"Dad, Tongtong and I are out. We've found the herbs.
Has Manager Su arranged for someone to pick the watermelons?"
"Yes, they've picked over a thousand watermelons and weighed them. She said she'll transfer the money to your account shortly." Liu Chunsheng finally relaxed upon hearing his son's voice.
Liu Yifeng nodded, "As long as you've settled the accounts, are you still in the watermelon field?"
"Yes, Manager Su is arranging for the loading."
"Alright, I'll drive over to meet you now!" Liu Yifeng hung up the phone.
He went to where the car was parked, placed the wild mushrooms and herbs in the trunk, and then drove to the watermelon field.
"Uncle Liu, have Mr. Liu and Tongtong come out?" Su Wanru, standing beside Liu Chunsheng, asked after he put down his phone.
Liu Chunsheng smiled and nodded, "Yes, they're out. If this kid had been gone any longer, I would have called the police."
"It's good that they're alright!" Su Wanru also felt relieved upon hearing they were safe.
In a short while, Liu Yifeng and Tongtong appeared within their sight.
"Grandpa, Auntie Su!" Tongtong hopped off Liu Yifeng and trotted towards them with cheerful steps.
Liu Chunsheng beamed at his eldest grandson, "Run slowly, don't fall."
"Tongtong, you're such a good boy!" Su Wanru also showed a long-lost smile at the child who proactively greeted her.
"It's already noon. Manager Su, please stay for lunch before you go!" Liu Yifeng politely invited.
"I'd better not impose. My employees haven't eaten, and I promised to treat them to lunch outside." Su Wanru replied.
"Perfect timing. We have a farmhouse restaurant nearby. Most of the vegetables and meat dishes are grown or raised on our own farm, making them healthier and more nutritious than those outside.
Later, I'll have my third uncle catch some lobsters and have the restaurant owner prepare them."
"Oh, that's too kind," Su Wanru was not one to take advantage of others.
Liu Yifeng chuckled, "Manager Su paid so readily for the watermelons, so I can't be stingy.
It's so hot today, and everyone has been working hard all morning. It's only right to treat them to a meal. Please don't refuse, Manager Su."
Liu Chunsheng echoed, "Manager Su, my son is right. We are in a cooperative relationship, and it's perfectly normal to treat each other to meals.
Besides, it's already twelve o'clock. By the time you finish loading the watermelons and go to the county town for lunch, the restaurants might already be closed!"
Seeing the father and son's earnest enthusiasm, Su Wanru found it hard to refuse, "Alright then, I'll trouble you. I'll treat you to a meal at a large hotel another day!"
"Manager Su is always so polite. Who says a meal has to be reciprocated?"
"There's a saying in our country, 'To give without receiving is impolite'!"
As soon as Su Wanru finished speaking, Tongtong's voice piped up, "I know, I know what 'to give without receiving is impolite' means!"
Su Wanru listened and gently asked, "Then, Tongtong, can you tell Auntie Su what 'to give without receiving is impolite' means?"
"This is a classic saying from the Book of Rites, meaning that one should respond to kindness received, otherwise it is not in accordance with propriety," Tongtong explained.
After hearing Tongtong's explanation, Su Wanru sincerely gave him a thumbs-up, "Tongtong, you're so smart. At such a young age, you know so much."
Although she didn't have children of her own, she had many relatives with children.
Therefore, she had interacted with children before, but they were either arrogant and overbearing or ignorant and clueless, constantly crying, which made her develop a fear of children.
Never had she encountered a child as well-behaved and sensible, yet so intelligent, as Tongtong.
Not only was his arithmetic better than adults, but he also understood ancient sayings.
He truly was a child prodigy. If she were to have a child as intelligent as Tongtong in the future, she wouldn't be afraid of children anymore.
"Yifeng, I'll go to the fields first and ask your third uncle to catch more crayfish.
Then I'll go to the farmhouse restaurant to order the dishes and have the kitchen prepare them.
By then, all the watermelons will be loaded onto the trucks, and everyone can eat!" Liu Chunsheng said.
Liu Yifeng nodded, "Okay, I'll send you the menu via text message later. You can show it to Liu Xiaohai, so you don't have to worry about what to order!"
"That would be good. I'll go to the fields to get the crayfish first, as processing them takes some time!" Liu Chunsheng said and left.
Throughout this time, he hadn't noticed the large gash on the forearm of Liu Yifeng's right hand.
Although the blood had been washed away with spring water on his way, the wound still looked shocking.
It was Su Wanru who eventually noticed it by chance, "Mr. Liu, what happened to your hand?"
Liu Yifeng glanced dismissively at the wound, "It's nothing. I just fell on the mountain earlier."
"This wound is so big and deep. You should really get it bandaged at the hospital, and possibly stitches if necessary, to prevent infection," Su Wanru said, seeing the flesh turned inside out on Liu Yifeng's wound, her expression showing concern.
Someone who didn't know would have thought she was the one injured.
The main reason was how terrifying the wound looked, and she couldn't comprehend how Liu Yifeng could act as if nothing had happened. Did he not feel pain?
