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Chapter 2571 Clever Tactics

Just then, a mechanical voice suddenly rang in Su Ning's mind.

[Host has completed the task]

[Mission Reward: 2% Memory Recovery]

The host has now recovered 10% of their memories.

[New task issued: Start a family and build a career, creating a happy life for yourself in the 1980s.]

The cleaver in Su Ning's hand froze in mid-air, and he stood there stunned for a long while.

Then I closed my eyes and felt the fragmented memories in my mind being pieced back together, albeit in a small way.

Like a jigsaw puzzle, with pieces scattered here and there, we've finally found a few more fragments and pieced them together, and we can vaguely make out an outline.

He suddenly realized his general direction.

I opened my eyes and let out a long breath.

He finally finished; he almost gave up just now.

Having lived so many lifetimes, I've never felt so tired of living.

Interfering in other people's lives is much harder than slaughtering a pig, much more tiring than fighting a war, and more mentally taxing than being an emperor.

Especially when dealing with a stubborn sycophant like Liu Hongchang, even if the path has been paved for him, he refuses to walk it and insists on jumping into the pit, and you can't stop him.

Su Ning slammed the cleaver on the cutting board, stood in the middle of the kitchen with her hands on her hips, and looked at Liu Hongchang's back as he squatted by the door peeling garlic. She felt a mix of emotions.

This guy is really hard to describe.

The Great Dream Divine Art allowed Liu Hongchang to experience his tragic life prematurely. Instead of bringing him back to his senses, it made him develop feelings for He Wenhui.

He Wenhui left without even saying goodbye, and he was heartbroken for half a month, appearing absent-minded every day.

Yang Maixiang came to find him, but he ignored her, leaving the girl standing there, making her feel cold and unwelcome.

Suning thinks Liu Hongchang isn't a bad person, just stubborn, so stubborn that you want to twist his head off to see if it's filled with mush.

But Suning felt he had no right to criticize others.

Having traversed so many worlds and experienced so much, I don't have the confidence to judge others.

In the previous instance world, I was an emperor with an empress, concubines, and sons, but that was a quest, a storyline, and something arranged by the system.

Where is my life? Where is my happiness?

The new task issued by the system is clearly stated...

They settled down, started families, and built their own happy lives in the 1980s.

A happy life—these four words seem simple, but they are difficult to achieve.

Cooking in the cafeteria, living in a dormitory, and earning a few dozen yuan a month—is this what a happy life is?

surely not.

But what constitutes a happy life is hard to say.

It's basically about finding someone you get along with, living a peaceful life, without having to worry about fighting or killing, or about the intrigues and power struggles in the imperial court.

Keep it simple, keep it plain, that's good.

Just then, Liu Hongchang stood up from the doorway, clapped the garlic peels off his hands, and walked up to Su Ning.

His expression was a little unnatural, like a naughty child who had done something wrong. "Xiao Su, are you busy tonight?"

Su Ning was sharpening her knife when she looked up at him. "Nothing, what's wrong?"

Liu Hongchang took out two movie tickets from his pocket, flipped them through his hand, and handed one over. "I bought two tickets for tonight's 'Romance on Lushan Mountain.' You and Yang Maixiang can go see it; she's already agreed."

Suning stopped using the whetstone in his hand.

After looking at the movie ticket and then at Liu Hongchang, it took me a while to realize what was going on.

This guy probably made plans to see a movie with Yang Maixiang, then gave her the ticket and told her to go instead.

What is this operation?

"What do you mean? You made an appointment with them, and you're not going?"

Liu Hongchang lowered his head and put the other ticket back in his pocket. "I feel I'm not good enough for her. She's a good person, straightforward, and doesn't hold anyone back. She should find someone better. You're better than me, younger, more capable, and knowledgeable in medicine. If you two can get together, I'll feel better."

Suning almost laughed out of anger at those words.

What kind of logic is this? Just because you feel you're not good enough for her, you push her away to someone else?

Do you think you're a matchmaker? Yang Maixiang has her eye on you, not me. How do you think you're pushing her onto me?

Take a deep breath and suppress that feeling.

Liu Hongchang may not have done these things intentionally to hurt anyone, but simply because he felt he was unworthy.

Su Ning opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but swallowed the words back.

Looking at that face filled with guilt and inferiority, I suddenly felt that nothing I said would make a difference.

This guy thinks too lowly of himself, down to the dust, feeling like he doesn't deserve anything.

He won't listen to reason.

Criticizing him made me feel even more inadequate.

The only way is to tell him with facts that he is wrong.

