During their conversation, several patrol members rushed up.

One person focused on Cheng Rushan and Jiang Lin, while the others conducted a quick search around, swiftly apprehending the couple in the bushes.

“Who are you? What’s your relationship?” the patrol member asked, shining his flashlight on them.

In such situations, if couples engaged in improper behavior were caught in the park, they would first be taken to the public security office to register their relationship.

If they were about to get married, they would receive a lecture and be required to write a pledge promising not to behave like that again.

If they weren’t about to get married but were cuddling and kissing, they would be taken to the police station.

“We’re married,” Cheng Rushan replied.

“Hmph, don’t think you can deceive me. Married couples still need to come out here to hug and kiss? Tell the truth!” the patrol member retorted.

“We’re just exploring since we’re new to the provincial capital. My wife slipped, and I helped her,” Cheng Rushan explained.

“Do you need to see an introduction letter? I was a sent-down youth returning to visit my family,” Jiang Lin added.

“Forget it, I’ll let you off this time,” the patrol member decided after sizing them up.

They didn’t seem like they were having an affair, so he let it go.

He couldn’t help but notice Cheng Rushan’s tall and handsome stature, and Jiang Lin’s striking and clear gaze.

They didn’t look like they were up to no good, so he let them go rather than cause unnecessary trouble.

As they walked away, the patrol member called out, “Comrade, you look familiar to me. What’s your name?”

Jiang Lin replied irritably, “My husband is right here.”

The clumsy attempt at flirting annoyed her, and she walked off with Cheng Rushan.

A few steps away, the patrol member scratched his head and muttered to himself.

Over there, they had caught a young couple who were dating but not engaged yet, and he could hear them being reprimanded.

He walked over and said to one of them, “Zheng Jiang, I think I just saw Jiang Lin.”

“Jiang Lin? Who… Oh, come on, that can’t be! Didn’t she go to the countryside and never come back?” Zheng Jiang clicked his tongue twice. “What a pity. Your brother still has her on his mind.”

“Can’t blame my brother. Who wouldn’t think about a beauty like her?” Lü Fang glanced back, still able to see Cheng Rushan’s tall and straight figure.

Zheng Jiang exclaimed, “If it’s really her, let’s go ask.”

“She’s with her man. Looks complicated. When I questioned her, she was calm and composed.”

In general, even innocent people would panic in such situations, but the man didn’t seem to care at all.

Far from being nervous, he was completely relaxed.

“A man? Haha, Lu Fang, are you sure he’s not her lover? Wasn’t it said that once she went to the countryside, she couldn’t stand the hardship and quickly found some bad guy to marry? Later, when the man wasn’t home, she slept around the whole village?”

“Damn it, watch your filthy mouth. Don’t say such things in front of my brother, or he’ll beat you to death!”

“Hmm, your brother is quite interesting. Just playing around, yet acting like he’s deeply in love… Hmm, could it be more than just play?”

“Get lost, talking to you is so boring. I’m going to talk to my brother.” With that, Lu Fang dashed off.

Zheng Jiang snorted and continued to hassle the young couple, “Come on, let’s go to the police station and clarify your relationship.”

Because of the encounter with the patrol, Jiang Lin lost her mood for strolling and returned to the guesthouse with Cheng Rushan.

Cheng Rushan remarked, “That guy seemed to know you.”

Jiang Lin replied indifferently, “I have no recollection whatsoever. I’m not paying him any attention.” She didn’t take it seriously at all.

Back at the guesthouse, Yan Runzhi exclaimed in surprise, “Why are you back so soon?”

Jiang Lin smiled and replied “Nothing Mom, we just want to go back”

“Ohh….”

After Yan Runzhi closed the door behind her and hummed a tune back to her room, Jiang Lin glanced at Cheng Rushan and made a face at him.

Cheng Rushan chuckled and walked over, pinning her against the cabinet by the wall. “Want to continue?”

Jiang Lin protested, “Continue what? I’m innocent, I haven’t done anything…” Her protests were cut short by his kiss, which made her legs go weak.

Later, as they settled into bed, Jiang Lin sat down heavily. “The beds in this guesthouse are so noisy.”

Cheng Rushan, understanding her implication, teased, “It’s okay, we don’t have to stay in the bed.”

Jiang Lin only took off her outer clothes and pants, slipped into bed wearing her shirt and trousers underneath. “Comrade Cheng Rushan, please go to sleep quickly.”

