Chapter 10: Fate (1)

Tong Xi responded with a sound and turned to run back

Jiang Wenjun and Shen Xiquan, out of politeness, walked to the kitchen door and leaned in to ask if they could help. Zhou Yufang smiled and said it was not necessary

With his brother and sister-in-law absent, he inevitably has to put in extra effort regarding the matters of his two nieces. Tong Chunxiao is already twenty-seven years old, which makes her considered an old maid in Xizhen. Among the single men of her age, those who have some prospects have gone on to university and no longer return to their hometown, while those who remain in the town have not attended university. Tong Jianwen wants to introduce a partner for his niece but cannot find anyone.

Jiang Wenjun bent down to pick up the fish and handed it to Tong Chunxiao

Tong Jianwen smiled as he waved the fan at her, saying, "Stop trying to fool me, do you think I don't know my nickname is Tong Baogong"

After dinner, Tong Chunxiao and Tong Xi took a walk together. As they passed by Egret Lane, they saw countless wreaths filling the entire lane, with several luxury cars parked at the street entrance, and many people coming in and out of a residence's gate

Tong Chunxiao smiled apologetically: "I got your shoes dirty."

Jiang Wenjun's family lives in a rural area of another province, and they do not plan to return home for the Spring Festival. Therefore, he packed two pieces of clothing and brought his toiletries to Shen's home. Shen Xiquan was sitting with his legs crossed, watching stock prices, and there were seven or eight cigarette butts in the ashtray on his desk.

Nie Xiu said "thank you" as he took the tissue paper, quickly glancing at the boy's oversized T-shirt. He did not dare to look closely or for too long, just a hurried glance, and it seemed like he was a boy... very plain.

Tong Xi hurriedly explained that there was none. Nie Xiu was so angry that he didn't even cook, his expression colder than ice.

The reflection of returning birds was cast on the water's surface, but in an instant, this beautiful picture was ruined. A splatter of bird droppings fell on his arm

After the resort project was launched, Tong Xishi occasionally heard her uncle and aunt chatting about it. They mentioned that several local ruffians were instigating the farmers whose land had been expropriated to raise their demands, causing disturbances at the construction site, and that they were dealt with decisively by Shen Xiquan and his men.

Tong Xi acknowledged her fault and copied a love poem by Pushkin as a form of reflection, managing to appease Nie Xiu after much effort

He lowered his head slightly, resting his elbows on the railing of the stone bridge. On his black short-sleeved shirt, there was a badge with a prominent white character for filial piety.

Upon seeing Jiang Wenjun's impressive demeanor and inquiring about his educational background, which revealed that he was a university graduate and currently single, Tong Jianwen was immediately intrigued

Tong Xi's eyes sparkled with laughter, showing no trace of the gloom from her hair being cut. "It was I who asked the master to cut it this way. I originally wanted to shave my head completely, but the master absolutely refused, fearing that I would regret it and come back to blame him."

Tong Xi was grabbed by a few delinquents by her braid, nearly suffering a great loss. In a fit of anger, she ran to a barbershop to cut her hair

This was the first time Tong Xi met Jiang Wenjun. True to his name, he was refined and cultured, with a handsome appearance

Tong Xi's intuition suggested that this must be the son of her uncle's classmate. Perhaps due to his all-black attire, he appeared much more composed than an ordinary sixteen-year-old boy. Coupled with his tall stature, he looked more like a young man at first glance

Tong Chunxiao did not find a partner in the vast T City, yet encountered Jiang Wenjun in the small town of Xi. This can only be described as fate. Just like Mo Dan's chance visit to Xi Town for sketching, where she had a brief encounter with Shen Xiquan, which later led to their marriage.

Shen Xiquan handed a cigarette to Jiang Wenjun and said with a smile: "There was once when I was lucky enough to buy a stock, which happened to undergo a restructuring. It was suspended for three months, and after it reopened, it hit twenty-four consecutive涨停板 in one go. That was the first fortune I made in my life"

As Tong Xi took the tissue, he suddenly noticed the mole on the index finger of the other person. A sudden flash of inspiration struck him, and he finally remembered why the person looked familiar. It was indeed the boy who tore paper money in the corridor of Xihu in spring.

Because of the backlighting, the face, which exudes an aura, appears somewhat hazy, beautiful in a way that seems almost unreal. It embodies a androgynous beauty that lies between male and female, indistinguishable in gender, and beyond comprehension

The day after getting his hair cut, Tong Jianwen went to Luge Alley to pay his respects to a classmate's mother. Upon returning, he chatted with Tong Chunxiao in the yard about this classmate's story, considering it as a writing material for his niece.

Tong Xi curiously glanced towards the door, but unfortunately did not see her uncle's beautiful classmate. The two walked around the river and, upon returning to the back street of Egret Lane, Tong Chunxiao received a phone call from her editor

Tong Chunxiao said, "This must be my uncle's classmate's home"

Tong Xi has always regretted that Shen Xiquan did not become a couple with her sister. Later, she once asked Shen Xiquan why he liked Mo Dan and not her sister.

