The warehouse in Tianshui Village was a common building in rural areas in the 1960s and 1970s. Every village had such a warehouse. During the harvest season, it was filled with rice, corn, sweet potatoes, and sometimes winter melons, pumpkins, and potatoes. In the free time of the farmers, the women would gather here to do the work of the brigade.
Because it is a collectively built warehouse, the materials used are not cost-effective. The rectangular brick walls are built high, and the top is raised with countless wood. You have to strain your neck to see the skylight at the highest point. On sunny days, the sun shines in through the skylight, the factory is bright, and the dust rolls and surges in the sun like gold powder.
Outside the factory building was a cement staircase that stretched out for more than ten levels. Many tender wild vegetables grew around the factory building, and the girls often went there to pick them during lunch break. Not far away was a fruit orchard, where peach and pear blossoms had just begun to bud, with white and powdery dots dotted on the branches. The fragrance made the girls itch, but they didn't dare to pick them - the old man in the orchard was very fierce and would not allow anyone to pick the flowers.
Cheng Yaoyao said proudly: "The peach blossoms I raised have already bloomed. When Xiao Fei returns from vacation in two days, please come and see them. And take a look at the flowers."
Han Yin said happily: "That's great, I can have another meal."
Zhang Xiaofeng said, "It just so happens that I have finished reading the book you lent me last time. I will go exchange two books so that we can study together."
"..." Cheng Yaoyao and Han Yin hurriedly buried their heads in their meals without saying a word.
Zhang Xiaofeng didn't mind, and said earnestly: "Don't be so lazy, learning is a long and arduous task, you can't fall behind for a day..."
"Come, have a fried egg!" Cheng Yaoyao put half of the fried egg into her lunch box and gave the other half to Han Yin.
The poached egg was fried in lard until it was golden brown, with crispy edges. When you cut it open, the semi-solidified yolk had the texture of jelly. It was sprinkled with a little soy sauce and was so delicious that you would drool when you took a bite.
Zhang Xiaofeng asked, "Hey, you gave it to us, what are you going to eat?"
"Just eat it if I give it to you. My grandma makes so many eggs for me every day, and I'm tired of eating them." Cheng Yaoyao picked up a piece of pickled vegetables with chopsticks, put it on the steamed bun, and took a bite.
Han Yin took a bite of the fried egg with great care, then quickly ate a big mouthful of steamed bread, saying, "It smells so good! Yaoyao, when I make money in the future, I will definitely buy you lots of eggs!"
Cheng Yaoyao's face fell: "Don't repay kindness with enmity!"
Zhang Xiaofeng ate the delicious fried eggs, her eyes slightly warmed. Grandma Xie and Cheng Yaoyao were giving them money in various ways and always invited them to their home for dinner. She was even more determined to urge Cheng Yaoyao to study and help her make progress together.
The three of them were eating happily when suddenly a sour smell came from the side and the sunlight in front of them was blocked.
Cheng Yaoyao raised her eyes and saw Liu Minxia standing in front of her with a lunch box in her hand, looking eagerly at her.
Liu Minxia stared at Cheng Yaoyao eagerly, her eyes full of resentment, but she had to force a flattering smile on her face, which made her look particularly cowardly: "Yaoyao, can I...can I sit with you guys?"
Cheng Yaoyao held his breath without leaving a trace, and Han Yin said, "Aren't there seats over there? Why do you want to squeeze in with us?"
Zhang Xiaofeng tugged at Han Yin and handed a stack of newspapers to Liu Minxia: "We are all crowded here. There is an empty seat on the side, you can sit there."
Liu Minxia refused to take the newspaper and said, "We were from the same batch of educated youth and went to the countryside together..."
"Hey, now you remember that you are the educated youth who came here with us?" Han Yin said sarcastically, "You never hung out with us before."
Liu Minxia’s fingers were about to be stuck into the lunch box. She lowered her head and stood there, refusing to leave.
Han Yin almost jumped up, but was held tightly by Zhang Xiaofeng. Liu Minxia was just that kind of person, so shameless that she wouldn't leave no matter how much you scolded her, which made Han Yin, who had a bad temper, furious. The girls around noticed the situation and started to talk to each other.
Zhang Xiaofeng was helpless and whispered to Cheng Yaoyao: "Why don't we move some seats and let her sit down."