The guesthouse bedding wasn’t likely to be very clean, but she made do.

As Jiang Lin lay down, Xiao Bao immediately nestled into her arms like a sunflower turning towards the sun.

Cheng Rushan picked up Dabao and moved him to another bed.

The next day, before dawn, Jiang Lin was awakened by Xiaobao nudging her.

He seemed hungry but not fully awake, so he squirmed in Jiang Lin’s arms, mimicking a child nursing.

Jiang Lin: “…”

She quickly called Cheng Rushan, “Your son is hungry, please take him to eat.”

Cheng Rushan was also awakened by Dabao’s rumbling belly.

He sat up, ran his hand through his hair, got out of bed to dress, and then lifted both sons off the bed. “Get dressed and wash up, Dad will take you for breakfast.”

Still sleepy, Jiang Lin covered her head with her own clothes and went back to sleep.

Cheng Rushan leaned down to kiss her, “I’ll bring something back for you.”

Breakfast included porridge, big steamed buns, fried dough sticks, soy milk, tofu pudding, and fried cakes, a feast that delighted Wensheng, Dabao, and Xiaobao.

This time, the three brothers didn’t order the same thing; each chose something different to share.

Cheng Yunzhi and Yan Runzhi had a lighter meal, mainly porridge and steamed buns.

Tofu pudding and porridge didn’t require food coupons, but steamed buns and fried dough sticks did.

Cheng Rushan had two extra bowls of thick porridge.

He let his parents take the kids for a walk while he brought soy milk, fried dough sticks, and steamed buns back to Jiang Lin.

Yawning, Jiang Lin got up to wash and said to Cheng Rushan, “Take your parents and the kids out today, visit the People’s Hospital and the Liberation Army Hospital, see which one suits Wensheng.”

Cheng Rushan asked, “What about you?”

Brushing her teeth, Jiang Lin replied, “I’ll check things out at home first.”

She felt something was wrong because her parents hadn’t replied to her letter, but they hadn’t built much of a relationship yet, so she wasn’t overly concerned.

Cheng Rushan offered, “Should I come with you?”

“No need, I’ll manage on my own. Going home is nothing special.” Jiang Lin rinsed her mouth, wiped her face, and started eating.

“These fried dough sticks are really good, have you tried them?”

Cheng Rushan said, “Yes.” He handed Jiang Lin her bag, “Can you carry this?”

Jiang Lin tore off a piece of fried dough stick and dipped it in soy milk. “Why carry so much? I’ll check things out first, and then we can go together to pick it up.”

She seemed closer to him in words and tone, but was unsure about her parents.

Cheng Rushan looked at her as if trying to read her mind.

After finishing the fried dough stick, Jiang Lin didn’t want to eat more because of the oil in the soy milk.

However, wasting so much oil was a shame, especially now when it was scarce. Of course, she couldn’t throw it away and looked at Cheng Rushan with a smile, “Are you full?”

Cheng Rushan glanced at her and smiled, “You’re still half a tea cup of soy milk short.”

Jiang Lin immediately pushed it towards him, “But it’s nutritious.”

Cheng Rushan didn’t mind either, took it over and finished it, then took the lunch box and tea cup to wash them clean.

Feeling full and energized, Jiang Lin said enthusiastically, “After they all go to work later, I’ll go directly to the auto parts factory to find your father-in-law.”

“Your father-in-law,” instead of “my dad,” this teasing tone made Cheng Rushan couldn’t help but chuckle.

Why was she so adorable? He couldn’t resist hooking his arm around her waist to kiss her.

Jiang Lin pushed him away, “You’re already full.”

“I can still eat more.” He kissed her assertively.

Finally, the sound of children laughing outside came.

Jiang Lin freed herself and straightened up.

She went to open the door, “Dad, Mom, I’ll go to the auto parts factory first to find my dad. I’ll settle things there and then bring you over as guests.”

Both parents understood that rushing so many people over might scare others and give the wrong impression.

Yan Runzhi smiled, “Baor’s mother, you’ll tire yourself out going alone. Let Dongsheng accompany you.”

“No need, he can accompany you all for a walk.”

Jiang Lin put on her backpack, stuffed a few embroideries Yan Runzhi made for her, and also put a bag of peach-flavored pastries inside.

She didn’t want to carry more, since they were heavy.

