Chapter 111 I'll carry your bag tomorrow, Anqian…
At 7 p.m., the train finally stopped at Shanghai Railway Station.
Lu Chang stuck his head out the window, looking around for anyone: "I wonder where our brother is waiting for us?"
Holding her son, Shen Rong laughed, "Then we need to get off the bus first, it'll be hard to find so many people..."
Before he could finish speaking, Lu Chang shouted, "Big brother, over here!"
Shen Rong was overjoyed and also went to the window. Lu Lin saw them and was coming this way against the flow of people.
“Dad’s over there!” Shen Rong pointed to a figure in the crowd for her son to see.
Xiao Ming was very excited, and kept calling out "Dad!" louder and louder each time.
Lu Lin couldn't suppress his smile any longer. He strode over and, seeing Uncle Zhang and the others moving their luggage, said, "The car is parked right at the entrance. Da Mao is waiting there. You can move the larger pieces of luggage over first."
"yes."
Lu Lin arrived, and Zhang Ma and Gui Chun helped him with his luggage.
Xiaoming hadn't seen his father for almost a month. The moment he saw his father, his eyes welled up with tears, and he reached out to hug him.
Lu Lin originally only had his wife in his eyes, but seeing his son like this, he couldn't bear to ignore him. He could only hug his son first, but his eyes kept looking at Shen Rong's face.
"Was the journey alright?"
Shen Rong smiled as she looked at him, while Lu Chang chimed in, "The journey was fine the whole way, except that we stopped for almost an hour just before entering Shanghai, apparently to let other trains pass."
I wonder whose private train it is, acting so arrogantly.
Lu Lin glanced at him sideways, thinking that his third brother was a real spoilsport: "What are you standing there for? Go help with the luggage."
Lu Chang felt annoyed; he was being disliked. Looking at the couple's affectionate gazes, well, he was indeed in the way.
"We're leaving now, we're leaving now, we won't keep you two from having your heart-to-heart talk any longer." He picked up the two suitcases and got off the bus.
Shen Rong grabbed Lu Lin and looked him over again and again, even touching him with her hand.
Lu Lin chuckled: "You're already getting handsy here outside. A decent wife wouldn't do something like that."
Shen Rong slapped him on the back: "I'm checking if you're injured. If you are, see how I punish you."
Lu Lin freed one hand to hold hers, then bent down and kissed his wife. Xiao Ming saw this and followed suit, wanting to give her a kiss as well.
Shen Rong's face was already red, but her son's interruption instantly destroyed the romantic atmosphere.
"Let's go back to our new home."
It was already dark outside, but Shanghai remained as bustling as ever, brightly lit, with people coming and going on the streets, and many vendors hawking their wares.
"Shanghai truly lives up to its reputation as a city that never sleeps; it's even more bustling at night than Jincheng is during the day!" Lu Chang exclaimed.
Shen Rong nodded, her eyes fixed on the outside: "It really is a big city."
As they passed a beautiful three-story building, they were immediately dazzled by a huge neon sign. Looking inside from the entrance, the view was magnificent and opulent, with men and women dressed in elegant attire, singing and dancing. Outside the gate, cars and people bustled about, and the city was in a lively atmosphere.
Lu Chang exclaimed in surprise, "This must be the Qianyue Restaurant that caused such a sensation as soon as it opened!"
Shen Rong quickly went over to take a look: "Really? I'll have to go and see it when I have time." Her tone was full of longing and curiosity.
Lu Lin glanced at the two of them but didn't say anything.
Xiao Ming was also very interested; he was particularly interested in the colorful lights.
The two became more and more excited as they talked. Despite being from Jincheng, Lu Chang was very knowledgeable about the gossip in Shanghai and described Qianyue Tower as something extraordinary.
Finally, he praised the dancers inside, saying they were charming and beautiful, even more so than movie stars.
