Chapter 640 Sending Someone Off Late at Night
The two of them looked so embarrassed that everyone couldn't help laughing when they returned home.
Zhang Yan hurried forward and asked, "Brother Yimin, did you and Lulu fall?"
Zhou Yimin had no choice but to explain: "No, I just went with Lulu to have a snowball fight with the kids in the village, and that's how it turned out."
Zhang Yan felt relieved after hearing this. She had just checked carefully and found that Zhang Lu and Zhou Yimin did not have any injuries.
When Aunt Zhang saw the state of Zhang Lu's cotton-padded jacket, she felt heartbroken. You know, this cotton-padded jacket was made just before the New Year. However, she was too embarrassed to say anything in Zhou Yimin's house.
However, she "silently" remembered it in her heart, and when she returned home, Zhang Lu knew the "taste".
Zhang Lu suddenly shivered and felt a chill on her back, but she didn't take it seriously. She just felt cold.
When Zhou Yimin saw Zhang Lu shivering, he thought she was cold, so he quickly took out the extra cotton-padded clothes from home.
"Lulu, change your wet cotton clothes, otherwise you'll catch a cold in this weather and it will be troublesome!"
Medical technology is not as advanced as it was in later times. Now a small cold can kill people.
Zhang Lu nodded, then walked into the room and changed her wet clothes.
Zhang Jianshe looked at his watch and found that it was getting late. If he didn't go back now, he might have to stay here overnight.
"Old man, it's getting late now, let's go back first."
The old man hurriedly tried to persuade him to stay: "Jianshe, come back after dinner!"
"No, it's okay to stay here tonight."
This is the countryside, not the city, so there are still extra rooms. Unlike in the city, a family can only live in a space of 20 or 30 square meters.
Zhang Jianshe waved his hand: "Old man, I have things to do tomorrow! Besides, it's not safe to walk at night."
If you are alone, it is not a big deal, but if your whole family is here, if you really encounter some problems, you will not be able to run away even if you want to.
The old man also understood that the world today was okay during the day, but it was indeed not very safe at night.
Zhou Yimin said at this time: "Uncle Zhang, why don't you have dinner here before going back? I will take you back on the tractor then."
There was no other way. Zhou Yimin also wanted to send them back on a motorcycle, but the motorcycle could barely seat so many people. However, Zhang Jianshe and his group came over on a bicycle.
After hearing Zhou Yimin's suggestion, Zhang Jianshe thought about it and finally agreed.
"All right!"
The old man smiled happily and said, "Old woman, hurry up and cook."
Grandma Zhou Yimin nodded and went into the kitchen.
When Zhang Yan saw this, he hurried in to help.
Zhou Yimin was not idle either, and went in to help.
The three of them began to have a clear division of labor.
Zhang Yan had already washed the spinach clean and was squatting in front of the chopping board cutting potatoes.
She cut slowly, and the potato pieces were of different sizes, but she was very serious. The strands of hair on her forehead hung down, almost brushing against the blade.
"Let me cut it." Zhou Yimin picked up the kitchen knife and with a flick of his wrist, the potatoes were cut into even pieces on the chopping board. "You go light the fire?"
"I'll light the fire." Grandma rushed to the stove.
"You two young people should talk more when you are together."
She looked into the stove, where the flames licked the bottom of the pot, and her eyes were full of smiles. "Tonight, I'll make some potato stew with vermicelli and some stir-fried spinach. It'll be enough for us to eat."
Zhang Yan didn't say anything, but just put the chopped green onions into the bowl and scooped a spoonful of lard into the oil tank.
Zhou Yimin poured oil into the pot, put in chopped green onions after the oil was hot, and there was a sizzling sound, and the fragrance immediately spread.
He caught a glimpse of Zhang Yan staring at his hands, so he smiled and said, "I'll teach you how to flip the wok later. It's easier than chopping vegetables."
Zhang Yan's face flushed slightly, and she lowered her head to look at the fire in the stove: "I'm clumsy, I'm afraid I can't learn it."
"It's not difficult." Grandma chimed in, throwing a handful of dried chilies into the pot: "Yimin learned this skill from his mother. When his mother was alive, her cooking was really delicious..."
She suddenly stopped talking midway and put a piece of freshly steamed sweet potato into Zhang Yan's bowl. "Eat a piece of sweet potato. It's warm and sweet."
Dinner was simple but hearty. The potatoes and vermicelli stew were sticky and smothered in a rich broth, while the pork belly was melt-in-your-mouth tender.
The stir-fried spinach has a bit of crispness and is sprinkled with sesame seeds, which makes it so fragrant that you can’t help but smack your lips.
Zhang Lu was awakened by the aroma of food. She rubbed her eyes and sat up. As soon as she picked up the bowl, she shouted that she wanted to eat meat, which made everyone at the table laugh.
