Chapter 89

The agricultural cooperative arrived as expected.

Wearing his work badge, Bian Lu walked quickly towards a small shop called "Wolf Tooth Potatoes". His mother, wearing a mask, was cleaning the dining table.

"Back to my old ways," Bian's mother smiled and replied, "It's been almost twenty years since I've lived in the base. It seems like just yesterday when I was there selling brand-name goods. Now, I'm actually back selling snacks again."

More than 20 years ago, Bian's mother came to the Blue Continent Base with Bian Lu in her pregnant belly. They were the third batch and, like countless other people in distress, were assigned to the backward F area.

Yes, if you wanted to enter Blue Continent back then, you not only had to be rich but also had to have connections, and once you got there you would be directly divided into classes.

It was originally arranged in ABCD order, but due to development, District D became the political and cultural center. However, no matter what, District F has always been backward.

"Mom...you've worked hard." Bian Lu hesitated and uttered these words after a long time.

What he meant was something else. For example, if Blue Continent Base was a paradise, a refuge for humanity in times of crisis, why was it necessary to categorize people into different classes? Were those who profited from it truly superior to ordinary people?

With such doubts, Bian Lu forced a difficult smile and then worked hard to help his mother run the snack stall.

"Isn't that Section Chief Bian?" Chang Haojie sneered, "He's quite perceptive, treating the cooperative like his own cash cow."

Director Wang, who was sitting next to him, remained silent. However, An Jing, who was sitting next to him, heard what he was saying, turned around, and spoke to him, "Isn't it clearly stated in the investment promotion section on the official website? You don't know how to study the information, and yet you blame others for stealing your business."

He had a contemptuous expression and a sneer on his lips, which inexplicably made Chang Haojie choke.

After saying that, An Jing also felt bored, so he went straight to Bian Lu's side. However, it was Bian's mother who noticed his handsome appearance first. She quickly put down her work and bowed to him, saying in a friendly voice: "Hello, leader, are you Secretary An? Oh, I often hear our Bian Lu mention you. Thank you, thank you so much..."

As she spoke, she also pushed Bian Lu, indicating that he had to be as respectful to An Jing as she was. This attitude made Bian Lu feel embarrassed.

An Jing quickly waved his hands and said, "No, please don't say that. It's all Bian Lu's own judgment."

Bian's mother finally gave up and complained to Bian Lu, saying, "How come you're so stupid? You don't even know how to say hello to your boss when you see him. Secretary An, please don't be offended. Bian Lu just has low emotional intelligence, but everything else is fine."

Bian Lu froze in place, in a dilemma, and gave An Jing a helpless look.

Finally, more people came and the snack stand of Bian Ma became lively. Bian Lu didn't think of taking this opportunity to curry favor with anyone, but just squatted on the plastic stool and acted as a gatekeeper.

"Your mother..." An Jing was sitting by the shop, eating potatoes fried by Bian's mother. Bian Lu turned around suddenly, his eyes were extremely sharp, as if he would kill you if you dared to say anything. An Jing smiled and said, "Your cooking skills are very good."

"That's good." An Jing also found a small plastic stool to squat on and said, "Actually, by doing this, you're showing your filial piety and making a little money at the same time. It's killing two birds with one stone, so it's okay."

"I don't have a purpose for everything I do." Bian Lu replied weakly.

"What are you depressed about?" An Jing was enjoying his meal. He approached Bian Lu and asked with a smile, "You feel embarrassed in front of me, is that right?"

Bian Lu had been rubbing his neck to ease his embarrassment, but hearing this made him feel even more uncomfortable. He raised his eyes, glanced at An Jing, and replied with a sneer, "What do you mean? You mean that even if I have great abilities, my mother still has to fry potatoes for you? Is that what you mean?"

"I really don't." An Jing paused, nearly choking. He coughed violently a few times, his face flushed red, and replied, "I really long for life on land, and I also sincerely think your mother is very good at frying potatoes."

"Yearning for life on land?" Bian Lu twisted his lips in disbelief when he heard this. He said, "You're not the Crown Prince of the base, but you insist on going ashore and breathing in the miasma on land."

An Jing replied, "I'm sorry, but I'd rather go ashore and breathe in the miasma."

"Hmm?" Bian Lu tilted his head, as if trying to read other emotions from An Jing's face.

An Jing suddenly stood up and stretched his body. He seemed to be bathed in the sun, showing an attitude of enjoyment and comfort.

Today, the miasma on the surface of the planet is still as high as 0.64.

Much like smog, excessive inhalation of miasma will not kill you instantly, but over time it will cause infection of the respiratory tract and even the lungs, leading to the formation of stones.

In short, most people on the mainland currently wear masks.

"I just miss the blue sky and white clouds, the green leaves and red flowers, the singing birds and the fragrance of flowers. I hope to live in a truly peaceful and free society." An Jing muttered to himself as if no one was around.

