Era: Starting with the struggle to refuse being taken advantage of

Chapter 164 Growing Out of Shape
With a mysterious smile, Wang Chengpeng said, "If I say this movie can be shown, then it can be shown. Let's wait a little longer."

After saying that, Wang Chengpeng didn't explain further, but took Wang Meiyan's hand and returned to where the others had set up their stools.

It has to be said that everyone was really fast. In just half a minute, the once lively venue was reduced to only a few scattered people.

Xia Mingyue and An Qiuyun didn't leave; they were still there guarding the bench.

After all, they had taken Wang Chengpeng's seat, so how could they just leave before he came back?
Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, Wang Zidong returned, muttering discontentedly:

"Pengzi, let's go. This movie is really confusing."

An Qiuyun stretched and said, "Everyone's gone, we should go too."

"I'll still go to the cinema to watch movies when I have the chance, at least I won't encounter this kind of inexplicable situation."

Cinemas are also a rarity in this era, found only in some large cities.

Although Shanghe City is called a city, it is still a small city and naturally cannot have a movie theater, which is why An Qiuyun was so emotional.

Seeing the disappointed faces of the crowd, Wang Chengpeng laughed and said, "Why are you leaving? We haven't finished watching the movie yet."

They didn't understand what Wang Chengpeng meant, but before they could ask, they found the answer to their question.

The familiar movie sound started playing again, followed by those incredibly familiar scenes—the very same story that had been playing just before the equipment malfunctioned.

Seeing the familiar scene, Wang Meiyan was overjoyed and shouted with a smile:

"Brother, that's great! The movie's started again!"

Since there was basically no one around, the group no longer needed to squeeze together.

The two benches were placed side by side, and there was more than enough space.

Especially with Wang Zidong's assistance this time, the three women will definitely not be squeezed out of their minds.

Perhaps because they heard the sound of the movie being shown, most of the villagers rushed back and soon filled the screening area.

The joy of something lost and then regained is something to be celebrated by everyone.

What followed was much simpler; with the music playing, everyone was completely immersed in the beauty of the film.

Especially when they saw everyone working together to drive the Japanese away, countless people cheered.

After watching the movie, it was time to go home.

Looking at the sky, which was almost completely dark due to the equipment malfunction, Wang Chengpeng hesitated for a moment before speaking:

"An, Xia, do you want me to see you off?"

"The educated youth settlement is near my home, so it's on the way."

After the initial excitement of watching the movie wore off, the two felt a bit scared as they looked at the completely dark sky.

After a moment's hesitation, Xia Mingyue finally spoke first:

"Thank you for your kindness, Comrade Wang. We'd appreciate it if you could give us a ride."

Wang Chengpeng doesn't look strong at all; in fact, he appears rather thin.

But Wang Chengpeng's muscular physique and his feat of single-handedly killing a wild boar were enough to give the two of them a sense of security.

Since he only had one bicycle, Wang Chengpeng naturally had to walk to see him off.

With the bench easily in his hands, Wang Chengpeng followed behind the two men and began his journey home.

As for Wang Meiyan, she rode her bicycle home first.

With the bicycle providing shelter, her safety was not a problem.

They came quickly and left quickly. Under the moonlight, the three of them cast shadows and walked in silence.

After walking for about half an hour, the group finally arrived near the educated youth settlement.

Although the light emitted by the oil lamp was dim, it gave people enough peace of mind.

With a sweet smile, Xia Mingyue expressed her gratitude to Wang Chengpeng:

"Comrade Wang, thank you for seeing us off. Otherwise, we would have been really scared on this dark road."

"It's a pity you've taken a long leave recently, otherwise I would have cooked a meal for you myself to express my gratitude."

Bathed in moonlight, Xia Mingyue's face was breathtakingly beautiful, causing Wang Chengpeng to momentarily freeze in shock.

The next moment, An Qiuyun interrupted Xia Mingyue with a smile, saying:

"Mingyue, that's not very sincere of you to say it."

"You've just finished reading all the books you borrowed from Comrade Wang, so you can go over there tomorrow."

"Although your cooking is certainly not as good as Comrade Wang's own cooking, I believe he would not mind tasting your skills."

After An Qiuyun's reminder, Xia Mingyue realized that this was indeed the case. Before Wang Chengpeng could refuse, she spoke first:

"If Comrade Wang doesn't mind, I'll come to borrow the book from you again tomorrow afternoon, a little later."

"I feel a little embarrassed to borrow books from you for no reason every time. How about this, I invite you to dinner tomorrow, as a way of repaying your kindness in lending me the books."

"My skills may not be as good as Comrade Wang's, but I hope Comrade Wang won't mind."

Even if Wang Chengpeng is completely clueless about romance, he wouldn't refuse a beautiful woman's invitation.

