Chapter 28 Cotton is shy? Are you out of your mind? How dare you say something like that…

The next morning, Ji Yu knocked on the car window and asked softly, "Mian, are you awake?"

Seeing that someone responded, he continued, "I've already prepared breakfast. Get up and wash up; we'll be going back in a bit."

As the two got up, he opened the car door, bringing with him a chilling blast of air. Chen Mian felt a pang of surprise, thinking that this person must have spent the entire night outside, his body so cold it could freeze someone to death. Even someone with an iron body couldn't be so reckless.

Just as Chen Mian had guessed, Ji Yu lay on the blanket outside the car, unable to sleep all night.

It felt like two little people were fighting in his head. The little black man gloated, "What do you like about Chen Mian? Have you figured it out yet? Go confess to her. Sure enough, you got rejected."

The young man said worriedly, "Do you know what it means to be a live-in son-in-law? You're the only son in three generations of the Ji family. When your father comes back from the capital, he'll beat you to death if he finds out what you're up to."

Ji Yu: Isn't there a way to have the best of both worlds? Forget it, I'll just wait for my dad to come back and beg him. Can he really bear to let his only son be a bachelor for the rest of his life?

Besides, what's wrong with the child and wife having the same surname? Aren't they all of the Ji family bloodline? What surname they have is completely unimportant.

He carefully served Chen Mian her breakfast, then, along with Li Cuiping in the background, they set off back to the farm.

On the way, Chen Mianmian and Li Cuiping chatted and laughed about some interesting things, leaving Ji Yu alone driving in silence.

It wasn't that he didn't want to join, but he found that whenever he spoke up, Chen Mian would seem to avoid him, never responding.

He eventually shut his mouth in frustration, and while driving, he reflected on whether he had done something to upset her.

Chen Mian wasn't unhappy, but she felt a little embarrassed and ashamed. The two of them had just broken the ice last night, and now she just wanted to hide in a corner where she couldn't see Ji Yu and pretend to be a mushroom.

She didn't sleep well last night either. The thought of how she had shamelessly taught the other person how to pursue someone made her blush uncontrollably.

Chen Mian: How can people be so stupid? I'm so ashamed to face anyone.

Shortly after, Ji Yu drove them back to the cotton farm and then left.

Chen Mian and Li Cuiping returned to their tents, tidied up briefly, and then went back to their respective posts. Li Cuiping, full of energy and unable to sit still, continued picking cotton in the fields, while Chen Mian went to the warehouse to select cotton seeds.

She waved goodbye to her friend and walked toward the warehouse with her military water bottle on her back. As soon as she stepped through the gate, Dilidar warmly greeted her.

Dilidar asked with a smile, "Mian, tell me quickly, did you go on a date with Ji Yu?"

Chen Mian paused for a second, her face flushed slightly, her eyes lowered, and she said awkwardly, "We didn't go on a date, we went out with three friends."

"Huh?" Dilidar was a little disappointed. According to reliable sources, Ji Yu had specifically asked Chen Mian to go on a date and confess his feelings, so how come there was an extra person?

Undeterred, she pressed on, "Did he confess his feelings to you?"

Chen Mian worked diligently, her fingers flying across the paper, quickly and accurately picking out and discarding the tiny black seeds hidden among the white cotton fibers. She pursed her lips, unsure how to answer Dilidar's question.

Ji Yu confessed his feelings last night, but it was also a kind of confession. He was just reminiscing about their interactions when she foolishly blurted out that it wasn't appropriate.

She thought for a moment and replied softly, "Ji Yu said he hasn't officially confessed yet, and he'll come back next time when he's completely ready."

Delidar was completely confused. What did he mean by "wait until you're ready"? It was just a confession, not a slaughter of a sheep that required a ceremony.

She raised her hand and pushed her cumbersome braid behind her head, speaking frankly: "Batur and I just saw each other at a dance, danced together, and that's how we got together. What's there to prepare for dating? You Han people are so particular."

Chen Mian was speechless, trying to explain herself: "It's not that we're particular, it's just that I feel we haven't known each other long enough, and I don't even know if he really likes me."

Dilidar patted the cotton wool off her hands, turned Chen Mian around, reached out and pinched her still slightly chubby cheeks, and said in an exaggerated tone, "Girl~ you're so pretty, with such big eyes, believe me, no man could dislike you~"

Chen Mian blinked her thick, curled eyelashes and asked, "Really?" Then why was no one ever pursuing her when she was in school?

Chen Mubai: Because I was still at home at that time, those young punks wouldn't dare to show up in front of you.

Dilidar nodded firmly, leaned over and hugged her. "Of course it's true. I only regret that I'm not a man, otherwise I would have gone after you too."

Dilidar reluctantly let go, sighing, "To be honest, it's much more comfortable to hug a woman's soft, fragrant body. What's so great about men? They're like starving ghosts, never satisfied no matter how much I try to feed them, leaving me with a sore back every day..."

