Chapter 25: Don't Love Me Too Much

Longgang District.

The older woman was already waiting at the main gate.

"Girl, over here, come quickly." The older woman waved her arms and shouted. Tu Shan shrank her neck, feeling flattered.

"Good morning, Auntie."

Wei Ruolan smiled and gave Tu Shan a playful glare. "What 'Auntie'? Call me Auntie Wei. Girl, hurry, hurry, hurry, come here. Why are you pushing so much stuff? You must be tired, right?"

Tu Shan silently dodged to the side. *Not an auntie, don't be so affectionate with me; you're not my type.*

"Not tired. So, uh, shall we go in first?"

"Sure, sure."

Even though Tu Shan was brought in by the older woman herself, she still had to undergo an inspection while pushing so much cargo.

The young sentry was diligent and professional; facing such a large amount of grain, his expression didn't change. His work ethic was top-notch.

"No problem, please enter."

Auntie Wei led Tu Shan inside with a cheerful smile, chatting enthusiastically the whole way. Tu Shan felt that something was off; the older woman’s passion for her was excessive.

Strange, too strange. What could have happened in just one night?

"Good morning, Auntie Wei. What a coincidence," a voice with an excessive amount of sweetness approached rapidly. Auntie Wei, who had been talking animatedly, turned around.

"Oh, it’s the Duan girl. Here so early to see your grandfather?" Auntie Wei wore a dignified, gentle, and kind smile on her face.

Tu Shan opened her mouth slightly. *The old lady can change her face too, huh? In the time it took to turn her head, she switched instantly.*

Duan Jiajia trotted over and responded shyly, "Yes, my father said he’s been busy these days and hasn't been able to visit Grandfather. I happened to be free, so he sent me to check on him.

Oh, by the way, this is my cousin. My father was worried that Grandfather couldn't take care of himself alone, so he hired my cousin to come and help look after him."

*Oh, so it’s a nanny in disguise. Most people hiring nannies these days say it like that.*

This "cousin" had dark skin, was thin and small, and didn't look young—around thirty. Duan Jiajia introduced her as twenty-five.

She looked like a hardworking and simple girl.

Auntie Wei smiled and said, "That’s true. That stubborn old man of yours really does need someone to watch over him. Well, you two go ahead; your grandfather should be up by now."

Duan Jiajia wasn't in a hurry to leave. "It's fine. Grandfather still has to practice his boxing for a while after getting up; he doesn't like to be disturbed. I might as well walk with you for a bit.

By the way, these things..." Duan Jiajia finally turned her head and gave Tu Shan a proper look. Unexpectedly, her smile froze on her face, turning into something angry and slightly hideous. "Why is it you?"

The sweetness was gone; there was a burnt smell now.

Auntie Wei asked curiously, "You two know each other?"

Duan Jiajia regained her composure and pulled a stiff smile. "No."

Tu Shan narrowed her eyes. "She said I was trash."

Duan Jiajia...

Tu Shan struck a peacock-like pose. "I bought a watch." She thrust her wrist, which looked like a chicken claw, in front of Duan Jiajia.

Duan Jiajia???

"You..."

Tu Shan: "I can afford it."

"You..."

Tu Shan: "Because I have money."

Duan Jiajia stomped her feet in a frenzy: "You, you..."

Tu Shan raised her middle finger: "You’re the trash who can't afford it."

"Ah... you bitch! How could a low-life like you have so much money? Who knows where your money came from? Are you doing something shameless? What right do you have to show off in front of me? Do you know who I am? Do you believe I can make it so you can't survive in the state capital?"

The sweet girl had turned into a female tyrannosaurus.

Tu Shan was expressionless: "I don't believe it."

Auntie Wei was dumbfounded. Seeing Duan Jiajia about to make a move, she hurriedly stopped her: "Duan girl, don't cause a scene here."

Duan Jiajia’s hideous expression froze. She looked at Auntie Wei in horror: "No, Auntie Wei, she deliberately provoked me. I’m not like this."