The two expressed their admiration and made plans to visit the place sometime, which Lu Lin found increasingly difficult to bear.
"You resigned from your public office in Jincheng to come to Shencheng just to go to Qianyuelou? That's easy. I'll have someone send you in as a waiter tomorrow, so you can have your fill of entertainment, how about that?" He said in a sinister tone at the end.
Lu Chang shrank back, feigning weakness: "I'm here to work."
They didn't come here specifically for Qianyuelou.
He had already asked a friend to help him find a proper job as a reporter at a newspaper. In Lu Chang's opinion, this was much better than just drifting through life in Jincheng.
Lu Lin gave him a cold glance and didn't say anything more. Soon they arrived at their accommodation.
Lu Chang had some doubts about whether his older brother was secretly planning to kick him out.
All I did was discuss the dancers at Qianyue Tower with my sister-in-law. I didn't even take her to see them. Why are you so angry?
Moreover, even though it was the sister-in-law who spoke first, she didn't dare to get angry at her, but instead vented her anger on her younger brother.
The more Lu Chang thought about it, the angrier he became. His eyes darted around, and he went to Shen Rong's ear to apply eye drops.
"Sister-in-law, why won't my brother let us go to Qianyue Tower? Does he know someone there?"
The voice wasn't too loud or too soft. Lu Lin's icy gaze swept over him, and Lu Chang flinched for a moment before straightening up again. He wasn't afraid; his sister-in-law was in front of him.
Shen Rong, noticing the subtle tension in the two brothers' eyes, smiled and retorted to Lu Chang, "Are you trying to drive a wedge between us as husband and wife?"
Lu Chang showed no embarrassment and continued to stir up trouble: "I'm not one to stir up trouble. I'm on my sister-in-law's side. Look at my brother's appearance. There's probably something wrong with him. He's been here for so long. Wouldn't all the officials and gentry in Shanghai have given him a welcome feast? He must have been there. You'd better be careful, or your brother might get seduced." The more he spoke, the more reasonable he felt. He clapped his hands and his tone became more and more firm.
"Are you asking for trouble? Go clean your own room!" Lu Lin grabbed something and threw it at Lu Chang, who caught it and saw that it was a vase.
If someone gets hit by that, wouldn't that be like murdering their own brother? That's incredibly ruthless!
"Sister-in-law, he's enraged!" Lu Chang continued to embellish the story.
Lu Lin's face turned completely dark, and he was about to explode. Shen Rong whispered, "Why aren't you running?"
Lu Chang rushed upstairs without even taking his own suitcase: "Uncle Zhang, could you take this suitcase for me?"
Shen Cong grabbed Lu Lin's hand, suppressing a laugh: "You're really taking him to heart? Is he deliberately trying to make you angry? I believe you."
"When did he develop this habit of talking nonsense? I need to teach him a lesson."
Shen Rong shook his hand: "I didn't take it seriously, what are you afraid of?" She looked at Lu Lin with great interest and curiosity: "Is it really that beautiful inside? You can take me there next time."
Lu Lin was speechless: "Didn't you say you believed me? I told you I've never been there and don't know anything about it, so why don't you believe me?"
Shen Rong withdrew her hand, curling her lips in disgust.
Lu Lin sighed: "I'm so busy every day, I don't have time to go to places like that. I did get invited, but I didn't go. If you really want to go, I'll take some time in a couple of days to go with you."
Shen Rong's hand, which she had shaken off, climbed back up, grinning, "Husband, you're so good to me."
Lu Lin looked down at her hands and sneered, "You're not as good as me, at least not as good at changing your expression."
Shen Rong chuckled, indifferent; she was thick-skinned and let him say what he wanted.
Zhang Ma and Gui Chun worked quickly, and the bedroom was tidied up in no time.
After a long day of travel, everyone wants to rest as soon as possible.
Lu Lin took his son to take a bath first, while Shen Rong took advantage of the time to organize the things in the box.
