The three of them chatted until late at night, each with their own concerns. Cheng Yaoyao was not used to sleeping with others, so he woke up early the next day. Cheng Yaoyao felt someone beside him in a daze, and he turned over and wanted to get into Xie Zhaohuai's arms, but he was sensitive enough to notice that something was wrong with his breath.
Cheng Yaoyao opened her eyes and found that she had pressed her legs against Han Yin. Han Yin kicked off the blanket and lay comfortably on the edge of the bed. No wonder it was so hot. Cheng Yaoyao quickly moved her legs away and pretended that nothing had happened. She turned her head and saw that the blankets beside her were neatly folded and Zhang Xiaofeng was gone.
Cheng Yaoyao was so scared that he turned over and sat up, desperately pushing Han Yin: "Hurry up, get up, Zhang Xiaofeng is gone!"
"Stop making noise..." Han Yin pushed Cheng Yaoyao without even closing her eyes.
Cheng Yaoyao anxiously lifted the mosquito net, only to see Zhang Xiaofeng standing by the desk. He turned around when he heard the noise and asked with a smile, "What's wrong?"
In the morning light, Zhang Xiaofeng was in high spirits. Except for the swelling under his eyes, everything else was normal. Cheng Yaoyao blinked blankly: "You..."
Zhang Xiaofeng smiled nonchalantly, "Don't worry, I'm fine. Things have come to this, it's one day to cry, one day to laugh, why shouldn't I just live my life well instead of letting the person who reported me laugh at me?"
"Well! It's great that you think so." Cheng Yaoyao was infected by Zhang Xiaofeng's optimism and nodded happily.
Zhang Xiaofeng raised a textbook in his hand and said, "Sorry, I read your book."
Cheng Yaoyao got out of bed and walked to Zhang Xiaofeng in slippers. She was holding a math textbook. There were only some teaching materials on the desk, and Cheng Yaoyao had already put away the novels that might cause trouble.
Cheng Yaoyao smiled and said, "It's okay, just watch."
Zhang Xiaofeng was very hardworking when she was in the dormitory for educated youths. Everyone fell asleep immediately after work, but she insisted on reading every night. Unfortunately, there were not many books available in the countryside. Seeing so many books on the desk, Zhang Xiaofeng felt like a drop of water after a long drought. She read the books eagerly.
Cheng Yaoyao poured two cups of water from the teapot and handed one to Zhang Xiaofeng. Zhang Xiaofeng just stared at the book and took the cup and drank it. Suddenly, he felt the depression in his chest dissipate, and his originally heavy body felt much more comfortable.
Zhang Xiaofeng came back to his senses and said, "This water..."
Cheng Yaoyao said: "Drink some water in the morning to refresh yourself."
"Yeah, I feel much more energetic after drinking the water." Zhang Xiaofeng nodded and looked at the tea set on the table. It was made of coarse porcelain commonly seen in the countryside and placed on a wooden tray. It was still very elegant.
Zhang Xiaofeng couldn't help but smile and said, "You really feel comfortable living in the Xie family. Look, the furniture is so complete. The Xie family treats you well, too."
Cheng Yaoyao sat in front of the window and combed her hair slowly with a wooden comb. Her hair was thick and black like a waterfall, without any flaws. She said casually, "Of course, thank you grandma for loving me so much."
"You are lucky. Everyone loves you." Zhang Xiaofeng put his mind back on the book. Looking at the pile of textbooks on the table, he said, "Yaoyao, where did you get so many books?"
When he was in the dormitory for educated youths, Cheng Yaoyao had nothing in his luggage except a red envelope.
Cheng Yaoyao was suddenly puzzled and said, "My father sent it to me. He wrote to me and told me that many students in Shanghai have started to study again. I don't know why."
Zhang Xiaofeng has always been sensitive to politics. When he heard this, his face changed and he thought seriously: "Shanghai is always well-informed. The students have been on strike for so long, and suddenly they started to review... Your father sent you review materials again, could it be..."
Zhang Xiaofeng's eyes lit up, and he said to Cheng Yuanyao, "Could it be that your father... knows some news?"
Cheng Yaoyao pretended to be confused and tilted his head and asked, "What news?"
"That is..." Zhang Xiaofeng lowered his voice, "Should we resume the college entrance examination?!"
Cheng Yaoyao almost dropped the wooden comb on the ground. Fortunately, she didn't say anything. Zhang Xiaofeng was so farsighted! Did he infer the truth of the matter?