Besides, she had money and some food coupons in her pocket and would buy more when necessary.

Cheng Rushan escorted her outside, “Do you know which bus to take?”

“At least I’m a local, I know more than you do. Don’t worry.” She waved goodbye to Cheng Rushan and walked away.

Cheng Rushan stood at the door watching her leave, feeling a sudden pang in his heart as if she might not come back after this.

Jiang Lin walked for about half an hour, taking a bus halfway.

Her father, Jiang Dongjian, worked at the auto parts factory, while her mother, Xu Aimei, had previously been a temporary worker in various places, eventually securing a permanent position at a textile factory.

Jiang Lin took a bus and arrived at the auto parts factory after a short journey.

Initially, the factory only produced mechanical parts, but as the number of vehicles in the province increased, it adapted and integrated into an automotive parts factory.

Regardless of whether for cars, tractors, or other vehicles, they manufactured parts, and even some small agricultural machinery.

The factory occupied a large area, with mostly single-story buildings scattered throughout the compound, occasionally interspersed with two or three-story cylindrical buildings.

By the time Jiang Lin reached the factory gate, it was nearing the end of the noon shift.

Some factory workers ate at the canteen, while others went home to cook.

The entrance was bustling with workers in indigo blue uniforms riding bicycles.

Jiang Lin headed straight for the residential quarters at the rear.

Typically, large factories had their own residential areas and schools for employees’ children.

Smaller factories would collaborate to provide these facilities.

The residential area used to consist entirely of single-story houses with narrow, cobblestone alleys.

There were households with standalone courtyards and rows of single-story houses, each with one or two rooms.

In the past five to six years, a few multi-story buildings had been added after the original owner moved to the countryside, giving the area a more imposing appearance.

Jiang Lin walked while mentally sorting through her memories.

After some time, her recollections of the previous owner weren’t as fresh as when she first arrived.

Especially when it came to unimportant interpersonal relationships that the original owner didn’t care much about, sorting through them was a bit tedious.

The alleys were complex, and each lane looked similar.

She couldn’t immediately find where the house was.

“Lin… Jiang Lin?” Someone hesitantly called her name, then excitedly ran over. “Jiang Lin, is it really you?”

Jiang Lin was surprised to see the excited Quanbo. She smiled, “Oh, you work at the auto parts factory now?”

Qianbo nodded, surprised and excited.

He became a bit overconfident but kept his distance and didn’t make any moves towards Jiang Lin.

“Why are you back? Did you come by yourself?” Qianbo looked around, relieved not to see Cheng Rushan anywhere nearby.

Jiang Lin asked, “Have you seen my dad around?”

Qianbo shook his head, “No, I’m not in the same workshop as Uncle Jiang. I’m still an apprentice.”

He didn’t dare to face Jiang Dongjian directly, fearing he might get beaten up.

Looking at the complex alleys, Jiang Lin thought about asking Qianbo to lead the way.

She smiled at Qianbo, about to speak, when a middle-aged man stormed towards her angrily.

As she wondered who this person was, he raised his hand and slapped towards her. Jiang Lin quickly stepped back to avoid it.

“Snap!” The slap landed fiercely on Qianbo’s face.

Jiang Lin was stunned.

Qianbo looked sorrowful, “Uncle Jiang…”

Jiang Dongjian pointed at Jiang Lin, trembling with anger. “You… you bad girl! You… you really ran away with a man!”

Jiang Lin retorted, “Who spread this rumor? Tell me, did Meng Yiyi say this?”

Hearing her raise her voice, Jiang Dongjian felt deeply embarrassed with people watching around.

He growled, “Shut up! You’re so afraid others won’t know? You want to announce it to the whole world?”

Jiang Lin replied, “You were the one who attacked without asking questions, accusing me of eloping for no reason. Shouldn’t I ask who spread such rumors?”

Qian Bo quickly intervened, “Uncle Jiang, you’ve misunderstood. Jiang Lin is doing well.”

But Jiang Dongjian stared at her suspiciously, showing no sign of believing her.

Jiang Lin sneered, “Forget it. I guess I’m not welcome back. You see me as worse than an enemy. Are you afraid I’ll embarrass you? You believe strangers over your own daughter?”

Furious, Jiang Lin took out the money Jiang Dongjian had given to the original owner over these years and shoved it back to him. “Fine, just pretend I’m dead.”

With that, she turned and walked away.