CHAPTER 78: CHAPTER 78: TRULY A VILLAIN

Tian Chenhui came back and was scolded harshly by Hu Honglian that night.

It wasn’t about the fight; that had already been dealt with in the morning when Tian Weibing and his wife picked him up from the train station.

The evening’s issue was him not doing his chores. He was supposed to buy groceries in the afternoon, but ended up sleeping until kingdom come and forgot about everything.

Originally, Hu Honglian planned to make tofu soup for him, thinking her son had endured hardships outside. But now there was nothing. She didn’t even fry an egg for him, only making noodles for her daughter.

Tian Chenhui felt wronged; growing up, everyone favored his sister, while he seemed like the adopted one.

Hu Honglian snapped, "If you could achieve what Xiangxiang has and bring honor to the Old Tian Family instead of causing trouble every few days, I would not only spoil you but pray for you."

She then went on to list all the achievements of her daughter in the past two months, making her shine countless times, saying there wasn’t anyone in the city who could match her.

This was too exaggerated.

Originally feeling proud, Tian Xiang raised an eyebrow at her brother, but then she couldn’t help tugging on Hu Honglian’s sleeve.

Forget it, always putting down her brother wasn’t right.

Tian Chenhui had skin as thick as leather, already used to being reprimanded, enviously eyeing the egg in his sister’s bowl while slurping his noodles.

Seeing this, Tian Xiang split the egg in her bowl and gave half to her brother.

Tian Chenhui’s eyes squinted with a smile, knowing his sister still cared for him.

Hu Honglian knocked his head with chopsticks, "In your twenties, can’t you ease some worries? If you want to stay in the city, behave properly and quietly, got it?"

Tian Chenhui wailed, "Mom, I got it. My head’s still injured, don’t knock it..."

In the countryside, it was either sweet potatoes or cornbread. The city was much better; although they couldn’t eat white flour every day, they could have it two or three times a week.

Of course, it was also because his sister was working now and had ration tickets every month to buy better things.

After returning this time, Tian Chenhui decided not to leave again.

The next morning, while Tian Xiang was doing her hair, she heard her brother talking to someone in the yard, sounding like a classmate or friend had come.

Usually, at this time, Hu Honglian would complain to her daughter about how her son was led astray by this group of people.

But today, she only invited them in without a word of complaint.

After tidying herself, Tian Xiang went out to wash up and happened to greet the visitor.

The person seemed familiar, but she couldn’t really remember; after all, Tian Chenhui had been in the countryside for four years, and she hadn’t seen those buddies of his for years.

However, when the visitor saw her, he paused for a moment and then quietly asked Tian Chenhui, "Is that your sister?"

Tian Chenhui looked him up and down, "What? Don’t get any ideas!"

Looking like a fairy, how could people not fantasize?

Lu Weihua laughed outwardly, but inwardly, his heart was already half stolen by Tian Xiang.

As the two were leaving, Lu Weihua specifically greeted Tian Xiang.

Tian Xiang was squatting by the ditch brushing her teeth and only casually nodded, not noticing that in his mind, her label had changed from a mere passerby to a major antagonist, second only to Meng Cheng’an.

During breakfast, Tian Xiang specially asked why her brother, having just returned, was already going out again.

The key was that their mother had allowed it.

Hu Honglian whispered to her daughter that he was attending a job recruitment.

No wonder.

"Where’s the recruitment?"

"At the food factory."

The food factory was also on Red Fifth Street, and like the Mechanical Factory, it was a good one.

Hu Honglian said, "The person’s name is Lu Weihua, a friend your brother met during the past few years in the countryside. His father works in the district, and his mother is at the food factory. This time, it was because of the Lu Family that your brother could come out smoothly; otherwise, it would have been much harder.

Of course, it was right for him to help in fights and get people released.

But he seems loyal. The food factory’s job recruitment is private and not open to the public, yet he specifically came to invite your brother, which shows heart."

So that’s the situation.

But private recruitment often favors the factory’s children, so this might just be a wasted trip for her brother.

...

On her way to work, Tian Xiang ran into Meng Cheng’an at the factory gate again.

They walked one before the other without acknowledging each other.

Compared to her initial anger and resentment, after about ten days, Tian Xiang’s feelings had slowly calmed.

If he doesn’t want to talk, so be it; giving up on her is his loss.

Later that morning, as the office meeting ended, it started drizzling outside.

Winter rain was bone-chilling cold.

Tian Xiang didn’t have anything special to do, so she stayed inside to manage the office.

Just before noon, the gatekeeper came looking for her, saying someone was at the door for her, her brother.

What was her brother doing here?

Tian Xiang hurried out.

At the factory entrance, both Tian Chenhui and Lu Weihua were there.

Seeing Tian Xiang, Tian Chenhui quickly waved and cheerfully said, "Come on, let’s go have a good meal at the restaurant."

Tian Xiang stared at Lu Weihua’s forehead, a bit taken aback.

Seeing him this morning, he seemed like just a street punk. But now, in no time, he’d transformed into the second lead villain, even more eye-catching than Meng Cheng’an’s label.

What did this guy do?

Did he like her or have a grudge against Lu Feng?

"Who’s paying?" Tian Xiang asked.

Tian Chenhui patted his chest, "Of course, I’m treating. Xiangxiang, hurry up, let’s go to Bridgehead Restaurant."

"Do you have money and tickets?"

Tian Xiang suspiciously eyed her brother.

Tian Chenhui waved his hand grandly, "You don’t believe in your brother?"

"Alright then." Tian Xiang nodded, "Let me gather my things; you two wait a moment."

If her brother was treating, she would definitely go.

Tian Xiang returned to grab her bag, just as the off-work bell rang.

The three rode bicycles to Bridgehead Restaurant.

Tian Chenhui didn’t have a bike and sat all the way on the back of Lu Weihua’s bike.

They didn’t talk much on the way to the restaurant, and Lu Weihua seemed normal.

They only chatted a bit while ordering, discussing what dishes to have.

Tian Xiang saw they had braised pork, so she asked her brother to order a serving, then added fish and steamed pork.

Tian Xiang loved meat, and since Tian Chenhui and Lu Weihua had just returned from the countryside, they were craving it badly, so none of them initially planned to order any vegetables.

In those days, rare trips to the restaurant didn’t involve ordering vegetables.

However, when confirming the menu, Tian Xiang inexplicably told the waiter, "Add a small dish of greens too."

Tian Chenhui surprisedly glanced at his sister, but since she wanted it, as her brother, he naturally had no objections.

Next to him, Lu Weihua took out another ticket.

Tian Xiang looked at the two of them, puzzled, and asked her brother, "Weren’t you treating?"

Tian Chenhui shrugged, "I’m treating; he’s paying."

Tian Xiang frowned.

What did this mean? If she had known, she wouldn’t have come for this meal.

She had inexplicably ended up owing someone a meal!