Chapter 56

This was a polite way of saying no to sharing a room, Ming Chunxi agreed earnestly, "[Okay, I'll drive over after work on Friday.]"

Qing Mengzhu thought for a moment, and realized this must be what dating looks like, so she replied in a more intimate tone: [I'll be waiting for you for dinner.]

Ming Chunxi: [I'll come over early, let's cook together.]

Today is only Wednesday; the two chatted during the day on Thursday and Friday as well.

The chat content looks similar to before, but it's actually more intimate.

After two days of adjustment, Qing Mengzhu finally felt that it wasn't so strange anymore.

On Friday evening, before 6:30 p. m., Ming Chunxi arrived.

Qing Mengzhu opened the door and was a little surprised to see him. "Why are you here so early?"

Ming Chunxi: "I left my luggage in the car when I left home this morning. After work, I don't need to go home; I can just drive straight here."

Qing Mengzhu nodded.

Ming Chunxi added, "I've already told my mom I have a boyfriend."

Qing Mengzhu coughed slightly, a faint blush creeping onto her face. "So fast?!"

Ming Chunxi: "Tell her as soon as possible, so she can be mentally prepared, otherwise she might feel disrespected if she hears it from someone else."

Qing Mengzhu nodded hesitantly, "It's fine."

Ming Chunxi: "My mom accepted it well. I told her that my boyfriend's identity needs to be kept secret for now, and she didn't have any objections."

Qing Mengzhu couldn't help but ask, "Auntie has absolutely no negative thoughts?"

Ming Chunxi: "This is my privacy. She has no objections. Just like when she had boyfriends before, I didn't have any particular thoughts, as long as she's safe."

Qing Mengzhu felt that after all these years, he didn't really understand Auntie Ming.

Ming Chunxi carried her luggage and followed Qing Mengzhu into the courtyard. "For a long time, my mother thought I was asexual. Now that I have a boyfriend, she's quite happy for me and thinks it's better than me being single all the time."

Ming Chunxi had a lot of luggage, Qing Mengzhu helped him carry it.

While getting a bag, Ming Chunxi switched the bag for Qing Mengzhu: "This bag contains dumbbells and other gym equipment, it's a bit heavy, you can take this one."

Qing Mengzhu was surprised that he had even brought dumbbells, as if he intended to stay at her home permanently. She scratched her face and said, "Put the dumbbells upstairs. I bought a rowing machine and a dumbbell bench."

Noticing Ming Chunxi's gaze, Qing Mengzhu explained, "I occasionally exercise, doing strength training or something."

Ming Chunxi: "Okay."

The Qing Mengzhu family had five rooms, one of which has now been converted into a gym, leaving only one storage room.

Ming Chunxi looked at the crammed storage room and her mood improved.

The relationship between the two had changed. Even if there wasn't much change on the surface, Qing Mengzhu could clearly feel that the atmosphere between them was different. From eye contact to physical contact, every touch was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating obvious ripples.

This feeling is somewhat novel, but not unpleasant.

The strange yet romantic atmosphere only dissipated when the two went to work in the fields.

Qing Mengzhu has a lot to do in preparing for the autumn and winter planting season.

He had previously planned to ask someone for help, Ming Chunxi's arrival, he no longer needed to do so.

While they were working in the morning, Tan Wenlei watched them the whole time.

Qing Mengzhu originally thought that his relationship with Ming Chunxi had changed, but Tan Wenlei had seen through it, and he felt a little embarrassed.

Around nine o'clock in the morning, the sun was high in the sky and the temperature had risen. They were preparing to go back to rest when Tan Wenlei specifically greeted them and asked if they were going back.

Qing Mengzhu gave an affirmative answer.

Even at this point, Qing Mengzhu had not noticed anything amiss.

As they reached their doorstep, a group of people came from the other side, banging drums and gongs.

Qing Mengzhu thought it was a wedding or some kind of publicity, but when he saw the village secretary Qing Yukai, walking in front of him with a young couple carrying a child and banging drums and gongs, he realized what was going on.

