Casting Nets to Catch a Husband

Chapter 26.2: Lu Chengxiao, you are crazy!

In Anyi County, Lin Huaigeng, who had parted ways with Lu Chengxiao in the morning, stepped into Lufeng’s Fabric Shop as the slanting sun cast long shadows, looking for Lu Chengxiao.

As soon as they met, Lin Huaigeng’s eyes lit up. “Chengxiao, I’ve been thinking about what you said this morning. I have some ideas. Can you help me think it through?” Saying this, he was about to pull Lu Chengxiao outside.

He was stopped by Lu Xun, who was nearby. Lu Xun smiled and said, “Huaigeng, it’s dinner time. You’ve come all the way here. Let’s put off any big matters for now and stay for a simple meal. In the past, even when Chengxiao wasn’t at home, I never saw you come by. Now, you’ve visited twice. It wouldn’t be right not to stay for a meal. If you really have something to discuss, you can talk to Chengxiao in the backyard.”

Only then did Lin Huaigeng realize that he hadn’t greeted Lu Chengxiao’s family. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he scratched his head, smiling as he bowed to everyone, “I got a bit too excited thinking about something. I lost my manners. Uncle Lu, Brother Lu, Second Brother Lu, please forgive me.”

Lu Xun laughed, “Why put on such a show? We’ve prepared some good dishes. Stay for dinner tonight.”

With that settled, Lu Chengxiao also extended an invitation. Lin Huaigeng, who used to share meals at the Lu household when he was younger, didn’t hesitate. He smiled and said, “In that case, I’ll gratefully accept. Thank you, Uncle Lu, for your hospitality.”

The two of them stayed inside instead of going out. Since the shop wasn’t busy at the moment and Lu Chengxiao wasn’t needed, they went to the backyard together. Lu Chengxiao led him to the flower hall, where they sat down. While making tea for Lin Huaigeng, Lu Chengxiao asked, “What’s got you so excited?”

It turns out that after Lu Chengxiao spoke those words in the morning, Lin Huaigeng took it to heart. After returning to the escort bureau, he had been pondering the matter. Now, with a bit of progress, he came to find Lu Chengxiao. Upon hearing the question, he explained his thoughts one by one.

“I’m thinking, while working for the escort bureau, I could take advantage of being in the county town. During off-duty hours, I could replicate the family business in Anyi County. How about that?” Lin Huaigeng’s family was in the business of selling cooked meat. His mother had excellent culinary skills and ran a stall on the outer wall of a shop in Changfeng Town. They rented a spot from the shop owner, set up a canopy, and ran the business year after year.

Eyes shining, Lin Huaigeng continued, “Our family already has the skills, and even the stock is something we do every day at home. Taking it out would be easy. I wouldn’t need any additional investment. These goods can earn a good income in Changfeng Town, and I believe there should be a way in Anyi County as well. I’ll try selling a few items, and if it takes off, I can resign from the escort bureau. This cooked meat stall in Changfeng Town supports my entire extended family. If I bring it to Anyi County, who knows, it might become a viable business to make a living. If I manage to succeed, my aunt won’t have any objections then.”

Lu Chengxiao handed a cup of hot tea to Lin Huaigeng, smiling, “It’s a good idea, and the setup is cost-effective. Definitely worth a try.”

Back when the three of them used to hang out together, Lin Huaigeng and Liu Zhang always followed Lu Chengxiao’s lead. They were used to listening to his ideas in everything. In the years when Lu Chengxiao wasn’t in town, things went smoothly. However, now that he was back, Lin Huaigeng focused on him again. Hearing Lu Chengxiao’s approval, Lin Huaigeng felt relieved, accepting the tea with a smiling face as if he could already see a bright future.

Lu Xun came in from outside, overheard Lin Huaigeng’s words in the yard, and laughed, “Huaigeng has grown up. But how does this involve your aunt?”

Speaking was Lu Xun, and since there were no outsiders present, Lin Huaigeng wasn’t hesitant. He explained the whole situation to Lu Xun, keeping it appropriately vague. He only mentioned that he had someone in mind and wanted to earn some family assets to propose marriage.

Lu Xun’s mood improved significantly upon hearing this. He glanced at Lu Chengxiao several times during the conversation, realizing they were of similar age. Lu Chengxiao, feeling helpless, lowered his head to drink tea, trying to avoid his father’s concern.

This didn’t affect Lu Xun’s good mood. He didn’t say anything to Lu Chengxiao directly but instead engaged in a detailed discussion with Lin Huaigeng about his plans. He inquired about where the goods would be sold, the target audience, and whether Lin Huaigeng had considered competition from other businesses.