Bian Lu's eyes shone brightly as he looked at him. This clearly wasn't Secretary An's strict and formal demeanor. Instead, it was simply An Jing, a vibrant and free-spirited being like himself.

-

The agricultural cooperative ended successfully. After the last big shot finished his interview, Bian Lu handed the camera to his colleague Liu Li, and then slipped away to help his mother clean up the shop.

Bian Ma grumbled, "Business is pretty good. They don't think my price is too high at 20 yuan a piece. In the past, if I sold it for 10 yuan, some customers would bargain."

Bian Lu nodded silently, but he was not in a happy mood.

He didn't know what was bothering him. Perhaps it was the sight of others who were all glamorous and high-tech, and the disparity between them and himself, and the frustration of being underdog.

Bian's mother suddenly handed him the bracelet and showed him a photo of a young and pretty girl. She said, "Son, come and take a look at this girl. What do you think of me?"

What a coincidence. Liu Li, Bian Lu's colleague.

"I don't want to have a relationship right now," Bian Lu protested. "I'd rather make more money and then have a relationship when I'm in a better position. It would be a waste of my youth if I don't use it to develop a career."

Bian's mother: "Our ancestors said that you should get married and start a career. That means you should get married first and then start a career. Bian Lu, listen to me this time. This girl is your colleague, and she also graduated from Lanzhou University and is a graduate student. Tell me, what makes her not a good match for you?"

"Who would fall in love with a colleague?" Bian Lu said in annoyance.

After packing up the shop, Bian Lu was about to take a taxi home when he heard a beep in front of him. He looked up and saw An Jing, wearing sunglasses, sliding down the car window. He asked with a smile, "Together? I'm just on my way home."

Why is he so caring about me? Bian Lu thought to himself, and at the same time, a hint of ambiguity rose in his heart.

"Hey, isn't that your Shadow Light?" Bian Lu, who was sitting in the passenger seat, discovered that An Jing had changed his car. Although it was a cheaper Blue Star sedan, it was of a higher grade.

An Jing was listening to instrumental music and replied, "I sold that car secondhand. It was originally given to me as a gift."

Bian Ma was sitting in the back seat of the car and wanted to interrupt, but the two people in front didn't give her a chance.

"What do you mean by rewarding you?" Bian Lu smiled playfully.

"It's the kind of breakup fee that someone gave me when I was cheated on." An Jing raised his eyebrows at him and smiled, not paying much attention to the awkwardness.

Bian Lu seemed amused. He looked away, his eyebrows curved, and murmured, "I thought only people like you could cheat on others."

An Jing answered readily, "I don't know either."

"Wait, Teacher An." Bian Lu suddenly sat up straight and asked, "Aren't you married? Why are you still..."

"That happened in the past. I wasn't married at that time." An Jing continued to chat with him and said, "Even though I'm married now, it's actually pretty much the same as being single before. You see me every few days, but when have you ever seen my wife?"

"Okay." Bian Lu nodded.

The two fell into silence and said nothing more until An Jing took them to the residential area where Bian Lu lived.

When they arrived, An Jing even got out of the car and volunteered to help clean up Bian's mother's plates, which shocked Bian Lu so much that he quickly said, "Teacher An, no, no, no." But he was still so enthusiastic and insisted on helping his family with this insignificant but intimacy-showing little favor.

"..." Before leaving, An Jing took out his cigarette and lit it, using the lighter that Bian Lu had given him.

Bian Lu stared at An Jing with deep eyes. The feeling was indescribable, like the gleam of swords and the shadow of blood, and even more like lingering sorrow.

"Do you smoke?" An Jing saw him standing there in a daze, so he took out a cigarette from the box and handed it to him familiarly.

Bian Lu shook his head, but took it. He bit the cigarette skillfully, and pinched his cigarette between his fingers, and lit it up close to An Jing's cigarette with a red star on it.

An Jing casually said, "I thought you wouldn't."

"I know a lot and understand a lot," Bian Lu replied.

An Jing seemed to be burned by his gaze and was about to leave when Bian Lu interrupted him and asked suddenly, "Teacher An, do you really only feel guilt towards me?"

An Jing remembered that he was referring to the clerical work.

And why is it called...

"I'm already married." An Jing frowned, as if he was struggling.

Bian Lu stared at him intently, determined to dig out some emotion. He said, "But you just said that you and your wife have a bad relationship."

"I just treat you as a friend, Bian Lu." An Jing raised his voice and his eyes became evasive, because he didn't want Bian Lu to see his strange emotions.

"Really?" Bian Lu spit out his own cigarette, pulled it out of his mouth, leaned over, and breathed into An Jing's mouth.

What was this, a kiss? An realized it later.

An Jing's scalp was numb. This was extremely strange because it was not like he had never kissed other people before, but this time he felt it was thrilling and unforgettable.

Bian Lu released him and asked, "What now?"

"Get out!" An Jing pushed Bian Lu away, his eyes filled with terror. He stepped on the accelerator and fled.