Xu Yan was not supposed to go into the city, but Duan San came to find her in a hurry in the morning, saying that she should go into the city to go home.
Xu Yan was kneading wild grass in the cafeteria when she saw him looking flustered and asked curiously, "What's wrong?"
Chen Mingxue listened intently from the side, and Duan San turned slightly to the side and said, "Something happened at your home. Someone just came back from the city and asked you to pass on a message."
Upon hearing that something had happened at home, Xu Yan assumed that something had happened to Xu Nuo and immediately stood up.
"I'm going to ask the captain for leave." Xu Yan wiped his hands clean and said to another woman, "Auntie, I have to go back for something."
"Okay, your foot injury has just healed, are you sure you can do it?"
"Okay, there's a tractor today, I'll go with Master Wang."
Okay.
Xu Yan hurriedly went out with Duan San. Once they were alone, Duan San said, "Brother Li has something to do today and can't go get the herbal tea from Comrade Xu Nuo. Why don't you go get it for him?"
"Huh?" Xu Yan was taken aback. "Nothing happened?"
"No, I was just afraid someone would hear."
Xu Yan stopped: "Then I'll go after I finish my work, that way I won't have to ask the team leader for leave."
Duan San, holding a bag in his arms, handed it to Xu Yan: "Brother Li said you need to go now and go with the tractor."
Xu Yan hesitated for a moment: "But my work points..."
She injured her leg a while ago and lost more than half her length. She only rushed to ask for leave after hearing that Duan San had said something had happened.
Unexpectedly, the urgent matter Duan San mentioned was simply to fetch some herbal tea.
Xu Yan felt that she could wait until after work to go.
Duan San recalled Li Xian's instructions and shook his head with some difficulty: "Brother Li said he would make up your work points and told you to go now."
So urgent?
"Alright."
Xu Yan nodded, tossed the things in his hands, and asked curiously, "What are these? They're so heavy?"
"I don't know."
Duan San scratched his head, he didn't know either. Li Xian had given it to him early this morning, saying that Xu Yan should give it to Xu Nuo.
After exchanging a few words, the two parted ways at the threshing ground, and Xu Yan went to ask the brigade leader for leave.
Chang Youxin nodded after listening, his head drooping, his voice low and deep: "Go."
The gloom of Shen Cuiping's death still lingered over the Chang family a few days ago.
Although Xu Yan felt sympathy, she was still angry, so she didn't say anything.
And so, Xu Yan followed the tractor into the city.
I thought Xu Nuo was the only one at home, but I never expected to see Xu Yunyun.
Xu Yunyun stared at Xu Nuo and Xu Yan, her fingers nervously twirling the hem of her clothes.
She was wearing gray cloth trousers with two patches today, and her top was in slightly better condition, though it was still neither new nor old.
But this was her best outfit.
In contrast, Xu Nuo's clothes from yesterday were something she had never even seen before, yet her pajamas today were so exquisite and beautiful.
Even Xu Yan, who came from the countryside, was dressed much better than her.
Xu Yunyun felt both envious and jealous.
Her gaze fell on the thing in Xu Yan's arms, and she called out again, "Cousin."
As the saying goes, one doesn't hit a smiling face, so Xu Yan nodded and said, "Hello."
Xu Yunyun smiled and walked forward, intending to get closer to Xu Nuo, but Xu Nuo wanted to drink water and moved aside to get her own cup. Seeing this, Xu Yunyun offered to pour it for her: "Cousin, let me help you. This water was just poured and it's still warm."
"I'll do it."
Xu Yan placed the items on the table, took the kettle, touched the glass side of the kettle with her hand, and said gently to Xu Nuo, "It's a little hot. I'll help you cool it down for a while."
Xu Nuo smiled at Xu Yan: "Okay."
Xu Yunyun awkwardly stepped back and tried to start a conversation, saying, "Cousin, didn't you go to the countryside?"
Xu Yan handed the water glass to Xu Nuo and smiled at Xu Yunyun: "I'm not working today, I'm just coming home to visit."
Seeing Xu Yan's gentle attitude, Xu Yunyun mustered her courage and pointed to the package, asking, "What is this?"
Xu Yan shook her head: "I don't know either."
Xu Yunyun didn't believe it; she thought it was a good thing, but Xu Yan didn't want her to know.
"You don't even know what you brought? Let me take a look for you."
Xu Yunyun reached out to open the door, but Xu Yan stopped her, saying, "No need, no need."
Xu Yan was afraid that it contained herbal tea or something similar, so she reached out and picked it up. Seeing that Xu Yunyun looked a little embarrassed, she explained, "This was given to Nuonuo by someone else."
Xu Yunyun glanced at Xu Nuo and smiled, "It's for my cousin Nuonuo, so it must be something good."
"What good stuff is it?"
Xu Guihua fed Xu Jiangjiang an egg in the kitchen. Hearing voices outside, she carried Xu Jiangjiang out.
"It was something someone gave to Sister Nuonuo, a whole bag of it, and she doesn't even know what it is."