Liu Yifeng was reluctant to go through such trouble, "It's fine. I used to fall often when I was a child, getting injured here and there, and they all healed on their own."
"Daddy, you should listen to Auntie Su. Your wound is so big, and with the hot weather, if it's not treated, it will get inflamed. Then it won't heal, and you'll be very uncomfortable," Tongtong chimed in.
Liu Yifeng, who had no intention of getting it treated, finally relented under their persuasion.
"Alright then, but I won't go to the hospital, it's too far! It's the same to get it bandaged at the clinic in town."
"Coincidentally, I'm not busy right now. I can drive you there!"
"Oh, how can I trouble you like that?" Liu Yifeng said hurriedly.
"With your hand like this, don't exert yourself. We haven't known each other long, but we will be interacting frequently in the future, so there's no need to be so formal," Su Wanru said. She then gently took Tongtong's hand, "Tongtong, would you like to ride in Auntie Su's car?"
"Okay!" Tongtong immediately agreed.
Seeing his son go with someone else, Liu Yifeng had no choice but to follow.
In the car, Liu Yifeng and Tongtong sat in the back.
Luxury cars were indeed different; the seats were exceptionally comfortable, and leaning back gave a sense of being pushed forward.
It was tens of times more comfortable than his own van.
His car not only made a lot of noise but was also very bumpy.
Anyone prone to motion sickness would immediately get sick in his car.
"Auntie Su, your car is so comfortable to ride in!" Tongtong praised innocently.
This remark hurt Liu Yifeng; it was clear the child was also fickle.
It seemed it was time for him to buy a new car.
Su Wanru glanced at the rearview mirror and smiled, "It's good that Tongtong finds it comfortable. If there's a chance, Auntie Su will drive you out to play, okay?"
"Really?" Upon hearing that they could go play, Tongtong's eyes widened like copper bells.
"Of course, it's true!" Su Wanru's fondness for Tongtong was genuine.
Taking such a child out to play meant she wouldn't have to worry about any disruptions.
"Then can Auntie Su also bring my Daddy?" Tongtong asked a question that made both of them feel awkward.
If the three of them really went out to play, people might mistake them for a family of three.
Liu Yifeng didn't fear being misunderstood; after all, he already had Tongtong. But it was different for Su Wanru; she wasn't married yet, and rumors could be detrimental to her reputation!
Su Wanru didn't particularly care about her reputation, but the three of them going out together would inevitably lead to some awkwardness and discomfort, and they might not even have as much fun.
However, since Tongtong had brought it up, she couldn't bear to refuse, so she said, "Of course, we can. If your dad is free, we'll all go out to play together!"
"Yay! Daddy, you'll definitely have time, right?" Tongtong turned his gaze to Liu Yifeng.
Liu Yifeng could only nod reluctantly, thinking to himself that perhaps Tongtong would forget about going out in a few days.
Just then, his phone rang again. It was his father calling.
"Yifeng, didn't you say you'd send me the menu in a text message? Why haven't I received it?" Liu Chunsheng's voice came from the phone, filled with confusion.
Liu Yifeng then remembered, "Dad, I almost forgot. I'll send it to you now."
"Mr. Liu, you don't need to order so many dishes. Enough to eat is fine!" Su Wanru reminded him as he was texting.
"Manager Su, you don't need to worry about this. I know what I'm doing!" Liu Yifeng said, rapidly typing on his phone.
Apart from the crayfish, he ordered ten dishes and one soup, all in double portions.
After all, the diners were mostly men who had done strenuous physical labor all morning and were likely starving.
Since he had promised to treat them, he couldn't be too stingy.
At the very least, everyone should eat their fill and be satisfied!
The town was not far, only about a ten-minute drive.
After sending the text, Liu Yifeng guided Su Wanru on how to get there.
Her car's appearance in town attracted a lot of attention.
In the surrounding dozens of miles, there were very few people who could afford a Mercedes or BMW.
Moreover, the driver was a beautiful woman, which further drew people's eyes.
Everyone was curious about who this woman was and what brought her to their town.
"The clinic is just ahead. Parking is difficult there, so pull over here!" Liu Yifeng pointed to a vacant spot.
After parking the car, the three of them got out.
"Hey, isn't that Liu Yifeng, Liu Chunsheng's son from Liu Family Village?
I heard he suddenly had a grandson a while ago and even held a banquet to treat the whole village.
That child is probably his grandson, so this woman must be the mother.
Tsk, tsk, Liu Chunsheng's son is really lucky to have found such a beautiful woman, and she even drives a BMW!" One person recognized Liu Yifeng at a glance.
The reason he recognized Liu Yifeng was that he repaired televisions.
He provided repair services for televisions in several nearby villages.
Liu Family Village was also within his service area. He had repaired televisions for Liu Chunsheng since he was very young, and continued to do so until his son went to college.
Therefore, he could recognize Liu Yifeng immediately.
Upon hearing this, the others couldn't help but start discussing.
"The child is this big when he's brought over, who knows if he's his biological son?"
"I heard there was a paternity test, so it shouldn't be wrong!"
"This kid really struck gold; he has a wife and son all at once!"