Food gives me an entry, I will be invincible if I stay alive

Chapter 441: How can you have the best of both worlds?

Mengniang was stunned. Chen Ping was so clueless about romance!
If we let him leave with the insoles, wouldn't we lose what we've already got?
So she reached out and pressed down on Chen Ping's waist, intending to push him down again.

Just then, a series of rustling footsteps sounded from the side, growing louder and louder as they approached.

In the dark of night, in the peach grove, a couple having a secret rendezvous, and suddenly the sound of footsteps!
How terrifying is this?

Mengniang suddenly turned her head, and Chen Ping immediately followed suit, using his hands to push himself up and sit up.

Then a tall, slender figure calmly emerged from the shadows of the peach grove. The newcomer was neither hurried nor unhurried, neither hiding nor avoiding, and directly confronted Chen Ping and his companion.

Chen Ping was first surprised, then overjoyed, and blurted out, "Second brother! You're back!"

After the joy came embarrassment: "I, I..."

He practically leaped to his feet, not even noticing Mengniang's backward fall.

Only when Mengniang cried out in anguish behind him did Chen Ping hurriedly turn around to help her.

"Mengniang, oh dear, I'm sorry, I made you fall again." While apologizing, Chen Ping pulled Mengniang up from the ground.

"Look, this is my second brother! This is my second brother! My second brother is back!"

His tone was excited, and his expression was fervent.

The light emanating from his eyes seemed to illuminate the entire peach grove.

This sight left Mengniang speechless for a moment.

It should be noted that even when Chen Ping first fell in love with Meng Niang, he didn't seem to be this excited and passionate.

Chen Xu's sudden appearance caught everyone off guard, causing them to panic and feel short of breath.

The main reason is that Chen Xu's appearance was too abrupt in this situation.

Mengniang hid behind Chen Ping, looking frightened and afraid to say anything.

She gripped Chen Ping's clothes tightly with both hands, a faint, cool fragrance wafting around his neck, her mouth trembling as she couldn't utter a complete sentence:

"Chen Lang, Chen Lang..."

Despite her mournful cries, Chen Ping failed to understand her feelings.

Chen Ping was even more delighted and replied repeatedly, "Hey, Mengniang, don't be shy, this is my second brother!"

My second brother is back. Your insoles... Oh, right, where are your insoles?

Mengniang was furious.

Insoles, is it just about insoles now?

The problem now is that Chen Xu's appearance here in the middle of the night is obviously abrupt and strange.

Although their midnight rendezvous was hardly any better, Chen Xu's sudden appearance and interruption of their rendezvous seemed even stranger.

Mengniang clung tightly to Chen Ping's clothes, her soft and fragrant body pressed against him.

But then he bent down and picked up the pair of insoles he had lost his grip on from the ground, and walked briskly toward Chen Xu.

"Second brother, these are the insoles that Mengniang embroidered for you! Look at them, the embroidery is superb."

Mengniang is the woman I admire, and from now on... she will also be your sister-in-law.

"You can take these insoles...hehe."

At this point, Chen Ping chuckled again, his expression somewhat憨厚 (honest and simple).

He reached up and scratched the back of his head, a mixture of shyness and anticipation in his eyes, and said:

"Second brother, my parents do not want me to marry Mengniang, and I have no way to persuade them."

I just want to ask you, my second brother, to help me take a look. You see, Mengniang is an excellent woman, isn't she?

My elder brother wants to ask you to help me reconcile with my parents.

Chen Ping went straight for the ball, completely ignoring the soft, fragrant body behind him—

Or rather, his attention was almost entirely focused on Chen Xu at that moment, to the point that he couldn't feel the gentle warmth and allure of the beauty behind him at all.

Chen Ping handed the insole to Chen Xu, hoping he would take it.

At this moment, Chen Ping also failed to notice that just as he told Chen Xu to accept the insoles, Meng Niang, who had been calling out to him mournfully behind him, suddenly stopped talking.

Mengniang stopped speaking, her gaze suddenly shifting to Chen Ping's hands. She stared intently at the pair of insoles in Chen Ping's hands, seemingly hoping that the insoles could be successfully delivered.

Yes, no matter how abrupt and startling Chen Xu's sudden appearance is, as long as he's willing to accept these insoles, that's all that matters.

Even if they can't absorb Chen Ping's vital energy, they might still have greater benefits.

These Chen brothers...

Chen Ping was completely unsuspecting, and just looked at Chen Xu expectantly.

Then Chen Xu stretched out his hands.

He seemed equally unsuspecting and took the insole from Chen Ping's hand.

Just as Chen Xu's fingers were about to touch the insoles, he suddenly spoke up:
"Brother, your parents forbid you from marrying the person you love."

Shouldn't you tell me the reason?

Chen Ping was taken aback for a moment, but didn't feel offended by Chen Xu's question.

He quickly explained, "Second brother, there's really no other reason. Mengniang is beautiful and kind, and I'm the one who's worthy of her."

However, her father died early, and her mother was a well-known shaman in the surrounding area.

You are a scholar, and our family is now greatly benefited from your influence, and things are very different from before.

My parents are afraid that my marriage to a sorceress will affect your future.

They were also somewhat wary of the sorceress who possessed magical powers...

Actually, Mengniang told me that her mother didn't really know any magic, but only knew some folk remedies that could cure some strange diseases in the countryside.

These are all orphans and widows who have no choice but to do this in order to make a living.

Besides, Mengniang's mother always used unorthodox remedies to save people, which is a meritorious act, so how could it be wrong?

However, the fact that she is a fortune teller might not sound very good to others.

"I...I've already thought it through..."

At this point, Chen Ping gritted his teeth and finally revealed the thought that had been troubling him for so long.

“I…I cannot jeopardize your future. Therefore, if I were to marry Mengniang, we would secretly move to the deep mountains.”

We don't easily show ourselves in public, only coming back to see our parents during holidays...

"Yes, it's my fault for being unfilial!"

At this point, Chen Ping himself realized that he had spoken nonsense.

He raised his hand and suddenly slapped himself across the cheek!

After a sharp crack, a bright red handprint appeared on Chen Ping's right cheek.

He was no longer as resolute as before.

A once tall and strong man now had his back slightly hunched, as if he had shrunk by three points.

He let out a sigh of relief, a look of pain on his face.

“It’s my fault. I’m the eldest son, how could I easily say that I want to distance myself from my parents and relatives?”

If I were to actually do such a thing, how would I be any different from a beast?
But how could I bear to let Mengniang down?

Second brother, I'm so sorry!

When he got emotional, his voice even choked up.

Is there any perfect way in the world to satisfy both filial piety and righteousness?
Chen Ping's pained state elicited a soft sigh from Chen Xu.

Chen Xu then asked Chen Ping, "Brother, do you know that there are many things in this world that what the eyes see is not necessarily the truth?"

"What?" Chen Ping was taken aback.

Chen Xu said, "Now that these insoles are in my hands, why don't I just wear them?"

As he spoke, he took the pair of insoles from Chen Ping's hand.

On a peach tree branch behind them, two little demons, seeing this scene, nervously huddled together.

(End of this chapter)