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Chapter 2572 A Comical Visit

Soon, Suning discovered that pursuing Yang Maixiang was going much more smoothly than he had expected.

Yang Maixiang is an unpretentious, genuine person who doesn't play any underhanded tricks.

When he actively asked Yang Maixiang out, he would come if he was free, and if he wasn't, he would just say so directly, never making anyone guess.

When inviting Yang Maixiang to dinner, she never offered any false or insincere politeness.

Being with this kind of person is really not tiring at all.

Yang Maixiang is a bus ticket seller who runs the bus route from the east to the west of the city. The journey takes one hour each way, and she makes four trips a day.

The bus departs at 6:00 AM and returns at 8:00 PM, with rest breaks in between.

Su Ning knew the train schedules by heart, knowing exactly which train he was on, what time he would arrive at which station, and even better than Yang Maixiang herself.

Suning deliberately chose a very natural way to pursue her: he took the bus she was on.

When boarding the bus, Su Ning handed Yang Maixiang a 50-cent coin and said with a grin, "Comrade, one ticket to the west of the city."

When Yang Maixiang first saw Su Ning in the car, she paused for a moment, then smiled.

He tore off a ticket and handed it over, announcing the station name as he did so.

When the bus was crowded, Suning would stand to the side.

When Yang Maixiang is too busy, Suning will lend a hand.

After a while, the regular passengers on the bus all recognized Suning.

An old man takes this bus every day. When he sees Su Ning, he smiles and says, "Young man, are you here to pick up your wife again?"

Suning simply smiled, offering neither explanation nor denial.

Yang Maixiang listened from the side, her face turning red and white in turns, but she did not refute it.

Suning invited Yang Maixiang to dinner, and they went to some affordable little restaurants.

Yang Maixiang dislikes extravagance and feels pressured by spending too much money.

The two of them had been to that noodle shop at the alley entrance many times, and the owner knew them both.

Every time the owner saw the two of them come in, he would smile and call out, "Two bowls of beef noodles, more cilantro, less chili?"

"Yes! Boss, you have a great memory."

"That's right! You two are regular customers at my shop."

Yang Maixiang loves cilantro but doesn't like spicy food, and Suning remembers this.

When "Shaolin Temple" was released, Suning specially grabbed two tickets, and Yang Maixiang watched it without blinking.

Their relationship developed naturally like this.

No one pursued anyone, no one confessed their feelings; they were like two rivers that eventually flowed together.

When Yang Maixiang was on break, she would go to the second canteen to find Su Ning, sit on a small stool at the kitchen door, and watch Su Ning cook.

They didn't find the fumes irritating, nor did they find the kitchen dirty; they just chatted casually.

The canteen workers smiled knowingly when they saw this, saying, "Master Su, your Yang Maixiang is here again."

Su Ning and Yang Maixiang both laughed, but they didn't feel embarrassed at all.

Liu Hongchang saw all of this, and he couldn't describe the feelings in his heart.

After all, he was the one who gave the movie tickets to Suning, and he was the one who tried his best to bring Suning and Yang Maixiang together.

But when Su Ning and Yang Maixiang actually got together, Liu Hongchang felt like something was stuck in his throat, something he couldn't swallow or spit out, it just felt so uncomfortable.

Whenever I see Yang Maixiang and Su Ning together, I feel particularly uncomfortable.

It wasn't because he liked Yang Maixiang, but because he felt he was too miserable.

Everyone else is in pairs, but he's still all alone, all by himself, with no one to talk to.

……

When Liu Hongchang's mother, Wang Cuilan, heard that Su Ning and Yang Maixiang were together, and that it was her son Liu Hongchang who had brought them together, she was so angry that she trembled all over.

The main reason is that I'm angry at Liu Hongchang for being so useless and for doing such stupid things.

So, that day at home, he slammed his fist on the table and cursed, "Liu Hongchang, you good-for-nothing! Yang Maixiang is such a good girl, and you actually pushed her away! Have you lost your mind? Look at Su Ning, she joined the factory much later than you, and now she has a boyfriend. And you? How old are you? You don't even have a proper girlfriend. Do you want to be a bachelor for the rest of your life?"

Liu Hongchang squatted in the yard, head down, without saying a word.

The eldest brother, Liu Yunchang, came out of the house with a teacup in his hand. Hearing his mother cursing, he didn't try to stop her; instead, he joined in with sarcasm: "Mom, stop cursing. Hongchang is just born to be a bachelor. We've introduced him to so many women, but he doesn't like any of them. And not only does he not like them, he even pushes them away. Isn't he crazy?"

Sister-in-law Wu Xiaoying chimed in, her voice shrill and audible across two alleys, "That's right! What's wrong with Yang Maixiang? She's got looks, a job, and a good temper. And him, he treated her like trash and gave her away. Now that she's with Su Ning, he's all crestfallen. Where was he before?"

Liu Hongchang squatted in the yard, listening to these words, unable to refute a single one.

I know they're right, that I'm really stupid, hopelessly stupid.

But there was nothing he could do; Liu Hongchang's mind wouldn't listen.

His mind told him that Yang Maixiang was a good girl and he should like her.

