Chapter 135 Cute Village Girl VS Innocent Educated Youth Sent Down to the Countryside 21
“I misunderstood before. I didn’t see the note you left for me. I came looking for you many times in those days, but no one was home.”
“I was worried that you would run off to be someone else’s wife, that you didn’t care about me at all, so I… I’m sorry,” he said softly.
"From now on, I will respect your opinions. Please tell me if you have any requests, okay?"
These past few days, Cheng Jiahe has been reflecting on things for a long time. People used to say he was arrogant, but he didn't think so. Now that he thinks about it, he was indeed too conceited; he hadn't considered things thoroughly enough, and he hadn't put himself in her shoes.
He didn't want to argue with her, nor did he want her to be cold towards him; it made him feel terrible.
"Go home quickly, don't stay here." Jiang Zhiyi urged him to leave, because Jiang Xiangnong and the others would be back soon and would see the two of them arguing here.
"Then will you forgive me?" he asked expectantly.
"I'll forgive you if you leave."
"I'm going to work outside first. You can't be angry anymore, as promised." Cheng Jiahe glanced at her furtively, looking reluctant to leave.
Jiang Zhiyi gave him a warning look.
...
It had been raining frequently, and each time it was a downpour, so the village was planning to rebuild the ditch with stones and clay to prevent the field embankments from being washed away during floods.
These days, whenever the weather is sunny, we're basically just taking turns collecting stones in the river.
One day at noon.
Cheng Jiahe found Jiang Zhiyi and said, "I have something I'd like to ask you for help with."
Seeing that he didn't seem to be lying, Jiang Zhiyi followed him to his home.
"I have a small cut on my lower back, and I can't reach it by myself. Can you help me?" Cheng Jiahe explained again, "I don't want them to know, or they'll say I can't do my job well."
Of course, it's okay for me to let her know about this; it might even make her care about him a little.
Jiang Zhiyi did not refuse upon hearing this.
"How did you get hurt?" she asked. The wound looked like it had been wet for a long time; the skin was still turning white.
"He fell onto a rock, and it was right in the shape of a knife. His clothes were torn too."
"Be more careful next time," she reminded him. It's something you really need to be careful about. Just recently in a nearby village, someone fell on a paddy field embankment and hit their head. No one saw it that night, and by the time they were found the next day, they were already dead.
After applying the medicine, Cheng Jiahe took her hand and asked, "Are you planning to go home and rest? You have to go back to work soon. Why don't you stay here for now? Are you still angry with me?"
Jiang Zhiyi shook her head, it was alright.
Cheng Jiahe went up and hugged her. He felt the real touch in his arms and whispered, "We haven't hugged in a long time. I've missed you a little."
She used to hug him and kiss him every day, but these days it's a miracle if she can even say a word to him.
The two hugged for a long time.
"May I kiss you?" Cheng Jiahe's tone was soft, with a hint of pleading that was barely perceptible.
Jiang Zhiyi felt that he was just pushing his luck.
"Cheng Jiahe!"
"I'm here." He buried his face in her neck, then shifted her attention, "Are you used to wearing the jade pendant?"
"It's uncomfortable to sleep on at night."
"You can't take it off." Once she puts on his pendant, she's his wife; it's a family heirloom.
"Shall I fry some meatballs for you?" He had specially learned how to make fried meatballs these past few days. He had tried other kinds as well, but only this one was successful.
Jiang Zhiyi nodded; that was definitely a good idea. She asked, "Meatballs?"
Cheng Jiahe smiled and said, "Yes."
"Then I'll give it a try."
After that day, the relationship between the two improved considerably.
Then came several more days of heavy rain, and the experienced villagers were starting to worry that the rain was too heavy.
One night, in the middle of the night, a commotion suddenly erupted outside, with people banging on doors from house to house, shouting, "Wake up! A flash flood has occurred!"
"Wake up, everyone! Go to the high ground at the east end of the village!" The village loudspeaker was also shouting.
The raging floodwaters, carrying branches and countless stones, rushed down with a deafening roar. That night, the entire village of Xiaoshi was thrown into chaos.
Jiang Xiangnong woke up very early. There was nothing he could do; the mud clods that rushed down from the back mountain had smashed a hole in the wall of his room.
He was jolted awake by the loud noise, but thankfully, he was alright for the time being. He quickly woke up his family, and they gathered some important belongings and headed for higher ground. In a situation like this, survival was the most important thing.
"Are you able to walk?" Li Jiaoyun asked.
Jiang Xiangnong walked relatively quickly with the help of his crutches; his leg had actually recovered considerably, and he could walk.
"Make sure you hold both children's hands tightly." Li Jiaoyun and Jiang Xiangnong each held one child's hand.
Jiang Zhiyi glanced in a certain direction. Cheng Jiahe should be alright, right? The place he lives in is on high ground, so there shouldn't be any problems.
Not long after the group left the courtyard, they heard the sound of something collapsing coming from inside the house.
"Stop looking, let's go." They knew they would definitely lose the house, but despite their heartache, there was nothing they could do in the face of such a natural disaster.
Cheng Jiahe was also awakened by the commotion, and the first person he thought of was Jiang Zhiyi.
Their house was already quite flimsy, and he didn't know if anything might happen. Besides, Jiang Xiangnong's legs were still weak, so he had to go and check on him.
Cheng Jiahe was worried that he wouldn't have enough time, so he thought for a moment and took a shortcut instead of the main road to Jiang Zhiyi's house.
...
At daybreak, everyone gathered on a high place in the east of the village, all looking quite disheveled.
"Every household, quickly check who's missing! Has everyone escaped?" the team leader shouted at the top of his lungs. "Report the situation! We need to hurry and rescue people!"
All around were cries and screams; some people ran out, while others didn't have time to escape.
The youth settlement was also counting heads, and they soon discovered that the numbers didn't match up; several people were missing. The list of missing persons was quickly submitted.
Among them was the name Cheng Jiahe.
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