The night was cool and still, with the chill unique to winter, like a knife cutting through you; if you're not careful, your skin will crack.
Song Lili and her family lay on the warm kang (a heated brick bed), chatting idly.
"Sigh, it seems there are advantages to not being well-educated. At least you're not as noisy," Song Lili said with a hint of emotion.
Zhang Qinghua glanced at her with amusement. "What does this have to do with studying?"
Some people, even if they are well-read, will still argue unreasonably; others, even if they are illiterate, will still be gentle and polite.
It all depends on the individual, right? It doesn't have anything to do with how much you read, does it?
"Of course there is a connection. You might not see it in an individual, since there are always exceptions."
"But if you look at it as a whole, you can see that people who have read books are quick-witted, have agile minds, and have more ideas."
"If a person has a lot of thoughts, then that person will definitely have a lot of other things to do. You don't even need to think about it to know that they will definitely have a lot of things to do."
“Look at the people in our village, they don’t have so many worries. When they’re busy, they go to the fields; when they’re not busy, they visit each other, chat, and live a simple but happy life.”
No wonder that in many historical periods, progress in thought preceded a series of changes; this is all based on the principle that progress in thought must come first.
Zhang Qinghua remained silent, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, but Song Lili was right.
The way she handled the issue of educated youth shows that this is indeed the case; it's just that no one expected her to see it so clearly.
Zhang Qinghua turned to his side and looked at his wife lying beside him. "Ignore them. Let them make a fuss. They won't be able to stir up any trouble."
Because several high-ranking officials in the village wanted the village to remain peaceful and were keeping a close eye on these matters, Zhang Qinghua was not worried.
"Hmm," Song Lili responded lazily, not worried at all.
Now, things aren't as tense as before. We've found a balance amidst the chaos, and there aren't as many problems anymore.
In this village, Song Lili only cared about her own family and never got involved in village affairs, yet nothing ever happened to her.
She simply sighed, without any concern.
"Then... let's go to sleep." A glint of light flashed in Zhang Qinghua's eyes, carrying a burning intensity.
Song Lili blinked her sleepy eyes and patted the little dumpling's bottom, "Sleep well."
What kind of sleeping position is it to cover your entire body with the blanket? Aren't you afraid of catching a cold at night?
The little dumpling looked at the roof, muttering something unintelligible, happily playing by himself.
After being patted by Song Lili, the little bottom wiggled, and then she got up, lifted the blanket, obediently lay down in the blanket, and patted the person next to her.
"Mom, come and sleep, it's hot." He said, revealing a look of enjoyment, which made Song Lili laugh.
She crawled over, lifted the blanket, and was about to sleep with the little dumpling, but Zhang Qinghua grabbed her ankle.
"What are you doing?" Song Lili turned her head and looked at him with confusion.
"You're my wife." So you should sleep with me.
Song Lili suppressed a laugh and nodded, "Yeah, I know." Then she continued crawling forward. How childish! That's your son, why do you always argue about it?
Zhang Qinghua grabbed her again, staring straight at her. "You're my wife." This time, he emphasized his words.
Song Lili kicked her feet, trying to shake off the large, dry hand gripping her ankle. "I already said I know."
There was no sound behind her, and Song Lili thought Zhang Qinghua had given in. She was about to chuckle to herself when, unexpectedly, her body was suddenly dragged backward.
"Ah..." Caught off guard, she cried out in fright, and then Zhang Qinghua held her tightly in his arms.
"What are you doing? You scared me to death!" Song Lili said angrily, slapping him. "You're so scary, it'll really frighten you."
"You're my wife, you have to sleep with me," Zhang Qinghua said again in a deep voice, his stubbornness almost endearing.
Song Lili said helplessly, "Xiao Chen is still your son. Besides, it's just that we don't share a blanket, what's the big deal?"
Zhang Qinghua looked at Song Lili resentfully. What did it matter? Their relationship was over. They weren't even in the same bed anymore. He couldn't even touch her if he wanted to.
"He's five years old, he can sleep by himself." Why does he still need someone to sleep with him?
He never considered his own age, or how much older he was compared to the little boy.
The little boy stared with his round eyes at his grandpa and grandma "playing," excitedly climbed out of the quilt, pounced on Zhang Qinghua's head, and shouted, "I want to play too! I want to play too!"
Then, she snuggled into Zhang Qinghua's arms, still holding Song Lili tightly, giggling all the while.
"Ouch, my hair!" Suddenly, Song Lili cried out in pain.
I don't know who it was, but they've been holding their hair in; it hurts a lot.
Next, Zhang Qinghua was lifted up and sat up, looking at her anxiously, "Did you get hurt? Does it still hurt?"
Song Lili rubbed her scalp, feeling nothing. Then she shook her head, "It's nothing, I probably just got stuck somewhere."
Her hair was waist-length, black, shiny, and exceptionally smooth; it could be untangled anywhere, unless it was in a deep knot.
"Look at you, so naughty! You've hurt your mother's head," Zhang Qinghua said sternly, pulling her son up in front of her.
The little boy looked at Song Lili with teary eyes and said, "Whoosh...whoosh, it won't hurt anymore." Then, from a distance, he blew spittle all over Song Lili's face.
Song Lili: "..." Son, do you want to wash your mother's face?
She wiped her face, managing to suppress her disgust. She couldn't be disgusted; this was her own son, and she had to endure it even if she felt disgusted.
"It doesn't hurt anymore, it doesn't hurt anymore, it's okay, thank you Xiaochen."
She should encourage her child who cares about her, letting him know that what he is doing is right and a good thing.
"Giggle..." The little dumpling laughed again, "It doesn't hurt."
Song Lili nodded, hugged the little dumpling, and then leaned against Zhang Qinghua like she had no bones. "Hmm, it doesn't hurt."
Zhang Qinghua reached out and held onto the two most important people in his life, gently patting the little dumpling's bottom.
"Don't do that again, it will hurt your mother."
The little dumpling waved his hand, "It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt."
Zhang Qinghua glared angrily, while Song Lili couldn't help but laugh.
Haha, we're talking at cross purposes!
After a while, Song Lili was slowly laid down by the little bun, who was still in her arms.
"Go to sleep." The little boy patted Zhang Qinghua, telling him to lie down too. He knew it was bedtime and he should go to sleep.
Zhang Qinghua sighed. He couldn't bring himself to get angry at the two of them. He could only kneel on the kang (a heated brick bed), bend down, and pick them both up.
She turned them around so that Song Lili was between the two of them, and then covered the little boy with his small blanket made from old clothes.
He blew out the kerosene lamp, lay down next to Song Lili, covered her with his own blanket, and then held her hand, completely satisfied.
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