178: Chapter 178 Two Trees

What could an old computer from a poor county's Education Bureau possibly look like?

On this issue, Zhao Yang absolutely could not back down.

Zhou Jianwei had already stood up, picked up the documents on the table, and walked toward the door. "It's settled. I have a meeting this afternoon."

Zhao Yang smiled. "If these funds arrive, perhaps I can urge Lin Xuecen to ensure the land transfer fees are paid in full as soon as possible."

Zhou Jianwei stopped in his tracks, a smile appearing on his face; he flipped his attitude faster than turning a page.

"County Magistrate Zhao, you should have said so earlier! If that's the case, we could certainly allocate a portion from the land transfer fees that have already arrived."

Zhao Yang stood up, picked up the proposal that had been tossed on the table, brushed off the cigarette ash, and put it into his bag.

"Thank you for your support, County Magistrate Zhou!"

Carrying a batch of local specialties he had purchased with his own money, Zhao Yang boarded the car sent by Cenjiang Industrial at 5:30 PM.

As the car drove out of the county town, he glanced back.

Cangyun County was dusty and gray, like a rag forgotten among the mountains.

But in the distance, at the construction site, the pile drivers were still running, and the wall for the forty-mu plot was already more than half built.

That was hope.

Zhao Yang took a pack of rock fungus and a box of Yunling Maofeng tea from his bag and placed them on the seat beside him.

These were for Sun Zhendong; locally, these items weren't worth much.

But they were good things grown in the mountains of Cangyun, representing the flavor of this land.

By the time he reached Jiangzhou, it was nearly ten o'clock at night.

He had already made contact on the way; Jiang Nan was staying at Binjiang Garden tonight.

Feeling eager, Zhao Yang told the driver to head straight to Binjiang Garden.

Lin Xuecen opened the door, wearing loungewear, her hair loose, and a facial mask on her face.

"You're back?" Lin Xuecen stepped aside to let him in. "Have you eaten?"

"I have, I ate on the way."

Zhao Yang changed his shoes and saw Jiang Nan leaning on the sofa watching TV.

Her belly was already slightly rounded, showing a beautiful curve.

"Zhao Yang!" Jiang Nan's eyes lit up when she saw him, and she tried to stand up.

Zhao Yang hurried over to support her. "Don't move, be careful."

Jiang Nan slapped his hand lightly. "I'm only four months along, it's not like I'm about to give birth. What are you so nervous about?"

Zhao Yang chuckled, sat down beside her, and placed his hand on her belly.

It was quiet inside, with no movement.

"Has the baby been good today?"

"Very good, didn't kick me much." There was a hint of sweetness in Jiang Nan's tone.

Lin Xuecen watched from the side, the corners of her mouth curling up.

Zhao Yang looked at Lin Xuecen and smiled. "Lin Xuecen, I've returned today for an important matter: debt collection."

He then explained the matter of applying for poverty alleviation funds.

Lin Xuecen giggled. "Yangyang, do you see now why Mom didn't transfer the money all at once? Those two leaders in your county—you have to keep them in check."

"Mom, for a seasoned business veteran like you, handling those two country bumpkins is a walk in the park."

"Stop buttering me up; Mom isn't short on that little bit of change. What else is there? Spit it out."

Lin Xuecen had long since figured out Zhao Yang's temperament; whenever this kid started buttering her up, there was definitely something going on.

Zhao Yang said, "Mom, as expected, nothing can be hidden from you. The packaging design company, have you helped me contact them yet?"

"It was taken care of long ago; I knew you'd ask about this as soon as you got back. Go to Fenghua Creative tomorrow and look for Shen Feiyu; she will receive you personally."

"Mom, thank you."

Seeing that Jiang Nan was starting to yawn, Zhao Yang quickly helped her up. "Nannan, you go rest first, I'm going to take a shower."

Lin Xuecen glanced at them with a smile and turned to go upstairs.

After he had finished showering and crawled into the soft, fragrant bed, he discovered Jiang Nan was still awake and pulled her into his arms.

"Wife, why aren't you asleep yet?"

"I missed you; I wanted to talk to you for a while longer."

