Chapter 1655 - 301: Rough Romance

When Run Sheng came of age and his appetite grew, Mr. Shan simply tossed him over to Li Sanjiang. That old guy could make money, and his days were comfortable. By following him, Run Sheng could eat and drink well.

He thought it could be easygoing from then on, but in the end, the responsibilities he had to bear couldn't be shaken off.

Sometimes, Mr. Shan truly hoped Run Sheng could be like other young men in the village who forget their parents once they get married.

He muddled through on his own, and no matter how tight things got, in the village fields, starving was impossible.

But Run Sheng was a filial son, and if Meng Meng, that girl, didn't stop him, he'd come donate support fees. And you'd let him, wouldn't you?

If he's going to send them… At first, Mr. Shan was quite happy accepting them, but that girl always had to scold him every time she came.

Sigh, a daughter-in-law brought in with a bride price, scolds her father-in-law at home. Most fathers don't dare talk back, let alone someone like him with a down-and-out appearance; he can only bow his head and endure.

Initially, villagers asked him whether he had bought his wife through a human trafficker, since no decent woman would favor the Lu Family.

The rumors spread for a bit, then quieted down—not because wise people stopped the rumors, but rather because the Lu Family didn't have a penny to buy a daughter-in-law!

Li Sanjiang scolded him plenty over this, but he didn't take it to heart until Meng Meng deliberately gave him gambling money and stopped scolding him.

That made Mr. Shan feel quite ashamed, and he resolved to endure until he finally achieved surplus.

The meaning of striving was to prove that even if he couldn't support Run Sheng, as a burden, at least he wasn't an endless pit.

"Grandpa."

"Ah, what's up?"

"Meng Meng won't return to Nantong for now. She's staying in the Mountain City, living there for a while."

"A while… How long?"

"Two or three years, I suppose."

When Mr. Shan heard this, it was like he was struck by lightning, sitting bolt upright on the long bench.

Even if he hadn't eaten pork, he'd seen pigs run; Mr. Shan knew what separating for two or three years meant for dating couples. You don't even need two or three years; being apart over three months is essentially a breakup.

After finishing his porridge, Run Sheng headed to the town co-op on his tricycle to buy Grandpa some living necessities. Upon returning, he found Grandpa still seated on the long bench with his bowl of porridge untouched before him.

Run Sheng didn't know how to offer comfort; he didn't have the mind for it.

So, he started chopping wood in the yard.

In truth, Run Sheng didn't know what dating meant either. He wasn't even sure if he and Meng Meng were dating or when they started.

He thought although Xiao Yuan and Alii were young, they were a natural pair. While at home, they were almost inseparable and could sit on the terrace, pointing at stars in the sky while playing chess.

Alii obviously couldn't speak, but when they were together, it was as if they had endless conversation.

He had also seen how Tan Wenbin and Zhou Yunyun came together—high school classmates, then attending the same college.

Tan Wenbin used to mention his class monitor at home often, saying she had a loud voice, short temper, and frequently picked on him or reported him to teachers, ending with: "just happens to look decent."

And then they started dating, each having met the other's parents, waiting only for graduation to seal the deal.

While running his shop at college, Run Sheng saw many college couples, who behaved naturally and were openly affectionate—even in front of crowds.

Seeing countless examples, Run Sheng still couldn't find where his corresponding example lay.

He didn't understand what the feeling of being moved meant.

Although, he had seen it in Lin Shuyou when he was preparing to write a love letter to Zhou Yunyun on stationery.

But he didn't have this feeling when he first saw Yin Meng at Fengdu Ghost Street's coffin shop, nor even now.

It seems like one day, watching her sweat as she worked, he just thought of handing her a tank of cool water infused with patchouli leaves. Seeing her idle mouth, he'd try to find snacks for her. Noticing she liked spicy food, he'd add extra chilies when cooking. She envied college girls dressed in stylish attire, so he'd give her all his monthly dividends to buy clothes.

And then, when Yin Meng saw his clothes worn and old, she'd buy clothes for him. When anyone in the big household got hurt, she would be the first to check his injuries, always naturally prioritizing him, and even suggested accompanying him to buy supplies for Grandpa.

It wasn't like Xiao Yuan's meticulousness nor the shared youthful beauty of Tan Wenbin. Run Sheng just had a mutual understanding.

I'll intuitively be good to you, and you will intuitively be good to me.

The feeling of "being moved" should be lively and vibrant, but here, it's a bit rough.

Rough, abrasive to the touch, tangible, confirming its genuine existence—not bouncing or vibrant, also meaning it's resistant to change.

"Crack!"

"Crack!"

"Crack!"

One after another, Run Sheng neatly split the wooden stakes. Once the firewood burns out, you chop more, then burn it again, over and over, day after day.

Forget about vigorous romance or tender love; the truth is, most lives don't make much noise or lead soft lives.

Fireworks are beautiful but usually set off by few, while the majority stand on the outskirts looking up.