Chapter 98 The Plan

Zhou Weifang took the final exam very seriously because he remembered that Luo Yan had promised to treat him to a nice meal if he got first place.

What he cared about wasn't the meal itself, but rather wanting to eat with her.

To achieve this wish, there are two things you must do: first, study hard; second, leave your childhood behind.

Luo Hong probably never expected that many years later he would be the one "abandoned" in this trio, let alone that it was his childhood friend with whom he had shared life and death who was "scheming".

But he knew what his sister was thinking, so for the next few days, whenever Zhou Weifang arrived on time, he would look up at the sky.

Zhou Weifang arrived just as Luo Yan was about to get out of school, so it was obvious that the younger generation wasn't welcoming him.

But his goal wasn't to be welcomed; he simply pretended to be ambitious and eager to learn.

Of course, this wasn't an act.

Whether someone has studied or not is the most honest thing to say. Luo Yan felt that Zhou Weifang had made great progress, and after explaining the problem, she kept praising him: "He will definitely get first place this time."

Zhou Weifang was in his twenties, and hearing her speak to him like she was coaxing a child made him scratch his face uncomfortably.

Luo Yan closed his book and started doing her homework.

She was busy with important business, so Zhou Weifang naturally didn't want to disturb her. Instead, he asked his friend, "Did you know that Hua Zi is getting married?"

Unlike others who could afford to hire people, Luo Hong worked from morning till night after opening his business. For a while, he didn't hear any of the gossip on the streets and alleys, saying, "They sent out invitations? I haven't received one yet."

Zhou Weifang: "I guess it'll be in the next few days. I ran into him and his girlfriend when I was delivering lunch."

Luo Yan wasn't particularly concerned about who was getting married, but she did nod when she heard the words "delivering food."

But Zhou Weifang didn't go into details about this, and continued: "However, it will soon be the seventh month of the lunar calendar, so if we get married, there probably won't be a good day. I'll go to Fujian later, and you can help me with the wedding gifts then."

Fujian? Luo Yan tilted her head back slightly, suppressing her curiosity once again.

When Zhou Weifang saw this, he said to her, "I'm going to Fujian with Brother Hong in two months to take care of some business. I'll bring you some good food back then."

Oh, then we won't be able to eat there. Luo Yan felt regretful, but said aloud, "Thank you."

Then he picked up the pen again.

Zhou Weifang had a strange feeling that she didn't want to talk to him, and he was stunned for a moment. He only came back to his senses when he heard Luo Hong call him: "What did you say?"

Luo Hong: "I asked you if you bought a ticket."

Zhou Weifang: "Brother Hong said he would buy them together, and they would probably leave at the end of August."

Luo Hong: "Tsk tsk tsk, people would stink if they rode a train in this weather."

They were all people who had been cut in line, so what was this kind of hardship? Zhou Weifang: "It doesn't affect you."

After saying that, he turned his head and saw Luo Yan wrinkling her nose and her eyes darting around.

Yes, she's very clean, and she probably can smell it just by thinking about it. Zhou Weifang chuckled, "There's no smell yet."

Luo Yan covered half her face with a book and told him in advance, "Be careful when you're out and about."

The way he spoke sounded a little strange, but Zhou Weifang still said okay, which made Luo Yan want to ramble on a bit more.

She's had this tendency to worry unnecessarily since she was a child, saying things like, "Drink less alcohol and fight less."

So this is how she sees me. Zhou Weifang: "I haven't been in a fight for many years."

Hmm? Why are you only talking about fighting and not drinking? It seems he'll definitely drink a lot on this trip to Fujian.

But many things are indeed unavoidable. Luo Yan just likes to nag. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Anyway, just be careful."

Zhou Weifang agreed, then saw her lower her head again, glance at the time, and said, "I'll go back now and come back tomorrow."

Speaking of this, Luo Hong said, "I just realized that I might have to go and watch the shop for you at night."

There are quite a few people who break into shops these days, so it's impossible for the shop to be empty at night.

Zhou Weifang had also thought about it: "Let the three of them take turns."

"No," Luo Hong said, "after all, they are outsiders."

It wasn't that he thought badly of people, but even three people working during the day was a hindrance; who knew if someone might secretly move the place out at night.

