Xiao Cheng received many congratulatory gifts for the opening of his new store, including cigarettes, alcohol, tea, and all sorts of other gifts.
There were many customers in the store at the time, and Bailu didn't have time to clean up, so she stuffed all the cigarettes into the cabinet.
Everything else was piled up inside the cash register. Zhang San and Li Si only cleaned it up after they finished their work and went to eat.
Bai Lu turned around and saw that the door, which should have been closed, was open, and Xiao Cheng was standing in the doorway with a blank expression.
He didn't know how long he had been standing there, but after meeting her gaze, he spoke softly, "There are no rats."
Bai Lu's lips twitched slightly: "They might be hiding."
Xiao Cheng had just taken a step when Bai Lu pushed him back into his room—not hers, but in a different direction.
Push him back into his room and close the door.
Bai Lu leaned against the door, looking at the clean, dimly lit room in front of her, the frequently used and infrequently used items neatly piled in the corner, and the simple, unpretentious bed opposite her.
He timidly said to Xiao Cheng, "The mice in my room are definitely hiding. They'll come out as soon as I turn off the light. I'm afraid to sleep; the mice will bite me..."
She just didn't want him to go out.
She stopped pretending to tremble and just stood in the doorway, looking at him with her clear and pure eyes.
There was no fear or pity, but rather unwavering determination; much of the brutality in Xiao Cheng's eyes was dispelled.
After staring at each other for a moment, she still wouldn't budge an inch. Xiao Cheng sighed helplessly and turned to walk back.
"Then what do you suggest we do?"
Bai Lu quickly reached Xiao Cheng from behind, pushed his back with both hands, and walked quickly to lie down on the bed together.
Cover yourself with the blanket.
"Your room is free of mice, much safer than mine. May I stay here for the night?"
Even under the covers, Xiao Cheng could sense that a small hand was tightly gripping the corner of his clothes beneath the blanket.
Whether it was surveillance or just temporary accommodation, it's self-evident.
Hearing the shallow, tense breathing beside him, Xiao Cheng's last trace of ferocity vanished, and he raised his hand to turn off the light.
A slight smile played on her lips: "Whatever you say."
Bai Lu, upholding the tragic mission of having to stay up later than Xiao Cheng to make sure he wouldn't go out before sleeping, would occasionally turn to her left or right.
After chasing away all the drowsiness, I finally couldn't fall asleep. Even after Xiao Cheng fell asleep first, I still couldn't sleep.
Later, Bailu lost count of how many sheep she counted, how many times she loosened and tightened her clothes, and when she finally hugged her familiar pillow before drifting off to sleep.
Xiao Cheng did not open his eyes, but tightened his arms around the girl's back, and his large hands, which were gently patting her back, gradually slowed down and stopped.
I slept soundly until dawn.
Xiao Wei noticed that his older brother was very busy today. He hadn't even finished breakfast when he was forced to agree to help Bai Lu.
Bailu wanted to go to the vegetable garden to weed and asked her older brother to help her get some grass to feed the fish in the stream. This was such a simple task, as the vegetable garden was very close to the stream.
I used to collect the white dew myself, but today I actually asked my older brother for help, and he surprisingly agreed.
Besides helping to feed the fish, Bai Lu also asked her older brother to do other small things, things that he could usually help with but Bai Lu didn't need him to do.
Xiao Wei, completely bewildered, went out with his schoolbag on his back.
Since my sister-in-law stopped roasting chestnuts, she has had a lot more time to read, study, and do practice tests.
Xiao Wei never expected that his sister-in-law would ask his brother for help with something as trivial as not being able to find a pen.
After lunch, the older brother was still helping his sister-in-law, something Xiao Wei never expected.
Just as he was about to leave for school, the phone rang suddenly, and his older brother went to answer it.
After finishing the call, the older brother finally didn't need to help anymore, because he had to go out.
Moreover, it was the eldest brother and sister-in-law who went out together.
Xiao Wei also went to school.
The fire was extinguished in time. The appliance store in the city had no appliances damaged, but the roller shutter door was blackened.
The walls around the shop were also blackened. Zhang San and Li Si washed from morning to afternoon until Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu came over and finally cleaned all the black marks.
"Big brother and sister-in-law."
When Zhang San and Li Si saw Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu from afar, they stopped their final cleaning work and came out to greet them.
"Thank you for your hard work." Bai Lu took two red envelopes from Xiao Cheng's pocket and gave them to Zhang San and Li Si.
"Those who survive a great calamity are sure to have good fortune in the future."
Zhang San and Li Si were stunned for a moment, then, remembering what happened last night, they quickly accepted the gifts with both hands: "Thank you, brother and sister-in-law."
Red envelopes (hongbao) are both a gesture of goodwill and a way to send blessings.
Zhang San and Li Si knew without even thinking that this was Bai Lu's idea, as Bai Lu always did things in a dignified and considerate manner.
Cheng-ge wouldn't do this. He always settles things with a meal, a bottle of wine, and a cigarette.
That's how things are between men, and everyone's gotten used to it over the years. So when they're suddenly being comforted in public, a warm feeling washes over Zhang San and Li Si.
It's so good to have a sister-in-law!
They've long felt that the eldest brother is missing a sister-in-law!
The red envelope was taken out of the eldest brother's pocket by his sister-in-law. Both the eldest brother and sister-in-law got some good luck. The sister-in-law is so clever!
When Xiao Cheng saw Zhang San and Li Si's pathetic and foolish appearance, he didn't want to look at them for a moment. His gaze fell on the girl next to him, and his speechless look was replaced by pride.
He asked calmly, "Where did they go?"
The silly look on Zhang San and Li Si's faces was immediately replaced by seriousness: "We said we'd go familiarize ourselves with the way and come back in a bit."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a large group of black-clad figures appeared at the street corner.
"They're here, they're here."
A tall figure in a black trench coat, accompanied by ten burly men, strode towards Xiao Cheng.
Passersby quickly gave way.
Some even stopped to watch out of curiosity, retreating hundreds of meters away from the electronics store until they reached the safest area.
The electronics store opened the day before yesterday, but after Hu Biao, who had caused a disturbance, was attacked by fire overnight last night.
Although there was no real damage, the roller shutter door was blacked out, clearly indicating a private contest between underworld forces.
The public also wanted to see if the new appliance store could stay open and which side was more powerful.
"Brother Cheng, it's been a long time."
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Li Jianfeng greeted Xiao Cheng loudly from ten meters away.
After greeting Xiao Cheng, Li Jianfeng glanced admiringly at Bai Lu, who was standing side by side with Xiao Cheng.
"This must be your sister-in-law, right? Seeing is believing, she's beautiful and elegant."
Bai Lu nodded slightly.
Xiao Cheng nodded slightly, his deep eyes calm and expressionless, and asked in a detached tone, "What brings you here?"
Li Jianfeng seemed completely unconcerned about how many people were around him. He laughed twice and then said gloatingly, "That kid Hu Biao was incompetent. He was thrown to a black factory by the boss early this morning. Before he left, he was put in a sack and beaten up. His front teeth were knocked out. We don't even know who the enemy is. I think it's probably an enemy taking the opportunity to seek revenge."
"Being too arrogant won't do. Even a tiger can be bullied by dogs when it's down in the plains. Besides, Hu Biao isn't a tiger, he's just a dog. After being taught a lesson, he'll behave like a good dog."
After the jokes were finished, Li Jianfeng smiled nonchalantly: "The dog is gone, but the house is still there. Someone has to take over. That's why the boss sent me to be your neighbor."
"Brother Cheng, we've known each other for a while now, let's skip the formalities and look forward to each other in the future!"
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