After thinking for a moment, he nodded and agreed, saying, "Okay, then I'll trouble you, Xia Zhiqing."

"Just prepare some simple food, nothing too lavish, just enough to fill your stomach."

Seeing that Wang Chengpeng agreed, Xia Mingyue finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It would be quite embarrassing if someone refused when you invited them over for the first time.

Thinking this, Xia Mingyue smiled again and said sweetly:

"Alright, Comrade Wang, then let's meet at five o'clock tomorrow afternoon."

For some reason, Wang Chengpeng, who was usually audacious, was now only thinking about escaping.

Wang Chengpeng glanced down at his watch and said:

"Okay, that's it."

"It's getting late, and my parents are still waiting for me at home, so I'll be going now."

"If I get back late, they'll worry about my safety."

After saying goodbye, Wang Chengpeng jogged away and disappeared from their sight in a flash.

The journey is long, so he should go home as soon as possible.

The reason I ran is because my home is a bit far away, and even a short run would take more than ten minutes.

Watching Wang Chengpeng leave, until his figure completely disappeared, An Qiuyun playfully waved her hand in front of Xia Mingyue's eyes and said:

"Snap out of it, my best friend."

"Comrade Wang is just average-looking, why are you staring at him so intently?"

"Besides, what's the use of just looking? If you're going to pursue someone, go for it while they're still single."

"Oh, you even invited me back for dinner. I don't get such good treatment, being able to eat your homemade food."

Xia Mingyue glared at An Qiuyun with annoyance and complained:
"It seems the food I cooked before was fed to the dog, or even worse than what a dog would eat."

"Not only did I not get any praise, but I also got ridiculed."

"I just didn't want to owe anyone a favor, and simply invited Comrade Wang to dinner. But you've turned it into something else entirely. Your thinking is truly filthy!"

Am I being filthy?

An Qiuyun immediately objected and launched a sneak attack on Xia Mingyue. The two of them then started playfully bickering.

Just as the two reached their front door, An Qiuyun suddenly stopped and said:

"Mingyue, how come Comrade Wang is so capable?"

"You were reading a book at the time, so you probably didn't see the real situation."

"The projectionist couldn't fix the projector, and he had already given up and told everyone to go home."

"But we don't know what Comrade Wang did. He just said a few words to the projectionist, and then the movie was played again."

Xia Mingyue glanced at An Qiuyun with surprise and denied, "This must just be a coincidence."

"Projectors are such precious things. Comrade Wang probably hasn't even touched one, let alone looked at it more than a few times. How could he possibly repair it?"

An Qiuyun smiled and shook her head, saying, "This absolutely cannot be a coincidence."

"You didn't see that we were all about to leave, but Comrade Wang, as if he had foreseen it, made us stay."

"And it turned out he was right. The projector was indeed fixed immediately and we were able to continue watching movies again."

Xia Mingyue glanced at An Qiuyun with surprise, but she hadn't noticed these details.

She was reading a book at the time, so it's not surprising that she didn't notice these details.

Immediately, as if she had thought of something, Xia Mingyue launched a counterattack against An Qiuyun, saying:
"You, An Qiuyun, you don't even pay attention to the plot of a movie, but you watch Comrade Wang so carefully."

"Look at me, how come I didn't know so many details?"

"Tsk tsk tsk, no wonder you always criticize me, it turns out you've taken a liking to Comrade Wang yourself."

With her chest puffed out, An Qiuyun said confidently, "So what if I've taken a liking to you?"

"All you know is reading books, but you didn't see how Comrade Wang debated with a group of scholars before."

"That shameless uncle and the unreasonable village chief were all rendered speechless by Comrade Wang."

"Who wouldn't love a man with such talent and eloquence?"

"You know, Comrade Wang is capable of taking down a wild boar single-handedly. I felt so safe when he brought me back today."

"I just don't know what Comrade Wang did to offend anyone, he always seems to run into these strange and messy things."

Shaking her head and then nodding, An Qiuyun said as if she had just realized something, "A mediocre person is one who is not envied."

"Comrade Wang is so outstanding, it's inevitable that some people will be jealous and resentful of him." "But it doesn't matter, Comrade Wang has plenty of methods, he will always be able to make them suffer the consequences."

Listening to An Qiuyun's account, Xia Mingyue's mind also flashed back to the various things that had happened to Wang Chengpeng recently. She nodded thoughtfully and said:

"If you like him, why don't you go for it boldly?"

"Comrade Wang happens to be single right now, which is perfect for you, you little devil."

However, this event, which should have been a cause for celebration, caused An Qiuyun's eyes to darken, and she said:
"If conditions permit, I will naturally pursue my love with confidence and boldness."

"But love is not as beautiful as it is in novels; reality is what we really have to face."