Xu Yunyun ran back to Xu Guihua's side and saw that the bowl in her hand was full, with an egg in it. She was delighted, thinking that there was still an egg left in the pot, so she went in excitedly. But when she saw that there was only a pot of white flour in the pot, she sighed in disappointment.
"Milk."
Xu Yan called out.
She had less contact with Xu Guihua than with Xu Nuo, but she was more mature than Xu Guihua and still remembered things clearly about her childhood at Xu Guihua's house.
Xu Guihua favored boys over girls and disliked her and Nuonuo very much.
Xu Guihua gave a nonchalant "hmm" and asked her, "Weren't you sent to the countryside as an educated youth? Why are you back?"
Xu Yan honestly replied, "I'm not working today, so I'm just coming home."
Xu Guihua didn't answer, staring at the things in her hands: "What did you bring back?"
Holding a hot water cup in one hand and pulling Xu Yan's hand with the other, Xu Nuo explained, "It's nothing, someone gave me paper and pen."
Paper and pen?
Xu Guihua frowned.
Stop wasting time on these useless things.
She ignored the two of them and patiently coaxed Xu Jiangjiang in her arms to eat the egg.
Xu Yunyun was just coming out with noodles when she saw Xu Yan carrying the package and going into the house with Xu Nuo, so she wanted to follow them.
Unexpectedly, the yellow wooden door closed mercilessly.
They blocked what she was about to say.
Xu Yunyun felt a little wronged and looked at Xu Guihua, stamping her foot in resentment: "Grandma, look at them."
Xu Guihua was too lazy to care about these maids' affairs; his mind was completely focused on Xu Jiangjiang, who was wolfing down his food. He was overjoyed to see him eating so happily.
Seeing Xu Yunyun's appearance, he snorted coldly: "Useless thing."
Xu Yunyun was used to being scolded by Xu Guihua, so she didn't care. She just stood at the door for a while before turning around to eat her noodles.
The noodles were made from refined grains and contained oil, which satisfied Xu Guihua and the others greatly. Xu Jiangjiang, holding her stomach, wanted to eat more, but she was so full that she vomited a few times before finally stopping.
After finishing eating, Xu Jiangjiang tugged at Xu Guihua's sleeve and said, "Grandma, I want something delicious."
Xu Guihua looks older than her age; most of her hair is white, and her face is covered with wrinkles, making her smile rather unsightly.
She picked Xu Jiangjiang up and said with a smile, "Grandma will take you there. There's a whole cabinet full of food, all for you."
Upon hearing this, Xu Yunyun, fearing she wouldn't get anything to eat, quickly stood up from her chair and followed Xu Guihua to the kitchen.
There was a row of cabinets at the very back of the kitchen, and Xu Guihua walked to the very back.
Before she could even reach out to open it, Xu Jiangjiang had already impatiently reached out and opened it.
There are some White Rabbit candies, lard candies, and two packs of alphabet cookies in the cupboard.
"Wow!"
Xu Jiangjiang and Xu Yunyun usually can't even afford rice, so seeing candy and snacks makes their mouths water.
Xu Guihua smiled, thinking that all these things should be hidden away so that her precious Jiangjiang could eat them slowly.
His gaze suddenly paused when it fell into the cabinet.
Those slanted little eyes instantly filled with anger.
Xu Jiangjiang didn't notice his grandmother's unusual behavior. He sat down on the ground, grabbed a candy, and stuffed it into his mouth.
Xu Yunyun scratched at her clothes with her fingers, controlling the urge to reach out and grab it.
If she touches him, Xu Jiangjiang will definitely cry.
If Xu Jiangjiang cries, her grandma will definitely hit her.
Xu Yunyun tugged at Xu Guihua's clothes and asked ingratiatingly, "Grandma, I want to eat too."
Xu Guihua was furious and hit her hard. Xu Yunyun was startled and saw that her grandmother's face was full of anger. Her thin face, which revealed her cheekbones, was distorted in a frightening way.
"Grandma, what's wrong?"
Xu Guihua's chest heaved dramatically as she spat out, "You bastard, you unfilial son!"
This morning there was a whole cabinet full, including two large metal cans of stuff, and now there's only this little bit left.
It felt like she had a big piece of fat meat in her hand, and someone took it all away, leaving her only a small scrap.
Xu Guihua felt as if her heart was bleeding.
She grabbed the basin next to her and dumped everything in the cabinet into it.
He muttered incessantly, "Fine, you're bullying an old woman like me, you unfilial son!"
When Xu Jiangjiang saw that all the things had been taken away, she angrily punched Xu Guihua. Xu Guihua quickly coaxed her, "Grandma will keep them for you, but Jiangjiang can have them all, okay?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Jiangjiang stood up with a grin and tugged at his grandmother's trouser leg, saying, "Okay, okay, they're all mine."
Xu Yunyun was thinking of taking a few more after Xu Guihua and Xu Jiangjiang left, but when she saw that Xu Guihua had taken them all, she said anxiously, "Grandma, you took them all? Will Uncle be angry?"
"He's not angry at all, I'm the one who's angry."
Xu Guihua pulled Xu Jiangjiang into the room, and Xu Yunyun quickly followed.
