Chapter 314: Take it one step at a time
As soon as the sun came out, a layer of water vapor rose on the scattered tile houses, melting the frost, and even the paths in the fields became wet.
This year, there was no 30th day of the twelfth lunar month, so the 29th was New Year's Eve. Lu Chun'e went to the next door to find a noodle maker to make some dough, planning to steam some steamed buns and dumplings.
Zhou Mingli helped her knead the dough.
It looks very harmonious, but in fact the atmosphere at home is very weird.
They were probably the only two of them who cared about preparing food and drinks. The closer it got to the end of the year, the more unhappy Lu Mingjiang and his wife became, and their faces looked gloomy.
Because Lu Chun'e didn't let anyone in Lujiazui know that Lu Donglin had gone to the capital.
The story began that day when the two men went to the commune. On the way back, they met Lu Dongfu who had rushed back from the county town to report the news.
"He's truly audacious. How far away from the capital is this place? I can't even imagine it. He didn't have a penny on him, nor a letter of introduction, and yet he managed to get here."
Lu Chun'e breathed a sigh of relief. "We should be thankful that he still had some sense enough to go over there and look for his brother and sister-in-law. No, we should be thankful that he was lucky enough not to freeze or starve to death outside."
Lu Dongfu nodded in agreement: "That's good now. He went to Brother Dongping and got the exact news. Then Third Uncle and Third Aunt can rest assured."
Reassured? What happens after you feel relieved?
Lu Chun'e suddenly thought of Cui Qinghong at home.
Lu Donglin's whereabouts are known, but the problem has not been solved yet. What will happen if his family knows that Lu Donglin has gone to the capital?
Lu Chun'e didn't say anything, various thoughts flashed through her mind.
She just came back, and through the conversations yesterday and today and various aspects, she could clearly feel that the old couple in the family had not given up, and even had the absurd idea that it would be okay as long as the son ran away and the daughter-in-law was still there.
To be honest, Cui Qinghong's whereabouts are a big problem.
What she wanted was to send the person back to the Cui family directly. It didn't matter even if the food and money could not be returned, the person must be sent away.
But that was just her own idea.
Putting aside whether other people in the family are willing or not, let's just talk about Cui Qinghong herself. She is a living person. To put it more clearly, the grain relationship has been transferred now. She is a member of Lujiazui. What if she doesn't want to leave?
Now Lu Donglin has run away and his whereabouts are unknown. If we knew where he went and found him, who knows what would happen next.
"Chun'e, what's wrong with you? Why did you suddenly stop talking?"
Lu Chun'e sighed, glanced at Zhou Mingli, and then looked at Lu Dongfu: "I think, Brother Dongfu,"
Lu Dongfu's hands shook and he almost lost his grip on the bicycle handlebars.
Lu Chun'e has never called him brother since she was a child, okay? Why does this sound so weird now?
"You, just say what you want to say."
"I think, otherwise, we shouldn't tell the family about Lu Donglin going to my brother's place. What's the point of telling them now? He went to my brother's place, and then asked my brother to send her back so that he could continue living with that girl? If he wanted to, he wouldn't have gone through such a fuss."
"So what do you mean?"
Lu Chun'e said, "My brother is coming back, and he might be on his way back now. I'm thinking, if it doesn't work out, I'll just wait and see if Lu Donglin comes back with him. If he does, then these few days won't be a big deal. If he doesn't, it means he's very determined about this matter and it's impossible. Then I'll ask my brother about it and see how to deal with it. I told them so early now, I'm afraid they'll do something weird before my brother comes back."
Lu Dongfu thought for a moment: "It seems to make sense. But -"
"But what?"
"If my father knew I didn't believe him, he would skin me alive if I told them!"
Lu Chun'e snorted twice: "You're talking as if you're so honest that you'd just stand there and wait to be beaten."
Although Lu Dongfu is not as naughty as Lu Donglin, he is definitely not a fool. Can a fool get into a technical secondary school?
"Well, then I don't need to go back to bring the letter, then I don't need to go back?" As he said that, he parked his bicycle by the roadside, took the bag off the shelf and threw it to her: "You can take it back on the way. I'm leaving first. See you during the New Year!"
"Hey, you've already left here, why don't you go back and take a look?"
"I just got back yesterday. Today is a workday. Why would I go back if there's nothing important? To get scolded? I've never lied before, so I'd be exposed the moment we meet. I'm leaving now. The holiday is coming up in a few days anyway. I'll come back to see you guys when I'm done! Let's go!"
Before he could finish his words, the bicycle sped away, as if someone was chasing him.
So, when Lu Dongping sent a telegram to report this matter, the family kept it a secret and no one knew about it except for his brothers and sisters and Zhou Mingli.
Lu Mingjiang and Zhang Hongying were stubborn, but as the New Year was approaching and there was still no news from Lu Donglin, they were so anxious that their mouths were covered with bubbles.
It is because Zhou Mingli is around that I am still cautious, otherwise the family would have been in chaos.