The father and son made a scene inside for almost an hour before finally coming out.
"Quick, dry his hair." Shen Rong handed the hairdryer to Lu Lin. It was still cold that day, so she was careful not to let her son catch a cold.
"We don't have time to tidy up his room today, so he can sleep with us for now." Shen Rong hung up Lu Lin's clothes and turned to talk to Lu Lin.
Lu Lin looked down at his son, his eyes flickered, and he seemed somewhat unwilling.
Xiao Ming didn't understand what his father meant, so he grinned.
In the middle of the night, Xiao Ming was moved to the far end of the bed and fell fast asleep under his own blanket. Not far away on the other side, under the same blanket, Chen Rong tried her best to cover her mouth, but broken sounds still occasionally escaped.
Lu Lin smiled and kissed her, his breathing a little heavy. He lowered his voice and said, "Let him sleep in his own room tomorrow."
If this continues, he'll suffocate sooner or later.
Shen Rong glared at him, bent her leg and pushed him, accidentally causing trouble. Lu Lin's eyes turned fierce, which frightened her so much that she immediately shook her head: "I didn't mean to, I'm too tired, let's do it tomorrow."
"It's already tomorrow."
It was just past midnight.
A single drop of sweat, whether from a tear or sweat, rolled down Shen Rong's cheek.
The next day, the whole family did a thorough cleaning together. Shen Rong kept rubbing her lower back. When Zhang Ma saw this, her smile became more meaningful. She specially cooked chicken soup for her at dinner.
Even the thick-skinned Shen Rong felt embarrassed and desperately pinched Lu Lin.
That evening, without Lu Lin having to say a word, Zhang Ma and Gui Chun took Xiao Ming away early and put him to sleep.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder; so what if it's embarrassing? Chen Rong, in a fit of despair, lunged at Lu Lin.
Lu Lin opened his hands without resistance, waiting quietly for her to pick them.
Such vengeful indulgence had serious consequences; he became more and more listless each day, his vital energy being drained away by that little vixen, Lu Lin.
At her insistence, a truce was granted for a few days, and the two slept peacefully in each other's arms.
Having been in Shanghai for several days, she spent her days decorating her home and her nights fighting, without even exploring the city. She decided to go out and spend some time, to broaden her horizons.
Xiaoming was left at home, and she only took Guichun with her. But shopping alone was not very interesting. Guichun kept nodding, and Shenrong was somewhat disinterested.
I only spent half a day there before coming back.
It's bad to go to a new place without friends. You can't even go shopping with anyone. When I went to Bincheng, I had Cao Fengyi and the others with me, so I didn't realize it then.
She was distracted and didn't know how Cao Fengyi and the others were doing.
When Lu Lin returned, he saw her lying crookedly on the sofa, ignoring her son calling her from the side.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" he asked Zhang Ma and the others in a low voice.
Aunt Zhang shook her head: "There's nothing wrong with her, but Madam only went shopping for half a day today and came back. I think she's a little lonely since she doesn't have any friends."
Lu Lin nodded.
He sat down next to Shen Rong, moved her head into his arms, and touched her forehead.
Shen Rong glanced at him and waved his hand away.
"Why are you back so early?" Isn't he very busy?
She turned to look at the clock; it was only a little past five.
"You go about your business, I can handle it." She knew Lu Lin had come back so early because he was worried about her.
Lu Lin smiled: "I can still find that much time."
She had just arrived in Shanghai and was unfamiliar with the city. She was bored staying at home, so he wanted to spend more time with her.
"Tomorrow's your day off, how about I go out with you for a stroll?"
Shen Rong's eyes lit up, and she immediately sat up straight, intrigued. "Really?"
As expected, he wanted to go out and have fun. Lu Lin took out an invitation from the side: "The Wen family sent an invitation. There's a ball the day after tomorrow, and they've invited us to attend. Now that you're here, I can't refuse." Necessary social interactions are still necessary, otherwise people will think he's ungrateful, especially since this is a banquet hosted by the Wen family.
