Chapter 86: Chapter 84: Xiao Chenye: Say Something!

Setting aside that little incident earlier, the team leader calmed his mind, checked the grains and the big fat pig, and set off again.

Today’s a good day, and I won’t let unrelated people ruin my great mood.

Wen Ran was really just in it for the fun, strolling about casually along the way, and Xiao Chenye was following not too far away. Yet, there were always some nosy aunties teasing the two of them with smiles.

“Wow, I just turned around and the little one is all grown up.”

“Isn’t that right? When he was little, he used to trail behind everyone with a runny nose.”

The crowd burst into laughter at this.

Xiao Chenye’s handsome face turned darker and darker.

He glanced at those aunties around, unable to win them over with words, feeling utterly embarrassed, so he quickly pulled Wen Ran to the very front of the team.

The team leader stood at the front, raised his eyebrows upon seeing the two, and laughed, “How did you two end up together?”

That question seemed to be asking the obvious.

Anyone a little familiar with the Xiao Family knew their intentions.

Wen Ran was also well aware, but…

No one asked her, and with her thick-skinned nature, she remained indifferent in front of the team leader, acting like she didn’t hear it, face unfazed.

Xiao Chenye felt awkward, hemming and hawing, “Our family gets along well with Xiao Wen, I, I just look out for her a bit more.”

“Oh~” The team leader took out his pipe, took a drag, and said seemingly unintentionally, “Well, you’re about the right age, don’t your parents think about finding you a wife?”

Xiao Chenye: “…”

Honestly, he regretted it now, it would’ve been better to stay at the back and let those aunties tease him.

As long as he didn’t care about saving face, maybe he could even join in, joking about everyone having similar quirks.

Now faced with the team leader’s soul-searching question, Xiao Chenye had no choice but to grin and bear it, “Hahaha, not really, our family isn’t in a rush, my parents are quite democratic.”

The team leader laughed heartily, “Really?”

He said with a stifled laugh, “If I remember correctly, a few years ago, Chenguang refused to date or have blind dates, and didn’t come home for the holidays.

Your mother was furious, making a scene of pretending to hang herself at the village entrance during the New Year.”

Xiao Chenye was numb; he was screwed, the team leader had dug out all the family’s past scandals.

“Uncle, my mom’s fiery nature isn’t just directed at family members, even outsiders…”

Saying that, he looked like he had more to say, the team leader felt a jolt, “Ugh, no way.”

“Then should I chat with my mom about it later?”

The team leader wiped his sweat, “Forget it, forget it, you youngsters don’t like my nagging, then I won’t nag, is that okay?”

He really backed down this time.

Moving past this topic, the team leader began discussing this year’s harvest.

The harvest was pretty good, plus the grains were smoothly harvested into the granary, so it could be said that the Silly Deer Team suffered no losses this year.

However, a nearby team wasn’t so lucky, they missed the timing during the rains, and half-dry grains were soaked through, some even got washed away.

As for the rest, although not washed away, they could only be collected and dried again, mismanagement could easily lead to them turning black and sprouting, wasting perfectly fine grains.

“Oh right,” the team leader grabbed Wen Ran, “after distributing the grains and making pork dishes, it’ll soon be the end of the year.”

Wen Ran: “?”

She looked at her not-so-thick clothes, utterly confused.

Not joking, right?

Distributing grains + making pork dishes, even taking it slow, it would take about three to four days.

At the end of the year, the ice and snow would really cover everything just by closing and opening your eyes?

“Really?” Wen Ran didn’t believe it, “Does it get cold that quickly?”

“Why would I lie to you?” The team leader exclaimed, “Autumn comes gradually, but winter, it arrives in the blink of an eye.”

Alright then.

As an outsider, Wen Ran refrained from commenting too much.

“Hmm, what’s up?”

“I just thought, do you want to go back to your hometown for a visit this New Year?”

Wen Ran was surprised, “Visit relatives?”

“Yes,” the team leader knew Wen Ran was young, a bit clueless when she came to the countryside, later settled in with the team, and somewhat distanced from the educated youth.

News probably wasn’t reaching her quickly.

Guessing she had a hard time figuring things out.

“There are family visit leaves every year, but not everyone gets to go home every year. Here, people usually save up and go home after accruing two to three years’ worth of leave.”

The leave lasts ten days, for those with long distances, they might spend two to three days on a train.

Round trip takes five to six days, wearing oneself out to spend only four or five days at home, not to mention the travel expenses, hardly worth going every year.

Plus, visits are limited by quotas.

This year, the Silly Deer Team might get ten slots.

The team leader thought, no matter what, he had to save a slot for Wen Ran.

“I see,” Wen Ran made her position clear, “All my family’s dead.”

The team leader: “…?”

He stared at Wen Ran, incredulous, “What the…?”

“Well, almost, right?!”

During the countryside program, Wen Ran played her cards ruthlessly, losing money and jobs for those people, so their lives were predictable.

Leaving a good life behind to go back and sleep on the streets with them?

Ridiculous, she wasn’t crazy.

Of course, Wen Ran was still curious about Li Minmin, who went to Beijiang, wondering if she was still alive.

Blinking, Wen Ran added, “But, there are some relatives back home, just not much contact.”

On a major holiday, with everyone having family reunions, it wouldn’t make sense for her to be all alone in the corner.

Concocting some relatives out of thin air, if any issues arose at home, there’d be someone to take the blame.

Wen Ran mentally applauded her own wit, “I’ll just spend New Year with the team.”

She grinned, “Sticking to the team leader, I should at least get some meat to eat, right?”

The team leader felt a bit off inside, “Alright, during New Year, spend it at our place, would you?”

He started babbling, “Ah, though there’s nothing fancy at uncle’s house, there’s enough to fill you up and feed you hot meals.

You like playing with kids, right? We have a lot of kids at home.”

Xiao Chenye had been feeling sorry for Wen Ran, but upon hearing that, perked up instantly, “Wait, uncle, what’s going on with you?”

The team leader looked at Xiao Chenye, “What’s it to you?”

Relying on his height and strength, Xiao Chenye grabbed Wen Ran’s shoulder, pulling her to stand beside him, and said warily, “It’s already decided, Wen Ran’s spending New Year with us.”

Wen Ran: “?”

Whoa?

What just happened?

Interesting.

The team leader ignored the rest, bantering with Xiao Chenye, “Since when? Do you not understand first come, first served?”

“I, I, just a couple of days ago,” Xiao Chenye lied with a straight face, “It’s been planned.”

Seeing Wen Ran still fascinated, Xiao Chenye got anxious, nudging her, “Say something.”

Wen Ran: “.”

Those lines sound so familiar.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep