19: How about 699 for Chapter 19?

Guo Jianjun was so angry he gritted his teeth and glared, chasing after him to land another hard kick on his backside.

Guo Kui dodged with a cheeky grin and scurried away.

After leaving Guo Jianjun's house, Guo Kui didn't delay for a moment and found Zheng Jing immediately.

He recounted the entire sequence of events to Zheng Jing, from going to plead with his cousin to the back-and-forth negotiation, and finally, Guo Jianjun agreeing to it.

Zheng Jing sat to the side, listening intently.

When he heard the whole process, he couldn't help but laugh and curse, "Damn, Kuizi, I really didn't think there were so many rules involved. Then why were you bragging to me earlier, patting your chest so confidently? Turns out you couldn't even make the call yourself?"

Guo Kui scratched his head with an embarrassed smile and waved his hand nonchalantly, "Hey, how was I bragging? I just knew my brother wouldn't refuse us. See? It worked out, didn't it!"

Watching Guo Kui's carefree demeanor, as if he hadn't taken the difficulties of pleading for him to heart, Zheng Jing felt a surge of genuine gratitude.

Setting aside his playful expression, Zheng Jing looked at Guo Kui seriously, "Kuizi—oh wait, Brother Kui! You and Brother Jun have really gone to a lot of trouble. I'll remember this favor."

Seeing this, Guo Kui immediately leaned his big head toward Zheng Jing, winking and smiling, "Still calling me Brother Kui?"

Zheng Jing was stunned, looking puzzled, "What the hell are you talking about? What kind of mood are you in now?"

"Call me Dad!" Guo Kui laughed triumphantly, "After all, since we aren't father and son, why else would I be so dedicated to helping you with such a big favor?"

Zheng Jing didn't say another word. He raised his hand and slapped the back of his head hard, scolding him irritably, "Get lost!"

As the two were laughing and messing around, the courtyard gate was gently pushed open.

Zheng Jing's mother, Zhang Damei, walked in carrying a bamboo basket filled to the brim with bitter greens.

As soon as Zhang Damei entered, she saw Guo Kui in the courtyard.

She paused for a moment, then a warm smile appeared on her face, and she hurried forward, "Oh, isn't this little Kuizi? I haven't seen you in so many years, you've grown so much!"

As she spoke, she looked Guo Kui up and down, seeing that he was covered in dust and his clothes were wrinkled, and couldn't help but nag, "You child, why are you so dirty, like a savage?"

Guo Kui only then remembered that after he came down from the mountain and sold the gold sand, he went straight to the restaurant to eat with Zheng Jing.

Then he went straight to Guo Jianjun's house to talk about Zheng Jing joining the venture.

He hadn't had time to change into clean clothes or tidy himself up, so he was covered in dust from head to toe, looking truly disheveled.

He rubbed the back of his head and replied with a chuckle, "Hey, hello Auntie! Yeah, I just got back from working on the mountain and haven't had a chance to clean up yet."

Hearing this, Zhang Damei praised him repeatedly, "Wow, you're so industrious, what a reliable child! Don't go, stay for dinner at Auntie's house tonight. I'll make a few of my specialty dishes, and you two can have a good chat!"

"No, no, Auntie, Jingzi and I just ate in town." Guo Kui quickly waved his hands to decline, "Besides, I'm dirty and smelly, it's really inconvenient. I need to go home, wash up, and get cleaned up first."

"Did you really eat?" Zhang Damei asked suspiciously.

Zheng Jing nodded, "We really did. Oh, by the way, Mom, don't cook dinner for me either."

After saying that, he stood up and patted Guo Kui on the shoulder, "Let's go, I'll take you to the bathhouse for a soak. We'll get a good scrub, it'll be clean and comfortable."

Guo Kui was already feeling uncomfortable all over, so when he heard this, he agreed immediately without a second thought, not standing on ceremony with Zheng Jing at all.

The two said goodbye to Zhang Damei and headed straight for the bathhouse.

Since the climate in the south was humid, every household could bathe at home, and there was absolutely no tradition of public bathhouses like in the north.

But over the last dozen years or so, as transportation became more convenient and interaction between the north and south increased, the northern custom of soaking and scrubbing gradually spread locally.

Several bathhouses had gradually opened in the town of Hezheng County, though their scale couldn't compare to those in the north.

"Xiongcheng Sauna" was considered the best bathhouse in Hezheng County.

According to Guo Kui, they had both legitimate and illegitimate services there.

A standard one was 69, while the improper one was 699; the prices were considered quite expensive.

Zheng Jing himself wasn't very interested in the improper services, but he knew Guo Kui had a penchant for that sort of thing.

So, he generously asked Guo Kui if he needed him to arrange a 699 for him.

Guo Kui shook his head, "It's not that Brother Kui is a saint, but wait until you strike gold and make money before arranging that. Let's just go with the 69 today!"

Zheng Jing smiled, "Alright!"

The two changed into slippers, took their locker tags, and undressed.

Soaking in the warm pool water, they couldn't help but let out an "Ah" in unison.

"So comfortable..."

Especially Guo Kui; all his exhaustion and dust were washed away, and he relaxed completely.

While scrubbing his arms, Guo Kui started chatting with Zheng Jing about interesting things in the mountains.

He talked about the wild rabbits they encountered on the mine slopes, and the chirping of insects and birds in the mountains at night; he talked about how excited someone looked when they were lucky enough to pan a large piece of gold sand, speaking with such animation.

Zheng Jing also listened with great interest.

Suddenly, the mobile phone Guo Kui had placed to the side rang.