Chapter 688 I wasn’t angry in the first place “Hey, don’t use your hands directly, it’s hot.” Liu Xiaohua reminded hurriedly, but it was too late.
Zhao Rui had never boiled medicine before and had no experience at all. His fingers directly pinched the lid button of the scalding casserole.
"Hiss." A piercing burning pain came, he suddenly retracted his hand, took a breath of cold air, and saw that the pads of his index finger and thumb turned red in an instant, burning with pain.
"Oh, rinse with cold water." Ma Hongxia became anxious when she saw this and quickly pointed to the faucet next to her.
Zhao Rui grimaced in pain, but still managed to say "It's okay, it's okay". He clumsily turned on the faucet and put his burned finger under the cold water.
Liu Xiaohua looked at his clumsy hands and feet and the way he was trying to endure the pain, feeling anxious and apologetic.
She quickly put down the dish in her hand: "It's all my fault... I told you not to do it. This... This is going to blister. It must hurt. I'll get some medicine to apply on you. I still have the medicine you gave me last time."
Ma Hongxia spoke, and Lu Qingyang, who had been watching the situation quietly at the side, gently pulled Ma Hongxia's arm at the right time, gave her a meaningful look, and shook his head slightly.
Ma Hongxia swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue and watched Zhao Rui being pulled aside by Liu Xiaohua to carefully examine his burns.
One of them lowered his head while the other raised his head, one grinned while the other had eyes full of heartache. Although they didn't say anything more, the atmosphere was already too tense for others to interrupt.
It wasn't until they walked a little further away and continued to treat their burns by the water tank in the backyard that Ma Hongxia withdrew her gaze and whispered to Lu Qingyang, "Qingyang, look at these two children..."
She rubbed the edge of her apron, frowning. "This...this Comrade Zhao Rui is a college student, and our Xiaohua is just a country girl, a waitress. How...how can she be worthy of him? I'm just afraid...I'm afraid that Xiaohua will suffer in the future, or be looked down upon by her family..."
Lu Qingyang motioned Ma Hongxia to a more secluded corner: "Sister-in-law, come here, I'll tell you."
Ma Hongxia followed him, her face still full of worry.
Lu Qingyang looked at her and said sincerely, "Sister-in-law, this is a new society. The old social order of marrying someone of equal status is no longer in vogue. The working class is the leading class, and labor is the most glorious. Xiaohua earns her living by her own cooking skills. She's hardworking and kind-hearted, and she's no worse than anyone else."
He paused and continued, "It's true that Zhao Rui's family is intellectual, but now is an era where workers and farmers are in charge. There's no such thing as one being superior to the other. What matters is whether the two children are sincere, whether they can be attracted to each other, and whether they can support each other and live a good life."
"I think although Zhao Rui is sometimes immature and has some minor flaws, he is a kind person with a good heart. You just saw how he treated Xiaohua. As for his family... children and grandchildren will have their own blessings. If he has made up his mind, his family will probably not object too much. It's too early for us to think about these things now."
"I say, please stop worrying about it. Let everything take its course. They can handle their own affairs and decide for themselves whether it's good or bad. As an elder, you should just watch from the sidelines and check in at critical moments. Don't stop them or force them. Isn't that reasonable?"
Ma Hongxia sighed and nodded: "Qingyang, you are still clear-sighted and reasonable. Alas... I am just worried that Xiaohua will suffer... Since you said so, then I... I will listen to you and let nature take its course."
The backyard was much quieter than the front. The evening light shone down obliquely, stretching the shadows of the two people into long and slender shapes.
Liu Xiaohua asked Zhao Rui to sit on a small stool, and she squatted in front of him, carefully supporting his burned hand.
She took out the small medicine box that Lu Qingyang had given her from her bosom, and sure enough, there was still some burn ointment left in it.
"You...you have to bear the pain."
The ointment touched the burned skin, causing a slight stinging sensation. Zhao Rui subconsciously retracted his hand and took a breath of cold air.
"Hey, does it hurt? I...I'll be gentler..."
Zhao Rui quickly shook his head, trying to endure the pain and trying to look relaxed. "It doesn't hurt at all. It feels cool and comfortable."
He didn't want to see her sad face because of him again.
Liu Xiaohua obviously didn't believe his excuse that it "didn't hurt", but she didn't expose him. Instead, she moved more slowly and carefully, lowering her head and concentrating on spreading the ointment bit by bit.
Zhao Rui lowered his eyes and looked at the girl squatting in front of him.
Because of her illness, her face was still a little pale, and a few strands of hair fell from her ears, swaying gently with her movements.
His heartbeat involuntarily quickened, and he was so lost in thought that even his breathing became lighter.
"Cough... cough cough..." Liu Xiaohua couldn't help but tilt her head and cough twice, her shoulders trembling slightly.
"Look at you, you're still sick. Stop squatting, stand up and sit down. Just apply some medicine. It's okay."
As he spoke, he tried to pull his hand back.
"Don't move, it will be fine soon." Liu Xiaohua stubbornly held his wrist to prevent him from moving.
Her fingers were covered with calluses from years of work, and their touch made his skin feel rough.
"It's just a minor ailment, nothing serious. It's the blisters on your burn that's the problem."
She insisted on applying the last bit of ointment carefully and evenly before letting go.
The two looked at each other and were both stunned.
Liu Xiaohua looked away quickly as if she had been scalded, a faint blush spreading uncontrollably on her cheeks. She hurriedly stood up and stuffed the medicine box back into her pocket somewhat at a loss, her voice becoming stammered:
"Okay... okay, take this ointment. Apply it again at night... before going to bed. Don't get it wet."
Zhao Ruixiao withdrew her hand somewhat unnaturally and shook the hand that had been carefully cared for. The fingertips seemed to still retain the warmth of her touch and the delicate touch of the ointment.
He felt an urge to say something, but he didn't know how to start. In the end, he squeezed out two words dryly: "...Thank you."
"What are you thanking me for? You were helping me..." Liu Xiaohua's voice became lower and lower, and her head drooped even lower.
"Have you forgiven me? You know, I am..."
Liu Xiaohua rolled her eyes at him and said, "I wasn't angry in the first place."
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