211: Chapter 210 Fengyukou

The meal lasted an hour. The dishes on the table had been mostly wiped out.

Everyone was very satisfied with the meal.

After finishing the meal, Chen Fan prepared to leave.

The purpose of his trip today had been achieved—he had gained a preliminary understanding of the garment industry.

He already had a plan in mind; he would focus on stocks for the next few days, and once his current stock trading was over, he would officially enter the garment industry.

"Aunt Su, it's getting late, so we're preparing to head out." Chen Fan set down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"What's the rush? It's still early." Su Jingqiu leaned back in her chair, holding a teacup, looking unhurried. "What time is it even? Stay a while longer, have a cup of tea to help with digestion."

Chen Fan smiled and shook his head. "Aunt Su, I really have to go today. I still have some things to take care of in Chang'an."

"Alright then." Su Jingqiu nodded and turned her gaze to Su Mian. "Mianmian, do you want to stay here and go back to school tomorrow? It's Sunday tomorrow anyway, and you don't have any classes."

Su Mian was taken aback for a moment. She looked at Su Jingqiu, then at Chen Fan and Chen Tong, hesitated for a second, and then shook her head. "No, I'll go back with them."

"Alright then." Su Jingqiu didn't force the issue. She stood up to see them out. "Be careful on the road, and drive slowly."

"Mm, goodbye, Aunt Su." Chen Fan responded and waved at Su Jingqiu.

After saying goodbye to Su Jingqiu, Chen Fan drove toward Chang'an University of Science and Technology.

This time, Su Mian didn't sit in the passenger seat again. Instead, she beat Chen Tong to it, pulling open the back door and sliding in, moving much faster than usual, as if she were afraid someone would steal the spot.

Chen Tong stood there stunned. She looked at the already occupied back seat, then at Chen Fan, pouted, and had no choice but to open the passenger door and sit inside.

"You're certainly not shy." Chen Tong fastened her seatbelt and looked back at Su Mian.

The car drove out of the factory area and along the main road of the industrial park toward the city center.

Halfway there, Chen Tong took out her phone to check the time, turned her head, and said to Chen Fan, "Xiaofan, it's still early. Let's hang out somewhere outside before going back."

Chen Fan glanced at the time on the car's display screen—just past one in the afternoon. It was indeed still early. He had nothing to do back in Chang'an, so he might as well wander around outside.

"I have no problem with that, it just depends on Sister Su Mian." As Chen Fan said this, he glanced at Su Mian in the back seat through the rearview mirror.

Su Mian was bowing her head, fiddling with her phone. Hearing Chen Fan call her name, she was startled for a moment and looked up. "What's wrong?"

"My sister said she wants to hang out somewhere before going back. Do you want to go?" Chen Fan asked.

Su Mian thought for a moment and nodded. "Sure, where to?"

Chen Fan withdrew his gaze and tossed the question back to Chen Tong in the passenger seat. "It's asking you, where to?"

Chen Tong tilted her head and thought about it, counting a few places on her fingers—Xiaozhai, Bell Tower, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda—but then shook her head and dismissed them all.

Xiaozhai was too crowded, she had been to the Bell Tower too many times, and there was no point in going to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda right now.

Finally, she frowned and said with a conflicted look, "Oh, I really can't think of anywhere off the top of my head."

Chen Fan looked at Su Mian through the rearview mirror. "Sister Su Mian, do you know of anywhere?"

Su Mian looked up, blinked, and shook her head with a confused expression.

Those bright eyes were filled with the innocence of "Don't ask me, I don't know either."

Chen Fan sighed helplessly. Relying on the two of them was useless; he had to rely on himself.

In his past life, he had lived in Chang'an for over a decade, so he knew the area reasonably well.

This was near the Chang'an District, relatively close to the Qinling Mountains. He remembered there were many scenic spots around here.

