The next day, Saturday.
After getting ready and covering her face with a scarf, Wen Nianxin went to the department store to buy some gifts for the visit, then carried them to the Textile Factory Family Compound.
She had made an appointment with Director Zhang yesterday to have lunch at his house today, and she happened to have many questions she wanted to ask in detail.
“Look, there’s a crazy woman over there.”
A few dozen meters away from the entrance of the Family Compound, there was a sandpit. One of the little boys, catching sight of Wen Nianxin with her face wrapped in a scarf, sat in the sandpit and pointed at her, shouting loudly to his companions nearby.
“Where? Where is she?”
“The one who just entered, walking inside!”
“She doesn’t look like a crazy person. That person is dressed quite cleanly.”
“Wrapped up so tightly in such hot weather—if she’s not crazy, then what is she!”
“Not necessarily. Maybe she’s just afraid of the cold.”
“How is that possible? She must be sick!
If you don’t believe me, follow me to test her out. Whoever doesn’t come, I’ll never play with them again, and don’t expect me to share any snacks with you!”
These children clearly regarded the little boy who spoke as their leader. Since he had issued such an ultimatum, they had no choice but to stand up, brush the sand off their clothes, and follow him as he chased after Wen Nianxin.
Wen Nianxin hadn’t heard the conversation between these brats. She was too busy keeping an eye on the people around her, afraid that someone who knew the original owner might recognize her. To avoid that, she pulled her scarf up higher and quickened her pace.
Before coming over, she had actually considered whether she should wear a mask.
But in the end, she decided against it.
This era wasn’t like the future, where wearing a mask was to prevent viruses. If someone wore a mask while walking around now, people might think they had an infectious disease. She didn’t want to cause unnecessary panic.
“Hey! Crazy woman, stop!”
As she was passing through the Tongzilou, heading toward the independent courtyard, Wen Nianxin didn’t associate the term “crazy woman” with herself at all.
“Hey! Stop! You idiot with the gray scarf up ahead!”
Wen Nianxin didn’t pay much attention at first, but upon hearing the words “gray scarf,” she glanced down at the front of her chest.
Well, it really was gray…
So the “crazy woman” and “idiot” were referring to her?
She stopped in her tracks and turned to look behind her.
Several boys around ten years old stood about three or four meters away from her.
“Hey! Idiot, why are you wearing a scarf in such hot weather!”
“Who are you calling an idiot?”
“Of course, you!”
The boy leading the pack hadn’t caught on yet, but the companion on his right tugged at his sleeve: “Brother Xu, it seems like she was calling you an idiot.”
“???”
“What do you mean?”
“She said, ‘Who are you calling an idiot?’ Wasn’t she turning it around to call you the idiot?”
“You crazy woman, how dare you call me an idiot!”
Only after his companion’s explanation did the boy at the front finally understand. He glared furiously at Wen Nianxin, his fists clenched, as if he was brewing some mischief.
“Your mouth is like it’s been smeared with laxative, spewing nonsense at anyone you see.
To be honest, I’m at least ten years older than you, so I could be considered your elder. Yet you call me a crazy woman without a second thought. Don’t even talk about me calling you an idiot—you should be thankful I’m in a good mood today and haven’t slapped you twice.”
Though her good mood had been completely ruined upon encountering this annoying brat.
She had no principle against bullying the smaller ones. Some ill-mannered brats were just asking for a lesson.
“Brother Xu, maybe we should leave. She doesn’t seem crazy.”
“Yeah, Zheng Xu, let’s go.”
“She’s so big – we definitely can’t beat her.”
“Leave? No way!
She’s alone and there are five of us! What’s there to be afraid of!”
“Zheng Xu? Is your father Zheng Taiping?”
“That’s right! I’m Zheng Taiping, workshop team leader at the Textile Factory!”
Zheng Xu wore a smug expression, his nostrils flared so high you’d think his workshop team leader father was a bigger official than the factory director.
Wen Nianxin looked him up and down. So it was an old acquaintance – Zheng Xu… wasn’t he the youngest brother of the original host?
When the original host went to the countryside, he should have been only four or five years old.
It seemed that with her face covered, Zheng Xu didn’t recognize her. Of course, it was also possible he simply didn’t remember he had an eldest sister.
Five years had passed, and this little brat who used to boss the original host around had become even more ill-behaved than in childhood. Well… with the original host’s scumbag father and stepmother favoring boys over girls, plus him being the youngest son, it was impossible for him not to be spoiled rotten.
“I have things to do. I’ll give you a chance – get lost now…”
Before she could finish, Zheng Xu quickly threw the sand he was clutching in his hand toward Wen Nianxin.
Fortunately, she had noticed earlier that he was holding sand and had been watching his movements closely. The moment he raised his hand, she promptly stepped aside, only getting slightly splashed.
But even that little bit was enough to enrage her.
It wasn’t just because the sand got on her clothes – more importantly, this was the original host’s “dear brother.”
Since he had no sense of propriety, wouldn’t it be a waste of her status as his elder sister if she didn’t teach him a lesson on behalf of his parents?
Wen Nianxin took several large steps forward, grabbed Zheng Xu by the collar, and directly slapped him hard across both cheeks.
Not only was Zheng Xu stunned by the beating, but his companions standing nearby were utterly terrified.
They all hesitated about whether to run for their lives, afraid that this terrifying woman would turn on them next after letting go of Zheng Xu.
“Si-sister, I di-didn’t… didn’t insult you, pl-please don’t hit me.”
“I didn’t either, don’t hit me. I won’t insult you.”
Wen Nianxin couldn’t be bothered with these little brats. She threw Zheng Xu to the ground, brushed the sand off her clothes, picked up her things, and turned to leave, leaving them with a silhouette that inspired both fear and dread.
“Bro-Brother Xu, are you okay?”
“Get lost!”
When his friend tried to help the fallen Zheng Xu up, he angrily shook off the helping hand.
“Brother Xu, it’s not that we didn’t want to help you, but that woman was just too strong. She looked even bigger than your dad – one of her could match two of us. We’re no match for her.”
“Don’t want to help? Then don’t!
I’m never playing with you again!”
With tears in his eyes and both cheeks bright red from the slaps, Zheng Xu ran off toward home.