Feng Zhong shook his head again, “He didn’t say.”
“Alright, you go on and get busy.”
“Eh, Zhuzi is back,” Feng Zhong had just turned around when he saw Tian Jinzhu walking in from outside.
Jia Liang felt a quiet relief inside when he saw him.
He walked over and asked, “What happened? I heard from Lao Feng that you went back to An City, was there an issue?”
Jia Liang’s voice was low, filled with concern.
Tian Jinzhu didn’t expect to bump into Jia Liang upon his return, and his eyes fleetingly dodged.
“Nothing much, just went back to take a look.”
“It’s good that it’s nothing serious.”
Jia Liang knew Tian Jinzhu had a complicated family situation. Although his stepfather and mother hadn’t been very kind to him before, now that they were getting older, they seemed to have regretted their treatment of Tian Jinzhu and would occasionally invite him over for a meal.
Especially after his two older sisters got married, Tian Jinzhu, who didn’t take care of serious business, had cut off contact with his family.
Tian Jinzhu also felt a bit sorry for his mother.
Jia Liang did not approve of it, but he didn’t interfere too much with other people’s private affairs.
“By the way, about that batch of goods you mentioned before, when will it arrive? I see the tiling work in the shop is almost finished, and I plan to let the carpenters start the day after tomorrow. You should also prepare the timber you ordered. If possible, have them deliver the goods in the next couple of days.”
Previously, Tian Jinzhu said he had a connection and could buy good timber at a lower price, but the supplier needed a deposit first, and Jia Liang had already given him the deposit.
All of a sudden, a look of pain crossed Tian Jinzhu’s face, filled with guilt.
“Brother Liang, I’m sorry, there’s something I haven’t told you. My stepfather had a stroke recently and is paralyzed in bed. My mother has been taking care of him, but she accidentally fell and broke her bone yesterday. I had no choice but to use that money for the medical bills. I’m sorry, Brother Liang, I should have told you beforehand, but I was afraid you’d be disappointed in me, so I thought about whether I could borrow the money in the next couple of days to pay for the goods, but I have no ability, I couldn’t borrow a cent…”
Tian Jinzhu squatted on the ground, helplessly clutching his hair.
Feng Zhong hadn’t expected Tian Jinzhu to lose the money either, and stood by, stunned, watching Jia Liang’s reaction.
Jia Liang sighed and pulled him up.
“If there’s difficulty at home, you should have told me. We’ve been brothers for so many years, what is it that you can’t tell me, and you had to resort to embezzling the shop’s project funds?”
Tian Jinzhu looked up, his eyes slightly red, “Back when you and Houzi quit that life and tried to pull me in, I know that by not joining you that time, I disappointed you, Brother Liang. This time I just thought… I couldn’t disappoint Brother Liang again, so I…”
He raised his hand and wiped away a tear, overwhelmed with shame.
“Enough, crying and sobbing like that, what a sight for a grown man! You used that sum of money, but have the timbers been ordered?”
Other issues could be discussed, but the progress of the project was absolutely critical.
“Ordered, definitely ordered,” Tian Jinzhu nodded hastily, “it’s just short of payment.”
Jia Liang breathed a sigh of relief, “Alright then, come with me to get the money later. We’ll get the timber delivered first, we can’t delay the progress of the project. And how about the medical expenses for your mother, is it enough?”
“It’s enough, I’ve taken care of everything back home,” Tian Jinzhu glanced at Jia Liang’s expression and spoke timidly, “Thank you, Brother Liang, for your concern. I’ll definitely work hard from now on and never make the same mistake again.”
Jia Liang nodded and did not say anything more.
…
After sorting out the factory matters, Lin Chuxia packed her luggage and boarded the train bound for the Northwest.
After half a year, the Northwest in summer is totally different from its winter desolation. With lush crops and herds of cattle and sheep scattered about.
Before boarding the train, Lin Chuxia had called Qin Yang. When the train arrived at the station, through the glass, she could see the man in the crowd.
He was tall, dressed in a white shirt, with tidy short hair, and his stern features made him stand out in the crowd like a crane among chickens.
While the train was still moving, the man’s deep eyes locked onto each passing window.
Lin Chuxia was sitting in a sleeper berth and knew that from this angle, he wouldn’t be able to see her at all, so she wasn’t in a hurry to respond, cradling her chin and admiring her man.
Oh my, the more I look, the more attractive it becomes.
Lin Chuxia knew she was a face-junkie, quite the admirer of beauty. She had always been clear about her own preferences; in her past life, the young hotties around her came in all shapes and colors.
But those pretty faces were just for looking. As long as they were pleasing to the eye, she kept them around.
As for emotions, there were none.
Back then, whether it was her life experience or age, she saw those young hunks as if they were her sons.
Qin Yang was different, though. It was only in this lifetime that she had realized not all good-looking people could make one’s heart skip a beat; Qin Yang genuinely captivated her heart.
Finally, the train arrived at the station. Lin Chuxia carried her luggage and slowly moved to the door with the crowd, where the man had already been waiting.
Seeing Lin Chuxia, his stern features softened, and his eyes held a faint smile.
“Was the journey smooth? Are you tired?”
As he took Lin Chuxia’s luggage, Qin Yang asked.
“Mhm, it was okay.”
Their eyes met, filled with longing and love for one another.
Qin Yang looked into those bright, starry eyes, feeling his chest swell with emotion, almost wishing he could immediately embrace the person he had been yearning for day and night.
However, the hustle and bustle of the people around him and the noisy environment pulled him back to his senses. In such a public setting, such an action would be improper.
His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down before he finally looked away. “The car’s outside; let’s head out.”
How could Lin Chuxia not see his restraint? Using their bodies as a shield, she reached out to tug gently at his hand, playfully scratching the center of his palm twice.
The man tensed in an instant, and just as she teased him and was about to make her escape, his large hand swiftly caught her small one, giving a light squeeze before hurriedly letting go.
Clearing his throat, his ears slowly flushed crimson.
Lin Chuxia walked by his side, watching his reactions without blinking, holding back her laughter.
She really adored this innocent side of Qin Yang. He had not been influenced by the world of the future; men from this era were still so conservative and pure.
Even though the two had shared the most intimate moments, they still behaved with emotion and stopped at what was proper in public.
Being so perceptive, how could Qin Yang not feel Lin Chuxia’s gaze?
He turned slightly to glance at her, “Watch where you’re going.”
Lin Chuxia laughed, “The road isn’t as good-looking as you.”
Qin Yang with a look: We’re in public; tone it down.
Lin Chuxia continued to smile.
Qin Yang, feeling helpless, carried the luggage, wanting to leave the crowded place as soon as possible, yet worried about walking too fast for Lin Chuxia to keep up.
Once in the car, without a moment’s delay, he started the engine.
Lin Chuxia stopped teasing him and began inquiring about his recent work.
Qin Yang had mentioned in a letter before that his work here was nearing an end, and it would likely be finished in a few more months.
After completing his tasks here, he might be reassigned to another location.
Lin Chuxia had always been aware of the nature of Qin Yang’s work and hoped that his next job would not be as tough as the current one, whose details were still unclear.
Qin Yang also inquired about the situation at Lin Chuxia’s food factory.
Lin Chuxia only shared the good news and not the concerns, telling him about the new production line and that his favorite beef sauce would now always be available.
The two chatted all the way, seemingly with endless topics.
Even when they entered the office, Lin Chuxia was still chattering non-stop, narrating amusing stories from home.