Cheng Yaoyao didn't want to sit with her. Her hair was greasy, the collar and cuffs of her blouse were yellowed, and the Liberation shoes on her feet had holes in them. Cheng Yaoyao had a keen sense of smell and could smell the sour smell on her body that came from not taking a shower for a long time.
Cheng Yaoyao picked up the steamed bun from the lunch box and asked, "Did you not eat?"
"..." Liu Minxia's eyes shone like a vulture, and they were stuck on the steamed bun and couldn't be pulled away.
Cheng Yaoyao held up the steamed bun with her slender white fingers and said, "I'm not used to sitting with others."
Liu Minxia swallowed hard: "I know, I...I will find another seat!"
Cheng Yaoyao then handed the steamed bun to her: "This is for you, you..."
Before Cheng Yaoyao could finish his words, his steamed bun was snatched away. Liu Minxia kept saying "thank you" and turned away.
Cheng Yaoyao was unable to react for a moment, and Han Yin was so angry that she laughed: "What kind of person is this! Yaoyao, why did you give her steamed bread!"
Cheng Yaoyao fanned the air around her, and the air finally became better. She said lazily, "If you don't give her steamed bread, do you think you can get rid of her today?"
In her previous life, Cheng Yaoyao had seen poor relatives from the countryside come to her father to ask for money. They wanted money but couldn't bring themselves to say nice things to him, so they just stayed at her house and ate and drank until her father took out the money to get rid of them. These people didn't feel grateful for the money, and even complained that her father was tardish in giving them money, and that he didn't treat them well, and looked down on the poor relatives.
Cheng Yaoyao asked her father why he should bother with such an ungrateful person and asked the bodyguard to get out of here. His father said earnestly: This kind of person is narrow-minded, don't let him hate you. Just think of it as spending money to eliminate the disaster.
Looking at Liu Minxia, Cheng Yaoyao thought of his poor relatives.
Zhang Xiaofeng also said: "Han Yin, don't be so unforgiving in your words. Liu Minxia..."
Zhang Xiaofeng looked unhappy and didn't continue.
Han Yin said angrily, "I was talking about her. What did I say wrong? Yaoyao, you too, you gave her steamed bread today, what are you going to do if she comes again tomorrow? You can't feed such a person!"
Cheng Yaoyao sneered: "If she dares to come again tomorrow, I will..."
Han Yin asked, "So what?"
"You can curse her to death."
"Go to hell!" Han Yin nagged Cheng Yaoyao and felt itchy.
The two of them started to laugh and quarrel. Zhang Xiaofeng came over to separate them, but Han Yin held him down: "Catch her!"
Zhang Xiaofeng said: "Hey, don't bother me, I'm not afraid of itching!"
Cheng Yaoyao blew on his fingers and put his hands on Zhang Xiaofeng's waist: "Let me see if you have any itchy skin!"
Zhang Xiaofeng couldn't help laughing, shaking all over: "Hahaha... stop it. Stop it!"
Zhang Xiaofeng leaned back and bumped into someone, causing the water bottle next to him to fall to the ground: "Ouch!"
Cheng Yaoyao quickly withdrew his hand, climbed up and saw that the person who was knocked to the ground was Cheng Nuonuo, a thin and skinny person. Zhang Xiaofeng helped her up, but she pushed him away, staring at the water on the ground with bloodshot eyes.
The mouth of the military green water bottle in her hand was not tightened, and it fell to the ground. Clear water gurgled out and was quickly absorbed by the cement.
Zhang Xiaofeng said, "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were behind me. But what were you doing behind me?"
"This is my water bottle!" Cheng Yaoyao hurriedly picked up the water bottle and shook it. There was only a little water left. She said angrily, "Cheng Nonuo, why did you touch my water bottle!"
Cheng Yaoyao's eyebrows were raised, and her face turned red with anger. Cheng Nuonuo stared at her face, and suddenly felt a strange balance in his heart. If she didn't get the water, then Cheng Yaoyao wouldn't get it either. And seeing how much Cheng Yaoyao cherished it, didn't she realize that she could trigger the spiritual spring?
Cheng Nonuo lowered her eyes and apologized timidly: "Sister Yaoyao, I didn't mean it. Let me refill the pot of water for you."
As she said that, she reached out to take Cheng Yaoyao's water bottle, which was still half full. She was moved, but Cheng Yaoyao snatched it back: "No need! Stay away from my water bottle next time! Water"
Lin Pingping came over and said, "It's just a pot of water. Is it necessary for you to be like this?"
