Chapter 27
Chen Jingbai had been watching He He out of the corner of his eye. Noticing her unease, he leaned closer and whispered, "What's wrong?"
He He shook her head and said softly, "It's nothing."
Gu Yuanzhou, that name sounds familiar. He seems to be Chen Jingyi's suitor, or rather, her most powerful suitor.
Because of him, Chen Jingyi almost gave up on Cheng Surin.
He He glanced at Cheng Sulin, who was still standing there dumbfounded carrying people's luggage, and silently mourned for him.
But now, thanks to her suggestion, Cheng Surin and Chen Jingyi are already together, and she glanced at Gu Yuanzhou again.
The young man had a clear and bright face, with a friendly and polite smile on his lips. He seemed much better than Cheng Sulin. I just wonder if he still has any chance of intervening.
Chen Jingbai's attention was entirely on He He, and he frowned slightly as he watched her stare intently at the new male educated youth.
Everyone prepared beds and mats for the newly arrived educated youth. They had been tired all day, so Zhao Dechuan, as the team leader of the educated youth settlement, told them to rest first and that he would cook dinner.
The newly arrived female educated youth was named Wang Huihui. She came from Shanghai, the city that produces White Rabbit candies. She was a gentle woman from Jiangnan and brought them the most famous White Rabbit milk candy in Shanghai. She gave each person two candies and was very generous.
He He unwrapped the candy and popped the white milk candy into her mouth. Wang Huihui was really nice; she brought them White Rabbit milk candy from so far away.
Through these two milk candies, everyone got closer to Wang Huihui. The group chattered excitedly, asking her what Shanghai was like, their faces filled with the longing of young girls for big cities.
While packing her luggage, Wang Huihui answered their questions without showing any impatience.
Sometimes she would even extend the story to the back alleys and streets of Shanghai, which everyone listened to with great interest.
After making the beds and putting away her luggage, Wang Huihui told them to also give some White Rabbit milk candy to the male educated youth.
Wang Huihui straightened her clothes, tidied her hair, and stepped out of the girls' dormitory.
She arrived at the male educated youth dormitory, knocked on the door, and after Zhao Dechuan opened the door, she said warmly, "You can also try the White Rabbit milk candy I brought from Shanghai."
Zhao Dechuan looked at the large handful of White Rabbit milk candies in Wang Huihui's hand and said, "How can I accept this? White Rabbit milk candies are so expensive."
Wang Huihui said, "It's nothing, just a small token of my appreciation. Everyone should try it."
She recruited other male educated youth.
Sun Jiabao was the first to be impolite. He put his arm around Zhao Dechuan's shoulder and took one from Wang Huihui's hand. "Then I won't be polite. It's been a long time since I've had White Rabbit milk candy."
Wang Huihui smiled and said, "No need to be polite. Take them and share them with them. These are for you. Please take them. I want to go back and lie down."
Sun Jiabao took the candy and said, "Then I'll thank you on their behalf."
After Wang Huihui left, Sun Jiabao put the candy on the table and called for people to come and get it, saying, "Come and get it, Wang Huihui gave it to me."
"Those from Shanghai are really something else, so generous." Sun Jiabao saw Chen Jingbai sitting in his seat, reading a book and seemingly unmoved. He then looked at the candy, took two pieces, and tossed them to him.
"Jing Bai, stop reading and eat! Is the book really that interesting?"
Chen Jingbai glanced at the milk candy on the table, his expression indifferent: "I only read books when I'm bored."
Sun Jiabao nodded, agreeing with Chen Jingbai's assessment. "That's true."
Cheng Surin was about to unwrap the candy when she glanced at the serious Chen Jingbai and mentally gave him a thumbs up. Comparisons are truly odious.
Sun Jiabao became a milk candy deliveryman, tossing two more to Gu Yuanzhou, who was lying on the bed, saying, "Yuanzhou, you can have some too."
Gu Yuanzhou took the candy that Sun Jiabao tossed to him: "Thank you. I also brought you some specialties from the capital. I'll give them to you after I make the beds."
Sun Jiabao, who had been casually leaning against the table, jumped up immediately upon hearing Gu Yuanzhou's words, his face beaming with excitement. "Really? What did you bring us? There are so many specialties from the capital, are they delicious?"
Cheng Surin was also somewhat curious.
Gu Yuanzhou said, "I'll give you some pastries now."
He took out two boxes of Daoxiangcun pastries from his suitcase and handed them to Sun Jiabao. "You can have one box. Could you please take the other box to the female educated youths? I still need to make my bed."
