Qin Yalan and her two children slept well that night, but He Chaoyang had some insomnia. Lying on the kang (a heated brick bed) where Chen Shuning had slept, He Chaoyang couldn't help but have trouble sleeping.
Although He Chaoyang, who was used to staying up late, didn't sleep well, it didn't affect his ability to get up the next morning.
He got up early, cleared away the ashes from the stove, and relit the fire to boil water, so that there would be hot water available when Chen Shuning and her son arrived.
Now that it gets light late in winter, Chen Shuning, who was staying at the guesthouse, didn't dare to secretly put an alarm clock under her pillow like she used to when she had to get up early.
In addition, Gu Xinyi, whether for warmth and wind protection or simply to block out the light, used the thickest fabric available at the time for the curtains, and even had two layers sewn on.
The light-blocking effect is simply amazing; even in broad daylight, if you cover the curtains with these curtains, it will feel like the middle of the night.
So Chen Shuning and her son overslept, which was quite pathetic.
He Chaoyang had cooked the porridge and heated up the steamed buns he bought at the state-run restaurant yesterday, but the mother and son still hadn't returned.
With time running out, and knowing it would be too late if they didn't leave for their unit soon, they could only say a few words to Chen Jiandang, pack up, and prepare to head back to their unit.
In the end, Chen Jiandang couldn't bear to see He Chaoyang looking so reluctantly at the room his sister was staying in, so he knocked on the window of Gu Xinyi's room.
By the time He Chaoyang realized that Chen Jiandang had gone to call for help, it was too late to stop him, so he simply waited in the courtyard.
Since Chen Jiandang had already sent people over, he should at least say goodbye to Qin Yalan before leaving.
Awakened by a gentle knocking on the window, Qin Yalan sat up abruptly. Looking at the two little girls still sleeping soundly beside her, she quickly lifted a corner of the curtain to look outside.
What caught my eye was my son's exaggerated gestures and wild movements.
Looking at the sky outside, which was already beginning to brighten, Qin Yalan suddenly remembered that He Chaoyang had to rush back to his unit early this morning.
He quickly turned around and nudged Chen Shuning, whispering in her ear, "Shuning, Shuning, wake up quickly, get up now, Chaoyang needs to get back to the army early today."
Chen Shuning was quite tired yesterday. Although Qin Yalan reminded her, she was still a little dazed until she heard that He Chaoyang was going back to the army early this morning.
She hurriedly sat up and frantically put on her clothes. Gu Xinyi, who was sleeping next to her, also woke up at this moment and groggily sat up and asked, "What time is it?"
In those days, clocks were rare items. Although Gu Xinyi, as an educated youth sent to the countryside, was not short of money, she did not buy a clock because she already had a watch.
Qin Yalan felt a little embarrassed for waking everyone up, so she looked at her watch and replied, "It's only 5:10, there's still plenty of time. Xiao Gu, you can sleep a little longer. Chaoyang has to go back to the army early today, so Shu Ning and I will head back first."
Thank you so much for yesterday. Auntie made a delicious lunch; I'll have Shuning come and call you so you can try her cooking.
"Auntie, you don't need to be so polite with me. Shuning and I are best friends. It's just one night, so don't worry about it. Besides, I'm happy to have you and Shuning keep me company."
And the auntie, I eat with other people here, if I weren't there, those two probably wouldn't have anything to eat.
Gu Xinyi knew that Qin Yalan was embarrassed because of the accommodation issue, but what she said was true. Neither Gao Hongyuan nor Wang Zhi could cook, and if she gave up cooking, the two of them would really go hungry.
As Qin Yalan dressed, she smiled and sincerely invited, "Oh, it's nothing. Auntie will cook extra for lunch and invite your two lunch buddies over to eat together."
Qin Yalan was intentionally trying to curry favor with him. Her own daughter was so young and had already left home so far away by herself. Although He Chaoyang seemed like a reliable person at the moment.
But she is a soldier after all; her husband and son are both soldiers, so she knows the military profession better than anyone. When she gets busy, she can be gone for a long time.
Therefore, it's more reliable for a daughter to rely on the care of these educated youths in the same courtyard.
Gu Xinyi had no idea what Qin Yalan was thinking. She assumed that Qin Yalan wanted to repay her for staying at her place, so she quickly refused, saying, "No, no, Auntie. They are both quite shy. Besides, we only eat two meals a day now. We eat breakfast late and basically skip lunch. Auntie, please don't bother. Cooking in a large pot is quite tiring."
Qin Yalan's hometown is in Jilin Province, and she knows that people in Northeast China usually only eat two meals a day during the winter, so she didn't insist.
While Qin Yalan was talking to Gu Xinyi, Chen Shuning had already quickly dressed, said goodbye to Gu Xinyi, and rushed out.
As soon as Chen Shuning stepped out, he saw He Chaoyang standing straight at the door of Gu Xinyi's room, with Chen Jiandang following behind him.
Upon seeing Chen Shuning come out, Chen Jiandang wisely told him to go back first. The big steamed buns in the pot looked delicious, and he had to hurry back and eat two. No, he could eat three of those big buns.
Qin Yalan, who followed Chen Shuning out, also saw the two people at the door. Feeling a little embarrassed that she had gotten up late and hadn't even prepared breakfast for the child, Qin Yalan stood and exchanged a few pleasantries with He Chaoyang before leaving, giving the two young people some space.
Seeing He Chaoyang already dressed, and knowing that he was about to leave, Chen Shuning suddenly felt a little reluctant to part with him.
With a pitiful look on her face, she tugged at He Chaoyang's sleeve and said reluctantly, "Brother He, you're going to be busy now that you've changed jobs, and I don't know when we'll see each other again."
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