Pointing out another issue, Lu Xun mentioned that Longfeng Town was too far from Anyi County. He questioned how they would transport the daily cooked food, whether the summer heat would affect its storage, and if it might spoil on the way.

Indeed, Lu Xun was an experienced businessman with years of expertise, addressing each concern precisely.

While they were talking, Mrs. Zhou came to call them for dinner. Since there was a male guest in the house, Mrs. Zhou and the servant set up a separate small table in the kitchen.

Lu Xun invited Lin Huaigeng to the dining room and pulled him to sit beside him. The Lu family didn’t have a rule against talking during meals, so they chatted while eating. The Lu brothers also joined in, making the dinner lively and full of conversations, with toasts and laughter.

Lu Chengxiao decided to let Lin Huaigeng stay for the night and arranged a bed for him. Lin Huaigeng wasn’t drunk today and didn’t want to overstay his welcome, so he politely declined and made a bed on the floor using the bedding from the previous night, returning the bed to Lu Chengxiao.

After washing up, Lu Chengxiao and Lin Huaigeng each lay down. Lin Huaigeng indulged in thoughts about his career and future for a while, and as the alcohol took effect, drowsiness gradually set in. Before falling asleep, he vaguely felt that Lu Chengxiao seemed unusually silent today. However, this thought passed quickly, and he soon drifted into a deep sleep.

Lu Chengxiao, on the other hand, tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep no matter how much he tried, despite having had a few drinks himself.

His mind was filled with thoughts of Liu Yu—everything from their first meeting to their various encounters, chewing over the bittersweet moments. At times, it was the beauty of their first encounter, and at other times, the joy of their reunion. The thoughts also lingered on Liu Yu’s schemes and deceptions, each aspect leaving his heart in chaos.

Forcing himself not to dwell on it, he closed his eyes, but his thoughts raced on their own. He wondered how Liu Yu would meet and interact with Chen Sheng. Taking every detail between him and Liu Yu, he replaced Liu Yu with Chen Sheng in his mind, and his heart felt like it was frying in oil, unable to settle.

After tossing and turning until midnight, just when he had finally fallen asleep, he started dreaming.

In the dream, he relived the moment of his first encounter with Liu Yu. Liu Yu crashed into his arms, but as he looked, he realized that it wasn’t Liu Yu who had crashed into his arms; it was clearly Chen Sheng.

Lu Chengxiao woke up abruptly, finding himself in complete darkness. Only a faint morning light, as thick and heavy as dusk, seeped through the window paper, making him realize it was just a dream.

Though his rational mind recognized it as a dream, he couldn’t control his thoughts. If Liu Yu could be like this with him, wouldn’t she be the same with Chen Sheng? This unsettled him deeply.

His abrupt awakening disturbed and stirred Lin Huaigeng, who is accustomed to the light sleep cultivated at the escort agency. He asked groggily, “Is it because of me that you can’t sleep well here?”

“It’s nothing. You sleep.”

Despite his reassurance, Lu Chengxiao felt a surge of inner turmoil. The fire of anxiety and frustration burned within him, intensified by thoughts of that incident in the mountains. Would she be like this with Chen Sheng too?

Unable to articulate the source of his sudden restlessness, he couldn’t stay in bed any longer. Throwing off the covers, he quickly dressed and headed out.

Startled by the footsteps, Lin Huaigeng, now fully awake, saw Lu Chengxiao, who should be sleeping, getting ready to go out in the middle of the night. “Hey, where are you going at this hour?”

Without looking back, Lu Chengxiao replied, “Back to town. Let my father know when he wakes up.”

As the words fell, he opened the door and left.

Concerned, Lin Huaigeng hastily got up, barely managing to put on his shoes before chasing after him. “Lu Chengxiao, have you gone mad? It’s not even dawn yet!”

Sansukini: So, is Lu Chengxiao finally ready to pursue? I hope so, coz time is running out for our girl.

I always feel so sleepy these days. I often translate late at night after I finish my work, I also couldn’t do it in the daytime because I have so many responsibilities at home. But lately, after finishing my work ( I work online ), I’d only be able to translate 1 chapter then the dreamcaster will call on to sleep. Not to mention, my husband kept sending me messages to go to sleep already when he stopped hearing me talking in my home office. That’s why I still haven’t started my new translated novel because I’m still trying to stock some more chapters before I post it. Not to mention, the chapters of this novels are getting longer, the longest one was 7800 words. Fortunately, they’re now getting shorter again so hopefully I’d be able to translate and save some more chapters.

Thanks for visiting. If you like this story, then I’m shamelessly asking you to visit NovelUpdates and give a 5 review.