The room was quiet, with the occasional sound of two people turning pages in a book.
Xu Nuo gave herself very little time to review each day. After finishing the book in her hand, she would quietly go out to watch Xue Ping and the others cook.
Xue Ping was busy at work when she saw her and asked softly, "Nuonuo, why are you out? Are you hungry?"
Before Xu Nuo could nod, Xue Ping had already picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks. Knowing that Xu Nuo was afraid of getting burned, she blew on it to cool it down before feeding it to her: "Try it quickly."
Xu Nuo was afraid of getting burned, so she blew on it twice before taking a small bite.
Chewing with puffed-out cheeks, he squinted his eyes and praised, "Delicious! Pingping's braised pork is truly the best in the world!"
People love praise, and Xue Ping was flattered by the compliments, feeling very happy, her eyes and brows full of joy.
The braised pork belly in the pot was bubbling away, the pieces of meat marinated in soy sauce were a dark brown color, with a beautiful appearance and a wonderful aroma.
While Xue Ping wasn't looking, Xu Nuo dripped two drops of floral water into it.
Not seeing Xu Jinan anywhere, she asked, "Where did Dad go?"
After Xue Ping finished cutting all the meat and washed the knife with water, she said without looking up, "Your dad went to buy Da Bai Li soda."
They said they wanted to celebrate for Xu Nuo and Xu Yan, and then they went out in a hurry.
About ten minutes later, there was a knock on the door, and Xu Nuo knew it must be Xu Jin'an.
As soon as the door opened, sure enough, Xu Jinan was standing at the door holding two bottles of large white pears, and in his other hand he was holding two skewers of candied hawthorns.
He presented it like a treasure: "Here, a candied hawthorn."
Xu Nuo took the slippers with a "Yay!" and handed them to Xu Jin'an, saying sweetly, "Thank you, Dad."
The candied hawthorns at this time are wrapped in glutinous rice paper, and they melt in your mouth when you take a bite of the sugar coating.
Seeing her smiling eyes, Xu Jinan asked cheerfully, "Is it sweet?"
Xu Nuo nodded, her words muffled: "Mmm, sweet."
"Okay, then you go inside and eat with your sister. Dad will go help your mom."
"good."
Xu Nuo took the other string of pearls and went to find Xu Yan.
Although Xu Yan was reading in the room, she didn't actually absorb much of it. She remained motionless, listening intently to the sounds outside.
She wanted to go out and help, but was afraid that she would get in the way.
The door was pushed open, and Xu Nuo's sweet voice, deliberately lowered, sounded like a thief: "Yan Yan, are you still studying hard?"
Xu Yan quickly turned around: "No, I've finished reading it."
Xu Nuo walked in and handed her the candied hawthorn: "Dad bought it for you."
Xu Yan was stunned for a moment.
The candied hawthorns were bright red, with a smooth and shiny red sugar coating that made Xu Yan momentarily dazed. Her voice was filled with disbelief: "You...you bought this for me?"
Xu Jinan has never bought her candied hawthorns since she was a child.
Xu Nuo nodded: "Yes, Dad was going to get it for you himself, but the kitchen was too busy, so he had to go and help out."
Seeing that Xu Yan didn't move, she raised it again, indicating that she should take it.
"Th...thank you." Xu Yan quickly reached out and took them, her lips unconsciously curving upwards. Looking at the round candies, she was reluctant to take a bite.
Xu Nuo, unaware of her thoughts, opened her mouth wide and took a bite of her own.
The candy coating contains tart hawthorn berries, with no additives, and is both sour and sweet.
She squinted her eyes, like a little glutton, and praised, "It's delicious, you should try it!"
"Okay." After her reminder, Xu Yan carefully took a bite. Actually, she couldn't taste what the candied hawthorn tasted like anymore. Her heart and mouth were filled with sweetness, as if honey was flowing.
"Jin An".
Xue Ping called out, and Xu Jin'an quickly went over.
"Please move this pot aside for me, I'm going to stir-fry some meat."
"Alright." Xu Jin'an put the lid on the small pot, placed a rag on it, and moved it aside to use the large iron pot at home to stir-fry meat for Xue Ping.
Xue Ping put a little bit of oil into the pot, thought for a moment, then scooped some more in, then added the meat, stir-fried it until fragrant, added vinegar, and finally added sugar.
Braised pork belly, sweet and sour pork belly, stir-fried eggplant, tomato and egg drop soup, and potato rice.
The table was covered with food.
Xu Jinan called out, "Dinner's ready."
"They're here, they're here."
Xu Nuo and Xu Yan came out together, and both of them were tempted by the rich aroma of the dishes.
Xue Ping had just washed her hands, wiped them on her apron, and said, "Sit down, let's eat."
Seeing Xu Yan standing somewhat awkwardly by the table, Xu Nuo reached out and pulled her along, saying, "Sit here."
