God knows Shen Yan grew up with the two sisters of the Cheng family. He never paid attention to the skinny bean sprout-like Cheng Nuonuo before. Maybe it was because the lighting in the corridor was too good that day, reflecting Cheng Nuonuo's white skin and a pair of pitiful eyes.
One is the elder sister who is doted on by everyone, and the other is the younger sister who is squatting alone in the corridor crying. The young Shen Yan's heart of pity for the beautiful girl suddenly emerged, and he automatically imagined Cheng Nonuo as a poor little girl who was bullied by her elder sister, and he, in Cheng Nonuo's admiring eyes, became the prince charming who saved her from the water and fire.
Every time the original owner went out to play with Shen Yan, her stepmother would ask Cheng Nonuo to go along, saying that she was worried about her safety. Every time they played together, Shen Yan would focus on Cheng Nonuo intentionally or unintentionally. When he saw that the original owner was always "bullying" Cheng Nonuo, he couldn't help but come to her rescue.
The original owner was a carefree person, and was spoiled by the world. She never thought that her step-sister, who had been plain-looking and timid since childhood, would become her competitor. She even thought Shen Yan was just coaxing her.
Shen Yan was used to being flattered since he was a child. The original owner was beautiful, but she had a bad temper, which made Cheng Nuonuo look even more cute. Besides, a wife is not as good as a concubine, and a concubine is not as good as a secret lover. Shen Yan and Cheng Nuonuo often flirted with each other in front of the original owner, shaking hands in private and hooking legs under the table. They were much more aggressive than the original owner who didn't even let her hold his hand.
The original owner was blind. The two were almost flirting in front of her, but she had no idea. Until Cheng Nonuo deliberately let her hear the news that Shen Yan was going to the countryside with Cheng Nonuo, it was a bolt from the blue for the original owner who had lived smoothly for 18 years. She followed him to the countryside regardless of everything. It was more because of her strong competitive spirit that she didn't want to lose to Cheng Nonuo than for Shen Yan.
Cheng Yaoyao stopped reminiscing and met Shen Yan's affectionate eyes, and suddenly felt upset. If it weren't for these two idiots, he would still be staying in Shanghai, which is much better than being an educated youth in the countryside.
No, if that were the case she wouldn’t have met Xie Zhao… Cheng Yaoyao’s thoughts flew away again until her hand was pinched.
Shen Yan said softly: "Far away..."
Cheng Yaoyao then realized that he was holding her hand. Shen Yan's palms were hot, and he was pinching her in a rather ambiguous way. Cheng Yaoyao got goosebumps all over her body, and pulled her hand back: "Let go!"
Shen Yan felt the slippery touch left on his palm, not angry at all, and coaxed her in a good-tempered manner: "Yaoyao, what I just said is the truth. As long as you nod, I will definitely take you back."
Cheng Yaoyao didn't comment, but raised his eyebrows: "If I go with you, what about Cheng Nuonuo?"
Cheng Yaoyao's sarcasm was regarded as jealousy by Shen Yan, and he couldn't help but be overjoyed. She didn't deny it outright, which Shen Yan thought was a little bit sure, and he hurriedly said: "Yaoyao, my parents have always recognized you since we were young. As long as you nod, I will definitely find a way to take you away."
If the original owner was here, he would probably jump up and slap him after hearing this. What a shameless scumbag! Cheng Yaoyao just pulled out his hand and wiped it, then raised his eyelids to look at him, but saw Xie Zhao behind Shen Yan.
Xie Zhao stood there, expressionless, not knowing how much he had heard. He stepped forward, pushed Shen Yan aside, and slapped a stick on the table: "The number of trucks to load."
"You!" Shen Yan was angry but dared not speak. His ribs were still aching. He turned to look at Cheng Yaoyao and whispered, "Yaoyao, I know you are still angry with me. This is your future, you have to think it over carefully."
Shen Yan knew that Cheng Yaoyao would not change his mind immediately because of his words, so he turned around and left after saying this.
Cheng Yaoyao shouted: "Hey, wait a minute..."
Xie Zhao's tall figure blocked her way, and he pushed the sticks in front of her: "Count."
"Okay." Cheng Yaoyao picked up the sticks, counted them, and wrote down the numbers. He looked up to say something to Xie Zhao, but he was gone.
Cheng Yaoyao's face suddenly fell.
Cheng Yaoyao had been angry for a long time and no one came to comfort him. He felt so wronged.
The next day at work, Zhang Xiaofeng and Han Yin secretly pulled her aside.
Han Yin got straight to the point: "We have a quota for workers, peasants and soldiers to study at the Youth League Center!"
Zhang Xiaofeng was shocked: "Where did you hear that?"
"Insider information, insider information." Han Yin said to Zhang Xiaofeng with a mysterious look, "Class monitor, you are the most hardworking among us. You read books all day long. This position belongs to you."
