Chapter 16 You have such a cruel heart, preparing to throw me away...
After finishing their meal, Mr. and Mrs. Fu took their leave. They were passing through Pingcheng and would be taking a train south early the next morning.
Shen Rong told them that she would go to the station to see them off tomorrow.
After seeing the guests off, the two strolled around the alleyway to digest their food. Of course, it was Shen Rong who forcibly dragged Lu Lin along for a walk. They walked for about half an hour before returning home.
She went to take a shower first. When she came downstairs, Lu Lin wasn't in the living room, but Shen Rong didn't pay attention. She wondered if she should call home.
After all, I just received a hundred yuan, so I felt obligated to accept it.
Just as I was hesitating, Shen Jiashi called first, but it was a call to hurl insults.
Shen's father finally saw the newspaper article about Lu Lin assaulting someone. Others might not recognize Lu Lin's back, but how could Shen's father not? He immediately guessed what had happened.
She felt that her daughter was being unruly, bringing a young man home, and that Lu Lin had stopped her, which is why she took action.
He felt guilty, thinking that he hadn't raised his daughter well, which was why Lu Lin and the Lu family had suffered such embarrassment. He instructed his son to scold Shen Rong on his behalf.
Shen's father now hates his daughter so much that he doesn't even want to talk to her.
"So this is a service where someone else insults you?" Shen Rong still had the mood to joke even after knowing the truth.
Shen Jiashi was speechless: "You really have a big heart." Plus, you're shameless.
What benefits do you get from being a proxy insulter?
Otherwise, he wouldn't be so proactive; that's not Shen Jiashi's style.
After beating around the bush for a while, Shen Jiashi finally told the truth: "Dad promised to give me a hundred yuan."
Shen Rong raised her voice: "One hundred yuan, Shen Jiashi, you'd sell your own sister for one hundred yuan? Our sibling bond isn't even worth one hundred yuan..."
Shen Jiashi felt a little guilty and ashamed after hearing this: "You have no idea how poor I am now." Ever since he gave his secret stash of money to his sister, he has not dared to meet with his friends anymore, because he has no money to treat them to meals.
"I, Young Master Shen, am turning into Stingy Shen..."
"Give me half, or I'll hang up and you won't earn anything either."
Shen Jiashi slammed his fist on the table. What was he feeling guilty about? This kind of person was only worth a hundred yuan!
"That's too much, split it 30/70," Shen Jiashi bargained.
"I'm hanging up."
"No." Song Jiashi's negotiations failed, so he continued to lower the price: "Forty-six."
Shen Rong: "I'll count to three."
Song Jiashi surrendered after counting to two, but on one condition: he could not hang up the phone for half an hour.
"Can you really talk for that long?" She didn't believe it, asking if there were so many words to use to insult someone.
"Don't worry about it." Song Jiashi turned around. "Dad sent someone to keep an eye on things. He'll try to renege on his promise if there's not enough time."
Shen Rong circled the telephone line and agreed.
She found a comfortable spot to sit down, listened for only a minute, then put the receiver aside and went to learn to read.
After a while, she felt a little uncomfortable in her stomach. She looked up at the clock and realized it had only been a dozen minutes. She thought, "Oh well, I can hang it up when I get back."
Lu Lin came out of the house. The living room light was on, but the person was not there. He went to the kitchen to make a cup of tea, and after thinking for a moment, he also made her a cup of milk.
He placed the milk on the table and noticed a magazine with a few words she had just written on it. His eyes flickered slightly, but he suppressed his emotions and prepared to leave.
He quickly turned around and saw the receiver on the table, assuming she had forgotten to hang up.
He picked up the phone, listened for a moment, said hello, and hung up when there was no response from the other end.
Song Jiashi was drinking water because his lips and throat were dry when a man's voice came from behind him, and he spat out the water.
I looked up at my watch; it was already nine o'clock at night. At this hour, there was a man at my sister's house!
Good heavens! Could it be that Dad was right, and she brought that pretty boy back with her?!
This was a serious matter. He glanced furtively at the servant not far away, knowing full well that the servant couldn't hear the phone conversation, but he still felt uneasy.
The next day.
Lu Lin drove Fu Cunwen and his wife to the train station. They already had a lot of luggage, and Shen Rong gave them a large bag of Pingcheng specialties as well.
Deng Yulan glanced at them, feeling annoyed that they were wasting money, but she was secretly pleased, as her cousin had finally figured out how to navigate social interactions.
Although they are relatives, their visit to Pingcheng was not on their way. Deng Yulan had to make a special detour to bring them things, which delayed her trip by two days. Fortunately, the couple was grateful for their kindness, which made Deng Yulan feel much better.
But like all Chinese people, she always politely declined the gifts offered by her relatives.
"There's so much food, we can't possibly finish it all. The kids are all back in our hometown, and neither of us likes these snacks."
Shen Rong took her arm and smiled, "Then take it over for your relatives and friends to try."
"You're so clever." Deng Yulan actually had this plan.
The couple were unfamiliar with the area in the south and wanted to build relationships with their neighbors and colleagues, so giving them local specialties was the most effective way to do so.
"Thank you so much for your trouble and for preparing so much," Fu Cunwen said from the side.
The train wouldn't depart for a while, but he and Lu Lin had already carried their luggage up.
“It will be at least a few years before we see each other again. Write letters often, and I will let you know if we get together by phone.” Deng Yulan then went on to explain some precautions for pregnant women.