"Okay." Xu Yan smiled gratefully at her.
Xu Jinan served two bowls of rice to the two sisters and pointed to the meat on the table: "Quickly, Nuonuo, try the braised pork your mother made. It's so flavorful today."
Xu Nuo nodded, picked up a piece, blew on it, and then put the whole piece into her mouth.
Xue Ping stared at her: "How is it?"
His words were full of expectation.
Xu Nuo squinted her eyes, as if she had been conquered by the delicious food in her mouth, and gave Xue Ping a thumbs up: "Super delicious."
Xue Ping smiled with satisfaction, but said, "You have such a sweet tongue. Here, Xiao Yan, you should try some too."
"Okay, thank you, Auntie." Xu Yan quickly picked up the smallest piece and stuffed it into her mouth. The meat was fresh out of the pot and was so hot that her tongue felt slightly numb, but she didn't care at all.
Xu Yan glanced at Xue Ping and said, "It tastes really good."
Xue Ping also tried a piece, savoring the delicious meat flavor, and her smile became more genuine.
Xu Jinan opened a bottle of Da Bai Li soda and poured four glasses.
He sat up straight and cleared his throat: "Ahem."
All three of them put down their chopsticks and looked at him.
"You two are about to take the college entrance exam. Dad wishes you the best of luck and hopes you both get into universities in Shanghai. Don't worry about home. When your mom and I take a vacation, we'll come to Shanghai to see you. Xiaoyan, you made the right choice to leave the rural area where you were sent to study for the college entrance exam. Although it's right to respond to the country's call, you should still study if you can."
Xu Yan nodded, her eyes slightly moist: "Yes, I understand."
"Nuonuo, I'm not worried at all about your good grades. You're such a good girl, no one would dare to bully you. But you're such a carefree child, you need to be more careful in your daily life, okay? You need to take care of yourself."
Xu Jin'an is a sentimental person. As he wished her good luck on her exam, he could already picture Xu Nuo leaving him with her luggage. He choked up a little and said, "Nuonuo, you must study hard. Visit your grandma when you have time. Dad will come to see you often."
Xue Ping patted his shoulder with amusement: "I know, I know, you're even crying now."
Feeling embarrassed, Xu Jinan rubbed his eyes and tried to argue, "No, this...this soda is making my eyes sting."
Xu Nuo and Xu Yan smiled at each other and said to Xu Jin'an, "Don't worry, Dad, we'll take good care of ourselves. I'll work hard to earn money to buy a house, and then you and Mom can go to Shanghai when you retire, okay?"
Xue Ping and Xu Jin'an felt incredibly warm inside and nodded, "Okay."
After the meal, Xu Yan, Xu Jin'an, and Xue Ping became a bit closer. After the meal, she cleared the table and was about to wash the dishes when Xue Ping stopped her, saying, "Hey, go back to your studies."
Xu Yan was still a little reserved when she spoke to Xue Ping. After all, Xue Ping used to ignore her and rarely spoke to her. She pressed her toes down slightly and said, "No need, Auntie, I'll wash it. You've had a long day, you should rest."
Xue Ping smiled and said, "It's nothing, just cooking a meal."
Xu Yan still said, "I'll do it."
Seeing her like this, Xue Ping stopped insisting. She went to the living room and saw Xu Nuo and Xu Jin'an flipping through the calendar, so she asked, "When is the exam?"
Xu Jinan fanned himself with a fan and replied, "Number 20."
The 20th, there are less than ten days left.
During these ten days, Xu Nuo lived a leisurely life as usual, while Xu Yan entered a very intense review mode, and every day before dawn, you could hear her quietly reciting in her room.
Even after Xu Nuo had fallen asleep that night, the light in her room was still on.
Fortunately, Xu Nuo would make her a cup of herbal water every day, so she wouldn't collapse from exhaustion.
Li Xian spent five days harvesting all the grain from his private plot, which Luo Chen and Duan San then took to the black market to sell. Because the grain was of good quality, it fetched a considerable price this time.
Of course, after deducting the share and wages of others, Li Xian gave the rest to Xu Nuo.
Every afternoon at three o'clock, Xu Nuo would go out on time and go up to the rooftop.
Li Xian was already waiting upstairs, and opened the door when he heard footsteps.
He held out his hand: "Nuonuo."
With a smile on her fair face, Xu Nuo nestled softly into his arms and whispered, "You seem to have lost a little weight. Are you too tired?"
Li Xian had been busy harvesting these past few days and was indeed quite tired, but as soon as he saw the person he had been longing for, all that physical fatigue vanished.
He lifted her up and carried her to sit on the platform.
The platform was over a meter high, and when Xu Nuo sat on it, she was about the same height as Li Xian.
She was boneless, her hands on his neck, her whole body leaning against him.
