Meng Yan's Transformation

Chapter 660 A Stark Contrast

The boy nodded: "No, but my dad told me that he was sent to the countryside in Xinxing Township. My dad and your dad were comrades-in-arms, so..." He paused, a blush rising on his face, "so I'm practically a local too."

Zhan Mengyan smiled, and the tension in her heart gradually dissipated. She suddenly realized that this boy's smile, just like her sister's, made people feel warm and at ease.

Zhan Yingying looked at the two of them, a sly glint in her eyes: "Alright, you two can chat slowly. I'm going to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some things. Xiaoyan, remember to give the money from selling vegetables to your father. He'll definitely praise you again, and you'll be so proud of yourself when you get praised."

Mengyan's face flushed again, and she gently pushed her sister: "Sis, what nonsense are you talking about..."

Her sister simply smiled, patted her shoulder, and turned to walk towards the supply and marketing cooperative. Her figure looked especially warm in the setting sun.

Zhan Mengyan turned to look at the boy and found him quietly watching her, his gaze filled with tenderness. She suddenly felt a strange sense of familiarity with this unfamiliar boy.

"What...what do you usually like to do?" she asked, mustering her courage, her voice filled with anticipation.

The boy smiled slightly, revealing two cute little tiger teeth: "I like reading, playing chess, and I also like..." He paused, his gaze falling on the vegetable basket in Mengyan's hands, "and I also like helping with chores at home. For example... selling vegetables."

Zhan Mengyan smiled, and the tension in her heart gradually dissipated. She suddenly realized that this boy's smile, just like her sister's, made people feel warm and at ease.

In the distance, the afterglow of the setting sun cast long, long shadows of the two, as if stretching to eternity. In Mengyan's heart, a small seed was quietly planted—a seed about growth, about family, and about youth.

After dinner, Zhan Mengyan, Zhan Zixun, and Zhang Jianguo prepared to play checkers when Zhang Xincheng staggered in through the front door.

"Look, Zhang Xincheng with flat feet is here. The three of you can play chess later, and Zhang Xincheng can join you in playing too."

As Zhan Yingying spoke, she pointed to the window and went out to greet them.

"Sister Ying! When did you get back?!"

Zhang Xincheng looked pleasantly surprised as he spoke.

"It seems you haven't been to my house for quite a few days. I've been back for many days now. I was wondering what happened to Zhang Xincheng; why hasn't he come to my house?"

Zhan Yingying spoke with a sly smile.

Zhang Xincheng blushed immediately: "I...I've been helping my dad with blacksmithing these past few days, so I've been a bit busy..."

“Zhang Xincheng, don’t listen to Zhan Yingying, she’s just teasing you. She just got back today. Come here, let’s play checkers together. I’ll introduce you to a new friend, Zhang Jianguo. You can’t write two Zhangs with one stroke. Five hundred years ago, you were family. He’s the son of Uncle Zhang, my father’s comrade-in-arms. He’s a sophomore at Jinzhou Experimental High School and will be a senior next semester.”

As Zhan Zixun spoke, he pulled Zhang Xincheng in front of Zhang Jianguo.

Zhang Jianguo, with a generous and cheerful smile, extended his hand to Zhang Xincheng and greeted him: "Hello! I am Zhang Jianguo, it's a pleasure to meet you!" His voice was loud and enthusiastic.

Zhang Xincheng, however, trembled slightly like a startled rabbit, his fingers nervously twisting the hem of his clothes. He lowered his head, his cheeks flushed, and he managed to squeeze out a weak reply from the corner of his mouth: "Um... my name is Zhang Xincheng."

Zhang Jianguo's initiative flowed like a warm current, while Zhang Xincheng's awkwardness and restraint were like frozen ice. The two formed a stark contrast, and a subtle embarrassment filled the air, as if time itself had stopped for this moment of embarrassment.