"Here's your item. And here's your change!"
"Ma'am, the data cable and Bluetooth headset are free. They're in the pouch."
"Chen Yansen, we're out of MP4s again! Hurry up and bring another box!"
Meng Jie, with her straightforward personality, got into the swing of things quickly. Seeing a box was nearly empty, she hurriedly shouted at Chen Yansen.
She was completely unaware that with her tomboyish image, most guys would only ever see her as one of the bros.
"Our big sister is awesome!"
Wang Zihao praised her generously, a brilliant smile on his face.
"Make way, make way! Last box of goods! First come, first served!"
Chen Yansen, carrying a box of MP4s, gently poured them onto the table, not forgetting to hawk his wares.
The foot traffic at the Anfeng Grand Gathering was astounding, almost double that of Zhongqiao.
Even though they had stuffed the trunk to the brim before leaving, they still sold all 400 MP3s and 200 MP4s in just over three hours.
"How about Coach Huang and I make another trip?"
Wang Zihao suggested, shaking an empty box.
"Time to clock out! A round trip will take two hours. It's almost noon now. By the time you get back, the fair will be empty."
Chen Yansen checked the time and shook his head, refusing.
In his peripheral vision, he saw that Meng Jie's short-sleeved shirt was soaked with sweat, revealing the faint outline of a light green camisole underneath.
Her forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, which looked crystal clear under the sunlight.
"The car has AC. You go rest. Haozi and I will finish up here."
Chen Yansen pointed to the Bluebird sedan nearby, coaxing her gently.
"No need! We'll do it together."
Meng Jie waved her hand, not a bit of daintiness in her.
"But your shirt is almost see-through. There's a shirt of mine in the back seat, you should put it on."
Chen Yansen reminded her in a low voice.
He was a head taller than Meng Jie, and from his vantage point, he could clearly see the gentle swell of her cleavage.
"Jerk, why didn't you say so earlier?"
Meng Jie instinctively looked down and finally noticed that sweat had trickled down her neck, soaking the front of her shirt.
"Because I hadn't had my fill yet."
Chen Yansen chuckled, his reply brazenly honest.
In reality, others could at most see a vague outline. Only because he was close, and looking with some intention, could he catch a glimpse of her fair skin.
"You...!"
Meng Jie pointed at Chen Yansen's nose, her chest heaving violently. She was too angry to speak; his shamelessness had clearly surpassed her limit.
SLAM!
Meng Jie obediently got into the back seat of the Bluebird.
"Master Huang, recommend a good food stall. Lunch is on me."
Chen Yansen raised a hand and waved to Huang Boxiang, his tone generous.
"There's a place called Four Seas Kitchen in the center of town. It's been open for about twenty years. The storefront looks small, but the food is just as good as any big restaurant."
Huang Boxiang scratched the top of his head. His eyes darted around for a moment before he suddenly spoke.
He couldn't suppress the smile at the corners of his mouth. Chen Yansen had rented his car for the day, but they only worked for half a day. On top of getting his gas reimbursed, he was also being treated to lunch.
The only downside was that Chen Yansen had only rented it for ten days.
"Alright, Four Seas Kitchen it is."
Chen Yansen called Wang Zihao over to help. The two of them quickly packed up the table and supplies. Huang Boxiang, of course, didn't just sit and wait, helping stack the things they'd organized into the trunk.
「Ten minutes later.」
The group walked into Four Seas Kitchen. The interior was indeed small, with just enough room for six tables. It was the typical husband-and-wife-run shop, with one cooking and the other handling the cash register.
"Please, have a seat! Take a look and see what you'd like to eat! We have stir-fries and rice bowls!"
Before Chen Yansen's group of four could even find a place to sit, a plump proprietress came over to greet them with a beaming smile.
"Cold-tossed beef, three-delicacy soup, salt-water goose..."
Chen Yansen glanced at the simple menu on the wall and randomly ordered a few dishes, mostly cold appetizers and soups.
After all, the weather was hot and dry; hot dishes like hot pots looked unappetizing.
