Chapter 555: Arrived Home

Mrs. Fu had also been on the train for several days. By the time the two of them got home, it was already five in the afternoon.

It was pretty late.

"Auntie, why don’t you put your things down, and then we can go to the state-run restaurant for a bite to eat!"

Qin Wenshu was getting hungry.

Having just gotten off the train, he wanted to eat a good meal.

"After all, no one has lived in this house for a long time, and there’s nothing here. Cooking at home is just not realistic."

If she had come back by herself, Mrs. Fu naturally wouldn’t have gone to the state-run restaurant.

After all, she could have just made do with a simple bite.

But with Qin Wenshu there, things were different.

The young man had come all this way to accompany her to her old hometown.

How could she not treat him to a hot meal?

"Alright, I’ll put my things down first. We’ll go eat in a bit."

Opening the main gate, they saw that the house, which hadn’t been lived in for a year, was covered in cobwebs.

The courtyard was also overgrown with weeds, looking quite desolate.

’Sure enough, a house needs people living in it. Without anyone, it falls into disrepair so quickly.’

As Mrs. Fu looked at the house, she made a decision.

Just then, after looking around the courtyard, Qin Wenshu suddenly spoke up, "Auntie, I think you should just stay at a hotel tonight. Cleaning this up will take a lot of time!"

"There’s no need. I can make do for a night or two. Come on, let’s go eat first."

They left their things at the house for now.

They would come back early after dinner.

She was mainly afraid that if it got too late, the state-run restaurant wouldn’t have many dishes left.

Also, what if it got too late and the guesthouse had no rooms left?

Qin Wenshu, of course, couldn’t possibly stay here.

"Alright."

Just as the two of them were about to leave the house, some neighbors came over.

"Oh, Mother Mingxue, you’re back?"

The timing of her return was odd—after all, Old Mrs. Fu had been buried for quite some time.

"Mother Mingxue, are you back for the New Year? Is this your son-in-law?"

As she asked, the other neighbor sized up Qin Wenshu.

Hearing this, Qin Wenshu was quite startled and quickly waved his hands in denial.

"No, not at all! Her daughter is my sister-in-law. My brother was busy, so I came back with Auntie."

’What is wrong with these people? How can they just spout nonsense like that?’

’If Brother Wenhuo found out about this, he would skin me alive!’

When the neighbors heard he was the brother-in-law, their eyes went wide. "Young man, are you married then?"

Qin Wenshu: ...?

"M-married."

He decided he had to put his talent for bald-faced lying to use.

He couldn’t stand being set up on dates everywhere he went.

At that moment, Mrs. Fu spoke up. "Alright now, why are you all crowding around asking him about this? We have to go out for a bit. Please let us through."

Even though they were old neighbors of many years, Mrs. Fu was in no mood to catch up right now.

After all, filling their stomachs was more important.

"Mother Mingxue, you must not have eaten since you just got back. Why don’t you eat at my place!"

"Mother Mingxue, come eat at my house—"

"Come to my place—"

Mrs. Fu: ...?

’When were you all this warm and hospitable before?’

"No, thank you. We have something to do, so we’re leaving first. We can chat tomorrow."

After saying this, she gave Qin Wenshu a meaningful look.

The two of them squeezed through the crowd.

When they had made it out of the alleyway, Qin Wenshu couldn’t help but remark, "Auntie, your neighbors are certainly... enthusiastic."

Mrs. Fu chuckled lightly. "I haven’t been back in a long time. It’s normal for them to be enthusiastic."

The state-run restaurant wasn’t too far away, and they arrived quickly.

After they sat down, Mrs. Fu said directly to Qin Wenshu, "Don’t you dare try to pay for this meal. If you do, your auntie will get angry."