Chapter 53 Did he regain his memories from his previous life?

Ling Huanwu immediately stopped limping and ran over quickly, staring blankly at the milky white embryonic roots in the soil.

The moment her fingertips touched the soil, Lin Xiaoqin grabbed her arm and shook it violently: "Look! It's really sprouting! And it's only been three days!"

Ling Huanwu staggered from the shaking, then laughed and slapped the little girl's hand away: "This is cogongrass, used to improve the soil, not an edible vegetable."

Even so, my fingertips trembled slightly as they brushed against the tender buds.

I don't know if the methods I heard from agricultural experts on TV in my past life will ultimately succeed in improving the soil.

Lin Xiaoqin scratched her head and suddenly pointed to the plastic film by the edge of the field: "Commander Zhou laid this down in the rain last night, right? The rain was pouring down in the second half of the night. I just heard from the other aunties in the family compound that he squatted here to block the rain for half the night."

Ling Huanwu felt a sudden surge of heat in her heart.

She was so tired last night that she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. She vaguely remembered hearing a noise outside the window and thought it was the sea breeze carrying waves that were hitting the windowpane.

It turned out that it wasn't the sound of the wind, but someone holding an oil lamp, squatting in the mud to build a "rain shelter" for these tender shoots.

Ling Huanwu gazed at the thin film clinging tightly to the ground and the tender shoots swaying gently in the wind, and felt as if something was rising up from the clods of earth in her heart.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Ling Huanwu was woken up by the pressure.

Her back was pressed against a warm chest, and an arm was tightly wrapped around her waist, as if afraid she would run away.

When she opened her eyes, she was met with Zhou Jiuzhen's face. His eyes were dark and bruised, as if he had been punched. His eyelashes were still damp, indicating that he had been keeping watch over her all night.

"Awake?" His voice was hoarse, like sandpaper had been rubbed against her skin. He tightened his grip around her waist. "Sleep a little longer. The boat won't leave until noon."

Ling Huanwu struggled but couldn't break free. She was both angry and amused: "Let go, I need to pack my things."

This person hadn't slept for the past three nights and was full of energy, so why was he so quiet and stayed by her side all night last night, as if half of his life had been taken away?

Zhou Jiuzhen remained motionless, his chin resting on the top of her head as he asked in a muffled voice, "Do we really have to go? What about the sprouting grass in the field?"

"Lin Xiaoqin will keep an eye on things. Besides, thatch grass is tough; it won't die from a little rain or sun."

Ling Huanwu pried his fingers open and sat up, saying as she dressed, "Besides, Er Ya and San Ya's illnesses can't be delayed..."

She paused, then pulled a piece of paper from under her pillow. "This is a list I made. The agricultural supply station doesn't have salt-resistant rapeseed or bone meal for fermentation on the island; we have to go to the city to buy them."

The paper was covered with dense writing on half a page. Zhou Jiuzhen leaned over to look at it, his gaze lingering on the words "early-maturing rice seed". Suddenly, he picked up a pen and added a line of small characters next to it: "Wang's blacksmith shop, find Old Wang to make a broad-bladed hoe".

"You know someone?" Ling Huanwu's eyes lit up.

The hoes on the island all have narrow blades, making turning over alkaline soil feel like scratching an itch; a wide-bladed hoe is exactly what she needs.

“I helped his son before,” Zhou Jiuzhen folded the paper and stuffed it into her pocket, his fingertips brushing against her palm. “The hoe he made could split rocks.”

After saying that, he went to the kitchen outside and busied himself with something.

Just then, Grandma Wang Guihua came in carrying a bamboo basket. She lifted the cloth to reveal a stack of flatbreads, and the aroma of sesame mixed with the scent of wheat filled the room.

"Daughter-in-law, things are expensive in the city, take this to stave off hunger." The old lady stuffed it into her bag, then suddenly grabbed her hand, her eyes reddening, "You...you'll come back, won't you?"

Just as Ling Huanwu was about to speak, she heard a loud "bang" outside.

She suddenly stood up and rushed out, only to see Zhou Jiuzhen bending over to scoop eggs from a large iron pot. His hands were red, obviously from being scalded by hot water, but he was oblivious, simply wrapping the round white eggs one by one in oil paper.

"Mother, what are you thinking? Why would I leave?"

