Chapter 45.2

It was only then that Ruan Mingfu noticed that there were two or three corn cobs, completely gnawed clean, in front of Tiezhu.

Ruan Mingfu frowned and looked at Hu Wanning.

Hu Wanning sighed, “We’re not exactly starving ourselves and looking for things to do. Why would we report you? Tiezhu, come over here. I’ve got some coarse grain steamed buns that have been sitting around for a while and might have a bit of a smell. Can you help me eat them?”

Tiezhu paused, tilting his head to look at her.

“You’re not going to report me?”

He had seen someone who destroyed collective property in the countryside get caught, made to kneel in an open space, and then pelted with things by others. Tiezhu never saw that person in the village again after that.

He was still young then, but the scene left a deep impression on him.

“Why would we report you?” Hu Wanning waved him over, “Come on, if you don’t come, I’m leaving.”

Seeing this, Tiezhu wasted no time and quickly crawled out.

Ruan Mingfu then saw just how emaciated he was.

Compared to the chubby little boy, Tiezhu was almost a skeleton.

Ruan Mingfu wanted to ask but wasn’t sure how to approach it in front of Tiezhu. She just followed Hu Wanning, who took Tiezhu back. From the kitchen, she brought out three or four steamed buns and handed them to Tiezhu.

“Take these.”

Tiezhu hesitated.

The steamed buns were white and plump, clearly made from fine flour, nothing like the coarse grain buns Hu Wanning mentioned.

He stared fixedly at the buns in Hu Wanning’s hand, shaking his head rapidly. “No, I can’t take them.”

As he spoke, Tiezhu kept his small hands behind his back.

“Just take them,” Hu Wanning said with a look of disgust, “These buns have been sitting around for a while and have a bit of a smell. Who would want to eat them? If you don’t take them, I’ll have to throw them away.”

“Don’t throw them away!”

Tiezhu quickly said, “I’ll take them, please give them to me.”

He took the buns, but his hands, like little chicken claws, left black handprints on them as soon as he touched them.

Tiezhu looked a bit embarrassed.

He quickly hugged the three buns to his chest and said, “Thank you, Auntie.”

“Go on,” Hu Wanning watched his retreating figure and reminded him, “Eat them before you go back.”

Ruan Mingfu observed this scene and frowned.

“Sister-in-law, this child is just like that girl…”

An orphan, with no parents?

Hu Wanning sighed, “This child is pitiful, living under a stepmother’s rule.”

With that single sentence, Ruan Mingfu understood.

“Tiezhu is a good child,” Hu Wanning said with a hint of sarcasm in her eyes as she recalled the parents, “It’s just a pity he ended up with such a stepmother.”

Ruan Mingfu pondered thoughtfully.

….

The next day, Ruan Mingfu got up early.

She had important business today and dressed more formally. In a white shirt and a floral half-length skirt that exposed her beautiful legs, she had her hair styled in fishtail braids before heading out.

Xie Yanzhao, the good husband, had already prepared breakfast.

He looked at Ruan Mingfu in her outfit with slightly deeper eyes. When he saw her skirt that was shorter than usual, his eyes narrowed even more.

In the army, breakfast mostly consisted of steamed buns and sweet potatoes, and one rarely encountered meat buns or fried noodles.

Ruan Mingfu sat next to Xie Yanzhao and said, “I won’t be back for lunch today. You should eat on your own and not wait for me.”

He responded softly and brought over a glass of plain water.

“Thank you.”

Ruan Mingfu tilted her head back to take a sip and set the glass aside.

Today’s breakfast was simple coarse grain steamed buns.

Ruan Mingfu ate one and decided not to have more, as it made her throat dry. The congee, cooked thick by Xie Yanzhao, was complemented by the pickled vegetables Hu Wanning had provided. She drank a small bowl of it.

“I’ll pick you up in the evening.”

“No need,” Ruan Mingfu said without looking up, “Professor Hu said he would arrange for someone to take me back. You don’t have to worry.”

Professor Hu?

