Song Guodong spoke convincingly. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that Feng Man was not a bad person. Which bad person would be so enthusiastic about helping sell clothes and even pass on experience to his own old mother? “Brother Lang, based on my years of hard-knocks experience, your wife is nine times out of ten not a bad person.”
Cheng Lang gave him a faint glance. “Your experience? How many times have you been scammed?”
Song Guodong awkwardly scratched the back of his head and chuckled twice. “Haven’t I learned my lesson this time…”
“She ran away on the day of the wedding banquet, hid in my truck for half a day, and claimed to be my baby betrothal partner.” Even though Cheng Lang had seen a lot of the world, he still couldn’t figure it out. If she was simply eloping, there was no need to lie about being his baby betrothal partner. It was exactly this suspicious point that made people wary.
“Eloping?!” Song Guodong perked up, his gaze toward Cheng Lang mixing surprise with delight. “Brother Lang, she eloped for you, even boldly climbed onto your truck. What are you still suspicious about? Your wife must have been worried you’d kick her off, so she lied and said she was your baby betrothal partner!”
Song Guodong thought he had uncovered the truth, but he only got a speechless look from Cheng Lang.
Cheng Lang said, “Rented DVDs rotted your brain?”
Song Guodong shrank back and followed Cheng Lang into the house, muttering to himself, “That wasn’t the first time you’ve let someone stay…”
In the past, women had stuck to Cheng Lang because of his tall, sturdy build, rugged looks, ability to make money, and skills. But Cheng Lang had always been ruthless. Song Guodong always felt something was different this time.
The next morning, when Feng Man got up for breakfast, she saw that Cheng Lang had already returned and said nothing more.
The man had gone out, but he still had that rugged and aloof look, only the short stubble of blue-black beard on his chin carrying a bit of casual roughness.
After breakfast, as Feng Man gave Aunt Xiu Fen a few more pointers on the clothing business, she heard that Cheng Lang wouldn’t set off so soon. She simply went to help again.
Song Guodong dragged Cheng Lang along to watch from afar. In the stalls filling two streets, Feng Man changed into different clothes and skirts to model them, drawing many young women whose eyes lit up as they followed to buy. She even attracted passing young men who glanced sideways, some mesmerized, some shy.
Cheng Lang gave it a faint glance but said nothing.
“These clothes are much cheaper than at the department store, and the colors and styles are great.”
“Sis, try it on and you’ll see. It looks great on you. Just match it like this, and everyone will be speechless.”
“Where are you fat? Sis, your figure is the most balanced. Lose a few ounces and it won’t fit right.”
Song Guodong went over to help, the sweet-talking young man praising each piece. Cheng Lang stayed put, his tall figure standing not far away.
Feng Man’s crisp voice carried on the wind. She was wearing a goose-yellow dress to show a customer. She spun in place, the skirt flaring like blooming petals, making her smile even brighter.
“Brother Lang, your wife is so pretty. What are you standing there for? She’s chased you all the way to your truck. I say you should just…” The more Song Guodong looked, the more he felt they matched. He threw all suspicions to the winds, ran over, and winked at Cheng Lang.
Cheng Lang’s thick brows furrowed slightly, his phoenix eyes dark and brooding. Seeing that Brother Lang was getting impatient, Song Guodong shut up awkwardly. In his heart, he grumbled that the man didn’t know how to cherish a beauty—he was just a blockhead!
But Brother Lang had never gotten involved with any woman. This time, it was just to observe the situation. Song Guodong could only mutter, “So who is your… cough, Comrade Feng Man’s baby betrothal partner? She’s come all this way chasing after him. She must like him a lot. Maybe they’ll get married as soon as they meet.”
“You talk too much.” Cheng Lang gave Song Guodong an impatient glance and turned to leave.
After leaving the stalls, Cheng Lang bought some food and drinks. This southward trip had been going on for some days; the truck needed resupplying.
As for Song Guodong, he had planned to go south with Cheng Lang to make a living, but his family suddenly arranged a blind date for him, delaying things. He’d take a ride to Ink River City later.
He loaded all the supplies into the cab. Cheng Lang looked up at the sun slowly shifting toward midday and strode quickly back to the stalls.