Tong Xi understood his meaning

On a summer evening when the sky was dark, the light at seven thirty was still sufficient to clearly see his features. Tong Xi felt that he looked familiar, yet for a moment she could not recall where she had seen him before

Tong Chunxiao sat on a stone stool by the roadside, answering a phone call, while Tong Xi slowly walked ahead, waiting for her

Shen Xiquan felt a sudden jolt in his heart, realizing that this young girl possessed a certain fierce determination.

Tong Jianwen waved a fan and sighed: "Isn't that so? At over 40 years old, I look like I'm just in my early 30s. Standing next to me, if we said we were high school classmates, no one would believe it."

On the riverbank, there is a small bridge erected at intervals. Tong Xi strolled onto the bridge to enjoy the breeze, and upon raising her eyes, she saw a person standing under the banyan tree on the other side of the bridge

His classmate, Jiang Ruohan, was a well-known beauty in the town during her youth. While studying at the medical school, she was discovered by a talent scout and invited to shoot advertisements. At that time, wall calendars were very popular, and her photos were printed into calendars that sold exceptionally well. After graduation, she joined the provincial hospital. Her husband, Nie Zhen, comes from a prominent family and is the youngest son in his family. When Nie's father was hospitalized, he happened to meet Jiang Ruohan, and it was love at first sight.

During Tong Chunxiao's time working at the publishing house, most of her colleagues were women, and her friends in the two-dimensional world were exclusively female, making it rare for her to have the opportunity to interact with the opposite sex. On the other hand, Jiang Wenjun came from a rural background and a poor family. After graduating, he was solely focused on earning money to establish himself in T City, and due to his busy work schedule, he remained single.

This is truly incredible! How could it be such a coincidence

As the two individuals conversed, Zhou Yufang's gaze shifted back and forth between their brows and eyes, feeling secretly pleased. Drawing from her experience as a bystander, she discerned that the first impression they had of each other was quite favorable.

Jiang Wenjun hurriedly said: "It's nothing, it's nothing. These shoes of mine are very cheap, not even as expensive as this fish."

At that moment, Tong Chunxiao finished the call and called out to Qiqi by the bridge

A strong dragon cannot overpower a local snake; with Shen Xiquan here, many problems can be resolved. The Near Sea Group only needs to invest money, while everything else can be entrusted to Shen Xiquan to manage, which saves both effort and worry

Nie Xiu immediately straightened his face: What do you mean? Are you already prepared to break up with me at any time?

Tong Chunxiao suppressed a smile, pretending not to hear. Tong Xi also feigned ignorance, "Oh dear, Uncle, you know everything."

After listening for a long time, Tong Xi took over the conversation and subtly comforted him: "Uncle, you are not old at all; all of us classmates say you are very cool"

Jiang Wenjun seemed like a perfect match who had descended from the heavens, with conditions and age that were just right for Tong Chunxiao. That day, Tong Jianwen was particularly warm towards Shen Xiquan, inviting him to dinner at his home that evening, and specifically inviting Jiang Wenjun to join as well

When I was in school, I opened an internet café at the eastern end of the town and would go there in the evenings to watch the scene. Feeling bored and not fond of playing games, I pondered how to make money. Later, I learned about stocks and began studying candlestick charts, browsing forums to look at technical posts. Gradually, I figured out some tricks.

However, that sentence took root in Nie Xiu's heart

When educating Tong Xi, she always said that one must not rely on others, and that everything must depend on oneself. Even parents may leave you at any time; the only person you can truly rely on is yourself. She even reminded Tong Xi not to invest too much emotion in others, as it would be very painful when losing them.

Tong Jianwen proudly fanned himself and said, "That is."

When Shen Xiquan became busy, Tong Xi rarely had the chance to see him. Soon, the Spring Festival arrived, and when Tong Xin returned home to celebrate the New Year, Shen Xiquan sent a generous New Year gift to express his gratitude for the introduction. Accompanying him to help carry the gifts was a young man, about thirty years old, named Jiang Wenjun, who was an engineer at a supervision company

Jiang Wenjun felt as if he had found a kindred spirit: "How coincidental, I also invest in stocks, but I am usually too busy to monitor the market, so I just select a stock for long-term investment"

Tong Chunxiao and Mo Dan both belong to the gentle and beautiful type. To speak earnestly, Tong Chunxiao is more mature and wise, suitable for home and family

The remnants of the evening glow at the horizon gradually faded in color, the narrow river channel, with its silent ripples, resembled a green ribbon. The small bridge, flowing water, and banyan trees formed a perfectly composed painting, with a handsome young man embedded within it, lost in thought as he gazed at the water's surface, unaware of her presence.

