Chapter 350: Get In The Bicycle

Chapter 350: Get In The Bicycle
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
It was still some distance to Shen Mo’s home, and a bicycle was needed to get there. However, the bicycle Shen Mo rode today was an old-fashioned one, with a large crossbar at the front and a single seat at the back.
To ride this kind of bicycle, one usually starts by pushing it to get it rolling and then hops on. Therefore, if one is taking a passenger, it’s more convenient for them to sit on the front crossbar.
In the past, young couples loved riding bicycles this way; with the girl sitting on the crossbar and the boy cycling, it felt as if the girl was in the boy’s embrace.
However, Jiang Xia and Shen Mo certainly didn’t have that kind of relationship. So, after glancing at the bike, Jiang Xia said, “You ride ahead, and I’ll run a few steps and hop on.”
Looking at the relatively tall bicycle, Shen Mo decisively refused, “No, what if you fall?”
Jiang Xia patted her chest confidently and said, “Don’t worry, I’m very agile. 1 won’t fall.”
Seeing that Jiang Xia was two heads shorter than him, Shen Mo still refused. In the end, both of them sat on the bicycle, and Shen Mo, using his long legs, pushed the bike to get it started.
Jiang Xia hadn’t expected him, usually so gentle, to be so stubborn, so she complied quietly.
To Jiang Xia’s delight, Shen Mo’s home did have ribs. Shen Mo instructed his servant to prepare the ribs, while he took Jiang Xia on a tour of the mansion.
Shen Mo’s residence was vast, with standalone buildings and gardens. Various trees and plants filled the garden. Although it was winter, and the leaves had fallen, making it hard to identify the plants, there were still servants pruning the trees and cleaning up the fallen leaves.
Jiang Xia guessed that Shen Mo’s house must be the best in the county, luxurious even by modern standards.
Shen Mo invited Jiang Xia to sit inside, and a servant brought two cups of black tea.
As Jiang Xia sipped her tea, she was lost in thought, admiring the room’s decorations. She thought the tea was excellent, similar to what she had in her modern office in Jiang Chuan.
Shen Mo found her adorable and couldn’t help but watch her for a while before starting a conversation. “1 remember you once talked in detail about the village’s situation. I’ve been away for over half a year. Can you update me on the changes in the county and the village?”
Jiang Xia recalled everything that had happened in the past months and regretfully realized that, apart from their own prosperity, the village still faced food shortages and poverty.
Jiang Xia sighed, “You’ve seen the village conditions yourself. Half a year isn’t enough for significant changes. Natural disasters and human sufferings continue. Without rain, crops can’t grow. Without crops, surviving this winter is challenging.”
Shen Mo remembered Jiang Xia’s earlier suggestion for government intervention to improve villagers’ lives. Despite his efforts in the army over the past months, little had changed, primarily because the nation itself lacked food, and the military also required vast food supplies after the recent war. This was why he had returned.
They both fell silent until a servant brought in the ribs wrapped in oily paper.
Jiang Xia thanked him and stood to leave, and Shen Mo walked her to the door. As Jiang Xia was about to depart, Shen Mo mysteriously said, “Jiang Xia, we’ll meet again soon.”
Jiang Xia paused, wanting to ask what he meant, but seeing his enigmatic expression, she happily took the ribs and left. However, Shen Mo insisted on accompanying her to the county entrance, concerned for her safety.
From the second floor of the mansion, two women watched Shen Mo and Jiang Xia part ways. One woman, filled with jealousy, gripped the windowsill tightly.
She asked the woman beside her, “Cousin, who is this woman? Why did Shen Mo bring her home and even personally see her off?”
The other woman patted her hand comfortingly, “Perhaps she’s just a beggar. Didn’t you see the ribs in her hand? You don’t know Shen Mo like I do. He’s a bit clueless and doesn’t understand matters of the heart..”