Chapter 23

Seeing her come over, Xu Li immediately got up to greet her.

Song Shishi handed Xu Li the portion of food she had packed, “I cooked lunch, you and Huifang share it.”

“Sister, what about you?”

Xu Li took the food, lifted the lid, and saw the fragrant braised pork inside, she swallowed and asked.

“Your Brother Meng came, he’s helping me with my own plot of land now, I’ll go eat over there.”

“Oh…” Xu Li said, a mischievous look on her face.

She patted Xu Li, “Stop teasing, go eat, I’m leaving.”

With that, she turned and left.

An Jinsheng, who was not far away, wanted to go forward, but Chen Hui grabbed him.

“Captain.”

“I know everyone is very tolerant of you because of your identity, but I still have to advise you, don’t take advantage of your identity and do whatever you want, the consequences are not something you can bear.”

Chen Hui was well-intentioned, but because he saw An Jinsheng always entangled with Zhou Xingxue, but still harassing Song Shishi from time to time, he was afraid that he would go astray, so he kindly advised him.

But An Jinsheng didn’t appreciate it at all, his eyes were indifferent, and he said coldly, “What are you talking about, Captain? I don’t understand a word. As for whether I can bear the consequences, I don’t need the Captain to worry about it.”

After being interrupted by Chen Hui, when An Jinsheng looked up again to chase after Song Shishi, she was already gone.

…

“Xunzhou, take a break, it’s time to eat.”

When Song Shishi arrived at her own plot of land, Meng Xunzhou had already finished loosening the soil and was now sowing seeds.

She put the basket of food on the ground, poured some water for him to wash his hands, and then handed him a towel to wipe his sweat.

Before, when there was no comparison, she thought An Jinsheng’s kindness to her was already the best.

Now seeing Meng Xunzhou, she realized that before, An Jinsheng saying he would help her wasn’t really helping at all.

In her previous life, An Jinsheng always said he would help her after he finished his work, but every time it was when everyone else was almost finished that he would come and help her.

And when he helped her, he didn’t really lighten her burden much.

But at that time, she was completely infatuated with An Jinsheng, so as long as An Jinsheng took action, she already felt very happy.

Thinking back now, she just felt ridiculous.

She couldn’t even see through such clumsy acting.

“Shishi.”

Seeing Song Shishi suddenly stop moving, Meng Xunzhou reached out and waved his hand in front of her eyes. When he saw her come back to her senses, he asked, “What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing, let’s go eat, otherwise the food will get cold.”

When Meng Xunzhou called her name just now, she had a very familiar feeling.

…

This was the first time Meng Xunzhou had eaten food cooked by Song Shishi, and he looked up at her several times in surprise.

“After knowing each other for so many years, I didn’t even know you could cook, and your skills are so good.”

Song Shishi blushed and lowered her head, “It’s just edible, not as exaggerated as you say.”

When she was with Meng Xunzhou, Song Shishi always felt unconsciously nervous.

But at the same time as being nervous, she also felt very reassured.

Because she knew that Meng Xunzhou wouldn’t hurt her.

He was different from An Jinsheng.

The two of them chatted casually while eating.

“I was originally going to give you my bicycle.”

Learning that Su Yaqin had given Song Shishi a bicycle, Meng Xunzhou pouted.

“If I give you mine, how will I go back to the army?”

“Run back, it’s like training.”

Meng Xunzhou’s answer made Song Shishi laugh, “Are you stupid? I can earn money now, even if no one sends me, I can buy one myself.”

“Yes, you’ve always been very excellent.” Meng Xunzhou nodded in agreement.

Song Shishi looked him up and down, “Why do I feel like you’ve changed a lot since you came back from the mission?”

“What’s changed?”

“I can’t tell, but I feel like you talk more.”

“Are you complaining about me?”

“No, that’s not what I meant, it’s good like this. I always felt like you were quiet, didn’t like to talk to anyone, and always had a cold face, like everyone owed you money.”

Song Shishi recalled her impression of Meng Xunzhou in the compound, and couldn’t help but tease him with a smile.

Meng Xunzhou raised his eyebrows slightly, “So that’s how you saw me before.”

“Yeah, did anyone tell you?”

“No.” Meng Xunzhou shook his head.

Song Shishi said with a smile, “But it’s not strange that no one told you, which child in the compound wasn’t afraid of you?”

“You.” Meng Xunzhou replied straightforwardly.

But she didn’t react at all, and asked back, “What?”

“Only you are not afraid of me.” Meng Xunzhou looked at her steadily.

At this moment, she saw her own reflection in those eyes.

Almost instinctively, she looked away and looked elsewhere.

“Can the two of us finish this shed in one afternoon?”

Song Shishi felt the strange atmosphere between them at this moment, cleared her throat, and changed the subject.

Seeing the awkward look on Meng Xunzhou’s face, Song Shishi knew that he must know he couldn’t finish it, but because of what he said earlier, he couldn’t back down and couldn’t save face.

Just as she was about to comfort Meng Xunzhou, she heard him say, “I don’t want to lie to you, to be honest, just the two of us, it’s impossible to finish this shed in one afternoon.”

His eyes were clear, and his expression was sincere, “But don’t worry, I’ll call a few brothers over tomorrow to help you, and we’ll try to get it done tomorrow.”

Song Shishi still believed in the promises of soldiers.

And she wouldn’t doubt Meng Xunzhou’s promises even more.

So she nodded and thanked him.

Meng Xunzhou frowned slightly and didn’t say anything.

They worked until the sun went down, and she wanted to keep Meng Xunzhou for dinner, but he said he had to go back to the army for something, so she didn’t persuade him anymore.

When Xu Li came back, she had a smile on her face all the time.

Song Shishi asked curiously, “Why are you so happy today, did you find money, or did something good happen?”

“This is even more exciting than finding money.” Xu Li leaned in and said, “Sister, you don’t know, after you left at noon, An Zhiqing argued with Brother Chen.”

Song Shishi was puzzled, “An Jinsheng and Chen Hui?”

“Yes.” Xu Li nodded, “Brother Chen kindly advised An Zhiqing to be more restrained, not to take advantage of his identity and do whatever he wants, and to stop being entangled with Zhou Xingxue, but he actually angered An Jinsheng.”

“Anyway, An Jinsheng said something very unpleasant later, saying that Brother Chen was making a fuss over nothing, and that he only knew how to chase women all day.”

Song Shishi shook her head, “Don’t get involved in this kind of thing, be careful that one day they might accidentally burn you.”

“I know, I stayed far away, but I just wanted to see An Zhiqing’s embarrassed look.

Everyone says he’s the son of a high-ranking official, but I don’t think so.

No cadre’s child would be like him, always flirting with women, shameless.

The problem is that Zhou Xingxue wants to climb the social ladder and is entangled with him, and he doesn’t refuse.

He also wants to entangle with you, it makes me angry.”