Chapter 58 ☆ Eat Melon (Part 2)

Xie Zhao hummed and gently took her hand away from rubbing her eyes. “Are you sleepy?”

“Yeah,” she nodded vigorously. She had gotten up early to meet Xie Zhao today, which was rare, and now, after playing all day, she was exhausted.

“Go back to your room and sleep. I’ll clean up here,” Xie Zhao said.

“Hmm…” Cheng Yaoyao agreed reluctantly, slowly walking to her bedroom door. She looked back at Xie Zhao and whispered, “There are mosquitoes in the room.”

“I’ll get you some mugwort later,” Xie Zhao said without even turning around.

Cheng Yaoyao: “……!!!”

Cheng Yaoyao flopped onto her bed angrily and didn’t want to talk anymore.

After cleaning up the utility room, Xie Zhao took a bunch of burning mugwort and walked into Cheng Yaoyao’s room. She was already lying face down on the bed, her jet-black hair scattered over the pillow.

Xie Zhao carefully fumigated every corner of the room with the mugwort, then walked to the bedside and softly called, “Sister?”

Cheng Yaoyao was motionless, as if she were asleep. This position… might make her suffocate. Concerned, Xie Zhao gently turned her over. She was still holding a small bamboo pillow, her eyes closed, her rosy lips slightly pouting as if she were upset.

Xie Zhao stared at her for a long time—so long that her eyelashes trembled like a frightened butterfly. “Are you asleep?” he whispered.

Her peach blossom eyes suddenly opened, meeting the smile in Xie Zhao’s eyes that he didn’t have time to hide. She sat up and pushed his face away in frustration. “Go away!”

Xie Zhao wasn’t prepared for Cheng Yaoyao’s sudden change in attitude. He used one hand to fend off her tantrum while coaxing her in a low voice, “Don’t be angry. What’s wrong?”

You’re asking even though you know the answer! Cheng Yaoyao thought angrily. “Go away!”

…

Xie Zhao had been in the city for so many days that a drop of blood could no longer satisfy her little lotus leaf needs. Moreover, Cheng Yaoyao had used a lot of spiritual spring water to make dried bayberries, and tonight’s bath had consumed the last of their stock. If she didn’t absorb some yang energy tonight, she would be in trouble tomorrow.

Xie Zhao did it on purpose! Cheng Yaoyao felt more and more wronged the more she thought about it, and she bit Xie Zhao hard until she tasted the rust.

Having absorbed enough Yang energy, Cheng Yaoyao was already extremely sleepy. She didn’t care about Xie Zhao anymore. After struggling weakly for a few moments, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Cheng Yaoyao had a good dream that night, leaving Xie Zhao alone, unable to sleep due to the turmoil in his blood.

The next day, Cheng Yaoyao woke up refreshed. As she walked to the door, she saw Xie Zhao’s back as he was seeing off the captain. Both Grandma Xie and Xie Fei looked a little solemn.

“What’s the matter?” Cheng Yaoyao asked as she went to the yard to wash up.

Grandma Xie replied, “Nothing serious. Something happened to the villagers, so they asked Brother Zhao to drive the tractor into the city.”

“Oh.” Cheng Yaoyao didn’t ask any more questions.

In the yard, there was a large bamboo basket covered with dew-covered grass and another bamboo basket with some ferns. When Cheng Yaoyao opened the basket, she found it full of dark red bayberries.

“Brother picked them early in the morning,” Xie Fei said, taking the opportunity to praise her brother.

Cheng Yaoyao picked up a bayberry, stuffed it into Xie Fei’s mouth, and said with a smile, “You’re the only one who talks too much.”

While the two were playfully arguing, Xie Zhao came back from outside, hurriedly changed his clothes and shoes, and said to Grandma Xie, “I have to go to the city. I don’t know how long it will take to be back, so don’t wait for me to eat.”

Grandma Xie nodded and said, “We are from the same village. If you can help, please lend a hand.”

Xie Zhao tied the laces of his Liberation shoes ^[1]refer to a type of canvas shoe worn in China, known for their durability and affordability. and nodded.

Cheng Yaoyao added, “Are you going into the city? I want to go too.”

“Don’t go today,” Grandma Xie said. “You’re just playing around.”

Cheng Yaoyao puffed up her face, “Why do you say I’m just playing around?”

This time, Xie Zhao didn’t speak up for Cheng Yaoyao. He coaxed her in a low voice, “There’s a funeral at someone’s house, so it’s better not to go. I’ll bring you whatever you want to buy.”

“I don’t want to buy anything, I just…” Cheng Yaoyao blinked at him.

Xie Zhao understood her meaning.

Cheng Yaoyao ran into the kitchen and put the dried bayberries and mushroom sauce^[2]refer to a savory sauce made from mushrooms, often used as a condiment or in cooking. she had made in the past few days into a basket. She told Xie Zhao, “Just follow the price we agreed on last time. That Hou Zi is very smart. Don’t let him lower the price.”

Xie Zhao smiled and nodded, saying, “I’ll take you to the city next time.”

