He Chaoyang paused for a moment when he saw Chen Shuning suddenly step back and then tap his head and stomp his feet. Then he found it very cute and said with a smile, "It's alright. There's not much wind today, so I don't feel that cold."
"You're dressed so lightly, be careful not to catch a cold. Go back inside and warm up. By the way, where's Jian Dang? Did he go out so early?"
Chen Shuning hadn't felt anything before, but after He Chaoyang's reminder, she realized how cold it really was. She hurriedly walked into the house while replying, "No, the village is slaughtering pigs today! Jian Dang went to the brigade headquarters to line up for his pork."
He Chaoyang came from a mountain path. Although the path was difficult to walk, it saved more than twenty minutes of travel time compared to the main road.
So he didn't actually see the scene of the brigade headquarters slaughtering pigs, but he did hear the squeals of pigs in the distance, though he didn't think about it that way.
After the two entered the house, Chen Shuning poured He Chaoyang a cup of hot water and said to him, "Brother He, drink some hot water to warm yourself up. I'll go prepare breakfast. You've come so early, you haven't eaten yet, have you?"
As Chen Shuning was speaking, she turned to go to the kitchen, but her hand was suddenly grabbed by He Chaoyang.
"I've already had breakfast. The army has morning exercises, so meals are early. But you, haven't you eaten yet? Is there anything you want to eat? I'll make it for you. You can rest for a while."
Chen Shuning ate a few biscuits when she got up, so she wasn't really hungry. She had originally thought that He Chaoyang must not have eaten since he came so early, and that she was worried he would be hungry, so she thought of cooking for him.
Hearing that she had finished eating, he wasn't in a hurry anymore. It was still uncertain when Chen Jiandang would return from queuing up for pork.
So Chen Shuning stopped cooking, somewhat embarrassed, and quietly withdrew her hand before smiling at He Chaoyang and saying, "If Jian Dang knew you were here, he'd be overjoyed."
He was just talking to me last night, saying he regretted not being able to see you one last time before he went home.
"And what about you?"
"What?" Chen Shuning didn't understand what He Chaoyang meant for a moment.
"I mean, are you happy that I'm here?"
Chen Shuning blushed at the question, completely losing the enthusiasm she had shown when she grabbed him earlier. She even lost the nervousness she had felt when her hand was suddenly grabbed, making her face instantly burn.
She stomped her foot and said angrily, "How annoying! How can you ask such a question so directly?"
Seeing Chen Shuning's face flushed red, He Chaoyang really didn't dare to tease her anymore, so he smiled and changed the subject, asking, "Is Jian Dang going back? When is he leaving? Tickets are hard to buy right now. If you set a time, I'll help him buy tickets."
When Qin Yalan left last time, it was He Chaoyang who helped her buy the train ticket. He Chaoyang was a military officer and was able to buy sleeper tickets that only cadres could buy.
So when He Chaoyang offered to help buy tickets, Chen Shuning didn't stand on ceremony. After all, for a teenager like Chen Jiandang, a sleeper berth was much safer than a hard seat.
Moreover, He Chaoyang knows people at the station, so she would feel even more at ease if he could ask someone to help take care of her.
So Chen Shuning forgot about being shy and quickly said, "That's great! I was worried about not being able to buy train tickets. Jian Dang plans to leave on the second day of the Lunar New Year. Will he be able to get tickets?"
"Yes, each train actually reserves a few sleeper tickets for emergencies, especially those going to Beijing. Don't worry, I'll call the unit when I get back today and ask them to reserve one."
But you, your older sister rarely comes back, don't you feel regretful if you don't go back to visit her?
Actually, if you want to go back, I can contact someone at the educated youth office. Or, why don't you go back with Jian Dang and stay for a couple of days?
When Chen Shuning first heard He Chaoyang say that, he was somewhat tempted, but in the end he thought better of it. It would be too much trouble and he would have to do favors.
It won't make a difference if she stays for another year. Besides, her mother just visited her a few days ago. She'll have family leave next year, so she can go back then.
So she smiled and declined, saying, "No, my brother is going back to the army on the eighth day of the lunar new year. I heard from my mother that my father has been quite busy lately, so I won't bother going back and forth. I'll wait until next year when I have leave to visit my family before going back."
He Chaoyang only said that because he was worried that Chen Shuning would miss home. He didn't plan to go home for the Chinese New Year this year, so he would really be reluctant to let Chen Shuning go back.
Hearing Chen Shuning say he wasn't going back, she didn't say anything more. She smiled and picked up the two large bags that he had placed on the kang (a heated brick bed) as soon as he entered the room, saying, "My mom and grandma know you can't come home for the New Year this year, so they sent a lot of things over, all specifically for you. See if you like them."
The old lady said, "We don't know what you like. She and my mom just buy you things that young people like these days."
As he spoke, He Chaoyang began taking things out of his pocket one by one.
The first pocket was mostly filled with clothes, including sweaters and cotton-padded coats. Chen Shuning saw three wool sweaters alone, and one of them, a cashmere coat, made Chen Shuning both laugh and cry.
Because that dark green long cashmere coat with a belt looked so much like the batch she sold to Heizi a while ago.
I never expected this kid's connections to be getting wider and wider; in such a short time, he's managed to get his stuff all the way to Beijing.
Then, He Chaoyang, as if on cue, deliberately picked up the cashmere coat and said, "Shuning, why don't you try this coat on? My mom said she asked a friend to buy it for her. Apparently, it's a new style that was brought back from Hong Kong."
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