Mr. Nie emphasized the importance of social status and believed that Jiang Ruohan, coming from a humble background, was not worthy of his son. After further investigation, it was discovered that she had appeared in advertisements and on calendars, which made him even more resolute in opposing the marriage. However, Nie Zhen was determined and did not give up, and after several years of persistence, he finally obtained Mr. Nie's permission to marry Jiang Ruohan. After their marriage, her husband was exceptionally considerate towards her, and their son was particularly outstanding, skipping two grades in elementary school. This year, he was just admitted to University B at the age of sixteen.

Nie Xiu frowned, reached into his pocket, and found he had not brought any tissues. Therefore, he raised his arm, intending to wash his hands in the river first. Just as he was about to descend the steps, a young boy suddenly came down from the bridge and handed him a tissue.

Jiang Wenjun was enjoying tea and casual conversation at the Shen residence, spending a leisurely afternoon. In the evening, Shen Xiquan arrived as promised to take Jiang Wenjun to the Tong family across the street for dinner. Tong Chunxiao and Zhou Yufang were in the kitchen preparing the meal, while Tong Xi, having heard that guests were coming, also brought a small stool to sit in front of the stove to help with washing vegetables and peeling scallions

Nie Xiu had originally confirmed the boy's gender, but at this moment, looking at that slender figure, he felt puzzled again. Is a boy named Qi Qi?

Jiang Wenjun displayed an expression of admiration: "General Manager Shen has good luck"

Shen Xiquan began living independently at the age of twelve, well-versed in the ways of the world, and his ability to read people's expressions and intentions had long reached a masterful level. He saw through Tong Jianwen's thoughts at a glance. He cheerfully agreed and, on the way back, suggested to Jiang Wenjun that since the conditions at the construction site were poor, it would be better to spend the New Year at his home, as he was alone anyway, and the two could keep each other company.

Tong Chunxiao was gutting a fish when she raised her eyes and noticed a stranger standing behind Shen Xiquan. She couldn't help but take a few more glances, causing the fish in her hand to slip off the cutting board. The fish struggled for life on the tiled floor, and by a stroke of luck, it flopped a few times and landed on Jiang Wenjun's shoe.

A boy dressed in a T-shirt and shorts stood on the last step, appearing a head shorter than him. Nie Xiu looked down and was momentarily taken aback.

In the evening, while she was watering the flowers outside the courtyard wall, Shen Xiquan returned from the construction site of the resort and almost did not recognize her. She had recently been growing taller, and her already slender figure appeared even more thin and frail. At first glance, she looked just like a boy

Shen Xiquan thought for a moment and said that first, the two must have a fateful connection, and secondly, in order to maintain a long-lasting relationship, mutual admiration and appreciation are essential. Mo Dan admires him, and the way she looks at him is as if he were a hero of unparalleled greatness

This brief interlude was soon submerged in the flowing waters of time. The two individuals continued to live their own lives in their respective worlds

Jiang Wenjun smiled and said, "Mr. Shen also trades stocks?"

During that Spring Festival, Jiang Wenjun stayed at Shen's home. Shen Xiquan would call Tong Xin over every day to play poker or mahjong, and whenever they were short one player, they would conveniently invite Tong Chunxiao.

Both individuals are at the age of thirty, a time when they approach the choice of a partner with rationality. It is neither love at first sight nor a gradual affection; rather, they consider each other's circumstances, engage, understand, date, and then fall in love, which is quite similar to arranged marriages.

Shen Xiquan still thought that the skills of the barbershop were too poor, and indignantly said: "Which barbershop is this? Is this skill trying to go out of business?"

At that moment, his expression made Tong Xi unable to hold back and almost burst into laughter

After the death of Tong Chunxiao's mother, she lived with her grandmother. Her father was often absent, and she learned to be independent at a very young age. She is restrained and rational; she could never become a delicate princess in front of Shen Xiquan, being pampered and cherished by him like Mo Dan.

The old house of the Jiang family is entrusted to a relative for care, with the main door tightly locked. The pomegranate tree inside the courtyard has grown particularly tall, and the pomegranates can be seen from outside the courtyard wall. Occasionally, Tong Xi passes by and wonders if anyone will come to pick these pomegranates, as it would be a waste if they are not eaten

Shen Xiquan smiled with a sense of emotion and said, "Life has always been a matter of gains and losses. Perhaps it is because heaven has taken special care of me after the passing of my parents that I have been quite fortunate over the years"

Tong Xi has experienced the pain of losing her parents, which leads her to largely resonate with Tong Chunxiao's words. However, emotions cannot be freely controlled, and later, when she realizes that she has developed strong feelings for Nie Xiu, she feels a subtle sense of fear. During one date, she couldn't help but say, "I can't like you too much, otherwise, if we were to break up in the future, it would be very painful"

Tong Chunxiao could not help but exclaim, "This truly is a winner in life"