Not going would make people think he was disrespecting the Wen family.
He thought Shen Rong should buy some new clothes. People in Shanghai are particular, and he didn't want people pointing and gossiping about Shen Rong on such an occasion.
Shen Rong also became interested and took the invitation to read it.
"Is the Wen family the Wen family I know?" Shen Rong raised an eyebrow.
Lu Lin nodded: "Yes."
Shen Rong teased him deliberately: "It seems you're not the top leader in Shanghai after all. I thought I could do whatever I wanted in Shanghai, but it turns out there's an old empress dowager above me."
Lu Lin pinched her cheek, deliberately putting on a stern face: "You've been talking nonsense again." Does she think she's a crab? Walking sideways like that.
Taking the opportunity, Shen Rong rolled into his arms and held up the invitation, looking it over.
"The Wen family is indeed wealthy and powerful; even this invitation is extraordinary. They must be rich." They even sprayed perfume on it.
Lu Lin then introduced her to the Wen family's situation.
The old man of the Wen family has passed away, but the old lady is still alive. The old lady had four children. Her eldest son and eldest daughter are now in Jincheng. Only her youngest son, Wen Wenqing, and second daughter, Wen Wenxin, remain in the family.
"Lin Shaojie, the director of the military law department of the garrison command, has a history with the Wen family. This banquet is probably to welcome him back and also to introduce him to political and business figures in Shanghai."
Shen Rong turned to look at him: "Isn't that your subordinate?"
Lu Lin held her hand: "Nominally, yes, but they came with an important mission, so I can't control them."
It's clear that the Wen family was involved in this welcoming banquet, which speaks volumes about their background.
Shen Rong pinched his cheek: "Who is this? He's so pitiful. He has a menacing subordinate below him and a powerful backer above him that he can't afford to offend. He's being attacked from both sides. You're really suffering. Aren't you scared?"
Lu Lin irritably brushed her hand away. He wasn't at the point where he needed anyone's pity: "We're just keeping to ourselves. Why should I be afraid of them? Do I need anyone's pity?"
He glanced at her after he finished speaking.
Shen Rong suddenly burst into laughter, then suddenly became curious: "What kind of mission does Lin Shaojie have? Can't you even ask him?"
Lu Lin frowned, his expression complicated: "I don't want to know, but it's not hard to guess."
Just look at what that person is doing right now, making a huge fuss, and you'll know.
Lu Lin didn't want to get involved in these things at all. He didn't understand why, when external enemies were bullying them right at their doorstep, the higher-ups were still focused on internal strife.
Seeing his expression, Shen Rong understood and immediately said, "Yes, you must not get involved in these things."
Lu Lin must not get his hands stained with this blood.
When Lu Chang returned home that evening and learned that he was going to attend the Wen family's dance party, he became very interested.
“I’ve heard that the new Director Lin is an outstanding young talent, and everyone wants to find an opportunity to interview him. This is a great opportunity for me.”
After finishing his meal, he went upstairs to his room and rummaged around for a while, only to find that he didn't have any suitable clothes. He looked dejected and said, "I should have brought all of Jin Cheng's clothes with me."
Shen Rong's eyes darted around, a mischievous idea forming in her mind: "That's easy, we're going shopping tomorrow, you can come along, I'll take you to get a few new outfits made."
He would certainly be happy to have new clothes made, but the ball is the day after tomorrow, and there's no time to make new clothes now.
"You can wear your older brother's clothes for now. I brought him several. Go and pick one you like."
The two brothers are about the same size, so it's not a big problem.
Lu Chang was immediately delighted and stepped forward to fawn over her: "Sister-in-law, I'll carry your bag tomorrow and serve you at your beck and call."
Shen Rong didn't stand on ceremony and replied with a smile, "You said it."
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