Chapter 17: He Kissed Her

Lin Yingying was inside the house getting things ready.

She brought out a can of luncheon meat, a jar of honey, a jar of malted milk powder, a tub of milk powder, and two packs of instant noodles.

After looking over the items, she put the instant noodles and milk powder back. To her, instant noodles were not good food at all, not as tasty as the pancakes Huo Qingshan made for her. As for the milk powder, that could be saved to bribe the children.

Hearing movement, she hurried out to greet them, and saw Huo Qingshan coming in with his mother. Up close, Mother Huo did not look that old. She had delicate features, fair skin, and was a very good-looking little old lady. Because she had been widowed for many years, she deliberately dressed to look older; the black clothes and black pants, along with the bun at the back of her head, made her appear a full ten years older.

Seeing Lin Yingying smiling so brightly, Mother Huo felt completely at ease. Having lived to this age, she might not have many other skills, but when it came to judging people, she still had some ability. She had plenty of experience when it came to reading the look in young women’s eyes.

Educated Youth Lin did not care in the slightest about those gossiping tongues. As expected, girls from the city truly had insight.

Once inside, Lin Yingying invited Mother Huo to sit on the kang (heated brick bed).

Mother Huo saw the kang table placed on the bed, and on it so many good things. She knew right away that Lin Yingying had specially prepared them.

If one were overly suspicious, they might think the future daughter-in-law was trying to give her a show of power, flaunting her wealthy family background. But Mother Huo thought instead that Lin Yingying was genuinely generous, willing to bring out good things to entertain an old woman like her.

She motioned for Huo Qingshan to quickly bring out the dumplings and dishes—there were four lunch boxes of dumplings in all. Smiling at Lin Yingying, she said, “This child Qingshan is good in every way, except that he’s too clumsy-tongued and doesn’t like to talk. He won’t say sweet words and is stuffy all day long. Yingying, you must teach him well. People like us, with our slow tongues, are beyond saving.”

Lin Yingying shot Huo Qingshan a glance and pressed her lips into a smile. Clumsy-tongued? Auntie, you are far too good at saying things.

Whether someone could speak well or not had nothing to do with their education. It was something innate, shaped later by experience.

It seemed that Huo Qingshan took after his father—sparing with words.

Mother Huo, worried that Lin Yingying might mind her suddenly not inviting her to their home for a meal, offered an explanation. “These past few days, everyone has been harvesting wheat, and the house is a mess. Qingshan’s younger brothers and sisters are both busy and noisy. I was afraid they might offend you. Later, I’ll have Qingshan straighten them up so they behave properly.”

Lin Yingying smiled openly. “Auntie, I’m not worried.”

She was marrying Huo Qingshan, not his younger brothers and sisters. Even if they were a bit unruly, there was nothing to be afraid of. After all, wasn’t Huo Qingshan someone with upright values?

Today, Mother Huo had brought dumplings stuffed with green beans and minced pork cracklings. The green beans were blanched in boiling water, then chopped, mixed with minced scallion and ginger, and combined with lard. A bit of black fungus or mushrooms could be added too. Wrapped up, they were especially fragrant when eaten. She urged Lin Yingying to try one quickly. “See if it suits your taste. Your auntie here may not be able to do much else, but I can at least cook a meal.”

Lin Yingying picked up one of the ingot-shaped dumplings with her sandalwood chopsticks and took a bite. The oily broth, rich with savory flavor, flowed into her mouth. Although the taste of the green beans was not strong, when mixed with lard it became refreshing but not greasy, fragrant but not oily—especially delicious.

It was so tasty that Lin Yingying’s eyes narrowed in delight, and she generously delivered a hundred-word mini-essay of praise.

Though she was delicate and a bit of a clean freak, and her table manners were graceful and pleasant to watch, she was not the type to put on an act. Instead, she ate with her cheeks puffed out, looking fragrant and appetizing, and when she praised, it came from the heart, her eyes sparkling.

Mother Huo felt completely satisfied.

No matter how delicious the food she made, her eldest son would only say “Tastes good” with a blank face. The other children would simply wield their chopsticks and snatch without offering a single word of praise.

Enough to make a person die of frustration!

Mother Huo kept pushing the plate toward Lin Yingying. “Yingying, eat more. There’s plenty. I made a lot.”

Huo Qingshan: There’s quite a lot—she’s brought every last one of them.

Lin Yingying was thoroughly enjoying herself as she ate, urging them to hurry and eat too.

Suddenly, Mother Huo reached into a cloth pouch at her side and pulled out two large gold bangles, slipping them onto Lin Yingying’s wrists.

Lin Yingying was startled. “???”

Huo Qingshan was also taken aback. He had no idea when his mother had hidden these things. Back when they were so poor they were going hungry and couldn’t afford a meal, he had never seen her bring them out.