Cheng Yaoyao thought for a moment, "That may not be the case."
Han Yin's face turned pale and she said, "Hey, why are you throwing cold water on me?"
Cheng Yaoyao came back to his senses and said, "What I mean is, there is only one spot, can Zhang Xiaofeng compete with Shen Yan?"
Han Yin asked hurriedly: "Did you hear anything?"
Cheng Yaoyao said bluntly: "Han Yin has heard about it, and Shen Yan will have heard about it even earlier. His family has already started to take action."
Zhang Xiaofeng's face, which was originally full of hope, became solemn.
Seeing this, Cheng Yaoyao comforted Zhang Xiaofeng, "Don't be sad. Nowadays, many students in the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University got in through connections. This kind of education will be very useless in the future and may not even be recognized. It's not as good as getting in on your own!"
Han Yin rolled her eyes and said, "Now that the college entrance examination has been cancelled, the class monitor can't take the exam even if he wants to!"
Zhang Xiaofeng forced a smile: "Yaoyao means well."
Cheng Yaoyao opened his mouth, wanting to tell Zhang Xiaofeng that the college entrance examination would be resumed sooner or later. But there were too many cases of people being convicted for their words in this era, let alone when it came to the college entrance examination, so Cheng Yaoyao didn't know how to start.
Han Yin clenched her fist and said, "The quota for the workers, peasants and soldiers university students must be selected by the brigade and voted by our educated youth. The squad leader is so outstanding, I don't believe he will lose to Shen Yan!"
But in fact, they all knew that Shen Yan had a strong family background and his grades were quite good before he went to the countryside. Although Zhang Xiaofeng's study, labor and performance were all quite outstanding, her parents were just ordinary workers. Could she compete with Shen Yan?
Han Yin said to Cheng Yaoyao again: "Yaoyao, did you hear anything from Shen Yan?"
Cheng Yaoyao didn't tell them that Shen Yan was going to take him back to Shanghai, he just said that he seemed to have a way to go back, and his family was already making arrangements. Seeing the disappointed faces of Han Yin and Zhang Xiaofeng, Cheng Yaoyao volunteered to go and ask Shen Yan about it.
In the afternoon, Cheng Yaoyao and several other girls were assigned to move straw mats. These straw mats are breathable and soft, and laying them on the tractor can prevent the watermelons from being damaged during transportation.
The straw mats were dirty and heavy. Cheng Yaoyao tried her best to lift them up but failed. The others had already walked away briskly, holding the straw mats.
Cheng Yaoyao stared at the bundle of straw mats, a troubled look in his ink-like eyes and eyebrows. After a long time, he slowly squatted down, trying to find a relatively clean place to start.
She looked so adorable. Xie Zhao put down his work and walked towards her.
Before he got close, Shen Yan had already walked in front of Cheng Yaoyao. Cheng Yaoyao looked up at Shen Yan, not knowing what he said, but a faint smile appeared on his face, which was fleeting but still dazzling.
Afterwards, Cheng Yaoyao stood up and made way, and Shen Yan walked briskly towards the tractor holding the bundle of dirty straw mats.
Xie Zhao clenched his fists at his sides, turned around and walked away expressionlessly.
Those straw mats had been used for many years and were dirty and heavy. However, Shen Yan did not dislike them at all and held them tightly, as if he had picked up gold.
The other girls were jealous when they saw Shen Yan helping Cheng Yaoyao. Some of them even said half-jokingly, "Shen Zhiqing, you only help Cheng Yaoyao, but not us female comrades?"
Shen Yan has always been very popular with these girls, and he is very proud of their jealousy for him. But now in front of Cheng Yaoyao, he moved things without looking around, and did not say a word.
Cheng Yaoyao stood aside leisurely, twisting her braid with her fingers, and said with a smile: "Comrade Shen Yan has always been very gentlemanly. How can he only help me with work? Right, Shen Yan?"
Cheng Yaoyao's last tone was coquettish. It was the first time that Cheng Yaoyao spoke to him in this tone after several months. Shen Yan's blood was boiling, and he nodded without thinking carefully: "Of course!"
"That's great." Cheng Yaoyao clapped his hands gently, "Ladies, you can take a rest now. Comrade Shen Yan will help us finish the remaining work."
The girls cheered and thanked Shen Yan one after another.
Shen Yan watched the group of girls run away before he reacted. There must be 20 to 30 thick straw mats, and they left them all to him?
But Cheng Yaoyao was still standing there, staring at him with a half-smile. Shen Yan couldn't afford to lose his temper at this moment, so he dragged himself to finish moving all the straw mats. His whole body was almost falling apart, but he had to pretend to be at ease and walked to Cheng Yaoyao's side: "Yaoyao, everything is moved."
