Phi-Fic Chapter 122 Gift
Chapter 122 Gift
122. Gifts
When Yuan Wenjie came to Nanyang County again, he offered to treat Su Jinru to a meal as a return invitation.
Su Jinru: "I treated you to dinner last time because you helped me out. How is it that you're treating me back?"
"It's about giving and receiving, and reciprocity!"
Su Jinru thought that since Yuan Wenjie had come from out of town, he would need to eat. Before, it was just him and his cousin eating together, but now that he was returning the favor, it would be just the two of them eating together.
Given their friendship of over a year, Su Jinru should have invited Yuan Wenjie to her home for a meal.
However, Su Jinru was very reluctant to have him come to her home.
She was afraid he would discover her secret.
Yuan Wenjie and his team usually arrive in Nanyang City the night before and go to Su Jinru's house the next morning to load the goods.
If you invite them over for dinner the night before and there are no potatoes at home, and then suddenly ten tons of potatoes appear overnight, that just doesn't make sense.
Su Jinru didn't want her son and daughter to know that so many potatoes had suddenly appeared in the house, so she decided to take the potatoes out of her space after the two children went to school.
Then we'll have to invite them to a state-run restaurant for a meal.
Although it was a return invitation, Su Jinru planned to pay the bill herself, as she should fulfill her duty as the host.
Not to mention that he had helped her, he was also her major client. From any perspective, she should have been the one to pay him.
Moreover, they were doing something that benefits the country and its people, and they weren't making any money.
During the meal, Yuan Wenjie thoughtfully placed a piece of meat on Su Jinru's plate.
"Eat more meat, you're so thin."
Su Jinru thought to herself, "I'm not thin at all, and I eat plenty of meat every day."
Everyone's body is different. Some people gain weight even from drinking water, but she's the type who can eat as much as she wants and never gain weight.
"Su Jinru, did Liu Dazhuang continue to harass you afterward?"
“You scared him that day, and he has never shown up since.”
"That's good, then I'll feel relieved."
"I came here today specifically to invite you to dinner because I want to tell you that I have some things to take care of and I probably won't be coming back for at least six months."
"But don't worry, our business will continue as usual. You can contact my cousin again, and everything will be as agreed before. Just call him and tell him the time. He will come to pick up the goods on time, and the money will not be delayed. He will pay in full every time."
Su Jinru felt a little disappointed.
Although she trusted her cousin, she had grown accustomed to dealing with Yuan Wenjie.
What could have happened to him that would take half a year to resolve?
However, she didn't ask. If the other person wanted to say, they would naturally say it; if they didn't say it, it meant they didn't want to or it was inconvenient for them to say it.
"Okay! I hope you can get things done as soon as possible, and then we can keep in touch."
Yuan Wenjie pulled a photo out of his pocket.
“This is my photo. If anyone bothers you again, just tell them you are a military family member. If they don’t believe you, just show them this photo, and most people won’t dare to mess with you anymore.”
Su Jinru was touched by his thoughtfulness.
"Thank you, you've thought of everything."
Su Jinru took the photo.
It is a photo of Yuan Wenjie wearing a military uniform. In the photo, Yuan Wenjie is handsome, resolute, and heroic.
It's such a pity that such a handsome man with such good looks can't get married and have children. It's such a waste of such good genes.
Using him as her shield is an honor.
"To be honest, a few days ago, my vegetables were stolen. The vegetables being stolen is a small matter, but I just felt unsafe at home, so I went to the Armed Forces Department and got a retired military dog to guard the house. My two children also really like that dog."
"With retired military dogs guarding your house, safety is definitely not a problem, so I feel much more at ease."
His words were like the concern and instructions given to family members by someone about to embark on a long journey.
Su Jinru smiled self-deprecatingly. Although she had known him for over a year, they had always only interacted as business associates.
Yuan Wenjie caught her smile.
"why are you laughing?"
Su Jinru said, trying to cover it up, "It's nothing?"
Neither of them spoke anymore; this had been their pattern of interaction for the past year.
She didn't like to talk to him about her own affairs, and he didn't ask many questions either.
They continued to interact in silence and with tacit understanding.
But clearly, the two of them had a great time chatting when they ate together last time. She wasn't the dull type, and he wasn't the rigid, boring, or taciturn type.
A thought popped into Su Jinru's mind.
She was deliberately keeping her distance from him because he was so intelligent, and she instinctively dared not get close to intelligent people. She was afraid that he would discover her secret.
Similarly, she knew nothing about his situation, and in fact, he also kept a certain distance from her because he also had secrets he couldn't tell.
What is the secret he can't tell us?
Or perhaps he never retired; he's still a soldier, but his public identity is that of a businessman, while he's doing some clandestine work.
The more Su Jinru thought about it, the more likely it seemed.
"When you go to take care of your own affairs, you must take good care of yourself."
Yuan Wenjie nodded seriously.
"I will."
He pulled out another bullet casing.
“I didn’t know you had two children before. The two little ones are quite cute. This bullet casing is for Anran. If anyone bullies him and says he doesn’t have a father, you can tell him to tell them that this is a bullet casing his father gave him.”
This is the perfect gift for a boy.
Su Jinru could easily imagine the expression on a ten-year-old child's face when showing off in front of their friends.
He then took out a string of red beans.
"This is a bracelet I picked myself and strung together. It's a gift for An Xin. I don't know what girls like! But I've seen my female comrades like these little things, so I thought An Xin would like it too!"
Girls certainly like these little things, but surely he knows the symbolism of red beans?
If I say he knows, it seems inappropriate to give something like this to a seven or eight-year-old girl. If I say he doesn't know, how could someone as smart and observant as him not know?
Regardless, since the other party meant well, Su Jinru pretended not to know anything.
She was illiterate; how could she possibly know about these literary figures and their works?
"Alright, I won't stand on ceremony. I thank you on behalf of the two children. As a return gift, I should give you something in return!"
"No need, don't be so polite. We've known each other for over a year, and every time I come, you bring us lots of food."