Chapter 437 — Seizing Coolie Labor

So Zhong Yongliang decided to talk to Shen Yushu first. If Shen Yushu was willing to help, she could lure Gu Mengyao out to watch his Fire Tree Silver Blossoms display. He was sure Gu Mengyao would come. And when she saw it, she would be so moved that she might just fall for him...

"Yaoyao, go and rest now. Xiaoshu's right — you need to lie down for a while!" Zhong Yongliang echoed Shen Yushu's words.

Gu Mengyao was only too glad to have Zhong Yongliang stop pestering her. Since he was the one telling her to leave, she certainly was not about to refuse.

Once Gu Mengyao was out of sight, Shen Yushu winked at Zhong Yongliang. "Little Liangzi, if there's something you want to ask of me, just say it!"

"Uh... how did you know I wanted to ask you for something?" Zhong Yongliang was taken aback. This Shen Yushu really could see right through a person.

"Every time you come looking for me, isn't it always because you want my help?" Shen Yushu said with a grin, handing him the shovel. "First dig me a hole. Tell me what it is while you work, and then I'll see what I think."

"All right, all right!" Zhong Yongliang hurriedly took the shovel and started digging, looking at Shen Yushu with gratitude. In the past, whenever he asked for her help, she always made trouble for him. Today she was being downright reasonable!

If Gu Mengyao knew about this, she would probably keel over in shock. Shen Yushu had not even agreed to anything yet — she had only been a little nicer to him — and already he was working as her unpaid labor, and not even resentful about it. In all the world, probably only a fool like Zhong Yongliang would fall for that.

"I'm thirsty. Tell your sidekick to go buy some iced drinks." Shen Yushu sat down on a nearby mound of earth and, hugging her knees, spoke to Zhong Yongliang.

"Sure!" Zhong Yongliang immediately shouted to Gao Xiaofu, who was not far off: "Xiaofu, go buy some drinks — iced ones! Hurry there and back!"

Gao Xiaofu set off on his errand, and only then did Zhong Yongliang say, "Xiaoshu, there really is something I'd like to ask you to do..."

"Oh, go on then, what is it? I'll see if I can manage." Shen Yushu nodded absently. When she saw Zhong Yongliang stop digging, she grew a little displeased. "If you won't dig, I'll dig myself. And you don't need to tell me — wait until I'm done and then say it."

"I'll dig, how could I let you dig..." Zhong Yongliang was startled and hastily resumed digging. "I'll talk while I dig. The thing is, there's a kind of tree called an Eskimo tree. They say it's a symbol of love. Legend has it that if you confess your feelings to the girl you like beneath this tree, you can win her heart..."

"Don't tell me you've had an Eskimo tree flown in?" Shen Yushu thought to herself, Is there really such a fool in this world, who would believe such a ridiculous legend?

"That's right. I had one flown in by air. I've already asked Gao Xiaofu to prepare some confession notes to hang on the tree," Zhong Yongliang said.

"Is that so?" Shen Yushu was playing with her phone and answered without much interest.

"Of course, that's not the main event. I've planned something called 'fire trees and silver blossoms on a nightless sky.' I'm going to set off fireworks in the tree, and then have Yaoyao's name form in the sky, as a way of confessing to her!" Zhong Yongliang had no idea whether Shen Yushu was even listening to him. He was so frustrated his teeth itched, but he did not dare show his anger.

"Oh, fireworks? That sounds like fun. I'll definitely come watch. Don't worry, I'll bring Sister Yaoyao along," Shen Yushu said. Hearing there would be such amazing fireworks, she naturally had to go and see for herself.

"That's wonderful!" Zhong Yongliang was overjoyed. The speed of his digging picked up considerably, and in no time he had dug out a large hole. "Xiaoshu, what do you think of this hole?"

"It's fine. Now dig another one beside it," Shen Yushu said with a satisfied nod.

"Another one?" Zhong Yongliang's face immediately fell. Digging this one had already worn him out. Now he had to dig a second?

"This one's mine. The next one's for Sister Yaoyao. But if you don't want to, then forget it — I'll call Sister Yaoyao over to dig, and tell her you're not willing to help her." Shen Yushu stood up and made as if to go fetch Gu Mengyao.

"Don't... don't do that!" Zhong Yongliang nearly burst into tears. After all this work, wasn't the hole for Gu Mengyao anyway? If Shen Yushu called out like that, all his effort so far would be wasted. And who knew — Shen Yushu might even sabotage him so that tonight's plan would not go smoothly... At that thought, Zhong Yongliang could only grit his teeth and accept. "I'll keep digging. How could I let you and Yaoyao dig? Leave this sort of thing to us men!"

"Then carry on. Sister Yaoyao said she likes boys who are a bit stronger," Shen Yushu said as she sat back down.

"I'm very strong. Look, digging doesn't tire me at all — I'm only using thirty percent of my strength, and I can go even faster!" Zhong Yongliang said hastily.

Before long, Gao Xiaofu came running back with several bottles of drinks in his arms. "Brother Liang, I've bought them. Do you think these are enough?"

"Enough!" Zhong Yongliang waved a hand to dismiss Gao Xiaofu, then handed two of the bottles to Shen Yushu. "Why don't you take one over to Yaoyao too?"

"Okay, I'll go then. Dig slowly, and call me when you're done!" Shen Yushu took the drink, gave Zhong Yongliang a word of instruction, and ran off toward Gu Mengyao.

Zhong Yongliang dug at the ground with his shovel, sweating buckets. To show off just how strong he was, he gritted his teeth and kept a broad smile plastered across his face despite his exhaustion...

"Sister Yaoyao, here's one for you." Shen Yushu handed a bottle to Gu Mengyao.

"I won't drink it. You have it yourself." Gu Mengyao shook her head. She was always careful about such things and generally never gave Zhong Yongliang the slightest opening, especially not when it came to favors that would leave her owing him.

"Then I'll drink it myself!" Shen Yushu did not care in the least; she was long since used to extorting things out of Zhong Yongliang.

"Did you lie to him and say I was the one who told him to dig?" Gu Mengyao frowned as she watched Zhong Yongliang putting his back into the work.

"No, I didn't. I only said that Sister Yaoyao likes strong boys, and he came up with the idea of showing off all on his own." Shen Yushu replied with a giggle.

"When have I ever liked strong boys?" Gu Mengyao was slightly taken aback. She had not expected Shen Yushu to invent such an excuse to trick Zhong Yongliang into doing the labor.

"Isn't Arrow-Brand Bro pretty strong? Don't you like him?" Shen Yushu asked.

"Why bring him up again? How could I possibly like him? A man with eyes but no sight — I can't be bothered to waste my time on him!" Gu Mengyao shot a glance toward Wei Zhao and spoke with venom in her voice.