Rebirth: Controlled Nuclear Fusion

Part 46：Face Pain

The following day, at the Happy Community:

Under the gazebo, the same group of people from yesterday were already gathered.

"Why haven't we seen Old Wang's wife today?"
"She probably won't show up for at least half a month!"

After the incident where Mayor Deng awarded Jiang Fan the second-class merit yesterday, Old Wang's wife had found herself in an extremely awkward situation. Knowing her prideful nature, it seemed she would avoid public appearances for a while.

As they were discussing her, someone suddenly exclaimed in shock:
"Old Wang's wife?"

Sure enough, there she was, her figure unmistakable as she approached, and to everyone's surprise, she wore a smile, not a hint of embarrassment on her face.

"What's going on? Has the sun risen from the west?"

The others exchanged bewildered looks, puzzled by the change in her demeanor.

"Old Wang's wife, what's got you so happy?"
"Yes, you're smiling like a blooming flower!"

Old Wang's wife placed a box of candies and sunflower seeds on the stone table and, still smiling, announced:
"Come, have some candy and seeds!"

"Come on, tell us what good news you have!"

With a mysterious grin, she pulled out her phone and showed them a photo of a young woman—an ethereal beauty.

"Who is this girl? She's stunning!"
"Yes, with those large eyes, double eyelids, and that delicate little mouth, she's simply gorgeous—almost as beautiful as Old Sun's daughter!"
"I think she's even more beautiful than Old Sun's daughter!"

Old Sun's daughter was twenty years old, with delicate features and a slender figure. Among the eligible bachelors in the neighborhood, she was greatly admired, and some had even boldly sent their parents to propose marriage. But the girl, with high standards, had turned them all down.

Hearing the praise that the girl in the photo was more beautiful than Old Sun's daughter, Old Wang's wife couldn't contain her smile, which nearly reached her ears.

"Let me tell you all," she grinned, "this is my son's girlfriend, Xiaoqian, and she's a university student!"

"Really?"

The crowd gasped in surprise. They hadn't expected Old Wang's son to be so capable, to have found such a stunning girlfriend.

"Wang Gang is quite something, always so eloquent. He's certainly a person destined for great things!"
"Old Wang's wife, you've hit the jackpot! To find such a beautiful daughter-in-law!"

Old Wang's wife felt sweet as honey upon hearing the praise. But inside, she couldn't help but think, Hmph, even though Li Guiqin's son won a second-class merit, who would ever marry a boy like him? He's as silent as a bookworm. Whereas my son is articulate and charming—just look at this beautiful daughter-in-law!

"People have to be able to speak," she said smugly. "Look at those great men from ancient times who won battles with their words!"

"Old Wang's wife is right! A man who wants to succeed in business must be able to speak well!"

At this, she lowered her voice, continuing, "Don't think that just because Guiqin's son won a second-class merit, he'll find a beautiful girl. A boy who can't even string together a sentence, who's like a walking encyclopedia, what girl would want him? Finding a wife would be a problem..."

Everyone knew there had always been tension between Old Wang's wife and Li Guiqin's family, and her comment about Jiang Fan was clearly a jab at them. Although Jiang Fan was quiet, he was polite and always greeted them when they met.

"Old Wang's wife, although Jiang Fan might not be the best with words, he's not bad-looking, and he's certainly polite!"

Old Wang's wife scoffed. "A man doesn't rely on looks. If it were about appearances, would I have married Wang Gang's father?"

She paused for a moment, clearly enjoying her own words. "Back in our village, I was renowned as the village beauty..."

The crowd couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of her claim. If she was the "village beauty," then surely the girls in the village must have been unremarkable. However, being good neighbors, they refrained from laughing out loud.

"Xiu'e, why are you laughing?"

Xiu'e quickly waved her hand, doing her best to control her facial expressions.

Just as Old Wang's wife was about to continue speaking, a girl dressed in a beautiful pink gown, wearing a princess hat, walked into the gazebo.

All eyes immediately turned toward her.

The girl was a vision of elegance—her brows and eyes like a painting, her nose delicate, her lips soft, her skin fair as jade. She walked with grace, her steps light as though she were floating, like a butterfly in mid-flight.

As she passed by, she noticed the crowd staring at her in wide-eyed surprise. She gave them a bright smile and sweetly greeted them:
"Hello, Uncle and Aunt!"

"Hello!" "Hello!"

The crowd instinctively nodded, their eyes following her until she disappeared around the corner of Building 3.

"Wow! That girl is like a fairy!"
"I think she's even more beautiful than the celebrities on TV!"
"She's so beautiful, if my son could marry a girl like that, I'd pay a dowry of a million!"
"Please! A girl that beautiful will end up marrying into a wealthy family. People like us, ordinary folks, can only dream!"

Old Wang's wife, after seeing the girl, glanced at the photo of her daughter-in-law again on her phone, and for the first time, she felt uneasy. The girl was truly stunning.

The conversation shifted back to Jiang Fan, and Old Wang's wife, eager to gossip, said, "Old sisters, let me tell you, you should help your kids improve their communication skills. Speaking is an art, like the great scholars in ancient times..."

Before she could finish her sentence, two people emerged from the stairwell of Building 3—one was the beautiful girl from earlier, and the other was none other than Jiang Fan!

Old Wang's wife froze, her jaw nearly hitting the ground. The others followed her gaze, their faces filled with disbelief.

How could such a beautiful girl be with Jiang Fan?

It was impossible. This boy barely had any friends. How could he possibly know someone so stunning?

It had to be an illusion.

The girl was none other than Chu Ruoxi. Earlier that morning, Li Guiqin had sent her a message saying Jiang Fan had returned, so she had dressed up and hurried over to see him.

The two hadn't seen each other in nearly a month, and as Chu Ruoxi approached him, she wasn't sure where to begin. But thinking back on when she first added Jiang Fan on WeChat, and he had mistakenly thought she was another girl, using her as a shield, she couldn't help but laugh.

Jiang Fan, noticing her laughter, couldn't help but laugh as well. Being with Chu Ruoxi just felt... comfortable.

As they passed by the gazebo, Chu Ruoxi caught the curious stares of the others, so she flashed them a radiant smile and greeted them sweetly,
"Hello, Uncle and Aunt!"

After they walked off, Old Wang's wife, flustered as ever, stammered,
"I... I have something at home, so I'll... I'll head back!"

With that, she hurriedly turned and waddled toward Building 6, her legs moving as fast as if her very life depended on it.

She decided she wouldn't leave the house for at least half a month.

The last couple of days had been too painful.

4o