Chapter 18: Call Me Daddy and It Still Won't Work

"Please keep your things safe, here's your change!"

"Ma'am, the data cable and Bluetooth earphones are free gifts, both in the storage bag."

"Chen Yansen, the mp4s are out of stock again, hurry up and bring another box!"

With her frank and straightforward personality, Meng Jie got into the groove quickly. Watching a whole box of goods empty out, she immediately shouted loudly to Chen Yansen.

She had no idea that a girl with such a tomboy image would, in the eyes of ordinary guys, only ever be treated as one of the buddies.

"Big Sis, you're awesome!"

Wang Zihao wore a brilliant smile and praised her without holding back.

"Step aside! Last box of goods, first come first served!"

Chen Yansen carried a box of mp4s, set it gently on the table, and called out a sales pitch without forgetting.

The foot traffic at Anfeng Grand Market was astonishing—nearly double that of Chongqiao.

Even though they had stuffed the trunk full to bursting when they set out, it still took them just over three hours to sell all 400 mp3s and 200 mp4s clean out.

"How about Coach Huang and I make one more run?"

Wang Zihao shook the empty box and volunteered.

"Knock off, knock off! It's a two-hour round trip, and it's almost noon now. By the time you're back, the market will be empty."

Chen Yansen checked the time and shook his head in refusal.

In his peripheral vision, Meng Jie's short-sleeve shirt had long been soaked through with sweat, and the pale green strap of her camisole underneath was faintly visible.

Her forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, which glittered translucent in the sunlight.

"The car has AC, go rest. I'll wrap things up with Haozi."

Chen Yansen pointed at the Bluebird car nearby and gently urged her.

"No need! Let's do it together."

Meng Jie waved her hand, without a trace of girlish fuss.

"But you're about to have a wardrobe malfunction. There's a shirt of mine in the back seat, put it on first."

Chen Yansen reminded her in a low voice.

He was a full head taller than Meng Jie, and following his gaze, one could clearly see a faintly swelling curve.

"You bastard, why didn't you say so earlier?"

Meng Jie instinctively lowered her head, only then realizing that sweat had slid down her neck and soaked a patch of clothing across her chest.

"Because I hadn't looked my fill yet."

Chen Yansen grinned sheepishly and answered with remarkable candor.

In reality, bystanders could at most make out a vague, general outline. Only because he was standing close—and with a touch of deliberateness—could he catch that glimpse of Bai Xi.

"You—!"

Meng Jie pointed at Chen Yansen's nose, her chest heaving violently, too angry to speak. The shamelessness of the man clearly exceeded her tolerance limit.

With a "bang"!

Meng Jie obediently climbed into the back seat of the Bluebird.

"Master Huang, recommend a good food stall. Lunch is on me."

Chen Yansen raised his hand and waved at Huang Boxiang, his tone generous.

"There's a Four Seas Little Kitchen in the middle of the street. It's been open for over twenty years. The place doesn't look big, but the taste is no worse than a big restaurant."

Huang Boxiang scratched the top of his head, his eyes darting, then suddenly spoke up.

The smile at the corner of his mouth couldn't be suppressed. Chen Yansen had rented his car for a day, but only used it for half a day's work. Besides reimbursing gas, he also treated him to lunch.

The only minor downside was that Chen Yansen had only rented it for ten days.

"Alright, Four Seas Little Kitchen it is."

Chen Yansen called Wang Zihao over to work. The two quickly packed up the table and supplies. Huang Boxiang naturally wouldn't just sit and wait, so he loaded everything they had sorted into the trunk one by one.

Ten minutes later.

The group walked into Four Seas Little Kitchen. The interior really wasn't big, barely fitting six tables. Places like this were usually run by a married couple—one cooked, the other handled the register.

"Please, take a seat! Have a look at what you'd like to eat! We've got stir-fries and rice plates!"

Before Chen Yansen and the others could even find a seat, a plump, round-figured proprietress came up to greet them with a face full of smiles.

"Cold beef in sauce, three-delicacy soup, salted goose…"

Chen Yansen glanced at the simple menu on the wall and casually ordered a few dishes, mostly cold plates and soups.

