Chapter 10: Lying

Little Anzi, you and Meimei have both returned. When do you two plan to take care of this matter

"What a sin! I should never have sent you to school in the first place!" exclaimed the old man, pounding his chest and stamping his feet.

The most difficult level can be considered as having passed

This topic is somewhat distant

No, it is not. Uncle, could you allow me to spend some more time with Meimei? After all, we haven't seen each other for several years, and we both need a process of getting familiar with each other again

Uncle, today is a day of reunion. Let us set aside those unhappy matters and keep you company as we welcome the New Year, shall we?

She has already left, what else can I do? Even if it is just to send us a letter to let us know she is safe, that would be good

"Do you mean that you no longer have Mei Mei in your heart?" The old man immediately puffed out his cheeks and glared.

Although there is no lack of material possessions at home, it is somewhat lacking in liveliness

" Haozi, come over and help... "

So, over the years, Mei Mei has been corresponding with you? It is not easy to deceive an old man who has been a detective.

The wine has been heated using a small charcoal stove

Uncle, shall we have a drink?

I trust Xiao An's character, but the fact that you two, a man and a woman, are alone in a room inevitably raises suspicions of impropriety.

"Why wait until tomorrow? You can just stay over tonight. As for your luggage, I will bring it to you tomorrow," Lu Xiyan said with a chuckle.

"Xiao Anzi has drunk foreign ink, I trust him." The old man raised his wine glass and clinked it with Lu Xiyan's.

"What are you doing, Anzi? How could you do this?" Meng Hao was immediately anxious upon hearing this.

The old man has lain down.

A fish was caught from the water tank, stunned with the back of a knife, quickly scaled, and then gutted. In a short while, the fish was completely cleaned and prepared

"Xiao An, have you returned from studying abroad and no longer look favorably upon our Mei Mei?" Meng Xiangsheng's face immediately fell.

Hmm, it smells good. Xiao Anzi, I asked you to come over to keep watch for the New Year, not to cook for the two of us. Really...

Dad, my staying at Anzi's place is merely a temporary measure; nothing has happened between Anzi and me

In a foreign country, if one wishes to eat hometown cuisine, one must take matters into their own hands, as foreigners are not capable of preparing Chinese food. Lu Xiyan chuckled softly.

Little Anzi, your uncle has only this one daughter. If she can have a good home, I can close my eyes and go find her mother

What exactly are you doing, are you still afraid of implicating us

Lu Xiyan and Meng Fanxing looked up and exchanged a glance at each other

"It is only right to come back and live here," Meng Xiangsheng nodded and said, "However, people can be quite fearsome with their words. Xiao An, although your parents are no longer with us, we had a verbal agreement between our families, and you are aware of this."

I am here to study medicine, and it is not good for a girl’s health to give birth too early

Dad, what kind of wine shall we drink tonight

If it were not for Meng Hao and Lu Xiyan holding him back, he did not know how much more he would drink, as he has a longstanding issue with asthma

Next, the New Year's Eve dinner went relatively smoothly. The old man was happy, his daughter had returned, and they had a bit too much wine. Before long, he was somewhat unable to handle the alcohol.

You are already twenty-two; other families with daughters your age have had several children long ago, the old man glared at her and said

Uncle, marriage is not just about living together; if there is no affection for each other in the heart, what is the point of living together?

Meng Xiangsheng is not the kind of old man from the countryside; he has served as a constable for over twenty years and is considered a prominent figure in the French Concession, so how could he possibly not understand

... ...

Then I would trouble Brother An

Braised in Soy Sauce

Yes, uncle, we exchange letters every three months. The year she ran away from home, she actually did not want to worry her parents, which is why she resorted to such a drastic measure

Dad, since my sister is back, she might as well stay at home

Indeed, you are very clever

"That's right, however, after the New Year, your sister will have to come work for me, which can also be considered a cover identity," Lu Xiyan said

Just a moment ago, Meng Fanxing had a sullen expression, but now she is showing concern.

