Xu Nuo gave him a playful glare: "We weren't in a hurry to use the umbrella, why did you run out to exchange for a ticket? You're soaked to the bone."
Li Xian reached out and gently wiped the corner of her mouth, quietly smoothing out the downward curve of her lips.
"I'm fine."
Xu Nuo reached out to take the towel from his hand: "Quickly dry your hair."
Li ran his fingertips over the towel printed with the big red "double happiness" character, then hid it behind his back.
"Need not."
Xu Nuo glared at him: "Why don't you use it? It's just a towel, are you reluctant to spend it?"
Li Xian pursed his lips.
He really couldn't bear to part with it.
She had picked it out herself and handed it to him with a beaming smile.
He reached up and wiped his face, removing the water droplets from his hair. His deep eyes remained fixed on her, a gleaming light within them.
"Nuonuo, my maternal grandfather has sent a letter."
Xu Nuo's eyes lit up with joy as she looked up at him. Had things between Li Chengyan and Ke Wei been settled?
Li Xian, who was usually silent and seemingly dull, with little expression on his face, now seemed to be both crying and laughing, and said to her in a very soft voice: "In a few days, the village secretary should receive the news."
Ke Chongshan had already received the news and wrote a letter to Li Xian before the review documents were officially distributed.
It's done.
The rain stopped sometime ago, and a sliver of light peeked through the previously gloomy sky.
The afterglow of dusk cast long, blurry shadows of the two figures.
Xu Nuo hugged him tightly and laughed while looking up at him.
The sound was finer than the raindrops, and it seeped into Li Xian's heart.
"Li Xian, that's great."
Li Xian smiled, his eyes filled with tenderness, and gently stroked her fair cheek with his fingertips, his voice tinged with apology: "Nuonuo, your clothes..."
Xu Nuo belatedly looked down and realized that her off-white dress was slightly damp.
I was so happy just now that I forgot Li Xian was soaked to the bone.
She looked up, glaring at him with a smile: "It's all your fault."
Li Xian felt a warm glow in his heart and hummed in agreement: "It's my fault."
The big "double happiness" towel that he had been protecting so carefully finally came in handy.
Xu Nuo's body wasn't wet, and it was easily wiped away.
Xu Nuo snatched it away and stood on tiptoe to try to wipe his head, but Li Xian was too tall, and she could only reach his face.
"Lower your head."
Li Xian obediently bent down and looked up at her.
She put the towel over his head and scratched it haphazardly with her hands.
His short hair was ruffled, which softened his otherwise cold and hard face.
Xu Nuo lowered her head and lightly touched his lips with hers.
Li Xian's lips were pressed tightly together, with his upper lip turned up.
...
That evening, Xu Yan went to Chang Youxin's house.
Pan Yinhua was cutting Chang Xiaohong's hair when she saw Xu Yan arrive. She said in surprise, "Little Xu, what brings you here?"
Xu Yan handed over the things in his hand and said with a smile, "I went to the city to buy things today, so I brought back some snacks for Xiaohong."
Pan Yinhua pretended to accept, then declined, saying, "Oh, this won't do. How can I accept your things? I can't accept them."
I touched it and felt a round metal can with some soft stuff inside.
"It's alright, Aunt Pan, I've already brought it, please accept it."
Pan Yinhua then smiled and said, "Then Auntie will thank you on Xiaohong's behalf. What brings you here today?"
In the adult world, everyone knows that one shouldn't visit a temple without a reason, but if treated with courtesy, no one will actually feel offended.
Xu Yan glanced behind Pan Yinhua and smiled somewhat embarrassedly, "I do have something I'd like to discuss with the captain."
Pan Yinhua patted her hand dismissively: "Wait, Auntie will go and call him for you."
As he spoke, he carried the things into the house.
Chang Youxin was taking a nap in bed when he was suddenly tugged. Pan Yinhua said happily, "Youxin, Youxin, get up quickly! Xu Yan, the educated youth, is here. He bought malted milk powder and pastries for Xiaohong, and he even brought you cigarettes."
People in the countryside smoke homemade cigarettes; these packaged cigarettes, which can only be bought on the black market, are truly a rare find.
Chang Youxin perked up, got up, and glanced at the letter: "Did she say anything?"
"You'll find out when you get there. Hurry up, someone's waiting outside."
Often, someone hesitated, saying, "I don't know what's going on..."
Could it be that they came here for the purpose of applying to return to their hometowns? He couldn't do anything about that; he had been worried about the issue of educated youth returning to their hometowns these past two days.
Since Luo Chen left, the other educated youths have seen hope. Yesterday, someone even asked about the quota for worker-peasant-soldier college students. Chang Youxin wanted to reserve this quota for Chang Zicheng, and no matter how many packs of cigarettes anyone sent, he would never give it up.
