Zhuang Zhimeng and An Qingbai were even faster; the moment they heard the sound, they left the black market area via another route.

As they walked, they overheard people talking about how someone had been arrested on the black market earlier. They hadn't managed to escape in time and happened to see him making a transaction. Since it was considered speculation and profiteering, they arrested him as an example.

He quickly found a secluded spot to wash off his makeup, and when he came out, he was a clean-cut young man again.

"That was really dangerous! It was my first time on the black market and I ran into someone trying to arrest me!"

"Luckily we ran in time. I was scared too. If we had been caught, we would have become infamous in the village!"

"I don't want that kind of fancy name. I'm an outstanding educated youth of the new era!"

"Good, good, good! You're the best! This outstanding educated youth comrade, come with me now, I'll take you somewhere."

Where are we going?

"You'll see when we get there; it's not far from here!"

Zhuang Zhimeng followed An Qingbai to a house.

"Don't tell me this house is yours."

"Okay, let's go inside and talk!"

An Qingbai took out his key, opened the door, went inside, closed the door, and then took her hand.

Zhuang Zhimeng shook his arm, "Tell me quickly, how come you have a house in the county town?"

“This was prepared for me by my grandfather when I was a child. It is registered in my name, but the deed is with my mother.”

"If I hadn't walked this way, I wouldn't have even remembered I owned a house here, though I always carry the key with me."

"Did Grandpa buy you a house so early on?"

"Yes, when I was little, my grandfather loved me the most and always gave me the best of everything. He bought this house for me when I was about 10 years old!"

"Wow! Brother Qingbai, you're amazing! You already own a house. Does that mean I've managed to latch onto your coattails?"

Although An Qingbai didn't know what "hugging someone's coattails" meant, he felt it wasn't a bad thing and could sense that Zhizhi was proud.

"Zhizhi, do you like this house? If you want to live here, we can come here whenever we have the chance. We can decorate the house the way you like, okay?"

Zhuang Zhimeng's eyes welled up with tears.

When An Qingbai saw her crying, he panicked: "Zhizhi, why are you crying? Did I do something wrong? Tell me, and I'll change! Okay?" He hurriedly wiped away her tears.

Zhuang Zhimeng couldn't hold back any longer and threw herself into An Qingbai's arms. "You silly boy, why are you always so good to me?"

An Qingbai hugged her tightly: "You are my everything, my darling, of course I have to treat you well! Okay, stop crying, you're all covered in tears!"

"You're the little kitten!"

"Okay, okay, I'm a kitten, and you're a female kitten!"

"screw you!"

An Qingbai looked down and saw that Zhuang Zhimeng's tears were still hanging on her eyelashes. He gently wiped them away and then kissed the red lips he had longed for. This time, he knew how to pry open her pearly teeth without any instruction.

"Hmm!"

An Qingbai swallowed Zhuang Zhimeng's voice in their breaths.

…

Only then did Zhuang Zhimeng have time to examine the house.

The house is a single-story building with many rooms. It is a brick and tile house and has a large courtyard.

"This house is quite nice. Although it's a single-story house, it's very spacious. My family lives in an apartment building, but I feel that it gets crowded when there are more people. I prefer a larger space."

"Then after we get married, we can come and stay in the county town whenever we have time."

"Let's see how things go later, we don't know where we'll be then!"

An Qingbai thought about it and agreed. He decided to wait and see, since there was no rush.

The two found a suitable house and left, then ate at a state-run restaurant. They returned to the guesthouse, packed their luggage, and checked out.

When the two arrived at the county bus station, they found Qin Jiandang already waiting for them there.

Zhuang Zhimeng quickly went over, "Uncle Qin, what brings you here? Did you come specifically to pick us up?"

"Yes, I noticed the other day that you had two days' worth of introduction letters."

I just went to the military hospital, and Zhiwu said you left yesterday. I guessed you went to the county town. This is the only time it takes to get from the county town to the town, so I waited for you here.

"Get in the car, I'll take you home!"

"Thank you, Uncle Qin! I'm so sorry to have troubled you!"

"Don't be so polite. I've always treated you like my own child. Besides, the commander told me a long time ago to take care of you. If he knew I had neglected you, he would beat me up."

"Grandpa wouldn't do that! He's a very nice and kind person!"

"That's for you! You're the only special one. Everyone else, ha...!"

An hour later, Qin Jiandang dropped Zhuang Zhimeng and her companion off at the village entrance and left, telling her that he would come to her place for a meal next time.