The next morning, before dawn, Shen Ningning hurriedly left home.
She needed to catch the earliest long-distance bus to Linxian County, and then transfer there to go to her brother's military unit.
Before leaving, she took out all the various coupons she had saved at home, and also took out fifty yuan. Then she stuffed all of these things into Shiyue's hands.
Shiyue refused to accept it, but Shen Ningning insisted on giving it to her.
Shen Ningning explained it to her very clearly.
Shen Ningning said, "Shiyue, our family isn't short of money. Apart from our third son Feiyang who's still in school, my parents, my brother, and I all earn wages. And we're all incredibly busy, eating and drinking in the cafeteria all the time, we don't even have time to go out. We really don't have time to spend money even if we wanted to."
Don't try to argue with me about the money. Just dress up nicely and look presentable, and your dad and I will be happy to see that!
Besides, you're doing such a huge favor for the family. If you're being so polite, how can I possibly thank you?
Since Shen Ningning had already put it that way, Shiyue really couldn't refuse.
All she could say was, "Sister, don't worry about leaving the books at my house. I definitely won't let anything happen to them."
She thought of the books she had read before, paused, and then said, "Sister, although the place where the Forward Brigade is located is a bit remote, the people are quite honest and kind. Most importantly, the captain is a good person, and he still has the final say in the brigade."
So, in the future, if anything happens at home—and I mean just in the worst-case scenario—if there's anything you and your uncles can do to stay at the production team's place for a while, even if it's just to clear your head, right?
Shen Ningning immediately burst into laughter.
She reached out and patted Shiyue's head, her eyes full of affection.
She said, "I understand. Shiyue is just feeling sorry for you. I'll talk to your Uncle Shen."
Even so, Shiyue knew that she definitely didn't take it to heart, and only thought that she said these things to be filial to the elderly.
But Shiyue didn't mind; she had already expected this outcome.
She considered her words as a seed, sown out, that one day they would take root and sprout.
She hoped that when Uncle Shen's family encountered insurmountable difficulties, they would remember these words from today, and then her greatest purpose for this trip would be achieved.
After Shen Ningning left, Shiyue went to the cafeteria to get some food. After eating with Shen Yuanbai, they started packing up his books together.
Shen Yuanbai still wanted to donate most of the books, only keeping the ones that he couldn't bear to part with and letting Shiyue take them home.
He Lixuan arrived shortly after the meal.
As the night passed, he acted as if nothing had happened the day before, ignoring Shiyue's resistance and becoming as gentle and warm as ever.
Hearing that Shen Ningning was going to find a car, and that they didn't need to buy tickets but could go back with the car, He Lixuan nodded in agreement.
Then, quite naturally, she rolled up her sleeves and said, "Uncle Shen, shall I help you tidy up?"
Shen Yuanbai waved his hand and said, "I don't need you here. You go shopping with Shiyue at the department store. Shiyue wants to buy some things, so you can help her carry some of them."
After just one day of interaction, Shen Yuanbai had already regarded He Lixuan as a junior and completely accepted him.
There was no awkwardness between us when we talked to each other.
Shi Yue didn't know how He Lixuan had gained the old man's trust, but at this moment she couldn't refuse He Lixuan in front of Uncle Shen, so she could only take her bag and two net bags and go out with him.
After leaving the house, Shiyue stopped and said, "He Zhiqing, you go ahead with your work. I can manage on my own, so I won't take up your time."
He Lixuan also stopped walking.
He stared at Shiyue in silence for a long time, until Shiyue started to feel uneasy, before he said calmly, "I don't have anything to do. I was originally going to spend today with you. If you don't let me come with you, I have nowhere else to go."
Seeing that Shiyue was still going to refuse, he simply broke the ice and said, "Shiyue, I do have feelings for you and hope to take our relationship to the next level. But this is based on conditions that we both agree on."
I know you have no feelings for me now, so I won't force you to.
You don't need to be so resistant to me. I won't do anything to you. Besides, we're from the same place, and we'll still have to deal with each other when we get back to the brigade.
Are you planning to keep avoiding me like this from now on? Aren't you afraid that when they go back and ask you about it, what are you going to say?
Shi Yue was stunned by He Lixuan's words.
The main reason was that she didn't expect this person to be so direct in expressing his feelings for her.
She was momentarily at a loss for words.
After a long pause, she bit her lip and replied, "I don't like you."
He Lixuan smiled wryly: "I know, you don't need to tell me again."
Seeing him like this, Shiyue felt embarrassed instead.
She couldn't help but comfort him again: "Actually, you're a very good person. It's just that we're not a good match. You'll definitely be going home eventually, and I don't plan to get married again."
He Lixuan looked up at Shiyue and saw sincerity in her eyes.
He knew that Shiyue was telling the truth.
He Lixuan did not refute, nor did he tell Shiyue that he did not care about their different backgrounds.
Indeed, in today's society, there seems to be a chasm between city dwellers and rural people.
City dwellers will not marry a country girl unless absolutely necessary.
The reason for this is simply because of the relationship between household registration and food rations.
He Lixuan, however, is confident in himself.
He believed that with his abilities, he would either not get married at all, or if he did, he would be able to support his wife and children, and he would certainly have a way to solve the household registration problem for his wife and future children.
He was very confident about this.
Furthermore, He Lixuan believes that his parents will sincerely accept the girl he has chosen, and will not care about her background or make things difficult for her.
Back then, weren't people saying that my parents' marriage was a mismatch between their social standing and economic status?
Haven't they remained as loving as ever after all these years?
Although He Lixuan loathed the women around him, he never denied the existence of love.
With his parents, who have supported each other for many years, as role models, He Lixuan has always felt that the most important criterion for any partner he looks for is that they can make his heart flutter.
And now, he has finally met someone who makes his heart flutter.
Although he had only known Shiyue for a short time, the feeling of being moved made He Lixuan certain that she was the one he had been looking for.
But He Lixuan won't tell Shiyue these things now, and even if he did, Shiyue wouldn't believe him.
He just wanted to take it slow.
Anyway, there's still a long way to go. Even if it takes time, He Lixuan will make Shiyue feel his sincerity.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