Things like Ziwu Valley, Fengyu Valley, Dayu Valley, Xiaoyu Valley, Tianzi Valley, Baolong Valley—the seventy-two valleys of the Qinling Mountains; there were over a dozen just within the Chang'an District, and any one of them would be worth a visit.

"Let's go take a look around Fengyu Pass," Chen Fan said while turning the steering wheel. "The scenery there is quite nice, and there are farmhouses by the roadside where we can sit for a while."

Chen Tong's eyes lit up when she heard this, her previous hesitation swept away. She clapped her hands and said, "Great, great! Let's go to Fengyu Pass. I've wanted to go there for a long time, but I never had the chance."

Chen Fan turned on the car navigation, entered "Fengyu Pass," confirmed the address, then stepped on the gas and drove toward the destination.

Twenty minutes later, the car arrived at Fengyu Pass.

The road sign read "National Highway 210," and driving further ahead led to the winding mountain road that went into the mountains.

There was no toll booth or barrier at the entrance; the car could drive straight in.

This was different from the proper tourist attractions in the Chang'an District; Fengyu Pass was open-access, required no tickets, and people were free to come and go.

Many cars were already parked along the roadside, lined up on both sides of the highway, extending deep into the mountains.

There was no dedicated parking lot here, but the advantage was that you could park anywhere along the road, as long as it didn't obstruct traffic.

Chen Fan found a wide, open space, steered the car into position, and turned off the engine.

The moment he pushed open the car door, a blast of crisp mountain air rushed toward him, carrying the damp scent of soil and vegetation—completely different from the smell in the city.

The mountain breeze, smelling of earth and leaves, felt as if it had washed him from the inside out when he breathed it in.

"Wow—" Chen Tong couldn't help but shout as soon as she got out of the car. She spread her arms as if to embrace the entire mountain, her voice echoing in the valley before slowly fading away. "This is just too beautiful!"

Chen Fan closed the car door and looked up; his field of vision suddenly opened up.

The Qinling Mountains in the distance stretched endlessly, the mountain bodies shrouded in thin mist, like an ink wash painting. The nearby mountains were layered upon each other, with deep greens and light greens intermingled.

Below the mountain was a winding riverbed. The water wasn't very deep and was crystal clear, allowing one to see the pebbles at the bottom and the patterns carved by the flowing water.

The sky was very blue, the kind of blue you only see in documentaries.

Chen Fan stood there, momentarily dazed.

In his past life, he had lived in Chang'an for so many years, yet he had never come here.

Only after coming here today did he realize this place was far more beautiful than he had imagined.

Su Mian stood beside him, quietly looking at the distant mountains, her lips slowly curving upward.

Those eyes, which usually always carried a hint of haziness, were bright at this moment.

The wind blew the stray hairs by her ears, fluttering gently against her cheeks.

Su Mian looked truly beautiful at this moment, and Chen Fan couldn't help but look at her a few more times.

"It's a pity we didn't bring things for a picnic," Chen Tong sighed. She squatted under a large tree by the roadside, picked up a twig, and drew aimlessly on the ground. "Otherwise, we could have barbecued by the river, had a little wine, and eaten barbecue while resting. That would have been wonderful."

"Next time," Chen Fan said. "Next time, we'll prepare in advance, bring a blanket, food, and drinks, and spend the afternoon here."

"Sure! Next time I'll call Yumeng and the other one, and you can be our driver." Chen Tong stared at him with sparkling eyes.

"You wish." Chen Fan glanced at her.

"Chen Fan, are you looking for a beating!" Chen Tong stood up and made a gesture as if to hit him.

Chen Fan laughed and dodged, but Chen Tong's hand still landed on his arm.

Su Mian stood by, listening to the siblings bicker. Her lips were curved, and though she didn't speak, her eyes were filled with amusement.

"Let's go, let's walk up and take a look." Chen Fan took the lead, stepping onto the dirt path along the riverbank and heading upward.