Cheng Nonuo stared into her eyes and said meaningfully, "Did Sister Yaoyao add something strange to the water?"
Cheng Yaoyao was hit on the spot, his peach blossom eyes widened slightly, and then he turned around and walked away.
Zhang Xiaofeng gently advised: "Yaoyao, forget it, just drink my water."
Cheng Yaoyao's angry voice was suppressed, but it still reached Cheng Nonuo's ears: "If it was just a pot of ordinary water, I wouldn't bother with her. But it's a rare thing, I brought it specially for you to taste."
Han Yin asked, "What kind of water is so rare? Is it the spring water on the top of the mountain?"
Cheng Yaoyao angrily poured the water in the kettle into the mop bucket beside him and said, "Forget it, it's all dirty. I'll bring it to you next time when I have the chance."
The three of them put away their lunch boxes and went back to the warehouse together. Han Yin asked, "Yaoyao, what are you laughing at?"
"Tsk." Cheng Yaoyao raised his index finger and squeezed his eyes at her mysteriously.
Han Yin was stunned for a moment, then her face turned red: "Don't glare at me!"
"Who threw the wrong eye at you!" The girls joked and laughed.
Cheng Yaoyao was in a good mood today, smiling frequently. Her stunning appearance made the simple warehouse look dazzling, and the sun became gentle when it fell on her, giving her a halo.
Shen Yan looked at her foolishly, recalling for the thousandth time Cheng Yaoyao's passionate pursuit of him, and then for the thousand and first time he was overwhelmed by a strong feeling of regret.
Fortunately, the other girls all admired him very much. They would blush when they approached him to hand over tea, talk to him in a deliberate manner, and look at him with eyes full of admiration, which greatly restored Shen Yan's confidence after he hit a wall with Cheng Yaoyao.
However, Shen Yan didn't bother to talk to these girls, except Lin Ranran - Lin Ranran was the most beautiful and lovely one among them, and she spoke Mandarin with a fluent voice. Moreover, Lin Ranran was shy and embarrassed to talk to him. When Shen Yan took the initiative to talk to her, she would open her watery eyes and look at him with admiration.
Shen Yan was instantly extremely satisfied.
Shen Yan was satisfied, but the others wanted to eat Lin Ranran alive.
Lin Ranran came back with the tea leaves and just sat down, Lin Pingping called out, "Ranran, help me carry the basket of tea leaves over here."
Lin Guiyuan said angrily, "You've ordered people around seven or eight times in the afternoon, and you don't have any hands?"
Lin Pingping smiled: "My grandma said that Ranran and I are cousins, and we should help each other with anything. Right, Ranran?"
Lin Ranran shuddered when she heard the word "grandma" and said hurriedly, "I'll go, I'll go."
Lin Pingping winked at Cheng Nonuo proudly, but Cheng Nonuo didn't pay any attention to her.
Lin Pingping said unhappily, "What's wrong with you? You've been absent-minded the whole afternoon."
Cheng Nonuo felt a dull pain in her stomach, so she could only force a smile at her. But just as she was about to speak, her stomach started churning and she quickly covered her mouth.
Seeing her ignore him like this, Lin Pingping curled her lips.
Lin Ranran came over with a large basket of tea leaves, staggering over and asking, "Pingping, where do you put the tea leaves?"
"Put it here." Lin Pingping deliberately pointed to the other side.
Lin Ranran had no choice but to take a deep breath, pick up the basket and walk it around to the other side.
Han Yin said angrily: "They are cousins, how can you bully me!"
Zhang Xiaofeng put down the tea and was about to stand up to help, but was held back by Cheng Yaoyao.
Zhang Xiaofeng looked at Cheng Yaoyao in confusion, but Cheng Yaoyao winked and said, "Just wait and see."
Zhang Xiaofeng frowned. She was a kindhearted person who couldn't bear to see others being bullied. Lin Ranran was sweating profusely, and her thin arms were shaking from the weight of the basket. She barely lifted the basket up.
Zhang Xiaofeng couldn't sit still any longer, so he stood up to help, but when Lin Ranran walked to Cheng Nonuo's side, she was suddenly tripped by something, and her hand tilted, and a basket of tea leaves fell on the heads of Lin Pingping and Cheng Nonuo.
"ah!"
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