Cheng Yaoyao showed a surprised expression: "How could it be? The college entrance examination has been cancelled for such a long time, how could it suddenly be resumed?"
Zhang Xiaofeng was very excited, and he hit his left palm with his right fist: "Even if I don't recover now, I will recover in the future! Yaoyao, don't you think I'm weird, why do I study every day after going to the countryside? Because I think Guo Jia needs knowledge to build socialism! Your father is an engineer, he must have heard some news, so he sent you study materials."
There are still two years before the college entrance examination is resumed. Cheng Yaoyao is afraid that Zhang Xiaofeng will be too excited, so he deliberately pours cold water on him: "I think you should not be too happy too early. This is just your personal judgment. What if the college entrance examination is not resumed?"
Zhang Xiaofeng's ecstatic expression gradually calmed down, but his eyes were still full of excitement: "Even if the college entrance examination is not resumed, it will not be a loss to learn more. Yaoyao, these books of yours..."
Zhang Xiaofeng looked embarrassed: "Can you lend it to me to copy? I will return it to you after I finish copying it. I won't delay you!"
Cheng Yaoyao smiled and waved his hand generously: "Pick a few books to read, and bring them back to exchange after you finish. I'm too lazy to study anyway."
"That won't work!" Zhang Xiaofeng slammed the table and showed off his class monitor authority: "You have to learn with us! And Han Yin! We can't stay here forever, we have to give it a try!"
Zhang Xiaofeng acted swiftly, pulled Han Yin up, and whispered his own judgment. Han Yin was too sleepy to open her eyes, and thought Zhang Xiaofeng was dreaming, and told Zhang Xiaofeng to keep his mouth shut, so as not to be reported again and get into trouble.
Zhang Xiaofeng also said: "Yaoyao, Han Yin, only the three of us know about this. Don't tell anyone, otherwise we will all be in trouble."
Cheng Yaoyao nodded and smiled secretly in her heart. She had been worrying for a long time about how to remind Zhang Xiaofeng and Han Yin about the college entrance examination. Unexpectedly, Zhang Xiaofeng drew inferences from her experience and figured it out himself, and even urged her to study.
As the three were talking, there was a knock on the door. Cheng Yaoyao said, "Come in."
A little girl, about fourteen or fifteen years old, as delicate as a flower bud, poked her head in timidly and said, "Sister, grandma said breakfast is ready and she wants you to come out and eat."
Zhang Xiaofeng smiled at her. Xie Fei blushed and wanted to run away again. Cheng Yaoyao said, "Xiao Fei, they are all my friends. Just call them sister."
Under Cheng Yaoyao's encouraging gaze, Xie Fei mustered up her courage and uttered a mosquito-like voice: "...Well, hello, sister."
Han Yin said enthusiastically: "Your name is Xiao Fei, right? You are so beautiful. Let's go and have dinner together."
Today the weather was cool, so Grandma Xie set up a table in the yard. On the table was a pot of glutinous millet porridge, a plate of pickled cucumbers, a plate of sour beans and lantern peppers, and a plate of fried tomatoes and eggs. This breakfast was quite rich, and it was in line with the normal hospitality standards of the villagers, so it would not arouse suspicion.
Cheng Yaoyao looked around and asked Xie Fei in a low voice, "Where is your brother?"
Xie Fei said, "My brother went out this morning. He said he had something to do."
"What's the matter?" Cheng Yaoyao curled his lips and wanted to laugh. Is Xie Zhao afraid that there are too many women in the family, so he hid away?
A group of women sat around the table. Zhang Xiaofeng and Han Yin hurriedly thanked Grandma Xie. Grandma Xie smiled and said, "They are all grown at home. They are not worth much. Eat more."
Han Yin smiled and said, "This breakfast is almost as good as the one in a state-owned hotel. I'm hungry just by smelling it. I'm not being polite!"
There hadn't been any guests at home for years. Seeing Han Yin showing such support, Grandma Xie said happily, "Okay, eat more, eat more!"
The millet porridge was cooked soft and thick, and I drank it in the morning, which made my stomach feel so comfortable. The pickled cucumbers were crunchy, the sour beans were sour, and the lantern peppers were also grown at home, just picked from the first crop, with a slightly spicy and fragrant taste.