His hand landed on the back of her head, gently stroking it: "Nuonuo, are you tired?"
Xu Nuo has been quite relaxed these past few days. She reads books after waking up every day, and eats meals and snacks when she's hungry. It can be said that she hasn't been tired at all. But with Li Xian here, she deliberately acted coquettishly: "Li Xian, I'm so tired."
Her voice was soft and sounded very aggrieved.
Li Xian believed her and looked at her with heartache. He gently rubbed her slightly furrowed brows with his fingertips and comforted her softly, "Your grades are good, so don't worry. Just rest well these next few days."
She didn't speak, so he lowered his head and touched her forehead.
"Okay?"
Xu Nuo curled the corners of her lips, gave a small "hmm," and rubbed against his shoulder like a sleepy little animal.
Her eyelashes brushed against his skin, causing a slight itch. Li Xian gritted his teeth slightly and asked her in a low voice, "Are you sleepy?"
Xu Nuo wasn't sleepy, she just liked lying on Li Xian's body. Unexpectedly, after lying there for a while, she actually fell asleep in a daze.
Seeing that she didn't move, Li Xian gently reached out and cupped her head to take a look.
Her eyes were closed, her dark eyelashes were curved, and there was a slight smile on her lips. Her fair and innocent sleeping face looked very adorable.
Li Xian looked at her quietly for a while, straightened her head, and found her the most comfortable angle to lean against.
It was summer, and the two of them were leaning against each other. Li Xian was afraid she was too hot, so he used his large palm as a fan to cool her down.
Xu Nuo felt nothing and slept until dusk. When she opened her eyes, her face was resting on Li Xian's shoulder.
Everything was a dim, yellowish hue.
This deep twilight, which usually looks beautiful, felt like an invisible pressure to Xu Nuo, who had just woken up, making her extremely uncomfortable.
She let out a tearful groan of grievance.
Li Xian quickly turned his head, touched the back of her head with his palm, and asked softly, "Nuonuo, are you awake?"
She was awake, but Xu Nuo was still sleepy and in a terrible mood because of the darkening twilight.
Li Xian helped her up and saw a red mark on her left cheek, and her eyes looked like a little rabbit's.
Bright red, glistening with moisture.
His heart tightened.
"What's wrong?"
Xu Nu pouted, her face full of displeasure, and she kept making soft, whimpering noises.
Li Xian knew she had just woken up and was still sleepy, so despite the soreness and numbness in his hands, he reached out and picked her up, letting her lie on his body. He gently patted her back with his palms to comfort her.
Xu Nuo is usually all smiles, like an adorable little dumpling, but when she's sleepy, she gets really grumpy, and Li Xian always has to hold her and coax her for ages.
"Nuonuo, are you feeling better?"
His steps were steady and even, and his voice was full of boundless tolerance. Xu Nuo felt uncomfortable for a short while, but the loneliness of being abandoned by the world disappeared. She reached out and hugged Li Xian's neck, and gently bit his neck.
"Okay, I'm all set."
Her voice was soft and gentle, but it already carried the familiar warmth of laughter.
Li Xian placed her back on the cement platform and gently massaged her head with both hands. Seeing her humming comfortably, he reached out and tapped her forehead.
His voice was affectionate: "You cry every time you wake up, so embarrassing."
"snort."
Xu Nu pouted, her little face flushed, and said in a spoiled manner, "Who told you to make me fall asleep?"
Such a counterattack! Li Xianmei raised an eyebrow and said, "But you were asleep, weren't you?"
Xu Nuo didn't care. She said domineeringly, "I fall asleep every time you hold me, so it has to be you."
Li Xian had no choice but to gently pull her into his arms and say good-naturedly, "Okay, it's me."
Xu Nuo was overjoyed and giggled in his arms, making Li Xian feel as if his heart was filled with honey.
Xu Nuo originally had a lot more to say, but she fell asleep in Li Xian's arms, so she had to end today's date.
She shrank her neck, like a cute little quail, and opened her arms to Li Xian: "I'm going down."
Li Xian lifted her down and noticed that her slippers were crooked, so he squatted down to straighten them for her.
Her fair toes twitched playfully.
When Xu Nuo returned home, Xue Ping and Xu Jin'an were already there. Seeing her carrying a bag, Xu Jin'an quickly went over to take it and asked curiously, "Nuonuo, where did you go? You're so late. I was about to go look for you outside."
Xu Nuo smiled at Xu Jin'an and said, "I just went shopping."
Shopping? You bought all these things?
Xu Nuo nodded, finding this a convenient excuse.
Xue Ping also came over and saw that Xu Nuo's cheeks were flushed. She thought she was hot and fanned Xu Nuo with a fan. "What did you go out to buy on such a hot day?"
Xu Nuo realized something was wrong; she had forgotten to ask Li Xian what was inside.
"Why don't you take it apart and take a look?"
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