Cheng Yaoyao seldom saw such a spirited smile on Xie Zhao's face. His young eyes were proud and sharp, reminding people that he was only twenty years old, a young boy.
Xie Zhao was surrounded by Lin Daguan and others, chatting and laughing for a while before he broke away and walked towards Cheng Yaoyao. The weather was cold, but he was warm and a cold sun blew over his face. Cheng Yaoyao quietly held his breath and handed him the towel in his hand, "Wipe it quickly."
Xie Zhao took the towel and wiped the sweat off his neck, saying, "Sister, let's eat lotus root tonight."
"If Cheng Yaoyao hadn't known that Xie Zhao didn't mean that, he would have beaten him on the spot."
Xie Fei chattered excitedly, "Brother, you are amazing! This is the first time I see you digging lotus roots, and you dig more than others."
Xie Zhao just smiled, wiped his hands and feet, put on his clothes, and rolled up his trousers. At any time, Xie Zhao looked cleaner and more respectable than other men in the village.
Lin Dafu announced, "This year, the guy who dug the most lotus roots is Xie San again. The weather is cold, so everyone should hurry up and take the lotus roots back home."
The others went home in twos and threes, each carrying a lotus root. Tianshui Village is not a big lotus root producing village, and lotus roots are still hard to find, so everyone was eager to go home and taste them.
Cheng Yaoyao has already started to think, "With so many lotus roots, we can make glutinous rice lotus root, lotus pond moonlight, and lotus root powder. What are you looking at?"
Cheng Yaoyao followed Xie Zhao's line of sight and saw a small figure hiding by the tree. It was Mingming, the familiar face.
Cheng Yaoyao ran over and said with a smile, "Mingming, why are you here?"
Although she is only seven or eight years old, she is as tall as a five or six year old child. She is wearing a thick coat made from old women's clothes, and her face is still so timid. She smiled when she saw Cheng Yaoyao, "Sister Yaoyao."
Cheng Yaoyao took out a few candies and handed them to her. She had a good relationship with the children in the village and always brought some fruit candies with her when she went out. Mingming said "thank you" before taking it and carefully putting it in his pocket.
Cheng Yaoyao said, "Why haven't you come out to play recently? I didn't see you last time I went to cut grass."
Mingming blinked her big eyes and whispered, "Sister Yaoyao, I'm practicing the characters you taught me to write."
Cheng Yaoyao smiled. She was teaching the children to write in the sand, and Mingming was the one who was learning the most. She asked again, "What are you doing hiding here?"
Mingming didn't answer, but looked behind Cheng Yaoyao. Xie Zhao came over with a bundle of lotus roots, bent down and placed it in front of Mingming. Mingming's eyes lit up, and he said in a grateful and low voice, "Thank you, brother."
So you are waiting for the lotus root? Cheng Yaoyao wanted to ask something, but suddenly remembered that Mingming's mother was a widow, so he swallowed it back.
Mingming grabbed the lotus root with her thin little hands and lifted it up. She stood up with great effort and said to Cheng Yaoyao, "Sister, I'm going home. Goodbye."
He turned and walked towards the west end of the village. His small, thin figure seemed very long in the setting sun.
Xie Zhao had dug a lot of lotus roots, a huge pile. The three of them put the lotus roots in the clear water channel and rubbed off the mud on them. The clear water suddenly turned into turbid muddy water. Cheng Yaoyao also learned about Mingming's family from Xie Zhao.
Mingming's mother, Widow Liu, was a woman who fled from famine in other places. She led a hard life with Mingming, and lotus roots were a rare staple for her family. That year, her family could not afford to eat, and two-year-old Mingming lay in bed, starving and unable to cry. Widow Liu actually went into the water to get lotus roots, and was laughed at by the men in the village. Some even took advantage of her verbally and persuaded her to go ashore crying.
Xie Zhao couldn't bear to see this, so he threw a bundle of lotus roots to Widow Liu. Later, every year on the day of digging lotus roots, Xie Zhao would leave a bundle of lotus roots for her. A few years later, the one who came to take the lotus roots became Mingming.
Cheng Yaoyao sighed when he heard this, and Xie Fei suddenly asked, "Is that the widow Liu the one that Aunt Jinhua told my brother about two years ago?"
Cheng Yaoyao ""
Xie Zhao"
The atmosphere suddenly changed, and the wind blowing in the face was chilly. Xie Fei was shocked when she saw Cheng Yaoyao's expression and said, "I, I, I didn't say anything."
Xie Zhao paused and looked at Cheng Yaoyao's face carefully.
Cheng Yaoyao raised his eyebrows and said as if nothing had happened, "Why are you all looking at me? Hurry up and wash up and go home."