"Once you've been pregnant for three months, we'll have a skilled nanny from home come over to take care of you. I think you've become more lively since you got pregnant."
Shen Rong used the excuse that she was not yet three months pregnant and her pregnancy was unstable, so she asked not to tell her parents yet. Deng Yulan agreed to keep it a secret for her, while also laughing at her for being so superstitious, a modern young woman.
Shen Rong nodded perfunctorily: "I know, cousin, you must remember not to tell anyone, you have to keep it a secret for me."
"Don't worry, you've told me several times already."
Fu Cunwen and Lu Lin exchanged a smile, but only Fu Cunwen smiled; Lu Lin remained expressionless.
Fu Cunwen was amused that his wife had been so easily fooled. It wasn't because she wasn't three months pregnant; she probably wouldn't have said anything even if she had been pregnant for three months. These two were likely to give both sets of parents a shock.
“I’ve been reading the newspapers these past few days, and the government in the south is about to take action again. My cousin, you need to be careful when you go there.” The two then discussed the situation further.
Fu Cunwen shook his head helplessly: "They'll fight sooner or later. Anyway, I won't get involved with them. I'll just do my own thing, and I don't think it will cause any trouble for me."
He asked Lu Lin with concern: "I heard from your uncle that you are going to Bincheng. The situation there is even more chaotic. None of those warlords are willing to submit to anyone else, and their relationship with the government is not good. They all act like local emperors. You should be more worried. Have you decided when you are going?"
Lu Lin nodded: "I'll go after the New Year."
"You're doing so well in the army, why go and suffer in the provinces?" Judging from Lu Lin's expression, he knew the man didn't like what he was hearing. Fu Cunwen quickly shut up; he was a scholar, didn't understand the mindset of military officers, and couldn't offer any good advice.
"You should go back before going to Bincheng. You should discuss it with your elders." He glanced in Shen Rong's direction, indicating that Lu Lin should be honest as soon as possible.
It won't end well if we keep it a secret like this.
This time, Lu Lin didn't even nod. The train whistled, signaling departure. Deng Yulan reluctantly boarded the train, holding Shen Rong's hand.
"Remember to write to me." She accompanied her husband to his new post in the south. He had a job and colleagues, but she didn't know anyone and could only look forward to letters from her family to relieve her loneliness.
Shen Rong nodded, waved, and took two steps after him.
Once in the car, Shen Rong's face turned cold, and she glared angrily at Lu Lin.
"What's up?"
Shen Rong was furious, but she pretended not to hear it; she had heard everything.
"Why didn't you tell me you were going to Bincheng?"
He stopped the car and gestured for her to look outside: "Didn't you just say you wanted to buy some snacks?"
"I'm not eating anymore!" What's the point of buying anything? Her legs were practically giving way; she had no appetite whatsoever.
I never would have guessed he was so shrewd. Such a big thing as going to Bincheng, and so much time has passed, and he hasn't revealed a word about it. If his cousin hadn't said it today, she might have woken up one day to find herself alone here.
"How cruel you are! Are you planning to abandon your wife and children?"
"What nonsense are you talking about! I'm driving, sit tight."
Her head was almost blocking his view, and every feature on her face seemed to be counting his crimes.
Lu Lin's forehead twitched twice, and his lips were pursed into a thin line.
"I didn't mean to hide it from you, I just forgot to say it."
I've forgotten, do you think I'll believe you?
Shen Rong raised his eyebrows, adopting a accusing posture.
He's been sighing for as long as he's done in a year.
“You heard it too, Bincheng is dangerous, Pingcheng has your friends, I think you would prefer to stay.” After racking his brains for a long time, Lu Lin finally came up with an excuse.
He thought, "I'm just dreaming," and Shen Rong almost swore.
Dangerous? It's more dangerous for her to be alone in Pingcheng. If a war breaks out, she won't know where to hide or who to turn to.
She can't rely on her family anymore, and her father is still angry with her.
Okay, even if she shamelessly goes home, she doesn't even know which way her parents' house door faces.
She felt like she couldn't live without Lu Lin. Thinking about it, her heart felt empty. Lu Lin couldn't run away!
She couldn't lose this strong thigh; she had to stick to him like glue.
"But I want to be with you more."
She took the plunge and leaned closer, looking as if she was about to kiss him.
Lu Lin slammed on his foot, and a screeching sound of brakes rang out. Shen Rong almost got thrown out, but Lu Lin quickly pushed her back into her seat.
Shen Rong was a little dazed, and when she looked up, she was met with an angry black face.
"What are you doing! Don't you know it's dangerous?"
Shen Rong was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she instinctively covered her stomach.
Lu Lin softened his tone and asked somewhat nervously, "Where do you feel unwell?"
He restarted the car, preparing to detour to the hospital.
"No need..." This time she didn't dare to make a move. How could she know that Lu Lin would react so strongly? He just wanted to get closer and say a few nice words.
"I was just startled, it's nothing, I don't need to go to the hospital."
Seeing that she looked unwell, Lu Lin was still worried and took her to the hospital for a checkup, but it turned out there was nothing wrong.
On the way home, neither of them spoke. Mainly because Lu Lin was radiating cold air, enough to freeze someone to death, so Shen Rong didn't dare to cause any trouble.
As the car approached the alley entrance, two rickshaws were parked in front of the small Western-style building, and people were getting off the rickshaws. One of them was Kang Wenbai.
Why is he here again? Shen Rong was nervous. What if Lu Lin misunderstood and really abandoned her in Pingcheng?
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