After Li Miao fled in dismay, Chen Long then moved the food he had put on the ice counter in a moment of urgency to the small dining table he had just set up diagonally opposite his desk.
While eating, Liu Fang remained subdued. She ate her meal silently, then cleared the dishes and took the store's trash bin to the refuse point behind the shop.
Around four in the afternoon, apart from Liu Chen's family's establishment, only one shop at the alley entrance remained open. However, that shop was also starting to pack up, returning the goods displayed in the showcase to the small cold storage unit before unplugging the showcase.
With the Lunar New Year approaching, fire prevention measures needed to be in place.
Chen Long's green cotton jacket had also gotten quite dirty from moving goods, but Chen Long, who always cared about his appearance and followed trends, showed no sign of displeasure.
"Sister Liu, what do you think of me?"
"You're quite good."
Hearing this, Chen Long's lips curled up. Seeing Liu Chen's gaze, he quickly suppressed his smile, took off his green cotton jacket, put on a brown overcoat, walked over to Liu Fang, lowered his voice, and bowed his head, saying:
"Liu Fang, I like you. I hope you can give me an opportunity to pursue you. I want to protect you, I want to be with you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Liu Fang heard these words and thought of what had happened that morning and what Chen Chen had said the night before. For the first time, she hesitated.
After some internal struggle, Liu Fang looked up at the sincere Chen Long and said slowly:
"Chen Long, a woman like me, who is almost forty, can't afford to play these games."
"Sister Liu, give me a chance to prove my sincerity."
...
The mother and daughter still ate dinner outside before returning home. However, Liu Fang was clearly preoccupied today, sitting on the sofa waiting for Liu Chen to finish her ablutions.
After finishing, Liu Chen walked into the living room while wiping her face with a hot towel and sat down on the sofa next to Liu Fang, asking:
"Mom, why didn't you agree to Uncle Chen Long pursuing you?"
Liu Fang leaned her upper body back against the sofa's backrest, her legs resting on the chaise lounge. Hearing this, her expression became somewhat complicated.
"Chen Chen, look at your mom. I'm almost forty, I'm average-looking, and I don't look like those stars who are still beautiful as young girls at forty. My figure is also average, I have a bit of a belly around my waist.
But Chen Long, he loves to dress up and spends a lot on clothes. His hair, too; he changes his hairstyle every two months. Although he's the sales manager for the Southwest region, I don't actually know how much money he makes.
Could it be...
He's after our shop's money?"
After saying this, Liu Fang felt much more relaxed.
"Hahahaha!!!"
Liu Chen, who had been listening intently to her mother's concerns, burst into loud laughter. She even laughed so hard that her stomach hurt, curling up on the sofa next to her mother.
Liu Fang looked bewildered.
"I'm serious. Our family's income is quite high now. What if he's after money?"
Chen Long, who had been the chairman of a listed company on the stock market in his previous life, was now being suspected by his own mother of pursuing her for money in this life!
Putting aside the laughter, Liu Chen, after finishing her laughter, held her mother's hand and said seriously:
"Mom, don't worry too much about it for now. Think about it, at your age, it's unlikely you'll get pregnant. Being together is about two people living their lives. If you feel happy with Uncle Chen Long, that's the most important thing. Regarding the financial issues you mentioned,
You can discuss that when you both decide to get married."
Liu Chen's words made Liu Fang feel that it was somehow right, yet also somehow wrong. It wasn't until the next morning, while brushing her teeth, that Liu Fang realized why she felt that way.
"Chen Chen, what you meant yesterday was that I shouldn't approach relationships with marriage as the premise? But then, isn't that irresponsible to the other person?"
Liu Fang muttered to herself as she drove:
"Don't let your experience with me and your father's divorce give you such ideas about relationships. Being in love and married to someone you like, and who likes you, is a very happy thing."
Liu Chen's head nodded as she listened. Liu Fang thought her daughter was agreeing with her. It wasn't until they stopped at a red light that Liu Fang realized that Chen Chen had fallen asleep at some point.
On the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month,
Chen Long still 'went to work' on time. This time, however, he was more experienced and wore a raincoat-like garment over his coat, and had changed into athletic shoes.
He had to admit, this outfit looked quite stylish.
Perhaps because it was the eve of Lunar New Year's Eve tomorrow, fewer shops remained open in the wholesale market. Consequently, customers gravitated towards the few that were still operating.
As she sold goods and collected money, a smile gradually appeared on Liu Fang's face.
Around ten o'clock, Liu Chen was about to call a restaurant to order food. As soon as she dialed.
Chen Long, carrying a box of hand-grabbed pancakes, walked outside and stood up, saying to Liu Chen, who was sitting behind the desk: "Chen Chen, are you ordering food? I've already ordered. It should be here soon."
Hearing this, Liu Chen put down the receiver of the landline.
"Thank you, Uncle Chen Long."
"You're welcome, you're welcome."
Customers came in waves. Between one busy period and the next, there were moments for rest. The deluxe lunch that Chen Long ordered was delivered at this time.
A copper pot, a packet of solidified soup base, and over a dozen portions of fresh lamb and lamb offal packed in sealed bags.
He placed the copper pot on the desk, plugged it into the power strip, poured in the soup base and the provided scallions to boil, then arranged the boxes of freshly sliced lamb around the pot.
The soup in the pot gradually came to a boil, bubbling and gurgling. The aroma of the boiling lamb wafted out into the alley.
The delicious smell made the owners of the remaining few frozen food shops, who were holding their instant noodles and boxed lunches, feel a bit dejected.
In the afternoon, with fewer customers, Liu Chen, Chen Long, and Liu Fang cooked and ate meat while selling goods. When they were all warm and had almost finished the meat in the pot.
Chen Long looked at Liu Fang, who was sitting next to him eating with her face flushed red, and asked:
"Liu Fang, I want to take care of you like this every day from now on. Can you give me an opportunity to prove that I can do it?"
Feeling too full and wanting to yawn, Liu Fang was startled by the question, and her yawn vanished.
Liu Fang looked at the lamb hot pot in front of her and after some thought, said:
"Chen Long, I think I can give you a chance to try."
Chen Long suddenly stood up and took two steps towards Liu Fang, but Liu Fang's beautiful eyes glared at him.
"I haven't finished speaking. Today's lamb hot pot was delicious, but don't order it next time."
Chen Long, who was still immersed in the joy of her "you can try" statement, instinctively asked:
"What's wrong? Was it not to your taste?"
Liu Fang looked at the puzzled expressions on Chen Chen and Chen Long's faces, coughed lightly, and said:
"This thing is expensive."