The old man drank two cups of wine and started talking more. He talked to Zhou Yimin about burning incense at the old locust tree at the west end of the village tomorrow. That tree is the Feng Shui tree of the village and people go there to worship it every spring.
Zhang Yan listened quietly, picking up some food for her grandmother from time to time and peeling eggs for Zhang Lu, but she didn't touch much of the rice in her own bowl.
"Eat more." Zhou Yimin put a piece of pork belly into her bowl. "You used up all your energy playing snowballs this afternoon. You need to replenish your energy."
Zhang Lu began to express her gratitude: "Thank you, brother-in-law."
Chewing the meat slowly, Zhang Yan was very happy to see Zhou Yimin being so kind to her sister. She no longer had to worry.
Grandma saw this and quietly stuffed a boiled egg into Zhou Yimin's bowl, squinting her eyes. The tacit understanding between the two of them could not be hidden.
After dinner, Zhang Yan rushed to clean up the dishes, and Zhou Yimin followed her into the kitchen.
One of them was washing dishes and the other was wiping the table. Their arms bumped into each other from time to time, and it felt like a small electric current was running through them.
Grandma sat in front of the stove, warming herself by the fire, watching their shadows cast on the wall, like a New Year picture pasted on the side of the stove. The sweetness in her heart was even greater than the sweet potatoes in the pot.
"It's getting late, it's time to go back to the city." Zhang Jianshe looked at the sky outside the window. The stars were already sparsely hanging in the sky.
Zhou Yimin wiped his hands and came out of the kitchen: "Uncle, aunt, I'll take you back. The tractor is faster."
He turned and walked towards where the tractors were parked in the village: "I'll go get the tractor out."
As he spoke, Zhou Yimin had already driven the tractor over, and the headlights cast two beams of light on the snow.
He turned and went back into the house, carrying out a thick quilt - it was the quilt that grandma brought as a dowry, with thick cotton filling and a blue cloth cover that was washed white but spotless.
"It's cold on the road, so cover yourself and keep warm."
Zhang Yan looked at the quilt and felt warm in her heart.
Zhou Yimin spread a quilt in the tractor's bed and brought in some straw bales to use as cushions. He patted them and said, "Come on in. Sit down comfortably."
Zhang Jianshe climbed into the driver's seat first. Aunt Zhang carried Zhang Lu, who was already too sleepy to open her eyes, into the truck bed. Just as Zhang Yan was about to lift her legs, Zhou Yimin reached out and supported her: "Slow down, the snow is slippery."
There was a quilt in the truck bed, soft like a pile of cotton.
Zhang Yan held Zhang Lu in her arms, covered her with a quilt, leaving only her little head exposed.
Then he fixed the bicycle that Zhang Jianshe had ridden in the morning onto the tractor, and the task was finally completed.
Zhou Yimin started the tractor, and the "thump thump" sound broke the silence of the night. The headlights of the car cut a path in the snow, and the wheels rolled over the snow, making a squeaking sound.
"Are you cold?" Zhou Yimin turned around and asked, his voice a little unclear due to the roar of the tractor.
Zhang Yan shook her head and huddled deeper into the quilt.
It was very warm in the truck bed, and the quilt kept the cold wind out. She could smell the faint scent of the sun on the quilt, mixed with the scent of soapberries on Zhou Yimin's body, and she felt very at ease.
The tractor bumped forward on the snowy road. Zhang Lu slept even more soundly in Zhang Yan's arms, her little mouth smacking as if she was dreaming.
Zhang Jianshe and Zhou Yimin were chatting about everyday things, their voices rising and falling with the shaking of the tractor.
Zhang Yan leaned against the wall of the truck bed, looking at the shadows of the trees passing by outside the window. Her heart felt as sweet as if she had a hot sweet potato in her heart.
When they were almost at the city gate, Zhang Jianshe wanted to ask Zhou Yimin to go back first, as it was getting late, but Zhou Yimin said, "It doesn't matter if there's a little time."
He insisted on sending it home, and Zhang Jianshe didn't say much, he could only nod.
Zhou Yimin stopped the tractor. "We're here."
He jumped out of the car, reached out to help Zhang Yan down, and then took Zhang Lu from Aunt Zhang's arms.
Zhang Jianshe and his wife also got out of the car. Aunt Zhang folded the quilt and handed it back to Zhou Yimin: "Thank you, Yimin, for asking you to take it this far."
"It's my duty." Zhou Yimin handed Zhang Lu to Zhang Yan. "Drive slowly on the way. Send me a message when you get home."
"You should go back early too and be careful on the road." Zhang Yan hugged Zhang Lu and looked at his figure elongated by the light, feeling a little reluctant.
