The Girl Who Couldn't Get Married

Despite being a boring young girl, Liu Chang'an still agreed with her views.

"In the past, the reason why ethical principles and moral codes were so important and were so vigorously upheld by the ruling class was not primarily due to human needs, but rather to the needs of governance," Liu Chang'an waved his hand. "Now, ethical principles and moral codes are no longer the focus of ideological propaganda because the foundation for national and social stability is now focused on rapid and high-volume economic development... Many things are like this; when the demand for them decreases, they become less important."

Shangguan Dandan had no intention of discussing these matters with Liu Chang'an, and continued, "Later, the male protagonist discovered that his sister might be his wife, that the girl he thought was his cousin was actually his daughter, that the person who was originally his aunt was also his daughter, and that another person who was originally his aunt was also his daughter... It was absolutely terrible."

"Absolutely terrible." What is this? Liu Chang'an agreed; the quality of online novels these days is really uneven, with wildly imaginative plots.

"There's another book, which the author didn't mention, but readers generally believe that the daughter's daughter's daughter is still the protagonist's daughter..."

It's probably been blocked.

"Yes."

"That's for sure. Although traditional ethical principles aren't being promoted everywhere anymore, they still don't align with the core socialist values." Liu Chang'an shook his head. "Why would an excellent novel need such tasteless things? It's truly a case of 'no pain, no gain,' 'you reap what you sow.'"

"What I want to know is, what about you?" Shangguan Dandan walked up to Liu Chang'an and reached out to press down on the diary in his hand.

"I'm not the protagonist of a novel, why would I do such a messy thing?" Liu Chang'an thought carefully and confirmed, "My life has always been ordinary and uneventful."

After Liu Chang'an finished speaking, he noticed that Shangguan Dandan was looking at him with a complicated expression that required interpretation, clearly not agreeing with his self-perception.

"You didn't just sleep obediently like I did. I looked through some records left by the Longevity, and they all interacted with their descendants. After changing their appearance, they often chose outstanding descendants from several generations later to extract their bloodline." Shangguan Dandan didn't intend to continue telling Liu Chang'an about the past; she was just curious about Liu Chang'an's life over the years.

"I didn't," Liu Chang'an shook his head. "Also, let me remind you, what you're looking at isn't information, it's just a story from a novel."

"So that means that right now, the only person in the world who is truly related to you by blood is me?" Shangguan Dandan said, pointing to her chest.

No, there are two more.

Shangguan Dandan thought for a moment, and combined this with the information she had overheard, she understood...

"I want to move into the apartment upstairs from you," Shangguan Dandan said hurriedly, her cheeks slightly flushed and her chest heaving with nervousness. He had no idea how much fear and psychological barriers she had to overcome to make such a request.

"You've been going around in circles for this?" Liu Chang'an finally understood and launched into a string of nonsense.

Shangguan Dandan vigorously.

"No problem... You can stay upstairs, I'll stay here," Liu Chang'an said nonchalantly.

"Never mind then." Shangguan Dandan glared resentfully at Liu Chang'an. She had spoken so much to him about the importance of ethics and moral principles, how could he not understand the principle that "even among crows and magpies in the forest, the mother will not lose her chicks"?

"Oh, okay." Liu Chang'an nodded, stood up, put the diary away and returned it to its place, then walked out of the house.

Shangguan Dandan approached the door, peeked out through a crack, then leaned against the door and sighed, "An old mother with white hair weeps at the door, her sleeves torn as she tries to stop her from leaving."

The world outside the door seemed like a fairyland, a hell, or a strange land where demons and monsters appeared. They wore bizarre clothes, spoke strange accents and vulgar slang, and rode mechanical armor, approaching the sky in buildings that pierced the clouds, yet they had lost all sense of morality.

Only beside this sycamore tree did Shangguan Dandan find a temporary sense of comfort.

