Jiang Qiaoyun opened the drawer in frustration, looking for paper money.
Jiang Qiutang said, "Qiaoyun, prepare an extra portion. You and Hailong should also go and offer incense to your grandfather."
Yang Shuying, who had just stepped into the courtyard, heard this and turned back to say, "Yes, yes, Qiaoyun, you should go too."
Jiang Qiaoyun was even more annoyed.
If we go out together, what if those gossipy village leaders see us? They'll just exaggerate and spread rumors even more wildly.
*
Grandpa's grave is on the loess slope across the river.
From the Jiang family's house to the riverbank, there is a path about a hundred meters long, with farmland on both sides.
Lu Shengye carried a basket containing paper money and offerings.
Yang Hailong originally wanted to chat with Lu Shengye for a bit, but seeing that Lu Shengye was looking straight ahead and only focused on walking forward, he felt embarrassed to rush into a conversation with him. He lit a cigarette to ease the awkwardness and walked towards Jiang Qiaoyun.
Fearing that the village aunties would see her and make comparisons, Jiang Qiaoyun avoided him and deliberately walked with Jiang Xuan.
The four people were divided into three groups.
Fortunately, the distance wasn't too far, and they soon reached the riverbank.
It was summer, and after several rains recently, the river had risen. There used to be a small wooden bridge leading to the path on the other side, but it's gone now; no one knows who removed it.
Jiang Qiaoyun: "Oh dear, I forgot to bring my long rain boots."
Yang Hailong picked up a stick and tested the water, saying, "This water is a bit deep; even wearing rain boots, we can't cross it. I remember there used to be a wooden bridge here; where is it?"
"I'm wondering the same thing. Who's so heartless as to take this thing away?"
Lu Shengye silently took off his shoes, pushed up his pants to reveal two muscular and well-built legs.
He half-squatted down and said, "Come on up."
Um?
Jiang Xuan was taken aback at first, but then she became happy.
Not bad.
She smiled and nodded, then walked over and climbed onto Lu Shengye's back, casually putting her arm around his neck.
She felt Lu Shengye stiffen, and couldn't help but laugh, "Let me carry the basket."
“Okay.” Lu Shengye’s tone changed.
At first, Lu Shengye was a little stiff. Although he walked very slowly, he did not help her.
Jiang Xuan's eyes darted around, and she deliberately slid down, saying in a seductive voice, "Oh dear, I'm going to fall."
Lu Shengye quickly grabbed her leg.
In an instant, his heart raced, and he felt his breathing become labored.
Wow, girls' legs are so flexible!
Seeing them wading through the river, Yang Hailong awkwardly threw away his cigarette butt and said in a low voice, "How about I carry you across too?"
Jiang Qiaoyun, her face flushed with anger, tugged at her trouser leg and said irritably, "I'll live by myself."
She knew what her mother meant by being gentler with men, but she just couldn't help it.
Not only is he not as good-looking as the other person, but he's also so much shorter. When the two of them stand together, he looks like a dwarf!
That's really embarrassing and conspicuous.
*
The weather is nice today.
Yang Shuying had just hung the quilt out to dry in the yard when she saw Jiang Qiaoyun storming in.
"Huh, why are you the only one back? Where are Jiang Xuan and the others?"
Jiang Qiaoyun scoffed and said irritably, "They're on the riverbank, saying they want to see the river. See the river? I grew up by the river, and I don't know what they're being so pretentious about."
Yang Shuying asked in surprise, "Is Hailong with them too?"
"How could that be? He ran into an acquaintance from his village on the road, and they were chatting."
Yang Shuying said "Oh," and seeing that her daughter was in a bad mood, she pulled her to the side room and asked, "What's wrong?"
Jiang Qiaoyun plopped down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). "Mom, I don't want to marry Yang Hailong anymore. Please help me cancel the marriage."
Yang Shuying was shocked and quickly looked outside, lowering her voice, "Ancestor, what nonsense are you talking about?"
“Look at Yang Hailong, he’s not even as tall as me. We didn’t bring rain boots just now, and Jiang Xuan was carried across by that soldier. I crossed the river by myself.”
After saying that, Jiang Qiaoyun started to sob.
"Oh dear, I thought it was something serious. You crossed the river by yourself, but I have to carry your dad on my back when I cross. If I were like you, I'd cry my eyes out!"
"But, but I just feel embarrassed. Luckily, I didn't run into anyone today. If I had run into Zhang Xiangrui or Wang Guihua, I don't know how they would have spread rumors about me."
"Alright, alright, don't worry about these things. Hailong is a bit short, but he has a stable job, and your uncle will try to get him transferred. You two can settle down in Ningzhou and never have to worry about food or clothing for the rest of your lives."
Seeing that her daughter was still unhappy, Yang Shuying continued, "You shouldn't look at people's lives too much. Although soldiers are respectable, they are rarely home. If Jiang Xuan marries into that family, it will be almost the same as being a widow."
“I just discussed it with your dad. No matter what, we have to go along with her this time. You haven’t registered for university yet, and I still feel uneasy. You have to bear with it.”
Jiang Qiaoyun said irritably, "I know."
"I'll say it again: don't give Hailong the cold shoulder again. What will your uncle think of you if he finds out? Don't forget, your uncle helped you get your files and ID card."
Jiang Qiaoyun regained her senses a little. Yes, things hadn't settled yet, and she couldn't afford to act impulsively at this crucial moment. So she nodded, "Mm."
*
Jiang Qiaoling hurriedly finished cleaning up the dishes and went home. Her husband had suddenly had diarrhea last night and couldn't move at all today. The wheat in the field hadn't been harvested yet, so she had to hurry up and harvest it.
Yang Hailong had just run into an acquaintance from his village at the village entrance. He figured it would be good for the two of them to pass the time together, so he went back, drank some water, told his aunt, and then went home.
Jiang Qiutang hadn't gone to the fields yet; he was sitting in the main room brewing tea.
Yang Shuying was packing up the cigarettes and alcohol. "You have to talk to Qiaoyun properly. The child is so immature. She still complains about Hailong's short stature."
"Hailong is honest, he probably didn't even realize it. If Shujun finds out, what will people think of us?"
Jiang Qiutang sipped his tea and said, "Mm."
Yang Shuying walked into the kitchen, tied on an apron, put on sleeves, and lifted the lid off the pot on the basin.
She started making the dough at five in the morning, and now it has risen quite a bit, almost overflowing from the bowl.
I smelled it, and thankfully it wasn't sour.
She sprinkled two handfuls of flour on the cutting board, poured the dough out of the bowl, scooped some lard from the small jar and put it in the dough, then bent over and started kneading the dough.
She was preparing to fry dough sticks.
Qiaoyun will be going to school in a few days. She heard that the food in the school cafeteria is not very good and lacks oil, so she plans to give her daughter a good boost in the next few days.
She hadn't expected Jiang Xuan to come today. If she had known she was coming, she wouldn't have bothered making the dough.
She poured half a basin of oil into the pot, chopped the dough with a sizzling sound, and deftly rolled it out, glancing at the door every now and then, afraid that Jiang Xuan might suddenly come back.
Although she was fast enough, she still managed to run into Jiang Xuan and the others.
As soon as Jiang Xuan entered the door, she smelled the aroma of fried dough sticks.
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