Wen Zhaoye led Wen Jiaojiao toward the supply and marketing cooperative:

"Don't worry, I've bought up all the peach shortbread from the supply and marketing cooperative this time. I won't do anything else all day but let you eat them."

Wen Jiaojiao originally wanted to tell him the truth, but seeing how excited he was, she wondered if he would blush when he and Xu Cuifen found out about it at home.

She chuckled and said, "Just buy a little less. I bet my parents won't have any appetite when they see the peach shortbread back home."

Wen Zhaoye squeezed into the supply and marketing cooperative:

"What does it matter if they feel nauseous or not if I buy food for you?"

Wen Jiaojiao's smile deepened even further:

"You'll see how it is when you get home."

After buying peach shortbread and other pastries, Wen Zhaoye bought a bunch of other things before taking Wen Jiaojiao back home.

After arriving home, Wen Jiaojiao got out of the car and handed Xu Cuifen a bag of peach shortbread, saying:

"Mom, these peach shortbreads are for you and Dad. Try them and see how they taste."

Xu Cuifen took it and said with a smile:

"Is it that roast duck flavored peach shortbread from last time? You bought it for Mom last time, and after she finished it, she searched the whole county but couldn't find it again."

"Last time, even though the shape wasn't very appealing, it smelled delicious with a meaty aroma. Your dad said it was tasty too."

Wen Jiaojiao had finally heard those words, and she couldn't help but burst into laughter:

“Perfect timing, we also bought roast duck. Let my brother finish his roast duck and then you two can continue to enjoy it.”

For a moment, everyone was stunned.

Wen Zhaoye finally understood why Wen Jiaojiao had such a terrified expression that morning. He said with difficulty:

"So they ate it, right?"

Xu Cuifen secretly spat, instantly losing her appetite. Her face turned pale as she said:

"Tell me, why are you doing that out of nowhere?"

Wen Xiaojian's already chapped face darkened even more with anger, and he turned his face away without saying a word.

Wen Zhaoye was momentarily speechless, thinking it was Wen Jiaojiao who wanted to eat it, so he covered it up by saying:

"I just like eating the edges, I just didn't expect you guys wouldn't know that those were leftovers from me."

Xu Cuifen wiped her mouth with her sleeve and said:

"Look, even if you have money, you can't waste it like that."

Wen Zhaoye felt extremely disgusted. He grabbed Wen Jiaojiao's clothes and went back to the room.

Why didn't you tell me this morning?

Wen Jiaojiao couldn't stop laughing:

"I was going to bring this up this morning, but your dad called and interrupted me, so I forgot about it."

Later at the supply and marketing cooperative, I saw that you insisted on buying peach shortbread, and even said you'd let me eat it all the way back.

I just want to see what your expression will be when you and my parents confront us about this.

Wen Zhaoye raised his hand and pulled her into his arms:

"Why are you so naughty? And why did you just happen to give them the peach shortbread at that time?"

Wen Jiaojiao, still smiling, said:

"I didn't open it to see what it was, and since I didn't think I'd like it, I gave it to my parents. Then they kept praising how delicious it was."

I didn't think much of it at the time. When I found out this morning that it was you who gnawed on it, I was laughing my head off.

Wen Zhaoye's cheeks flushed: "..."

Was it because my cerebellum wasn't fully developed before? How come I can think of all sorts of things?

Outside the door, Xu Cuifen handed the peach shortbread to Wen Xiaojian:

"Old man, you should eat it. I never want to eat again in my life. The son you raised shouldn't mind."

Wen Xiaojian's face darkened:

"Let that kid eat it himself."

Wen Jiaojiao glanced inside the room and stepped out the doorway:

"Mom, why isn't Jiang Ci home?"

Xu Cuifen:

"Well, when Xiao Zhou came, he overheard her dad calling her and forbidding the two of them from being together. He said they weren't a good match and then left. Jiang Ci said she wanted to wander around the village, so we didn't interfere."

Wen Jiaojiao frowned slightly: "Brother, let's go out and look for him."

On the other side.

Wen Liang leaned against the door frame, her shoulders hunched, her hands tucked into her sleeves.

He glanced at Jiang Ci, who was walking forward with her head down, and immediately straightened up and said:

"Young lady, are you from Jiaojiao's family?"

Jiang Ci looked up and saw a handsome man standing in front of a dilapidated house that was almost collapsing.

She nodded gently: "Mm."

The little boy's clothes were covered in black soot, and he called out:

"Dad, I'm cold."

Wen Liang said irritably:

"Go away, who's your dad? I'm clearly your brother."

The child immediately changed his tune:

"elder brother."

Jiang Ci frowned slightly as she looked at the two of them, whose faces resembled a large face with a small face inside. She immediately wanted to leave.

Wen Liang's reputation in the village was terrible, but he was also quite proud and arrogant, and he was focused on saving money to find a young girl.

He did find the girl, but before he could even show her off in the village, he ran off with the dowry that very night, making the already impoverished family's situation even worse.

Seeing Jiang Ci at that moment, he felt that the bold would get rich while the timid would starve, and he should give it a try, so he hurriedly spoke up:

"Hey, girl, it's so cold today. Come in and have a cup of tea. We're all relatives."

Jiang Ci politely said:

"I'm sorry, my mom doesn't let me go to other people's houses."

Just then, a voice came from not far away:

"Using this trick again? Aren't you afraid of it becoming outdated?"

The two looked up and saw Wen Jiaojiao and Wen Zhaoye. Wen Liang immediately smiled awkwardly and said:

"Don't mention it, it's just a polite gesture."

Wen Jiaojiao chuckled softly and said:

"Look how polite you are. You even have the nerve to let your son call you 'brother.' What can I say?"

Wen Liang was speechless for a moment, and could only watch the figures of the group leave quietly.

Jiang Ci lowered her head and walked back, saying to Wen Jiaojiao beside her:

"I thought you wouldn't be back for a couple of days. Perfect timing, take me to the station, I want to go home."

Wen Jiaojiao didn't refuse. Wen Zhaoye took her to the station that afternoon, and on his way back, he happened to run into Zhou Jinyan on the streets of the county town. He stopped his motorcycle, and as Zhou Jinyan walked over, he said:

"What? You're really willing to give it up?"

Zhou Jinyan's mother was unaware that he had been spending the past few days with Jiang Ci, but upon hearing that he had rejected a relative's daughter, she felt quite uncomfortable and pressured him to get married.

He had originally planned to bring Jiang Ci home today to formally introduce her, but it turned out like this.

Now his mother is pressuring him to go on blind dates and get married every day, which gives him nothing but headaches and resentment. He had no choice but to go out for a stroll.

He held a cigarette between his fingers and said in a low, husky voice:

"It's not suitable, so let's not mention it again."

Wen Zhaoye didn't say much, but changed his words:

"Want to grab a drink?"

"Let's go, and while we're at it, let's call Zhou Jin out." Zhou Jin said, taking out his phone and calling Zhou Jin.

"Come to Babaozhai for dinner."

Zhou Jin was shopping with Song Yan at the moment. After replying to the call, he hung up and turned to the person next to him, saying:

"Jinyan and Zhaoye invited me to dinner. Should I take you home first?"

Song Yan: "Let's go together, anyway Zhao Ye will definitely bring Wen Jiaojiao along."

Zhou Jin thought that made sense, and he nodded, saying:

"Alright."