A hint of confusion flashed in Chen Mian's pure eyes. The good student asked without shame, "I don't understand what you mean. Why do people say that men are reincarnations of starving ghosts? Is it because they have a big appetite?"

Upon hearing this, Dilidar laughed heartily and teased, "Haha, I forgot you're still young. It's normal that you don't understand. You'll understand after you get married!" After saying that, she got up, stretched her arms and legs, and started chatting with the picking workers opposite her.

Only Chen Mian remained, sitting there mechanically selecting cotton seeds, pondering the deeper meaning of Delidar's words.

As they were chatting and laughing, Ayili happened to pass by carrying a bunch of empty cloth bags. Dilidar stopped her and said, "Mom, please leave me a few empty bags. We're almost out."

Ayili pulled out several cloth bags from her bosom, handed them to her daughter-in-law, said goodbye to Chen Mian, and hurriedly prepared to turn and leave.

A rare hint of shyness flashed across Dilidar's face, and she moved awkwardly, but her words were surprising: "Mom, don't rush off yet. I have something to tell you. Could you talk to Batur and ask him to stop bothering me at night? It's affecting my work during the day."

Even Ayili, who is usually cheerful and outgoing, was taken aback by her daughter-in-law's sudden and bold statement. She quickly glanced at the workers around her like a thief, pulled her daughter-in-law down to squat down, and whispered, "Are you out of your mind? How dare you say something like this so loudly?"

Dilidar simply sat back down cross-legged on the cushion, playing with her shiny black braids in one hand, and replied confidently, "I didn't do anything wrong, so why should I feel guilty? Besides, this isn't my fault; it's all Batuer's fault."

"Okay, okay, it's all his fault," Ayili said softly, afraid that she might say something terrible. "Men are like this when they first start having sex. It will be fine after a while. You can coax him to be more restrained. I'm his mother, how can I talk to him about this kind of thing?"

Dilidar pouted in dissatisfaction, wrinkling her delicate, upturned nose. "He doesn't listen to me at all, and he even said he'd try to get me pregnant as soon as possible."

Aili smiled with relief upon hearing this: "It's good to be pregnant. It will add a new member to our family. Only with a large and prosperous family can we have lasting blessings."

After saying that, she stared at her daughter-in-law's belly suspiciously for a moment, and asked with concern, "Have you been feeling unwell lately? Could you be pregnant?"

Dilidar frowned, and said in a drawn-out, coquettish tone, "Mom, what are you saying? We've only been married a short time."

Ayili smiled but said nothing, patted her daughter-in-law on the shoulder, and got up to leave. She planned to go home and make some nourishing soup for her son and daughter-in-law so that she could hold her grandson and granddaughter soon.

Ayili: Just thinking about it makes me happy. Maybe this time next year, I'll already be a grandma!

Chen Mian, who was engrossed in her work and secretly eavesdropping on the conversation between her mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, only realized the deeper meaning behind Dilidar's words after Ayili had left.

Her mind went blank, like a firework exploding. Her face flushed red, and she awkwardly raised her hands to cover her cheeks, trying to cool herself down.

Dilidar turned around and, seeing her strange expression, realized she might have overheard her conversation with her mother-in-law. She winked and said, "Girl, you're already shy? What will you do when you get married? You'll be so embarrassed, haha!"

Chen Mian continued to cover her face, muttering, "I'm not shy, I just suddenly feel hot, it's too stuffy here. Yes, it's because the warehouse is too stuffy."

After saying that, she got up, making an excuse that she needed to go out for some fresh air. But Dilidar still didn't want to let her go, and with a smile, he took her arm. "I'll go with you. Let's continue talking about you and Ji Yu. I'll teach you how to flirt with him."

Chen Mian looked at her with a hint of doubt upon hearing this, and she immediately clarified, "Ji Yu and I have no relationship whatsoever. We were just classmates for a few years. But Batur and I are childhood sweethearts. He was just an ordinary classmate."

As they spoke, the two had already walked out of the warehouse. Outside, the weather was fine and sunny, with two white clouds floating in the azure sky, one in front of the other, as if they were constantly chasing each other.

Dilidar continued, "Ji Yu was so funny when he was little. He always liked to pretend to be serious, and he still is now. But if someone close to him teases him even slightly, he'll break down."

"I mean, for example, Batur. Batur loves to tease Ji Yu. They are best friends."

As Chen Mumian felt the gentle breeze in the fields and listened quietly to Ji Yu's childhood stories, the blush on her face gradually faded, and she gained a deeper understanding of men.

Dilidar seemed to remember something and suddenly mentioned Ji Yu's father, "His father was also a soldier before. After retiring from the military, he became an official in the city court. He's very capable. I heard he's coming back soon..."

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Author's Note: Mini-Theater:

Little Cotton blushed: I'm still a child.

Dilidar hugged her tightly: You're such a sweet and soft little beauty!

Ayili: You young people really dare to say anything!

Random thoughts:

Today was truly a very tight day; I was so busy at work this afternoon that I almost didn't have enough time.