Chapter 188 Are you going to be busy drawing again?
Or... is he worried about her reaction, or is he hiding some other thought?
Xu Zhili lowered her head, looking at the two small paper packets in her arms. The sharp edges of the candy wrappers pressed slightly against her palm through the fabric, and the faint fragrance of the snow cream lingered around her nose. The corners of her mouth involuntarily curved into a soft arc.
This clumsy yet sincere concern is like a pebble thrown into a lake, creating ripples that spread outwards.
With the crisis resolved, we set off again and arrived at the village entrance in just a few minutes.
The rain had completely stopped, the dark clouds had dispersed, and the setting sun shone brightly through the gaps in the clouds, making the puddles on the ground sparkle like scattered gold dust.
The air was exceptionally fresh, washed clean by the rain, and carried the fragrance of earth and grass.
The sound of the jeep's engine was particularly noticeable in the quiet village.
Soon, many villagers who had finished dinner and were cooling off at the doorway, along with children who were chasing and playing, gathered around curiously.
Xie Yunze parked the car steadily, jumped out again with agility, went around to the trunk, and took out Xu Zhili's simple duffel bag.
"Oh! It's Little Xu, the educated youth, back!"
An elderly woman was the first to recognize her.
"Is this... Xie's son who's in the army? He's really made something of himself, driving such a fancy car."
Some people looked at the military green Jeep and Xie Yunze's upright figure, their tone full of envy and admiration.
"Young Xu, are you two dating?"
Aunt Wang, who knew him well, laughed and joked loudly, her eyes darting between the two of them, "Comrade Xie is truly a handsome man, and he and you are a perfect match!"
Xu Zhili blushed instantly, feeling as if her cheeks were burning.
She quickly waved her hand, her voice tinged with anxious embarrassment: "No, Aunt Wang, please don't talk nonsense! Comrade Xie was just on his way to the county on business and gave me a ride back..."
She subconsciously looked up at Xie Yunze beside her, thinking that he would also clarify out of politeness or to avoid suspicion, or like many soldiers who are joked about, he would put on a stern face and deny it seriously.
However, he listened in silence, his resolute face showing no obvious expression, neither admitting nor denying.
However, Xu Zhili keenly noticed that the blush that had faded at the base of his ears seemed to have deepened slightly at a visible speed, standing out particularly against his bronze skin.
He forgot that she was still his girlfriend.
He handed her the duffel bag naturally.
In the instant of the handover, Xu Zhili's gaze once again caught sight of the dried, scabbed mud mark and minor abrasions on the back of his right hand.
Those were the marks he had left when he struggled to push the cart for her in the mud.
It felt as if something had gently pricked her heart, leaving a slight numbness mixed with an indescribable ache.
Just as Xu Zhili took a deep breath, thinking about how to thank him again for the ride and the gift today, and how to say goodbye to him properly, Xie Yunze suddenly spoke up.
His voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear, penetrating the subtle noise around him and landing steadily in her ears.
"I'm leaving tomorrow to carry out my mission."
He said, looking at her calmly, then quickly added, as if afraid of being interrupted, "Ah Li, wait for me."
He paused, his gaze quickly sweeping over her flushed cheeks before turning to the distant mountains bathed in the golden-red light of the setting sun. His voice was steady yet carried an undeniable certainty.
"I'm taking a family visit leave next week."
"...I'll come see you again."
After saying that, without waiting for Xu Zhili to react, he nodded slightly to the villagers who were looking around curiously as a greeting, then quickly turned around, opened the car door, and started the engine smoothly.
Instead of going home, which was nearby, he turned the car around and drove off in a clean arc in the golden glow of the setting sun, kicking up a little damp dust. He quickly became a small dot in the distance.
Xu Zhili stood there with her luggage bag, watching the car gradually disappear. She felt the heat on her cheeks linger for a long time, and the pounding of her heart in her chest was particularly clear in the quiet air after the rain.
The dry, rough feel of that military towel and the cool, slippery cellophane of the fruit candy wrapper still seemed to linger in my palm.
He just said... that she should wait for him?
Should I come see her again next week?
As dusk fell, wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys of the surrounding houses, carrying the faint aroma of food.
She stood there, carrying her luggage, staring in the direction the car had disappeared, motionless for a long time. Her heart was in turmoil, yet also filled with something warm.
After a long while, Xu Zhili finally looked away, let out a soft breath, and turned to walk towards the Party Secretary's house first, to bring her younger brother back.
When we arrived at Secretary Liu's house, Xiao Zhian was sitting obediently on a small stool reading a comic book.
Upon seeing his sister, he immediately put down his book and rushed over to her.
"elder sister!"
Xu Zhili squatted down and gently patted his head: "An'an, did you have fun at Brother Wenming's house?"
"I'm so happy!" Xu Zhian nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling. "Brother Wenming gave me all the paper frogs he folded! He even taught me to read!"
"Then... will An'an blame her for leaving you in the Liu family?" Xu Zhili asked with some guilt.
Xu Zhian quickly shook her head, saying like a little adult, "No, I'm very well-behaved, I can stay anywhere. Sister is a great hero, she can do many amazing things, she's the most amazing!" Her adoring little eyes softened Xu Zhili's heart.
Xu Zhili was amused and pinched his little nose: "You little rascal, you always know how to say nice things to make your sister happy."
"Hehe... Sister, shall we go home?"
"We're going back, we're going back now." Xu Zhili took her younger brother's hand, thanked Secretary Liu's family, and led her brother back.
Back in her own courtyard, Xu Zhili started a fire and cooked a simple dinner while listening to her younger brother chatter about the day's interesting events. After dinner, she fetched hot water for her brother to wash up.
"Alright, pack your things and go to sleep." Xu Zhili tucked her younger brother in.
Xu Zhian blinked and asked softly, "Sister, are you going to be busy drawing again?"
He knew that what his sister was drawing was not an ordinary drawing, but a very impressive "blueprint".
"Maybe," Xu Zhili smiled and gently tapped his forehead. "Our An'an is so smart, go to sleep now."
After putting her younger brother to sleep, Xu Zhili was finally able to sit down at the simple workbench and, under the dim light of the desk lamp, arrange her drawing tools one by one.
Having just finished designing that lightweight tractor, this time I need to start modifying that decommissioned military vehicle from the arsenal. Time is tight and the task is heavy.
She calmed down and quickly immersed herself in the complex design.
This busy period lasted for six consecutive days.
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