They found a bamboo pole in the yard, cut off a section from it, and Xue Yanchen whittled five bamboo skewers in one go. After whittling the bamboo skewers, they needed to polish the surface smooth, forming rounded cone-shaped tips at both ends.
Luo Jingyan didn't have any sandpaper, but luckily Zhao Jun had two sheets, which he brought over.
Xue Yanchen was somewhat satisfied with Zhao Jun: "It wasn't for nothing that I made you eat."
Zhao Jun smiled and said, "That's right. I, Zhao Jun, have never been one to freeload."
There are five sets of bamboo skewers in total. Luo Jingyan can use one set first, and keep the other four sets as spares.
Lu Family
Li Hongying was lucky this time; the Lu family's door was open. When she went in, she saw a woman in her forties wearing a gray cloth shirt sitting at the entrance of the main room. She was carefully sewing shoe soles with her head down, and a little girl was leaning against her, watching her work.
The sound of chopping wood echoed in the courtyard. Li Hongying looked in the direction of the sound and saw the man she had met on the street that day.
How did this person end up in Lu Chengye's house?
Are they related?
Lu Chengye glanced up at her unintentionally, said nothing, then looked away and continued chopping wood.
Li Hongying felt as if his gaze was filled with ice crystals; just one look from him made her feel instantly frozen.
This seems to align with the male protagonist's character in the book. Is he actually Lu Chengye?
She walked over to Lu's mother and greeted her affectionately, "Auntie."
Lu's mother looked up and asked her in surprise, "Young lady, who are you? Do you have business with us?"
Li Hongying smiled and said, "Auntie, I'm here to see Lu Chengye."
What is your relationship with Cheng Ye?
"It doesn't matter now, but it will matter later."
Seeing the hidden meaning in her words, Lu's mother called out to Lu Chengye, "Chengye, this girl is looking for you."
She was happy because, due to his family situation, Lu Chengye had difficulty finding a partner. He was 22 years old this year and still single. Now, a girl had actually come to his door, hoping to become a daughter-in-law for the Lu family.
Lu Chengye then put down the axe in his hand and walked over.
Li Hongying looked at him in surprise; it turned out he really was Lu Chengye.
At this moment, she thought of the man she had met at the educated youth settlement today. That man was even more handsome and imposing than Lu Chengye. Who could he be?
In the original book, the male protagonist is the most charming one. Anyone who can surpass him must be extraordinary.
But she couldn't recall having such a character in the book at all.
Maybe he's just a decorative cannon fodder character, not even a supporting role. What skills could he possibly have?
Lu Chengye maintained his indifferent attitude, asking Li Hongying in a chilling voice, "What do you want from me?"
Li Hongying retorted, "Why did you lie to me when I asked you that day if you were Lu Chengye?"
"I don't know you, and I don't want to tell you my real identity."
Li Hongying could understand that the male lead was always so reserved, except when he was with his family.
She smiled and said, "Comrade Lu Chengye, let me introduce myself first. My name is Li Hongying. I am an educated youth who was sent to work in the Taohua Brigade next door. From now on, we are acquainted."
Lu Chengye's expression was indifferent, seemingly uninterested.
Mother Lu was quite pleased and stood up, saying, "Li Zhiqing, I'll go back inside and pour you some hot water to warm you up."
"No need, Auntie." Li Hongying acted very obediently in order to curry favor with him.
"What exactly do you want?" Lu Chengye asked.
Li Hongying, having gone this far, revealed her purpose.
“Comrade Lu Chengye, I heard about you from other educated youth. I came here alone to work in the countryside. To be honest, as a young woman, I was afraid of being bullied since I didn’t know anyone. So, I wanted to find someone to marry here. Since there were no suitable people over there, I came here. I am very satisfied with Comrade Lu Chengye, and I want to be his wife.”
"Good, good, good!" Mother Lu was overjoyed. "Our Chengye is finally going to have a wife."
Lu Jiu'er is obsessed with looks. She thinks Li Hongying isn't pretty enough and isn't good enough for her brother. But her mother often says that her brother has a hard time finding a wife, so it seems like he's lucky to have a wife like Li Hongying.
Lu Chengye replied coolly, "Sorry, I don't want to find a wife right now. Please leave."
Mother Lu said, "Chengye, you're already twenty-two, and you still don't want to find a wife? I'm so anxious! I'm waiting for you to carry on the Lu family line so I can hold my grandson."
"Mother, even if you're going to marry her, it has to be to my satisfaction. I have no feelings for her and I don't want to wrong myself."
Li Hongying was greatly disappointed. Did the male lead only have feelings for the female lead?
No, the first time the male and female leads met, it was the female lead who took the initiative to seduce the male lead, and the male lead only fell in love with her later.
She really needs to work harder.
“Chengye, aren’t all the young couples here arranged by their parents?”
“Mother, they are them, and I am me. You should respect my decision.”
Mother Lu sighed, "Since you are unwilling, I cannot force you." She looked at Li Hongying: "Girl, our Chengye..."
“Auntie, I can understand Comrade Lu Chengye. After all, this is the first time we’ve met.”
Lu's mother saw Li Hongying to the door, and Li Hongying said, "Auntie, I really am an educated youth who came to the countryside. If you don't believe me, you can go to Taohua Brigade to ask. I really like Comrade Lu Chengye."
Lu's mother said, "Chengye has been introverted since he was a child and doesn't like to interact with people much. Please don't mind him."
"No, Auntie, I'll be going now, I'll come to see you again later."
Mother Lu smiled and said, "Alright, Li Zhiqing, take care."
Li Hongying was fairly satisfied with the trip; at least Lu's mother treated her well. She would try to get closer to her in the future and gradually win Lu Chengye over.
After Lu's mother returned home, Lu Chengye told her, "Mother, that woman came and said she wanted to marry me. I suspect she has other motives. If she comes again, you and Xiaojiu should ignore her."
“But, Chengye, your marriage is a big deal. That girl also said that she wants to find someone she can rely on here.”
“Our family has a bad class background, what can she rely on? I will take care of my own marriage, Mother, don’t worry about it.”
Knowing that her son was opinionated, Lu's mother didn't press him further: "Alright then, I'll listen to you."
In the afternoon, Xue Yanchen and Zhao Jun went up the mountain one after the other, and they did not come down the mountain until sunset, having found nothing.
Zhao Jun said, "Brother Chen, do you think that thing has already been taken away by the enemy? We're just wasting our time here every day."
"After that traitor fell into our hands, he didn't contact anyone outside, nor did he have any opportunity to do so before, unless their people could guess something. In short, until we find what we're looking for, and until the enemy produces that kind of fuel, we'll stick to our work and keep searching."
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