583: Came to the door
That morning, Xu Ying and Cuihua, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, were wringing out freshly washed sheets and quilt covers in the yard.
Other people’s sheets and quilt covers may not be washed once a winter.
Xu Ying loves cleanliness. Even in the cold winter, she washes the bed sheets and quilt covers at home at least once a month.
After the Chinese New Year, it was time to wash the sheets again. After breakfast in the morning, I went to the well to wash the sheets and quilt covers in my room. After washing, I brought them home and Cuihua and I each wrung out the water at one end.
While twisting the water, Cuihua looked up towards the outside of the yard and said to Xu Ying:
"Mom, that educated young man named Shen who came to our house before the New Year seems to be standing outside."
Xu Ying loosened her hands that were twisting the sheets and wanted to look back, but she was afraid of being too deliberate, so she deliberately switched positions with Cuihua, leaning her back against the main room, and glanced outside as if she was looking up at the sun.
I actually saw Chen Ci standing behind the house in front of their house, looking in their direction.
Seeing how sneaky he was, if Xu Ying didn't know that she was Chen Ci, she would really suspect that he was a thief.
Xu Ying pretended not to notice anything, lowered her head and continued to twist the sheets, and did not forget to remind Cuihua:
"Don't look."
"Oh." Cuihua didn't dare to disobey her mother-in-law, so she really didn't go to see it.
"Okay, let's hang it up and get inside!"
Cuihua looked at the quilt cover still dripping with water in the basin:
"Mom, there's still a quilt cover that hasn't been twisted yet."
"I understand, go inside first!"
Cuihua was puzzled, not knowing what was going on with her mother-in-law. She watched as she quickly threw the sheets and quilt covers onto the clothesline. Before she could tidy them up, she turned around and ran into the main room:
"Cuihua, come in!"
"oh!"
Cuihua had no choice but to follow him into the main room.
Before entering the house, he couldn't help but look back outside and saw that Shen Zhiqing was still standing there, looking in the direction of their house.
Cuihua thought of the bellyband, shoes and socks that Shen Zhiqing gave her, and thought to herself, she had always wanted to have the opportunity to thank him in person. Now he was standing outside the house, why didn’t her mother-in-law let him come in and sit down?
Even if you don't invite people in, at least go out and say hello.
Why are you avoiding people like the plague?
Don't even let her go out and talk?
Cuihua had some opinions in her mind, but she didn't dare to go against her mother-in-law. No one in the family dared to go against her mother-in-law, so she was even more afraid. She had no choice but to follow her into the house.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law hid in the main room, sitting on the warm kang and mending clothes and doing needlework.
Not long after, Cuihua felt the urge to urinate.
As her belly grew bigger, Cuihua went to the toilet more frequently, once every hour. Her mother-in-law knew about her problem and reminded her to put a urine bucket in the house to avoid catching a cold by going outside so often.
But Cuihua was shy and worried that she would be caught by her father-in-law if he suddenly came home, so she refused and insisted on going to the toilet outside.
At this time, she felt the urge to urinate, so she got off the kang and went outside with her hands on her belly.
When I got outside and looked, Shen Zhiqing was still standing there!
Cuihua couldn't bear it any longer. After going to the toilet, she came back into the house, sat on the kang, and said weakly to Xu Ying:
"Mom, that educated young woman Shen is still standing there, staring at our house. It's so cold, how about I ask her to come in and warm up?"
"You haven't left yet?!"
"without--"
Xu Ying leaned over the window and looked out, but her view was blocked by the kitchen and she couldn't see Chen Ci. She was a little puzzled. Why did this heroine set her eyes on their house? She didn't want to go in, so why was she standing outside?
Xu Ying didn't want to bother with Chen Ci, thinking that the farther away from her, the better. But at this time, she felt that Chen Ci's behavior was a little strange. After thinking about it, Xu Ying simply said to Cuihua:
"Or, go and ask her to come in."
See what she has to say.
Cuihua listened to her mother-in-law's instructions, responded, and happily went outside to call people.
I walked out the door and headed towards Chen Ci who was standing behind the front row of houses.
Chen Ci was still wearing a cotton-padded jacket for the winter, wrapped tightly up. Looking at Cuihua holding her belly and walking towards her awkwardly, Chen Ci's gaze stayed on Cuihua's belly for a long time.
Only when Cuihua walked in front of him did his eyes move away from her round belly and move to Cuihua's rosy, round face.
"Shen Zhiqing," Cuihua said politely, a little embarrassed, "I have received the two bellybands, a pair of shoes, and a pair of socks you gave me last time. They are really well made. I didn't expect that you city educated youth can do such fine needlework. You are really skillful."
Chen Ci forced a smile.
Cuihua invited enthusiastically:
"Why are you standing here? It's cold outside. Why don't you come home and sit for a while?"
"I, I won't sit there—"
Cuihua was a little surprised:
"Are you here to look for someone? Are you looking for my father-in-law, or for Xiaoye? Xiaoye isn't at home. She went to the division's art troupe. She said she was rehearsing a new show and participating in a big competition. She'll be gone for several months. She's been very busy during this period and has no time to go home. Even the director had to call her in advance to ask if she could spare the time—"
When talking about her sister-in-law, Cuihua's tone was full of pride, as if she had endless things to say.
But Chen Ci shook his head:
"I, I'm not here to see her."
"Oh, then, are you looking for my father-in-law? Why don't you come in and sit down first? My father-in-law will be back at dinner time."
Chen Ci shook her head with deep emotion and loneliness, and murmured:
"I'm not here to look for Uncle Yu either."
"——" Cuihua looked confused and said bluntly, "Then, then why are you here?"
Chen Ci's sallow face turned slightly red. She shifted her gaze and moved her mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't utter it.
At this time, even Cuihua could see that Shen Zhiqing was hiding something on his mind.
She couldn't help asking:
"Shen Zhiqing, what's wrong? Is there something wrong with you?"
"I, I—I'm fine, I just wanted to ask—"
”
Chen Ci stammered, each word was extremely difficult to say, and the listeners were extremely anxious:
"Just say whatever you want to say."
Chen Ci's eyes suddenly turned red, and she finally said with a determined heart:
"Sister Cuihua, let me ask you, did your eldest brother come home for the New Year?"
"???" Cuihua didn't know why Chen Ci suddenly asked this, "I'm back, how did you know?"
"Where is he now?"
"I don't know where the person ran off to. What happened?"
Cuihua didn't have time to think of so many questions. She was just wondering how this educated youth Shen knew about their eldest brother.
When Chen Ci heard Cuihua say that, the mist in his eyes became heavier, and he looked so pitiful with tears in his eyes.
"Shen Zhiqing, what's wrong with you? Stop crying."
Chen Ci then realized that there were tears in her eyes. She took out a white handkerchief and pressed her eyes, forming two wet stains on the handkerchief.
Wiping away tears, Chen Ci said again:
"Sister Cuihua, can you please, if your eldest brother comes back, give him a message for me, saying I'm looking for him and asking him to come find me, okay?"
Cuihua had no objection and nodded quickly:
"Okay, okay, okay."
After reacting for a while, he asked:
"Well, why are you looking for him?"
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