Chapter 9
9.
The two walked in silence to the well. No one passed by on this route, so it was likely that people didn't usually come to fetch water at noon.
Guan Yue breathed a sigh of relief and moved a little closer to see how to draw water from the well.
Cheng Lingjun threw the bucket into the well, then shook the axle wrapped with hemp rope to pull the bucket up. He poured the water from the bucket into his own bucket, and after two or three repetitions, the bucket was full.
It's quite simple; Guan Yue learned it in no time after watching it.
After Cheng Lingjun filled the water buckets, she followed suit and filled her own two buckets as well. She weighed them and found that it wasn't too difficult for her to lift them.
Once again, I'm grateful to the original owner of this body for having a healthy body.
Guan Yue carried the water on her shoulder and walked forward. She was long-legged and quick, and caught up with Cheng Lingjun in a few steps. She could have overtaken him in one go, but she didn't. She looked at Cheng Lingjun and saw that he seemed to be having some difficulty.
It wasn't too strenuous; it was just a matter of shifting the bucket back and forth between his hands. Guan Yue guessed that he probably hadn't done this kind of rough work much before. She watched him for a long time, and when he put the bucket down, she stepped forward and whispered, "Um, how about I help you carry the water?"
“No need,” Cheng Lingjun subconsciously refused. Seeing that Guan Yue wanted to say more, he picked up the water and said, “It’s just a few steps, we can get back in no time.”
Guan Yue nodded. It wasn't far, but it was still a few hundred meters from where they lived. Seeing that the other party insisted, she didn't say anything more, stepped past Cheng Lingjun, and walked straight back.
Cheng Lingjun lowered his head, looking at the clear water in the bucket, which reflected his somewhat disheveled face. Before leaving that home, hadn't he already decided that he would rely on himself for everything? It was just a bucket of water. Hadn't he been fetching water like this before? It just meant making a few more trips, nothing to worry about.
Before getting married, Cheng Lingjun hadn't done much manual labor. There was a well at home, so he could fetch water without walking too far. But now that he'd moved here, he couldn't do that anymore. His shoulders couldn't support the weight, so he couldn't carry water like Guan Yue. He had to make several trips to fill the water tank. Xiao Guang was asleep by then, so he would come out. Otherwise, Xiao Guang would insist on carrying water with him.
In the past, villagers would wash their clothes and come to the well to fetch water in the evening. There were many people at that time, and he didn't want to be noticed by others, so he always came to fetch water when no one was around. He remembered the mocking look in the woman's eyes before he left that house, as if she thought he would definitely not be able to endure the hardship and would go back to apologize to her. He refused to do so. No matter how hard or tiring it was, he would never go back.
Thinking of this, Cheng Lingjun took a deep breath and walked home, sometimes quickly and sometimes slowly.
But there was a person standing in front of the house.
It was Guan Yue, who had already returned.
He was stunned for a moment, but Guan Yue saw him, smiled at him, and said, "You're finally back."
What are you doing here?
Guan Yue smiled and said, "I'll wait for you here."
"Wait for me?" Cheng Lingjun asked in surprise, "Is something wrong?"
"Hmm," Guan Yue said, looking down and kicking the bucket beside her feet. "Um, do you want some water?"
Guan Yue had already prepared the water, but she didn't take it back to her own home. She was waiting for Cheng Lingjun. Since he wouldn't let her touch his water, she figured she could just bring it back to him.
Guan Yue was worried that Cheng Lingjun would refuse, so she quickly said, "I think one bucket of water is not enough for you. Please don't refuse. I don't mean to do anything. I just think it's troublesome for you to carry water like this. Anyway, I have to carry water too. I'm strong, so I can go again."
Cheng Lingjun remained silent for a moment before speaking, "Didn't you avoid me before? Why are you so enthusiastic now?"
"Well, I didn't exactly avoid them either," Guan Yue coughed twice, stammering, "It wasn't... reputation... anything... uh..."
Cheng Lingjun nodded. "Indeed, my reputation is tarnished, so it's only right that you avoid me."
Guan Yue was shocked. "If your reputation is so bad, shouldn't mine be flushed down the drain?"
"sewer?"
"No, that's not the point," Guan Yue quickly explained, "I mean, in this ancient time, no, since everyone in the village knows that I live alone and you're raising a child alone, I'm afraid people will misunderstand us. I don't care, but you guys would probably be very bothered, so... try not to let anyone see us talking or walking together. Let's just be quiet, cough... you know what I mean."
In all honesty, she wouldn't dare to look down on anyone. She's already lucky if she's not being treated like a rat in the street right now. But one day, she'll definitely clear her name of being a scoundrel. For now, she'd better not harm anyone else.
Guan Yue tried to open her eyes wide, hoping the other person could see the sincerity in them. She really was a very good person!
Cheng Lingjun truly saw through it; Guan Yue was like a completely different person. If it were the old Guan Yue, how could she have said such things? She was simply too upright and gentlemanly. He was beginning to believe her words. No one could pretend so thoroughly. Only amnesia could explain her current abnormality. Every word she spoke and every action she took had no trace of the past. She was a completely different Guan Yue.
