pertwk Chapter 31 Farewell on a Rainy Night to Head to the Provincial Capital
Chapter 31 Farewell on a Rainy Night to Head to the Provincial Capital
Chapter 31 Farewell on a Rainy Night to Head to the Provincial Capital
First paragraph
On a rainy night with dark clouds looming over the city, cold rain pounded against the blue brick walls of the Su family courtyard, splashing up tiny droplets of water.
Chen Shanhe packed his simple luggage, which contained his grandfather's medical books and treasure-hunting notes in a coarse cloth bundle. He stood at the entrance of the Su family courtyard, his posture upright and his eyes showing a sense of composure.
Looking at Su Wanjing, whose eyes were red and swollen from crying, his heart softened completely.
Su Wanjing was wearing a faded floral blouse and barefoot cloth shoes. She was clutching his sleeve tightly, her fingertips turning white from gripping it. Tears streamed down her face like broken beads. She kept repeating, "Please don't leave again," her voice choked with sobs, barely able to utter a complete sentence.
Grandpa Su Zhenshan stood to the side, sighed with his hands behind his back, and handed over a thick cloth bag containing dried herbs, several packets of dry food, and a piece of malt candy wrapped in oil paper—Wanjing's favorite treat since childhood.
The old man told him to handle things well in the provincial capital, not to be stubborn, and if he suffered any injustice, to send a message back through someone, as Qinglong Town would always be his support.
Chen Shanhe took the cloth bag, feeling the warmth of the fabric in his palm. He patted Wanjing's hand, his voice steady and firm:
"Don't worry, I'll only be gone for a short while. I'll finish up the jewelry convention and come back to marry you right away." These words were like a reassuring pill, which eased Wan Jing's sobs a little.
Su Wanjing nodded, sobbing, but still wouldn't let it go, repeatedly urging him while holding his hand:
"There are many women in the provincial capital. Stay away from the pretty ones and don't get seduced, especially Wu Meiniang. She's always interested in you and her eyes are very alluring. Don't be soft-hearted."
The more she spoke, the more frightened she became, and tears welled up in her eyes again. "I don't care about anything else, just don't get involved with Wu Meiniang. Even if Murong Fangxiang follows you, I'll be at ease, but you can't let Wu Meiniang get close to you."
Chen Shanhe patiently raised his hand to wipe away her tears, his fingertips touching her slightly cool cheek, and softly replied, "I'll listen to you. Wanjing is the best girl. I'll let you know I'm safe as soon as I get to the provincial capital, and I won't say another word to Wu Meiniang."
No sooner had she finished speaking than a car horn sounded outside the courtyard, and the car sent by Murong Fangxiang stopped at the muddy intersection outside the courtyard.
The driver rolled down the window and respectfully called out "Mr. Chen." As the car slowly started moving, Su Wanjing's figure gradually disappeared from the rearview mirror, leaving only a tearful silhouette leaning against the door frame, which became increasingly blurry in the rain.
Second paragraph
The car drove towards the provincial capital, and the rain outside the window grew heavier and heavier. Large raindrops pounded against the car window, making a pattering sound and blurring the scenery along the way.
Chen Shanhe leaned back in his leather seat, closing his eyes to rest, but his mind was filled with Wan Jing's red, tear-stained eyes and her repeated admonitions, which he couldn't shake off.
He knew in his heart that his trip to the provincial capital was partly to escape Wu Meiniang—that alluring woman who was always flirting with him in Qinglong Town, her ambiguous gaze impossible to conceal.
Wanjing is already sensitive and can't withstand this kind of turmoil. If this continues, she might not even be able to live a peaceful life.
Secondly, it was for the jewelry appraisal conference that Murong Fangxiang mentioned. It was a rare grand event in the provincial capital, gathering collectors and dignitaries from all over the country. It was a place where many real experts and savvy individuals gathered. Murong Fangxiang said that only his expertise in appraising treasures could distinguish between the genuine and the fake, and he could not betray this trust.
After driving for more than two hours, the car finally entered the urban area of the provincial capital.
The view outside the window gradually changed. It was no longer the dirt roads and scattered farmhouses of the countryside, but streets lined with high-rise buildings, a constant flow of traffic, and flashing neon signs along the roadside, dazzling and colorful.
Looking at the bustling scene before him, Chen Shanhe was filled with mixed emotions. This was his first time in the provincial capital, and the sights before him were overwhelming. He was both looking forward to the experience of the jewelry convention and missing Wanjing at home.
Just then, his phone rang, and the screen displayed the name "Wanjing" in his contact information. It was her calling to check up on him, her voice filled with vigilance, clearly afraid that he might change his mind or get entangled with another woman.
Chen Shanhe patiently explained that he was doing well, that he was with Murong Fangxiang's team, and that he was surrounded by reliable people who would not wrong him or judge others.
After hanging up the phone, he leaned back in his seat, his fingertips gently stroking the phone screen. He secretly vowed to handle everything cleanly and never let Wanjing suffer the pain of lovesickness again.
