Chapter 7 Protect Her
"Brown sugar replenishes qi and blood, and can be drunk by men, women, young and old."
Su Tang put the things on the counter with a smile, counted the tickets and handed them to the salesperson.
Before leaving, she saw the candy in the can on the counter, thought about it, and asked the salesperson to give her another handful.
"You bought so much candy, aren't you afraid that Brother Lu would say anything about you?"
Zhang Cui held the child and looked at Su Tang's bags of things. She was really afraid that Lu Xiao would scold her when she returned.
Su Tang looked around and stuffed a piece of candy into Zhang Cui's mouth.
"He wouldn't dare."
Just say it if he wants, the money is his.
These were the various tickets that her parents specially exchanged for her before she came to the Northwest.
But Su Tang didn't say anything because she was afraid that Zhang Cui would say she was a capitalist.
Su Tang and Zhang Cui were carrying large and small bags as they walked towards the staff quarters. The northwest wind blew sand into their faces, causing some stinging.
Fortunately, she took the scarf when she came out, otherwise her face would have suffered.
Zhang Cui was holding the child and was a little out of breath. Su Tang took the initiative to help her carry some things.
"Sister, why did you buy so much brown sugar? Can Brother Lu really drink it?"
Zhang Cui couldn't help but ask again, Su Tang smiled and said, "It's said to replenish Qi and blood. He's been training so hard, it would be good for him to drink some."
In fact, she had a little plan in mind. She wanted to drink brown sugar with water as milk tea.
But if she said she was using it for herself, she would definitely be criticized for acting like a spoiled little princess.
Using Lu Xiao as a shield is so convenient.
After returning home, Su Tang put down his things and started cleaning the kitchen.
It is called a kitchen, but it is actually just a small earthen stove with a few enamel basins next to it.
She took out the coarse grains she bought from the service station and planned to make some porridge and stir-fry some cabbage.
While I was busy, the door creaked open and Lu Xiao walked in.
He had just finished training and smelled of sweat, his face still as grim as ever.
Su Tang looked up at him and pointed at the candy on the table: "I bought some candy, try it."
Lu Xiao didn't say anything. His eyes fell on the bag of brown sugar on the stove, and his brows frowned slightly: "Buy so much brown sugar?"
"I didn't use your ticket. I have my own."
Su Tang said this, but he was a little nervous inside, afraid that he would say he was wasteful.
Lu Xiao didn't say anything else and turned around to pour some water.
"Should……"
Before he could finish his words, there was a commotion outside, followed by a knock on the door.
Su Tang walked forward and opened the door, and saw Hu Lili, whose eyes were full of hostility.
"I'm here to see Brother Lu Xiao."
After saying that, Hu Lili was about to push Su Tang aside and walk in.
Su Tang was knocked back and staggered half a step, and the door frame hit his lower back, causing pain.
She held on to the door frame and stood firm, staring at Hu Lili. Good, now she's being bullied, right?
"Your brother Lu Xiao just came back from training and is covered in sweat."
Su Tang leaned against the door frame, bent his slender fingers and tapped lightly on the door panel, his eyes sweeping over Hu Lili's knuckles that were clenched white.
Hu Lili's calm look made her seem like she was paying him back.
"Why don't you go to the boiler room and get a basin of hot water? He hates being sticky."
Hu Lili's face flushed, and the red string on the end of her braid swayed: "I brought pancakes for Brother Lu Xiao."
She held up the round cake wrapped in oil paper in her hand. It smelled incredibly fragrant and it was obvious that a lot of ingredients were put into it.
"I'm afraid that Brother Lu Xiao will starve to death because of you, a delicate young lady."
Hu Lili's words were full of targeting, and Su Tang was not willing to be outdone.
"That's fine. Thank you for bringing me food every day."
It also saves her from cooking.
Hu Lili wanted to say something else, but Lu Xiao suddenly walked out of the house.