Auntie Wei remained dignified, gentle, and kind, smiling: "It's fine, you're just children, bickering is normal. However, you cannot fight here, or you'll be taken away to the dark room. Alright, go see your grandfather now."

Duan Jiajia looked humiliated and regretful, hating Tu Shan to the core, but she didn't dare to stay shamelessly any longer. She left, looking back every few steps.

The "cousin" followed her cautiously, silent the entire time.

Tu Shan triumphantly wiped her watch; it looked better on her anyway.

Auntie Wei was amused by her petty triumph: "The little girl is quite vengeful."

Tu Shan smiled.

Under her thick bangs, a dark light flashed in her eyes. That "cousin" was not right.

Entering the small courtyard, besides the three people from yesterday, there was an older man of medium build.

"This is my husband. You can just call him Uncle; he’s on leave today."

"Oh," Tu Shan rolled her eyes. That strange feeling came back again.

These people clearly had the same expressions and demeanor as yesterday, but she just felt something was wrong—she just couldn't put her finger on what.

Especially this smiling uncle; he was just as creepy as the auntie when she smiled.

"Uncle, stop smiling. Your smile isn't good-looking."

Zongzheng Guotai... He had been a "smiling tiger" his whole life; this was the first time someone told him his smile wasn't good-looking.

"Hahaha..." The old man laughed mercilessly: "Finally, someone has the same perception as me. I told this kid before that his smile wasn't good-looking, but he wouldn't believe me. He’s so confident, too."

Tu Shan...

"Grandpa, you stop smiling too. Your dentures are about to fall out."

Everyone...

"Pfft..."

Well, everyone laughed together.

Tu Shan felt even more creeped out. Had she accidentally stumbled into some strange place?

"So, uh, I’m just here to deliver the goods. I have to get back to work." *Stop laughing, I can't take it.*

Alright, everyone returned to normal. Tu Shan breathed a sigh of relief.

The old man asked with a smile: "You have a job? What kind of work?"

Standing behind the old man, Zhan Ming raised his eyebrows slightly. He hadn't investigated this.

Tu Shan silently straightened her back, the corners of her mouth curling up wildly: "Ah, yes, I just got it yesterday. I’m an extra-staff member at the Criminal Police Brigade. I can get a permanent position and take the civil service exam later."

"Is it clerical work? Do you know how to read?" Auntie Wei asked the soul-searching question. The files showed that Tu Sanmei was illiterate.

Tu Shan was unhappy: "Who are you looking down on? Criminal police, catching bad guys! I’m very capable; I charge to the front line." To prove her capability, she showed off by lifting the wheelbarrow full of goods.

Everyone???

Tu Shan grinned, showing her teeth: "See that? Super strong. Also, I can read. There isn't a single character in the Xinhua Dictionary that I don't know."

Whether she could read or not was no longer important; the fact that she was as strong as an ox had shocked everyone.

"Alright, alright, put it down quickly. Why are you so reckless, girl? Aren't you afraid of throwing out your back?"

Tu Shan put down the cart and waved her hand dismissively: "This is nothing.

I brought a lot of grain today. Besides peanuts, there are rapeseed seeds—take them to press for oil; it’s good for you.

I also brought some rice, wheat, and vegetables. From now on, you grandfathers should eat what I bring. Give the other grain to the juniors; they’re young and strong, it doesn't matter what they eat. Don't waste the good stuff."

The old man asked with a smile: "Is your stuff really that good?"

Tu Shan looked at him as if he didn't know quality: "Good or not, you'll know once you eat it. Eat with peace of mind; I'll bring you more when you finish. No need to save it." She was incredibly generous.

The old man laughed: "Fine, I’ll see just how good your stuff is. Since it’s so good, is it more expensive than others?"

Tu Shan said proudly: "Of course. Even the big boss at the black market pays me double the market price for my peanuts and rapeseed. Everything else is ten percent higher than the market price. Just these greens—they’re ten cents a jin, ten times the price of regular greens. If you don't believe me, go ask around."