Chapter 59

“Comrade, I’m not interested in hearing any stories from you, and I don’t have the time for them either.”

Lu Chen finished speaking and stared at Dong Qingcheng expressionlessly. Dong Qingcheng, looking at him, couldn’t help but smile.

This kid, his temper was even worse than his own.

But Dong Qingcheng wasn’t actually angry. From the conversation with the factory leaders earlier, he understood how much Lu Chen valued the opportunity to study at the factory. So, he guessed that Lu Chen was probably impatient to return to his training.

Since that was the case, he decided to skip the stories and get straight to the point.

“Lu Chen, you’re very likely my cousin, my real cousin.”

“Your mother is my long-lost younger aunt.”

As he said this, Dong Qingcheng’s expression was unusually serious. His gaze remained fixed on Lu Chen’s face, as if trying to read his reaction from his expression.

What surprised him, however, was that despite hearing this news, Lu Chen’s expression didn’t change much. He only slightly squinted his eyes, and his gaze toward Dong Qingcheng became filled with doubt and wariness, as if he were a conman.

Dong Qingcheng: “???”

“No, I’m telling the truth. Your mother back then—”

Dong Qingcheng wanted to continue explaining, but he was silenced by Lu Chen’s three words.

“Where’s the proof?”

Yes, proof.

Who could believe such a statement without any evidence?

Dong Qingcheng knew this very well, which was precisely why he had come to find Lu Chen. He intended to explain everything to him and then go with him to ask his mother for clarification.

Although his grandparents had told him that his younger aunt was still young when she was abducted, she was old enough to understand things, so she should have some memory of what happened at home.

With that in mind, once he met Lu Chen’s mother, everything would be clear.

“I’m just telling you first, and then I’ll go see your mother and we can confirm it.”

Dong Qingcheng quickly spoke, “I’ll definitely provide you with the proof. I have no reason to deceive you!”

However, after he said this, Lu Chen suddenly stared at him with an unreadable look. Dong Qingcheng tried to analyze it, but he felt that there might have been a flash of sarcasm in Lu Chen’s eyes, leaving him utterly confused.

“What do you mean, kid?”

Lu Chen no longer wanted to waste time with him and coldly responded, “She’s already passed away.”

What!!!

Dong Qingcheng had originally planned to lecture Lu Chen, but he never expected to hear such news. He was so shocked that he could hardly keep calm, staring at Lu Chen in disbelief.

“What happened? When did this happen?”

Dong Qingcheng could not accept that Lu Chen’s mother, his younger aunt, might have passed away. If that was true, how heartbroken the elderly relatives and his mother must be.

However, his shock and sadness appeared out of place to Lu Chen, who couldn’t empathize with him at all. Dong Qingcheng wasn’t even sure if his mother was the younger aunt he mentioned. What if he had mistaken the person?

With this thought, Lu Chen lost patience.

“Comrade, I still have things to do, I’m leaving now.”

He had no idea what progress the class was making while talking to Dong Qingcheng, and he had to get back on track immediately.

Fortunately, Dong Qingcheng was still lost in the shock of the news and didn’t notice Lu Chen leaving. He stood there, his brow furrowed deeply.

Once Lu Chen returned to the classroom, Zhou Tong immediately asked if something was wrong. Lu Chen shook his head, signaling that nothing was wrong.

Dong Qingcheng’s actions didn’t leave any impression on him.

After all, it was strange enough that someone would suddenly claim to be his cousin without any evidence. Anyone would wonder if they were being deceived.

Moreover,

Even if Dong Qingcheng’s words were true and his mother was indeed the lost daughter of the Dong family…

That had nothing to do with him.

His mother had passed away many years ago, and even before that, she had no contact with the Dong family. As for Lu Chen? He had no connection with them either. He didn’t want to, nor did he expect to have any family.

Years of living in solitude had already conditioned him to such a life.

What was family?

Perhaps, if he had a family, he would feel even more out of place.

Besides, looking at Dong Qingcheng, his family seemed to be doing well. Even without him and his mother, the Dong family could live comfortably.

That was enough. He’d pretend like nothing ever happened.

Once Lu Chen made up his mind, he quickly put Dong Qingcheng and the Dong family out of his mind and fully focused on his studies.

On the other hand, Dong Qingcheng was deeply shaken by the news Lu Chen had shared.

Before coming here, he and his family had considered many possibilities, including the chance that this search might end in failure. They had even anticipated that the person they found might not be the one they were looking for.

The worst scenario they had imagined was simply that they found the wrong person. They had never considered that the person might already be dead…

In that moment, Dong Qingcheng didn’t know whether he should believe that they had finally found the right person or if he should pray that he had still made a mistake.

Ultimately, he spent the entire night at the guesthouse thinking it over. He decided not to give up until the truth was clear. He was going to Lu Chen’s hometown to get to the bottom of it!

