A Young Woman's Heart

“It’s up to you.” Mo Wenli did not deny that this was not his daughter.

"You can rest assured that I'll handle things!"

Mo Wenli took a drag of his cigarette and watched as the young scalper walked confidently toward the service hall.

If it's a relatively new car, passing the annual inspection shouldn't be a problem. But the problem is that this van is quite old. Not only is it worn out, but it's also dilapidated. It's not easy to pass the annual inspection normally; you'll have to go through a scalper with some connections.

Don't be fooled by how much they received; half of it goes to those "big shots" as a form of tribute...

……

(six)

"Lianlian, what would you like to eat? It's my treat today, eat whatever you want. Oh, how about trying this? It's a 15-yuan buffet, that's pretty good."

"Okay! I'll eat this."

"Isn't it too cheap? How about we try something else? How about the McDonald's next door?"

"Hmm...it's too expensive."

"It's alright, it's alright. It's a rare treat to get out and have some fun. We should eat something nice now that we're in the city center."

"Anything is fine."

"Then McDonald's!"

Mo Wenli made the decision for her.

The store wasn't too crowded, nor too empty; there was even an empty seat on the second floor.

In this day and age, this would be considered a high-end restaurant; some people even treat it like a coffee shop.

A hamburger costs eight yuan, and two hamburgers can fill up a buffet, and you still won't be full.

But in terms of taste, that buffet restaurant probably can't compare to McDonald's.

Mo Wenli scratched his chin, looked around the menu, and finally handed the choice to Zhuang Lianlian: "Lianlian, what do you want to eat? Order whatever you want, as long as you can finish it."

“Okay…” Zhuang Lianlian was silent for a few seconds, then accurately and skillfully named the food she wanted, “McNuggets chicken leg burger, McNuggets chicken nuggets, medium fries, medium Coke.”

Is that enough?

"Yes! That's enough." Zhuang Lianlian answered happily, as if she was recalling the past.

"Okay, sir, what do you need?" The cashier smiled at him.

“Me? Hmm…” Mo Wenli’s gaze lingered on the toys on the glass display shelf. After pondering for a long time, he nodded and said, “Two kids’ meals, please. Two different toys.”

The cashier's smile seemed much more genuine: "Two more kids' meals, please? To go or dine-in?"

"Eat here."

"The total is fifty-six yuan and forty cents, but I'll give you one hundred."

"Tsk tsk." Mo Wenli couldn't help but click his tongue.

This price is really not cheap; it would be enough for many meals if you went to eat fast food.

It's probably this high price that makes people think this is a high-end restaurant—even though it's just an ordinary fast food restaurant abroad.

"Could you please bring two more packets of ketchup?" Zhuang Lianlian tilted her head up and tiptoed slightly.

"Ok."

"Oh, the ketchup is free?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then take four packs!"

The cashier smiled kindly: "Okay, sir."

"If you're still hungry after you finish eating, come back and buy more later."

"That's enough, I've always bought them this way."

"Oh—it seems you used to eat here often."

"Hmm..." Zhuang Lianlian's voice trailed off, her head slightly lowered, "With Mom and Dad..."

……

Chapter 197 Toys in the Kids' Meal

(One)

The days grew longer and longer, and around five o'clock in the afternoon, the school bell rang at Yukong High School, signaling the end of the school term.

The setting sun was still high in the sky, and it seemed it could hold on for another hour or two.

Because the evening self-study time was postponed, even senior high school students were able to leave the school and enjoy some free time.

Even if you get tired of all the restaurants near the school, you can walk a little further to a more distant place.

Since they had plenty of time, it was only natural for Mo Xueyao and Li Wanyan to go home for dinner.

Lu Chengyuan was also with them.

Lu Bolun wasn't there because he ate with his other "brothers" every day after school.

Girls have female friends, and boys have male friends too.

Neither Lu Chengyuan nor Lü Bolun demanded that the other stay by their side every moment.

Although the time and the route were the same, the feeling after school was completely different from when I was in my first and second years of high school.

