Chapter 2886: Small Town Infrastructure Construction Proceeds Happily 06

Do you know me?

Lu Jun rubbed his chin, appearing to seriously size up Jin Chen a few times, then spread his hands, "I haven't seen you before."

"If I'd seen you, could I still forget? I know what I look like myself—how could Teacher Jin have seen a man as handsome as me before?"

Jin Chen: "...?"

Very good.

He probably has no memory; it's just that this guy Lu Jun is being flirtatious.

Huo Zhaoye listened on the side, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter.

Lu Jun usually goes head-to-head with others, which is fine, but now facing a teacher, he's completely improper.

Jin Chen's nature is clear and cold; at a glance you can tell he's not the type to joke like this.

He stepped forward half a step, slightly raised his arm, subtly blocking Jin Chen to his rear side, tone unfriendly, "Are you sick? If you can't speak, shut up."

Jin Chen glanced at Huo Zhaoye's arm resting in front of him, looked away, then back at Lu Jun's face, curling his lip: "Speaking of which, there's an old acquaintance who really resembles Lord Lu..."

Lu Jun raised an eyebrow, his curiosity growing: "Oh? That's quite a coincidence. It seems my ordinary face makes it easy to run into acquaintances."

He made a joke that wasn't funny at all, then spread his hands: "Too bad—I've been wandering around this area since childhood, the farthest I've gone is to Black Stone Fortress in the east to trade goods; I'm afraid I'll never get to know Teacher Jin's old friend."

The two stared at each other.

Jin Chen's eyes were calm at the bottom, with probing depth.

Lu Jun's gaze was much more open, yet showed no other trace.

At least, with Jin Chen's eyesight, he couldn't see any flaw.

That guy Lu Jun probably really dumped all the points he'd accumulated from who-knows-how-many worlds into this reincarnation... no, into this identity swap, gaining a chance for close contact with a god's earthly rebirth, but his memory was wiped clean, relying purely on luck.

Jin Chen glanced sideways and saw Yan Genggu also walking this way on the dirt road beside the bridge pier.

He had probably just returned from the fields, his pant legs specked with mud, holding a notebook and several wilted specimens, looking up at Huo Zhaoye on the bridge, evidently having something to report.

The timing was perfect.

Jin Chen withdrew his gaze and softly reminded the person beside him, Huo Zhaoye: "Lord Huo, Professor Yan seems to have something for you."

One sentence reminded both of them.

Huo Zhaoye and Lu Jun turned their heads simultaneously to look down at the bridge.

Huo Zhaoye saw Yan Genggu, the impatience on his face easing slightly as he nodded.

Yan Genggu is one of North Town's most important talents now; his affairs cannot be delayed.

Lu Jun's gaze fell on Yan Genggu, and he waved interestly, calling out loudly, his voice carrying on the river wind.

"Hey! Are you the newly invited Professor Yan from North Town? Great to meet you! Would you be interested in coming to South Town as a guest when you have time? We also have a few plots of land that need expert guidance! Terms can be negotiated!"

Everyone: "..."

The Huo Zhaoye on the bridge's face darkened.

The Yan Genggu under the bridge heard the sound, lifted his head, first saw Huo Zhaoye and Jin Chen on the bridge, then saw Lu Jun waving hello.

His face showed no particular expression; he merely nodded toward Lu Jun's direction as a courtesy, then turned his gaze to Huo Zhaoye, indeed having something to discuss with him.

Huo Zhaoye couldn't take it anymore, kicked Lu Jun: "Get lost."

Lu Jun laughed heartily, didn't mind, and nodded separately at Jin Chen and Yan Genggu: "All right, the generator matter is settled; I'm heading back. Teacher Jin, Professor Yan, let's chat again sometime! South Town's Main Gate is always open for you! Our tools are more complete, and the place is more spacious!"

Having said that, he staggered toward South Town.

Huo Zhaoye withdrew his gaze, his displeasure not yet fully gone, glanced at Jin Chen, and said, "Let's go."

The two walked down the bridge side by side.

