When they arrived at Li Jing's house, Li Jing was alone, sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) watching TV. When she saw Hua Kai, she invited Hua Kai to sit down and then asked, "Hua Kai, you're back. Tell me what's new in the city?"
Hua Kai looked at the black and white television and felt it was somewhat distant. She sat down on the edge of the kang next to Li Jing and said, "The city is great. When you have time during the holidays, I'll take you to the city for a day."
She thought that when the time came, she would take Li Jing out to see the world, and then she herself wouldn't be in such a hurry to get married.
Li Jing, being a lively person, quickly replied, "Then it's a deal. You can take me when you have your vacation."
"Okay, it's settled. I came here today just to see you. I have to catch the bus back to school soon, I have self-study tonight."
“Then I’ll go with you to the village entrance to wait for the bus, so we can talk a little longer.”
"No need to see me off. I'll take Captain Ye's car back this afternoon. I'll go to the village committee to find him later."
"What? Hua Kai, you wouldn't be with Captain Ye..." Li Jing put her hand on Hua Kai's shoulder, her face full of disbelief.
Hua Kai pinched Li Jing's cheek: "Little girl, why are you thinking so complicatedly? Captain Ye helped me with something before, and that's how we met. It was just on the way, why make it so complicated?"
"Captain Ye helped you? How did he help you? Why didn't you mention it?" Li Jing was even more curious.
It's really hard to explain now, so I can only say, "It was when I went to the city to ask my teacher if I could continue my high school studies. Captain Ye found out and helped me find a friend."
Why did Captain Ye help you?
"Because...it was really just a coincidence, a real coincidence."
"Really? You're not lying to me?"
"When have I ever lied to you? Really."
"That's more like it. But Hua Kai, Captain Ye is really handsome. Would you like to consider it?"
"Stop messing around. I'm only in my first year of high school. High school is three years, and college is four years. Captain Ye is already working. How could there be a possibility between us?"
Upon hearing this, Li Jing became less excited and said, "That's true, otherwise you two would really be a good match, it's a pity."
Hua Kai shook her head: "Me, a match for him? Give me a break."
Li Jing pouted: "Hua Kai, you've gotten too big for your britches. Captain Ye isn't good enough for you?"
Hua Kai smiled and said, "Can we stop arguing? It's getting late, I have to go. Remember to miss me."
Li Jing got off the kang (a heated brick bed) and put on her shoes: "Xiao Kai, you've changed so much since you started school. I'm relieved to see you off."
Hua Kai smiled and said, "Don't worry, you don't need to see me off. I'll come back every week from now on."
"I'm fine too, I'll see you out."
"Li Jing, if I ever become successful in the future, I will definitely take you with me."
"Then I'll be waiting."
As they spoke, Li Jing brought the flowers to the front gate.
After saying goodbye once again, Hua Kai headed towards the village brigade.
Many walls in the village are covered with slogans such as "To get rich, build roads first" and "Whoever gets rich first will be honored."
Hua Kai watched the women returning from the fields with headscarves wrapped around their heads, and the old oxcart on the road. This feeling was actually quite nice.
When she arrived at the village committee office, there weren't many people around since it was the weekend, so she went straight to Ye Yifan's dormitory.
The door was open, but Hua Kai still politely knocked. After all, there's a difference between men and women, and it would be awkward to just walk in without the other person changing clothes or anything.
"Come in," Ye Yifan's voice came from inside.
Hua Kai entered the house and saw Ye Yifan tidying up some documents: "Captain Ye, is it convenient for me to wait for you here?"
Ye Yifan put the documents into file bags: "If it's inconvenient, I won't let you in. Please have a seat."
Hua Kai truly regretted talking nonsense again. Talking like that to other people is normal polite greeting, but talking to this person is just asking for an awkward situation.
She saw two round stools by the window, went over and sat down, and didn't say anything more.
Ye Yifan quickly finished packing and said to Hua Kai, "We can go now."
Hua Kai, carrying her schoolbag, followed Ye Yifan out of the house.
As soon as they stepped outside, they ran into Zhang Fang, Ye Yifan's subordinate. Zhang Fang adjusted his glasses, addressed Ye Yifan as "Captain," and then greeted Hua Kai with a smile: "Hello, we've met before."
Hua Kai politely nodded to him and said, "Hello."
Zhang Fang added, "I'm the captain's assistant. My name is Zhang Fang. If you ever need anything and can't find the captain, just look for me, and I'll pass on the message."
Hua Kai smiled and said, "Thank you, Comrade Zhang Fang. My name is Hua Kai."
Ye Yifan coughed and said to Zhang Fang, "Aren't you too idle? Have you finished calculating yesterday's measurement data?"
Zhang Fang quickly stood up straight: "Reporting to the captain, I've checked it three times."
Ye Yifan said, "Go and check it three more times."
Zhang Fang agreed and jogged into the house.
Hua Kai frowned as she looked at Ye Yifan, wanting to say that he was too strict, but she held back. After all, it was someone else's business, and she shouldn't say anything. Being strict wasn't wrong.
As Ye Yifan walked out, he said, "What, do you think I'm being strict?"
Hua Kai shook her head, but this denial was meaningless. Then she nodded and said, "A little, but I also know that being strict is for his own good."
Ye Yifan didn't continue talking about it. He went out the door, walked to the car, and the two got in.
When the villagers saw Hua Kai leaving in Ye Yifan's car, they didn't gossip, because they didn't dare to, since no one dared to offend Ye Yifan.
After driving for a while, Ye Yifan finally spoke: "Why is it so quiet today? Don't you want to talk to me?"
Hua Kai scratched her head: "No."
Ye Yifan added, "You are more capable than I thought. I am not someone who likes to pry into other people's privacy, but to be honest, I am indeed very curious about you."
Hua Kai knew that she could hide many things from her parents, but not from Ye Yifan. He could tell if she was lying, and that would make him distrust her. So she could only say, "There are some things that I really can't be completely honest about."
"I understand. Everyone has things they don't want to say or can't say." Ye Yifan's words carried a hint of sadness.
"I can only assure you that everything I've said is true. If there's anything I can't say, I won't." Hua Kai didn't know why, but she genuinely wanted to gain his trust.
Ye Yifan turned to look at the flowers beside her: "Thank you."
This "thank you" left Huakai a little confused. Why "thank you"? This person isn't one to act on emotion, but this "thank you" carries a lot of meaning.
Ye Yifan continued driving, looking ahead, without saying a word.
Hua Kai didn't say anything, and the car suddenly felt cold.
After a while, Ye Yifan took a box of candy out of the car's drawer and handed it to Hua Kai.
Hua Kai accepted the candy and said thank you, then there was another silence.
Actually, Hua Kai had a lot to say. She wanted to thank Ye Yifan again for helping her family today, but she felt that saying too much would be insincere. It would be better to take practical actions in the future, and when her career was successful, she would help him make more money. That would be more practical.
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