Zhou Weifang didn't mince words with him, saying, "Actually, that's what I was thinking too."

Luo Hong punched him: "Get lost, get lost, get lost!"

Zhou Weifang didn't reply, went out, and got on his bicycle.

As soon as he left, Luo Yan put away her book and yawned, "I'm so sleepy."

Luo Hong washed his hands: "Business is so-so today, let's go home."

No sooner had he washed his hands than someone came to replace the bearing.

Luo Hong's hands, which he had painstakingly cleaned, were covered in dust again, but he still greeted everyone with a smile, because business was always the best thing.

Luo Yan, seeing her brother rubbing like that, said, "You're not even applying face cream."

Luo Hong applied it perfunctorily for a couple of strokes, then frowned, overwhelmed by the fragrance: "Only three types can tolerate this stuff."

Luo Yan: "Hmm?"

Luo Hong: "Didn't you tell him to apply it?"

Luo Yan had said it, but she didn't expect Zhou Weifang to do it without hesitation, and took the opportunity to say to her brother, "Look at other people."

"What are you looking at?" Luo Hong nudged her. "Shut up and go home."

Luo Yan hummed behind him the whole way, and when she got home and saw her parents were still in the living room, she started complaining.

Liu Yinfeng patted her son: "Stop bullying your sister all the time."

Luo Hong pinched his sister's cheek: "You're such a tattletale."

Luo Yan mumbled a few curses at her brother, then went inside to get her clothes and take a shower.

When she came out of the bathhouse and saw that her brother wasn't outside, she stood and waited for a while. As it got later and later, she decided to go home first.

After walking a few steps, Luo Hong hurriedly ran over: "I was so busy watching the fun that I almost forgot about you."

Lively? Luo Yan: "Whose is it?"

Luo Hong: "Zhang Laoqiao's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law got into a fight, and a bunch of people were trying to break it up."

Luo Yan didn't see the scene because she wouldn't pass Zhang Laoqiao's house on the way back. But her mother had just returned from mediating the fight/watching the commotion, and she recounted the story vividly, but couldn't help but sigh at the end: "In the end, it's all Zhang Laoqiao's fault. His wife and mother were arguing, and he just shrank to one side with his head in his hands. What good is that?"

She then taught her daughter: "Men like that are fake filial piety. They say they wouldn't dare talk back to their mothers, and they also say their wives are too fierce to control. If word gets out, people will pity them and say they have it tough. Tough my ass."

Luo Yan nodded obediently, but still seemed a little confused, her brows furrowing slightly.

Liu Yinfeng stroked her daughter's hair and gave a ready-made example: "Your Aunt Shuilan has been saying every day that the three parties are being domineering in their separation from the family, but after this word spread, several people in the alley want to act as matchmakers for him. Do you know why?"

Luo Yan shook her head, indicating that she did not know.

Liu Yinfeng: "Everyone says he can support his sister and will definitely not let his wife suffer in the future."

But then she changed the subject: "That's not right either. Who says that managing your sister means managing your wife? You can't look at men like that."

Luo Hong initially thought the first part was praise for his childhood friend, and his gaze lingered on his sister's face for a moment. Upon hearing the second half, he touched his face and remained silent.

Luo Yan didn't react much, only echoing, "Zhou Weifang is a really good person."

But being a good person and liking someone are two completely different things.

Whenever someone mentions a promising young man, Liu Yinfeng immediately thinks about acting as a matchmaker, her mind already conjuring up eighteen red threads (romantic connections).

But after glancing at her son, she thought to herself, "Never mind, why bother with other people's business?" She rolled her eyes at him and said, "I'm going to sleep."

No, the previous text was still talking about Zhou Weifang, but the following text is giving him a hard time.

Luo Hong protested, "Mom, why are you glaring at me?"

Liu Yinfeng retorted irritably, "I'm your mother, you can glare at me if you want."

This was so confident and assertive that Luo Hong was speechless.

Luo Yan secretly laughed at her brother, but then noticed that her father trembled as he stood up and asked, "Dad, does your foot hurt today?"

She noticed it, and Luo Xinmin touched his knee: "There is a little."

Liu Yinfeng slapped him: "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Luo Xinmin: "It's just a little bit, it'll be fine tomorrow."

