Sweet Nostalgia of the 80s

Chapter 1496: Chapter 1496: Lack the Courage to Face

Lin Sheng trudged back to the village the next day.

He caught a ride on a military truck on the way out, but wasn’t so lucky on the return trip.

On New Year’s Day, he couldn’t catch a bus, so he relied on his legs to walk and on lifts from passing vehicles, until he reached the foot of the hill. From there, he walked all the way back.

If he had managed to deliver the letter, he might have been able to brag to Qin Jian about how clever he was, how hard he worked, and how he completed his mission without fail.

But, as fate would have it, he lost the letter.

How was he going to face Qin Jian now?

You see, when he left, he had patted his chest and promised Qin Jian he would deliver it for sure.

These two letters were filled with the hopes of Qin Jian and Tian Niu, and now, he had destroyed the very hope that he had planted with his own hands.

When dawn was just breaking, he finally made it back to Mu Mian’s doorstep.

Mu Mian’s house was halfway up the hill, with a low courtyard wall. He climbed onto the wall from the tree outside the gate and then jumped over to the other side.

By that time, Mu Mian had already woken up. Hearing noises in the yard, she came out wearing a coat.

”Lin Sheng, you’re back?”

Lin Sheng replied sullenly, ”Yeah.”

”How did it go? Did you deliver your letter?” Mu Mian asked with concern.

”No. I was so afraid of losing the letter, I folded it carefully and put it in my pocket. But still... it got lost.”

”Lost? How could a letter be lost just like that?”

”Maybe the pocket was too shallow, and it fell out during one of the rides?”

”Ah? So your trip was in vain? And in this freezing weather, you haven’t slept all night, have you?” Mu Mian’s heart ached for Lin Sheng, ”Lin Sheng, don’t think about anything else right now. If the letter is lost, it’s lost. We can just send it again in a few days. But what if you ruin your health from lack of rest?”

”Then I’ll go back...” Anyway, Lin Sheng now lacked the courage to face Qin Jian.

”Why waste the energy to go down the mountain again? Instead, why don’t you stay here? I’ve just got up, and the bed is still warm. You should catch some sleep while you’re still drowsy.” The soft-hearted Mu Mian ended up inviting him to stay.

”Is this what they call a blessing in disguise?” Lin Sheng cracked a smile.

”Alright, cut it out and go to sleep.”

Lin Sheng entered Mu Mian’s room, stripped down to his skin, and slid into the bed, which was warm and carried her body heat and scent.

Inhaling Mu Mian’s scent, Lin Sheng gradually drifted off to sleep.

Mu Mian cooked breakfast, then brought it over to Qin Jian and Tian Niu: ”Big brothers, breakfast is ready!”

”Where’s Lin Sheng?” Qin Jian immediately asked Mu Mian upon seeing her.

”He... hasn’t come back,” Mu Mian stammered.

”He came back. The letter didn’t get delivered, did it?” Qin Jian had overheard their conversation outside. His hearing was good; even though he couldn’t catch every word from within the courtyard, he had put together enough pieces to have a good idea of what had happened.

Lin Sheng was back, but he didn’t report and instead kept himself scarce. What did that indicate?

Definitely, there had been a mishap with the delivery.

”Mhm. But it wasn’t intentional. Don’t blame him,” Mu Mian said, biting her lip, ”He said he’ll send the letter in a couple of days, once the bus service resumes.”

”It’s okay. We can wait.” Since the letter was lost, there was nothing Qin Jian could do. Although he felt regretful, he didn’t show it.

”Don’t worry. I will make sure the letter gets to you,” Mu Mian said, and then she turned and left the room.

As she stepped out the door, she ran into her father, who was wearing a stern expression.