CHAPTER 540: CHAPTER 535: TROUBLING CONCERNS

Fang Pingying was thinking about the weekend, and that Li Aihua would definitely come over later. Since Li Aihua got pregnant, her tastes have become particularly fickle, wanting this today and that tomorrow. She had wanted a kind of pancake not long ago, but now she’s no longer interested in it.

She thought about running errands with Liu Fengsheng, and they wouldn’t have to leave until later in the morning, so there was no rush. She specifically peeled a few potatoes, planning to make some potato pancakes for Li Aihua, which would also serve as snacks for the kids later on.

After peeling the potatoes, Luo Honglan happened to wake up. After washing up, she came straight to the kitchen and took the kitchen knife from Fang Pingying’s hand, "Sister-in-law, let me peel, you can start cooking."

"Okay." After responding, Fang Pingying took a pot, filled it with water, and placed it on the stove, preparing to boil some potatoes.

Both of them stayed in the kitchen for a while. For some reason, Fang Pingying felt the house was exceptionally quiet today. Only after looking at Luo Honglan did she realize that Luo Honglan was unusually quiet today.

This girl never talks much in front of strangers, but she is particularly chatty around Fang Pingying. Whenever Fang Pingying is home, she chatters away, wishing she could say all she wants at once.

Fang Pingying glanced at Luo Honglan a few times and realized that something indeed seemed off with the girl today, she had a worried look about her.

Surely, there hadn’t been any recent issues to worry about. No, ever since the time Zhou Yunmei forced Luo Honglan to agree to marry Li Shunbai, after which she cut off contact with her family, there hasn’t really been anything troubling her.

Could it be that since they can’t find Luo Zhiyong, they have started to bother her again?

With that thought, Fang Pingying directly asked, "Honglan, has the Luo family called home recently?"

"No." Luo Honglan was silent for a moment, then it sounded almost like she was reporting to Fang Pingying, "But I did call my dad to see if he’s in good health."

Fang Pingying nodded her head, knowing that even though she was no longer part of the Luo family, Luo Honglan still was, and of course, she wouldn’t stop Luo Honglan from contacting her family.

She casually also asked, "How is your dad’s health?"

"Sounds okay from his voice," said Luo Honglan, and then she sighed as if increasingly bothered.

Fang Pingying felt something was definitely wrong and frowned at her, "Did he say anything to you over the phone, are the messy issues at home still unresolved?"

Luo Honglan shook her head, "No."

Fang Pingying thought a moment. If it wasn’t family issues, then it probably had to do with Chen Jie. She remembered that Luo Honglan had gone out last night, saying that she and Chen Jie were going to the movies.

She tentatively asked again, "About last night, you said you were going to the movies with Chen Jie, did he say something to you?"

Hearing Chen Jie’s name made Luo Honglan visibly moved. She stopped what she was doing and looked at Fang Pingying, calling out somewhat distressed, "Sister-in-law."

"Hmm?" Fang Pingying gestured for her to continue.

Luo Honglan hesitated for a moment before slowly speaking, "Chen Jie said to me last night, he said we’ve been together for so long now, he wants to get things settled."

"Get things settled? That’s great." Fang Pingying thought Luo Honglan was referring to marriage and was quite happy about it. She had a good impression of that young man Chen Jie, and if he were to take care of Honglan, she would have peace of mind.

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But then she thought about it and became a bit worried, "If it’s marriage, you’re not of age yet; Chen Jie and the others are military personnel, and the military is strict about these things, right?"

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Upon hearing this, Luo Honglan’s face turned bright red and she quickly shook her head, "It’s not marriage, it’s an engagement."

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Fang Pingying, upon hearing it was an engagement, immediately smiled in agreement, "An engagement is great. You’ve been dating for a while and understand each other well enough. It’s good to set things in stone."

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Luo Honglan, seeing Fang Pingying happy, forced a few tendrils of a smile and joined in with a laugh, but her smile soon faded. She bit her lip, looked at Fang Pingying with a smile, and said, "But if we really get engaged, his parents will come here, and they might even want to meet my parents. I don’t know what to do."

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Her words made Fang Pingying’s smile freeze. She had forgotten about this matter. If they were to get engaged, both sets of parents would inevitably need to meet.

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As for Zhou Yunmei, if she were asked to meet Chen Jie’s parents, she would surely make unreasonable demands. If she refused to come, Chen Jie’s parents would definitely have suspicions about their family affairs. Maybe even before they get married, Chen Jie’s parents would have preconceived notions.

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However, Fang Pingying remembered that Chen Jie had visited their hometown and knew about her family’s situation. He should also know how to talk to his parents about it.

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She asked Luo Honglan, "What did Chen Jie say?"

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"Chen Jie said to have my dad and you both go meet his parents," Luo Honglan explained again immediately, worried that Fang Pingying hadn’t understood, "That is, you and big brother together."

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Fang Pingying felt that having Luo Dashan come over was indeed feasible, but when it came to herself and Luo Zhiyong, she said, "Honglan, if you think everything at home can be well managed and your dad can come, that would be appropriate. After all, having an elder present would also lend the occasion some gravity. As for me and your big brother, I won’t go. Let him go."

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Fang Pingying planned to stay out of Luo Family matters as much as possible and avoid meeting with Luo Zhiyong as much as possible—she intended to sever ties completely.

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But when Luo Honglan heard that she wouldn’t go, she immediately became agitated, "No, that won’t do, sister-in-law. You’ve always been like a real sister to me, no, even better than my own sister. How could you not attend my engagement? You must go. And you also promised me before that you would see me off into marriage."

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Fang Pingying was aware that Luo Honglan relied on her in many matters, and that she indeed had previously promised Luo Honglan.

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After thinking it over, she looked at Luo Honglan and said, "Well then, if you insist on me going, then that’s fine, but let your big brother stay behind."

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"Sister-in-law..." Luo Honglan was reluctant. She wanted Fang Pingying to accompany her to meet Chen Jie’s parents, and she also hoped to use this event as an opportunity for Luo Zhiyong and Fang Pingying to meet more often.

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But this time, Fang Pingying was very firm. She patted Luo Honglan on the head and sternly said, "Be good, don’t make things difficult for your sister-in-law."

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"Alright then, when the time comes I’ll ask my big brother what he thinks." There was still some time, and she planned to arrange things secretly. And once the two of them actually met up, she was confident that Fang Pingying wouldn’t just turn around and leave.

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However, she wasn’t worried about that now; there was another matter on her mind that caused her concern, "But still..."

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"But what?"

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Luo Honglan looked at Fang Pingying, asking timidly, "What if by any chance Chen Jie’s parents ask about our family matters, or if they look down on our family, what should we do then?"

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Fang Pingying also held this worry deep down, but in front of Luo Honglan, she still reassured her, "That won’t happen. Chen Jie is such a good person; his parents won’t be too bad either."

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Luo Honglan always believed that whatever Fang Pingying said was right. She immediately cheered up and even smiled about going to the living room to make a call, "Sister-in-law, then I’ll call my dad and ask him to come over, alright?"

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