He immediately stepped outside to look around. The Educated Youth Point was quiet, not a single person in sight.

Mother Huo chuckled in satisfaction. “Back in the days of ‘striking down the landlords and dividing the land,’ when your grandfather and his first wife were executed, I was the unfortunate child of a concubine and wasn’t targeted. I knew where your grandaunt kept her private stash, so in the chaos I went and gathered up a whole bundle of things. These were the dowry she had once promised me. I hid them very well—no one knows, not even Qingshan and the others. I’m giving them all to you.”

As she spoke, she pushed the cloth pouch into Lin Yingying’s arms. Inside were also two gold bars.

Lin Yingying: “!!!!” Good heavens, this old lady was truly something! What a master at hiding gold! Sure enough, everyone had their own survival wisdom.

She quickly put the gold bangles back into the cloth pouch and told Mother Huo to keep them well hidden. In times like these, one could not wear them, or it would be considered a mistake.

Seeing that she firmly refused to accept them, Mother Huo said, “When you come to our home, I’ll hand them over to you to keep.”

Huo Qingshan felt utterly helpless and silently drank a cup of water in place of wine by himself.

After the meal, they chatted for a while longer. Then Mother Huo told Lin Yingying to rest, urging Huo Qingshan to go and cut wheat on her behalf, while she herself went home to take care of other things.

Once Mother Huo and Huo Qingshan had left, Lin Yingying dozed off for a bit. When she woke, she went down to wash her face, then began writing a letter to her family, planning to send it out the next day.

Just then, Ye Zhiting and Ye Manman returned from outside. Ye Zhiting was about to speak to her when Lin Yingying shot him a sidelong glance and said coldly, “I will no longer accept any questioning from you. Otherwise, we’re finished as friends.” She then pointed at Ye Manman and gave a sharp snort. “And you too.”

She stuffed the letter into her small handbag and went off to find Huo Qingshan.

Watching her leave with such a bold air, Ye Zhiting’s handsome face darkened.

Seeing him trembling with anger, Ye Manman hesitated, then reached out to gently pat his back. “Brother Ting, yesterday she went with Huo Qingshan to make a phone call. Uncle Lin and Auntie have already agreed. Today… Huo Qingshan even came to have the engagement meal with her.”

Ye Zhiting stared at her in disbelief. “Really?” He suddenly grabbed her hand, his gaze locking on her with a dazzling intensity.

Ye Manman’s heart pounded like a drum, her cheeks flushing crimson, and her voice turned unbearably soft. “Brother…Ting.”

Ye Zhiting pulled her along toward the door. “I was foolish. I shouldn’t have spoken to them myself—I should have had you speak to Uncle Lin.”

At this moment, Huo Qingshan was in a wheat field some distance away, harvesting wheat. His movements were both light and quick, cutting the stalks as effortlessly as if he were mowing tender grass.

With each swing of the sickle, the muscles of his back and upper arms stretched into smooth, well-defined lines. Sweat flew from him, and the masculine energy radiating from his body surged, filling him with a wild, powerful beauty.

Lin Yingying stood there watching him for quite a while. How did he never seem to tire? It was as if he had endless strength.

Finishing a stretch of work in one go, Huo Qingshan stopped, pulled out a towel to wipe his sweat, picked up the canteen from the ground, twisted it open to take two gulps, then poured some water over his head before turning and walking toward her.

Seeing him take the initiative to come her way, Lin Yingying was overjoyed. She took out her own handkerchief, stood on tiptoe, and reached up to wipe his face.

Huo Qingshan tilted his head slightly to avoid her. “I have a towel.” The faint fragrance clinging to her handkerchief made him restless. “Are you hungry?” he asked.

Lin Yingying patted her stomach and shook her head. “I’m still full from the dumplings at noon, not hungry.”

Huo Qingshan could not guess her intentions, so he simply looked at her in silence.

Lin Yingying burst out laughing. “Why have you suddenly turned into a dumb goose? I came to help you harvest the wheat.”

After that, he cut the wheat while she followed behind tying it into bundles. Though she was slow, she persisted. When she finally managed to tie up a bundle that could stand on its own, she happily asked Huo Qingshan for praise. “Haha, look!”

By now it was dark enough that they could only see a few meters around them. The moon had not yet risen, and the sky was already filled with countless glittering stars.

The night breeze stirred her hair, and her sweet smile came from the heart.

Something stirred in Huo Qingshan’s chest. He put away the sickle, slung the canteen over his shoulder, and said, “Let’s go.”

Lin Yingying asked curiously, “Where are we going?”

Huo Qingshan took the initiative to hold her small hand. “Come with me.”

Lin Yingying said coquettishly, “How can you just touch me like that?”

Huo Qingshan didn’t reply, only tightened his grip, which made Lin Yingying laugh nonstop.

