Chapter 26: A Man, Is He Even Worthy?

"Sister-in-law Xiue, I’m really not in the mood!"

Lin Meng dodged to the side, evading Cheng Xiue. The frustration in his heart only burned hotter.

That was a full two hundred thousand! If he couldn’t scrape it together, Li Dabiao would take his stepmother and oldest sister away. Yet, to Cheng Xiue, it was nothing but a trivial matter.

Thinking back to the genuine concern Pan Qiaolian and Xia Tiantian had shown him, Lin Meng grew even more repulsed by Cheng Xiue. This woman merely wanted to use his body; she didn’t care whether he lived or died.

"Lin Meng, what’s with that attitude?" she snapped. "You slept with me once, and now you think I don’t matter anymore? Believe it or not, I’ll never let you touch me again!"

Having grabbed at thin air, Cheng Xiue was getting worked up. The sheer frustration of being denied his body was driving her crazy.

"Then don’t. See if I care," Lin Meng retorted, curling his lip in indifference. He bypassed her, fully intending to continue his trek up the mountain.

After all, he had Pan Qiaolian now. Not only was she younger than Cheng Xiue and actually cared about him, but she was also much tighter, making sleeping with her vastly more enjoyable.

"You... you little brat! If you dare walk away, believe it or not, I’ll tell Li Dahai that you slept with me! I’ll have him get someone to kill you!" Cheng Xiue shrieked in sheer exasperation, having run out of options.

Lin Meng paused and looked back with a cold sneer. "Sure, go find Li Dahai. He and Li Dabiao are from the same clan anyway. If I can’t pay back the money, I’m dead meat sooner or later."

Cheng Xiue froze, completely speechless.

Deep down, she certainly couldn’t bear to have Lin Meng killed. After all, how many men possessed an instrument that could compare to his? If he really died, there probably wouldn’t be anyone left who could satisfy her starved, desperate body.

"Lin Meng, don’t be mad! I was just joking!" Cheng Xiue hurriedly forced a smile, stepping forward to grab his arm. "Let’s talk this over properly and see if we can figure something out."

A way out?

Lin Meng was about to scoff when an idea suddenly struck him. "There is a way, actually. Sister-in-law Xiue, Li Dahai has been the village chief for years, so he must have scraped together a lot of illicit money. How about you chip in and help me out?"

"Ah... well..." Cheng Xiue instantly looked conflicted.

"Since you’re not willing, forget it." Seeing her reaction, Lin Meng coldly withdrew his arm and took a step to leave.

Cheng Xiue panicked completely. She knew that if Lin Meng left now, he might never seek her out again. Stomping her foot violently, she gritted her teeth. "It’s just money! Tell me, how much do you want?"

Only then did Lin Meng stop in his tracks. He thought for a moment before saying, "Sister-in-law Xiue, I won’t ask for much. One hundred thousand will be enough."

"What the hell? One hundred thousand?" Cheng Xiue’s eyes widened, and she shook her head repeatedly. "I can take out fifty thousand at most! Any more than that and Li Dahai will notice. I wouldn’t be able to explain it."

Fifty thousand was certainly no small sum. Moreover, judging by her expression, Cheng Xiue didn’t seem to be lying.

Lin Meng finally broke into a smile and pulled her into a tight embrace. "Sister-in-law Xiue, I knew you were the best!"

Nestled against Lin Meng’s masculine chest, all of Cheng Xiue’s pent-up anger vanished into thin air. She felt an indescribable sense of gratification.

"Hmph, you brat. You sure change your tune fast!" Cheng Xiue scolded coquettishly. Despite being older than Lin Meng, she was entirely conquered by his manly aura, acting just like a smitten schoolgirl.

"I didn’t have a choice, Sister-in-law. It’s all because that dog Li Dabiao forced my hand!" Lin Meng sighed, gnashing his teeth in hatred.

"That guy really is a piece of work," Cheng Xiue nodded in agreement.

"Sister-in-law Xiue, when are you going to give me the money?" Lin Meng rested a hand on her plump rear, gently kneading it.

Cheng Xiue nearly melted at his touch. Panting lightly, she said, "How about this: we’ll meet tonight in the small woods to the west, and I’ll give you the money then."

"Alright," Lin Meng agreed.

Although he disliked the idea of living off a woman, Cheng Xiue’s situation was different—the money belonged to Li Dahai. Li Dahai and Li Dabiao belonged to the same clan. The only reason Li Dabiao dared to act so arrogantly was because of this connection. Therefore, it would be foolish to pass up on this free money.

"Xiaomeng, I’ve agreed to your terms. Now, can we..." Cheng Xiue grabbed Lin Meng’s massive package, completely consumed by her insatiable thirst.

"Sister-in-law, I still want to look for medicinal herbs first. Could you hold off for now? I promise I’ll give it to you good tonight!" Though Lin Meng was starting to feel aroused, he hadn’t forgotten his main priority. However, while he was still rejecting her, his tone was much gentler than before.

"Fine, then. I won’t force it," Cheng Xiue said. Not daring to push him too hard, she nodded in disappointment. After exchanging a few more words, she turned and headed down the mountain.

Watching her retreating figure, Lin Meng felt an inexpressible thrill. That was Cheng Xiue, a woman who was usually so fierce and unyielding. Yet just moments ago, she had been totally submissive to him, obedient as a little bitch.

It was exactly as Pan Qiaolian had said. As long as a woman was conquered by a man’s instrument, no matter what kind of woman she was, she would obediently fall in line.

In high spirits, Lin Meng hummed a tune as he made his way up the mountain.

The day passed quickly.

To Lin Meng’s disappointment, he failed to find any exceptionally rare medicinal herbs again today. Such treasures were truly things one could only stumble upon by chance, not by actively seeking them out.

However, he did manage to collect some other standard Chinese herbs. He planned to find time to try concocting a finished product according to the prescription from the Yin Yang Great Dao Skill.

By the time he returned home, it was already dinnertime.

At the dinner table, Li Shiyun was also present, sitting there with an air of cold arrogance. Even when Lin Meng walked in, she acted as if he were completely invisible.

"Xiaomeng, you’re back. Hurry up and eat," his stepmother said, her heart aching for him. She pulled him into a seat. "You’ve worked hard all day; you need to eat more."

"Heh, he claims he went up the mountain to find herbs and make money, but it’s been two days and I haven’t seen a single thing. Who knows if he just found a spot to sleep the day away," Li Shiyun scoffed, adjusting her glasses. Her eyes brimmed with mockery, looking at him as if he were a beggar on the street.

"Shiyun, can you just give it a rest?" Li Wanrong couldn’t bear to listen anymore and scolded her with a stern face. "Xiaomeng is not only your younger brother, he’s also a man!"

"Heh, a man? Does he even deserve the title?" Li Shiyun crossed her arms and let out a light snort.

He cursed inwardly. Her contemptuous attitude deeply wounded Lin Meng’s pride.

"I’m full!" Slamming down the bowl he had just picked up, Lin Meng stormed out without looking back.

He then headed straight for the small woods where he had arranged to meet Cheng Xiue. He truly couldn’t endure this any longer! Li Shiyun was becoming more and more outrageous, as if she were intent on trampling his dignity into the dirt.

No man with an ounce of backbone would be able to tolerate it! Right now, Lin Meng’s mind was completely focused on those two hundred thousand. Furthermore, he had changed his mind. When the time came, he wouldn’t just spank his oldest sister’s rear; he would smack her until she wailed, making sure she had to call him "good daddy" before he let her off the hook!