My happy life in a courtyard house with triplets.

Chapter 451: Cheng Jianjun's True Colors

Over the next few days, Han Chunming and Taozi's relationship grew better and better.

However, Han Chunming never dared to take bread home. At most, like Taozi, he would occasionally taste a bite or two in the workshop, but he would never dare to bring it home.

Han Chunming waited for Su Meng at the gate of the courtyard again after getting off work that day.

Seeing his nonchalant attitude, Su Meng scolded, "Don't you have any sense of decency?"

Han Chunming said smugly, "This is the most handsome and best version of a man."

Su Meng laughed and scolded in an annoyed tone, "Go to hell."

The two hid in the corner and spoke in hushed tones.

Su Meng looked at Han Chunming and smiled sweetly: "Chunming, I still want to eat the bread you gave me last time."

Her appearance delighted Han Chunming, and he readily agreed, "Don't worry, I'll get it for you tomorrow."

Neither of them noticed that Cheng Jianjun, who was hiding to the side, had overheard the entire conversation.

Not far away, Zhang Lei took in the three of them, secretly thinking about the good show that was about to happen.

Han Chunyan, who was beside him, put her arm around his and asked, "What are you looking at?"

Zhang Lei quickly waved his hand: "It's nothing, it's nothing."

"Let's hurry home then," Han Chunyan said with a smile, "We'll give Xiao Wu a surprise later."

Zhang Lei smiled and nodded: "Okay."

On the other side, Cheng Jianjun stared at Han Chunming and Su Meng's intimate figures, his heart filled with jealousy and hatred. He gritted his teeth and thought to himself, "I've finally caught my chance! Han Chunming, this time I'll make you regret it!"

Not long after, Zhang Lei and Han Chunyan sat at the Han family's house for a while and finally waited for Han Chunming to return.

When Han Chunming saw his second sister and brother-in-law, he was first taken aback, then happily said, "Second sister, what brings you here?"

Han Chunyan said with a smile, "It's all for you."

Han Chunming looked puzzled: "For me?"

"Your brother-in-law said that now that you're going to work, you need to act like you're going to work. It's not right to walk around all the time." Han Chunyan pointed to the bicycle next to her. "Look."

Han Chunming's eyes lit up, and he rushed over to touch the bicycle, stroking it repeatedly: "Sister, brother-in-law, is this for me?"

"Yes, this is for you," Han Chunyan said with a smile. "Besides the ticket, your brother-in-law also paid two hundred yuan for this bus ticket."

Upon hearing how expensive it was, Han's mother quickly said to Han Chunming, "Chunming, hurry up and thank your sister and brother-in-law!"

Han Chunming beamed from ear to ear: "Thank you, sister! Thank you, brother-in-law!"

Zhang Lei waved his hand: "Alright, we're all family, don't be so polite. Just focus on your work and be a good son to your mother."

Looking at Zhang Lei, Han's mother was filled with gratitude: "Zhang Lei, look at you, you've added so much to our family, and now you're even buying a bicycle for Xiao Wuzi..."

Zhang Lei smiled and comforted her, "Mom, you're saying that again. Chunming is my brother-in-law. If others have something, Chunming can't be lacking either. Otherwise, he won't even be able to win over the girl he loves."

Upon hearing this, Han Chunming immediately laughed and said, "My brother-in-law understands me best!"

Everyone was amused.

After chatting for a while, Zhang Lei found an opportunity to call Han Chunming out alone.

Han Chunming asked, puzzled, "Brother-in-law, what's the matter that you have to come out and tell me?"

Zhang Lei looked at him and asked seriously, "Chunming, what do you think of your relationship with Cheng Jianjun?"

Han Chunming replied without hesitation, "Great, my best buddy."

Zhang Lei smiled and said, "Then let's make a bet."

"bet?"

"Yes." Zhang Lei nodded. "You said you two have a really good relationship, but I bet your relationship is actually really bad."

Han Chunming looked incredulous: "Impossible! Brother-in-law, did you hear something?"

Zhang Lei asked, "Did you talk to Su Meng around the corner after get off work today?"

Han Chunming nodded.

"Your sister and I happened to see it when we came back," Zhang Lei said slowly. "Cheng Jianjun was secretly listening to your conversation right next to you."

