Free Web NovelChapter 129: Chapter 129: Shopping with Chen San
The closest mall to Chang’an Village was about a kilometer away. Chen San didn’t even consider taking a shared bus, instead leading the way on foot.
He was about the average height for a male in this world, but he didn’t walk fast. He moved sluggishly, as if he still wasn’t fully awake, often pausing to zone out for a moment or half-close his eyes for a quick nap.
According to her memories, the original Shi Lan had only played with him for a few years when they were children. They hadn’t seen each other in so long that they could hardly be called close, and being alone with Chen San like this made her feel awkward.
She deliberately fell half a step behind, taking the opportunity to observe the surrounding streetscape.
Yaoxing was supposedly poor, but the buildings and public transportation here seemed even more advanced than the first-tier cities she’d known in her past, modern life.
Most families lived in homes that resembled simple, two-story villas, and the majority had housekeeping robots.
But there certainly weren’t many people. The streets were mostly populated by older males; even children were a rare sight.
The two of them, Shi Lan and Chen San, stuck out like a pair of sore thumbs. Everyone who passed, young or old, gave them a second look.
One of the males who knew Chen San greeted him, then asked curiously, "Chen San, is that your wife behind you?"
"Look at you, kid. You’ve really made something of yourself. Gone for two years and you’ve already found a wife so fast."
Chen San’s face instantly flushed beet-red, all traces of sleepiness gone. He shook his head frantically. "Ahem, don’t be ridiculous. This is my little sister."
"Oh, well that’s perfect! My son isn’t married yet."
Seeing that the passing men were all about to start playing matchmaker for Shi Lan, Chen San immediately waved them away and stood in front of her. "Uncle Zhang, you say one more ridiculous thing and I’ll have my dad come over and beat you up tonight."
Friendly fights were a common form of communication between males in this world. Of course, unfriendly ones weren’t out of the question either.
Uncle Zhang immediately coughed a few times. "Pretend I didn’t say anything. You take good care of your sister. My wife is waiting for me to bring home the soy sauce!"
With that, Uncle Zhang scurried off.
Chen San glanced back at Shi Lan and explained sheepishly, "Shi Lan, don’t mind them. Those old guys just love to run their mouths. They’ve got nothing better to do all day, so they can’t help but spout nonsense."
"Oh, and don’t listen to them trying to introduce you to their sons. Most of the males who stay here have really weak spiritual power. You went to school on a major planet like the Capital Star, after all. I’m sure you wouldn’t be interested in them."
Shi Lan’s lips curved into a smile. "Mm, I know. I didn’t take it to heart."
"As for that last bit, I don’t think it’s a question of looking down on anyone. A person’s spiritual power doesn’t determine everything. Besides, my own Spiritual Power Level is very low. What’s most important is their character, don’t you think?"
"Oh."
Chen San rubbed his nose, feeling inexplicably too shy to look directly at her smiling face. He just turned his head away and muttered, ’I guess getting an education really does make a difference. The way you talk is so much easier on the ears than before.’
After a few more simple exchanges, they started walking again. Once they were outside of Chang’an Village, no other males approached them to make conversation.
The one-kilometer trip took them more than twenty minutes.
As they approached the shopping district near the mall, the crowds slowly started to thicken, and the age disparity was less pronounced. Still, males were the vast majority; only a handful of females were out and about.
Shi Lan and Chen San had just reached the mall entrance when two or three young males enthusiastically ran over, offering her flowers and even asking for her contact info.
Chen San frowned in annoyance. "Get lost."
He glanced at Shi Lan. Seeing that she said nothing, he became even more forceful in driving them off. "You’re blocking our way. Have you no concept of personal boundaries with strangers?"
One of the males retorted unhappily, "Is this female your wife? She hasn’t said a word, so what gives you the right to butt in?" freeωebnovēl.c૦m
Chen San crossed his arms. "So what? She’s my sister. And no piece of trash I disapprove of is fit to be in her sight."
Hearing the word "sister," the men gradually lost their nerve. Their tone softened. "Well, just giving her a flower is fine, right?"
They looked at Shi Lan with pleading eyes. Shi Lan pressed her lips together slightly and offered a distant smile. "That won’t be necessary, thank you."
"Alright..."
Seeing this, the men could only leave in disappointment.
Perhaps because Chen San was the only male accompanying her, several more men approached Shi Lan one after another as they shopped. A few enthusiastic older men even ran over, wanting to set her up with someone.
Overwhelmed by all the male attention, Shi Lan’s shopping trip was a rushed affair. She didn’t even get a good look at the robots, just quickly bought some gifts for Aunt Gao and the other uncles, picked up some groceries, and hurried back home.
To make things easier, Chen San had them take the bus back this time.
He sat in the seat next to Shi Lan, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. "I guess things aren’t so great for you females, either. Even going shopping is a huge hassle."
Shi Lan laughed. "Everyone has their own problems. I suppose it’s normal."
She had already witnessed scenes like this back on the Capital Star. Females who were surrounded by a large group of males were generally left in peace. But the moment a female was relatively alone, other males would emerge like an endless tide, all competing for her attention. freёwebnovel.com
Shi Lan was once again reminded that in this world, being married certainly made life more convenient.
Chen San leaned back in his seat and nodded in agreement, his eyes half-closed.
’It’s true,’ he thought. ’Being a male has its downsides, too.’
’Take me, for example. My Spiritual Power Level is only B, so I can’t land a decent job. And you can’t get into the military with a Level like that unless you have connections or get really lucky.’
Chen San couldn’t help but let out a gloomy sigh. "It would be better if we were still kids."
At his words, Shi Lan’s eyes flickered, and the corners of her mouth turned up in a slight smile.
’She, on the other hand, thought the present was better. She now had the ability to protect herself, whereas being a child came with far too many limitations.’
The bus was fast, and it wasn’t long after their conversation ended that they arrived at the outskirts of Chang’an Village.
Chen San saw Shi Lan all the way to Aunt Gao’s doorstep, then shuffled lazily back to his own house to sleep.
Aunt Gao grumbled unhappily, "That boy. Sleeps all day long, then he’s wide awake and full of energy at night."
Shi Lan smiled. "Aunt Gao, that’s perfectly normal. Brother San is a Cat Beastman, after all, and cats are naturally more active at night."
As she spoke, she handed over the gifts she had bought. Aunt Gao tried to refuse them, pushing her hands away and saying that Shi Lan worked hard for her money, but in the end, she couldn’t win against Shi Lan’s insistence and accepted them.
Still, her heart ached. ’The girl has matured so much after being away,’ she thought. ’She must have suffered a great deal to have grown up so much, so suddenly.’
The Shi Lan of the past, as Aunt Gao remembered her, had been a rather stubborn little girl. She was always talking about finding her parents when she grew up and dreamed of venturing out into a bigger world. She had her own ambitions, too—to make her paintings famous far and wide.
Aunt Gao didn’t ask whether Shi Lan had achieved any of those things. In her heart, it was more than enough that the child was safe and sound.
With a kind expression and tears welling in her eyes, she simply patted Shi Lan’s hand. "Alright, alright. Don’t you worry about a thing tonight. Come on over to our house for a big dinner. Your Uncle Gao has been itching to show off his cooking."
Shi Lan set aside the groceries she’d bought, nodded, and accepted her kind offer.