But you have to discover this fact yourself.

Of course, Liu Hongchang didn't really like Yang Maixiang; he still couldn't forget He Wenhui.

Suning stuffed the movie ticket into his pocket and said, "Okay, I'll go."

"Yang Maixiang is a good girl, you have to work harder."

"Thanks! If things go well, I'll treat you to dinner again."

"Haha, it's a deal."

……

At the movie theater entrance, Yang Maixiang clutched her movie ticket, her eyes fixed on the other side of the street, hoping Liu Hongchang would appear.

After waiting for more than ten minutes, it wasn't Liu Hongchang who arrived, but Su Ning.

Su Ning, holding the movie ticket in her hand, walked towards Yang Maixiang.

A smile graced her face; her temperature was just right, neither too hot nor too cold.

When Yang Maixiang saw Su Ning, the smile on her face immediately froze.

His eyes went from expectation to doubt, and from doubt to disappointment.

He glanced at the movie ticket in Suning's hand, then at the empty street across the road, and understood everything.

Liu Hongchang didn't come; instead, someone else did.

"Where is Liu Hongchang?" Yang Maixiang asked.

Suning didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "I didn't come! I gave you the movie tickets so you could come and watch the movie with me."

Yang Maixiang lowered her head, looked at the movie ticket in her hand, and then smiled.

But that smile looked bitter, perhaps even more bitter than bitter melon.

She was probably laughing at herself for being foolish, for being wishful, and for thinking that Liu Hongchang had finally seen the light, when in fact he didn't take her seriously at all.

He took a deep breath, swallowed the bitterness, and looked up at Su Ning, saying, "Alright, since you're here, let's see."

After Yang Maixiang finished speaking, she turned and walked into the movie theater.

Suning followed behind, but didn't get too close, keeping a distance of two or three steps.

Tickets checked, entry, seats found, two people sat down side by side.

The lights dimmed, the screen lit up, and the movie began.

"Romance on Lushan Mountain," starring Zhang Yu and Guo Kaimin, was one of the most popular romance films of the 1980s.

The audience in the movie theater was completely engrossed.

Yang Maixiang's eyes were fixed on the screen, but Su Ning knew she wasn't really paying attention.

Her gaze was unfocused, her attention completely off the screen; it was clear she was still thinking about Liu Hongchang. Halfway through the movie, Yang Maixiang suddenly spoke up, "Master Su, tell me the truth, does Liu Hongchang still have feelings for that girl surnamed He?"

Su Ning thought for a moment and felt there was no need to hide it. "Yes! He still can't let go. That girl left without even saying goodbye, but Liu Hongchang still can't let go. He's just stubborn; once he's made up his mind about something, nothing can change it."

Yang Maixiang remained silent for a long time.

The movie dialogue floated past my ears, but I didn't hear a single word.

After a long while, she spoke again, "I thought that as long as I was good enough, Liu Hongchang would notice me. Now it seems that it's not a matter of being good or bad, but that he simply didn't look in my direction at all."

Suning did not respond.

At times like this, saying anything is superfluous.

I am not Liu Hongchang, so I have no right to explain for Liu Hongchang, nor am I qualified to make decisions for Yang Maixiang.

All I can do now is be a quiet listener and let Yang Maixiang speak her mind.

As the movie was nearing its end, Su Ning suddenly turned to Yang Maixiang and introduced himself, "Yang Maixiang, my name is Su Ning, and I'm a cook at the second canteen. You've eaten here before, so you might not remember me. I'm not particularly skilled; I can only cook, and I'm not exactly good-looking. But I have one redeeming quality—I don't lie to others, nor do I lie to myself. I know what I want, and I know what I should do. If you're not too opposed to it, you could consider getting to know me. Whether it works out or not is another matter, but we're all young people, so let's just consider it making friends."

Yang Maixiang was stunned.

I never expected Suning to say something like this at this time, let alone say it so directly and frankly.

Without flowery words or beating around the bush, he laid his cards on the table and let her choose for herself.

Such sincerity is truly rare in this day and age.

Yang Maixiang looked into Su Ning's eyes.

I noticed that there was no calculation or flattery in those eyes, only a very open and honest look.

Suddenly, I realized that the person in front of me was different from Liu Hongchang.

Liu Hongchang is like a stone; you can't warm him up at all.

Suning is like a ball of fire; you can feel its heat as soon as you get close.

"Aren't you afraid I'll reject you?" Yang Maixiang asked Su Ning, still puzzled.

