The thought of living like some kind of animal in the future makes me feel happy.
Isn't life all about eating? Maybe it's a matter of mindset; I have no ambition at all, and just drifting along and waiting to die is the best thing for me.
For breakfast, I had a noodle soup with dumplings. This time, I used fresh shredded radish, and added some minced garlic at the end.
After finishing breakfast, Zhang Hongmei started kneading the dough, which would be useful for making dumplings at noon.
Zhang Shouyi kept circling around Zhang Hongmei. Their time together had been too short; she would be leaving soon, and his next visit would be to pick her up. There was still a year left; he could wait.
Before I knew it, I blurted out, "Hongmei, when will you grow up?"
"Um?"
Zhang Shouyi was only embarrassed for a moment. "It's nothing. There will be good things waiting for you when you grow up."
"Tch, say it or don't, it's up to you."
Zhang Shouyi just smiled and didn't say anything else.
For lunch, Zhang Hongmei only made stir-fried shredded potatoes and fried peanuts.
As they were leaving after dinner, Zhang Xingguo said, "You can come back tomorrow. Shouyi helped Hongmei clean the house. That girl is very clean; otherwise, she'd have to clean herself in the future. As for the food, don't worry about it; Xiaoshun can cook it."
Zhang Shouyi knew his father was creating an opportunity for him, but what could possibly happen so late at night? He should come back!
"No, I roughly tidied her up yesterday. The only problem is the water supply, but I'll have someone make her a stroller so she won't have to carry water. She can just push the stroller around every night, which will prevent her from being stunted and growing too tall."
"Hahahaha." Zhang Xingguo burst into laughter.
Enraged, Zhang Hongmei immediately backed down, "Hmph! I'm not short anymore, but I'm still young and I'll definitely grow taller. But you've worked so hard, and you'll only ever be this tall."
"Yes, yes, you can still grow taller. You'll be taller than me in the future, okay?"
"Are you trying to soothe a child? Why should I compare myself to you? Honestly."
"Alright, you two stop bickering and hurry up and go. No need to rush back."
Zhang Shouyi drove faster than Wang Xiaoshun. Zhang Hongmei sat in the passenger seat, while quilts and clothes were placed in the back seat.
I glanced at Zhang Shouyi and thought he was really handsome. He had an indescribable, contradictory aura about him.
Looking at his long eyelashes from the side and thinking about his unfathomable eyes, I no longer felt the same sense of rejection I had when I first met him.
Perhaps it's because we've known each other for a long time, or perhaps he's not as flamboyant as he used to be, or perhaps he no longer feels distant from me; whatever the reason, we just get along naturally.
It's often said that serious men are the most attractive, and that's certainly true.
Although he was just driving a Jeep, unlike the second or third generation kids of later generations who drove multi-million dollar luxury cars and wore sunglasses to show off, I still felt he was more handsome than them.
"Are you staring at me so intently because you've noticed you're interested in me?"
"I didn't notice, I was just thinking about how this fine cabbage of yours will be eaten by that pig in the future?"
"Hahaha, don't worry, even if it's a pig, I'll still pick and choose! Grow up quickly!"
"Hehe, you shouldn't be hoping I grow up quickly, because when I grow up, it means you'll get old!"
"I'm only ten years older than you, that's not a big difference, is it?"
"Ten years old isn't young? There's a generation gap every three years, so how many generation gaps do you think there are in ten years?"
"How can you calculate it like that? Men know how to care for others when they get older."
"Hehe, actually I can call you uncle."
"I don't want to be your uncle."
Zhang Hongmei didn't want to continue the topic. "Brother Zhang, do you think it's really a good idea for me to go to school in the capital?"
Why do you ask that?
“My parents’ deaths were not simple. Actually, I just wanted to stay in this small mountain village for the rest of my life. Call me useless or inhuman if you want, I have no ability to avenge them, and I don’t want to get involved in any trouble. I just want to live an ordinary life.”
"I'm not very old, but I have a lot to think about. Do you think I'm capable?"
"I don't know, and I don't want to know."
"I've already taken care of your parents' affairs, so don't worry. My shoulders may not be broad, but they're more than enough to shelter you from the wind and rain. Trust me."
Zhang Hongmei wasn't really a thirteen-year-old girl; she knew that people don't care for or help others without a reason, so she blurted it out unconsciously.
"Brother Zhang, why did you help me? Now that you've helped me, what do you want from me? Is it because of that batch of gold? If so, once my parents' revenge is achieved, I'll return your collateral to you, and that will be your reward."
"No need, these are two separate matters. I have no ulterior motives in helping you, so you can rest assured."
"really?"
"real."
Zhang Hongmei felt lightheaded, not because she didn't trust Zhang Shouyi, but because she didn't trust humanity.
"Don't think such nonsense at such a young age, or you'll age faster."
Zhang Hongmei was speechless. Was this some kind of bullying because she wasn't good at speaking?
“Hongmei, don’t feel guilty. I can’t say that your business is my business, but if it’s something you can’t do but I can, I will definitely decline and treat it as an important matter.”
Zhang Hongmei was bewildered by Zhang Shouyi's words and felt conflicted. She wanted to find the truth and avenge them, but she was alone and vulnerable. Just when she had given up, someone told her they could do it—was this a windfall or a ticking time bomb?
Looking at Zhang Hongmei's confused expression, Zhang Shouyi said, "You're overthinking it. I'm asking you, why are you so good to my dad? Why are you so good to me?"
"I'm nice to Uncle Zhang because he's protective of me and treats me sincerely. I'm nice to you because I see you're rich and capable and I want to curry favor with you."
"Hehe, you can rely on me for the rest of your life, don't worry."
Since you're treating me like a leg to cling to, shouldn't the leg be looking out for you?
"Is this okay?"
"Of course, I won't allow anyone to bully the people I protect."
"So, I'll be able to cling to that thigh from now on?"
"Okay, you can hug me, you can hug me for the rest of your life."
"You're a man of your word, aren't you? I'm a trustworthy person. I'll come to you if I need anything in the future."
"Absolutely, definitely. Don't worry, I'll be your support for life."
"Hehe. Even if you find a wife, don't forget your promise."
"I won't look for anyone else; I'll only be good to you for the rest of my life."
"That won't do. I'll be a sinner then. Uncle Zhang is waiting to hold his grandson. If you don't come to me, I'll be a sinner!"
"Don't worry, he won't rush you. Want to learn to drive?"
Is that okay?
"Of course. Let's take the stuff home first, and when we get back I'll teach you how to drive it—it's really easy."
"It looks pretty simple to me."
"It's not complicated. With your intelligence, you'll learn it in no time."
"You have so much confidence in me?"
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