Chapter 30

The next morning, Meng Xuan and his sister were both woken up by a tempting smell that made their stomachs growl.

Meng Yinyin had no idea that her brother had shamelessly ordered breakfast before going to bed. When she smelled the aroma, even though she wanted to keep sleeping, she forced herself to sit up, quickly tidied herself up, and ran outside.

When she opened the door, she saw her brother already sitting at the table, eating a bowl of noodles.

“Brother, why are you up so early?” Meng Yinyin asked, surprised.

In her memory, her brother, although outstanding in the army and capable of enduring hardship, was always the type to sleep in until noon when at home.

To put it bluntly, according to her mother’s words, the personalities of the brother and sister were completely molded from the same mold. However, the older brother knew when to be flexible and knew what was appropriate for his status. He was very measured in his actions.

As for the younger sister, well, she could only be described as someone who was consistent inside and out.

And now, her older brother, who normally slept in, had gotten up early instead. What was going on?

Just as Meng Yinyin was wondering whether her brother had changed, she heard Lu Chen’s questioning voice coming from the kitchen.

“Educated Youth Meng, is it okay if we have noodles for breakfast?”

Meng Yinyin quickly shifted her gaze from her brother and immediately dashed to the kitchen when she heard it. When it came to breakfast, she was quick to respond.

“Sure, sure! What kind of noodles are we having?”

As she spoke, her eyes scanned the counter, and when she saw the fried eggs nearby, a smile immediately appeared in her big, sparkling eyes.

“Wow, eggs!” she exclaimed.

At the sound of her joyful voice, Lu Chen’s eyes softened with warmth.

“Yes, eggs,” he said.

Earlier, Lu Chen had waited for Meng Yinyin to wake up before cooking the noodles to avoid them getting overcooked. Now, with her coming over, he was about to put the noodles into the pot, but they still needed to wait a bit.

Seeing this, Meng Yinyin decided to wash up first. By the time she finished, the noodles should be ready.

Just as she was about to leave the kitchen, she heard Lu Chen speak again.

“Go get some food from the small room later, in case you get hungry during the journey later.”

Meng Yinyin paused and frowned in confusion. She didn’t understand why Lu Chen suddenly said something like that.

Lu Chen quickly explained, “Your brother might take you out later.”

“Ah? Where to?” Meng Yinyin asked.

Before she could finish, she heard an impatient voice behind her.

“To the town. What’s the matter? Do you not want to go? Well, you have to go anyway—there’s no way around it!”

It was her brother, Meng Xuan.

Meng Yinyin wasn’t frightened by his tone; instead, she was very curious.

“Brother, you’re taking me to the town? Are you going to buy something for me?”

Her voice was full of excitement and surprise.

Meng Xuan gave a noncommittal grunt. He neither confirmed nor denied it.

To Meng Yinyin, this was enough to confirm her guess, and she immediately cheered.

“Wow, that’s great! I’m going to change into a dress right now!”

After saying that, Meng Yinyin dashed off.

She had been waiting so long to go with her brother, and she wasn’t going to miss this opportunity to shop!

Meanwhile, Lu Chen watched Meng Yinyin’s cheerful figure and felt a little worried.

After all, he had a pretty good idea of why Meng Xuan was taking Meng Yinyin to the town. Going shopping was just an excuse. The real reason was to gather information.

Although Lu Chen wasn’t sure whether Meng Xuan would actually take her to shop or not, he couldn’t bear to disappoint Meng Yinyin, so he spoke to Meng Xuan.

“Comrade Meng, although the town is not big, the scenery is pretty good. If you have time, you can go for a walk. My business is not urgent.”

Meng Xuan gave him a look, amused by his concern.

Did Lu Chen really think he was only interested in completing his task and wouldn’t take Meng Yinyin out for fun?

He hadn’t expected that Lu Chen actually cared about Meng Yinyin.

But, he didn’t think too much of it. No matter how much he disliked Meng Yinyin, he couldn’t be that heartless, tsk.

However, considering the bowl of noodles he had in the morning, Meng Xuan did not argue with Lu Chen. Instead, he just nodded casually and prepared to leave.

However, before leaving, he suddenly remembered something. He hesitated for a moment, then casually asked.

“Oh, do you have anything you want us to bring back? It’s just on the way.”

Of course, Meng Xuan didn’t want to admit that he felt a bit guilty for eating the two meals Lu Chen had made and wanted to reciprocate out of politeness.

But Lu Chen quickly shook his head, saying that he didn’t need anything.

Meng Xuan glanced at him but didn’t ask further. He decided he would ask Meng Yinyin when they got to the town.

After all, they had been together for so long—there was no way that girl didn’t know Lu Chen well by now.

Once he left, Meng Yinyin had already finished washing up and changed into a new dress. She quickly ate her noodles, and just as Lu Chen was getting ready to go to work, the three of them locked the door and went out together, though in opposite directions.