"Keep going, maybe one day I'll have the right to truly pursue happiness."

Xia Mingyue subconsciously hid the copy of "La Dame aux Camélias" behind her back; how could she not understand this principle?

It is precisely because she has no right to pursue happiness in real life that she falls in love with this ethereal love in the novel.

With a sigh, Xia Mingyue said, "Go to sleep early, there's a lot to do tomorrow."

"It's easy to just have a simple meal, but since we've invited Comrade Wang to be our guest, we can't be careless."

Nodding in deep agreement, An Qiuyun said, "Yes, it's definitely something we can't be ambiguous about."

……

What may seem like a simple movie has quietly influenced many people.

On the other side, Wang Chun'an and Wang Xia'an also returned home and saw Wang Jinshan guarding the yard.

Looking at his two sons, Wang Jinshan frowned and asked, "Why are you two so late?"

With an awkward laugh, the two felt a little embarrassed. Wang Xia'an spoke up:

"In the end, the projectionist fixed the projector, and we watched a movie for a while before we came back."

"Dad, you have no idea how exciting the story got later on. It was an incredible comeback."

As soon as she finished speaking, Wang Xia'an realized she had said the wrong thing, instinctively covered her mouth, and said:

"This movie isn't actually that good."

However, his words were no different from a blatant attempt to cover up his guilt.

The thought of running away in disgrace while the others enjoyed a satisfying movie made Wang Jinshan almost suffer internal injuries from holding it in.

But the facts could not be changed, so he could only ask about another matter in silence:
Why didn't you two come out to help me tonight?

There were three of us watching the movie, but in the end, I was the only one caught in the crossfire and ended up not even getting to see the whole thing.

Why are you dragging me into your own mess?
Under Wang Jinshan's influence, the two men's ideas were surprisingly consistent with his.

Just as Wang Jinshan also believed that Zhao Yuju was responsible for the incident and that it had nothing to do with him.

Seemingly prepared for Wang Jinshan's question, Wang Chun'an, with a bitter face, said:

“Dad, we both want to help you, but we don’t have the skills to fix the projector, so we can only say we can’t help you.”

"Besides, you know what happened back then. Even if the two of us rushed up to help you, it would only mean two more people getting scolded and two more people missing out on the movie."

"No matter how you calculate it, it's more cost-effective for the two of us to not care about you."

Is it a good deal? Can some things be judged solely by whether they are a good deal?
However, Wang Jinshan, still somewhat sullen from his recent outburst, couldn't quite grasp the situation and nodded in deep agreement, saying:
"That seems to make sense. If you don't help me, you can minimize the losses."

"That's enough for now, but you can't just ignore me next time."

As Wang Jinshan turned to go back into the house, he failed to see the glint of calculation in his two sons' eyes.

Since Dad says he did nothing wrong, does that mean he can do the same thing in similar situations in the future?
Wang Jinshan never imagined that his two sons, influenced by what they saw and heard, would start to go astray.

Around the same time, Song Zhiyuan also returned home.

Judging from his ashen face, he probably wasn't in a very good mood.

Even after they were all back home and sitting down, Song Zhiyuan still couldn't understand why Li Min, the projectionist he had worked so hard to find, would speak up for Wang Chengpeng, even though the two of them had absolutely no connection whatsoever.

He's not stupid; he can tell something from the fact that Li Min was willing to go out alone with Wang Chengpeng.

However, precisely because he saw through something, Song Zhiyuan didn't dare to do anything to Wang Chengpeng.

This young man seemed to be more capable than he had imagined, but the fact that he dared to openly challenge him meant he was courting death.

Especially since the other party seemed to have some connection with Wang Fucheng, he was even less likely to let him go.

Considering the previous issue with the homestead, Song Zhiyuan wasn't stupid; he had already vaguely guessed some things.

After a moment's thought, Song Zhiyuan had seven or eight plans to deal with Wang Chengpeng.

However, he ultimately decided to put this immature idea aside for the time being. Wang Fucheng was his biggest enemy at the moment, while Wang Chengpeng was just a small fry who could be dealt with easily. There was no need to create unnecessary trouble now.

He had been preparing for a long time and believed that Wang Fucheng would not be able to escape from his grasp this time.

……

Wang Chengpeng probably never dreamed that, despite appearing harmless, so many people would be watching him.

He had arrived near his own yard and saw the dim light from the oil lamp.

Although he wasn't afraid, the warmth it represented, a sense of home, was enough to warm his heart.

The three trained puppies were exceptionally skilled; they could smell Wang Chengpeng from a great distance and barked to welcome his arrival.

The puppy's barking woke the three people who were waiting in the yard. Wang Meiyan exclaimed with delight, "..."
"Father, Mother, my brother is back."

