In the early morning, just as dawn was breaking, various sounds began to emanate from the streets and alleys.
During this period, most houses were allocated by the government, and people did not have the means to buy or change houses, so they all lived in the same place, and the relationships between neighbors were generally good.
These past few days, Liu Meixiang has been coming to her house at the same time every day. Perhaps her biological clock has become fixed, because Xu Nuo wakes up at seven o'clock.
Lying in bed, she turned over and lay there lazily.
Summer nights are cool, and she's not afraid of mosquitoes, so she just drew the curtains but didn't close the window.
The white gauze curtains that I had installed myself were gently lifted by the wind, letting in a faint, sweet light.
She made her little room look incredibly cozy.
Grandma Qin's house is a three-story building at the very end of the alley. There used to be a small garden, but it has been demolished and turned into a walkway.
Her room was simple and clean, the walls were a bit dark from the passage of time, and a brown desk sat beneath a large framed oil painting of a floral sea.
Apart from the bed and the table, there was no other furniture in the room.
This must have been where the family's nanny used to live, because the room was connected to the bathroom and there was a small kitchen next to it.
It seemed to be separated from the rest of the house.
Living in a secluded corner will not affect the main family.
In the late 1970s, unlike the bustling and elegant Shanghai of the past, most pedestrians on the streets of Shanghai wore clothing that was characteristic of that era.
It looks orderly and monotonous.
But deep down, he still had the blood of the pioneers; his gray-blue work clothes were ironed straight and wrinkle-free, and his leather shoes on the ground were shiny and bright.
You can find vibrant colors, curly bangs, and trendy items here that you wouldn't see in Luxian.
Xu Nuo even saw a young woman wearing a cheongsam with a cinched waist.
Early in the morning, a long queue had already formed in front of the People's Restaurant.
The fried dough sticks, steamed buns, and other snacks were so tempting that they made one's mouth water.
Compared to the monotonous steamed buns and pickled vegetables in Luxian Village, the variety in Shanghai is much more diverse.
One particular type, called the "Red Heart Bun," is especially popular.
Xu Nuo was in line when she heard several people clamoring to buy, worried that the stock would sell out again.
Her features were gentle, her skin as white and tender as a peeled egg, and she was dressed in a dark black outfit with her hair simply tied in a ponytail. This made the young woman in front of her, who was dressed in bright clothes and had fashionable perms, look gaudy in comparison to her beauty.
Liu Chunwei stood tall and straight, enjoying the gazes that were openly and subtly directed at her.
She gently reached out and brushed aside a stray hair that wasn't even on her cheek.
A moment later, she realized something was wrong.
At first, she was attracted by the faint fragrance, and then she curiously glanced behind her.
I was surprised to see a face with skin as white as porcelain and eyes as bright as the moon.
When the other person noticed her staring at them, they gave her a friendly wink.
Liu Chunwei froze, then quickly turned around.
He was very displeased.
The gazes directed at her now felt like filth, making her extremely embarrassed.
She couldn't leave, but she couldn't stay any longer either. Fortunately, a gentle voice rang out and came to her rescue.
"Xiao Wei".
The newcomer was a woman of outstanding temperament, wearing an elegant long dress with a fitted silhouette, her hair black and smooth, half-tied up, and a refined face with a perfectly appropriate smile.
Liu Chunwei exclaimed with delight, "Sister Hui, you're back!"
Because she wanted to talk to Chen Minghui, Liu Chunwei left the queue and ran to join Chen Minghui in line.
Chen Minghui said, "I knew this dress would suit you; it looks really good on you."
Liu Chunwei had just lost some confidence, but now she was regaining it a little. Thinking that Chen Minghui would praise her again, she said, "No, the clothes my sister gave me are really beautiful, but I don't think I can fit into them."
Chen Minghui shook her head: "How could that be? Your skin is so fair, only you can wear this color."
Xu Nuo had already bought the pan-fried buns and passed by the two of them.
A pleasant fragrance followed her by, and Chen Minghui turned her head to look.
His gaze paused for a moment.
Liu Chunwei looked disdainful and whispered, "Dressed up so extravagantly and wearing such heavy perfume."
Dressed in flamboyant attire?
Chen Minghui's gaze lingered on Liu Chunwei's bright and flamboyant dress for a moment, then she smiled and remained silent.
She was just an ordinary woman with a pretty face.
Physical beauty fades, but cultivation and knowledge endure.
She has beauty, but she's nothing more than a vase for others to admire.
Unexpectedly, the world is quite small. In the afternoon, at a small gathering during Shanghai University's anniversary celebration, Chen Minghui's gaze fell on the woman who had just entered.
No, everyone's attention was focused on that spot.