Cheng Yaoyao said "Oh" and glanced at him: "Are you tired?"
"Not bad." Shen Yan smiled softly, "It doesn't matter if I'm a little tired. I can't let you do this kind of work."
Cheng Yaoyao was not interested: "There will be plenty of work in the future, can you help me do it?"
Shen Yan's heart warmed up, and he seized the opportunity to say, "As long as you follow me back, you won't have to do any work in the future. You can still be like before at home, no, you will be happier than before."
This Shen Yan still has the potential to be a scumbag. He outlined a beautiful scene with just a few words. Cheng Yaoyao snorted: "It's nice to say, but we have settled down here, how can we go back?"
"Of course!" Shen Yan hesitated.
Cheng Yaoyao walked away: "Forget it."
"Yaoyao!" Shen Yan hurriedly grabbed her hand, but Cheng Yaoyao pushed him away.
Cheng Yaoyao said angrily: "Don't touch me!"
Shen Yan twirled his fingers and felt that Cheng Yaoyuan was both happy and angry, and even more charming when he was angry. He didn't know why he didn't like him in the past. Seeing Cheng Yaoyao's impatient look, he gritted his teeth and said, "Yaoyao, my family plans to let me join the army. As long as you are willing to come with me, my family will also get you a place to join the army..."
It turned out that Shen Yan was not aiming for the quota for workers, peasants and soldiers. Cheng Yaoyao breathed a sigh of relief and turned away without caring what Shen Yan said next.
After Cheng Yaoyao told Han Yin and Zhang Xiaofeng the good news, they were so happy that they almost jumped up. But Cheng Yaoyao was not so happy——
That little bald guy is here again! He's still pestering Xie Zhao and talking about this and that!
Cheng Yaoyao ran to their side and wandered around, trying to hear what they were saying. But Xie Zhao didn't even look at her, which made Cheng Yaoyao so angry that she ran away with the basket.
Cheng Yaoyao returned home with an empty basket. Grandma Xie was taking Xie Fei to dry eggplants in the yard. The vegetables in the garden were growing wildly. The eggplants were big and plump. They were picked before they got old, washed and dried, and then cut into slices with the skin. After drying, they were fried with lard and sugar. The fragrance could float out of the alley.
Grandma Xie picked up a knife and cut the eggplant stems. She was quick and skillful, and she evenly placed the eggplant slices on the sieve. The yard was filled with the fragrance of eggplant.
Cheng Yaoyao walked into the yard and called out "Grandma" weakly.
Grandma Xie smiled and said, "Yaoyao is back. Is Zhao'er eating well?"
"He has a good appetite." Cheng Yaoyao put down the basket.
Grandma Xie said, "Are you tired from the heat? Let Xiao Fei get you some cold powder from the well. Add some honey to it to cool you down."
Xie Fei dropped the dried eggplant and was about to take it. Cheng Yaoyao shook his head: "I don't want to eat it."
"What's wrong? Didn't you wake up this morning and start clamoring for food?" Grandma Xie wiped her hands and touched Cheng Yaoyao's forehead. "Did you get heatstroke?"
Cheng Yaoyao's nose felt sore and he shook his head: "No, I just want to take a nap."
"Okay, go to bed then." Seeing that her temperature was normal, Grandma Xie breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I'll make dinner, you can sleep a little longer."
Cheng Yaoyao went back to the house.
It took Xie Zhao a long time to get home. He was sweating as if he had just been washed out of the water, and his clothes were frosted with salt. As soon as he got home, he scooped up a bucket of well water and drank it all in one gulp.
"Drink slowly, drink slowly! Here is the tea brewed by Yaoyao, drink this!" Grandma Xie hurriedly stuffed the teacup into his hand. Xie Zhao took it, tilted his head back and drank it all, with the tea dripping down his Adam's apple.
Grandma Xie looked at her grandson with concern: "Are you tired? Working in such a hot day is really exhausting."
The tea was bitter, and Xie Zhao felt his eyes and ears cleared, and the fatigue and dullness in his limbs dissipated a lot. Xie Zhao took a wet towel and wiped his face with it. He felt much better immediately, and his eyes patrolled the yard.
Grandma Xie said, "Yaoyao is sleeping in the house."
Xie Zhao said nothing and went to take a shower with water. The cool well water washed away the sweat and fatigue. Xie Zhao shook his wet short hair, wiped his well-defined muscles with a towel, and put on a vest.
Grandma Xie brought Xie Zhao a cup of honey water and some snacks: "Fill your stomach first, dinner will be ready soon!"
On the plate were glutinous rice cakes and two cakes made by Cheng Yaoyao. Xie Zhao asked, "Where did the snacks come from?"
Xie Fei smiled and said, "The Poria cocos cakes that Sister Yaoyao brought back are delicious."
Xie Zhao said nothing and did not even touch the snack.