Sun Jiabao was immediately taken aback when he saw the four large characters "Daoxiangcun" printed on the pastry box.
Daoxiangcun! This is Daoxiangcun, the most famous pastry shop in the capital, renowned throughout the country. A box of these must be very expensive.
Sun Jiabao stared at the pastries, examining them from all angles, and exclaimed excitedly, "My goodness, Yuanzhou, you're really something! I've never had so many Daoxiangcun pastries in my life. I'm so lucky to have this today!"
Even the well-traveled Cheng Sulin came over to stare. He had only eaten Daoxiangcun once, when his great-grandfather's old comrade-in-arms' son brought it to them when he came to visit from the capital.
The pastries were varied and exquisite. He remembered that when he was a child, he and Hehe almost got into a fight over the same piece of pastry. In the end, they were stopped by their elders and the pastry was divided in half, with Hehe and Hehe each taking half.
Gu Yuanzhou showed no arrogance: "There are many kinds of pastries, but not many of each kind. You can share them."
Sun Jiabao is almost won over by Gu Yuanzhou. Tell me, how can there be such a good person in this world? So kind and understanding of human relationships. They came all the way from the south and the north, and he still brought them pastries.
Even someone as easygoing as Sun Jiabao felt the weight of this sentiment.
Sun Jiabao patted Gu Yuanzhou on the shoulder and said in a hearty voice, "From now on, you're my brother."
Gu Yuanzhou smiled and said, "I hope you will take good care of me in the future."
Gu Yuanzhou has the demeanor of a mature young man; he is proper and knows how to build relationships.
Sun Jiabao, all excited, took another box of pastries to give to the female educated youth.
He He and the others quickly unwrapped the pastries that Sun Jiabao had brought, and even Wang Huihui, who was still tidying up, came over.
The pastries were neatly arranged on top of the box; there was a variety of them, and they looked very appetizing.
Zheng Xinxin was stunned: "Wow, the new male educated youth is so generous! This box must be very expensive. I've never eaten such beautiful pastries before."
Li Baiyun: "Today I ate the milk candy that Huihui gave me, and I also received these pastries from Comrade Yuanzhou. If only life could be like this every day."
He He glanced at the pastries and swallowed hard; they looked delicious.
She pointed to the rectangular pastry on the far side, with a red stamp in the middle, "This looks like a jujube paste pastry. It's so delicious. I've had it before."
Zheng Xinxin looked in the direction He He was pointing and asked, "Is it delicious?"
He He nodded, her words filled with relish, "It was especially delicious, both sweet and crispy!"
Several people were there identifying what kinds of pastries there were.
Sachima, honey-glazed pastries, walnut crisps, glutinous rice strips, and donkey rolls—some of these can be found at the local supply and marketing cooperatives, while others are specialties from the north.
Zheng Xinxin suggested, "I see there are only three pieces of each kind, let's share them."
No one objected, and Zheng Xinxin started with the jujube paste pastry that He He said was delicious. She tried her best to be fair and carefully divided the pastries one by one.
He Heli was closest to Zheng Xinxin. After Zheng Xinxin divided a piece, she gave it to He Heli first. He Heli didn't stand on ceremony and put it in her mouth and took a bite.
The rich, creamy jujube paste and the crisp, white crust exploded in her mouth.
Her eyes lit up with a smile, and she exclaimed excitedly, "It's delicious!"
Upon hearing He He's words, the group eagerly awaited Zheng Xinxin's distribution. The crispy and fragrant taste instantly won them over. They then shared the sachima and donkey rolls, deciding to save the rest for another day.
Dinner was prepared by Chen Jingyi. When it was time to eat, Wang Huihui and Gu Yuanzhou, who were so tired that they fell asleep as soon as they hit the bed, were woken up.
With the addition of newcomers to the dinner table, the atmosphere was harmonious and joyful. Since there was no alcohol, everyone substituted tea for it.
Zhao Dechuan: "It's good that you came two weeks early, so you have time to adjust and avoid being unable to handle the farm work right away after the long journey."
“I guess the educated youth office thinks the same way. I think this place is pretty good. When did you plant the rice in the fields? It looks so tall.” Wang Huihui asked.
Sun Jiabao interjected, "Last month, it grew fast, didn't it! The weather here is different from your northern or central regions. It's hot here, so we planted early rice, and the rice ripened quickly."
Wang Huihui suddenly realized and said, "So that's how it is. I don't know anything about it. I've never planted rice or worked in the fields before. I'll have to rely on your help in the future."