His leg had been damaged for decades, and the pain had become so recurring that he had grown accustomed to it. Moreover, the older he got, the less he felt it, and sometimes he even thought that the limping leg didn't belong to him.

But it's something that family members should pay attention to.

Luo Hong helped his father walk to the room, Liu Yinfeng chatted with her husband for a bit, and Luo Yan went into the kitchen to boil water. A little while later, she carried a basin into her parents' room.

Liu Yinfeng can handle the rest; after all, a father doesn't want to show too much embarrassment in front of his children.

The brother and sister didn't say anything. After leaving the house, they looked back and weren't too worried, knowing that things would probably be better by tomorrow.

As expected, Luo Xinmin was able to go to work as usual the next day.

The Luo siblings also went out; one went to open a shop, and the other went to school. They parted ways at the school gate.

As soon as Luo Yan entered the classroom, the class monitor ran over and said, "Luo Yan, can I borrow your bicycle for lunch?"

Luo Yan readily agreed and led him to the bike shed after school: "Just leave it here when you ride it back."

The squad leader was in a hurry to get things done, so he didn't say much and left in a rush.

He huffed and puffed as he rushed into the department store. On his way back, he saw a man circling his bicycle but didn't think much of it. Unexpectedly, the man stopped him as soon as he unlocked the bike and politely asked, "Hello, do you know Luo Yan?"

The class monitor wasn't stupid; he guessed that the man recognized the car and pulled out his student ID to prove his innocence: "We're in the same class, and I borrowed the car from her."

The other party: "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry."

He then stuffed another bag of peaches into his pocket as an apology.

The class monitor was in a hurry to attend classes in the morning and afternoon, and didn't have time to push back and forth. When he gave the key and peach to Luo Yan, he told her, "He's a tall young man, about the same age as us. He doesn't look like your brother. I've met your brother before. Can you guess who he is?"

Such descriptions are everywhere.

But with this bag of peaches, Luo Yan basically guessed: "I think I know."

The class monitor casually remarked, "It must be someone very close to you. I see all the bicycles on the street look the same, yet he was able to recognize it."

Was Zhou Weifang someone she was particularly close to? Luo Yan wasn't sure if she was, and for a moment she was a little dazed.

The bell was about to ring, but the class monitor didn't have time to pay attention to her. He sat up straight and opened his book.

Luo Yan also came to her senses and put the question out of her mind for the time being.

But when she saw Zhou Weifang that evening, she remembered again and asked, "Did you go to the department store today?"

Zhou Weifang knew she would ask, so she said, "I went to buy milk powder for my mom, but I didn't expect to run into your classmate. He wasn't angry, was he? I'm really sorry."

Luo Yan: "The squad leader is a very nice person, he won't get angry."

Even when she was praising a rooster, Zhou Weifang became wary and couldn't help but inquire, "It seems you two have a good relationship."

Luo Yan: "It's alright."

She changed the subject, picked up her pen, and said, "I'll review these last few pages today."

It's obvious they don't want to talk about it.

Was it because this person was insignificant? Or because he valued them too much? Zhou Weifang began to have wild thoughts, yet he dared not let his mind wander, making listening to the lecture extremely agonizing.

Luo Yan spoke quite smoothly, and finally felt she had accomplished her mission, so she gave herself a pat on the back.

Zhou Weifang also applauded her: "Thank you for your hard work."

"It's not hard work, it's not hard work," Luo Yan said. "As long as you learn something, that's good enough."

Zhou Weifang: "I'm sure I'll get first place this time."

Luo Yan was worried that he was under too much pressure, so she said, "Actually, you are very capable, whether you get first place or not."

Zhou Weifang said in a half-joking tone, "No way, I'm still thinking about you treating me to a nice meal."

Luo Yan is a person who keeps her promises, so of course she wouldn't forget: "Sure, you can choose whatever you want to eat."

As I said before, what you eat is not important.

Zhou Weifang's gaze inadvertently swept over Luo Hong, who was working, and he began to ponder again: How could he possibly avoid including him in this meal?

Perhaps sensing something, Luo Hong turned around and looked at his childhood friend's grinning face, and for some reason felt a chill run down his spine.

But Zhou Weifang continued to exude his "amiable and approachable" demeanor, his smile growing even brighter.

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Author's note: Goodnight, see you tomorrow!