They walked for a while under the clear, bright starlight. Then Lin Yingying heard the sound of rushing water, and ahead, under the reflection of the stars, there was a shimmering brightness. She exclaimed in surprise, “There’s a river here!”

Huo Qingshan said, “There are fish in the river.”

Because it was on the west side of the village, the villagers habitually called it the West River. This river was a man-made canal dug in the 1950s under the leadership of the district, connecting two large rivers in the city. It could both regulate flood discharge during the rainy season and store water during droughts, playing a great role in irrigating farmland. It was during the blasting of rocks to build this canal in 1958 that his father sacrificed his life to save someone.

He had a deep attachment to this river, though he had never spoken of it to anyone. Whenever he felt troubled or faced a difficult decision, he would come here to talk to his father.

The rushing flow of the river always seemed to respond to his thoughts, helping him arrive at a conclusion.

Now that he was going to marry her, he wanted to tell his father and let him see.

Huo Qingshan knew that his younger brother had set a few fish traps here with others. If the fish could be blocked in, they might be able to return with a full catch if they were lucky.

He settled Lin Yingying in a safe spot, then went to gather some dry grass and cut some dry branches before coming back to light a bonfire.

“I’m going to get the fish. Don’t wander off—it’s dangerous at night.” He fixed his gaze on Lin Yingying, waiting for her to respond.

Lin Yingying had actually wanted to go with him, but seeing his serious expression, she nodded and said brightly, “Alright, I’ll wait here.”

Huo Qingshan gave her another glance to make sure she would behave, then turned and left with the sickle in hand. Before long, he came back, trouser legs rolled up, a sickle and his jacket in one hand, and in the other a string of fish still thrashing their tails, striding over in large steps.

“Ah, there really are fish!” Lin Yingying cheered.

First, Huo Qingshan taught her how to build up the fire, then set up a wooden rack over it, telling her to watch the flames while he went to prepare the fish. Soon he returned, threading the fish and hanging them over the fire to roast. He also took out a paper packet, which turned out to hold some coarse salt crystals.

Lin Yingying looked at him in surprise. “You brought that?”

Huo Qingshan said, “The boys had it hidden there.”

Lin Yingying’s laughter was bright and sweet. “Then it’s sure to be extra delicious.”

Soon the river fish began to release their oil, sizzling as they cooked, while the rich, charred aroma spread into the air, making one’s mouth water.

Lin Yingying really was hungry now. Frowning and holding her stomach, she began to complain about being starving. She couldn’t stand hunger—once she felt it, she would immediately feel as if she were starving to death and had to eat something right away.

Huo Qingshan took down a fish, placed it on a large clean leaf, and carefully separated it, removing the bones from the flesh before giving her the meat to eat.

The grilled fish was golden brown and even blackened on the outside, yet inside the flesh was white and tender, giving off a mouthwatering aroma.

Lin Yingying’s eyes sparkled as she ate. “Delicious!” She pointed at another fish. “You eat too!”

Huo Qingshan took it down and again divided it, giving her all the good meat, while he himself directly ate the charred skin and the bones, chewing them up and swallowing without even spitting out the spines.

Lin Yingying: “Wow!”

Huo Qingshan said calmly, “When carrying out missions in the field, if special circumstances prevent making a fire, we even eat the meat raw.”

Lin Yingying stopped eating, her small face full of pity. She leaned a little closer toward Huo Qingshan. “It must have been hard for you.”

Huo Qingshan glanced at her. “It’s alright. The harder it is, the greater the rewards.”

In a soft voice, Lin Yingying asked, “Can I lean on you?”

Huo Qingshan looked at her deeply and lowered his shoulder slightly.

Lin Yingying looped her arm through his and rested her head on his shoulder. “Brother Qingshan, in this moment I feel an unprecedented joy and peace.”

She closed her eyes, her heart completely at ease, as if she weren’t sick at all.

Her voice made his ears tingle, and his whole body followed with a faint numbness. Huo Qingshan said slowly, “Life in the countryside is hard.”

Lin Yingying replied, “For you, I’m not afraid.”

Huo Qingshan did not respond.

Not hearing his answer, Lin Yingying tilted her head in dissatisfaction and blew a puff of air at him. “Hey, aren’t you touched?”

Huo Qingshan’s body went taut. He didn’t dare move, afraid he wouldn’t be able to hold back.

Her braid had come loose, and the wind lifted the soft strands of her hair, sending a faint, delicate fragrance directly to his nose.

She carried a scent that was wonderfully pleasant, and her eyes were filled with the reflection of the starlight. He felt as if he were losing control, a sudden dryness in his mouth and throat making him quickly lift the canteen to drink.

Lin Yingying tugged at his arm, her voice soft and sweet. “I want a drink too.”

Something in Huo Qingshan’s mind gave a sudden tremor, and all his restraint and self-control were shattered by her coquettish tone. He turned his head and pressed his lips to her cherry-like mouth.