"That's true, there are still too few jobs. Back then, many people returned to the city and were unemployed, and that's when petty theft started to increase."
The two walked and talked, eventually getting to the topic of cooking fish.
Professor Deng wants to have pickled fish for dinner because his grandson likes it.
"Professor Deng, your leg is so badly injured, why are you out for a stroll?" A sleazy voice came from the bench under the willow tree.
Xia Baozhu turned her head and saw a man in a brown jacket smoking, with his arms draped over the bench and his legs crossed.
She didn't wear her jacket properly; the zipper was only halfway up, revealing a dark blue sweater underneath. She had short, parted hair and was fairly good-looking, but her overall demeanor was just too awful.
There's a saying that women don't love men who aren't a little bad. These kinds of men are especially popular with girls, particularly those who are handsome and have a bad-boy charm.
"Oh, it's Xiao Sun. Didn't you go out to play today?" Professor Deng greeted him with a smile, seemingly having a good impression of this roguish man.
“Playing every day is boring.” The man surnamed Sun casually took a drag of his cigarette, then slowly exhaled, looking at Xia Baozhu through the smoke ring and asking, “Who is this? Is she a relative of yours? She’s wrapped up so tightly, is she afraid to be seen?”
"She's a relative of mine, Xia. Xia, this is Professor Sun's second son, Sun Xingyan."
"Professor Deng, your introduction isn't right. Why do you only introduce her as Xia Xia, but introduce me by my full name when you ask whose I am?"
"Alright, Xiao Sun, I think you're just too idle. If you're really bored, go home and practice your calligraphy to calm your mind. Xia Xia, let's go."
"Why are you getting so worked up? You taught me, after all. I respect my teacher. I'll take you home."
Sun Xingyan, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, lazily stood up. He was not noticeable when sitting, but when he stood up, he was nearly 1.8 meters tall.
He stretched his arms and yawned, wiggling his hips as he did so, showing absolutely no concern for his personal image.
"I'll push it." Sun Xingyan walked over in a few steps, waved to Xia Baozhu, and told her to leave.
"Xia, let Sun push it." Professor Deng knew Sun Xingyan's decisive nature.
Xia Baozhu moved aside, carrying her basket.
"Professor Deng, hold on tight, I'm about to take off." Sun Xingyan's words immediately changed Professor Deng's expression.
However, his takeoff plan failed because Xia Baozhu grabbed the wheelchair, and Sun Xingyan couldn't move it despite pushing it a few times.
“Slow down,” Xia Baozhu said coldly.
“I’m just kidding. You and Professor Deng have absolutely no sense of humor,” Sun Xingyan teased. “You’re quite strong, and hey, your eyes are beautiful too.”
Xia Baozhu lowered her eyes speechlessly, then let go of her hand.
Sun Xingyan slowly pushed the cart, then turned to ask Xia Baozhu, "Xia, what's your full name?"
Xia Baozhu ignored him.
"Xiao Sun, what have you been busy with lately? Are you planning to go out again?" Professor Deng asked.
"I'll just wander around and see what makes the most money, then I'll give it a try. I'm not going out for now."
"You can put your business on hold for now. At your age, you should be settling down. Do you have a suitable partner yet?"
"There are several suitable options, so don't worry about it. What era are we living in? DINKs (Double Income No Kids) are popular abroad. Why get married if you don't want children? Isn't that redundant?"
"You don't let me worry about anything, but you're worried about people choosing to be childless," Professor Deng retorted with a laugh.
While talking to someone like Sun Xingyan might easily lead to a sharp retort, it has one advantage: it's relaxing.
Such people are not bound by rules and regulations; they have their own kindness and bottom line, like those unrestrained heroes.
"I'm not worrying, I'm just expressing my personal opinion."
When they arrived downstairs, Sun Xingyan said to Xia Baozhu, "You go open the door first, I'll carry Professor Deng up."
"No need, Xia can carry me," Professor Deng quickly refused.
"Professor Deng, Teacher Deng, look at Xia's small frame, and then look at my 1.8-meter height. How can you bear to make Xia tired?"
Sun Xingyan's words improved Xia Baozhu's impression of him slightly.
Xia carried me down.
"Are you still embarrassed? Fine, let's see how Xia recites it."
Then Sun Xingyan saw Xia Baozhu carrying Professor Deng as if she were carrying a bag of cotton, and she walked up the stairs without even panting.
He folded up his wheelchair and followed behind Xia Baozhu, watching her carry the person on her back with one hand and open the door with the other, then easily placed Professor Deng on the sofa.
"Xia, you're practically a reincarnation of Lu Bu! It's such a waste for you to be helping Professor Deng. Come work for me, and I'll give you a high salary."
Professor Deng had just sat down when she heard Sun Xingyan trying to poach her boyfriend.
"How much can you earn in a month? Eight hundred? A thousand?" Professor Deng asked, looking at Sun Xingyan.
"It depends. If things go well, one can cost three or four thousand."
"Looks like I should call you President Sun. President Sun, please sit down and have a cup of tea," Professor Deng joked.
"Professor Deng really has sharp eyes; he guessed my name so quickly." Sun Xingyan sat on the sofa, crossed his legs, and acted just like he was at home, without any decorum.
Xia Baozhu brought over a teapot and two teacups.
"Holy crap! Who is this again?" The moment Sun Xingyan saw Xia Baozhu, he jumped up as if a spring had been pressed against his butt.
"This is Xia."
"Her? No wonder she's so bundled up when she goes out. If she were to walk around campus, half of the male students in our school would be lovesick."
"Stop talking nonsense, Xia is married."
"Oh, you got married." Sun Xingyan immediately sat back down, showing no interest.
"Professor Deng, I'm going to cook." Xia Baozhu finished emptying the water pipes for the two of them.
"Xiao Sun, why don't you have lunch here?"
"No, I have something to do at noon."
After Xia Baozhu left, Sun Xingyan sat down on the sofa next to Professor Deng and asked in a low voice, "Professor, is this really your relative?"
"yes."
"When did your family get this kind of relative? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Stop, they're getting married."
"I know, but it's a pity. If I had such a beautiful wife, I would hire someone to take care of her so she wouldn't have to work."
"Don't you have several suitable ones?"
"You don't know me, I was afraid of hurting the girl's feelings, so I didn't dare to agree and could only keep putting it off."
"Keep dragging your feet, and all the good girls will be married by now. You're like a stupid bear picking corn, always thinking there's something better ahead, but you've already missed the best."
"Why do you talk like my mother? I'm going back now, I'll come see you again when I have time."
"Go ahead and think carefully about what I said. Since everyone says so, there must be a reason for it."
"Understood, Teacher Deng," Sun Xingyan replied in a drawn-out tone, then casually walked away with his hands in his pockets.
In the kitchen, Xia Baozhu was thinking about the name Sun Xingyan. She felt it sounded familiar, as if she had seen it before, but she couldn't quite place it.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com