Cheng Yaoyao's temper didn't flare up immediately, which meant that something more serious was going to happen. Xie Zhao was worried, and he didn't know how long he would have to coax him this time. Xie Fei, who had gotten into trouble, was even more angry and didn't dare to say anything. She buried her head and washed the lotus root.
When we carried nearly 200 kilograms of lotus roots home on a flat basket, Grandma Xie was already waiting at the door. Jianjian also came out and meowed, "Wow, there are so many this year!"
"Yeah, I'm starving." Cheng Yaoyao ran into the yard, "Is the meal ready?"
Grandma Xie smiled and said, "It's all ready. Only the vegetables are left to cook. I'm waiting for your lotus root."
Cheng Yaoyao rolled up his sleeves and took a tender lotus root into the kitchen. The outer skin of the lotus root was dark brown, and he peeled it quickly to reveal the tender white flesh. Cheng Yaoyao cut the lotus root into pieces with a few clicks, and then cut it into dices.
In the yard, Xie Zhao was unloading lotus roots. Grandma Xie was watching from the side. “This year, there should be about 100 kilograms.”
"More than 180 kilograms." Xie Zhao's estimate was very accurate.
Grandma Xie said cheerfully, "There are so many that you can't finish. If you leave them alone, they will go bad. You can take them to the county town to exchange them."
Xie Zhao didn't even raise his head. "I won't change it this year. My sister is going to make lotus root starch."
"That's fine." Listening to the sound of knives chopping on the chopping board in the kitchen, Grandma Xie said, "What's wrong with Yaoyao today? You made such a loud noise. Don't break my chopping board. I have to go and check it out."
"Don't go." Xie Zhao and Xie Fei said in unison.
Grandma Xie asked, "What happened to you two brothers and sisters?"
Xie Zhao said nothing. Xie Fei said with a bitter face, "Sister Yaoyao knows about Aunt Jinhua's matchmaking between Widow Liu and my brother."
Grandma Xie hissed in toothache, "Who said that?"
Xie Fei was about to cry. "I said that."
Grandma Xie raised her hand to hit her, but Xie Zhao quickly stopped her. Xie Fei hid behind Xie Zhao and said, "I really didn't mean it. What should I do? Sister is so angry."
Grandma Xie said, "You know Yaoyao's temper, and you still told her this."
Xie Zhao waved at Xie Fei from behind, and Xie Fei ran away. Xie Zhao grabbed Grandma Xie and said, "Grandma, forget it."
Grandma Xie didn't really want to hit him, so she put her hands down and said, "You are really a bunch of living ancestors."
Cheng Yaoyao worked in the kitchen and cooked a dish of spicy and sour lotus root. Grandma Xie also took out the hot dishes from the pot, including stir-fried mushrooms, stewed autumn melon, and a bowl of steamed egg custard with a little soy sauce and pork fat, which was very fragrant.
There are fewer green vegetables these days, and autumn melons, cucumbers, and mushrooms are common on the table. The spicy and sour lotus root cubes are bright red, spicy, and sour, and have the unique smoothness and crispness of fresh lotus roots, which really whets your appetite.
Xie Zhao picked up a piece of Cheng Yaoyao's favorite chicken mushroom from the mixed mushrooms and put it into her bowl. Grandma Xie and Xie Fei immediately stopped chewing and stared at Cheng Yaoyao, guarding against her getting angry.
Unexpectedly, Cheng Yaoyao stuffed the chicken mushroom into his mouth and ate it, and he enjoyed it very much.
The three of them breathed a sigh of relief and finished the meal without any problems.
After dinner, everyone washed up and went to bed. As it was getting dark early, the villagers also went to bed early to save some lamp oil and candles. In the darkness, only Cheng Yaoyao's room was still lit.
Cheng Yaoyao sat in the quilt, with her freshly washed hair draped over her shoulders. The ends of her hair were still wet and exuded a faint fragrance.
There was a noise at the door. Xie Zhao cleaned up the bathroom, closed the door and walked in. Cheng Yaoyao didn't even raise his head, but leaned against the head of the bed and flipped through a book idly.
Xie Zhao's long legs stopped at the edge of the bed. After a long while, he tentatively sat on the edge of the bed and saw clearly the cover of the book Dream of the Red Chamber in Cheng Yaoyao's hand.
Being lazy again. If Cheng Yaoyao had hidden the book at any other time, he was fearless today.
Xie Zhao said, "The lights are too dim. Be careful not to hurt your eyes."
Cheng Yaoyao ignored him and turned the page. Xie Zhao picked up the wick with scissors, and the room was bright again. Cheng Yaoyao's eyes, which had been a little sour, finally relaxed, but she closed the book and stopped reading, staring at Xie Zhao.