Seeing that Chang Youxin was sitting there motionless, Pan Yinhua pushed him and urged, "Get up quickly, what are you doing?"
Chang Youxin then reluctantly got up.
As soon as the door was pushed open, Xu Yan was standing outside.
"Captain."
Chang Youxin nodded, his brows furrowing slightly: "Xu Yan, the educated youth, I heard you wanted to see me?"
Seeing that Chang Youxin looked unwell, Xu Yan said somewhat nervously, "Yes, it's like this, Brigade Leader. The college entrance examination is coming up soon, and I want to take advantage of these days to study hard. I really can't take care of the production team's affairs. I would like to ask you if I can take a long leave and go back to work after the college entrance examination."
Is that all?
Chang Youxin replied without hesitation, "Sure."
Xu Yan was taken aback. She had thought things were going badly, but Chang Youxin agreed so readily. She was overjoyed and said, "Thank you, Captain. Thank you so much."
Chang Youxin sighed, his initial awkwardness dissipating considerably. His voice betrayed his age: "It's a good thing that you young people are ambitious. Study hard, and once you get into university, your future will be bright."
Xu Yan's leave of absence was thus decided. In order to avoid gossip among the people in the production team, Xu Yan claimed that there was an emergency at home and packed his things to go to the city the next day.
The others heard about it and forgot about it. Xu Yan's job at the commune canteen was easy and simple, and many people had been envious of it for a long time. Now that Xu Yan was gone, they were all eager to make a good impression on the brigade leader and get a job at the commune canteen.
On the Xu family's side.
Because Xu Nuo intentionally or unintentionally boosted Xu Yan's favorability, Shen Jinan and Xue Ping also grew to like Xu Yan more. Xue Ping, in particular, used to be cold and unfriendly to Xu Yan, but now, comparing the obedient and hardworking Xu Yan with Xu Guihua and her group, they were worlds apart.
Since Xu Nuo was willing to be with her, what could Xue Ping say?
"Auntie, this is for you."
Xue Ping glanced at the basket and exclaimed, "Wow, wildflower honey and snacks! It's a whole basket full!" She was a little surprised that Xu Yan was so thoughtful. Then, after being given a look by Xu Nuo, she stood up and took the basket, saying, "Why did you take so much?"
Xu Yan smiled shyly: "It's alright, I'm glad you like it."
Xue Ping felt a small hand poking her back. She thought to herself, "This girl who always sides with outsiders is so protective of Xu Yan." She smiled happily and said, "I like it, I like it. You're so thoughtful."
Xu Nuo sat down next to Xue Ping, her big eyes smiling as she glanced at Xu Jin'an: "It's Dad's turn, sit down quickly."
Xu Jinan, whose name was called, immediately sat up straight as instructed.
Xu Yan bit her lower lip, walked over, and handed the things to Xu Jin'an, her voice slightly soft: "Dad, this is for you."
For some reason, Xu Jin'an suddenly felt a pang of sadness in his chest, as if he had suddenly realized that he had indeed neglected his eldest daughter for so many years. With something on his mind, he forgot to reach out and take her hand.
A sweet, soft voice rang out: "Dad, you're touched, but please answer the call. Don't make your sister stand here."
Xu Jin'an seemed to wake from a dream, quickly reached out to take it, stood up, thought for a moment, reached out and patted Xu Yan's shoulder, and said with relief, "Nuonuo said you also want to take the college entrance exam, and Dad is very pleased. You two can take the exam without worry, our family can afford the tuition."
Xu Nuo took a sip of water from her cup and said to Xu Yan, "Yes, sister, we are daughters of wealthy families."
Xu Yan burst out laughing, and Xu Jin'an chuckled and scolded, "You're such a smooth talker."
The slightly somber atmosphere was instantly dispelled.
Xue Ping was delighted to receive the gift. She told the two prospective students to go back to their rooms to study, while she and Xu Jin'an went to the kitchen to cook.
Xu Nuo murmured about the braised pork, her eyes brimming with longing, "Braised pork, braised pork."
Xue Ping tapped her head: "Your favorite braised pork is a must."
Seeing Xu Yan standing to one side, Xue Ping asked, "Xiao Yan, is there anything you like to eat? Tell Auntie and I'll make it for you."
Xu Yan's smile faltered, and her eyes involuntarily stung. She blinked rapidly and said, "It's okay, Auntie, I can eat anything."
Xu Nuo interjected, "She likes sweet and sour food, you decide what to do, Ms. Xue Ping."
"Okay, okay, I'll make you braised pork and Xiaoyan sweet and sour pork, alright?"
Xu Nuo winked at Xu Yan: "I told you we're from a wealthy family. Who else can afford to eat so much meat?"
Xu Yan and Xue Ping burst out laughing at her joke.
