless, you can even coat it in flour before deep-frying it. Perhaps, you might just get addicted to the taste!”
“…” Hong Xingying.
“…” Chu Zhongtian.
“…” Qin Wanru.
What in the world did I just hear? Who in the right mind would analyze the way to eat a table?!
Qin Wanru harrumphed coldly and said, “Men, bring the casualties back to the Chu Estate first!”
She was worried that a conflict might break out if the two of them were to remain in each other’s presence, so she quickly separated them.
Zu An looked at the massive inflow of Rage points coming in and smiled in delight. Oh well, I guess I should give it a rest for now. I have to think in the long-term. If I break Hong Xingying down right now, it’ll be hard to earn anything from him in the future.
After Hong Xingying was escorted off as a ‘casualty’, the remaining members of the Chu clan also swiftly packed up and returned to the Chu Estate too.
Once they were back at the estate, Chu Zhongtian and Qin Wanru instructed the others to wait outside and called Zu An alone into the study room.
Everyone thought that Zu An was going to rise through the ranks after this incident, and they started thinking about how they should get close to him. Those who had offended him in the past also felt deeply regretful as they racked their brains for ways how they could salvage their relationship with him.
Over in the study room, as soon as the doors were closed, Zu An laughed heartily and said, “Actually, you need not be too thankful to me. Chuyan is my wife, after all. It’s only right for me to do my part for the Chu clan. Of course, if you wish to reward me with 100,000 silver taels or something, I’ll humbly accept your goodwill. Otherwise, I’ll be fine with having a few beautiful maids to wait on me too.”
“…” Chu Zhongtian.
“…” Qin Wanru.
“…” Chu Chuyan.
“Dream on!” Unable to take it anymore, Qin Wanru slammed her palm on the table and questioned, “Speak! Who sent you here?”