Back then, I could walk slowly and leisurely until I got home, but now I still have to hurry—no matter how much time I have, I can't completely relax.

Even though she wasn't carrying a backpack, her steps felt light and unsteady.

……

(two)

"Hoo-hoo—" Lu Chengyuan stretched while waiting at the red light, twisting her stiff neck that had been hunched over. "I had an exam today, didn't I? I'm so tired."

Although such topics are discussed several times a day, the students do not find them boring. That's life; most of the time, it's just repetition.

People keep complaining about the same things, but they still keep moving forward and never give up.

"Okay, let's go back to the classroom after dinner, and then go back together later?"

"Yes, of course! My mom said she's going to make braised pork today!"

"Has Cheng Yuan gained weight recently?" Mo Xueyao tilted her head and glanced at her a few times. "Oh, it seems so after the last physical exam..."

"I've only gained ten pounds! From my first year of high school to my third! Uh, well, but I've also gotten a bit taller."

"Ten pounds—" Mo Xueyao drawled, "but being a little chubby is quite cute."

"You can't compare to Xiaoyao. How much are you now? I'm already 110."

"Actually, 110 pounds isn't considered fat, is it? It's quite healthy."

“That’s how skinny people always comfort fat people,” Lu Chengyuan said, pouting in annoyance. “Besides, didn’t you just say I’ve gotten fat?”

"Uh... I just wanted to find an angle to compliment you on how much better you look now that you've gained weight..."

"It's okay, anyway, that guy has gained weight."

"Lü Bolun?"

"Ah."

"Let's get fat together, that's great." Mo Xueyao quickly took a few steps forward, the bells on her ankles making a crisp sound, but it was hard to hear unless you listened carefully, because the noise of the traffic on the street almost completely drowned them out.

"Hey, they're doing roadwork again today. It feels like this road is under construction for four or five months out of the year."

"Probably because when building a house, you always have to change something or lay something new, right?" Mo Xueyao offered a reasonable explanation, which was actually a topic that was frequently discussed.

Sometimes Mo Xueyao would ask the question and Lu Chengyuan would answer; other times, she would ask the question and Mo Xueyao would answer.

Life repeats itself in this repetitive way.

……

(three)

Stepping on their own shadows, the three carefully crossed the road that was under renovation, but their shoes inevitably got covered in dust.

They had just reached the convenience store when they heard Mo Wenli shouting from afar.

"Hey, girls, you're back for dinner!" He poked half his body out of the alley and laughed heartily, the lollipop stick in his mouth seemingly glued to his lips and refusing to fall off.

"Dad, what are we having for dinner tonight?"

"Ask your mother!" The father clearly didn't care about the matter at all. He shook the seat cushions hanging on the thick rope and took them down.

"Hello, Uncle!" Lu Chengyuan greeted him in a similarly cheerful manner.

"Come to my house for dinner! Your dad's cooking is terrible, mine is much better!"

"No need, my mom is cooking today!"

"Haha, okay, I'll show you a couple of times."

"Okay." Lu Chengyuan was used to such polite exchanges between neighbors. She waved goodbye to Mo Xueyao and the others, then ran into another fruit shop a few meters away with light steps, like a well-fed deer.

Although both are fruit shops, their focuses are different.

Mo Xueyao's family had more customers buying flowers, and their flower baskets sold even better, mainly because her father was skilled at arranging and wrapping flowers beautifully. Lu Chengyuan's family, on the other hand, focused more on selling fruit. They had a wider variety of fruit, including many expensive varieties that almost no one would buy.

This differentiated business strategy prevented both companies from getting caught up in malicious competition, and both businesses did quite well.

In fact, the two fruit shops located under the hospital have not yet saturated the market.

After all, this is a well-known hospital in the province, and many people come from other places specifically to see a doctor.

People who can afford medical treatment here are almost never too poor.

Take chemotherapy for cancer, for example. One session can cost at least a month's salary for an average person.

Mo Xueyao stepped through the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves and peered towards the spot where the van was parked—the back door of the fruit shop. The silver-white van looked somewhat unfamiliar to her: "Huh? Was it washed?"