Chapter 20 Update
Lin Xiang looked at the Black Moonlight in front of her, the one that even the heroine in the book could never pursue, and remembered that she was stubborn and gloomy, and hated being manipulated the most, so she couldn't help but feel a little worried.
It was not until I accidentally squeezed the oil paper bag in my hand and heard a rustling sound that I remembered something: "I brought you the salted duck eggs that Aunt He gave you."
He Hongyuan hummed lightly and signaled Lin Xiang to put it on the table with his eyes.
He Hongyuan grew up in a poor family. He could only eat good food during the Chinese New Year and other festivals, and salted duck eggs were the most delicious of them.
Lin Xiang placed two salted duck eggs on the table and caught a glimpse of the layout of He Hongyuan's single dormitory.
The dormitory is not big, with only a single wooden bed, a closet, a long table and wooden chairs.
I guess it's the unique temperament of soldiers, everything is tidy, the quilt is as thick as tofu, and the books on the table are placed in the same direction, without any disorder.
Lin Xiang thought of the plot in the book again. Aunt He was warm and sincere, with a kind face. Why was He Hongyuan so cold and stubborn?
Could it be that he takes after his father?
But she really didn't know what He Hongyuan's father was like, nor had she heard Aunt He mention him.
Before today, Lin Xiang really wanted to spend more time with He Hongyuan, but ever since she had that dream, she has become hesitant.
She doesn't have that much time to waste.
"I..." Lin Xiang was about to say goodbye, but was suddenly interrupted by He Hongyuan sitting opposite her.
"Did you run away because your family treated you badly?" He Hongyuan's voice was emotionless and even the temperature was cold.
Lin Xiang didn't care that he suddenly mentioned her situation, she just nodded: "Yes."
Lin Xiang didn't know that there was an investigation report in the drawer of the long table in front of her. It was the report that He Hongyuan asked someone in Xifeng City to inquire about as soon as he received the news that his adopted daughter-in-law was coming to the island.
It contained Lin Xiang's life story and a series of recent operations. He Hongyuan was originally opposed to the child marriage, but after receiving it today, he became suspicious.
The investigation results show that Lin Xiang, who works at the steel rolling mill, is timid and weak by nature, but recently she has changed her attitude and rejected the marriage arranged by her biological father and stepmother, and came here by train alone.
"Didn't you always listen to your parents before? Why have you changed now? I heard that they arranged a marriage for you with the factory director's son." He Hong stared at Lin Xiang from afar, trying to read something from her expression.
Lin Xiang's heart skipped a beat, but she didn't show it on her face. She only complained to herself that this bastard seemed to doubt her!
Even though our engagement failed, we still have the kindness and justice to do what we want!
Does he think of himself as a spy?
"My biological mother passed away early, and no one treated me well after she left. My father didn't care about me after he married a stepmother. I didn't understand before that there was a biological father who treated his biological daughter badly. Later, I saw clearly that it was really like that. I was too stupid before and was fooled around. I worked like a slave in that family. Now I finally wake up." Lin Xiang initially just wanted to dispel He Hongyuan's doubts, but she became sincere as she spoke. She was an orphan and always longed for the love of her parents. At this moment, she expressed her feelings, "As for the factory director's son, he is a pervert and a bad guy! I reported him directly!"
She knew that since He Hongyuan had become suspicious, he must have investigated her situation. She couldn't hide these things from him, so she might as well confess on her own initiative.
Thinking of this, Lin Xiang calmly looked back at He Hongyuan, without dodging or evading, and even stopped pretending: "Not only that, my biological father and stepmother forced me to give up the job I worked so hard to get to that good-for-nothing brother, I won't agree! I would rather sell my job than give them a discount, and I also signed him up to go to the countryside as an educated youth."
Lin Xiang tried her best to rationalize what she had done after traveling through time, but she knew that it was all over. In this traditional and conservative era, what she had done was really out of line, and perhaps many people would think that she was heartless and ungrateful.
Especially now in front of He Hongyuan, he didn't like me in the first place, and now that my disguise had been torn off, he would probably be even more unwilling to accept it.