"Go to my room, under the cabinet, there are two jars of Daughter's Red, the same age as your sister. Bring one jar here for us to brew."

Uncle, there is no rush, we are still young...

Father, I am unfilial. What I am doing now is too dangerous, and I fear that you may not understand. I also worry about your and Haozi's safety, which is why I have severed contact with the family

So fragrant

"It's nothing, I just have a chance to show off a bit in front of Mei Mei!" Lu Xiyan winked at Meng Fanxing, as they were currently playing the role of a couple. They needed to have some intimate interactions; otherwise, it would seem distant.

This, uncle, is sometimes beyond Mei Mei's control

Little things, let Haozi accompany me back early tomorrow morning

"What are you rambling on about? If I told you to go get it, then just go get it. Why waste so many words?" Meng Xiangsheng scolded.

Alright

Since Aunt Xiangsheng passed away, although the two of them have been cooking at home, it has mostly been the same old three dishes. Sometimes they buy something from outside, just to get by.

"Uncle, you are not making it difficult for me, are you!" Lu Xiyan said with a bitter smile

Having agreed to stay up together for the New Year, Lu Xiyan naturally did not return to the clinic. Although the Meng family was not a wealthy household, they always had one or two guest rooms. When the clinic was not yet operational, he had lived with the Meng family for a period of time.

Yes, uncle, these past few days Meimei has been sleeping in my room while I sleep on the sofa in the living room. Our relationship is one of affection restrained by propriety, without the slightest hint of pleasure.

Moreover, it arrived even faster than expected

Haozi, your sister's situation is still not resolved. Recently, there have been quite a few unknown individuals near the clinic, inquiring about your sister's condition, both intentionally and unintentionally. I deliberately leaked some information about your sister's situation.

Why are you in such a hurry? Your sister suddenly appeared in my clinic, which is already suspicious. If she comes without a clear background, those Japanese will surely not let it go. They can't catch anyone right now, but they are still closely watching me and your sister

No, uncle, you misunderstood. I do not mean to look down on Meimei. What I mean is, after all, we have been apart for four or five years. Even if we are to come together, we need to give it some time to adjust

In a short while, five dishes and one soup were served on the table

Then they found out my sister's identity

The destined will eventually arrive

Anzi, do you still possess this skill?

Uncle, times have changed. Now it is all about free love. Whether Mei Mei and I can be together depends on whether we have this fate, what do you think?

"What is there to get accustomed to? I had only met Mei Mei's mother once before we got married, and yet we have been happily together for over twenty years?" Meng Xiangsheng waved his hand dismissively and asserted, "The matter of getting engaged can be postponed, but this marriage must be settled sooner rather than later."

The old man let out a grunt, probably unable to save face

Sister, Dad cleans your room every year during the New Year, replacing the sheets and bedding with new ones. He may act tough, but he has a soft heart

Uncle, would you like to try the dish I made

"I know, I will move back to live tomorrow." Meng Fanxing's tears fell uncontrollably.

Father, I am doing what a Chinese person should do, Meng Fanxing said seriously and solemnly

Dad, isn't this wine meant to be drunk when sister gets married?

Anzi, this has brought everything to light. As long as the Japanese cannot find evidence, what can they do to my sister?

"You all live together now, aren't you anxious?" Meng Xiangsheng said, "Do you think I, your uncle, am old and blind? Haozi has already told me."

Uncle, shall we have it steamed or braised in soy sauce

Ginger, chopped green onions, hot oil poured into the pan, with a "sizzle" sound, a puff of white smoke rose up.

One is not in control of oneself

You are just steamed...

First of all, your sister's identity is indeed valid, right? They cannot exploit this aspect. Your sister does have a certain relationship with me, and with our identities and connections established, even if the Japanese suspect your sister, as long as they cannot find evidence, they would not dare to act rashly. Moreover, there is also you, her brother who is a constable. With this connection, the Japanese would also have their reservations.

Yes, Dad, I just got back, and you are already so eager to marry me off

Understood, Brother Anzi, is this what you call having the advantage of being close to the water tower to get the moon first