latelenovela Chapter 247 What can't be hidden is better faced openly.
Chapter 247 What can't be hidden is better faced openly.
For the past month, Tu Nan ate either cornbread with pickled vegetable strips or stir-fried potato shreds for every meal.
By the way, they call potatoes "yangyu" over there, and there's a local specialty called "yangyu caca". The first time he tried it, he thought it was novel and delicious, but after eating it a lot, he got really tired of it.
Looking at the steaming bowl of buns, mung bean soup, pickled vegetables, and stewed pork ribs in front of him, Tu Nan felt his mouth watering uncontrollably.
He picked up a steamed bun and took a big bite. The soft dough and meat filling made Zhuang Tunan almost cry. It was so delicious!
At this moment, Song Ying, Lin Wufeng, and Dong Zhe were standing at the door.
"Sister Ling, let's come and see Tu Nan!"
Huang Ling greeted them warmly. "Come in and sit down, Engineer Lin, Xiao Song!"
Zhuang Chaoying and Engineer Lin sat opposite Tu Nan, watching him wolf down his food with smiles in their eyes.
Xiaoting sat on the edge of the bed, tilting her head and looking at him with curiosity. "Brother, how long has it been since you've eaten? Weren't you supposed to be protecting cultural relics in Yunyao? Aren't you being fed?"
Tu Nan swallowed the bun in his mouth with difficulty. "Mom's buns are delicious. I haven't had such tasty food in a long time. I have to eat more. Xiao Ting, you have no idea how I've survived this past month."
Huang Ling lovingly served Tu Nan another bowl of mung bean soup. "Eat slowly, this is all for you."
Tu Nan pointed to the luggage bag. "Dong Zhe, bring over the green bag. Inside are surveying books and some local specialties from west Province that I brought for you!"
During this meal, Tu Nan ate six steamed buns and drank two bowls of mung bean soup.
After finishing his meal, he patted his round belly, let out a satisfied burp, and then got up to carry his bowl and chopsticks to the kitchen, with Xiaoting following behind him carrying a basin.
Dongzhe took out two boxes of pastries, two bottles of dark stuff, and two packets of powder of unknown origin from his luggage. Of course, there was also the surveying book that Tunan had mentioned.
When the surveying book was opened, a group photo suddenly fell out, and Dongzhe quickly picked it up.
He looked at the photo and immediately recognized Zhang Wanshu.
Lin Wufeng also came over to take a look. "Is this Tu Nan's female classmate?"
"Aunt Huang, Uncle Zhuang, Dad, Mom, this is Zhang Wanshu, who went shopping with Brother Tu Nan last Chinese New Year. She picked us up at the station when the three of us went to Shanghai."
Upon hearing this, the four adults curiously crowded over and stared at the photo.
Looking at the photo, Zhuang Chaoying recalled the girl next to Tu Nan that she had seen when she attended a literature symposium at Tongji University. It was the same girl Dong Zhe had pointed out.
Song Ying nodded with a smile. "It looks good. Tu Nan has good taste, Sister Ling."
"It's beautiful!"
Lin Wufeng was surprised. He didn't expect that Tu Nan, who seemed so honest, would also have a relationship in college.
Not bad, really not bad. They're all from Suzhou, so they can be assigned together in the future. This kid has foresight!
Tu Nan and Xiao Ting came over and picked up all the remaining bowls and chopsticks.
"Aunt Song, what's interesting?"
Song Ying had a sudden inspiration and pointed to the building drawn in the surveying book. "This one is beautiful."
Tu Nan, holding the bowl and chopsticks, didn't think much of it. "You guys take your time looking at it, I'll wash the dishes." After saying that, she and Xiao Ting went to the kitchen, leaving the adults in the living room still quietly discussing the photos.
It was the first time Huang Ling and Song Ying had met Zhang Wanshu. The two women huddled together, their eyes fixed on the photo.
Lin Dongzhe looked at them, blinked twice, and suddenly laughed out loud. He turned to his father, Lin Wufeng, and Zhuang Chaoying, and said half-jokingly.
"This little courtyard can't do without me!"