However, after that conversation with Lu Chen, Dong Qingcheng understood Lu Chen’s character and temperament. He realized that Lu Chen was very anxious about learning to drive a tractor, so he decided not to disturb him further. Instead, he spent the next few days gathering more information about Lu Chen.

The more he learned, the heavier Dong Qingcheng’s expression became.

If Lu Chen truly was his cousin, then his past had been incredibly hard.

After Lu Chen told Dong Qingcheng about the situation that day, he hadn’t seen him again. Lu Chen wasn’t sure whether Dong Qingcheng no longer suspected the relationship between his mother and his aunt or if he had completely moved on. In any case, Dong Qingcheng hadn’t come to find him in the days that followed.

The days spent studying in the county were intense and fast-paced for Lu Chen and the others. A week of learning passed by quickly.

On the last day of training, everyone had to take an exam. This exam would document the results of their studies and serve as an important reference for the commune when selecting tractor drivers.

By this point, not only had everyone become more aware of their own abilities and those of others, but their instructors also had a good understanding of their skills.

So, when Lu Chen’s performance during the exam was praised by several of the teachers, there were some who felt dissatisfied, jealous, and even frustrated. However, no one dared to say that Lu Chen’s performance was poor.

After the exam results were collected by the factory leaders, they planned to send them to the communes. Meanwhile, the trainees began packing their bags, ready to head home.

Although they hadn’t been away for long, everyone was eager to return home. Not for any particular reason, just to share the joy of coming to the county and buying gifts for their families.

Among those eager to go home, Lu Chen was the most impatient.

It had been seven days since he last saw Meng Yinyin, and he couldn’t wait to return home to see her. He wondered how she had been doing these past few days.

Lu Chen was the first to finish packing and stand at the factory gate. Since they had arrived on a bus organized by the town, they would also be leaving on a bus arranged by the same way. Although he was eager to leave, he still had to wait for the others.

Luckily, everyone was quick to finish packing, and soon, they were ready to board the bus.

Just then, Dong Qingcheng, who had not been seen for a long time, appeared again.

He was wearing a different outfit, no longer in his military uniform. When he saw Lu Chen, he immediately called out to him.

“Lu Chen!”

When Lu Chen frowned and looked at him, Dong Qingcheng smiled.

“I happen to be heading to your brigade. I’ll go with you.”

Dong Qingcheng was accompanied by the factory leaders, who, without waiting for Lu Chen to reply, cheerfully spoke up.

Oh, what a coincidence, Comrade Dong, hurry up and get in the car and set off with Comrade Lu Chen!”

After speaking to Lu Chen, the factory leader couldn’t help but remind him.

“Xiao Lu, as the saying goes, a guest is always treated well. Comrade Dong came all this way, so you need to take care of him. Help look out for him on the road, alright?”

Rather than a reminder, it felt more like an instruction.

Lu Chen pursed his lips and finally nodded silently.

He wasn’t unaware of social customs.

Before his job as a tractor driver was finalized, he had to leave a good impression on all the leaders involved, which of course included the factory leaders.

After all, the commune would likely consult the opinions of the tractor factory’s staff, so even though Lu Chen didn’t want to continue interacting with Dong Qingcheng, he couldn’t refuse the factory leader’s request.

Seeing that Lu Chen had reluctantly agreed, Dong Qingcheng sighed in relief but also felt somewhat guilty.

Since learning that Lu Chen had not had a good life these past years, he now felt an impulse to make it up to him whenever he saw him.

But luckily, he hadn’t forgotten that he and Lu Chen had not yet confirmed their familial relationship. If he were overly kind to Lu Chen for no reason, it might not earn Lu Chen’s gratitude but instead make him more guarded.

This little brat’s psychological defenses were incredibly strong.

Still, under the factory leader’s mediation, Lu Chen and Dong Qingcheng ended up sitting in the same bus. The bus left the county seat and slowly headed towards the town.

When they arrived at the town, except for Lu Chen and the others who were from the same commune, the rest of the group split up and headed to their respective homes.

As for Dong Qingcheng, he naturally stuck close to Lu Chen.

After all, his destination was clear—Lu Chen’s home.

Lu Chen, however, ignored him as if he were invisible.

Zhou Tong, seeing that Dong Qingcheng was so determined to follow Lu Chen, couldn’t help but ask quietly.

“Brother Lu, what do you think he wants? Why is he following you?”

It was one thing to follow them from the county seat to the town, but now he was following them all the way to Lu Chen’s home. Was he really planning to go all the way there?

°.✩┈┈∘*┈˃̶୨୧˂̶┈*∘┈┈✩.°

Ayalee: It was supposed to be unlocked on Friday but since I’m going to be busy on that day, so I decided to unlock it early. Also, do check out my new translation work guys (❀‿‿❀)

I’m Not Going to Be This Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character Anymore