The sky above the courtyard was filled with rosy clouds. Xie Zhao saw that the water in the water tank was only half full, so he picked up a bucket and went to get some water. Grandma Xie was cooking in the kitchen. She saw him and hurriedly said, "Put it down! You've been tired all day, take a rest."
Xie Zhao turned a deaf ear to him, his arm muscles bulged, and in a few strokes he filled a bucket of water, lifted it to the edge of the water tank and poured it into the vat.
"Stubborn!" Grandma Xie cursed in a low voice, then said loudly, "Brother Zhao, there is some jelly hanging in the well, bring a bowl for Yaoyao to eat."
After saying this, Grandma Xie went to fry eggs, thinking that Xie Zhao would be obedient. Unexpectedly, she heard the sound of pouring water outside. Grandma Xie looked out and saw that Xie Zhao was still fetching water. This was strange.
Grandma Xie recalled Cheng Yaoyao's depressed look when he came back, and then looked at her grandson's stubborn look, and realized that these two enemies were quarreling with each other!
Grandma Xie shook her head and said to Xie Fei, "Xiao Fei, you go. Yaoyao just came back and looked strange. I wonder if he has heatstroke..."
The wooden barrel was thrown into the water tank with a clang.
Xie Fei was squatting in front of the stove, lighting a fire. When she heard this, she was about to leave. Grandma Xie said, "It's none of your business. Light the fire."
Xie Fei was surprised and asked, "But..."
Grandma Xie waved her hand at her, pointed outside, and smiled meaningfully. Xie Fei blinked her eyes like a deer, not quite understanding.
Xie Zhao picked up the basket from the well, took out a covered bowl and put the basket back.
The bowl is filled with green jelly, trembling like frozen tofu, crystal clear. Cut it into small pieces with a knife, sprinkle a little honey on it, and you can smell the cool fragrance if you get close.
Xie Zhao held a bowl of emerald green powder and gently knocked on Cheng Yaoyao's door. He waited for a while, but there was no sound.
Xie Zhao gently pushed the door open and walked in.
Cheng Yaoyao's room was extremely cool. Jasmine and mint leaves were placed on the table, and the fragrance was floating. The setting sun shone through the window, and the light was dim and ambiguous. There was a brand new mosquito net hanging on the bed. The hook of the mosquito net was lowered, and only a slender figure could be vaguely seen lying on the bed.
Xie Zhao put the bowl down, and the bowl and spoon made a slight sound when they collided, but the person on the bed did not move.
Xie Zhao gently lifted the mosquito net and saw Cheng Yaoyao lying face down, looking sulky. The small quilt was a mess, and the sleeping posture was very bad. One snow-white bare foot stretched out of the mosquito net.
Xie Zhao looked down at her from above: "Are you asleep?"
Cheng Yaoyao didn't move.
Xie Zhao grabbed the foot and stuffed it back into the tent. He let it go, and it came out again, kicking him hard.
Xie Zhao had a blank expression on his face. He stretched out his fingers and pinched the snow-white soles of the feet.
"You!" Cheng Yaoyao quickly retracted his feet, raised his head and glared at Xie Zhao.
Xie Zhao pointed to the bowl of jelly and said, "Grandma asked me to bring it here."
Cheng Yaoyao's cheeks were flushed from just waking up, like a newly blossoming crabapple. She turned her head away coquettishly: "I don't want to eat!"
Xie Zhao paused but said nothing.
Cheng Yaoyao folded his arms in anger. He waited for a long time but didn't hear Xie Zhao coming to comfort him. He turned his head secretly and saw that the room was empty. Where was Xie Zhao? If it weren't for the bowl of jelly, Cheng Yaoyao would have thought it was just an illusion.
If it wasn't an illusion, how could Xie Zhao be so cold to me?
The light in the room gradually dimmed. Cheng Yaoyao hugged a small bamboo pillow and secretly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. She wanted to go home.
Cheng Yaoyao started a one-sided cold war with Xie Zhao. Although Cheng Yaoyao glared at Xie Zhao with hatred every day, refused to eat the porridge Xie Zhao prepared for her, and even if Xie Zhao gave her a bath, she would never thank him! But except Cheng Yaoyao, no one in the family seemed to notice this.
The reason is simple - Xie Zhao is too busy.
The watermelons were picked from the fields and loaded onto tractors to be transported to the city twice a day. After a few days, the villagers who picked the watermelons were exhausted, and Xie Zhao, who was in charge of driving the tractor, never rested. Although he was physically strong, his cheeks became thinner, making him look even more sharp.
These days, Cheng Yaoyao hardly ever saw Xie Zhao. Xie Zhao would drive into the city before dawn, and would only eat a few mouthfuls of food before rushing out again. In the evening, after preparing a bath for Cheng Yaoyao, he would fall asleep leaning against the door.
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