Two thousand years have passed, and no matter how vividly those memories are etched in her mind, upon closer reflection, the feeling of eternal isolation grows ever stronger. If she were truly alone, Shangguan Dandan would rather fall asleep again.

He woke her up, yet he wanted to sever all ties with the past, treating it as mere fodder for conversation after the clouds have cleared. How could he do that?

Those who Longevity are said to be devoid of compassion; is this truly the case?

"I'd better go read a novel," Shangguan Dandan said dejectedly as she lay down in the coffin.

Liu Chang'an was working overtime at home painting when Zhou Shuling opened the door and came in.

Zhou Shuling wore a deep purple openwork A-line skirt with a matching inner shirt embroidered with golden Butterfly in outstretched wings. As she moved, the Butterfly seemed to be flying through the openwork. The material at her shoulders and collarbone was semi-transparent, subtly revealing the graceful and reserved charm of a young woman.

"A blind date?" Liu Chang'an laughed, revealing a stainless steel bracelet on his wrist that looked to cost at least twenty or thirty yuan.

Zhou Shuling usually doesn't wear anything on her hands because she has to set up her stall and make breakfast, etc., as she finds it inconvenient.

"I'm not some girl who can't get married, why are you always worrying about this?" Zhou Shuling ran downstairs in a good mood, not wanting to talk to him about this kind of unpleasant topic for a divorced young woman.

"Oh, to be honest, it's a bit difficult for you to remarry without anyone else worrying about you. You're not very bright, and you don't know how to dress. You dress like an old lady." Liu Chang'an wasn't afraid to criticize Zhou Shuling, since she couldn't even see a good opportunity like All-Star. "So, what do you want?"

"I'm asking you... Today Zhou Dongdong told me that the crayfish at the buffet were piled up in heaps, and the lobsters and crabs were also piled up in heaps." Zhou Shuling bent down, pressed her skirt, squatted down next to Liu Chang'an, and turned her head to look at him incredulously.

"Yes." Liu Chang'an waved his hand, "Make way, don't block my way while I'm painting."

"What if someone has a big appetite? They could eat their fill at an expensive buffet, right?" Zhou Shuling calculated how many kilograms of crayfish, lobsters, and crabs she would need to eat to break even.

"I'm taking Zhou Dongdong to a buffet." Liu Chang'an suddenly seemed to remember something and dropped the brush he was holding.

"You two are going?" Zhou Shuling hurriedly chased after him, looking at Liu Chang'an expectantly.

"Yes, she has such a good appetite, she must be craving a buffet again, so she sent you to ask me." Liu Chang'an nodded.

Zhou Shuling pursed her lips.

"Buffets can make you want to eat a lot, so they're not suitable for people who want to lose weight and are worried about gaining weight around their stomachs." Liu Chang'an walked upstairs.

Zhou Shuling followed her upstairs, her hands clasped in front of her lower abdomen as she tugged at her skirt.

Zhou Shuling counted out two coupons from the three half-price coupons, handed them to Liu Chang'an, walked to the refrigerator, opened the door, and whispered, "I'll heat up two vegetable buns later."

Liu Chang'an led Zhou Dongdong downstairs, and Zhou Shuling followed, but stood on the first-floor steps watching them.

"Come on, what are you standing there for?" Liu Chang'an couldn't help but laugh at her aggrieved look. "Do you think you can't go to a buffet by yourself if I don't take you? I was wondering why you suddenly became interested in buffets. You have a half-price coupon, why don't you go?"

"Take me there?" Zhou Shuling was overjoyed and hurriedly ran upstairs. "I still have a half-price coupon I haven't taken. Wait for me... Don't leave yet!"

"Mom... Mom..." Zhou Dongdong opened her mouth and turned to look at Liu Chang'an.

"Mom is a stupid mom," Liu Chang'an said on Zhou Dongdong's behalf.

"Brother Chang'an, when you come back, can you tuck me under your armpits?" Zhou Dongdong asked expectantly.

Liu Chang'an nodded; both the big one and the little one were utterly foolish.