Gu Yuanzhou echoed Wang Huihui: "I don't know either, so I'll have to trouble you guys to guide me later."
Sun Jiabao assured him, "Don't be so polite. We old educated youth will help you with anything you don't understand."
Zhao Dechuan: "Yes, you don't need to worry about troubling us. We were just as confused as you when we first came to the countryside. We all went through this period."
He He sat quietly in her seat, eating without saying a word, occasionally glancing at Chen Jingbai and then at the newcomer Gu Yuanzhou.
She scratched her head, completely baffled as to how Cheng Sulin defeated Gu Yuanzhou in the book, since Gu Yuanzhou seemed to be much more eloquent than Cheng Sulin.
She glanced at Gu Yuanzhou again, trying to figure out why he had been defeated by Cheng Surin.
Whether it was because she had been peeking too many times, or because Gu Yuanzhou was too perceptive, he looked directly at her and caught her restless eyes peeking at him.
Gu Yuanzhou smiled gently at her. Caught red-handed, He He looked around awkwardly, pretending that she hadn't meant to look at him.
Gu Yuanzhou looked at He He's attempt to cover up her misunderstanding and a smile crept onto his lips. How interesting.
After He He was discovered, she dared not peek at people anymore and obediently finished her meal.
After sitting in the canteen for a while, He He glanced at her watch. It was 7:30 pm, and there was still an hour until 8:30 pm. She decided to take a shower first.
Shortly after she left, Chen Jingbai also left, and the canteen was filled with laughter and cheerful conversation.
By the time He He finished fetching water and taking a shower, it was already 8:10.
She returned to the girls' dormitory, sat at the table, and carefully looked at her face in the mirror. It was very fair, flawless, and had no pimples. She was very satisfied.
She applied some more face cream, jasmine-scented, with a pleasant fragrance.
At 8:20, He He dared not delay any longer and immediately went out.
She was wearing a white floral shirt and a pair of crisp, black polyester trousers with a pleat down the middle.
Thinking about what she was going to do later, He He felt excited. She quietly went to the back of the house, which was the place she and Chen Jingbai agreed to meet every night.
When they arrived at the back of the house, Chen Jingbai was already there. He stood straight, his head bowed, looking at the ground.
He He walked over and patted his left shoulder, then immediately jumped to his right.
When Chen Jingbai turned his head to look to the left, she was on his right, giggling.
He He had played this little trick many times before. Chen Jingbai knew that He He would appear on the right, but in order to make He He happy, he still followed her lead and looked to the left.
Chen Jingbai had taken a shower and had a clean, refreshing soapy scent on him. He He threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly and burying her face in his chest, making soft moaning sounds.
Chen Jingbai patted her head. "Okay, sweetie, let go first. Let's walk up a bit more so we won't be spotted."
He He gave a soft "humph" and obediently let go.
They haven't told anyone they're dating, unlike Cheng Surin who's always clinging to Chen Jingyi, whose relationship is known to all the other educated youth in the settlement.
She enjoys the thrill of secretly dating behind everyone's back.
After walking uphill for a while, Chen Jingbai led her with practiced ease to the back of the big tree they had been going to. It was a great place for a secret rendezvous, with a wide view and low risk of being discovered by others.
Chen Jingbai held He He's hand the whole time. It was dark and the trees were dense. The moonlight from the sky shone through the layers of trees and was very faint when it shone on them.
He He hugged Chen Jingbai, her hands restless, reaching under his clothes to touch his abdominal muscles, rubbing them against her palms.
She has always been very bold, and she has become increasingly bold. Chen Jingbai has long been used to it and has let her be.
Chen Jingbai lowered his head, leaned close to He He's ear, and whispered, "Want a kiss?"
Without the slightest hesitation, He He immediately replied, "Yes!"
The two kissed many times, and since they started coming here secretly every night, they became even more blatant.
He He was held by Chen Jingbai's large arm to prevent her from leaning back.
She tilted her head back, and Chen Jingbai bent down, their lips locked in a tight kiss.
It felt numb and soft; He He felt as if she were placed on a soft cloud.
The searing heat from Chen Jingbai's hands on her lower back and chin, as well as his increasingly intense kisses, made it hard for her to breathe; she could only moan softly.
Her hands, placed on Chen Jingbai's chest, wanted to instruct him to be gentler, but her body was limp and tight, and the two were so close together that her hands were firmly imprisoned between them, unable to move.
Her eyes were closed, her eyelashes trembled, her palate was licked and brushed, her tongue was rolled up and then flattened, and she was being teased in a cruel way.