Meng Yinyin and Meng Xuan headed toward the village entrance, and they passed a few fellow villagers who were also on their way to work.

As they walked, a few of the villagers couldn’t help but glance at Meng Xuan, who was walking beside Meng Yinyin, their faces full of curiosity.

Luckily, Meng Xuan and Meng Yinyin were both already used to being stared at due to their good looks.

However, amidst these glances, Meng Xuan keenly noticed two unkind stares.

His sharp eyes immediately caught sight of the two people giving him the hostile look.

Startled to be noticed, Lu Dashan and Jiang Guihua quickly averted their gazes and hurried toward the gathering point.

However, they couldn’t help but mutter to themselves. How did Meng Yinyin’s brother notice them so quickly? They had only stared at him for a moment, and yet he caught them?

His eyes were way too sharp!

Meng Xuan didn’t know what they were thinking, but that didn’t stop him from asking Meng Yinyin about their identities.

Meng Yinyin wrinkled her nose with dislike when she saw them.

“Those two are Lu Chen’s uncle and aunt. They’re terrible!”

So, that was Lu Dashan and his wife.

Meng Xuan gave the couple another meaningful look, and his understanding of their personalities deepened.

The road to the town wasn’t far for Meng Xuan, but for Meng Yinyin, it was still quite a challenge.

The last time she went with Lu Chen, she had to be carried for most of the way. But when it come to her brother, he simply turned cold and refused to help, insisting she walk by herself.

Fine, if that’s how it’s going to be, she’d just wait for him and let him go to the town alone to enjoy all the delicious food and treats.

Meng Yinyin: “…”

Her brother!

In the end, there was nothing else she could do but grit her teeth and push herself to walk all the way to the town with sheer willpower.

It was then that Meng Yinyin realized just how wise Lu Chen’s advice had been that morning to bring food with her.

At first, she thought it was only a short trip of an hour or two, and she had just eaten breakfast. She didn’t think she would get hungry so quickly.

Besides, the last time she went to the town, she didn’t feel hungry at all.

Now, however, with her stomach empty after consuming all the food she had brought on the road, she finally understood how smart Lu Chen’s decision had been!

Ugh, thank goodness she brought food!

As Meng Yinyin cast a resentful look at her brother, she took out some jerky to snack on and, after feeling a bit more satisfied, asked Meng Xuan, “Brother, where do you want to go first?”

Meng Yinyin didn’t know about her brother’s secret mission. She just thought he was bored and decided to come to the town to wander around.

Meng Xuan, tall and noticeable, looked around the street and finally said, “Let’s go to the furniture factory’s residential area.”

Huh?

The unfamiliar location immediately made Meng Yinyin’s head spin with a big question mark.

Furniture factory residential area?

Where was that?

Noticing the confusion in her eyes, Meng Xuan didn’t say anything but showed clear signs of disapproval.

He then turned and asked a passerby for directions, quickly finding the exact location.

“Follow me.”

Once he had the directions, Meng Xuan told Meng Yinyin to follow him and headed straight toward the furniture factory residential area.

It was only then that Meng Yinyin snapped out of her daze. She hurried to catch up while asking him questions.

“Brother, why are we going there? Do you know anyone there?”

Unfortunately, no matter how much she asked, Meng Xuan remained silent. When she got more persistent, he finally replied, “You’ll know later.”

That was as good as saying nothing at all.

Meng Yinyin rolled her eyes and, in the end, stopped asking further.

Soon, the two arrived at the entrance of the residential area.

It wasn’t too late, around ten in the morning, but there were already quite a few people gathered at the entrance. Several retired aunties were sitting under a large tree, picking vegetables and chatting.

Meng Yinyin and Meng Xuan, both striking in appearance and stature, immediately drew the attention of everyone nearby.

Although they were strangers, their good looks were impossible to ignore!

Soon, a friendly auntie greeted them enthusiastically.

“Well, well, are you two here to visit relatives or meet friends?”

Since Meng Yinyin didn’t know why they were there, she turned to Meng Xuan for an answer.

Fortunately, Meng Xuan had it covered. He politely nodded at the auntie and asked, “Excuse me, do you know if Comrade Lu Xiujuan lives here?”

Lu Xiujuan?!

Everyone paused for a moment, but it didn’t take long for them to realize who he was talking about—the new bride from the Wang family.

“She lives here, but you two…”

Before she could finish, Meng Xuan quickly interrupted, “We’re from the same brigade. We have some business with her.”

The group of aunties immediately understood and kindly informed him that Lu Xiujuan had gone out, most likely to deliver lunch to her younger brother at the middle school.

Hearing this, Meng Xuan couldn’t help but feel a surge of gratitude. It seemed that luck was on his side. He thanked the aunties and quickly took Meng Yinyin away.

As they walked away, the group of aunties, who had been a little late, hadn’t even had a chance to ask whether Meng Xuan and Meng Yinyin had partners yet!

