Chapter 145: Gossiping Glances
Shen Que finished the drink in one go.
But Jiang Cheng was still holding the bowl, not finished?
Shen Que felt a jolt in his heart, he seemed to have misunderstood.
Jiang Cheng held back a laugh and pointed to the bowl of potato Flying Dragon.
"Sister, I’ll serve you!"
Shen Yue intercepted halfway, took Jiang Cheng’s bowl, and scooped several spoonfuls of soup.
"Sister, this tastes great with rice!"
Shen Yue eagerly put down the bowl, completely ignoring her big brother’s look.
He doesn’t try, but doesn’t allow others to try either!
"If Yue Yue says it’s good, it must be good."
Jiang Cheng gave Shen Que a helpless look.
The opportunity was there, but unfortunately, someone didn’t seize it.
Before Shen Que could express his speechlessness, a rice bowl appeared before him.
"Big Brother, get me some soup too."
Shen Xing handed over the rice bowl, eyes sparkling for praise.
How about that, Big Brother, isn’t it still up to me??
Shen Que was even more speechless.
If it weren’t for you two, I could do better.
The meal lasted for an hour or so.
After dinner, everyone cleaned up together, and soon it was done.
Grandma Shen handed the previously prepared braised venison to the Sun Family and the Li Family, one box each.
Jiang Cheng packaged some dried mushrooms, peanuts, and hazelnuts bought from the countryside into two bags, one for Principal Wang and one for Manager Guo.
Principal Wang felt embarrassed.
How come he ended up both eating and taking things?
Manager Guo felt similarly embarrassed, already thinking of how to return the favor.
"Both of you don’t have to worry, I don’t plan to spend a dime on the travel and accommodation to the provincial capital."
After Jiang Cheng said this, he personally saw the two out.
"Goodbye."
Jiang Cheng waved goodbye and turned around, a smile climbing up her face.
Three meters away stood Shen Que.
Shen Que didn’t dare to stand too close, fearing he might startle Jiang Cheng if she suddenly turned around.
But once Jiang Cheng turned and saw him, Shen Que walked over briskly.
"Did you have enough to eat?"
This was the first thing Shen Que asked.
Jiang Cheng wanted to tease him after hearing this.
She beckoned Shen Que with a finger, signaling him to lower himself.
Shen Que bent over, lowered his head, and leaned closer.
Jiang Cheng observed, and when no one was around, tiptoed.
Her lips quickly landed on Shen Que’s cheek like a dragonfly skimming the water.
Shen Que’s pupils suddenly widened, fists clenched, his breath paused for a moment, lips tightly pressed.
Fireworks exploded in the depths of his mind, condensed into four words: She kissed me! She kissed me! She kissed me!
The cornered Jiang Cheng quickly retreated, blinking her eyes.
"Did you miss me?"
The four words brought Shen Que back to reality, nodding vigorously, as if solemnly swearing.
"Yes!"
Jiang Cheng beamed, not a hint of shyness, boldly asking, "How much did you miss me?"
How much?
This question stumped Shen Que.
He didn’t know what measure to use.
"I miss you every day, does that work?"
Shen Que shot back.
Jiang Cheng’s eyes smiled into crescents.
"That works!"
After saying this, Jiang Cheng still wanted to tease Shen Que, but someone was approaching.
A bit of a pity, but there will be plenty of opportunities in the future.
"Let’s head back."
"Okay!"
Jiang Cheng walked ahead, Shen Que followed behind.
Shen Que touched the place Jiang Cheng had just kissed with his fingertip.
His heart was involuntarily hot, racing.
The joy from the adrenaline rush lingered.
"Aren’t you coming?"
Jiang Cheng suddenly turned back, unsurprised to see Shen Que’s silly smile.
That was a smile just for her.
Thinking about it, Jiang Cheng’s heart felt ripples too.
Being in a relationship is really quite addictive.
"Coming!"
Shen Que hurried over, and the two walked into the compound together.
Grandma Shen and others pretended not to notice, wearing the expression of a matchmaker enjoying the show, probably having a whole TV series playing in their minds.
Although Shen Xing and Shen Yue didn’t understand much, the two kids expressed support for Shen Que going out.
Finally, some awareness!
After dinner, the hustle and bustle gave way to calm.
With the help of Grandma Shen, Shen Yue, and Shen Xing, Jiang Cheng sorted and organized the things brought back.
These were all to be given out by Jiang Cheng.
To Teacher Lü, various factory directors, and the night school teachers and classmates.
To Elder Xu, Uncle Zhong, and Director Leng in Beijing.
In short, maintaining connections is important.
After sorting, Jiang Cheng played a farming game with Shen Xing and Shen Yue.
This farming is not actual farming, but drawing grids on the ground, similar to crossword grids.
In a certain order, place one or two stones on each grid.
Once the stones in hand are used up, if there’s an empty grid between, and stones in the next grid, the stones in that grid could be captured.
They take turns farming, running out of stones means losing.
The three played joyfully, Jiang Cheng didn’t attempt to win with tactics, just pure fun.
Shen Que sat beside Jiang Cheng, focused on being the one picking up stones.
They played until nightfall.
Everyone packed up and got ready for bed.
Jiang Cheng told Shen Que she wouldn’t have a late-night snack tonight and for Shen Que to rest well.
"Okay, you rest well too."
"Hmm, goodnight."
"Goodnight."
After Shen Que said this, he didn’t leave until Jiang Cheng closed the door properly.
Not long after Shen Que returned to his room, he heard the sound of a door opening.
He shook his head and chuckled.
He always felt that after marrying Jiang Cheng in the future, he’d have to compete with several people for his wife.
He had a premonition he couldn’t win.
A few seconds after the door opening sound, Jiang Cheng’s door next door was knocked on.
Jiang Cheng opened the door, meeting Grandma Shen’s gossip-filled eyes, both excited as if spaceships were docking in outer space.
"Quick! I’m all prepared!"
Jiang Cheng stepped aside, and Grandma Shen holding seeds, peanuts, and tea entered from the outside.
Upon entering, she saw the opened yellow peaches in syrup and a pile of fresh jujubes prepared by Jiang Cheng.
"You’ve prepared quite a lot."
"And you haven’t prepared little either!"
Jiang Cheng took the teapot from Grandma Shen’s hand, and together they set out the items.
The square table was covered by two-thirds.
Two cushioned chairs with backrests had soft pads and prepared pillows.
With a small light, the gossip tea party began.
Grandma Shen tapped the table, mumbling: "Where should we start?"
Jiang Cheng’s eyes sparkled, was there a lot?
It felt quite exciting!
Grandma Shen decided to start from the beginning.
"The day before you left, the Lin Family was taken away for investigation."
Jiang Cheng peeled peanuts, eyes on Grandma Shen, nodding, and busy asking questions.
"I noticed it seemed empty next door? They’re not back yet?"
Grandma Shen gestured with her hand, crossing her legs, and pouting her mouth.
"They’re back."
"But their house was repossessed by the factory using an excuse."
Jiang Cheng’s pupils expanded, mouth opened in surprise.
"The Lin Family got kicked out of the compound?"
Grandma Shen shook her head.
"They’re not out, there’s a small house behind the compound, they rented it from the community out of pocket."
Jiang Cheng suddenly understood.
"The Lin Family always acted superior, and now they’re living in a small house... They must be feeling suffocated."