Kexin said no, she liked He Wenhui.

The name He Wenhui was like a thorn stuck in Liu Hongchang's heart, one that he could never remove for the rest of his life.

I thought I could forget it, that time would heal all wounds.

But the longer time went on, the more he missed He Wenhui.

How long has He Wenhui been gone? Almost two months.

For the past two months, Liu Hongchang has been thinking about He Wenhui every day, wondering if she is doing well in Beijing, whether she is well-fed and clothed, whether she has thought of Nanjing, and whether she has thought of him.

The Great Dream Divine Art allowed Liu Hongchang to dream of his entire life with He Wenhui.

The bitterness, the hardship, and the tears of that lifetime could not make Liu Hongchang give up.

On the contrary, he felt that the suffering, the hardship, and the tears in his dreams were all things he had willingly endured.

Liu Hongchang was willing to suffer for He Wenhui, willing to endure hardship for He Wenhui, and willing to shed tears for He Wenhui.

As long as I can be by He Wenhui's side, anything is worth it.

Liu Hongchang didn't know what was wrong with him.

They also felt something was wrong with them, but didn't want to change.

……

That day, after getting off work, Liu Hongchang didn't go home. Instead, he took some fruit and a bag of snacks and went straight to the He family's house.

Standing at the entrance of the alley, looking at the narrow alley that could only accommodate one bicycle at a time, I felt a mix of emotions.

I don't know why I came, what I should say, or what will happen after I say it.

He came without me having thought it through.

"Dong dong dong..."

"Who is it?" Yu Qiuhua opened the door.

Since my eyesight improved, I have much more energy than before, and my face has regained its color, making me look several years younger.

Seeing Liu Hongchang standing at the door, he paused for a moment, and it took him a while to recognize him...

Isn't this Liu Hongchang, the one who accompanied Wenhui to the mining area to pick up Wenda?

"Master Liu? What brings you here? Come in, come in!" Yu Qiuhua greeted him warmly, ushering Liu Hongchang into the house. She busied herself pouring tea and fetching melon seeds.

Liu Hongchang placed the fruit and snacks on the table and rubbed his hands together.

I didn't know whether to sit or stand, and I didn't know what to do with my hands and feet.

Wentao and Wenyuan came home from school. As soon as they entered the door, they saw Liu Hongchang sitting in the main room. They were stunned for a moment, and then their faces showed an indescribable expression.

It's not that I hate it, it's that I look down on it.

That kind of undisguised contempt that comes from the very core of one's being.

Although they were young, they noticed Liu Hongchang's feelings for He Wenhui.

Wen Tao threw his schoolbag on the bed, glanced at Liu Hongchang, and went straight into the inner room without saying a word.

Wen Yuan did say something, but it was more hurtful than not saying anything at all: "You're the cook in the second cafeteria?"

"Uh?"

Do you like my sister?

"I……"

"I advise you to give up on this idea as soon as possible. You and my sister are not a good match at all. How could a cook be worthy of a college student?"

"Wen Yuan!" Yu Qiuhua, who was standing nearby, immediately scolded her daughter.

After saying that, Wen Yuan didn't wait for Liu Hongchang's reply, turned around and went into the inner room, slamming the door shut with a "bang".

Wenda was still young and didn't understand these things. He would occasionally look up at Liu Hongchang, his big eyes blinking with a mixture of curiosity and shyness. Yu Qiuhua came over with a cup of tea. Seeing her son and daughter's attitude, she felt a little embarrassed, but she didn't say anything.

She also felt that Liu Hongchang's arrival was sudden. They were not familiar with this person, and their only connection was the time when they picked up Wenda from the mining area.

I don't know why Liu Hongchang came, nor do I know how to entertain him.

Liu Hongchang sat for a while, drank a cup of tea, and said a few indifferent words.

I originally wanted to ask about He Wenhui's situation, whether she was doing well in Beijing, whether she had written to me, and when she would be on vacation.

But Liu Hongchang simply couldn't bring himself to speak, and the words he was about to say were swallowed back down.

He was afraid that if he asked, Yu Qiuhua would overthink it and actually believe that he had feelings for Wen Hui.

Although I do have ideas, I can't let anyone see them.

Even if others find out, they will never admit it, no matter what.

Yu Qiuhua took the initiative to mention Wen Hui.

Wenhui is doing well in the capital; she has a demanding schedule and a lot of homework.

However, when Yu Qiuhua said these things, her tone was filled with pride, but also with an indescribable heartache.

As Liu Hongchang listened, he felt both bittersweet and warm inside.

The bitter thing is that He Wenhui is in Beijing, while he is in Nanjing, separated by thousands of miles, and they can't even see each other.

What's heartwarming is that He Wenhui is doing well.

After sitting in He's house for more than ten minutes, Liu Hongchang couldn't sit still any longer.

Wen Tao and Wen Yuan would occasionally come out of the inner room to check on the situation, but they looked at Liu Hongchang with the same disdain and contempt they would show to a stray dog ​​on the roadside.

Although Yu Qiuhua was enthusiastic, her enthusiasm was polite, distant, and the kind of courtesy one would show to a stranger.