After a pause, he continued, “When I get back, I’ll take you to pick cicada shells. And I’ll help you pick pig grass.”

“…Alright,” Cheng Yaoyao finally agreed, swallowing the words “Tiedan and the others will help me.” She nodded, “Come back soon.”

Grandma Xie called from the yard, “Zhao’er, have you finished packing?”

Xie Zhao responded, picked up the heavy basket with one hand, and headed out.

Cheng Yaoyao chased after him from the kitchen, wrapped two steamed buns in oil paper, and stuffed them into Xie Zhao’s hands. “Take these with you to eat on the way.”

“Alright.” Xie Zhao took the steamed buns and stuffed them into his arms. He heard the captain’s urging voice outside, so he picked up the basket and left without looking back. Grandma Xie stood on the threshold, watching her grandson’s back disappear before turning around and closing the door.

Cheng Yaoyao picked up six eggs from the chicken coop, grinning from ear to ear. She presented them to Grandma Xie, saying, “There are really six eggs today. Look, look!”

Seeing her carefree expression, Grandma Xie shook her head, half angry and half amused. “You’re so playful. Come here, I have something to tell you.”

Grandma Xie looked serious, which made Cheng Yaoyao a little nervous. They walked into the room, where Grandma Xie sat cross-legged on the bed, and Cheng Yaoyao sat on the edge.

“Yaoyao, where did you hear about that college entrance exam thing yesterday? How reliable is it?”

So that’s what they were concerned about. Cheng Yaoyao breathed a sigh of relief and shared the story she had prepared the night before.

She claimed that a friend of her father who worked in the Education Bureau had mentioned it.

“Although I can’t guarantee it 100%, it’s at least 70% certain,” Cheng Yaoyao said confidently.

Grandma Xie nodded and asked, “Are you really planning to take the college entrance exam with Brother Zhao? Although Brother Zhao has some education, he’s never been to school like his father. I’m afraid…”

“Don’t worry, Grandma. As long as Xie Zhao studies with me, he’ll definitely pass the exam in at least two years,” Cheng Yaoyao reassured her.

“What if you both don’t pass?” Grandma Xie looked into Cheng Yaoyao’s eyes.

Cheng Yaoyao tilted her head, thought for a moment, and said nonchalantly, “If we don’t pass, then we don’t pass. Studying isn’t the only option.”

Grandma Xie thought she didn’t understand and pointed out, “If you pass the exam and Brother Zhao doesn’t, you two won’t be on the same path anymore.”

“How could that be?” Cheng Yaoyao replied. “At worst, I won’t go to school either.”

“Childish talk!” Grandma Xie was amused and shook her head.

Cheng Yaoyao was so naive that Grandma Xie could only hope that Brother Zhao would fight for it himself.

Returning to the topic, they discussed the review plan for a while, and Cheng Yaoyao spoke clearly and confidently.

Cheng Yaoyao’s grandfather had been one of the first college students after the college entrance exams were reinstated. She grew up listening to his stories about the exams and still remembered the review materials he used to predict the middle school entrance exam questions. Of course, Cheng Yaoyao didn’t mention any of this but shared a few useful tips with Grandma Xie.

Grandma Xie, who was literate but had never attended a foreign school, could only teach her grandchildren how to read and write but couldn’t help them prepare for the college entrance exam. Naturally, the responsibility of tutoring Xie Zhao fell on Cheng Yaoyao’s shoulders.

Cheng Yaoyao felt confident about this. After all, she had been a college student in her previous life, so tutoring Xie Zhao shouldn’t be a problem.

Grandma Xie instructed Cheng Yaoyao and Xie Fei that from now on, Cheng Yaoyao wouldn’t have to do any housework. She was to focus on organizing materials and reviewing her studies.

Xie Fei had no objections and took the basket of bayberries to wash them. She had been making dried bayberries with Cheng Yaoyao recently and had learned the process well.

Xie Zhao had found many books on the black market, but there were very few materials specifically for college entrance exam review. In a small city like Lin’an, high school students were rare, not to mention the scarcity of precious review materials.

Where could she find review materials? Cheng Yaoyao pondered for a while, and then her eyes lit up: The original owner’s father must have a way! Cheng Yaoyao immediately wrote a letter to the original owner’s father and planned to mail it the next time she went to the city.

College entrance examination review materials are secondary. Xie Zhao has never been to school and has to start with elementary school textbooks.

Cheng Yaoyao sorted out textbooks from elementary, junior high, and high school. Fortunately, there weren’t many subjects back then: Chinese, mathematics, politics, and English. She prepared two pens, two notebooks, and even went to the yard to find a thin piece of bamboo left over from Xie Zhao’s basket-making.

This bamboo stick was only as thick as a piece of chalk and about 20 centimeters long. Cheng Yaoyao held it in her hand and waved it around, hearing the sound of it cutting through the air.

Satisfied, she placed the bamboo on the table. Now that she had a teaching stick, everything was ready except for the final touch!

Xie Zhao, who was focused on driving the tractor, suddenly sneezed and felt a cold shiver down his back.