Yan Genggu was already waiting under the bridge, first smiling politely at Jin Chen: "Teacher Jin."

"Lord Huo, today we made some adjustments to the fields, added a few new simple shelters; the shading and moisture retention should improve—if you have time, you can go take a look."

Huo Zhaoye, upon hearing it was about the fields, immediately softened his expression, nodded and said: "Good job, rest a while first; I'll come over later."

Yan Genggu answered 'good,' then told Jin Chen: "All right, I'll go back to organize the data first."

Huo Zhaoye watched Yan Genggu walk away, then instinctively turned his head to look at the opposite bridgehead.

He exhaled, then told Jin Chen: "I'll see you home first."

Jin Chen softly refused, his light-colored eyes reflecting the sunset, somewhat indistinct: "No need, just a few steps; Lord Huo, go attend to your duties."

Huo Zhaoye still wanted to say something, but Jin Chen suddenly produced a small bundle wrapped in oil paper from his coat pocket and handed it to Huo Zhaoye.

"These newly grown tomatoes are still too sour, Lord Huo—try this one."

Huo Zhaoye blinked, then took it.

Jin Chen lightly nodded at him, then turned and walked slowly along the riverbank toward the town.

His receding figure looked slender in the deepening twilight, soon blending into the riverside shadows and dim light.

Only then did Huo Zhaoye lower his head, open the oil paper wrapping, and find seven or eight small tomatoes inside, appearing to have been simply processed.

Huo Zhaoye picked one up and popped it into his mouth.

The tomato flesh was no longer crisp, but soft and sweet, not cloying, tart but not astringent.

Huo Zhaoye has a sweet tooth, a minor preference not necessarily known even to those familiar with him in North Town.

In this new era of scarce resources, sweetness is a luxury.

He couldn't help but eat two more.

Huo Zhaoye looked at the few remaining small tomatoes in his hand, then glanced toward the direction Jin Chen had gone; for some reason, the corner of his mouth twitched up, and he muttered, "... still pretty good at this."

The laugh was brief, soon scattering in the evening river breeze; it's unclear whether he was talking about the tomatoes or the person.

He rewrapped the oil paper carefully, slipped it into his pocket, then turned and strode toward the fields.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +6, total 12!】

Night deepened, the lingering heat of day blown away bit by bit by the evening wind.

Peaceful North Town lacked the round‑the‑clock lights of the old era; after nightfall, only the necessary patrol posts and a few public areas had a faint glow, most households had extinguished their lamps early to save fuel and for safety.

Huo Zhaoye led his men to finish the final patrol shift.

He had checked every section of the town wall; the guards on the watchtower were alert and nothing was out of the ordinary.

Occasionally, the cries of unknown creatures drifted from the distant wilderness, but they remained at a safe distance.

He told the other team members to go rest, and as he passed the two‑story building where Jin Chen lived, he instinctively glanced at it.

This small building used to belong to the town's old carpenter; the old man hadn't survived last winter, so the house had been left vacant.

Huo Zhaoye had arranged for Jin Chen to stay here because it was relatively quiet and not far from the school building or his own home, making it convenient.

At that moment, the building's main gate stood wide open, the interior pitch‑black with no lights lit.

Huo Zhaoye's steps came to a halt.

How could the door be open this late? Jin Chen isn't the type to be careless, and there isn't a glimmer of light inside—has he not returned yet, or did he fall asleep and forget to close it?

Huo Zhaoye frowned slightly.

Although the town is relatively safe, leaving the door open is never advisable; who knows what strange little creature might slip in?

He thought for a moment, then turned and walked toward the house.

"Jin Chen?" Huo Zhaoye called from the doorway, but there was no reply.

"Teacher Jin?" he shouted again, raising his voice, and stepped inside.

The interior was quiet; a faint scent of Jin Chen lingered in the air, and by the dim moonlight he could see that the rooms were empty.

Huo Zhaoye's brows knotted tighter, and his vague worry inexplicably swelled.

At this hour, where could he have gone?