Xie Yanzhao immediately thought of Professor Hu’s beloved disciple Gu Qingsong…

Because of this, a hint of obscurity appeared in his eyes.

As Ruan Mingfu raised her glass, Xie Yanzhao passed it to her. She slightly blocked it, and perhaps out of force or something else, the water spilled onto her skirt.

The fabric was delicate, and the water clung to her body.

Ruan Mingfu gasped and quickly stood up.

But it was too late. The water had already soaked and spread.

Xie Yanzhao reacted quickly.

He hurriedly set the glass down and asked, “Is it alright?”

There was no paper or clean towel available to wipe it off. Seeing the water stain, Ruan Mingfu waved her hand.

“It’s fine, I’ll just change into something else.”

Watching Ruan Mingfu’s figure as she went inside, Xie Yanzhao sat on the chair, deeply lost in thought.

Soon, Ruan Mingfu emerged in a different outfit.

This time, it was a dress.

Also white, it seemed unremarkable at first glance. However, its trendy design, including elements like ruffled sleeves, made Ruan Mingfu’s already striking face appear softer.

The dress cinched at the waist, accentuating Ruan Mingfu’s good figure.

This item was bought by the previous owner, and she wasn’t very satisfied with it.

After learning how to make clothes from Hu Wanning, she added two darts to the back waist herself. Wearing it now made her feel completely different.

Xie Yanzhao’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and his deep-set eyes rippled like a still pond.

“How is it?”

Ruan Mingfu walked over, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him.

Xie Yanzhao’s gaze softened. “Very beautiful.”

“Humph! You just talk sweetly.”

Even though she was so happy in her heart, she still scolded him.

Hearing the compliment she wanted, Ruan Mingfu sat back down.

Xie Yanzhao scooped another bowl of porridge for her. “Eat quickly before it gets cold.”

“Put less in my bowl. I can’t eat that much.”

Ruan Mingfu took a small bowl of porridge and sipped it slowly. “By the way, who will feed Wangcai while I’m gone?”

Wangcai was still young and couldn’t be left hungry.

She really liked dogs.

In Ruan Mingfu’s heart, Wangcai had become almost as important as Xie Yanzhao. Whether Wangcai would rank higher than Xie Yanzhao depended on how well the dog understood.

“Don’t worry,” Xie Yanzhao’s gaze shifted slightly. “I’ll have it taken to the Old Xu family later.”

Hu Wanning would be at home all day, taking care of the child.

Ruan Mingfu nodded.

She set down her bowl and was about to stand up when water suddenly spilled on the table.

The water spread towards her direction, even more disastrously than before.

Her dress was wet again!

Ruan Mingfu was beginning to question her luck.

She wondered if today’s events would go smoothly, given that she had already had two misfortunes without even leaving the house.

Xie Yanzhao’s expression remained unchanged. “Change your clothes. You don’t want to catch a cold.”

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

She wondered if it was still possible to cancel today’s plans with Professor Hu.

Feeling deflated, she decided to wear the green dress she had bought previously. This time, Ruan Mingfu was extra cautious, afraid of any further mishaps.

Whether it was due to her precautions or not, nothing else went wrong until she left.

Ruan Mingfu finally let out a sigh of relief.

“I’ll pick you up in the afternoon.”

Walking down the street, Xie Yanzhao was holding Wangcai in his arms, with Ruan Mingfu by his side.

This time, Ruan Mingfu didn’t refuse and just said, “We’ll see.”

She might even return before the dog-man.

Passersby looked at them with surprise, as it was the first time they had seen this newlywed couple out together.

Standing together, the handsome man and beautiful woman made a perfect pair.

“Comrade Ruan, going out?”

“Yes, I have some matters to attend to.”

“Ruan Mingfu…”

As they walked, many women greeted Ruan Mingfu. She was puzzled as to why she had become so popular in the family compound.

After leaving Wangcai with Hu Wanning, they proceeded to the main gate.

It was a coincidence that just as Ruan Mingfu arrived, a car drove up. Gu Qingsong, sitting in the front passenger seat, looked at Ruan Mingfu with great admiration.