Ling Huanwu's eyes were full of heartache, but she didn't look at Zhou Jiuzhen. She just quietly assured her mother-in-law, "I'm still waiting to grow rice to make you white rice! Besides, I still have to send Er Ya and San Ya back. How can the seeds in the field be separated from me?"

Zhou Jiuzhen hid to the side and eavesdropped. His hand, which was wrapping the egg, paused, and his ears turned red.

He stuffed the wrapped oil paper package into her bag, then pulled out a kraft paper envelope from his pocket: "There's money and coupons in here. If you don't have enough, go to the military office in the city and find Officer Zhang. Mention my name."

Ling Huanwu squeezed the envelope; its thickness warmed her heart.

She had just stuffed the envelope when she saw Zhou Shuyao standing at the door, staring at the bundle in her hand, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

Ling Huanwu rolled her eyes at him, clearly disliking him.

Zhou Shuyao snapped back to reality, his eyes slightly dazed, as if he had just woken up from a dream.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed it back, only whispering, "Is my sister-in-law leaving?"

"Hmm, I'm going to town to buy some things," Ling Huanwu replied lazily, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

"Yaoyao asked me to ask you... if you can bring two catties of cured meat."

Zhou Shuyao's voice was very soft. When his gaze fell on her back, he suddenly looked away as if he had been stabbed by something. "Just now... I feel like I've seen you carrying this bundle somewhere before."

Ling Huanwu's heart skipped a beat.

This bundle was what she carried with her and Zhou Shuyao when they took the children to Hong Kong in her previous life. When they were broke, she did carry this little bundle around every day to set up a stall and earn her first pot of gold.

"You must be mistaken." She tried to remain calm and turned to leave, but then she heard Zhou Shuyao say again, "And that list you made. I think... I know what it's for? It's for soil improvement!"

These words terrified her even more.

In her previous life, she and Zhou Shuyao once sat together on the sofa watching experts on TV introduce methods for improving soil.

In this life, he had never been exposed to any of these things.

Could it be that he has regained his memories from his previous life?

At this moment, Zhou Shuyao himself was stunned, seemingly confused by what he had just said. He raised his hand and rubbed his temples: "I probably heard it from the old people in the village, but I can't remember clearly."

At this moment, Zhou Jiuzhen walked over, glared at Zhou Shuyao with displeasure, and grabbed Ling Huanwu's hand, "The ship is about to leave, I'll see you off."

The wind at the dock carried a salty, fishy smell.

Several people escorted Ling Huanwu to the dock.

When the whistle blew to start the boat, Ling Huanwu carried Er Ya and led San Ya onto the boarding platform.

Lin Xiaoqin tugged at her sleeve and teased, "Commander Zhou is just standing there without moving!"

Ling Huanwu turned around and saw Zhou Jiuzhen standing on the dock like a stone statue, his gaze fixed on her intently.

The ship sounded its horn and set sail. Ling Huanwu opened the oil paper package; underneath the hard-boiled eggs was a map.

The last words, “If you don’t return for a month, I will go to the city to find you,” were written with such force that they seemed to penetrate the paper.

As she traced the words with her fingertips, she suddenly heard Lin Xiaoqin quietly come up and take a package, saying mysteriously, "Zhou Shuyao just slipped me a package!"

Ling Huanwu looked down, opened it, and saw that it was half a packet of salted peanuts, carefully wrapped in kraft paper.

In her previous life, this was her favorite food, and Zhou Shuyao would always stuff a handful into her pocket whenever she went out.

Ling Huanwu looked up at the direction of the dock, her face turning pale with fright.

This Zhou Shuyao is acting increasingly strangely.

The two figures on the dock grew smaller and smaller.

Ling Huanwu could see that Zhou Shuyao was pressing his head with his hand, his brows furrowed, as if countless fragments were colliding in his mind, about to break out of their shells.

If Zhou Shuyao regains his memories from his previous life, will she and Zhou Jiuzhen still be able to live a peaceful life on the outer island?

As the ship cut through the blue waves, Ling Huanwu gazed at the islands receding into the distance, silently clenching her fists.

She had to hurry back after buying the things, not only for the cogongrass in the field and the children, but also for the person standing on the dock, with a firm gaze that always inadvertently touched her memory.