"No wonder neither of you said yes when I asked you to hang out. Turns out you were busy making money!"
Meng Jie picked up her water glass, took a big gulp, and said with a long sigh of relief.
"Of course! In one day, we can make at least..."
Wang Zihao stopped mid-sentence, remembering Huang Boxiang was there.
"Eh, we don't make much."
Chen Yansen picked up where he left off. As soon as he finished, he stared at Meng Jie for a moment before saying seriously, "You look really cool in that shirt."
The loose, oversized white shirt hung on Meng Jie's frame, its hem tucked into her jeans. The look was both cool and alluring.
"Hmph—"
"It's full of your sweaty smell!"
Meng Jie said, pulling her collar tighter, though her words belied her true feelings.
'Just now in the car, when I thought no one was looking, I secretly sniffed Chen Yansen's shirt. I'd expected a bad smell, but surprisingly, not only did it not stink, it actually had a faint scent of soap.'
Chen Yansen just smiled, not bothering to argue with her. He picked up his glass from the table and drank his water.
...
...
"Governor Meng, I just saw your daughter."
At the Anfeng Town Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Bank, Meng Zhen Country heard his colleague's words and smiled faintly. "She insisted on coming to keep me company on my shift today. See? Daughters are the most thoughtful, aren't they?"
"Huh, it's already twelve-thirty. Why isn't she back from looking at the lotuses yet? I'll give her a call."
Meng Zhen Country pulled out his phone, ready to dial.
"Governor... Governor Meng, she seems to be selling things at the entrance to the grand gathering. There are two big guys with her... Oh, right, and a middle-aged man too."
The colleague's expression was a bit hesitant, but after a moment of thought, he decided to spill the beans.
"You're sure you saw her correctly?"
Meng Zhen Country shot up from his seat and immediately pressed for details.
"I've watched your daughter grow up. There's absolutely no mistake."
The colleague's certain tone shattered Meng Zhen Country's last sliver of hope.
'Two big guys?'
'How big?'
Meng Zhen Country instantly felt like his home had been raided. His heart felt empty. 'Didn't my daughter say she was going to see the lotuses with a classmate?'
'Is my daughter in a puppy love relationship?'
At this thought, he quickly pushed the door open and ran out, searching along the market street.
Just as he reached the center of the street, he saw his daughter walking toward him, laughing and chatting with two boys, while wearing a man's shirt.
One had a dark complexion and looked burly—not easy on the eyes.
The other was tall and handsome, wearing a white shirt, with a devil-may-care smile on his face. He didn't look like a good influence.
"Dad!"
Meng Jie looked up and saw a familiar figure. Her expression instantly froze, and she stood rooted to the spot.
"Calling me daddy won't work either."
Chen Yansen, who had his head down, thought she was talking to him and immediately made a joke.
"Xiaojie, are these two your... classmates?"
Meng Zhen Country's face was dark. 'I knew it,' he thought, 'this kid is a real punk.' After deliberating for a few seconds, he finally asked the question.
"Dad, they're my high school classmates. We're in the same class."
"This is Wang Zihao, and he's... Chen Yansen."
Meng Jie explained frantically, her head lowered.
"Hello, Uncle Meng!" Wang Zihao greeted him enthusiastically, not noticing the strange atmosphere.
"Have you eaten, Uncle Meng?"
Chen Yansen also asked with a smile.
He narrowed his eyes, looking at the man with a grin, and keenly sensed a trace of hostility from him.
He knew in his heart that for a county-town Brahman like Meng Zhen Country, his entire life's pursuit was to fully support the next generation, allowing the family to advance its standing in the local community.
Meng Jie was an only child, so she was naturally set to inherit the Meng Family's resources and connections. Dating wasn't out of the question, but any potential partner would have to pass Meng Zhen Country's inspection first.
"Chen Tongxue, is it convenient to talk for a moment?"
Meng Zhen Country's tone was mild, but he stared straight at Chen Yansen. Though his words sounded like a request, his expression was extremely grave.