Su Ning laughed, "It's okay to refuse, it's not shameful. Even if we can't be lovers, we can still be friends. We see each other all the time anyway, there's no need to make it so awkward."

Yang Maixiang looked at Su Ning for a while, then smiled and extended her hand, saying, "Hello, Comrade Su Ning. My name is Yang Maixiang, and I'm a bus ticket seller. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Suning held Yang Maixiang's hand.

I noticed that her hands were warm and smooth, and her long fingers indicated that she was skillful. "Hello, Comrade Yang Maixiang! I'm also very happy to meet you."

……

The movie ended.

The audience members walked out in twos and threes, and the lights came on, making their eyes dazzled.

Su Ning and Yang Maixiang walked in the crowd, shoulder to shoulder, just like ordinary friends.

After leaving the movie theater, Su Ning checked his watch; it was 6:30, still early.

Turning to Yang Maixiang, he asked, "Are you hungry? I know a noodle shop nearby that's pretty good. Shall I buy you a bowl of noodles?"

Yang Maixiang initially wanted to refuse, as she wasn't the type to casually have dinner with men.

But looking at Su Ning's composed face, she found it hard to say no.

This person is different from others.

Don't hide anything, don't test or hint; say what you want to say and do what you want to do.

Being with Suning means no guessing and no stress.

"Okay, let's have a bowl of noodles together then."

The two walked along the road, just like a couple strolling along the street.

Su Ning walked on the outside, leaving the inside of the road to Yang Maixiang, since there were no vehicles or pedestrians passing by on the inside.

Yang Maixiang noticed this detail and suddenly felt a warm feeling in her heart.

In today's patriarchal society, male chauvinism is almost everywhere, so Suning's attention to detail is truly commendable.

Soon, the two arrived at the noodle shop, which was indeed very popular.

After all, many people came to eat noodles after the movie ended.

The noodle shop is small, with only a few tables and chairs.

The menu on the wall was written in chalk on the blackboard, the handwriting crooked and messy.

The owner, an old man in his fifties, greeted the guests warmly as they entered: "What would you two like to eat? Our beef noodles are our signature dish; the broth has been simmering all day, it's incredibly delicious."

Suning ordered two bowls of beef noodles and two side dishes.

The noodles were served steaming hot, with a rich broth, chewy noodles, and thickly sliced, tender beef.

It was definitely not the kind of beef used in Lanzhou ramen that required exceptional knife skills; it reflected the practicality and substantial quality of that era.

Yang Maixiang took a bite, nodded, and sincerely praised, "It really is delicious."

"We like it, we'll come again next time."

"Hmph! We haven't even parted ways yet, and you're already thinking about the next one? You're so greedy!"

Suning smiled, then lowered his head and ate his noodles at a leisurely pace.

The two chatted casually, talking about work, factory matters, Nanjing snacks, and childhood anecdotes.

Yang Maixiang discovered that Su Ning was a very good conversationalist.

It wasn't the kind of conversation that was just for show; I could tell that she was genuinely listening and responding attentively.

When he speaks, he looks at himself with focused eyes, without looking around or being absent-minded.

After finishing the noodles, Suning insisted on paying the bill.

Yang Maixiang insisted on paying their own way, but Su Ning waved her hand, "It's the first time I'm treating you to a meal, so don't try to take it. Next time you treat me, I won't take it either."

Yang Maixiang paused for a moment, then smiled, "Okay, I'll treat you next time."

After the two left the noodle shop, Su Ning took Yang Maixiang home.

When she reached her doorstep, Yang Maixiang stopped, turned around and looked at Su Ning, wanting to say something, but after opening her mouth, she didn't know what to say.

Seeing the hesitation, Su Ning took the initiative to speak: "I had a great day today. If you have time another day, I'll invite you to see a movie or have a meal, whatever you prefer. You decide."

Yang Maixiang looked at Su Ning, and a voice inside her was saying...

You could try getting to know this person.

She didn't say it aloud, but simply nodded, "Okay, we'll talk about it another day. You should go back now; it's getting late."

Su Ning hummed in agreement and turned to leave.

After taking a few steps, he turned back and waved to Yang Maixiang.

Yang Maixiang waved and stood at the door, watching Su Ning's figure disappear into the darkness.

After standing there for a while, Yang Maixiang finally turned around and went upstairs.

Back home, lying in bed, Yang Maixiang tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

My mind is filled with Suning's composed face.

I remember what Su Ning said, and how he walked on the outside of the road, giving up a safe spot.

This person is really not annoying.

With her eyes closed, Yang Maixiang's lips unconsciously curled up.

...(End of this chapter)