Lin Xiang was also willing to risk her life, as it was more important to save her life.
"As for coming all the way here?" She thought about her plan. Facing He Hongyuan's probing eyes and his intimidating aura, she blurted out, "Because I like you!"
Lin Xiang was a little stunned when she said this, but there was nothing she could do. What else could she do except put the blame on him?
Her eyelashes trembled slightly, her eyes gradually turned red, and she said softly: "I used to be timid, but I knew that my boyfriend was here. I had also seen your photo and thought you were very handsome, much taller and more handsome than the factory director's son. Moreover, you are a soldier and have abilities. So I mustered up the courage to take the train here. However, I also know that you don't like me..."
She paused, wanting to use this opportunity to make He Hongyuan no longer doubt her, dispel his doubts, and at the same time give up the plan of attacking him.
"In that case, I won't force you." Lin Xiang noticed that He Hongyuan's eyes moved slightly, his deep eyebrows were high, and he looked down on everything. She thought about discussing it with him, "You don't like me, but you want to cancel the child engagement. I agree, but I want to stay in Phnom Penh. Can you help me find a job..."
Thinking that it is really hard to find a job nowadays, even many military wives are queuing up to be assigned jobs, Lin Xiang added weakly.
"Or introduce me to a blind date..."
He Hongyuan stared at the girl in front of him in a daze. He saw that she was not as gentle and kind as she was two days ago. Instead, she told him everything about what she had done recently, such as reporting, selling jobs, and registering her good-for-nothing brother to go to the countryside.
At that moment, he felt that the weak, timid and easily bullied Lin Xiang in the investigation report had come back to life.
Standing here vividly and lively, with red eyes, she blurted out "I like you".
He Hongyuan's eyes moved, and some strange emotions emerged in his heart. Before he could figure out what was going on, he heard her ask him if he could introduce her to someone after the child marriage was cancelled.
He Hongyuan narrowed his eyes, remained silent for a moment, and asked coldly: "What do you think?"
Lin Xiang: "..."
It was all in vain! This bastard is really going too far!
I had agreed to cancel the child marriage, and I just hoped that he would do me a favor because there was some affection between us even though we were not romantically involved.
His rhetorical question was a disguised refusal.
It seems that what the book said was right, this person has a weird personality and is completely inhuman!
"Well... forget it." Lin Xiang's breathing became rapid at this moment. She really couldn't stay there any longer, so she turned around and ran out.
If you can't afford to offend her, she can afford to hide!
…
Lin Xiang hurried downstairs, and just as she calmed down, she ran into Zhou Yuezhu who was talking to the soldiers downstairs.
Lin Xiang had never seen such a shy look on Zhou Yuezhu's face before. She must like the soldier opposite her.
Although the soldier looked heroic, he was actually at a loss at this moment.
Alas, since my marriage has failed, it’s not bad to eat other people’s dog food. It’s so sweet.
Zhou Yuezhu saw Lin Xiang coming downstairs and hurriedly said goodbye to Shen Jianming. Before leaving, she only said shyly: "Remember to go to the social gathering the day after tomorrow."
Shen Jianming blushed and said, "I remember!"
On the way out of the dormitory, Lin Xiang asked Zhou Yuezhu: "Is that your partner?"
Zhou Yuezhu was about to hit someone, but she couldn't hide the smile on her face: "No way!"
After that, she added softly, "Not yet."
Wow, this sour smell of love!
Lin Xiang smelled it!
She was just about to tease the innocent little sister when she heard Zhou Yuezhu exclaim, "Sister Xiangxiang, did you cry? Why are your eyes red? Did your cousin bully you?"
Zhou Yuezhu stamped her feet in anger, not knowing how to comfort him for a moment: "My cousin's words were a bit harsh, that's just his temper, don't take it to heart. But I can assure you that he is a good person with a good heart! In fact, he was not like this before. He was a good kid, smart and obedient, and everyone liked him..."