Chen Jingbai kissed her hard and fast, taking away all the air that was already thinning in her mouth.
He He's breathing became disordered, her face flushed, and she appeared to be about to stop breathing.
Finally, Chen Jingbai let her go.
She breathed through both her mouth and nose, getting plenty of air.
Chen Jingbai looked at her flushed face, gently rubbing her cheek with his hand on his chin, his voice hoarse and tender, "How come after learning for so long, you still can't breathe properly through your nose when kissing?"
He only increased the intensity slightly, giving her a little punishment, but she couldn't stand it.
He hasn't gone any further.
It took He He a long time to recover. The Chen Jingbai of the past was always so gentle and affectionate, unlike now, when he seemed to be trying to murder her.
She reached out and touched her lips, feeling that they were swollen. Looking at Chen Jingbai's handsome face, she said angrily with a stern expression, "You've gone too far today. My lips are all swollen."
Chen Jingbai's lips curled slightly upward, his voice alluring, "Don't you like it? You were too gentle before, but now you seem to like it even more."
He could see right through He He; she would like that, or rather, she liked that kind of person.
He He blushed, having never experienced such a wild and passionate kiss before. Her body felt tingly, as if it were even more thrilling than the previous light and gentle kisses.
She didn't speak, too embarrassed to speak, and didn't dare to look at Chen Jingbai again.
He understands her so well, and she seems to really like him.
Chen Jingbai saw He He's cheeks getting redder and redder, even spreading to her neck, which was also flushed pink.
It wasn't noticeable in the moonlight, but he still saw it.
"Would you like to come again?"
He He still didn't respond.
Chen Jingbai continued, "Was your neck tired from looking up just now? Do you want me to hug you and kiss you gently?"
When asked in a different phrasing, He He nodded.
He He cooperated with Chen Jingbai, who supported her thighs with one arm, spread her legs and wrapped them around his waist, while his hand also held her waist.
She wrapped her arms around Chen Jingbai's neck, and being supported, she was taller than him.
Chen Jingbai's hands were steady and strong, and He He didn't feel any danger of falling; she was held firmly in his arms.
"Lower your head and kiss me, this time, okay?" Chen Jingbai guided He He to kiss him first.
This wasn't the first time they'd held each other like this; Chen Jingbai would hold her like this before, afraid she'd get tired.
But this is the first time I've held her like this and let her kiss me on her own initiative.
He He was a little shy, but she still lowered her head slightly and brought her lips to Chen Jingbai's lips.
Her movements were very light, gently pecking from Chen Jingbai's upper lip to his lower lip, little by little, very slowly.
It was very quiet around them. Chen Jingbai could hear their intertwined breathing and smell He He's faint, sweet fragrance.
He couldn't stand it anymore; her movements were just too slow.
He stuck out his tongue, pried open her lips, pried open her pearly teeth, and went straight into He He's mouth, finding the tip of her tongue and entwining it with hers.
He He exclaimed in surprise, but the initiative had been taken away, and she could only passively endure the excessive kisses.
After an unknown amount of time, Chen Jingbai released He He's rosy, swollen lips.
He lowered his head and buried it in He He's neck, his warm lips gently pecking at her shoulder and neck.
With his eyes closed, Chen Jingbai could clearly feel He He's vibrant presence as the artery in her neck throbbed.
He moved his lips down to her collarbone, his voice languid: "He Bao, you smell so good, did you put something on again?"
I don't know when it started, but Chen Jingbai began to call He He "He Bao" in private, which was somewhat ambiguous and had a musical feel to it, as it sounded like a purse.
No one ever called her that; her nickname at home was Xiaohua.
Her grandmother told her that this was the name her mother gave her, hoping that she would always be as radiant as a little flower and have an everlasting vitality.
He is also the lotus flower, which is Cheng Fenghua's favorite flower, and she is also Cheng Fenghua's most beloved daughter.
He He's neck was itchy, and Chen Jingbai's short, stiff hair brushed against her neck. They had just kissed, and now she was being teased like this. Her voice was still trembling: "I put on some face cream."
Chen Jingbai smelled jasmine, a very pure white fragrance.
He He has many different scented face creams or perfumes, which she occasionally applies when the two of them go on dates.
It smelled very good, but he preferred He He's original scent.
He didn't want He He to be troubled and hoped she could do as she pleased.
Chen Jingbai looked up at He He and said, "Next time, don't put on makeup at night, okay? You don't need to go through all that trouble when you meet me."
"You can continue applying it if you like."
He He agreed: "Okay."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com