17: Chapter Seventeen: The Enchanting Scenery Within the Courtyard

After pondering for a while, Guo Kui made up his mind.

He did not go straight home.

Instead, he turned and walked to a nearby tobacco shop called [Haisi Xinsheng], gritted his teeth, bought two cartons of Soft Zhonghua cigarettes, and then headed straight for his cousin Guo Jianjun's house in the southern suburbs of the county.

Despite him thumping his chest and guaranteeing Zheng Jing earlier that he could bring him into the trade, whether Zheng Jing could actually go still depended on his cousin Guo Jianjun giving the nod!

Guo Jianjun's house was in a secluded area and rarely had visitors, so the courtyard gate was often left unlatched and unlocked.

With something on his mind, Guo Kui forgot to knock; he simply pushed the gate open and stepped inside.

But the moment he stepped into the courtyard, he froze on the spot, his feet feeling as if they were filled with lead; he could neither advance nor retreat.

He saw his cousin Guo Jianjun with his eyes closed, reclining on a rattan chair in the courtyard with an expression of pure enjoyment, while his Cousin-in-law Li Lanwei was kneeling before him, her mouth moving back and forth...

Cousin-in-law Li Lanwei was dressed quite scantily.

She wore only a form-fitting camisole on her upper body, which accentuated the round and gentle curves of a mature woman, making her figure look exceptionally eye-catching. Below, a pair of black silk stockings under her pleated skirt wrapped around her long, shapely legs, with the lines of her skin faintly visible.

Her large, firm, and perky buttocks were facing Guo Kui, and that restrained yet alluring charm made Guo Kui feel as if he had forgotten how to breathe.

The couple was so deeply immersed in their tender moment that the sudden sound of the door pushing open instantly shattered the ambiguous atmosphere in the courtyard.

Guo Jianjun and his wife were startled.

"Ah..."

Being caught in such a state by her brother-in-law, Cousin-in-law Li Lanwei's cheeks instantly flushed red from her ears down to her neck.

Flustered and at a loss for what to do, her eyes darted around, and she dared not look up at Guo Kui.

She hurriedly pulled up her camisole, tidied her slightly disheveled hair, and with her head bowed, she walked quickly into the house.

Guo Kui stood there dumbfounded, but his mind was filled with the vision of his cousin-in-law's full, rounded figure.

In his eyes, Cousin-in-law Li Lanwei was usually so dignified, steady, and serious, but just now, that camisole paired with black silk stockings... it was truly a stark contrast!

Seeing his cousin looking so foolish, Guo Jianjun kicked him hard in the backside while pulling up his pants.

Then again, anyone would feel embarrassed if interrupted during such a good time.

Glaring fiercely at Guo Kui, Guo Jianjun said in an irritated tone: "You damn... Forget it, damn it, don't you know how to knock before entering?"

"I'm not even married yet, Brother, where would I get a mother-in-law?" Guo Kui said blankly.

Looking at his cousin, whose brain didn't seem to work very well, Guo Jianjun said helplessly: "Your mother is my aunt, how could I curse her? Look at what you've done."

Guo Kui quickly apologized with a fawning smile: "Brother, I'm really sorry. I was in a rush to talk to you about something and forgot to knock in my confusion. I really didn't mean to disturb you. But don't worry, I didn't see what Cousin-in-law looked like at all, I really didn't see a thing..."

"Hmph..."

Guo Jianjun had black lines on his forehead and gritted his teeth in anger: "Alright, alright, shut your dog mouth."

Seeing that his cousin was on the verge of exploding, Guo Kui quickly shut his mouth and handed him the two cartons of Soft Zhonghua cigarettes he had brought.

"What's this for?" Guo Jianjun waved his hand, suppressing his awkwardness, straightened his body to calm his emotions, and asked irritably: "You came running over here in such a rush, were you chased by a dog or what?"

Guo Kui scratched the back of his head, his tone uncharacteristically reserved: "Brother, I have a childhood friend who recently returned to the village from out of town. He's been idle at home with no work, and he wants to follow us into the mountains for Gold Panning. I came here specifically to discuss it with you."

Guo Jianjun frowned upon hearing this and asked casually: "Which childhood friend? Are there any of your drinking buddies that I don't know?"

"Zheng Jing, you definitely know him, Brother," Guo Kui said quickly.

"Zheng Jing?"

Guo Jianjun recalled for a moment and immediately remembered: "Oh, I remember now. That's the kid who used to follow you and me around when we were little, right?"

"Yes, yes, that's him!" Guo Kui nodded quickly and added with a smile, "Brother, do you remember? One time we snuck into the old orchard by the river to climb trees and steal loquats, and we specifically asked him to keep watch outside. But this guy, he sat on the side playing with sand, and before he knew it, he forgot all about the task and wandered home first. It left the two of us in the tree, completely unaware, and we were caught red-handed by the old man watching the orchard."

Guo Jianjun was reminded of their childhood embarrassment by his words, and a smile couldn't help but tug at the corners of his mouth.

However, he quickly restrained his expression and frowned, saying: "According to you, this kid has been unreliable since he was little. How dare you rashly bring him into our small circle?"

Guo Kui quickly tried to smooth things over with a fawning smile, his tone very earnest: "Brother, times change! Those were just embarrassing things from when we were kids and didn't know any better. How can you judge someone's character now based on their personality when they were young?"