Liu Hongchang stood up and said, "Auntie, I have something to do, so I'll be leaving now."

"Why don't you stay for dinner?"

"No! I'll treat you to dinner when Wenhui comes back."

"..." However, Yu Qiuhua did not respond to this.

Then, Liu Hongchang left the He family empty-handed.

Yu Qiuhua accepted the fruit and snacks she brought without any qualms.

Yu Qiuhua stood at the door, watching Liu Hongchang's figure disappear into the alley, sighed, and then closed the door.

Wentao poked his head out from the inner room and asked, "Mom, has that toad left?"

"How dare you speak like that!"

"Hmph! Am I wrong? A cook like him wants to pursue my sister? He's like a toad trying to eat swan meat."

Yu Qiuhua glared at him, wanting to say something, but when she opened her mouth, nothing came out.

She also felt that Liu Hongchang was not good enough for Wen Hui.

Wenhui is a college student, from Peking University, and is destined to become a cadre and do great things in the future.

What about Liu Hongchang? He's a cafeteria cook who didn't even finish junior high school.

The two of them standing together look completely mismatched.

……

Liu Hongchang didn't know how he got back.

I walked on the street for a long time, from dawn to dusk, until all the streetlights were on, before I finally got home.

Wang Cuilan saw her and asked, "Where did you go? Why are you so late?"

Liu Hongchang didn't answer, went into his room, and closed the door.

Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling above my head, my mind was a jumbled mess, like a pot of burnt porridge.

He recalled the way Wentao and Wenyuan looked at him, their undisguised contempt.

I recall Yu Qiuhua's polite yet distant smile, and the sense of distance that made me feel like an outsider.

Thinking back to how I stood in the main room of the He family's house with the gifts, I felt like a stranger who had wandered into the wrong house, out of place and completely superfluous.

Indeed, I am just a good-for-nothing cook who didn't even graduate from junior high school and earns only a few dozen yuan a month.

What makes someone worthy of He Wenhui? What makes someone worthy of a Peking University student?

They might not even be worthy of carrying someone's shoes.

He thought that if he treated He Wenhui well, He Wenhui would be grateful, and if she was grateful for a long time, she would like him.

But today's events made Liu Hongchang realize that gratitude and liking are two completely different things.

He Wenhui has always felt only gratitude towards herself, and no other emotions.

The fact that they didn't even say goodbye when they left says it all.

Liu Hongchang closed his eyes and, quite pathetically, burst into tears.

Because he remembered that dream again, in which He Wenhui married him but was unwilling to share a room with him. The way she looked at him was exactly the same as the way Wentao and Wenyuan looked at him, with undisguised disdain and impatience.

At first I thought the dream was fake, but today I discovered that the dream was actually real.

The He family looked down on Liu Hongchang from the very beginning.

Liu Hongchang turned over, buried his face in the pillow, and his shoulders trembled.

No one dared to make a sound, but the pillow was already soaked.

After a long time, the door was pushed open.

Standing at the door, Wang Cuilan, the mother, saw her youngest son lying on the bed. Her heart ached, and she swallowed back the curses that were about to come out of her mouth.

She walked in, sat down on the edge of the bed, and reached out to touch the back of Liu Hongchang's head. "Hongchang, tell Mom, what's wrong?"

Liu Hongchang didn't look up, his voice muffled by the pillow, "Mom, am I really useless?"

Wang Cuilan's hand remained suspended in mid-air, and she didn't speak for a long time.

After a long while, she finally spoke, her voice much softer than usual: "Silly child, what are you saying! It's all my fault for always scolding you. I'm just a little anxious because I see other people's children are all married, and you're still single. But you're not useless; you're my good son, and I know that in my heart."

Liu Hongchang did not say anything more.

Wang Cuilan sat for a while, sighed, and then stood up and left.

As she reached the door, she glanced back at her son's curled-up figure on the bed, then gently closed the door.

A mother knows exactly what kind of person her son is.

But Wang Cuilan didn't know what to do anymore...

……

The next day, Liu Hongchang went to work at the second canteen as usual.

Her eyes were swollen, so it was obvious she had been crying.

Suning saw it but didn't ask.

Liu Hongchang didn't say anything either.

The two of them each did their own thing, one chopping vegetables, the other stir-frying dishes, and the only sounds in the kitchen were the clattering of pots and pans.

Around noon, Liu Hongchang suddenly spoke up, "Xiao Su."

"Ok?"

"You and Yang Maixiang must live a good life together! Never let her down."

Su Ning paused, holding the spatula, and turned to look at Liu Hongchang.

Liu Hongchang was chopping scallions with his head down, cutting slowly, one slice at a time.

"Don't worry! I'm a devoted and good man."

Liu Hongchang hummed in agreement and said nothing more.

After chopping the scallions, I piled them on the cutting board, a generous heap of white and green scallions.

Looking at the pile of scallions, Liu Hongchang suddenly felt less choked up.

He still can't let go of He Wenhui, but at least Su Ning and Yang Maixiang can live a good life.

This can be considered a good thing.

Although this good thing has nothing to do with me.

...(End of this chapter)