As for Cui Qinghong, she was trying her best to act transparent and reduce her presence.
She didn't know why this happened.
She had never heard of anyone running away from home just to find a partner.
She didn't know if it was her fault, but seeing the state of her home, she didn't dare to ask a question or say anything more.
"Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and I don't know if my brother's plans will change, or if he'll be back, or when he'll arrive."
Zhou Mingli asked her: "If, I mean, if your brother doesn't come back, what are you going to do about this matter?"
Lu Chun'e sighed, "Brother Dongcheng and the others will be back tomorrow, and we'll definitely have to find time to have dinner together. I want to ask him first. I can't stay at home for two days. I should have left after the second day of the Chinese New Year, but there's no sign of that happening yet."
"I wanted to send him back, but it's not that simple. He's a person, not an object. He didn't do anything wrong, so why are we bringing him here and sending him back?"
This is indeed a troublesome matter. Zhou Mingli thought for a moment and said, "You, why don't you try to talk to her and ask her what she means?"
Lu Chun'e shook her head: "It's useless. He hides when he sees me and I can't ask a single question." If you didn't know, you would think he was a mute.
She's smart. She knows she doesn't like her, so she doesn't even talk to herself.
"Do you know when your brother will be back? If things change again, I think we should just do as you said and wait for our cousin next door to come back. Then we can sit down together and discuss this matter properly. Let's resolve it as soon as possible!"
Lu Chun'e nodded.
It was New Year's Day on the 29th. The sun came out soon after we had just finished breakfast. Zhou Mingli had good calligraphy, so Lu Chun'e bought ink and red paper in advance, cut them and asked him to write couplets. Even Lu Dongcai came to join in the fun, saying that only by posting couplets would it be like the New Year, and asked Zhou Mingli to help write one.
After breakfast, the couplets were posted on the door. They were red and looked quite interesting.
There is no need to go to work today. I will stay at home either preparing food or visiting friends and chatting.
Just after nine o'clock, several people appeared on the edge of the field below. Lu Dongcheng and his men had returned with nothing in their hands.
When a few people came back, the door became even more lively.
But the more lively it was, the more deserted Lu Mingjiang's house seemed.
During the Chinese New Year, Lu Dongping did not come back and missed the New Year’s Eve dinner.
Lu Mingjiang and his wife were in a bad mood and did not go to Lu Minghai's house. Lu Chun'e prepared some dishes at home, and Zhou Mingli accompanied him for two drinks, and then went to bed early.
Lu Chun'e couldn't sleep. She stood in the dark yard, looking into the distance and muttering to herself, "Brother, why haven't you come back yet?"
Zhou Mingli came out of the house and pulled her inside: "Either go to sleep or go inside and warm yourself by the fire. It's freezing outside."
Lu Chun'e didn't feel like warming herself by the fire or going to sleep. Life was getting better and better, but she felt this New Year was meaningless.
"Zhou Mingli, I suddenly feel like I'm really useless. I can't even handle this little thing. I have to wait for my brother to handle everything."
Zhou Mingli comforted her, "No, you've done very well." The problem was too difficult, she was too soft-hearted, and she was overthinking it. And he, not yet a legitimate son-in-law of the Lu family, was powerless.
Lu Chun'e sighed: "Tomorrow is the first day of the new year." Her first New Year with Zhou Mingli was really a bit terrible.
"I have something for you."
Zhou Mingli was a little surprised, his eyes lit up: "New Year's gift?"
Lu Chun'e felt a little embarrassed, so she walked into the room where he lived and took out the luggage she brought back from the cabinet. In addition to a set of clothes for her to change into, there was also a navy blue woolen coat that Wen Wan had cut out for her.
"I, I don't know what size you are wearing. Try it on and see if it fits."
Tomorrow is New Year's Day, and she hopes Zhou Mingli can wear the new clothes she made, but she is too shy to say it out loud.
"It's suitable. What Chun'e made for me must be suitable. It's just that," he smiled, "when it comes to delivering things, you should let me come first."
As he said that, he took out a watch from his pocket and wrapped it around Lu Chun'e's left wrist. He was about to give it to her, but he was a step too late.
The cool touch on her wrist could not reduce the heat on Lu Chun'e's face. Zhou Mingli was putting a watch on her. She put her arms around him, leaning on him like a warm wall, which made her feel extremely at ease.
"I heard someone say that if you have a girl you love, you must give her a watch, put it on her personally, and tie her tightly."
After saying that, he gently kissed Lu Chun'e's ear and said, "Chun'e, when we return to the capital, let's pick a date to get engaged, okay?"
got engaged?
Lu Chun'e hadn't thought of this yet, so she turned and looked at him: "Is it too——"
Before he could say anything, his mouth was blocked.
Zhou Mingli turned her over, supported her, and deepened the kiss.
Too fast? No, he thought it was too slow. He wanted to get married right away. However, he was afraid that Lu Chun'e would not agree, so he could only settle for the next best thing and take it step by step.
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