Starting as a Train Driver to Enter the Ministry
Chapter 22 - Men Remain Boys at Heart!

Chapter 22: Men Remain Boys at Heart!

Chen Shi was more than happy to be the hands-off boss.

Chen Maihua couldn’t stand it any longer. “Sis-in-law, don’t you see? My brother is bullying you!”

Shen Youchu’s beautiful peach-blossom eyes reflected Chen Shi’s tall figure. “He doesn’t bully others—only me. That must mean he treats me well!”

“Sis-in-law!” Chen Maihua sighed in exasperation.

Chen Shi stuck his tongue out at her. “Nyah nyah, what now, tattletale? Let me tell you, the masses have sharp eyes! Your sneaky schemes won’t succeed!”

Chen Maihua puffed up in anger. “Hmph, you blind fool!”

Chen Shi shot back, “You wet the bed!”

“You—!” Chen Maihua’s eyes reddened with fury. “Mom, look at my brother!”

Tian Xiulan intervened, “Enough, both of you! You’re not kids anymore—why are you still bickering like this? Hurry up and get ready. Did you ask for leave from school?”

“I already told Teacher Yan!”

“Good. Let’s go quickly, or we’ll miss the bus and delay your brother from fetching his mother-in-law!”

Just as she finished speaking, a group of young men around eighteen to twenty years old peeked into the eastern courtyard.

Tian Xiulan glanced at Chen Shi first, making sure he hadn’t noticed, then quickly stepped outside. “Wen San, Youtiao, Lianjin—Chen Shi is married now. He doesn’t have time to roam the alleys with you anymore. Don’t come calling for him in the future, or he might lose focus!”

To be fair, Chen Shi had been a well-behaved and sweet child—until he met these troublemakers from the alley. After that, he changed completely.

Because of this, Tian Xiulan always blamed these idlers for corrupting her son. Every time they came by, her expression darkened.

Wen San chuckled awkwardly. “Aunt Chen, we just heard Little Laoshi got married and wanted to have a meal together. Since he’s busy, we’ll head out first.”

Wen San, Youtiao, and Lianjin quickly walked away. At the alley entrance, a few other loiterers approached them. “Wen San, how’d it go? Did you see Little Laoshi?”

“Is it true he got married? Didn’t he promise to stay single with us forever? He always said having a wife meant being tied down—how boring! How could he just up and marry like that?”

Wen San shrugged. “Seems like it’s true. When I went into Compound No. 95, I heard he and Jia Dongxu got married on the same day. Today’s the bridal return!”

Youtiao squatted gloomily on the ground. “He really left us behind, huh? Tch. We’ll just catch him after he gets back from the bridal visit.”

Unbeknownst to Chen Shi, his so-called friends were sulking over him finding a wife.

Truth be told, these alley idlers talked big about women being annoying and not wanting wives, but the real reason was their terrible reputations. Respectable city girls wouldn’t give them the time of day.

As for rural girls—the decent ones, like Qin Huairu, all aimed for proper working-class men.

The leftovers? Even these idlers wouldn’t settle for them.

So they put on a front of disliking women. But in reality, at their age, these young men were so full of restless energy they could fry an egg on their bodies at night. Who didn’t like women deep down?

“Chen Shi, we’re heading back to Qin Village for the bridal return. Want to come together?”

Jia Dongxu’s voice rang out at the gate.

Today, Jia Dongxu looked radiant. Last night, under the covers, he had managed to last over a minute, leaving Qin Huairu flushed and satisfied. He had coaxed her into putting on a good show today—acting gentle and virtuous, making sure to outshine Shen Youchu.

Qin Huairu reluctantly agreed.

Jia Dongxu, meanwhile, was dead set on proving his wife was prettier and more virtuous than Shen Youchu.

Outshine Jia Dongxu during the bridal return. Reward: Comparative Attribute.].

Chen Shi’s eyes lit up. Another contrast mission?

Outshining someone?

Heh. No one knew how to steal the spotlight better than alley idlers!

“Sure, let’s go together!”

By then, Chen Laohan, Tian Xiulan, and Chen Maihua had also packed their things, each carrying a bamboo basket as they stepped out of the eastern courtyard.

Yi Zhonghai spoke up, “Old Chen, Dongxu is still young. If anything comes up in the village, give him some guidance.”

“Don’t worry, Uncle Yi. Thanks to you yesterday, my Little Laoshi got to toast at the banquet. I’ll make sure Jia Dongxu and his wife get to Qin Village safely!”

“Dongxu, go ahead. Be careful on the road, and come back early.”

Jia Dongxu nodded. “Got it, Master!”

He Zhuzhu and Xu Damao watched enviously from the gate as Jia Dongxu left with his alluring wife, Qin Huairu, and even the alley idler Chen Shi brought his gentle and virtuous Shen Youchu.

The two of them burned with jealousy.

“Ah, having a wife means having a family,” He Zhuzhu sighed.

Xu Damao snorted. “My dad said once I get a proper job, he’ll find me a good wife—at least a factory beauty!”

He Zhuzhu scoffed. “You? Xu Damao? A factory beauty? You’d be lucky to marry Piggy’s second aunt!”

Xu Damao sneered. “Hmph, He Zhuzhu, you’re just jealous! Your dad ran off with that Widow Bai, and now no one’s arranging a marriage for you. You’re worse off than even alley idler Chen Shi!”

“You little—!”

As Chen Shi stepped outside, he heard Xu Damao’s howls of pain from the courtyard.

Shen Youchu flinched, tugging Chen Shi’s sleeve. “Will… will he die?”

Chen Shi squeezed her fingers reassuringly. “Don’t worry. This kind of thing happens all the time in our courtyard. Xu Damao loves pushing his luck with his life. When we get back, I’ll have Mom tell you about the courtyard drama. You’ll understand then.”

Shen Youchu nodded obediently, sticking close to Chen Shi. Whenever they passed muddy patches from melting snow, she tugged his sleeve again. “Be careful, don’t step in the mud!”

Chen Shi chuckled. “If I do, you’ll wash it for me.”

Shen Youchu pleaded softly, “But if your shoes get wet, your feet will be cold. Walk around it, okay?”

Her gentle voice, like a babbling brook, soothed the restlessness in Chen Shi’s heart after awakening his past-life memories.

Jia Dongxu turned just in time to see this. Noticing his gaze, Chen Shi sighed dramatically. “Ah, what can I do? My wife worries about me stepping in water or mud—she’s just too caring.”

Jia Dongxu, who had wanted to one-up Chen Shi, lost the first round before the competition even began. Fuming, he whispered to Qin Huairu, “Can’t you be more attentive? Look at Chen Shi’s wife!”

Qin Huairu’s eyes welled up. “You’re already avoiding the mud. What else do you want me to say?”

Jia Dongxu grumbled, “Then think of a way to turn this around! Look at how smug Chen Shi is, showing off like he’s the only one with a wife.”

Qin Huairu felt wronged. She thought she had been plenty gentle and virtuous, yet Jia Dongxu still wasn’t satisfied.

Watching their little exchange, Chen Shi grinned so wide his face might split. Hmph. Jia Dongxu thought he had won by picking a glamorous beauty, but could Qin Huairu compare to his Shen Youchu?

His wife had a fortune-bringing aura—the moment she entered his life, his long-stalled job prospects suddenly fell into place, and in the Railway Ministry, no less! Could Qin Huairu pull off such a feat?

Chen Shi gloated inwardly.

Truly, men remained boys at heart. Even with memories of a past life—making him practically old enough to be Jia Dongxu’s grandfather—Chen Shi still reveled in their petty rivalry!