Lin Xiangkuan comforted Zhou Yuezhu a few words, saying that she was just blinded by the wind, but then asked again: "Could it be that your cousin has changed his personality later?"
"Yes." Zhou Yuezhu looked around mysteriously, "It's all my uncle's fault."
"Your second uncle?" Lin Xiang knew that it was He Hongyuan's father. "What happened to your second uncle? Come to think of it, I have never heard Aunt He mention her husband, and He Hongyuan has never mentioned his father either."
"He has already disowned him!" Zhou Yuezhu blurted out, and then fell silent, as if she had said something nonsense. "Oh, forget about it, go back quickly, and don't mention his father in front of your cousin anyway."
Zhou Yuezhu didn't want to say more, and Lin Xiang didn't want to force him. She was just thinking about the sentence that he had long since disowned him. Who didn't recognize who?
…
After being investigated and "interrogated", Lin Xiang no longer dared to go after He Hongyuan and only thought of other ways to stay in Phnom Penh.
Fortunately, she came here and got to know the Zhou family. When Zhou Yuezhu heard that Lin Xiang wanted to find a job, she patted her chest and promised to help her find one. Even Feng Li was willing to give a try.
Lin Xiang felt a little relieved now that she had the help of a noble person, but she was not idle either, so she still had to try hard.
It would be nice if she could really find a job and settle down in Phnom Penh. She wouldn't dare to mess with He Hongyuan, the big boss.
If it's hard to find a job, she can try blind dating. There are many soldiers here. Although He Hongyuan is far from the most handsome one, the others are not much worse.
By the time Lin Xiang had figured out her future, the grand military social gathering of the 119th Division was about to begin.
A social gathering for military personnel and lesbians in the army will be held in the auditorium on this day. None of the single comrades who have registered will be idle, and all of them are eager to try!
Zhou Yuezhu came to find Lin Xiang early in the morning and said, "Sister Xiangxiang, let's go and have a look. The social gathering is really fun."
Lin Xiang had indeed never seen a social gathering in the 1970s, so she was really curious. In addition, since He Hongyuan's portrait was hopeless, she had to cheer herself up: "Okay, then I'll go and take a look too."
Lin Xiang was wearing a dark red double-breasted jacket, with two shiny braids draped over her shoulders, which made her fair skin and beautiful face look even more beautiful.
Zhou Yuezhu was wearing a goose-yellow blouse that had been newly made from torn cloth a few days ago, and she looked cute and lively.
The two men met some soldiers and were chased by them to exchange a few words, which attracted a lot of attention.
Two figures, one red and one yellow, disappeared at the entrance of the social gathering, right in the sight of Zhang Huafeng.
Zhang Huafeng had been rushing to attend a social gathering, preparing to clarify his relationship with Yan Min from the dance team of the cultural troupe and formally discuss dating.
At this moment, he went home, hurried back to the single dormitory, and pushed open He Hongyuan's door.
Inside the room, He Hongyuan was sitting at the table, staring at two salted duck eggs, next to which were six lychees.
"Old He!" Zhang Huafeng knew that He Hongyuan never went to social gatherings, so he wanted to persuade him to go. "Why are you still sitting here? Your wife is about to run away, but you are still calm."
He Hongyuan frowned and looked at Zhang Huafeng, but did not say anything, just waiting for his next words.
"Lin Xiang is going to attend the social gathering. I think they think you are unwilling to agree to the marriage proposal, so they just find someone new in the army. Also, Comrade Lin Xiang is pretty. I see those wolf cubs' eyes are shining when they stare at her. Maybe she can find a partner today and get married tomorrow."
After saying this, Zhang Huafeng saw He Hongyuan's face stiffen, and he turned around and left immediately with a secret joy in his heart. However, he did not go far, but waited at the door. Based on his ten years of understanding of the brothers, he bet...
With a creaking sound, the door opened.
He Hongyuan walked out of the house and strode forward.
Zhang Huafeng followed behind him, not forgetting to stir up trouble, saying, "Do you know where the social gathering will be held? After all, you have never been there before."
He Hongyuan turned around and looked at him, saying only two words: "Noisy."