"Got it." Zhou Yimin started the tractor and looked back. "I'll come to see you in a couple of days."
The lights of the tractor gradually faded away, and the "thump thump" sound became smaller and smaller.
Zhang Yan stood at the city gate holding Zhang Lu, her hands still holding the warmth from Zhou Yimin's support.
She looked up at the stars in the sky and felt that this winter night didn't seem so cold anymore. Even the air had a hint of sweetness.
Zhang Jianshe patted her shoulder and said, "Let's go home."
Zhang Yan nodded and followed her parents home. Zhang Lu in her arms smacked her lips, as if she had eaten something delicious in a dream, with a smile on her face.
Zhang Yan looked down at her daughter's sleeping face and couldn't help but smile. She followed her parents into the house with light steps.
After seeing Zhang Jianshe and his family off, Zhou Yimin stood at the city gate and rubbed his frozen hands.
The night wind blew through the bare treetops, making a whistling sound. He looked up in the direction of Zhoujiazhuang. The poplar trees on both sides of the road were like silent sentinels, casting mottled shadows in the moonlight.
"It will probably be late at night before we get back to the village." Zhou Yimin muttered to himself, and suddenly an idea popped up in his mind.
He patted the steering wheel of the tractor, and the coolness of the metal came through his gloves. "It's a good time to go to the courtyard and wish a few old acquaintances a happy new year."
Zhou Yimin thought this was a good idea, so he turned the tractor around and drove towards the courtyard.
The tractor was driving on the empty streets, and the "thump thump" sound was particularly clear in the night.
The shops on both sides of the street were locked, and the spring couplets pasted on the door panels glowed dark red in the moonlight. Occasionally, a faint candlelight shone through the window lattices, but no human voice could be heard. The whole city was like a stone sinking in ice water, so quiet that you could hear your own heartbeat.
If Zhou Yimin had not been accustomed to life in this period, he would have been frightened when he had just traveled through time.
In later times, nightlife had just begun and everywhere was brightly lit, unlike now, where there are not even street lights.
If you are shooting a horror movie, you can just come here to shoot the scene and save the money on setting up the scene.
When he arrived at the gate of the courtyard, Zhou Yimin parked the tractor under the old locust tree, took out the key and opened the gate.
"Are you back?" Uncle Zhang, who lived next door, came out with his clothes on to empty the chamber pot. When he saw Zhou Yimin, he was stunned for a moment, then smiled.
"You're back now? Did you have too much fun in the countryside?"
"Uncle Zhang hasn't gone to bed yet." Zhou Yimin handed him a cigarette with a smile.
"I just sent my relatives back home, and I thought of living in the courtyard. I'll wish you and the young and old men in the courtyard a happy new year tomorrow."
"That's thoughtful." Uncle Zhang took the cigarette, lit it and took a puff. "Come inside and rest. It's cold."
Zhou Yimin agreed, unloaded the things from the tractor and took them back home.
He locked the door, carried his things and walked towards his home. His footsteps made a clattering sound on the stone pavement in the yard.
When I opened the door of my house, a familiar smell hit me, the scent of dust mixed with old wood.
Zhou Yimin turned on the light in the dark. The dim light bulb illuminated the small room. Last year's Spring Festival couplets were still pasted on the wall, and the corners were curled up.
He tidied up briefly, put the gift on the table, and washed his face with a basin of hot water. The cold water made him feel much more awake.
After a long day of tossing and turning, Zhou Yimin was already exhausted. He took off his coat and lay down on the bed. The springs made a creaking sound, and he turned over and wrapped himself in the quilt.
The moonlight outside the window shone through the window lattice, casting long shadows on the ground, and the "thump thump" sound of the tractor seemed to still echo in my ears.
Zhou Yimin was making plans silently in his mind, but his eyelids became heavier and heavier, and soon he began to snore evenly.
As the night deepened, the courtyard was immersed in silence. Only the light bulb in Zhou Yimin's room was still on, like a dim star, emitting a faint and warm light in this cold winter night.
The next day soon arrived. Since Zhou Yimin had gone to bed very late the previous night, he had not yet gotten up.
However, the children in the yard got up early, and some of them took their New Year's money to buy firecrackers to play with.
After a while, the sound of firecrackers was heard in the yard, waking Zhou Yimin up.
Zhou Yimin opened his tightly closed eyes and got up with a helpless look on his face. If this happened in Zhoujiazhuang, this would not have happened.
But I can't say much, this is my own problem.
After getting up, Zhou Yimin opened the store and bought all of today's flash sale products.
Zhou Yimin was very happy when he saw these four things. It seemed that he had got the gifts for the New Year today.
There are 100 kilograms of apples, 100 kilograms of candy, 100 kilograms of pork, and 100 kilograms of peanuts.
(End of this chapter)
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