This was the first time Cheng Yaoyao looked at him since the evening. Xie Zhao was delighted and reached out to touch Cheng Yaoyao's face.
Cheng Yaoyao grabbed his hand and bit it. Xie Zhao looked at her without frowning. The expected pain did not come. The little fangs bit the flesh and rubbed it, but there was not even a tooth mark left.
Xie Zhao said hesitantly, "Sister"
"Why don't you hide?" Cheng Yaoyao pushed his hand away in disgust.
Xie Zhao said honestly, "I made my sister angry, I deserve it."
"I'm not that stingy." Cheng Yaoyao put the book next to the pillow and pushed Xie Zhao, "No review tonight, go back to your room."
Xie Zhao didn't dare to leave right now, so he hugged Cheng Yaoyao's shoulders and pulled him towards himself.
Cheng Yaoyao turned her face around, her face rosy, and she couldn't help but smile. Xie Zhao looked at her in confusion, "Sister, you're not angry?"
Cheng Yaoyao couldn't hold back her laughter any longer, and she leaned over to rub Xie Zhao's nose affectionately. "Why should I be angry? My man is so kind-hearted, I'm very proud."
A bundle of lotus roots is nothing now, but it was also a small amount of food that the Xie family saved from their teeth in the past. Xie Zhao helped Mingming's family for so many years, but he never mentioned it.
Xie Zhao's heart finally settled down. Cheng Yaoyao's words made his heart boil. He hugged her tightly and said, "My sister has grown up."
"Of course, I have always been sensible." Cheng Yaoyao raised his chin proudly.
Time went back to the evening. Grandma went into the kitchen to help Cheng Yaoyao and asked, "Did you come to get the lotus roots today?"
"I took it." Cheng Yaoyao quietly pricked up his ears and pretended to ask casually, "Xie Zhao has given lotus roots to Mingming's family for so many years, why do they seem to have no contact with our family?"
Grandma Xie said, "My mother is obviously a widow, and widows are prone to gossip. Our family is like this, so how can we have anything to do with her?"
Cheng Yaoyao said "Oh", and then said "I heard that Mingming's mother is quite young and good-looking."
Grandma Xie said, "Nonsense! Mom is already 27 or 28 years old, which is young for a widow. She is 7 or 8 years older than our Zhao Ge'er."
Grandma Xie smiled as if she remembered something and said, "There is something funny to tell. That year, Aunt Jinhua came to my house and wanted to match Zhao Ge'er and Ming Ming's mother. Zhao Ge'er was a 17 or 18-year-old boy, and he wanted to marry a second wife. What was she thinking? Did she still want to save Ming Ming's mother's reputation? I beat her out with a big broom."
Cheng Yaoyao curled his lips and said, "Why call him? Maybe he is happy about it."
Grandma Xie chuckled. "Our Zhao Ge'er has high standards. In the past, there were several girls who were attracted by Zhao Ge'er's good looks and would rather marry him without a dowry, but he didn't agree to any of them."
Xie Zhao's vision is more than high. Cheng Yaoyao was secretly happy, and finally calmed down. But she didn't want to tell Xie Zhao, she found Xie Zhao's cautious look funny.
The atmosphere in the room gradually became charming. Xie Zhao hugged Cheng Yaoyao and wrapped her tightly with the quilt. It wasn't winter yet, but Cheng Yaoyao's hands and feet were cold. Xie Zhao had to warm her up every night before she could fall asleep. What would this Jiaojiao do in winter?
Xie Zhao called "sister" in Cheng Yaoyao's ear in a deep and mellow voice.
Cheng Yaoyao played with the buttons on his clothes and said "hmm" "what's the matter?"
Xie Zhao was just happy, resting his chin on her head and rubbing it gently. "I just wanted to talk to you."
"Then tell me." Cheng Yaoyao looked up with amusement and looked at the stubble on Xie Zhao's chin.
Xie Zhao said stupidly, "You tell me."
"Hmm" Cheng Yaoyao thought for a moment and suddenly asked, "What does Widow Liu look like?"
"Xie Zhao jumped up and hit his head directly on the bedpost. He stared at Cheng Yaoyao as if his tail had been stepped on.
Cheng Yaoyao innocently spread his hands and said, "Didn't you say we were chatting?"
"The veins on Xie Zhao's neck were bulging. He stared at Cheng Yaoyao, unable to speak. He couldn't hit him or scold him. He was so angry that he picked up the cup beside him and drank from it.
Cheng Yaoyao hurriedly stopped him and said, "That water"
Cheng Yaoyao was unable to stop him and watched Xie Zhao drink the wine in one gulp. He tugged at his collar and drops of water rolled down his Adam's apple.