…
Inside the yellow wooden door, Xu Yan placed the things on the table, turned to Xu Nuo and whispered, "What's going on? Wasn't Grandma with Uncle? Why is she at our house?"
Xu Nuo had just gotten up and hadn't changed out of her pajamas yet. She curled up back in bed like a little rice ball, resting her head on the pillow, and listlessly recounted what had happened yesterday.
Even someone as kind as Xu Yan felt that her uncle's family had gone too far.
Xu Guihua is a difficult person to get along with, but Xu Nuo is not the kind of person who would let himself be taken advantage of.
Xu Yan didn't think Xu Guihua could bully Xu Nuo, but he still squatted down and whispered to her, "Nuonuo, if she goes too far, just tell Dad. Dad has always loved you the most and will definitely protect you."
These words sounded a little heartbreaking, but the worry in Xu Yan's eyes was genuine, and Xu Nuo felt a warmth in her heart.
"Hehe." Like a little adult, she reached out and patted Xu Yan's head, her voice sweet: "Don't worry, Yan Yan."
Xu Yan poked her cheek, which tickled her. Xu Nuo laughed and rolled over on the bed, her gaze falling on the package.
She sat up straight: "What's that?"
Xu Yan didn't know that Duan San had given it to her when she was about to enter the city.
"Brother Li gave it to you, I didn't know."
Xu Nuo was taken aback by Xu Yan's way of addressing Li Xian, but she quickly recovered. She drew two circles on the bed with her fingertips and said, "It's probably an ingredient for making herbal tea."
Xu Yan agreed. She looked around and asked Xu Nuo, "Where's the herbal tea you made?"
"On the balcony."
Xu Nuo's eyes crinkled into a smile as she climbed out of bed and, without even putting on her shoes, dragged her to see.
Xu Nuo pushed open the balcony door and waved her little hand like she was opening a sesame seed.
"Ta-da~"
The small balcony is sunny, and various dried flowers and plants are evenly dried in the space partitioned off by wooden boards.
Sunlight falls on the flowers and grass, creating dappled patterns of light.
Xu Yan took a deep breath and closed his eyes contentedly.
"It smells so good."
Xu Nuo walked into the sunlight, her fair fingertips picking out a white chrysanthemum from the flattened flowers and grass.
"for you."
Xu Yan took it back and carefully held it in her hands. She noticed that the white flower, even after being exposed to the sunlight, was still bright white.
Moreover, the grass leaves showed no signs of being shriveled by the sun; they looked just like a fresh flower.
It's just that it's lost its moisture.
Xu Nuo exclaimed "Ah!" and ran into the room.
Xu Yan followed him inside: "What's wrong?"
Xu Nuo took a shower too late last night, so she went straight to sleep without soaking her feet. As a result, the water used to soak the flowers and herbs was still in the basin.
Seeing her pour the water from the plastic basin into the bucket she usually used for soaking her feet, Xu Yan asked curiously, "What are you doing, Nuonuo?"
Xu Nuo glanced at her feet: "Your foot injury just healed, right? Let me soak your feet; that will help them heal faster."
Xu Nuo left her a large cup last time, and her foot injury was completely healed in just one or two days after she drank it.
Herbal water is so precious, Xu Yan shook her head: "No need, my foot is almost healed, please don't use it on me, it's such a waste."
"What's the point of wasting time?" Xu Nuo ordered Xu Yan without any politeness: "Come on, go boil some water."
Seeing that Xu Yan was about to nod, Xu Nuo pulled her over and tickled her, saying, "Let's go, let's go."
The two opened the door and went out to boil water. They saw Xu Guihua sitting on the sofa with a cold face, and Xu Yunyun sitting next to her with red eyes.
Xu Jiangjiang, however, has disappeared.
It's strange that Xu Guihua would let Xu Jiangjiang play by himself.
Xu Nuo ignored her and pulled Xu Yan to boil water. Xu Guihua suddenly stood up and said to Xu Nuo, "Did you take the things from the cabinet?"
Xu Nuo was taken aback. What was in the cabinet?
She was born cute and pretty, with a pair of big, innocent eyes, but in Xu Guihua's eyes, her silence was tacit agreement.
Xu Guihua thought about it carefully and concluded that Xue Ping must have taken the things and put them in Xu Nuo's room.
Xu Nuo didn't understand: "What is it?"
Xu Guihua felt that she was not being honest: "There was a whole cabinet full of candy, and jars of it. Now there are only a few pieces left. Is this to keep out thieves? Is she doing this on purpose to show me that I'm an old woman living here?"
When Xu Guihua said that, Xu Nuo remembered that she wasn't very good at cooking, and Xue Ping worked the day shift, not getting home until 4 pm. Xu Jin'an's workplace was close to hers, so they would usually go to Xue Ping's place for lunch together in the afternoon.
So Li Xian bought Xu Nuo a lot of snacks so she could eat them when she was hungry, and she put them all in the cupboard.
How did Xu Guihua know?
Xu Nuo frowned and asked Xu Guihua, "Did you touch my cabinet?"
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