Paragraph
The car finally stopped in front of a high-end hotel in the heart of the provincial capital's business district. The gilded signboard gleamed in the rain. The driver respectfully opened the car door for Chen Shanhe and handed him a black umbrella.
"Mr. Chen, Sister Fang is waiting for you in the VIP room upstairs. The room has been prepared. Let's go up first."
Chen Shanhe nodded, holding an umbrella, and followed the driver into the hotel lobby.
The lobby was decorated in a magnificent style, with crystal chandeliers hanging from the dome, casting light into every corner. The reception staff wore uniforms, had exquisite makeup, and smiled politely, exuding professionalism in every move.
He followed the driver into the elevator, his reflection shimmering on the mirrored wall. He looked slightly green but his eyes were firm. The elevator numbers kept changing until it finally stopped at the VIP lounge on the top floor.
Stepping out of the elevator, Murong Fangxiang was already waiting at the entrance of the VIP lounge. She wore a well-tailored royal blue cheongsam, her long hair was styled up with a jade hairpin, her makeup was exquisite, and she exuded elegance. Upon seeing Chen Shanhe, she smiled and stepped forward to take the umbrella from his hand.
"Mr. Chen, you must be tired from your journey. Please come in and sit down. It's raining heavily, don't get wet."
Chen Shanhe followed her into the VIP room, which was elegantly and warmly decorated. Hot tea and delicate pastries were laid out on the light wood coffee table, and the warm yellow light dispelled the chill of the rainy night.
Murong Fang poured Chen Shanhe a cup of hot tea and handed it to him: "I know you came from Qinglong Town, and it must have been a long and tiring journey in the rain. Have some hot tea to warm yourself up first."
Chen Shanhe took the hot tea, his fingertips touching the warm cup, and took a sip. The warm tea slid down his throat, instantly dispelling the chill he had felt along the way.
Just then, his phone rang again. It was Wan Jing calling. She bombarded him with a series of questions: Was his living environment safe? Had any strange women approached him? Had anyone bullied him? Every question was filled with worry.
Chen Shanhe patiently responded to each question, saying that the hotel was very safe and that only Murong Fangxiang and the driver were with her, and there was no one else, so she shouldn't worry.
After hanging up the phone, Murong Fangxiang chuckled and teased, "Miss Wanjing really cherishes you. Such heartfelt care is truly rare."
Chen Shanhe nodded, a gentle smile on his face. He knew that the provincial capital was not like the countryside; it was a mixed bag. Having a reliable person by his side was always better than going it alone. Moreover, Murong Fangxiang was genuinely helping him, not pretending. With her looking after him, everything would go much more smoothly.
fourth paragraph
As night deepened, the neon lights outside the window continued to flicker, and the rain gradually subsided, leaving only a few raindrops tapping on the glass.
Chen Shanhe sat on a soft chair in the VIP room, continuing to chat with Murong Fangxiang about the details of the jewelry appreciation conference. The materials on the table were spread out, displaying high-definition pictures and descriptions of each piece of jewelry.
Murong Fangxiang pointed to several pictures and said seriously, "These are some of the jewelry that will be exhibited at this conference. Many of them are high-quality fakes that are difficult to distinguish from the real ones. Many collectors in the provincial capital have been fooled by them. We need your discerning eye to spot them and prevent them from being taken advantage of."
Chen Shanhe took the documents and carefully looked through them, his gaze falling on each picture, his brows sometimes furrowing slightly and sometimes relaxing.
He analyzed the material, craftsmanship, and texture one by one, pointing out many flaws by lightly touching the picture with his fingertips. For example, the texture of a certain piece of jewelry was stiff and lacked the liveliness of natural jade.
One piece has an overly glaring luster, which is a sign of artificial coating; another piece has a rough inlay process with burrs on the edges, making it an obvious fake.
Murong Fangxiang listened intently, her eyes growing brighter. She knew Chen Shanhe had the ability to appraise treasures, but she didn't expect his insight to be so unique. He could even see through the subtle flaws in the documents at a glance, and her appreciation for him grew even more.
Just then, the phone rang again. It was Wan Jing calling, her voice soft, asking if Chen Shanhe had rested, if he wanted some water, and not to overwork himself.
Chen Shanhe walked to the window of the VIP room and patiently coaxed her, saying that he had drunk hot tea and was neither cold nor tired, and told her to go to sleep early and not stay up late waiting for news.
After hanging up the phone, Murong Fangxiang looked at him and smiled with emotion, saying, "Miss Wanjing really cherishes you. A man like that deserves to be treated well."
Chen Shanhe nodded, his gentle expression deepening. He secretly resolved that once he had dealt with everything, he would immediately return to be with Wanjing, give her a peaceful wedding, and never let her suffer such fear again.
The rain outside the window has completely stopped, and neon lights shine through the window, casting dappled light and shadow on the ground, gentle and tranquil.
Unbeknownst to him, a new storm was quietly brewing in a corner of the provincial capital.
Wu Meiniang's eyes were already fixed on the bustling provincial capital and on Chen Shanhe, who was about to make a name for himself. She was waiting for an opportunity to disrupt this seemingly peaceful trip.