Seeing their son return, the two breathed a sigh of relief, leaving behind the words, "He still knows how to come back?" before turning and going back into the house.

Although they were worried about Wang Chengpeng, they sometimes didn't want to express it.

Now that they were certain their son had returned safely, they could finally go to sleep peacefully.

Looking at Wang Meiyan standing guard in the yard, Wang Chengpeng asked curiously, "Where are Dad and Mom?"

Without hesitation, Wang Meiyan said, "They went back inside to rest. They were just guarding this place."

Wang Tieshan and Liu Chunhua probably never imagined that their good daughter would turn around and sell them out.

Seemingly still wanting more, Wang Meiyan continued, "Brother, tonight's movie was really good."

"I wish we could see such great movies every day."

Thinking of the black-and-white televisions that might become widespread in the future, Wang Chengpeng smiled and said:

"There will come a day."

……

Since he no longer had to go to town to work, Wang Chengpeng had a lot more free time.

He also took on most of the household chores so that Wang Meiyan could have some time to read.

If I pass the exam, I should be able to find a school to attend.

Here we have to mention Wang Meiyan's situation. In her previous life, Wang Chengpeng's family was emptied of their savings by Liu Yanran, and they were even burdened with huge high-interest debts.

In this situation, Wang Meiyan didn't even have the opportunity to enroll in school. She could only watch her peers carrying their schoolbags to school, feeling envious, but she bravely said that she didn't care about going to school.

But things are different now. Not only have they come to their senses and stopped being taken advantage of, but the Wang family's situation has also improved.
Wang Meiyan, of course, didn't have to go through the same ordeal as in her previous life, where she didn't even finish elementary school.

It's easy to quit reading, but difficult to catch up.

Knowledge needs constant reinforcement to deepen understanding; once it is neglected, it takes much more effort to regain this treasure.

Most schools hold exams in June or July, so if Wang Meiyan wanted to continue her studies, she had to catch the last train.

Although Wang Chengpeng could spend some money and find connections to get Wang Meiyan into the school, nothing brings the same sense of accomplishment as getting into a school through connections.

Wang Chengpeng was only responsible for providing backup; in the early stages, Wang Meiyan still had to rely on her own efforts.

Thanks to the harvest from the scrap metal recycling station in Hetian Town, Wang Chengpeng has as many textbooks as he wants, even though ordinary village schools might not have many. There are definitely no fewer than three sets.

With tutoring from Wang Chengpeng, a top student, Wang Meiyan's academic performance improved by leaps and bounds.

Just as I was thinking this, I saw Wang Meiyan walk over with a small notebook, her face full of pride, and say:
"Brother, I've solved all the problems you gave me."

"I feel like I can definitely get a perfect score of 100!"

Seeing Wang Meiyan's proud expression, Wang Chengpeng mercilessly retorted, "You certainly have a lot of confidence."

"Okay, I'll take a look."

"Yes, copy each question you got wrong twenty times!"

Copying may seem like a useless punishment, but it's actually the simplest way to make an impression. The process is somewhat tedious, as evidenced by Wang Meiyan's rapidly pursed lips.
"Brother, you're bullying me."

After giving Wang Meiyan a flick on the forehead, Wang Chengpeng said irritably, "So spoiled at such a young age, you'll have to learn a thing or two in the future."

"We're not afraid of trouble, but you can't cause trouble."

It's unclear who set a bad example, but Wang Meiyan's personality is different from her timid and submissive self in her previous life; she is now acting quite recklessly.

That's why Wang Chengpeng is so strict with her, teaching her to guard against arrogance and impetuosity.

Sure enough, as he looked down to check his workbook, Wang Chengpeng quickly discovered two very obvious mistakes.

It wasn't that Wang Meiyan didn't know how; she was simply a bit careless, and this kind of mistake really shouldn't have been made.

Thinking this, Wang Chengpeng said with a stern face, "I'll give you one more chance. Check the questions carefully before handing them in to me."

Little did anyone know that Wang Meiyan completely disregarded the opportunity given to her by Wang Chengpeng. Instead, she arrogantly raised her head and said:
"I've checked them all; there's absolutely no way I could have gotten a single question wrong."

Touching his chin, Wang Chengpeng felt that Wang Meiyan lacked a fatherly love as severe as a landslide.

It seems I'll have to tell my dad about this tonight and let him teach this arrogant little brat a lesson.

Wang Meiyan's confidence soon led to her Waterloo. She got three questions wrong, and she had to copy each one twenty times, which would keep the little girl busy for several hours.

Most importantly, Wang Meiyan, who was full of resentment, had no idea that a torrent of fatherly love, like a landslide, awaited her that night.

If children aren't educated early on, they risk going astray!
(End of this chapter)