Beautiful beauties in the 80s courtyard

Chapter 401 Let him guess for a lifetime
Lu Qiaoge didn't go on a massive plundering spree; enough was enough. She wasn't that greedy.

The little dolphin beside Lu Qiaoge also told her that there was a shipwreck about 500 nautical miles further south.

There were lots and lots of porcelain, gold, silver and other items inside.

Anyway, they're all things that humans like, and they're from a very, very distant era.

The jellyfish said softly, "In my memory, that shipwreck is at least six hundred years old."

Well, Lu Qiaoge was quite tempted by that.

Just like the gold in Hongxing Lake, it's all unclaimed property, which sounds exciting.

And if she really wanted to salvage it, it wouldn't be a problem at all. After all, she has so many helpers.

Sure enough, the great white shark excitedly said, "Little master, I can take you there; you won't need to take a boat or swim."

Lu Qiaoge patted the great white shark's head. If anyone saw this, they would be utterly astonished.

After thinking about it, she decided to give up, saying, "I won't go this time, I'll wait until next time."

Although our current maritime defense capabilities are not as strong as those of other countries, nor will they be as strong as they will be in the future, we should still pay attention to such areas given the current state of national mobilization.

Shipwrecks happen all the time, it doesn't have to be this one.
-
When Lu Qiaoge returned to Jiangcheng, the entire city had been gently covered by a heavy snowfall.

The fields and furrows outside the city were completely submerged under the snow, like a vast white carpet spread out, forming a pure and expansive contrast with the azure sky in the distance.

Evergreen pines and cypresses stand silently in the snow, their branches bearing a heavy load of snow. Occasionally, a gust of wind will blow snowflakes like jade dust, as if fine snow is falling again.

The snow on the roof was melting, and rows of crystal-clear icicles hung from the eaves, shimmering with a cold light in the thin winter sun.

The smoke rising from the chimneys became the only active element in this tranquil world, curling upwards in a fairytale-like serenity.

Suddenly returning from the mild coastal climate to the frigid city of Wuhan, from lush greenery to snow-covered landscapes, it felt like traversing between winter and summer in just a few days.

After returning from Dayu Island, Lu Qiaoge first sent Xiaoqing back to its mountain forest home, and Xiaohuacai and Dongdong also returned to Cuixia Peak. Before parting, she left a lot of spiritual water for these creatures, including the little darlings in the sea, and repeatedly instructed them not to get too close to humans just because they had become intelligent.

It's important to know that these are considered delicious and edible ingredients by humans, so don't underestimate them.

After Chen Liangsheng arrived in Gangcheng, he was transferred to Guangcheng through special channels, but Lu Qiaoge was unable to meet him.

Because he then set off for Beidu. Going to Beidu was a better arrangement; he could see Lu Yun directly and explain everything that had happened back then. This couple, who had endured so much hardship, were finally reunited.

Qin Hengzhi finally met the little girl who had been away from Jiangcheng for more than half a month.

He couldn't personally go to the station to greet him because he was too busy with work, but at dusk, he carried newly bought meat and vegetables and a net bag of juicy apples, trudging through the snow to the Lu family's house.

Meng Xia considerately let the two talk in the living room while she went into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Lu Qiaoge smiled and took out a large, lustrous black pearl, handing it to Qin Hengzhi: "Here, for you to play with."

Qin Hengzhi was slightly taken aback. He had seen large pearls before, but such a full, deep-lustered black pearl was truly a first for him.

He reached out and took it; it was warm and slightly cool to the touch, but a strange feeling welled up inside him—how come the situation seemed to be reversed?

But he had to admit that the pearl was stunningly beautiful. Even he could imagine that a woman would absolutely adore it.

This wasn't the first time Qiao Ge had given him a gift.

He held the quail egg-sized pearl in his palm, feeling its roundness and weight with his fingertips, and wondered: Did she go to Big Fish Island? But how did she get there?

He looked up at Lu Qiaoge, who was so close to him. Her fair face was particularly vivid in the winter sunlight, and his heart felt as if it had been gently brushed by a feather, causing a slight itch.

Lu Qiaoge was also looking at him with a smile, her watery peach blossom eyes sparkling with a sly light, as if waiting for him to ask a question, or as if she was certain that he could guess the answer.

“Thank you for the gift,” he said in a low voice, with a barely perceptible tenderness. “I really like it.”

Black pearls of such quality are rarely seen on the market; they clearly come from a specific sea area. Presumably, they were a gift from those "non-human children" who had given her information about Chen Liang Sheng.

What else is there to ask?

There's no need to ask about every detail. Qin Hengzhi thought that if he could just stay with her like this for the rest of his life, guessing her little secrets, wouldn't that be a profound kind of happiness?

He carefully placed the pearl into his shirt pocket.
-
On her first day at work, Lu Qiaoge received praise from Lao Hu.

They praised her and Shao Le for bringing the person back without escalating the conflict, and for uniting the forces that could be united, saying they did a very good job.

Shao Le knew he was benefiting from the situation, but Lu Qiaoge clearly didn't care, so there was no need for him to stand up in the meeting room and explain who did what.

Moreover, the leaders' eyes are always very sharp.

Shao Le gained a lot from this trip and gained a clearer understanding of many issues.

For example, how he treats his biological father.

He wanted to deny it, but if Old Zhao really made a scene, it would indeed have a negative impact on him and his workplace.

He used to always think about confronting things head-on, either avoiding them or arguing. But this time, after going out with Lu Qiaoge and seeing how she handled things in a way that seemed easygoing but was actually very methodical and always found a delicate balance, he realized something different.

It is better to block than to open up.

Since you can't hide, then don't hide.

He had to find a way to prevent Old Zhao from sticking to him like a leech, while minimizing any potential negative impact.

Most importantly, don't let Zhao Laolaizi affect your family and life.

We must not let him continue to ruin his younger siblings' lives.

He hadn't fully figured out the specifics of how to do it, but he already had a general framework in mind.

After praising them and offering a few more words of encouragement, Lao Hu told the two to go back and get back to work.

Shao Le followed Lu Qiaoge out of the director's office, scratched his head, and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Qiaoge, thank you so much this time." He knew that the main credit belonged to Lu Qiaoge; her ability to communicate with people and resolve conflicts was something he could never learn.

Lu Qiaoge smiled and said, "No need to thank me. We went on this mission together, so the credit naturally belongs to everyone. You also contributed a lot."

And her little animals are all incredibly capable.

Shao Le laughed too.

Lu Qiaoge's frankness was not just polite talk.

She had a good impression of Shao Le; he was hardworking and down-to-earth, and didn't wallow in self-pity or change his personality due to drastic changes in his life. A person like that, if he continues to walk steadily, will have a bright future. As for the Zhao family, she believed he could find a solution.

So Lu Qiaoge said, "...The North District is full of old bungalows. These past few days, Sister Qiao and the others have been busy visiting and collecting data to see if there are any residents affected by the disaster."

(End of this chapter)