“Yes, just classmates,” An Youhe said, bowing her head.
Ye Zhou then revealed a kind smile.
Grandma An glanced at the two of them, then stood up and said, "Ni'er, go cook."
An Youhe glanced guiltily at Ye Zhou beside her before leaving the main house.
It was already noon.
An Youhe started a fire in the kitchen to cook.
Grandma sat on the porch of the main house, holding a cane in her hand.
Ye Zhou sat on a small stool by the dining table in the main room, feeling somewhat restless.
Grandma An is like a dividing line, separating the two people on both sides.
"I'll go help in the kitchen," Ye Zhou said, getting up.
Before I had taken two steps, I heard the old lady say, "Oh dear, is this light bulb broken lately? It's been flickering and making my eyes dizzy."
Ye Zhou immediately understood what he meant, "I'll go buy light bulbs."
After walking through several alleys, Ye Zhou finally found the location of the convenience store and bought an energy-saving light bulb for four yuan and fifty cents.
Ye Zhou placed five yuan on the counter and was about to leave when he said, "Boss, keep the change."
"Hey, kid, you can't just throw money away like that. You're ruining my reputation. Take it now."
As soon as Ye Zhou stepped outside, the shopkeeper forced him to give him 50 cents.
Based on his experience from his previous life, Ye Zhou successfully replaced the light bulb, turned it on, and tested it; the effect was excellent.
He glanced at the old lady, but still didn't smile.
"I can't watch many TV channels lately either; the screen turns blue after a while."
"I'll fix it."
"My radio..."
"I'll fix it."
"There's not much water left in the water tank."
"I'm going to drain the water."
"We need the river water; it's for washing clothes and feeding chickens and geese."
"Okay, I'll go get some water."
An Youhe happened to come out of the kitchen, grabbed Ye Zhou's hand holding the bucket, her face flushed, and said to the old lady, "Grandma, how could you bully someone?"
The old woman said in a self-deprecating manner, "How did I bully him? He said it himself."
Ye Zhou patted the girl's hand and said, "It's okay, these are things I really wanted to help with."
...
After a flurry of activity, Ye Zhou was covered in sweat.
The old lady remained unmoved, offering no smile.
Ye Zhou casually washed his face under the tap.
Several dishes were already placed in the main room, including stir-fried pork with chili peppers, stir-fried spinach with eggs, and egg noodles as the main dish.
An Youhe pouted, looking at Ye Zhou with eyes full of heartache.
At the dinner table, the old lady was a little angry. "Where are the scallions and cilantro I asked for? You always put them in before, why aren't you putting them in today?"
Ye Zhou paused for a moment while eating his noodles; he didn't like scallions and cilantro.
An Youhe didn't say anything, got up and went to the kitchen. When she came back, she had chopped scallions and cilantro in her hand, which she sprinkled into the old lady's bowl.
The old lady glanced at her granddaughter, then seemed slightly satisfied and picked up her chopsticks to eat.
After eating and drinking her fill, the old lady leisurely took the repaired radio and went inside to listen to a play.
Ye Zhou also helped carry the bowls and plates, saying, "Let me help you."
Two people were squatting under the tap washing dishes.
An Youhe was also in a bad mood, and lowered her head, saying, "I'm sorry, my grandma isn't usually like this."
Ye Zhou didn't seem to care much. "It's nothing. People of a certain age are usually like this. I didn't take it to heart."
The girl's fingertips were white from washing, and she subtly put her arm around Ye Zhou's shoulder, resting her chin on his shoulder.
They remained silent, saying nothing.
Ye Zhou also stopped washing the dishes and let the girl hug him.
Ye Zhou secretly vowed in his heart that he would never let An Youhe suffer in the future, and would make her happy.
They both deserve a better life.
...
In the afternoon, the old lady sat under the sycamore tree, listening to a little tune with her eyes closed.
An Youhe and Ye Zhou spoke in hushed tones, like secret spies.
The two people pretended to be feeding chickens.
"Grandma usually rides her tricycle to collect recyclables in the morning and afternoon, but I don't know why she didn't go today."
"I'm afraid my precious granddaughter will be kidnapped." Ye Zhou poured some water into the chicken coop.
Just then, two people came in from outside the door, a man and a woman, carrying 7-treasure porridge and nine walnut milks.
"Mother, I've come to see you."
The old lady stood up, a smile spreading across her face. "Why are you here so soon? Have you eaten yet?"
They are An Youhe's uncle and aunt.
An Youhe followed, saying, "Uncle, Aunt."
Looking at An Youhe, her aunt said, "Youhe has grown up so much, she's become a beautiful young lady."
Then he looked at Ye Zhou and asked, "What's this?"
An Youhe then said, "It's one of my classmates who came to see me."
The aunt and uncle didn't say anything, but they looked at Ye Zhou with knowing smiles.
Ye Zhou stood next to An Youhe and said politely, "Hello, uncle and aunt, my name is Ye Zhou."
The woman immediately looked delighted. "Oh my, you're Ye Zhou, the top scorer in the college entrance exam from No. 1 High School! My son Anxi admires you so much! He also got into No. 1 High School this year."
An Youhe reminded Ye Zhou that the boy they had seen at the supermarket entrance earlier was An Xi.
Grandma An tapped her cane and said, "Don't stand outside anymore, let's go inside and talk."
Several people sat down in the main house.
An Youhe poured hot water into the cups in front of everyone.
My uncle also explained his purpose for coming.
Place the items wrapped in newspaper from your schoolbag on the table.
"This is four thousand yuan, not much. It was paid by my eldest and second uncles together to help Youhe with some of his tuition fees."
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