Feng Man’s business was booming. She could get a share today, and her little piggy bank was growing fuller. When Cheng Lang called her aside, the smile in her eyes hadn’t faded. “Time to set off?”
As reluctant as she was to leave, Feng Man still wanted to go to Ink River City.
“What exactly are you thinking?” Cheng Lang had enlisted at sixteen, discharged at nineteen, and hustled outside for six years afterward. He had seen all kinds of people. From these two observations, he could confirm that the neighbor’s daughter Feng Man had no malicious intentions.
Since she had no malicious intentions, it was even more suspicious.
He could give her one more chance to explain her thoughts. If she was really just eloping and he had unwittingly taken her far from Nine Mountains Village, that would be enough. He could see if she wanted to stay here and sell clothes…
“What do I think? Of course, go south with you.” Feng Man thought seriously. Returning home was her decision from her past life to now. Why not use this free driver? Besides, Cheng Lang was decent in every way. Dating him wouldn’t be a loss.
The book had briefly mentioned that the fiancé had some feelings for the original body but was too introverted and shy to say it outright.
Now, looking at the coldness in Cheng Lang’s eyes and the calm gaze he directed at her, Feng Man sighed deeply. This guy was too good at pretending.
“We even have a baby betrothal, actually…” Feng Man wasn’t shy or timid. Since she was interested, she needed to take the initiative to dispel the man’s doubts. She dropped a bombshell directly. “Actually, after we got the baby betrothal, I’ve always liked you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have gotten on your truck.”
Since he didn’t dare take that step, Feng Man would be more proactive.
Sure enough, she caught a flicker in the man’s deep eyes. She pressed her advantage, turned, pulled open the cab door, stepped on the running board, grabbed the handrail, pulled herself up steadily, sat down, and turned back with a beaming smile at Cheng Lang. “Aren’t we in a hurry to leave? Get in the truck.”
Cheng Lang paused in place, his expression dark and inscrutable. His eyes flashed as he stepped forward, leaped easily into the cab, started the truck, and set off.
The blue truck pressed on, racing along the smooth asphalt of the national highway.
Feng Man leaned comfortably in the cab seat, no longer enduring the stifling heat and cramped cargo hold. Her body and mind relaxed. She calculated the money she’d earned in these couple of days. Even after spending five yuan on gifts for the Song family to show thanks, her little piggy bank still held a plump forty-five yuan!
With money in hand, she felt no panic. Feng Man gradually relaxed. Once they reached her hometown Ink River City, that was her home turf. She’d surely find ways to make money there.
She moved all the snacks from the cargo hold to the cab. Feng Man wasn’t stingy. She’d given gifts to the Song family; naturally, she was grateful to the hardworking free driver beside her.
“Cheng Lang, want an orange candy? Or do you prefer popcorn candy?”
Cheng Lang, charging southward, occasionally stopped briefly on the road. He showed no interest in the candies or snacks Feng Man offered. “No need.”
Feng Man withdrew her hand and enjoyed the crisp, sweet popcorn candy herself, not minding Cheng Lang’s direct refusal at all.
As the sun set, the truck passed through the next city.
She spotted roadside stalls selling things and her eyes lit up. “Cheng Lang, stop the truck for a bit.”
Cheng Lang, who hadn’t planned to rest here, braked. He looked puzzled at the woman who swiftly opened the door and got out. It was only then that he fully took in Feng Man, who had changed out of her plain floral shirt and black pants into a stylish short-sleeved top and denim shorts. Her straight, even legs flashed white and eye-catching as she ran, finally stopping at a stall selling various spices.
In that brief moment, Cheng Lang pursed his lips, withdrew his gaze, lit a cigarette, and didn’t look back again.
Feng Man’s grandmother was a culinary master. Her ancestors had been imperial chefs for generations, later opening restaurants passed down until the Cultural Revolution interrupted it.
After her parents’ divorce, the unwanted burden Feng Man had lived with her grandmother from childhood. Life wasn’t affluent, but her mouth never suffered. Even the plainest ingredients turned fragrant and tempting in her grandmother’s hands. Steeped in it for years, Feng Man had learned the basics.
