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Yan Xiao couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time.
He finally understood why the young girl had been sulking all the way.
Actually, he thought Wen Qinghe looked good in anything, but since she didn’t like it, he would make sure to avoid pairing these two colors together next time.
Worried that she might get hungry on the road, he had made her an egg pancake and boiled eggs before leaving.
Perhaps because she had woken up unusually early and it wasn’t yet her usual mealtime, she only ate half the egg pancake and only the egg white from the boiled eggs, leaving the rest for Yan Xiao to finish.
Next, they had to take a bus to the county town. He first led her to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some sponge cakes before bringing her to the station.
At this time, automobiles had just started using gasoline instead of charcoal. Everything was far inferior to modern vehicles.
There were many passengers, but no one queued. Everyone swarmed onto the bus like a hive.
Thanks to his tall and strong frame, Yan Xiao managed to spot two adjacent seats at the back of the bus as soon as he boarded.
He carefully seated Wen Qinghe on the inner side, while he took the outer seat.
As the bus started, the smell of gasoline, the bumps and jolts from the uneven dirt road, and the various odors inside the vehicle made Wen Qinghe extremely uncomfortable, her stomach churning violently.
Yan Xiao watched her closely, noticing her pale face and worried eyes.
He immediately took out a clean handkerchief to cover her nose and mouth.
“Does this help a little?”
Wen Qinghe held the handkerchief, inhaling the fresh soap scent, and relaxed slightly, leaning against his shoulder and nodding weakly.
But the smell in the bus was unbearable, and she wasn’t the only one. Sometimes, even when the sense of smell faded, the ears still caught the nauseating noises.
Soon, the sound of “yue~” retching filled the bus, and a sour stench spread…
For the next while, vomiting noises came one after another.
Wen Qinghe felt her stomach churn and almost vomited herself.
Yan Xiao’s expression wasn’t great either, but he immediately covered her ears and held her close.
Feeling his crisp, clean aura, her discomfort eased slightly.
For the next three hours, Wen Qinghe slept in Yan Xiao’s arms all the way to the county town.
Once they got off the bus, the pervasive stench disappeared, and she could finally breathe deeply and feel a little better.
But the thought of continuing the journey made her face go pale again.
This time, Yan Xiao had learned his lesson. Upon boarding the next bus, he chose window seats in the front and seated her carefully.
Wen Qinghe, not wanting to relive the previous bus experience—the swaying as if sitting in a pile of garbage—immediately buried herself in his arms as soon as she sat down.
It was early winter, everyone wore thick clothing, and his oversized coat hid her completely in his embrace.
Before the bus even moved, Yan Xiao, protecting the girl, was about to close his eyes for a brief rest when a sharp, piercing male voice suddenly rang out:
“Hey! Get up and move! One person taking two seats! Shouldn’t anyone else sit?”
Noticing the girl flinch in fear, Yan Xiao quickly patted her and whispered soothing words.
His eyes, however, were filled with deadly intent. One glance upwards sent invisible daggers toward the man.
The man was so intimidated he froze, losing his voice instantly.
Earlier, everyone had been standing and gradually finding seats. He only saw one person taking up two seats with the inside empty.
Seeing this tall, strong man, he realized he couldn’t provoke him and swallowed nervously.
After noticing the girl being comforted, he realized there was another person.
He hastily apologized: “Sorry! Comrade, I didn’t see anyone here. My bad!”
Yan Xiao, not wanting to scare the girl further, simply let out a soft “gun!”
The man understood and quickly moved away from the “plague god”…
After this minor incident, everyone understood the situation. The man’s protective stance was obvious, and though they couldn’t tell if the girl in his arms was a daughter or wife, the glimpse of long black hair suggested a female.
The man was slightly dark-skinned, broad and burly, with a fierce-looking face. Who exactly could tame such a man?
…
While everyone speculated about the identity of the girl in his arms, the bus finally reached the terminal.
The man tenderly adjusted the girl’s hair and spoke softly to her.
Curiosity piqued, the girl lifted her head. Everyone gasped.
Her skin was like cream, her features perfectly drawn, and her eyes liquid and deep.
Her pale outfit shone in the sunlight…
Was there really such a fairy in this world?
Indeed, only a heavenly beauty could make a fierce brute become gentle.
The other men thought: anyone else in her position couldn’t provoke him, except maybe in bed.
Admiring her fragile beauty, their astonished and envious gazes almost felt tangible.
Yet Wen Qinghe paid no attention to these. She was finally getting off after a whole day of travel. Though she had slept most of the way, the lingering odors in the bus still made her uneasy.
She even felt that her clothes had absorbed the smell, making her want to vomit.
Yan Xiao felt both pity and relief. Fortunately, he had asked Li Huaqing to give her medicine to carry. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to imagine if she could have survived the journey.
It was already past four in the afternoon. Their train tickets were for seven the next morning.
So they had plenty of time. Considering the early train, he decided to find a nearby guesthouse for the night to rest properly.
They had only eaten breakfast that morning, and though Yan Xiao had planned to take her to a state-run restaurant for lunch, she had looked pale and unwell after getting off the bus.
He didn’t force her. After all, he had bought sponge cakes earlier to tide them over if needed.
Seeing her pale and exhausted, he decided to settle the guesthouse first, let her rest, and then go to the state-run restaurant to get food.
…
Since relationships between men and women were strictly regulated, unmarried couples had to take two separate rooms.
Yan Xiao presented their letters of introduction at the front desk.
“For the people’s service. Single rooms are fifty cents each; two rooms cost one yuan.”
Yan Xiao handed over ten fifty-cent bills and a handful of candy.
“Hello, comrade! My fiancée and I are about to be married. We came to deliver wedding candy to relatives. In a few days, we’ll host the wedding banquet.
My fiancée is a bit timid. Could you arrange two adjacent rooms for us?”
The front desk lady, seeing the unusually beautiful girl, was amazed at such a rare person.
She accepted the candy and happily gave them two adjacent room keys:
“Comrade, that’ll be one yuan. Your rooms are on the second floor, the hot water room at the end of the corridor, and the bath opposite. Wishing you a happy and long-lasting marriage!”