Han Chunming was startled: "What? He eavesdropped on my conversation with Su Meng?"

"Yes." Zhang Lei looked at him. "Tell me, what did you two talk about?"

Han Chunming was a little embarrassed: "Brother-in-law, why are you prying into other people's privacy?"

"You'd better tell the truth right now," Zhang Lei said in a deep voice, "or you'll regret it."

Having no other choice, Han Chunming whispered, "Su Meng said she wants to eat more bread."

Zhang Lei smiled and said, "Then let's make a bet: will Cheng Jianjun report you for stealing bread tomorrow?"

Han Chunming finally understood, and his expression changed: "Brother-in-law, you mean Cheng Jianjun will report me?"

Zhang Lei nodded.

Han Chunming still refused to believe it: "Impossible, what good would that do him?"

"You can go to work as usual tomorrow, but have someone else ask for a day off for you first," Zhang Lei instructed. "Let's go together and see what your good buddy is up to."

He added, "Also, don't take anything from the factory tomorrow. If you really want to eat something, buy it with money and eat it openly. You absolutely cannot take anything out of the factory."

Han Chunming nodded sullenly.

Seeing his dejected look, Zhang Lei laughed and said, "What's wrong? Afraid of disappointing Su Meng tomorrow?"

As he spoke, he pulled out five yuan and stuffed it into Han Chunming's pocket: "Would your brother-in-law let you suffer?"

Han Chunming looked at the money in his pocket and instantly perked up again: "Thank you, brother-in-law!"

Zhang Lei smiled helplessly: "You, you."

The next day, Zhang Lei rode his bicycle to the entrance of the bread factory early in the morning to watch the show.

Upon seeing Han Chunming, who had taken leave, Zhang Lei waved and said, "Let's go see what your good brother is really like."

Han Chunming was still stubborn: "Brother-in-law, you must be mistaken. Cheng Jianjun isn't that kind of person. We grew up together, he would never do such a thing."

Zhang Lei said calmly, "Whether it's possible or not is not up to you or me. It depends on what Cheng Jianjun does."

The two followed Cheng Jianjun quietly for an hour and a half, until they saw him walk into a phone booth.

Immediately afterward, Cheng Jianjun picked up the phone and said to the other end, "I want to report someone! There's a guy named Han Chunming at your bread factory who's definitely going to steal bread from the factory today. You must thoroughly investigate him when you leave work!"

Upon hearing this, Han Chunming became anxious and was so agitated that he wanted to rush out to confront Cheng Jianjun.

Zhang Lei grabbed him and covered his mouth tightly to prevent him from acting impulsively.

On the phone, Cheng Jianjun said again, "Who am I? I'm just a concerned citizen. Don't worry about who I am, just investigate thoroughly. He definitely stole the bread; I heard him say it with my own ears!"

Only after Cheng Jianjun hung up the phone and left did Zhang Lei release Han Chunming.

"What, do you want me to take you to ask someone at the telephone company again to confirm what he just said?" Zhang Lei asked.

Han Chunming was distraught, muttering to himself, "How could this be... How could he do this to me..."

Zhang Lei patted him on the shoulder: "Why can't it be?"

Han Chunming looked up, puzzled. "Brother-in-law, why did he treat me like this?"

"Why?" Zhang Lei sighed. "It's all because of a woman."

"A woman? Who is she?"

Zhang Lei looked at him, somewhat exasperated: "Are you really confused or just pretending? You and Cheng Jianjun have both fallen for the same person."

Han Chunming suddenly realized: "Brother-in-law, you mean Su Meng?"

Zhang Lei nodded.

"You know very well how close you and Su Meng are," Zhang Lei said slowly. "Whether Cheng Jianjun likes Su Meng or not, you can figure it out yourself."

He continued, "You saw what happened with your own eyes. This is all your brother-in-law can do for you. Think about it, if you lose your job because of this little thing, what will your mother, brother, and sister think? What will the neighbors say about you? Will they call you a thief? Once that reputation is attached to you, you'll never be able to hold your head up high again."

Han Chunming swallowed hard, a chill running down his spine.

Zhang Lei comforted her, "Alright, don't tell your mom about taking the day off today. The money I gave you before was just enough to buy bread, right? Since Su Meng likes it, just buy her two openly. As for Cheng Jianjun, you've seen his true colors, that's enough."