Chapter 139 The hardest thing about him is his mouth.
Little did Xia Qianqian know that her trip to the provincial capital with Lu Zheng had infuriated Xia Wenwen—if she had known, she might have been secretly enjoying watching Xia Wenwen make a fool of herself.
At this moment, the military green jeep sped northward.
Xia Qianqian originally wanted to call Lao Hei out to give directions, but Lu Zheng turned the steering wheel, leaned closer, and his warm breath brushed against her ear: "Don't worry, I know this road well! I can drive here with my eyes closed!"
Xia Qianqian was amused by him and handed him a wild fruit to quench his thirst.
The poplar trees outside the car window rushed past, and Xia Qianqian leaned back in her seat, looking at Lu Zheng's profile as he focused on driving.
As if sensing her gaze, Lu Zheng kept his left hand firmly on the steering wheel, while his right hand slid down the seat and gently wrapped around her waist.
"I'm driving!" Xia Qianqian scolded, moving aside to avoid distracting him.
Normally, she could never escape his hand. But this time, Lu Zheng stopped as soon as his fingertips touched the hem of her clothes, and his eyes looked at the rearview mirror.
"What's wrong?" Xia Qianqian turned around following his gaze. The dust on the dirt road hadn't dissipated yet, and she could vaguely see the rear of a dark green vehicle, which looked like a half-old van, quickly turning into the side road.
"It's nothing." Lu Zheng paused in his gear shifting motion.
Lu Zheng's expression clearly showed some unease, but he refused to say anything, so Xia Qianqian wisely didn't press him further. For a moment, only the low hum of the engine and the sound of the wind rushing past the window filled the carriage.
As the sun began to set, Xia Qianqian looked at the increasingly unfamiliar scenery outside the window and finally couldn't help but feel disheartened. There was no trace of a road left in front of her.
There was only a dirt road worn into the ground by wheels, at the end of which lay a shimmering ditch with a considerable flow of water.
"Lu Zheng, didn't you pat your chest and say you could drive to the provincial capital with your eyes closed? Is this ditch the new landmark of the provincial capital?"
Lu Zheng coughed awkwardly and explained, "This road used to be a detour, but it's probably flooded recently due to the heavy rains."
"Is that so?" Xia Qianqian raised an eyebrow, not arguing with him, and her mind raced.
The next second, Lao Hei appeared in the back seat of the driver's seat, still rubbing his eyes in a daze: "Miss Xia, have we arrived in the provincial capital?"
Xia Qianqian didn't say anything, but just gestured with her chin towards the window.
Old Hei peeked out and instantly woke up, scratching the back of his head: "Hey, where am I? This looks completely unfamiliar!"
He peered through the car window for a while, then decisively said, "We've taken a wrong turn! We need to turn around quickly, drive back the way we came, and find the main road first!"
The evidence is irrefutable.
Xia Qianqian looked at Lu Zheng with a half-smile, her eyes clearly saying, "I knew it."
Lu Zheng was a little embarrassed, but he could only force himself to continue: "I knew that road looked wrong! It must have been rerouted due to construction!"
"Yes, yes, we've changed routes." Xia Qianqian suppressed a laugh and deliberately dragged out her words, "Driver Lu, will you turn around yourself now, or should I ask Comrade Lao Hei to do it for you?"
"I'll take it!" Lu Zheng suddenly turned the steering wheel, and the jeep drew a beautiful arc on the dirt road, kicking up a cloud of dust.
His ears turned slightly red, but he still stubbornly insisted, "It's only because it's you; I wouldn't bother going out of my way for anyone else!"
Xia Qianqian looked at his profile, which was trying to appear calm, then leaned close to Lu Zheng's ear and snorted in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Hmph, man!"
Lu Zheng's ears turned even redder, and he pressed the accelerator harder, muttering, "Focus on the road!"
Old Hei huddled in the passenger seat, glancing at Lu Zheng's blushing face and then at Xia Qianqian's sly smile, scratching the back of his head: These two, even their arguments sound like they're whispering sweet nothings, it's really... unbearable to watch!
With Lao Hei as their "living map," the wheels finally reached the smooth asphalt road. Lao Hei squinted for a moment to determine the sun's position, then waved his hand and said, "That's right! Head south, Fangcheng is just ahead!"
Xia Qianqian had heard Lao Hei mention Fangcheng before. It was like a pearl embedded on the coastline at the southern end of the provincial capital, and ocean-going cargo ships from Southeast Asia were always moored at its docks.
Sailors brought novelties from all over the world ashore to trade, making this small town much richer than the inland areas. Even the air was filled with the unique smell of money mixed with the sea.
The jeep sped along, arriving at Fangcheng only as dusk settled. Just past the city gate, a damp, salty smell wafted on the wind, carrying the scents of fish and seaweed.
Xia Qianqian sniffed sharply, her eyes lighting up.
"Lu Zheng!" She tugged at Lu Zheng's arm, her voice filled with barely suppressed excitement, "Shall we go eat seafood? I want steamed crab and clam soup!"
Lu Zheng's eyes and brows were filled with laughter: "Greedy cat." He scolded her, but he had already stepped on the brakes. "You can eat, but seafood is cold in nature. You can only try one crab at most, and the soup must be warm."
"Okay!" Xia Qianqian nodded vigorously, afraid that he would change his mind. "I'll just eat a little bit, just to satisfy my craving!"
Old Hei leaned out of the back seat and chuckled, "There's a restaurant called 'Haiweiju' near Fangcheng Wharf. The owner is an old fisherman, and his steamed grouper is absolutely amazing! It's just a bit pricey..."
"I'll go no matter how expensive it is!" Lu Zheng waved his hand and started the car again. "As long as Qianqian wants to eat it, it's worth any price."
The jeep wound its way through the streets of Fangcheng, the streetlights lighting up one by one, illuminating the rows of shops lining the streets. The salty, fishy smell in the air grew stronger, mingling with the aroma of cooking wafting from the homes, making everyone's stomachs rumble.
Xia Qianqian patted her round belly and whispered, "Baby, did you hear that? Daddy's going to take us out for something delicious!"
Lu Zheng caught a glimpse of her gentle profile out of the corner of his eye, and the corners of his mouth curved into a deeper smile. Tonight, he would let his little glutton eat to his heart's content.
When the jeep stopped in front of "Haiweiju" restaurant, the lights of Fangcheng were already on. But the store was dark, and there was a notice of closure posted on the door.
Xia Qianqian's heart sank: "Oh no, why is it closed?" Even the fishy smell she had just caught no longer smelled good.
Old Hei grinned and patted his chest: "Don't worry, Miss Xia, this boss is shrewd! The main shop is closed, but if you really want fresh produce, you'll have to go through the 'back door'!"
He turned into a narrow alleyway next to him, seemingly familiar with the place: "Follow me!"
The alley was so narrow that only one person could pass at a time. The walls were peeling and the overhead wires were tangled like a mess. Only a dim streetlamp swayed at the end. After walking about a hundred meters, Lao Hei stopped in front of a weathered wooden door.
A tempting aroma suddenly wafted out from under the door. Xia Qianqian's nose twitched. It was the caramelized scent of crab with scallions and ginger, mixed with the sweetness of clam soup and the smoky aroma of grilled squid!
Her eyes suddenly lit up, her stomach rumbled loudly, and she quickened her pace, almost drawn forward by the aroma.
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