"Where are you going? Aren’t you going to eat?" asked Ji Dong.
"I’m going to see Wang Er Ya. Bro, you guys eat first, I’ll be back soon!" Ji Xinhe said, removing her apron.
Ji Dong asked, puzzled, "What are you going to see Wang Er Ya for?"
Ji Xinhe chuckled, "I finished cooking before I remembered I had promised to pick up some red string from her this afternoon for a craft project."
Since it was something she had arranged with someone else, Ji Dong naturally couldn’t interfere. All he could say was, "Make sure to come back soon, don’t delay our meal."
"Sure!" Ji Xinhe said, quickly running out of the house. Instead of heading into the courtyard, she turned towards the kitchen, grabbed a small basket, filled it with six chicken eggs, and headed out."
With the sky growing dimmer, the red sunset painted the sky a fiery red. Ji Xinhe walked unhurriedly, carrying her basket. However, she didn’t seem to intend to head towards the small bamboo grove where she had agreed to meet Gao Zhiru.
Upon arriving at a yard, she finally called out, "Er Ya! Er Ya!"
"Ah! Here you are!" Wang Er Ya rushed out to open the door, but froze the moment she opened it, startled to see Ji Xinhe was the visitor.
"What are you here for?" Wang Er Ya asked warily.
Ji Xinhe seemed anxious as she replied, "Here’s the thing: the scholar of our village, Gao Zhiru, is going to the town for review and exams tomorrow, right? I had arranged to meet him for a farewell in the bamboo grove later, but something urgent came up at my home. I can’t go. So, I thought of you, since you’re close to him."
At the mention of ’scholar’, Wang Er Ya’s heart jumped, "What do you need from me? Don’t Ji Xiulan and Gao Zhiru have a better relationship?"
Wang Er Ya’s words were filled with jealousy. Everybody in the village knew about Ji Xiulan and Gao Zhiru. But her own relationship with him could only thrive in secret.
Ji Xinhe twisted her fingers uncomfortably, "You know full well my relationship with Sister Xiulan. She’s always disliked me. You’re the only one nearby who’s also close to the scholar. I just don’t want to offend anyone."
As she spoke, she handed over the basket of eggs to Wang Er Ya, "Please give these to the scholar for me, tell him I wish him success on his exams."
Wang Er Ya was secretly pleased. She enjoyed giving gifts to Gao Zhiru under any circumstance.
Still, she pretended to be reluctant as she replied, "Okay, luckily I have some free time now, otherwise I wouldn’t do this favor for you."
Ji Xinhe gratefully responded, "Thank you, Er Ya! I have to go now, the urgent matter at home can’t wait!"
Then, she turned and ran-off without a trace.
Wang Er Ya watched Ji Xinhe’s retreating back, snorted coldly, and went back into her house. She hid the eggs in her room then ran off to find Gao Zhiru.
She definitely had to go see Gao Zhiru, but she wasn’t going to deliver Ji Xinhe’s eggs.
Who knows what this girl is up to?
Ji Xinhe ran far enough before slowing her pace. She turned back and hid to observe Wang Er Ya’s actions.
As expected, Wang Er Ya headed towards the bamboo grove soon after. However, she didn’t carry a single egg.
Ji Xinhe smirked. She expected Wang Er Ya to hold onto at least a few of the eggs, but she hadn’t taken even one!
Ah well, those eggs were meant to be wasted anyway. Whether they ended up in Wang Er Ya’s or Gao Zhiru’s hands didn’t matter.
Ji Xinhe turned quietly and began to head home.
Upon returning to her courtyard, Ji Xinhe didn’t immediately return to her house. Instead, she waited in the yard.
Sister Xiulan should be washing dishes after dinner. This used to be her chore naturally, but since they had separated, it was now Xiulan’s responsibility.
As expected, Ji Xiulan soon emerged carrying dishes. Upon seeing Ji Xinhe, Ji Xiulan gave her a resentful glare, "What are you doing in our yard? Don’t come here if you don’t have anything to do!"
For once, Ji Xinhe did not turn and leave. Instead, she hesitated, seeming distressed, and tried to say something but found it hard to voice her words.
Witnessing Ji Xinhe’s anxious state, Ji Xiulan was suspicious, "What do you want to say? Hurry up, I don’t have time to waste with you!"
"Are you still with Gao Zhiru?" After gathering enough courage, Ji Xinhe finally asked.
Upon hearing Ji Xinhe’s question, Ji Xiulan flared up, cursed loudly, "I’m telling you, brother Zhiru said he’s only going to marry me! After succeeding in his exams, he’s going to marry me directly. Don’t you dare have any crooked ideas!"
Ji Xinhe helplessly shook her head, "I don’t have any crooked ideas. I just accidentally saw something today..."
"What is it?"
Ji Xinhe blushed slightly, "I saw Gao Zhiru and, and Wang Er Ya together in the bamboo grove near the village."
Ji Xiulan was dumbfounded, her mind filled with a loud buzzing noise, "What did you say?!"
"I stumbled upon it by accident... I’m not sure what exactly is going on. Maybe it’s true that Gao Zhiru plans to marry Wang Er Ya after he passes his exams." Ji Xinhe sighed.
Ji Xiulan was so shocked she smashed the dishes in her hand to the ground.
Ji Xiulan’s face whitened. She completely disregarded the broken dishes on the ground and rushed off.
Ji Dong, hearing the commotion, quickly came out to check, "What happened?"
Ji Xinhe winked playfully, "Nothing, bro. I’m going out for a bit. Don’t wait for me for dinner, you guys go ahead!"
A great show, too good to miss!
Ji Xinhe spoke and without waiting for Ji Dong’s response, disappeared from sight.
Meanwhile, Gao Zhiru was anxiously waiting in the bamboo grove. He was growing agitated as the sky darkened and nobody appeared.
Finally seeing someone approaching from afar, he rushed over excitedly. Only when he approached did he realize it was Wang Er Ya.
"Er Ya? Why is it you?" Gao Zhiru was taken aback.
Wang Er Ya teased, "Why can’t it be me? Don’t miss me? Or are you trying to do something behind my back?"
Women’s intuition was sharp. She could sense Gao Zhiru’s ambiguity towards Ji Xinhe. Ji Xinhe, the silly girl, didn’t know how to follow up on it.
This time Ji Xinhe had asked her to come due to an emergency. It showed that she hadn’t caught on. Well, it was better this way. Nip it in the bud.
Gao Zhiru’s awkward expression turned tender. He hugged Wang Er Ya and said with a laugh, "What are you talking about? Do I have anything to hide from you?"
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