"I understand what you mean. I'm sorry, I misunderstood you, but this water..."
"It's just water. You've helped me before, and I'm just returning the favor," Guan Yue said. "To be honest, you're the first person to help me after I lost my memory. I don't know anything now, and you're my neighbor. I have a lot of questions I want to ask you. We're helping each other out. I don't think you would refuse a request for help from someone who doesn't know anything, would you?"
Guan Yue used her trump card, playing the victim card. If he still refused after that, she really had no other choice.
Sure enough, Cheng Lingjun was clearly someone who responded better to gentle persuasion than force. He frowned, hesitated for a long time, and finally nodded. Guan Yue felt that she understood a little better how to handle her good neighbor. No, it wasn't so much about handling her, but rather about knowing how to please her.
Guan Yue pressed her advantage, saying, "Don't worry, I won't be like before. You take this water inside, and I'll wait for you outside."
Cheng Lingjun carried the three buckets of water in and poured them into the water vat. The vat was full in no time, and it seemed that he didn't need to carry any more water. He felt relieved. Although he kept making excuses, not having to carry water back and forth did make things much easier for him.
After Cheng Lingjun came out, he didn't see Guan Yue. Just as he was wondering about it, he saw Guan Yue walk out from behind his door.
"Someone was passing by just now, so I hid first," Guan Yue said. She noticed that Cheng Lingjun's expression was no longer as tense as before, so it seemed that her trick had worked and she had succeeded in building a good relationship with her neighbor.
As expected of her, Guan Yue had to admire herself. Her emotional intelligence had improved even in ancient times. Could this be a case of adversity making people progress?
Cheng Lingjun was taken aback again upon hearing her words, "Actually, there's no need..."
"It's alright, my reputation is terrible," Guan Yue joked, "I have to avoid it."
Cheng Lingjun understood the unspoken meaning in her words—that she was teasing him—but he also understood that she was joking, and the atmosphere between the two became harmonious for a moment.
"Anyway, thank you. If you ever need my help in the future, please feel free to ask," Cheng Lingjun said sincerely.
"Really? Then..." Guan Yue desperately needed someone to help her. Now she finally had someone to give her some pointers. Otherwise, she would be completely clueless in this ancient world, knowing absolutely nothing.
Guan Yue quickly asked, "Actually, I have complete amnesia. I only remember that my name is Guan Yue. I don't remember what I used to do, and I've forgotten everyone in the village. I don't know how to do farm work anymore. I don't know what kind of work I need to do to support myself. Can you tell me what kind of work you usually do?"
"……ah?"
Cheng Lingjun and Guan Yue looked at each other in disbelief. The former looked as if she had seen a ghost in broad daylight, while the latter looked completely innocent and naive.
Cheng Lingjun rubbed his temples, looking somewhat troubled, and said, "You mean, you don't remember anything?"
"Yes, I have amnesia," Guan Yue replied confidently.
“Yes, she has amnesia…” Cheng Lingjun stared at the ground, wanting to just leave. He only wanted to help with something ordinary, like showing her the way, but now it seemed like it was more than just showing her the way. He felt like he was helping a bottomless pit, and he hadn’t said he was going to bring another Li Guang along.
He moved his lips a few times, but under Guan Yue's earnest gaze, he resignedly closed his eyes and said, "I do men's embroidery, which is not suitable for you. You are originally from Dahuai Village and should have your own land."
What a fresh and interesting phrase about a man's embroidery skills.
Guan Yue felt that she could also do embroidery, but she still went along with him and asked, "Then where is my land?"
Looking at her clueless eyes, Cheng Lingjun said helplessly, "I don't know either. You should ask Village Chief Rui."
"Village Chief Rui?"
Cheng Lingjun sighed, gradually getting used to the blank look in this person's mind. "The village chief of Dahuai Village, Chief Ruixi, I visited her when I came to Dahuai Village. She must have your household registration and should also have records of your land and property. You can ask her."
Guan Yue suddenly realized, "I see. So where does she live?"
"She lives in..." Cheng Lingjun, seeing that he couldn't point to her, said, "I'll take you there tomorrow."
"That's so kind of you, you've really gone to so much trouble!" Guan Yue seemed to have a tail standing up behind her, wagging excitedly.
Cheng Lingjun looked closely and, making sure the other party had no ulterior motives, coughed and said, "You helped me, so it's only right that I do the same. Besides, it's not a big deal. By the way... I noticed you were so hungry back then, could it be that you... can't cook?"
A great master!
Guan Yue's eyes immediately lit up. Of course, the reason she was hungry wasn't just because she didn't know how to cook; there was something more she couldn't bring herself to say. But that didn't stop her from readily admitting it, as if that were the case. She half-covered her face and said, "To be honest, I woke up suddenly and forgot everything. Not only was there no rice, but I didn't even know how to cook, so..."
Cheng Lingjun was helpless to see that the amnesia was so complete. He said, "In that case, I'll make some more for you tonight. Once you find your land, you can support yourself."
What a kind person!
If it weren't for the difference between men and women, Guan Yue would have given him a warm hug. She would definitely repay her good neighbor in the future and let him feel the warm love from his neighbor!
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