"Not at all." Tang Yumeng shook her head.

"You won't agree?" Lin Chuan asked.

"Of course I won't agree." Tang Yumeng nodded.

"Fine, then I'll stand at your office door and yell that you are my girlfriend." Seeing Tang Yumeng unaffected by his threats, Lin Chuan resorted to acting like a rogue. He actually ran out, ready to shout.

Seeing this, Tang Yumeng quickly grabbed Lin Chuan's arm, looking panicked: "You...you're crazy."

"Unless you agree with me." Lin Chuan snorted coldly.

"Alright, alright, I agree, okay?" Tang Yumeng was somewhat annoyed.

Feeling like she had agreed to be Lin Chuan's girlfriend, it felt as if she'd boarded a pirate ship. Suddenly, she regretted it—not because she regretted becoming Lin Chuan's girlfriend, but because she regretted agreeing too easily to this jerk.

However, Tang Yumeng also felt that Lin Chuan had grasped her weak spot. This jerk was so high-profile when he confessed his feelings, leaving her no way to refuse but to agree. Now, this jerk used it to blackmail her to attend a bathhouse ribbon-cutting. Could she even attend that? If the media caught wind, it would really damage her image.

"Heh, that's more like it." Lin Chuan grinned.

"You jerk." Tang Yumeng glared at Lin Chuan.

Lin Chuan was unfazed and said, "Alright, I'll pick you up in a few days."

"Hmph, I have to go to Wujiang in a few days." Tang Yumeng scoffed: "Japan Zhu's Company delegation will be visiting Wujiang soon to inspect and discuss some investment matters. This is an important investment attraction project for Jiangbei City, we must secure it. You're coming with me too."

"These two events won't conflict, right?" Lin Chuan said in surprise.

"Government business comes first." Tang Yumeng hummed lightly: "Anyway, it's just a bathhouse."

"Sister, you can't be like this." Lin Chuan hurriedly said: "Although it's just a bathhouse, I still pay taxes to the government every year. It might be a small amount, but every little bit counts. Don't look down on it."

"Then, if I ask you to stop running the bathhouse, would you agree?" Tang Yumeng asked.

"That's not okay." Lin Chuan shook his head.

"Then forget about it." Tang Yumeng huffed: "Walking the gray area of the law, and you still have the nerve."

"No worries, I will try to manage the time." Lin Chuan chuckled mischievously.

.........

South Huai Mountain Road West, from Huang Family Alley to East Head Hill within a five hundred meters range is under the jurisdiction of Mrs. Lin, where her daily job is to maintain cleanliness. Moreover, leaders from the Sanitation Bureau often conduct inspections, and if any uncleanliness is found, they immediately deduct salary.

Mrs. Lin is not a formal employee of the Sanitation Bureau, as formal employees never come out to work, but rather sit in the office. In such cold weather, they enjoy heating, read the newspaper, drink hot tea, and watch the clock until it's time to clock out. Mrs. Lin is merely a contract worker for the Sanitation Bureau, which essentially means a temporary worker. She earns eighteen hundred a month, with some so-called benefits given during holidays, including ten pounds of rice, a flask of oil. During the hot weather, she can also receive ten pounds of mung beans to help cool off from the heat.

Mrs. Lin has to wake up at four o'clock every morning, dragging her broom and carrying trash tongs, enduring severe cold and extreme heat, she must get up early every day to maintain cleanliness on this segment of the road. She fears that laziness or inadequate cleaning discovered by the leadership could lead to losing a day's wage.

Dressed in a reflective jacket provided by the Sanitation Bureau, Mrs. Lin wraps her bulky body and walks on the street, holding long tongs picking up trash as she sees it, then putting it into the trash cart behind her. Her cart harbors various self-made tools, including brooms, tongs, and shovels...

At this moment, a black Audi car slowly stopped next to Mrs. Lin.

Mrs. Lin hastily stepped aside, knowing well that such a four-ringed car was a luxury vehicle, not something ordinary people could afford to mess with.

Although she seldom encountered luxury cars, Mrs. Lin deeply knew the temperament of those in power and the wealthy. A few days ago, a television feature showed a young man driving a Mercedes who beat a cleaner half to death just because the cleaner blocked his path momentarily. Mrs. Lin feared encountering such people.

Mrs. Lin hurriedly stood on the roadside shoulder, curiously watching the Audi wondering why it had stopped right in front of her.

After the car stopped, a young man dressed in a black suit and wearing white gloves got out from the driver's side, respectfully opened the rear door, and said, "Madam, please step in."

Then, a lady dressed in fur and wearing high-heeled boots slowly descended from the car.

The woman exuded an elegant and noble air, her fairly well-defined features glancing at Mrs. Lin and asked, "Are you Lin Chuan's mother?"

