Although Shen Hongmei was extremely disliked and Chen Shuning really didn't want to talk to her, since she had taken the initiative to greet him in front of so many people, ignoring her would make him seem petty.

"It's just putting on an act, anyone can do that." Despite feeling extremely uncomfortable, Chen Shuning quickly put on a smile and turned to look at Shen Hongmei with feigned surprise.

"It really is you, Hongmei! I thought I had mistaken you for someone else! Aren't you a temporary worker at the textile factory in Beijing? What are you doing in Heilongjiang Province? Are you here on a business trip or something?"

Chen Shuning feigned surprise and asked.

Chen Shuning's words were like a sharp sword, piercing straight into Shen Hongmei's heart, almost making her nose crooked with anger.

Being fired from the textile factory was a huge humiliation for Shen Hongmei, so after going to the countryside, she kept quiet about it and never mentioned it.

However, she never expected that Chen Shuning's annoying personality hadn't changed at all. He was still so tactless, always bringing up the most sensitive topics and picking on other people's sore spots.

At this moment, Shen Hongmei's heart was filled with anger and grievance. She was truly afraid that her shameful past would be discovered by the educated youth around her.

You have to understand that her current public image is one of positivity, helpfulness, and perfection. If people were to find out about her past, the image she has worked so hard to build would probably collapse.

Turning her head, she saw that Chen Shuning's words immediately caught the attention of the busybodies around her. Their eyes lit up instantly, and they looked ready to listen to the gossip, like a pack of hungry wolves who had spotted their prey.

Shen Hongmei's face turned extremely pale, her lips trembled slightly, and her heart was filled with fear and unease.

She was well aware of the seriousness of this stain and was afraid that Chen Shuning would say something he shouldn't have, putting her in an even more embarrassing situation.

So she quickly took a few steps, warmly grabbed Chen Shuning's hand, and stopped her from continuing.

"Shuning, it's so good to meet you here. I've heard that you're also working in the countryside here, and I've been thinking of finding time to visit you, but I haven't been able to. I didn't expect to run into you here. It's really great."

"By the way, Shuning, I bet you haven't eaten yet. Let's have a meal together later. I've missed you so much, it's been so long."

Seeing Shen Hongmei's nervous expression, Chen Shuning was pleased. Sure enough, he was right. Shen Hongmei's presence here was definitely not because she was here on a business trip, as she had just said.

Then there's only one other possibility: Shen Hongmei's job has run into trouble, and she's also come here to work in the countryside.

Thinking of this, Chen Shuning warmly took Shen Hongmei's hand and said with a smile, "Okay, I'm available anytime. There's not much work to do during the winter, but you must be very busy on this business trip. Where are you staying now? A guesthouse? How's work at the textile factory? Is it tiring?"

"But you've started going on business trips now, you must be doing a great job. You're working in the office now, right?"

Hearing Chen Shuning talk about the textile factory every other sentence, Shen Hongmei almost couldn't keep up her smile, but she had to explain with a smile: "That Shuning, I'm currently working in the countryside here, in the Hongqi Brigade."

The textile factory job was given to Hongxia; otherwise, she would have had to go to the countryside this year. You know Hongxia has always been in poor health; I wouldn't feel comfortable letting her go to the countryside.

Shen Hongmei was quick-witted enough to come up with this excuse on the spot and get away with it. It's just a question of how she will explain Shen Hongxia's rural assignment when she returns to Beijing.

Then they could say that Hongxia made a mistake and was fired from the textile factory, since her honest younger sister had often taken the blame for her since childhood.

However, adhering to the principle of not wanting to make Shen Hongmei happy, Chen Shuning deliberately picked out topics that would upset Shen Hongmei today.

Chen Shuning then asked with a smile, "Is that so? Hongmei, you're so kind. Hongxia is so lucky to have a sister like you."

"Yes, it's only right for an older sister to take care of her younger sister."

Shen Hongmei was somewhat guilty as she said this, because between her and Shen Hongxia, the kind-hearted younger sister had always given in to her since childhood.

For example, during this rural assignment, Shen Hongxia was originally assigned to Heilongjiang Province, while she was assigned to Nan Province.

However, the situation in the last two years is very different from the past. People used to think that the grain yield in the southern region was higher and that going there to work in the countryside would fill their stomachs.

However, as more and more educated youth went to the countryside, over time, people gradually came to their senses.

While the grain yield in the south is indeed high, and one can get enough to eat if they go to the countryside there, the farm work is correspondingly more arduous.

They are busy in the fields almost all year round. Although the summer is hot, humid and stuffy, it is still bearable.

However, the biting cold and dampness of winter made it difficult for many educated youths who had grown up in the north to adapt, and they suffered from rheumatism and other joint diseases to varying degrees.

For this reason, in the past two years, truly wise and loving families have stopped sending their children to the south to settle down.

After hearing about these things, Shen Hongmei tried to persuade her younger sister, Shen Hongxia, to switch places with her in the countryside.

Therefore, when Shen Hongxia heard Chen Shuning praise her as a good older sister, she couldn't help but feel a little guilty and blush.

What she never expected was that the words that would make her feel incredibly embarrassed and ashamed were still waiting for her!

Right after Chen Shuning finished praising her, without even giving her a moment to react, he immediately spoke again:

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