"Why hasn’t the bus from the Provincial City arrived yet?" Tang Mingli had arrived half an hour early, dragging his elder brother Tang Zhengde to wait here.
He hadn’t felt it before, but after Mo Siyu said something, Tang Mingli became anxious, always worried that something might go wrong with Tang Yue in the Provincial City.
If something really did happen to Tang Yue, how could he face his elder brother?
"Aren’t you saying it should have arrived by now?" Tang Zhengde kept stretching his neck, looking at each bus that entered the station, but he didn’t see the one from the Provincial City.
Tang Mingli looked at the time on the hall clock, saying uncertainly, "It should be around this time, I think. Every time I go on a business trip, it seems to be around this time, but I’m not sure of the exact time."
Every time Tang Mingli returned from a buying trip, he was exhausted, delivering clothes to the store, then tidying up new arrivals, checking for any missing items, or verifying the cost of the clothes. By the time he finished, it would almost be dark.
He was always in such a hurry, he had no time to note the exact time. He could only guess approximately.
"Let’s wait a bit longer, then." Tang Zhengde tried to suppress his anxiety and continued waiting.
The bus from the Provincial City slowly approached.
Tang Mingli exclaimed excitedly, "Elder brother, the bus is here!"
"Mingli, you’re still injured!" Tang Zhengde reminded him.
"It’s okay, almost healed." Tang Mingli strode forward eagerly. The bus hadn’t even come to a full stop when he was already standing outside, on tiptoe, looking for Tang Yue.
"Elder brother, Xiao Yue is here." When Tang Mingli caught sight of Tang Yue, his heart, which had been suspended in worry, finally settled back into place.
Tang Zhengde waited where the passengers disembarked, looking for his daughter among the crowd getting off.
"Dad, Uncle, why are you both here?" As soon as Tang Yue stood at the bus door, she had already spotted Tang Mingli and Tang Zhengde waiting by the side.
She walked over joyfully and hurried to the back of the bus, saying, "All the stuff is right here."
The trunk was crammed full of clothes she had purchased: three large bags and one small one, nearly filling the entire trunk.
"I’ll take this one." Tang Yue picked up the small bag. She was petite, and it looked strenuous for her to carry it. She gestured, "Dad, these are all them."
As soon as Tang Yue finished speaking, Tang Zhengde began to retrieve the bags.
Qin Huai’an didn’t leave either. After getting off the bus, he followed Tang Yue to the back of the bus to help with the luggage.
"Who are you?" Tang Mingli, unable to exert force, immediately noticed a stranger helping with the luggage.
"I’m Qin Huai’an. I ran into... Tang Yue on the way and helped carry some things." Qin Huai’an introduced himself, asking, "Miss Tang Yue, where do these need to be taken to?"
"You’re Brother Mo’s classmate?" Qin Huai’an assessed Tang Mingli with a sharp gaze.
Tang Yue shrugged helplessly. It was intended to be a casual joke, but Tang Mingli took it seriously. She couldn’t help but pout, "Tying hair for the little sister won’t be my turn. Her mother would certainly not be willing to let someone else do that."
"That’s true, Jiajia ties her hair very prettily herself." As soon as Tang Mingli mentioned Wei Jiajia, it seemed like he couldn’t stop talking.
Tang Yue silently moved to the side, thinking that they hadn’t even gotten together yet. If they were together every day, wouldn’t their display of affection blind her?
"By the way, Xiao Yue." Tang Mingli suddenly spoke solemnly, "There’s something that you definitely wouldn’t guess."
"Hmm?" Tang Yue looked at Tang Mingli curiously.
"Today, Mo Siyu actually knew the dish wasn’t made by you just by tasting it," Tang Mingli started, as if he was about to go insane.
"He said: The way the cabbage was cut was different, and the dish was saltier than usual, and moreover, the braised pork tasted stronger than the last time he had it."
"He also said: Xiao Yue cuts ginger into slices, and they’re all about the same thickness, with the skin peeled."
Tang Mingli recounted each detail as if it was incredible, looking at Tang Yue questioningly, "Tell me, how could he accurately identify it from just eating your cooking twice?"
"Also, he said I shouldn’t have let you go to the Provincial City to procure goods," Tang Mingli suddenly stopped.
Tang Yue blinked, still not quite catching up with his words. A flicker of joy appeared in her eyes, and then she asked playfully, "Could it be that he thinks you’re overworking little old me, not even eighteen yet?"

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