After all, the weather was sweltering; hot dishes like claypots just killed the appetite at a glance.

"No wonder I asked you two to come out and play, and not one of you agreed—you were busy making money!"

Meng Jie picked up her water glass, took a big gulp, and let out a long breath.

"Of course, one can earn…"

Wang Zihao got halfway through, then remembered Huang Boxiang was present, so he quickly cut himself off.

"Ah, can't earn much."

Chen Yansen picked up the thread and kept going. The moment his words fell, he stared at Meng Jie for a moment, then said earnestly: "You look really cool in that shirt."

The loose, oversized white shirt hung on Meng Jie's frame, its hem tucked into her jeans—dashing and a touch flirtatious.

"Pfft—"

"It reeks of your sweat!"

Meng Jie tightened the collar and said, meaning the opposite of what she felt.

Just now in the car, when no one was looking, she had secretly sniffed Chen Yansen's clothes. She'd expected an unpleasant smell, but instead of being stinky, there was actually a faint, clean scent of soap.

Chen Yansen smiled, too lazy to argue with her. He casually picked up the cup on the table and drank his water on his own.

……

……

"President Meng, I saw your daughter."

At the Anfeng Town Agricultural and Forestry Bank, Meng Meng Zhenguo heard his colleague's words and smiled faintly, saying, "She insisted on accompanying me on duty today. See? A daughter is more considerate, isn't she?"

"Eh, it's already half past twelve. Why hasn't Hehua returned yet? I'll give her a call."

Meng Meng Zhenguo took out his mobile phone, preparing to dial.

"President Meng Meng, she seems to be selling things at the entrance of the big market. There are two young men with her. Oh, right, and a middle-aged man too."

The colleague's expression was slightly hesitant, but after pondering for a moment, he finally chose to tell the whole story.

"Are you sure you didn't see wrong?"

Meng Meng Zhenguo suddenly stood up and immediately asked.

"I watched your daughter grow up; I'm absolutely certain."

The colleague's tone was definite, shattering Meng Meng Zhenguo's last shred of hope.

Two young men?

How big?

Meng Meng Zhenguo instantly felt as if his home had been stolen from; his heart felt empty. Hadn't his daughter said she was going to see the lotus flowers with classmates?

Could it be that his daughter is in a premature romance?

Thinking of this, he hurriedly pushed open the door and ran out, searching along the street market.

Just as he reached the center of the street, he saw his daughter wearing a men's shirt, walking toward him while chatting and laughing with two boys.

One had a dark complexion, looked burly, and was not pleasing to the eye.

The other was tall, handsome, and well-built, wearing a white shirt, with a reckless smile on his lips; he didn't look like a good person at all.

"Dad!"

Meng Jie looked up, saw a familiar figure, and her expression instantly froze, leaving her standing still.

"You can't even call me Dad."

Chen Yansen, with his head bowed, thought she was speaking to him, then joked.

"Xiao Jie, are these two your classmates?"

Meng Meng Zhenguo's face was dark. He thought to himself that he had guessed correctly; this fellow was thoroughly unruly. After deliberating for a few seconds, he finally spoke to inquire.

"Dad, they are all my high school classmates, from the same class."

"This is Wang Zihao, and he is Chen Yansen."

Meng Jie lowered her head and explained in a flustered manner.

"Hello, Uncle Meng!" Wang Zihao greeted enthusiastically, not noticing the abnormal atmosphere.

"Uncle Meng, have you eaten?"

Chen Yansen also asked with a smile.

He squinted his eyes, looking at the other person with a beaming smile, keenly sensing a trace of hostility from him.

He knew clearly that for county-town Brahmins like Meng Meng Zhenguo, the pursuit of a lifetime was to lift up the next generation with all their might, allowing the family to advance further locally.

Meng Jie was an only child; the Meng family's resources and connections would naturally be inherited by her. Having a boyfriend was not a problem, but he first had to pass Meng Meng Zhenguo's test.

"Classmate Chen, is it convenient to talk for a moment?"

Meng Meng Zhenguo's tone was gentle as he stared straight at Chen Yansen; it seemed like a request for discussion, yet his expression was extremely Solemn.

Gentlemen, please support the serial reading~(_)

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(End of this chapter)