Chapter 27: Moving things into the house one by one

Heizi covered his face and slowly closed the door. 

He was utterly embarrassed: “Take your time, Brother Feng.  I’ll wait for you in the car…” Heizi’s words were laced with both flattery and awkwardness.

Shen Sisi froze, her cheeks burning like they were on fire, unable to turn around. Who was that? He didn’t even know the basics of knocking.  So rude!

Gu Chengfeng’s face was also grim. However, feeling the weight on his chest and the warm breath like tiny flames, his eyebrows involuntarily rose.

Shen Sisi examined his wound closely. The wound wasn’t large, and it was stitched, but it seemed deep inside.

“You’re this injured, and you tell me it’s nothing!” She was frantic, getting up in a fluster, genuinely angry. Gu Chengfeng was so careless with his body!  He was so nonchalant about such a serious injury.

Gu Chengfeng smiled wryly.  To him, this minor injury was like an ant bite, nothing significant. He’d suffered far worse injuries before. This was nothing.

“It really is nothing; it’ll heal quickly!” Gu Chengfeng tried to calm her.

Shen Sisi, however, firmly pressed him down: “Stop being stubborn, let’s stop the bleeding…”

After a few minutes, Shen Sisi finally stopped the bleeding. Gu Chengfeng got up and went inside to change into clean clothes.

The incident left both their faces unnaturally red, like ripe apples.  They appeared in the courtyard, somewhat awkwardly, one after the other.

A small truck was parked outside the courtyard, much larger than the one they’d used to visit her aunt, a behemoth sitting silently.

Heizi was leaning against the truck, smoking heavily, trying to compose himself.

Gu Chengfeng glared at Heizi: “You’re a father, and you still don’t know how to knock?” He was embarrassed enough; he didn’t want Shen Sisi to be embarrassed too.

Heizi took a drag of his cigarette, held it for a moment, then dropped the butt, grinding it out with his foot: “I forgot Sisi was here.”

He bowed apologetically to Shen Sisi: “Sorry, Sisi, I’m a rough man. Don’t take it to heart…”

Shen Sisi looked closely – it was the bald man!  She had previously found him intimidating and rough-spoken, leading to the misunderstanding.

“It’s you…” Shen Sisi greeted him warmly, her apology barely concealed beneath her enthusiasm.

“I’m sorry. I misunderstood you; I thought you were a bad guy and almost wrongly accused you!” Shen Sisi apologized sincerely.  She knew judging by appearances was wrong.  After this incident, she vowed not to be so hasty in judging people again.

Heizi shrugged indifferently: “It’s fine, I’m used to it.  I look like a murderer, after all.” He chuckled self-deprecatingly.

“That’s nothing. I’ve scared many children before. Some people even secretly reported me to the police, thinking I was a fugitive.”

He laughed, trying to appear relaxed, but Shen Sisi fell into thought. She sensed his underlying helplessness and bitterness.  She knew words were insufficient; she had to show her apology through actions.

“Alright then, don’t just stand there, come in for some tea!” Shen Sisi invited warmly.

Heizi quickly said: “No need to trouble you.  I don’t want those gossips to start talking.”

Shen Sisi fell silent, embarrassed.

Seeing this, Gu Chengfeng stepped in: “Don’t mind them, I’ll take care of him!”

He then punched Heizi. “Let’s forget about this. No one is allowed to mention it again!”

Heizi, hit like he’d been struck by iron, winced, angry but unable to retaliate.

Gu Chengfeng then retracted his fist, giving Heizi a knowing look.

“No more nonsense, let’s move the stuff.”

Heizi grinned, grumbling: “Even Zhou Bapi wasn’t this stingy, not even offering a drink of water, just making us work…”

Despite his complaints, he quickly called his friends to unload the truck, carrying things inside one by one, like ants moving house.

Shen Sisi was stunned. The truck was packed!  There was brand new solid wood furniture tables, chairs, benches, a dressing table all exuding a faint woody fragrance. There was also a sewing machine, gold bracelets, a mechanical watch, silk bedding, and a bicycle with a large red silk flower on the handlebars…

The sheer volume of items was overwhelming. Shen Sisi looked at the items, finding them increasingly familiar.  They looked like…

Seeing her dazed expression, Gu Chengfeng silently touched her shoulder: “Familiar, right?”

Shen Sisi nodded: “Could it be…”

She had a bold guess but hesitated to speak it. She looked at Gu Chengfeng with wide, incredulous eyes.

The next second, a low voice whispered in her ear.

“Remember what I told you?”

“Anything that shouldn’t be his, he won’t get.”

Gu Chengfeng smiled meaningfully, his smile captivating.  The rest was unspoken.

Shen Sisi’s heart skipped a beat. Gu Chengfeng had retrieved the gifts intended for her uncle. How had he done it?

Seeing her curiosity, Gu Chengfeng gestured towards the busy Heizi: “Let’s talk when he’s finished…”

In a short time, the spacious living room was filled with furniture and items. Shen Sisi stood at the doorway, feeling strangely settled as her home filled up.

Seeing everyone busy, she couldn’t help, so she went to the kitchen, making tea and cutting fruit for everyone, planning a meal.  She decided to make a chicken and mushroom stew.  She washed the mushrooms and scored them. She prepared ingredients for some side dishes.  All she needed was the chicken from her elder sister.  Where was she?

As she thought about her sister, she arrived.

“Is this Shen Sisi’s house?”

Jiang Hongmei, wrapped in an old headscarf, carrying a chicken coop, looked around at the entrance.

Gu Chengfeng, hearing Shen Sisi’s name, became alert: “Who are you?”

Jiang Hongmei held up the coop: “I’m here to deliver the chicken. Is she home?”

Before she finished, Shen Sisi heard the commotion and ran out from the kitchen: “Yes, yes, Sister, put the chicken in the yard, and come inside to get the money.”

Jiang Hongmei was shrewd; she understood immediately that Shen Sisi wanted to ask her something.  As she followed Shen Sisi inside, Shen Sisi anxiously asked: “Sister, how did your inquiries go?”