Xu Jinan made two cups of malted milk powder, took them to Xu Nuo's room, placed them on the desk, and said to the two of them, "Go read a book, your mother and I will cook."
Xu Nuo pulled Xu Yan back to the room, and seeing that she hadn't said anything, she asked her, "What's wrong?"
Xu Yan's voice was filled with gratitude: "Nuonuo, thank you."
She knew that the changes in Xue Ping and Xu Jin'an couldn't have happened out of thin air.
Xu Nuo pushed one of the cups of malted milk powder to her, saying nonchalantly, "You're welcome. They'll definitely like you since you're so nice."
"I know it's you who's always spoken well of me."
Xu Nuo puffed out her cheeks and looked at her: "It has nothing to do with me. You gave Pingping so much honey that it made her feel younger. Of course she likes you. And Dad, he just doesn't know how to express himself. Talk to him more often and cook for him. Make him fall for your cooking skills."
Xu Yan asked in confusion, "Pingping?"
Xu Nuo explained, "Pingping is the nickname I gave my mom."
"I see," Xu Yan smiled. Daring to give her parents nicknames was indeed very much in line with Xu Nuo's style.
She thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll cook for them tomorrow?"
After finishing the last sip of malted milk powder, Xu Nuo licked the milk stains off her lips and grinned at Xu Yan with her babyish mouth: "I want to eat spicy chicken, braised fish, chestnut stir-fried with pork, and braised... ah, I don't want braised pork anymore."
Xu Yan asked her, "Why don't you want it anymore?"
She remembered that Nuonuo really liked braised pork.
Xu Nuo leaned closer and whispered, "Braised pork is Pingping's specialty, although you make it better than her..."
She made a gesture: "But we must reserve the title of the best braised pork chef for Pingping, otherwise she will be sad."
At that moment, Xue Ping was marinating meat in the kitchen. With a smile on her face, she said to Xu Jin'an, "Nuonuo said that my braised pork is the best in the world. I'll make a lot today so you can eat to your heart's content."
Xu Jinan helped from the side and said with a smile, "Okay, Nuonuo just happened to buy so much pork belly and lean meat, we can stew a big pot."
Xue Ping reminded him, "Keep the lean meat; we're making sweet and sour pork."
Xu Jinan didn't hear what Xu Nuo said and said, "Why don't you just stew them all in one pot?"
Xue Ping whispered, "Your daughter likes sweet and sour food."
Xu Jinan looked up in surprise: "Xiao Yan?"
Xue Ping gave him a disdainful look: "Look at you, a father, you don't know anything."
Xu Jinan really didn't know. He slapped his forehead and smiled ingratiatingly at Xue Ping: "I'm such a bad father, Pingping. You're such a good mother. Look how good our family is now. We'll soon have two college students."
Xue Ping was overjoyed by the praise, but being proud, she stubbornly said, "That's because Nuonuo repeatedly told me to do my best. She said that Xu Yan is a tough kid and that I should do my best. I think he is indeed a good kid. Look at how much stuff he brings us every time he comes to the city, while he doesn't take much for himself."
When you dislike someone, nothing seems right to you.
When Xue Ping set aside her prejudices and stopped looking at Xu Yan with tinted eyes, she could indeed see some respect for herself in Xu Yan's character and conduct.
Xue Ping is extremely easily influenced. In the past, Xu Nuo disliked Xu Yan, and a few words from him could make her completely dislike him. But after Xu Nuo said a few nice things to her, Xue Ping's impression of Xu Yan completely changed.
Moreover, Xue Ping also had her own little selfish motives.
She had great confidence in Xu Nuo's grades and was convinced that she would definitely go to university in Shanghai.
She, as Xu Nuo's mother, couldn't accompany her to Shanghai for her studies, but Xu Yan could. If they both went to Shanghai in the future, they could help each other out.
It's always more reassuring to have someone you know.
The meat was marinated, and Xue Ping's heart melted at the thought of Xu Nuo eating it later. She hummed a song as she went to prepare the other dishes.
Xu Jinan smiled at her, then took two glasses of warm water and knocked on the door.
Xu Nuo called out, "Come in."
Xu Jinan opened the door: "Dad brought you some water."
Xu Yan had already stood up to take it, but Xu Jin'an stopped her, saying, "Sit down, sit down."
There were already two cups on the table. Xu Nuo's cup was empty long ago, while Xu Yan's was still more than half full. Xu Jin'an put the two cups of water on the table and said with a smile, "Read your book carefully."
"Okay, Dad."
"Okay, An'an."
Xu Jinan wrinkled his nose at Xu Nuo and made a face, clearly not very happy with the nickname.
Xu Yan's fingertips rubbed against the cup of warm water, feeling a warm glow in her heart, and a small smile appeared on her lips.
Xu Nuo secretly saw it, but pretended not to notice and continued reading her book.
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