Xu Nuo wore a pale yellow dress with lace trim on the cuffs and a slightly cinched waist, which accentuated her already exquisite features and made her look noble and ethereal.
Like a princess from a fairy tale, she stepped out of the book.
In the words of later generations, she was a beautiful and charming flower of worldly wealth and honor.
"Why is it her? What's she doing here?"
Sitting next to Chen Minghui, Liu Chunwei was surprised. When she saw Liu Meixiang next to Xu Nuo, Liu Chunwei's expression changed.
Could this woman be Liu Meixiang's friend?
If he is Liu Meixiang's friend, then his family background must be quite good.
Liu Chunwei pondered that Liu Meixiang's father, who was also her second uncle, had recently been transferred to the Central Military Commission. Judging from the woman's appearance, could she be the daughter of some military leader?
Thinking of this, Liu Chunwei quickly stood up and walked towards Xu Nuo.
Shanghai University's anniversary celebration will be held together with this year's freshman gala, so it will be quite a grand occasion.
This is why Su Zhao and his team started preparing two months in advance.
To promote foreign languages, a foreign language-themed drama performance was added on the second day of the school's anniversary celebration.
The play scripts were all written by students from Shanghai University, so Xu Nuo and Liu Meixiang's task was to translate the scripts into English.
Xu Nuo did not participate in discussions about other matters related to the gala, so this was her second time attending the meeting.
Li Xiaolan, the student council president, read Xu Nuo's translated document and said with satisfaction, "Nuonuo, I've read your translation, it's good, and I think the revision suggestions you marked are all feasible."
Liu Meixiang proudly put her arm around Xu Nuo's shoulder, as if she were the one being praised: "That's right, Nuonuo is amazing. We went over our lines to make them flow smoothly. I stumbled and stammered terribly, but Nuonuo..."
Liu Meixiang glanced at Xu Nuo with a grin and praised her generously: "You're just like Xue Xiaojing herself."
Chen Mingxue, who came along, frowned slightly, so slightly that no one noticed.
Liu Chunwei rolled her eyes, speechless.
"What Xue Xiaojing herself? Xue Xiaojing is clearly your character, Sister Hui."
Chen Minghui smiled gently, not minding at all: "It's nothing, don't worry about it."
Liu Chunwei deliberately spoke loudly: "Minghui, if you hadn't been sick this time, you would definitely have translated this play. After all, you are the best in the foreign language department."
Following the sound, everyone saw Chen Minghui.
"Minghui, are you feeling better?"
"Minghui, you've arrived?"
Chen Minghui walked over with a gentle smile on her face: "Thank you everyone for your concern, I'm all better now."
She looked at Xu Nuo and extended her hand: "Hello, my name is Chen Minghui, I am a sophomore at Shanghai University, nice to meet you."
Xu Nuo's voice was sweet, and her eyes seemed to steal all the light.
"Hello, my name is Xu Nuo."
Her gaze fell openly on Chen Minghui's face.
Tsk.
The book is a combination of green tea and white lotus.
I thought that going to Shanghai would allow me to escape the plot, but who knew that translating a script would lead me to run into the second female lead.
"Nuonuo is also a student at Shanghai University, majoring in Chinese Literature this year."
"Chinese Literature Department?"
Liu Chunwei and Chen Minghui exchanged a glance, unable to hide the surprise in their eyes.
Liu Meixiang didn't think anything was wrong and nodded: "That's right, Nuonuo is a Chinese literature major, and she was the top student admitted to the Chinese literature department this year."
"But this is in English, and she's not an English major. Can she translate it accurately?"
A male voice rang out: "You don't need to worry about that, Xu Nuo's English is very good."
Liu Chunwei didn't believe it: "How high can the foreign language proficiency of a Chinese literature major be? If there are too many mistakes, how will Sister Minghui act?"
Xu Nuo glanced at the girl dressed in yellow and green. She didn't recognize the name Liu Chunwei; she probably hadn't appeared in the book before.
Su Meixiang couldn't help but speak up: "She chose the Chinese major because she likes Chinese. Otherwise, with a score of 98, how could she not get into the English major? Even the top student in our department didn't get a higher score than her."
Ninety-eight points?
English?
The gazes directed at Xu Nuo shifted repeatedly.
Comparing yourself to others is truly infuriating.
Chen Minghui smiled and said, "Junior Xu Nuo is really amazing."
Liu Meixiang was too carefree to realize that there was anything wrong with what she had just said.
The top student in the English department was Chen Minghui.
I was admitted last year with a score of 93.
…
At noon, Duan San walked towards Li Xian's house under the scorching sun.
When he saw a figure crouching on the ground, his expression changed, and he quickly ran over.
Li Xian's face was extremely pale, and his lips were deathly white.
His brows furrowed slightly.
The box that Duan San gave him contained stacks of money.