He wiped his hair, water droplets slid down his neck into his collar, and his cold eyes swept over the pancake in Hu Lili's hand.
"No need, the food Su Tang cooks is enough for me, and don't send me these things in the future."
“It will cause misunderstanding.”
There was no warmth in his voice, and Su Tang curved her lips into a smile.
Hu Lili's face turned pale in an instant. She stared at Lu Xiao, then glared at Su Tang fiercely, and threw the pancake hard on the table.
Then the cake fell to the ground.
"Brother Lu Xiao, don't be fooled by this city girl! She's not suitable for this place at all!"
"She'll get you into trouble!"
After saying that, she turned and ran away crying, leaving a mess on the ground.
Su Tang bent down to pick up the oil paper bag, and sesame seeds mixed with sand were stuck on the cake.
She turned to look at Lu Xiao and teased, "How about we sift the sand and make some sesame salt?"
"What a shame to waste it, it smells really nice."
Lu Xiao looked at her heartless appearance, his eyes darkened, and finally he just took the oil paper bag and threw it into the stove.
The flames suddenly rose up, burning Hu Lili's feelings to ashes.
"Don't block the door next time."
He whispered, his eyes fixed on the spot on her lower back where she had been hit.
"Does it hurt?"
Su Tang was stunned. This was the first time Lu Xiao took the initiative to care about her.
"It doesn't hurt."
Lu Xiao turned around and reached for the medicine box hanging on the wall.
The corners of the iron box were polished to a shine and it made a slight clicking sound when it was opened.
Only then did Su Tang notice that there was a fresh abrasion on his forearm, and the scab was still stained with dirt from training.
"Are you hurt again?"
Why does this person get injured every day?
Lu Xiao paused, his hand that had just pulled out half a roll of bandage from the box froze in mid-air, and then he shook his head.
"Minor injury."
He turned his face away, but his peripheral vision met Su Tang's concerned eyes, which made him want to escape unconsciously.
"We're out of safflower oil. I'll go get some from the health center."
Lu Xiao didn't say much, just said he was going to get some medicine. When he turned around, he knocked over the thermos.
"Okay, stop working on it. I'm not a porcelain doll."
Su Tang stopped Lu Xiao and bent down to pick up the thermos.
After being mixed up by Hu Lili, her rice became mushy.
"Wait a moment, I'll do it again."
Su Tang turned around to wash the rice and found Lu Xiao standing by the stove, dawdling. She glanced at the brown sugar on the chopping board.
"Want some?"
She teased him on purpose and waved the bag of brown sugar in front of him. Lu Xiao turned his head and was about to leave.
Seeing that he was so easily amused, Su Tang quickly stopped him.
"I'll rush it for you."
Su Tang scooped two spoonfuls of brown sugar into a coarse porcelain bowl. The moment boiling water poured in, the sweet fragrance spread in the small kitchen.
Lu Xiao stood by the stove, watching the brown foam surging in the bowl.
During all the years he served in the army, he had never eaten brown sugar, let alone a piece of candy. He always felt that sweet things did not match the wind, sand and soil of the northwest.
But when he saw Su Tang, he thought of the word "sweet", so he wanted to try it and see what sweetness really was.
Is brown sugar just as sweet as her?
"Let it sit for a while before drinking, it will burn your mouth."
Su Tang pushed the bowl in front of him and turned around to deal with the burnt bottom of the pot.
The iron shovel scraped the burnt rice crust, making a crackling sound.
Lu Xiao suddenly reached out and took the shovel from her hand: "Let me do it."
“It’s not like I can’t do it.”
Su Tang watched Lu Xiao handle the matter skillfully and said with a smile.
Lu Xiao turned his head to look at her and then looked away.
Her hands are white and tender, and you can tell at first glance that they were raised with great care at home.
You can't just ask people to do laundry and cook for them when they come to the Northwest.
They...are just a couple in name only.
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