On the morning of the second day of the lunar new year, when Shen Qiang opened his eyes, Kang Luoying immediately pretended to sleep sweetly beside him. Shen Qiang pulled her into his arms, and her cute face instantly turned red, her body stiffening like a puppet.

"Hurry up and get up," she said with her beautiful eyes open, playfully scolding, "Didn't we agree to go back with Sister Chu Qing after breakfast?"

Shen Qiang laughed, "Go back then; it's not far from here to the Provincial City. Why should I get up so early?"

Kang Luoying's face flushed, and she playfully glanced at Shen Qiang, cleverly saying, "If you don't get up first, then when I get up, and change clothes, you'll be peeking. So hurry up and get up, then leave quickly so I can change clothes."

Shen Qiang laughed, his eyes bent with amusement, unable to understand what her mindset was.

Considering it's already the second day, the original plan was to go back on the third day, but Bai Shiyi was urging, so Shen Qiang planned to return earlier with the girls to the Provincial City; the time available at home was already very limited. Even though he didn't understand what Kang Luoying was thinking, he obediently got up.

Getting up, having breakfast—the days at home were just that leisurely.

While eating, his mom said she prepared a lot of things for Shen Qiang, like eggs from the chickens in the backyard, their own millet, sorghum rice, and small corn kernels. Shen Qiang originally wanted to say no need to bring them since they could easily be bought in the Provincial City.

But seeing his mom's serious expression, he didn't say it aloud.

After finishing breakfast, all the girls were ready to head back, and Shen Qiang also had to leave because not only did he need to return to the Provincial City, but also visit Bai Village. Bai Shiyi's intention was for Shen Qiang and Bai Jiao to stay at Bai Village until the fifteenth day of the lunar month. Although he couldn't agree, Shen Qiang could still feel Bai Shiyi's eager desire to see his daughter.

Originally, Shen Qiang's mom never let him leave before the fifth day of the lunar month, but she understood now and didn't insist on keeping him.

Moreover, the other girls felt the same way—Spring Festival wasn't long; they weren't home for New Year's Eve or the first day, so not letting them go home on the second day felt unreasonable.

Thus, after breakfast, they started preparing to return home.

Aunt Xiu Lian from the back street and Zhuzi, along with the sister-in-law from the next street, came early to send off Shen Qiang and the girls.

But just as they stepped into the room, barely exchanging three sentences,

Shen Qiang suddenly heard someone shouting outside, "Shen Qiang, is Shen Qiang home?"

Shen Qiang was surprised and got up, glancing through the glass window. He immediately spotted Uncle San Daye and his son standing in the yard, accompanied by Yuancun, whom he met that day, Chicken Head Ma Jiyong, and another bespectacled, scholarly-looking young man behind them.

As Shen Qiang was puzzled, Shen Lao Shi happened to be outside.

"Oh, Third Brother, Happy New Year, come in quickly."

Seeing his dad politely inviting them in, Shen Qiang frowned inexplicably.

Actually, this Uncle San Daye and Shen Qiang's dad shared a grandfather, making them real relatives, but they hadn't interacted in at least a dozen years.

"Oh, quite impressive, this house looks decent and dignified," Uncle San Daye said as he walked inside.

Upon hearing this, Shen Qiang felt a bit uncomfortable.

Because no matter how he heard it, the words didn't sound right.

Shen Qiang's dad simply smiled, "Third Brother, you're too polite, please come in."

Uncle San Daye proudly walked in, followed by Chicken Head Ma Jiyong and the other two young men.

"Shen Qiang, what are you doing? Come out quickly, your uncle is here," Shen Qiang's dad called out.

Feeling uncomfortable, Shen Qiang reluctantly came out of his room and said, "Happy New Year, Uncle."

Uncle San Daye responded arrogantly with an "Um" and then sat down on the sofa, saying, "You've grown a lot, I heard your girlfriend is here? Ask her to come out and serve us some tea. How can she be so ill-mannered?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Qiang instantly wanted to curse—damn it, they hadn't interacted for over ten years, and if it were just him and his son coming, Shen Qiang wouldn't mind. But now, he not only came on the second day instead of the first, bringing Chicken Head Ma Jiyong and two other young men, but also started looking for trouble as soon as he stepped in.

First, calling Shen Qiang's dad decent and dignified, and then asking Shen Qiang's girlfriend to come out and serve tea right after sitting on the sofa.

It's too over-the-top, blatantly flaunting at Shen Qiang's house.

Frankly, who the hell is he?

What does he count for?

Without Shen Qiang, the prestigious Miss Cheng Xinyi Bai Jiao would be as unattainable as a legend for someone like him.

As he was thinking this.

Charming Ye Guyun came out, nibbling an apple.

Seeing Ye Guyun's cute appearance, not only did Uncle San Daye's son's eyes widen, but the two youths who came with Ma Jiyong also froze.

"Hey, beautiful," Ma Jiyong said flirtatiously.

Ye Guyun glanced at him coolly, completely ignoring him, instead charmingly twirling in front of Shen Qiang, laughing, "Shen Qiang, does this outfit look good on me? Sis Ke Bizhu bought it for me, she said you'd definitely praise me if I wore it."

Seeing her eyes full of anticipation, Shen Qiang felt a mix of laughter and helplessness, since it clearly wasn't the occasion. Just as he was about to speak and compliment Ye Guyun to make her happy, then send her off,

Yuancun, who was with Ma Jiyong, stared wide-eyed and slapped his thigh, "Looks good—slim waist, long legs, round butt. If it were...tsk tsk, it'd definitely be delightful."

Upon hearing this,

Shen Qiang stepped forward.

It was then his dad suddenly moved in front of Shen Qiang, then laughed and said, "Third Brother, we haven't connected for years. Come, let's smoke."

Sitting on the sofa, Uncle San Daye accepted the cigarette offered by Shen Qiang's dad, lit it, exhaled a ring of smoke, and then eyed Ye Guyun wildly, saying, "That's Shen Qiang's girlfriend, huh? How ill-mannered, serve us tea already."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qiang's dad laughed heartily.

Even though Shen Qiang didn't know what his dad intended to say, he couldn't take it anymore, coldly saying, "There's no tea."

Uncle San Daye maintained his conceited look, saying, "Oh, such a big house but no tea—aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"

Shen Qiang chuckled.

He opened the cabinet next to the coffee table, which was filled with various high-grade teas—black tea, green tea, Pu'er, tea bricks, a cabinet full of treasures. But Shen Qiang merely smiled and said, "With good friends, there's good tea and wine. With vile guests, there's bricks."

Upon hearing this, Uncle San Daye and Ma Jiyong's expressions turned cold.

"Lack of manners," Uncle San Daye coldly said, "Don't you know the respect and shame between elders and juniors?"

Shen Qiang smiled, "A bunch of old foxes, no need to act like 'Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio' here. Did your son wish my dad happy New Year? What do you mean my dad's decent-looking, and upon entering, we're ill-mannered for not serving tea? That buffoon you brought, what kind of nonsense did he say? Do you have any manners?"

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