It must be because of that incident at the fertilizer factory; he didn't explain it to her and even told her to leave quickly.
She was annoyed, which is why she returned the money to him.
He sighed in frustration and glanced at his right hand with a hint of dejection.
We can't see each other, and we can't write letters.
"Brother Li, why are you already working? You're still not fully recovered."
Duan San looked at the small patch of land that had been dug up, and then at Li Xian's pale face, and was extremely worried.
Li Xian's gaze swept over the empty courtyard, his cold and hard face showing a hint of loneliness.
She loved to squat under the pumpkin trellis and count how many pumpkins had grown. With each new pumpkin, the curve of her eyebrows would widen.
She counted them, then turned to look at him and said, "Li Xian, the pumpkins are growing so fast!"
Now they're all gone.
Duan San said, "We were worried the cops would get suspicious, so we dug up this whole area. But it's okay, I'll come and help you redo it tomorrow. You should get some rest, okay?"
Li Xian nodded and slowly stood up.
"Has it been sent?"
Duan San nodded: "I sent it over, but I knocked on the door for a long time and no one answered, so I tied it up with some tattered burlap and blocked Xu Yan's door. As long as someone in their family opens the door, they will definitely open it to take a look."
Li Xian's eyes paused slightly.
Isn't she home?
"But Brother Li, why did you send the gift to her house?"
Isn't Xu Yan in Luxian Village? Just deliver it directly to her…
No, Xu Yan lives in the educated youth dormitory. Sending it to her would be the same as telling everyone in the dormitory.
Sending it to her home is different; not only will it not benefit others, but it will also leave a good impression on her parents.
Duan San thought that Brother Li was really a smart guy.
He really is a blockhead.
Li Xian's exact words at the time were: "Help me make a trip and deliver it to Comrade Xu Nuo's house."
Li Xian's case caused quite a stir in Luxian Village. Although Li Xian was arrested at the fertilizer plant, the police came to Luxian Village and searched his home.
The scene was exactly like what everyone did to Cheng Liyan more than a decade ago.
The villagers were filled with fear at the time.
“I told you he wasn’t a good person, he was a bad element. See, he committed a crime.”
"The police came to search the house. Where did Li Xian go? Will he be arrested and thrown in jail?"
"I think they ran away, otherwise why would the police come here?"
"He's probably been arrested, and he'll most likely be executed."
Everyone thought Li Xian was surely dead, but to everyone's surprise, he returned.
It is said that he returned looking like a dead dog, and was carried back by Duan San.
Aunt Wang said, "I was right next to him watching, and half of his face was covered in blood and gore. It was terrifying."
Because of the severity of his injuries, Li Xian could only stay in the village, hoping to wait until his gruesome wounds healed before going to see her.
But his longing became an illness, keeping him awake at night and making every second agonizing.
So on the third day, he limped to the bottom of Xu Nuo's building, hid in the shade of a tree, and quietly stared at the stairwell.
If she happens to go out to buy something or to visit someone at the supply and marketing cooperative, he can catch a glimpse of her.
The scorching sun made his forehead damp and his wound sting, while the stairwell remained quiet.
He was somewhat disappointed.
I didn't get to see her today.
The second day, the third day, and all the way to the fourth day.
A crack seemed to appear on his usually calm face.
"She...went to Shanghai?"
Xu Yan nodded: "Yes, it's been more than half a month since we left."
Li Xian's expression froze slightly: "Why...why?"
Isn't there still some time before school starts?
Why did she leave first?
His breathing became heavy and anxious, and he stood up, holding onto the chair.
He swayed slightly, and Duan San quickly steadied him: "Brother Li, where are you going?"
Li Xian's voice was hoarse: "Duan San, come with me."
Duan San followed, confused. After hearing Li Xian's words, he said in disbelief, "Brother Li, you're going to Shanghai? You're not kidding, are you?"
Well, judging from Li Ge's expression, he doesn't seem to be joking.
Duan San just didn't understand: "Why? Brother Li, why are you suddenly going to Shanghai?"
Li Xian didn't speak, thinking that he hadn't seen her for days. It turned out that she hadn't been staying at home, but hadn't been in Lu County at all.
Shanghai is so far away, did she go there alone?
How did you get there?
Have you arrived safely?
The thought of her being all alone in Shanghai, cold and hungry, and him being unable to help her, is unbearable.
Li Xian felt as if a fire was burning in his heart.
Duan San tried to persuade him to no avail. Seeing Li Xian's deathly pale face as he packed his things with one hand, he had no choice but to run out and ask Xu Yan for help.
"You should try to persuade Brother Li. I don't know what's wrong with him. He's not taking proper care of his injuries and now he insists on going to Shanghai."
"What? Brother Li is going to Shanghai?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com