Han Yin and Zhang Xiaofeng were both full of praise for the food, saying, "This pickled bean is so delicious. We also make pickled bean at home, but it's not as crispy and refreshing as this one."
Cheng Yaoyao said proudly: "This pickled green beans is grandma's specialty. Grandma's pickled perilla leaves and cucumbers are also very delicious!"
Han Yin immediately praised Grandma Xie.
The wrinkles at the corners of Grandma Xie's eyes relaxed, and she said cheerfully, "The beans are growing well this year, and we can't eat them all. I even said today that I want to pickle the beans. When I'm done, I'll bring some back for you guys!"
"Thank you, grandma!" Han Yin said flatteringly.
Since they didn't have to work today, Han Yin and Zhang Xiaofeng stayed at Xie's house after dinner to help pickle sour beans.
This summer, the weather was fine. The Xie family's vegetable garden grew wildly with the spiritual spring water. The beans were picked one after another, and the roots were full. The cucumbers also bloomed and bore fruit like crazy. In order to prevent too many cucumbers from robbing nutrients, many cucumber knobs were picked and pickled into sour cucumbers.
A large basin of beans was soaked in a wooden basin, and the emerald green beans stretched out in the water like long ribbons. Cheng Yaoyao, Han Yin, Zhang Xiaofeng, and Xie Fei gathered around the basin, carefully picking and washing the beans.
Han Yin was a very outgoing person. Seeing Xie Fei was so cute and well-behaved, she tried to talk to her. Xie Fei had never been out of the house and interacted with people before, so her words were inevitably very naive. Zhang Xiaofeng and Han Yin were both considerate of her, and Cheng Yaoyao was there to protect her. Xie Fei finally had some courage in her own home and dared to talk to them.
Xie Zhao just came back from outside. He was wearing a new shirt today. He was not used to wearing this, so he still opened his chest, revealing his white vest, and rolled up his sleeves, revealing his strong brown arms. Xie Zhao's arm was better now, no longer in a bandage, and hung at his side. He held a piece of pork in his right hand.
As soon as Xie Zhao entered the room, he heard the girls' laughter and paused. Everyone else also paused in laughter, looking at Xie Zhao, and then they were silent for a few seconds before bursting into even louder laughter.
Xie Zhao didn't understand and looked at Cheng Yaoyao. Cheng Yaoyao was holding her stomach without conscience and laughing the most exaggeratedly. Even Xie Fei was giggling. She had never seen her so lively before.
Xie Zhao put the meat into the kitchen and fled to Grandma Xie's room. Behind him, the girls laughed again.
Han Yin smiled and squeezed Cheng Yaoyao: "This Xie Zhao is really honest. He doesn't even dare to look at us."
Xie Fei sincerely agreed with Han Yin: "My brother is such a nice person!"
Cheng Yaoyao picked the beans in his hand and laughed dryly. He is honest? Haha.
Xie Zhao returned to the house. Grandma Xie was picking up small stones from the rice. The rice distributed in the village was always not clean. But she hadn't picked up many stones in half a day. She listened to the noise outside. When she saw Xie Zhao coming back, she smiled and said, "Listen, I've never seen Xiao Fei so happy."
Xie Zhao said: "I learned this from my sister."
Grandma Xie burst out laughing: "This is a good thing. You and I are not worried anymore. But this little girl is so brave. She can't go on like this. Forget it, let's not talk about this. What did Lin Dafu talk to you about today?"
Xie Zhao said, "Nothing. Just asking if my hand is feeling better. No need to rush to work. Someone was selling pork at the entrance of the village. I bought one."
"Okay, let's fry some sour beans with lard at noon. Sour beans are more fragrant with lard." Grandma Xie smiled and said, "Okay, you can go out now."
Xie Zhao did not move, but sat down to help Grandma Xie pick the rice: "Let me do it, this strains your eyes."
Grandma Xie tried to hold back her laughter and looked at her grandson's brown neck. "Okay, you feel uncomfortable when you see a group of girls. You think they are noisy. I thought I cured your problem."
Xie Zhao sat down to pick up rice and said in a rough voice, "No!"
"Chengcheng, if you don't have it, then you don't have it." Grandma Xie poked him on the head, "You stubborn bastard!"
Cheng Yaoyao's voice came from outside: "Xie Zhao, come out and help me get some water!"
Xie Zhao stood up without stopping for a second: "Here I come!"
Grandma Xie: “…”
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