He extended his hand from the car. “Comrade Ruan.”

Xie Yanzhao’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Gu Qingsong, with a hint of danger in his gaze.

Although Gu Qingsong felt a bit cold from the gaze, he quickly dismissed it and enthusiastically waved at Ruan Mingfu, as if greeting a long-lost friend.

“Comrade Gu.”

In contrast, Ruan Mingfu appeared much cooler.

But her attitude did not dampen Gu Qingsong’s enthusiasm. He jumped out of the car and said, “Comrade Ruan, long time no see.”

Xie Yanzhao stepped forward, his narrow eyes fixed on him.

“Comrade Gu, hello,” he shook Gu Qingsong’s hand. “I’m leaving my wife in Professor Hu’s care today.”

Gu Qingsong: …My hand hurts a little.

But seeing that it didn’t seem intentional, Gu Qingsong thought the strength might be due to Xie Yanzhao’s military background. This explanation seemed to satisfy him, and he flashed a sweet smile again.

“I understand. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Comrade Ruan.”

Xie Yanzhao: “…”

Seeing Gu Qingsong’s silly grin, Xie Yanzhao for the first time experienced the feeling of punching a cotton pillow, a little frustrated.

He patted Ruan Mingfu’s head and said in a deep voice, “Come back early.”

“Got it,” Ruan Mingfu said as she walked towards the car. “You should hurry back too. Otherwise, it’ll be late.”

Xie Yanzhao nodded but didn’t move.

As Ruan Mingfu got into the car and drove off, Xie Yanzhao stood at the gate, watching their departing figures. Gu Qingsong, sitting in the front passenger seat, turned to Ruan Mingfu and said,

“Comrade Ruan, you two seem really happy together.”

He envied them.

He wondered when he would ever experience such a beautiful love.

In Gu Qingsong’s clear eyes, admiration showed.

Ruan Mingfu nodded.

The dog-man did treat her well, which made her very satisfied. Ruan Mingfu even thought that living together for a lifetime would be quite nice.

After a while, Gu Qingsong remembered his business and took out a booklet, handing it to her.

“Comrade Ruan, this is the information about the Shanghai International Trade. You can take a look.”

The booklet was beautifully printed.

It featured various types of porcelain, sugar paintings, embroidery, and other small images.

Just looking at the cover, Ruan Mingfu knew what the exhibition was about. She opened a page and found that the first page briefly introduced the exhibition, while the following pages featured various national specialties.

“This is… for me to introduce these items?”

Gu Qingsong nodded.

“There will be countless foreign merchants coming to trade.”

In fact, Professor Hu was more straightforward about it. This diplomatic event was essentially about enticing these foreigners to buy more. However, Gu Qingsong couldn’t bring himself to say that in front of Ruan Mingfu’s radiant face.

Such base and mundane matters, how could they possibly tarnish his goddess?

“I understand.”

Ruan Mingfu flipped through the booklet a few times before setting it aside.

“By the way, what event did you attend last time? Why have you been here for so long?”

Ruan Mingfu thought Professor Hu would have already returned to Beijing by now.

“We were originally planning to leave,” Gu Qingsong said, his face showing clear distress, “We had bought our tickets, but at the last minute, they assigned us the task for this Shanghai International Trade.”

Gu Qingsong was also feeling frustrated.

This past month had been so busy that he had lost weight.

Ruan Mingfu nodded. “Are there many people coming this time?”

“Yes, many. It’s much larger than the event we attended before.”

The Shanghai International Trade was a national-level affair, drawing people from all over the country. The number of foreign merchants expected had already exceeded ten thousand. When the day arrived, it would likely be a sea of people.

Ruan Mingfu understood the significance of the event.

“By the way, how could I forget,” Gu Qingsong handed Ruan Mingfu a badge, “You need to wear this once you enter the venue.”

The badge was somewhat unattractive.

However, its color scheme was quite decent, so Ruan Mingfu put it on.

She was curious about the diplomatic event and, even though she wasn’t working as a translator, it was still interesting to see it for herself.