The room was lit only by a dim wall lamp by the bed, its light as soft as a thin veil, gently covering the two of them.

Jiang Nan turned on her side, her cheek pressed against the pillow, looking at him with bright eyes.

Zhao Yang smiled, reached his hand under the quilt, and covered her slightly rounded belly.

His palm pressed against the thin loungewear, feeling the warm body temperature beneath and that gentle curve.

"Are you feeling any discomfort today?"

"No, just a bit of a craving in the afternoon; I wanted something sour."

Jiang Nan paused, her voice tinged with a bit of embarrassment. "Mom had the housekeeper buy some sour plums, and I ate quite a lot."

Zhao Yang imagined the scene, the corners of his mouth curving upward.

His fingers slowly traced circles on her belly, his movements as light as stroking a flower petal.

The warmth in his palm was transmitted bit by bit, like a dialogue that required no words.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Nan suddenly spoke. "Zhao Yang."

"Hmm?"

"Do you want to?"

Zhao Yang froze for a moment, his heart suddenly racing, feeling the blood in his entire body begin to boil.

But soon, he calmed down and said in a trembling voice, "But... you are currently..."

Jiang Nan's voice was very low, so tender it could melt one's heart. "Silly, I'm a medical student, you know..."

"Nannan." Zhao Yang felt his throat tighten and whispered her name.

Jiang Nan closed her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering lightly, like a butterfly flapping its wings.

Zhao Yang's lips descended, first pressing against her brow, then her nose, and finally covering her lips.

Very light, very slow, as if tasting a freshly picked cherry.

Jiang Nan's hands climbed onto his shoulders, hooking around his neck.

The kiss lasted a long time.

Long enough that both of their breaths became rapid.

Zhao Yang lifted his body slightly and looked down at her.

Jiang Nan's cheeks were flushed with a faint pink, her lips redder than before, slightly parted, like a half-bloomed flower.

"Be careful." Jiang Nan's voice was low, carrying a soft tension.

Zhao Yang lifted the quilt a bit to make them both less constricted.

He supported himself with one hand by her side, while the other hand always protected her belly, like a soft barrier.

They were like two trees growing very close together, their roots quietly intertwining deep in the soil.

Their branches and leaves only lightly touching, making faint rustling sounds in the night breeze.

The sound was very light, so light it was almost drowned out by the chirping of insects outside the window.

Zhao Yang buried his face in the crook of her neck, smelling the faint scent of body wash on her.

And the scent that belonged to her, a scent that made one feel at ease.

"Zhao Yang..." Jiang Nan's voice was a bit ethereal.

"Hmm." His voice was muffled, carrying a hint of a smile.

His lips pressed against her collarbone, and he could feel the pulse beating beneath her skin.

Jiang Nan's hands tightened, then relaxed, her fingers slowly tracing circles on his back.

Her legs bent slightly, her knees touching his waist, like a silent invitation and a gentle reminder.

Zhao Yang lifted his body and looked at her.

Jiang Nan's eyes were half-open, glistening with moisture, like the surface of a lake after the rain.

She didn't speak, just slightly tilted her chin up, her lips gently brushing against his Adam's apple.

This action made Zhao Yang's breathing completely chaotic.

He always remembered Jiang Nan's reminder, keeping everything even slower.

Like a river flowing steadily and enduringly across a plain.

The insect chirping outside the window came in waves; occasionally a breeze blew, and the curtains on the balcony swayed gently.

It was over.

The two of them embraced, sleeping deeply.

Early the next morning, Zhao Yang drove the brand-new Passat to the largest packaging design company in Jiangzhou.

Fenghua Creative.

He was received by a woman in her early thirties, Shen Feiyu.

Wearing a black dress, she spoke in a crisp and decisive manner; one could tell at a glance she had a background in design.

"Mr. Zhao, what type of packaging do you need?"

Zhao Yang plugged the USB drive into the computer and opened the photos one by one.

Rock fungus, Yunling Maofeng, walnuts, wood ear mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, cured meat...

Some were still covered in soil, looking incredibly rustic.

After Shen Feiyu finished looking at the photos, she couldn't help but frown slightly. "Just this?"