Lin Wufeng looked at his mischievous son and couldn't help but smile. He rolled his eyes at him helplessly, thinking to himself, "This little rascal, he just loves to be unserious."
After washing the dishes, Tu Nan and Xiao Ting returned to the living room and sat down in chairs.
Looking at the local specialties on the table, Tu Nan began to introduce them one by one. "This is aged vinegar; people over there really love vinegar. This is jujube noodles; the salesperson said it's sweet and sour and tastes great. This is pea cake. I bought two of each of these; Aunt Song and Uncle Lin will take one back with them later."
Song Ying felt a warm glow in her heart as she listened to Tu Nan's words. She had watched Tu Nan grow up. How had that ignorant little boy grown up so quickly and become so sensible, even bringing them gifts when he was away from home?
Her eyes reddened slightly. "Tu Nan, your aunt and Uncle Lin thank you so much for thinking of us even when you're away from home."
"Auntie, it's only right. You and Uncle Lin have taken good care of me and Xiaoting."
After saying that, Tu Nan picked up the group photo and began to introduce it. "Mom, Auntie, this is our team leader, Teacher Ruan. This photo was taken in the courtyard where we live."
As Song Ying listened, she looked at the photo, then glanced at Huang Ling, a mischievous smile appearing on her face. "Tu Nan, is this the only photo? Are there any others?"
Upon hearing this, Tu Nan's heart skipped a beat. He turned to look at Lin Dongzhe, only to see him with an innocent expression, looking as if nothing had happened.
It must be that kid. He told his parents about him and Zhang Wanshu, and now his little secret can't be kept hidden anymore.
Tu Nan reached into his backpack and took out a stack of photos.
With a somewhat reckless attitude, he handed over the photo, trying to keep his tone calm. "Look."
He now has a kind of composure after being exposed; if he can't hide it, he might as well face it openly.
Huang Ling, Song Ying, Xiao Ting, and Dong Zhe all crowded around at once, their heads pressed close together, their eyes fixed on the photo.
Everyone beamed with joy upon seeing the photo of Tu Nan and the girl.
Song Ying's eyes sparkled. "Tu Nan, you have good taste! This girl is quite pretty!"
Tu Nan's lips curled up slightly. It seems that Dong Zhe's love of gossip is just like Aunt Song's, almost without any difference.
Huang Ling smiled and gently tugged at Song Ying's arm. "Don't say anything, our Tu Nan is blushing, he's embarrassed!"
As he spoke, he winked at Tu Nan.
Tu Nan shrugged nonchalantly, feigning ease. "Mom, Aunt Song, it's too early for you two to be happy. It'll only be considered settled when you get married."
The room fell silent for a second after he said that, then burst into even louder laughter.
Lin Wufeng's eyes widened. "Tu Nan, you're even considering marriage, Teacher Zhuang. It seems this kid is serious."
Zhuang Chaoying nodded. "It's normal for kids to want to make friends as they grow up. Ah Ling, you need to prepare to be a grandmother!"
Tu Nan was taken aback by his father's words. "Dad! What nonsense are you talking about! We're only sophomores!"
Zhuang Chaoying smiled happily, while Tu Nan seemed embarrassed.
The family finished their pleasant conversation and prepared to rest.
Xiaoting walked up to Tunan. "Brother, I plan to sleep in the attic, so I'll give you the small room."
Tu Nan reached out and pulled his sister. "Your brother is tough and resilient, I'm not afraid of any trouble. I'll sleep in the yard, you can sleep in the hut."
At this moment, Lin Dongzhe sidled up like a little tail and put his arm around Tu Nan's shoulder. "Brother, I want to sleep with you."
Tu Nan patted his head. "It's too hot today, it's cooler in the yard. I'll sleep in the yard, and I'll sleep with you tomorrow."
Lin Dongzhe reluctantly nodded and went back into the house.
Zhuang Chaoying lit two mosquito coils in front of and behind the folding bed. There were a lot of mosquitoes at night, and if she didn't light mosquito coils, Tu Nan would wake up covered in mosquito bites the next day!
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