Reborn in the 80s, Get Rich by Eating Melons

Chapter 215: Chapter 215: You’re Not a Child Anymore

For the next few days, the three of them were constantly busy. During this period, Lin Fengying came to the city for a visit and was delighted to see the bustling business in the store. After having lunch, she returned to the village.

After a week of such busy yet mundane life, the three of them cleaned up as usual at the end of the day, preparing to go home. Suddenly, Si Xiaohui let out a startled cry.

"Sister-in-law, second brother, look, it’s big brother! He’s back."

Tong Yao turned her head and saw Si Chen standing across the street from them. His face appeared weary after the exhausting days, but his posture remained firm, like an unyielding white poplar tree, radiating a sense of moral steadfastness.

They had been married for more than three months, and they had spent more time apart than together. Now, their affection for each other was heating up again. Tong Yao, who had been recently wronged, was both happy and upset upon seeing Si Chen. She looked at him for two seconds like a happy birdie. Then, opening her arms wide, she ran towards him, proceeding to hang off his waist.

She felt as if she couldn’t hug him enough.

When she ran toward him, Si Chen had already put down his things and reached out to catch her. The couple, after being separated for so long, displayed their emotions on their faces upon their reunion. Their upturned lips were clear indicators of their current state of happiness.

Watching this scene, Si Boyi’s face turned slightly red. He was too bashful to continue looking at them. With his traditional views, he felt that it was inappropriate to show so much affection in public. So, he found it embarrassing to watch them.

However, this was his brother and sister-in-law. He couldn’t say anything.

Si Xiaohui, though thick-skinned, found it somewhat awkward too. She snorted and said: "Big brother, you and sister-in-law should stop being all lovey-dovey in public. We are on the street and if others see you, they will gossip. Who cuddles so openly on the streets like you two?"

They had already married so when they were behind closed doors, they could have their hugs and cuddles. But cuddling out here was improper. She found it embarrassing just watching them.

Tong Yao didn’t care about others’ opinions or comments. However, knowing that Si Chen must be tired, she did not want to exhaust him further. Thus, she finally let go of his neck and stood up, linking her arm with his.

"You must be hungry. Let’s go home and cook."

Seeing this, Si Boyi quickly came forward to help Si Chen carry his things. "Big brother, let me carry them."

Si Xiaohui saw Tong Yao linking her arms with Si Chen’s and ran over to latch onto his other arm too. But the moment she did so, Si Chen pulled away. Moreover, he looked serious when he said, "you’re not a child anymore."

Si Xiaohui pouted, questioning why she couldn’t link arms with him when her sister-in-law could. Nonetheless, it was their big brother’s first day back, so she held back on complaining.

When the three of them got home, Si Boyi immediately hopped on his bike and went out to buy groceries, taking Si Xiaohui with him. It had been a long time since her brother and sister-in-law had seen each other, so they certainly had loads to talk about. Thus, they decided not to impose.

With only the couple left at home, Tong Yao couldn’t take her eyes off Si Chen. She felt like she could never get enough of him. The intensity of her gaze made Si Chen somewhat uncomfortable. He raised his hand to ruffle her hair, asking lightly, "How come we’ve moved here?"

He had arrived at the hospital with Si Jun in the afternoon. After traveling for over twenty days, everyone was exhausted. Hence, after checking in at the hospital, they had all returned to rest. It was only when he went home that he learned from Li Nuanchun that Tong Yao had moved out. At that time, Si Jun and Yu Shiya were there too. Seeing Li Nuanchun’s hesitant manner, he knew something must have happened while he was away. Understanding the situation, he did not ask further and left the housing complex.

For Si Chen, the housing complex was just a place to rest. Where Tong Yao was, that was home.

Thus, he had no objections to Tong Yao moving out of the housing complex. As long as Tong Yao was happy, he was content.

"The story behind it is quite long." As she began narrating why she moved out of the housing complex, Tong Yao’s indignance flared. She felt somewhat humiliated and angered, "It all started with the earthquake. I had some knowledge about earthquake research. I felt that something was off and wanted to warn everyone to evacuate. However, the Dean accused me of creating a commotion. He had me kicked out of the housing complex in front of many people. So, out of anger, I moved out on the night of the earthquake. Honestly, I didn’t like living there with all the negative energy anyway."

Dean Yu Zhengxiong had appeared to be angry over her ostensibly irrational behavior at that time. But, undoubtedly, some personal sentiments must have been involved. The housing complex was not some Feng Shui treasure spot. Since they had driven her out, she would not shamelessly continue to live there.

Having heard Tong Yao’s narration, Si Chen’s brow wrinkled slightly, and his face instantly darkened. He had not expected that Yu Zhengxiong would have Tong Yao driven out of the housing complex not long after he left. The Dean lacked the magnanimity and demeanor of his position.

And what about Tong Yao who was somewhat childish and prideful? How distressed must she have been at that time?

Si Chen felt a bitter taste in his heart, as he reached out to pull Tong Yao into his arms. Resting his chin on her forehead, he said, "I’m sorry you were wronged."

Tong Yao wrapped her arms around his waist, rested her head on his chest, and giggled, "There’s nothing to complain about. If he didn’t want me to live there, I wouldn’t cherish living there either. I’m planning on finding a house tomorrow."

Si Chen pursed his lips, seemingly in deep thought. Then after a moment, he said, "Don’t look yet, we’ll discuss it in a few days."

Tong Yao nodded and extricated herself from his arms. She took a deep breath and cooed, "Go take a shower first. You’re all sweaty."

A shade of awkwardness flitted across Si Chen’s face. Indeed, he hadn’t bathed in days. At most, he had used a towel soaked in water to wipe his body. Every day he would sweat profusely, making such a method of cleaning ineffective. He couldn’t smell any sweat since he was used to it, but seeing Tong Yao scrunching her face up, he figured his body odour must be strong.

"I’ll go and have a shower then. You’ve also had a long day. Take a rest."

"Go on then!" While Tong Yao found clothes for him to change into, she chirped lively, "I have loads to talk about with you. Let’s chat slowly after your shower."

"Okay." Si Chen’s gaze skimmed over her fair neck, a shadow fleeting across his eyes. He then took the clothes from Tong Yao’s hands and headed to the bathroom.

He hadn’t taken a bath for so long that he was caked in dust. This was the first time since his adulthood that he hadn’t bathed for an extended period.

He remembered the last time he hadn’t had a bath for such a long period was right after his father had passed away. Times were tough then, and there wasn’t even enough food to fill their bellies, let alone having money to buy bath tickets. That year, the weather was exceptionally cold, with thigh-deep snow all over. Now, a dozen years have passed, and he had grown up.