Xie Zhao took a breath and calmed down. He rushed to Cheng Yaoyao and whispered, "That widow Liu has never spoken to me, and I don't remember what she looks like."
"I know." Cheng Yaoyao swallowed and said, "I'm sleepy, you should go back to sleep quickly."
Xie Zhao became more and more anxious when he saw this, and he pulled Cheng Yaoyao's hand and said, "Really, every time I dropped the lotus root and left, I didn't even look at her face. In the past few years, I clearly came to get the lotus root again."
"I know, I'm really not angry." Cheng Yaoyao suddenly grabbed Xie Zhao's collar, pulled him towards him, and kissed him hard. "Be good, I'm really sleepy and need to sleep."
Xie Zhao's words were all blocked by this kiss. He blinked blankly, and the aura around him fell like a tide, turning into a soft touch. He looked at Cheng Yaoyao with shining eyes, and wanted to make Cheng Yaoyao lie down.
Cheng Yaoyao simply jumped off the bed and pushed Xie Zhao towards the door. "Go away, I want to sleep."
Xie Zhao had no choice but to walk out. "I'm leaving. Go back to bed. The floor is cold."
"Okay, good night." Xie Zhao wanted to say something, but Cheng Yaoyao simply closed the door and locked it.
Cheng Yaoyao leaned against the door, covered his chest and breathed a sigh of relief, his heart pounding.
The cup just now was pure spiritual spring water without any impurities. Xie Zhao had a special physique, and Cheng Yaoyao never dared to give him spiritual spring water without diluting it. After drinking so much in one breath, Cheng Yaoyao made a sign of the cross for Xie Zhao on his chest, and climbed into bed to sleep without any guilt.
That night, Cheng Yaoyao vaguely heard footsteps at the door, and someone pushed the door, looking very anxious. She hugged the small bamboo pillow and turned over, and had a good sleep that night.
The next morning, Cheng Yaoyao got up and ran into the yard quietly. She saw Xie Zhao drying the bed sheet with his back to her. The dark blue bed sheet was wet and hung on the bamboo pole. It was moved to the corner of the yard to hide it.
Cheng Yaoyao couldn't help but burst out laughing. Xie Zhao turned around and saw her, his face embarrassed.
Cheng Yaoyao still looked puzzled. "Today is not the day for washing clothes, why are you washing the sheets?"
"I like to be clean." Xie Zhao frowned and quickly moved his pants inside.
Cheng Yaoyao dragged out his voice, "But didn't you just change the new bed sheet the other day?"
Xie Zhao finally heard Cheng Yaoyao's teasing and put down the basin, "Come here."
Cheng Yaoyao immediately rushed to Grandma Xie, "Grandma, you're up!"
Grandma Xie walked out of the room and said with a smile, "Hey, Yaoyao, it's rare for you to get up so early. What are you guys talking about?"
Cheng Yaoyao deliberately looked at Xie Zhao and said with a smile, "I praise Xie Zhao for being so pure."
Grandma Xie said, "Okay, Zhao'er, bring the basket and put some fresh vegetables and lotus roots in it."
Cheng Yaoyao asked curiously, "Why are you pretending?"
Grandma Xie smiled and said, "Aren't you going into the city today? Take some to give to others. There are not many vegetables now, and you can't eat such fresh ones in the city."
Xie Zhao now drives a tractor and often has to deal with people from fertilizer factories, feed factories and the like. Bringing some fresh vegetables as a favor makes things easier.
The Xie family's yard was warm in winter and cool in summer, and the vegetables grew especially well this year, with tomatoes still ripening one after another. Xie Zhao picked some green vegetables, juicy tomatoes and autumn melons, and said to Cheng Yaoyao, "Sister, can you pick a pumpkin?"
Cheng Yaoyao was picking eggs. Hearing this, he rushed over and asked, "Why are you picking my pumpkin?"
Xie Zhao said, "The director of the fertilizer factory heard that our pumpkins are good and wanted to get some seeds."
The pumpkins planted by Cheng Yaoyao grew well, including the one under the Chinese toon tree, which had thirteen pumpkins in total, all of different shapes, with yellow skin, very cute. Cheng Yaoyao looked at them for a long time and chose the ugliest one for Xie Zhao to pick.
Xie Zhao packed a large basket of fruits and vegetables, and took several dozen kilograms of lotus roots from yesterday. Cheng Yaoyao also packed a basket of mushroom sauce and homemade fruit jam, as she hadn't supplied the monkeys with any for a long time.
Xie Zhao carried his things and went out with Cheng Yaoyao. Grandma Xie stood at the door and told him earnestly not to forget what she had told him.
Cheng Yaoyao said, "Don't worry, I remember."
They went to the city today with an important mission given by Grandma Xie.
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