Passing through what would later be a famous pepper-producing area, Feng Man simply bought several jin. She wandered a bit more and added other seasonings and spices.
Feng Man had a new cloth bag, sewn by Aunt Xiu Fen from home scraps. Under Feng Man’s guidance, it had a nice rustic style—clean and pretty.
She packed her purchases into the bag, not wanting to delay too long, and hurried back to the cab. “Let’s go.”
Cheng Lang withdrew his gaze from the rearview mirror and restarted the truck.
Perhaps to make time, that night Cheng Lang drove through the darkness. Feng Man greatly admired this iron-willed man. After dark, she grew drowsy. Only when faint tobacco smell wafted did she know the man was smoking to stay alert.
Along the way, Cheng Lang didn’t talk much, mostly silent. He only occasionally used cigarettes to perk up.
Long-haul truck drivers were mostly like this, especially on all-night drives where dozing off was easy. They relied on nicotine to stimulate their nerves when groggy.
When Feng Man opened her eyes again, dawn was breaking. Chickens crowed occasionally around, their leisurely calls waking sleeping people. White mist rose slowly from distant mountain woods. It must have been kitchen fires starting for breakfast.
“Aren’t you going to rest a bit?” Yawning as she woke, Feng Man roughly guessed the truck’s cargo was valuable. Cheng Lang didn’t stop easily in unfamiliar places to avoid theft.
“In a bit, by the roadside.” Cheng Lang had driven all night, faint fatigue in his brows and eyes.
The blue truck left the national highway and pulled over on the auxiliary road. Feng Man ate her stored popcorn candy, chewing softly to keep quiet, occasionally glancing at the man dozing beside her.
By now, daylight was full. Cheng Lang leaned back against the seat with eyes closed, his sharp brows and eyes softened, unusually serene.
After a simple breakfast, Feng Man boredly scanned the surroundings. Amid the whistling wind, her gaze caught on the rearview mirror. A breeze lifted a corner of the cargo tarp behind, rippling like waves.
In that instant, Feng Man knew why she had been discovered.
Cheng Lang napped a few hours in the truck. When he opened his eyes again, his mind was clear. The truck started once more.
On the boring road, Feng Man liked staring into the rearview mirror now and then. On the sparse national highway, minibuses or trucks passed occasionally; sedans were rare.
Trying to identify car brands and count them, Feng Man gradually found some fun, even playing a game with herself guessing the color of the next vehicle in the mirror.
Over time, she noticed an army green truck that followed, stopping and starting, always behind. She looked twice more. The license plate 3359 and the driver in a gray shirt in the cab caught her eye.
She had thought Cheng Lang would drive through the night again and nap the next day. Unexpectedly, late at night, the truck turned off the highway toward the city and stopped in front of a small inn.
“We’re staying at an inn tonight.” Cheng Lang turned off the engine, flipped out of the cab, and shut the door behind him.
Still surprised, Feng Man hugged her cloth bag and used the dim white bulb over the inn door to step down on the tire. Looking up, she saw the slightly worn sign: Red Star Inn—a very era-appropriate name.
“Have you really thought it through if you’re insisting on following me?” Cheng Lang locked the truck door, lit a cigarette, and exhaled smoke into the night. “If you’ve thought it through, go in now. We’ll get one room.”
The wall clock in the small inn lobby pointed to nine at night. The night was deep, ink-dark, outlining the man’s tall figure hidden in shadow. His rugged face now held a hint of teasing and probing.
Cheng Lang knew she was an inexperienced girl. His long fingers trembled slightly, shaking off ash in the night. He took a final drag, dropped the butt, and crushed it underfoot. “Think it over. Tomorrow, take a bus back yourself or go wherever. Don’t follow me.”
A casual remark would scare her off.
The man’s low voice rose and fell amid the distant sound of tires crunching pavement.
Feng Man was indeed surprised for a moment. How had he suddenly…
But glimpsing the army green truck that had just hurried past, she suddenly understood. She curved her lips and smiled brightly. “Sure, let’s get one room. I’ll stay with you.”
The departing woman was casual and free-spirited. The one left stunned in place was the previously composed man.
Cheng Lang: “…?”