The young couple holding the child walked up to him and knelt down, saying, "Our benefactor!"

This was the first time Qing Mengzhu had encountered something like this in real life, and she was completely stunned. She quickly reached out to support the other person's arm, saying, "Please get up."

Ming Chunxi helped to support them.

The couple, weeping, clung to Qing Mengzhu's arms and said, "Thanks to you for saving our Xixi. If it weren't for you, our family would have fallen apart."

Qing Mengzhu then noticed that the little boy being held looked familiar. He had been completely dazed when he saved the boy that day and didn't remember what the little boy looked like.

Qing Mengzhu felt a pang of sadness at the sight of her crying and didn't know what to say, so she could only say, "Get up first!"

The man took out a brocade banner and stuffed it into Qing Mengzhu's arms. "Benefactor, we will remember your great kindness."

Qing Mengzhu: "It's nothing. In that situation, anyone who saw it would have helped."

As he spoke, Qing Mengzhu quickly winked at Qing Yukai, signaling him to come over immediately, or he wouldn't be able to hold on any longer.

Qing Yukai stepped forward to help help the person up. "Fortunately, this didn't lead to serious consequences. We need to teach the children not to play near water in the future."

Ming Chunxi said from the other side, "Those who survive a great calamity are destined for good fortune. Once the child gets through this ordeal, things will be much better."

The child's parents cried even harder upon hearing this.

Qing Mengzhu was surprised that Ming Chunxi would say such a thing, and couldn't help but turn around and look at him.

For a moment, Qing Mengzhu felt a strong feeling in his heart. "As time goes by, everyone is moving forward and no longer stays in the same place."

After the child's relatives and friends saw that the process was over, they also came over to offer their advice and express their gratitude to Qing Mengzhu.

The emotions of relatives and friends were not so intense, and their words were more gentle and sincere, which brought tears to Qing Mengzhu's eyes.

Soon, Qing Yukai organized everyone to take photos, which would be used as promotional material for the "Civilized Village".

Qing Mengzhu was greeted by everyone and cooperated by standing in the center for a photo, feeling both embarrassed and touched.

When taking the photo, Qing Mengzhu stood in the middle, trying her best to keep her expression frozen.

At that moment, he thought, if only his father had been rescued from drowning that summer many years ago, he might have also held a banner and led his relatives and friends to thank his benefactor while crying.

Unfortunately, he wasn't lucky at that moment, but now he's become someone else's lucky break.

Qing Mengzhu thought it was time to move forward.

Thinking of this, Qing Mengzhu unconsciously leaned back, pressing even closer to Ming Chunxi.

The child's parents flanked him on either side, and he held a huge banner. Ming Chunxi stood behind him, and they posed for this photo in the bright morning sunlight.

Author's Note:

Since I can't make up yesterday's chapter, I'll continue with the 88 small red envelope giveaway in this chapter. Hope you all enjoy reading, and see you tomorrow!

Chapter 56

After Ming Chunxi moved in with Qing Mengzhu, she discussed with Qing Mengzhu that she would come back to stay every day.

Qing Mengzhu worried, "Isn't this too far?"

Ming Chunxi: "Without traffic jams, it takes fifty minutes one way. Some of my colleagues have longer commutes, so it's not that far."

Qing Mengzhu: "If there's traffic, the daily commute will take more than two hours, which is such a waste of time."

Ming Chunxi had already come up with a solution. "I'm having my assistant find a driver. With a driver, I can read documents or books in the car, or even just rest. It's fine."

Ming Chunxi's reasoning was quite sound, "We get up before six in the morning, so even if we leave at seven-thirty, the commute time is plenty. We finish work at five-thirty in the evening and get home around six-thirty, which is when most people go to and from work."

Qing Mengzhu was secretly looking forward to their cohabitation and was quickly persuaded.

So, Ming Chunxi officially moved in, and the two spent their days and nights together, just like any couple deeply in love.