It wasn’t until they were some distance away from the residential area that Meng Yinyin finally couldn’t contain her curiosity and spoke up.

“Brother, why are you looking for Lu Xiujuan? Are you…”

Her expression suddenly became very strange. Was her brother interested in Lu Xiujuan?

Meng Xuan could tell from her odd look that Meng Yinyin was probably overthinking. He immediately shot her a disapproving look.

“Stop letting your mind wander!”

“Really? Then why did you come to find her?” Meng Yinyin asked, her curiosity piqued.

Although she didn’t truly believe her brother could have feelings for someone he’d never even met, what other explanation could there be? All the other possibilities seemed far-fetched.

Seeing her still confused and suspicious, Meng Xuan couldn’t hold back any longer and finally told her the truth.

“I’m here to take care of something. It’s related to Lu Chen!”

Meng Xuan hadn’t planned on telling Meng Yinyin because he knew her too well. She couldn’t keep a secret, and if she knew his plan, she might inadvertently spoil it.

It was better to keep her in the dark.

But who would have thought that she would come up with such a ridiculous idea? It made him so angry he almost wanted to hit something!

“Related to Lu Chen?!”

Meng Yinyin’s eyes widened in shock. Was he going to help Lu Chen get back at someone?

Although she was surprised at how kind her brother had become, she couldn’t deny that, in that moment, she actually felt a sense of happiness.

Although she rarely spoke, Meng Yinyin always believed her brother was very capable. If he took action, he could definitely bring justice for Lu Chen!

“What can I do to help, Brother?” Meng Yinyin couldn’t help but look at him with hopeful eyes.

Meng Xuan was about to dismiss her, thinking there was nothing she could do. But just as he was about to speak, a surprised voice calling out “Educated Youth Meng” came from behind.

Both siblings turned around in confusion and saw Wang Chengwu standing there.

The brother and sister both had expressions that clearly said, “Who are you?” They clearly didn’t recognize Wang Chengwu.

Seeing their reaction, Wang Chengwu, who had been excited, felt his enthusiasm instantly cool down. A sense of bitterness began to rise in his heart.

But the look Meng Yinyin gave him, as if he was a stranger, made him decide to give up.

“I’m Wang Chengwen’s younger brother. My brother recently married someone from the brigade, Comrade Lu Xiujuan…”

After composing himself, Wang Chengwu quickly explained who he was with a smile.

“Oh, it’s you. Hello, hello.”

When Meng Yinyin realized who he was, her expression became awkward for a moment.

She remembered that Wang Chengwu’s mother, Comrade Zhao Shufen, had once tried to matchmake her with him, although she had firmly rejected it. Still, it was a bit awkward meeting him again now.

At that moment, Wang Chengwu also regretted calling out to Meng Yinyin. Especially since there was a well-groomed man by her side.

But didn’t his mother say that Meng Yinyin and Lu Chen were together? Why…

Could it be that Meng Yinyin and Lu Chen had already broken up?

While Wang Chengwu was pondering this, Meng Xuan gave him a meaningful look, then took the initiative to introduce himself.

“Hello, I’m Meng Yinyin’s older brother, Meng Xuan.”

So this was her brother.

Wang Chengwu felt ashamed of his earlier assumptions and became more enthusiastic when addressing Meng Xuan.

“Hello, hello.”

Meng Xuan nodded but didn’t say anything more.

The reason he introduced himself wasn’t just to clarify, but because he had noticed Wang Chengwu’s astonished look, as if he were thinking, “Meng Yinyin has already moved on to someone else so quickly.”

Though his sister wasn’t the brightest, Meng Xuan didn’t like people thinking badly of her, so he spoke up.

“Uh, Comrade Wang Chengwu, did you call me for something?”

Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Meng Yinyin couldn’t help but speak up. She thought, if there’s nothing urgent, they could all just go their separate ways.

Fortunately, Wang Chengwu snapped out of his thoughts. He was about to shake his head and say there was nothing, but then something occurred to him. After a moment of hesitation, he finally spoke up to Meng Yinyin.

“Educated Youth Meng, how’s your relationship with Comrade Lu Chen? I have something to discuss…”

Meng Yinyin:?

What did that mean?

Upon hearing his hesitant tone, Meng Yinyin was immediately surprised and couldn’t help but think, “Could he be confessing to me?”

But she didn’t like him at all!

Realizing this, Meng Yinyin quickly and confidently replied, “I have a great relationship with him. We’re living together already!”

The implication was clear: she wasn’t considering Wang Chengwu at all!

However, to her surprise, Wang Chengwu didn’t get angry, nor did he show any disappointment or frustration. Instead, he seemed to breathe a small sigh of relief.

Meng Yinyin was stunned. What kind of reaction was that?

But before she could figure it out, Wang Chengwu spoke again.

“Since that’s the case, I’ll just tell you directly. This matter actually involves Lu Chen…”