"Ah?" Mrs. Lin was clearly frightened.

She did not recognize the elegantly noble lady before her. From her appearance, she was either the wife of a high official or a wealthy businessman's spouse. However, judging by the demeanor and style, she seemed more likely to be the wife of a high official. Generally, the wives of wealthy businessmen prefer to wear gold and silver and flaunt their wealth. But this woman, despite her refined attire, wasn't ostentatious. She exuded an imposing aura of nobility.

"Our lady is asking you something," the driver gave Mrs. Lin a stern look and said, "you old woman, better speak up quickly."

"Speak... speak what?" Mrs. Lin was clearly terrified by the other's demeanor.

"I am asking if you are Lin Chuan's mother," the noblewoman asked.

"I... I am," Mrs. Lin nodded hurriedly, her heart sinking immediately, "Did... did my Chuan do something wrong? Madam, please... don't pursue it, he's still just a child. He's still young, you must give him a chance to reform."

While speaking, Mrs. Lin hurriedly tried to grab the noblewoman's hand. The driver immediately stopped Mrs. Lin, saying, "What are you doing?"

"Madam, I... I beg you," Mrs. Lin said urgently.

"No, Lin Chuan hasn't done anything," the noblewoman replied, "Do you know Song Xiaojia?"

"I know," Mrs. Lin nodded, but she was puzzled. Why did this woman know Lin Chuan and also Song Xiaojia? Could she be here to cause trouble for Xiao Jia? Mrs. Lin quickly asked, "Did Xiao Jia do something wrong?"

"No," the noblewoman shook her head and said, "Song Xiaojia is Lin Chuan's girlfriend. And I... am Song Xiaojia's mother."

"Ah?!" Mrs. Lin was clearly stunned; she wanted to call out 'in-laws'. But she knew the lady before her was no ordinary person, so she couldn't manage to utter the word 'in-laws'. The lady was elegant and her vehicle a luxury car worth millions with a chauffeur to escort. And herself? She ate dry buns at noon, clothed in a sanitation worker's uniform, sweeping the streets all day. The disparity in status between them was enormous. Mrs. Lin was at a loss.

"Today I came to discuss something with you," Mrs. Song looked up at Mrs. Lin, her eyes showing a hint of compassion.

"You... please speak, I'm listening," Mrs. Lin said hurriedly.

"You are aware that there is a great disparity between our families. It's not that I want to prevent Song Xiaojia from being with Lin Chuan, it's because I don't want my daughter to suffer hardships," Mrs. Song stepped forward, and unhesitatingly grabbed Mrs. Lin's chapped hands, saying, "Being a mother yourself, I believe you can understand my feelings. I don't want my daughter to suffer hardships or step into the mundane world. She has been raised in comfort since childhood, and when she grows up, she, too, must marry someone fitting our family's social standing. What do you say..."

"I understand," Mrs. Lin nodded hurriedly, saying, "Rest assured, madam, I am aware of my place."

"That's good," Mrs. Song nodded. She turned to glance at the driver and said, "Xiao Zeng, give the thing to Mrs. Lin."

"Yes, madam," the driver nodded quickly.

Mrs. Lin hastened to say with a smile, "Madam is too formal, I'm just a woman who sweeps the streets."

At that moment, driver Xiao Zeng quickly pulled out a cheque that was already duly filled out and handed it to Mrs. Lin, saying, "This is a small gesture from our madam, you can cash this cheque at the Agricultural Bank for one million. This sum is to sever all ties between your son and our young lady."

Having said that, the driver stuffed the cheque into Mrs. Lin's hands, then turned and climbed into the driver's seat.

Mrs. Song sat in the back seat of the Audi, its luxurious space capsule-like wrapped seat very comfortable. Mrs. Song slowly lowered the window and then glanced at Mrs. Lin, saying, "Mrs. Lin, I hope you will keep your promise, take care!"

After speaking, Mrs. Song instructed, "Xiao Zeng, drive, we're heading back to the provincial city."

"Yes, madam," driver Xiao Zeng immediately drove off.

In the chilly wind, Mrs. Lin stood in the traffic-laden road, watching the Audi's receding figure. She felt utterly disoriented. Her whole being seemed suffocated. The cheque in her hand was nearly blown away by the gusty wind.

Mrs. Lin hurriedly clutched the cheque and then cautiously tucked it into her pocket.

"Chuan, it's because your parents are useless," Mrs. Lin bit her red lips, tears streaming down uncontrollably.

She blamed her family's poor circumstances for being despised by the girl's family. However, through Mrs. Lin's eyes, her son was not inferior. Perhaps he couldn't be compared to a prominent family like the Song family, but he certainly wasn't much worse. Choking back tears, she turned and pushed the garbage cart, slowly leaving West Huai Mountain South Road.

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