Geng Lu objected: "No way, if we catch criminals, police dogs can bite and hold them, but a wild boar weighing several hundred pounds would just crash and kill the criminal instantly."

Chen Siyu retorted: "We can use smaller wild boars, like those weighing around twenty or thirty pounds."

Geng Lu: "Okay, let's imagine a twenty-pound wild boar chasing a criminal, what would happen."

Tang Fu took a sip of water and said happily: "I would just carry it away, extra dinner tonight!"

Chen Siyu felt a bit suffocated; her absolutely correct idea was dismissed by Geng Lu like this, showing no emotional intelligence for someone sitting next to her.

However, Chen Siyu didn't want fake agreement; she wanted to convince them with absolute wisdom!

She didn't choose to seek her sister's help; she quickly activated her brain. Suddenly, a spiritual light flashed through her mind, and the truth shone brightly. She blurted out: "We can ride on the boar to catch people!"

Tang Fu was startled: "My gosh, you are truly a genius!"

Chen Siyu was secretly delighted; that wasn't enough; she looked towards Geng Lu and Bai Yuxia, hoping to gain the Wise Man's approval:

"Are police boars more useful than police dogs?"

Bai Yuxia had been silent, not speaking earlier because it was an absurd idea, but now it seemed Chen Siyu was about to convince herself.

Since that was the case, Bai Yuxia thought it was time to say something to prevent her from embarrassing herself:

"Pigs only ask questions, dogs can help police solve problems."

...

River Dam Bungalow.

Jiang Ning sat on a small bench in the kitchen, playing with his phone. Geng Lu sent him a message, showing her holding two chicken legs in a picture, one with her face visible and another without.

These days, phone cameras don't yet have the heavy beauty filters of the future. Geng Lu turned off the filter and used the original camera mode, and even without any touch-ups, she looked great as a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl.

The messages that followed were: "I ate your share, hehe. (Grinning)"

"I'll make it up to you next time. (Eyes)"

Jiang Ning: "Go ahead, eat it."

The two chatted a bit more, and Jiang Ning continued to scroll through his social circle, noticing that Geng Lu had posted the photo without her face showing to her social feed.

Every time she posts to her social circle, she'd share with him first before posting publicly.

Although it's a trivial matter, it made Jiang Ning feel good because it meant he was the first to know.

He liked Geng Lu's post.

Immediately following that, Shen Qing'e posted to her social feed with a picture of braised fried small fish and a caption: "Today's small dining table is delicious, simple happiness~"

Jiang Ning glanced at it and scrolled past with no intention of liking it.

In his previous life, even when he and Shen Qing'e were closest, she wouldn't share her social posts with him first. In his past life, Jiang Ning didn't mind this, but now compared to how Geng Lu treats him, the difference was stark.

Unlike his past self who would repeatedly view Shen Qing'e's feed, the current Jiang Ning just skimmed past it and moved on.

'Since it wasn't posted for me to see, why should I like it?'

For him, it was a small matter, but for Shen Qing'e, after posting her status, she kept hoping Jiang Ning would like it, wishing to evoke some emotion from him.

She kept refreshing and refreshing, hoping to see his like, but it never came.

She comforted herself, 'Maybe Jiang Ning hasn't checked his social feed?'

Until she saw Jiang Ning's like on Geng Lu's post.

...

"Time for dinner, time for dinner." Xue Yuantong carried a plate, helping to serve the dishes.

At her own home, after cooking, she often acted like the boss of the mountain, but in others' homes, she never sat and waited for others to serve food.

"Tongtong, I've got it." Xue Chuchu walked past her with a dish.

One dish after another was served on the table: fruit platter, cola chicken wings, spicy shrimp, cumin squid, lamb chops...

These dishes looked ordinary, but in fact, every ingredient was bought by Aunt Hua from the Evergreen Liquid with her own money.

"We don't have rice today; have some cake instead." Hua Fengmei's usually slightly cold face now exuded an amiable look, though still not as gentle as Aunt Gu.

After all, their personalities were different. She raised her daughter alone, with a stronger character than Aunt Gu, setting more expectations for herself and Chuchu, eagerly hoping her daughter would succeed.

Aunt Gu was different; she only wanted her daughter to grow up healthy and happy, even if it meant supporting her for life.

"It's enough, Auntie." Jiang Ning sat down confidently without the slightest restraint.

"That's good, that's good." Hua Fengmei tried her best to smile. These days, to quickly pay off the money owed from buying a house, she worked overtime every day. She knew Chuchu often received Jiang Ning's care, and Chuchu's complexion was noticeably better.

"Have you been waiting long?" Hua Fengmei inquired.

Xue Chuchu silently looked at her mother, seeing not her unease, but her care for her.

Xue Yuantong, not as detail-oriented as Chuchu, picked up a cola chicken wing and ate it deliciously.

Jiang Ning took some squid, tasted it, and it had a barbecue flavor. Since the squid was of good quality, it tasted quite nice.

Jiang Ning liked the crisp and slippery texture of squid and pondered whether he could try raising some in Qingyu Lake.

Seeing Jiang Ning eating, Aunt Hua expectantly inquired: "Auntie's cooking is quite average; I wonder if it suits your taste?"

Jiang Ning praised: "It's quite delicious. My mom used to make this dish too."

Hearing this, Xue Chuchu especially glanced at Jiang Ning. Having known him for almost a year, she rarely heard him mention his family.

Now reminded by him, she suddenly realized he was just renting at the river dam, merely a tenant.

'He... will leave eventually, right?'

'Perhaps... he will take Tongtong with him.'

At that time...

If Xue Chuchu hadn't experienced these times, she might have tolerated the loneliness.

Xue Chuchu was overwhelmed by an indescribable emotion, as if she was standing alone in a vast snowy wilderness.

She finally understood what it was, not loneliness, but a profound fear, even terror.

Hua Fengmei didn't notice her daughter's unusual reaction and chatted: "To have raised such a good child, your mom's cooking must be better than mine, right?"

"Well, let me try again to say for sure." Jiang Ning picked up another piece of cumin squid, ate it, then took a sip of cola, and laughed, saying:

"Auntie's cooking tastes just like mom's."

These words made Hua Fengmei very happy; this child's words were so heartwarming that the cold look on her face completely disappeared, filled with a loving smile.

Jiang Ning's Divine Sense also noticed her change, feeling mildly complacent; he was no longer the wooden boy he used to be.

Yet, why were Chuchu's cheeks suddenly blushing?

Did he say something wrong, Jiang Ning asked himself? In this setting, his words should be fine, and after cooking all morning, Aunt Hua would surely be pleased with his seamless compliment.

The next moment,

Hua Fengmei smiled, with a bit of helplessness: "Oh dear, you know, the only dish on this table made by Chuchu is this one."

Jiang Ning: "?"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.