Chapter 89 – Buying Bread

The bakery carried a rich milky fragrance, and the scent lingered on the girl long after she left. As soon as Xu Jiaojiao got onto the bus, the others noticed it, especially with the bag in her hands. Their envy only deepened.

Just look at her—buying so much bread at once! Meanwhile, they had to think twice even about eating a single steamed bun. Xu Jiaojiao simply closed her eyes, unconcerned about their whispered comments.

What did surprise her, though, was not seeing Sheng Jie’s mother anywhere. Even after the bus pulled away, there was still no sign of her.

When Xu Jiaojiao got off, Xie Zhi was already waiting there. Delighted, she rushed over, and the two embraced tightly.

The sight made a group of young women and wives turn red-eyed with jealousy. How could she be this lucky? With good parents, and now a good husband—it really was enough to make people resent her.

Smiling, Xu Jiaojiao opened the bag in her arms. “I bought bread. Let’s go give some to Grandpa and Grandma first.”

Xie Zhi arched an eyebrow. “Made your first sale?”

“Mhm. Eighteen yuan. And she didn’t even bargain.”

Xie Zhi teased half-seriously, “Jiaojiao is amazing. You earned in one day what I make in a month. Guess I’ll just have to live off my wife from now on.”

The girl giggled, patted his hand, and said, “How can you say that, husband? We’re one. What’s mine is yours.”

After saying so, she pulled him along toward her grandparents’ home, leaving Xie Zhi’s heart surging with warmth. Looking at the girl’s soft hand holding his, he couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed.

His long, narrow eyes narrowed slightly, and silently he thought, We are one. Jiaojiao, since you’re willing to marry me, I’ll take those words seriously. Don’t forget your promise.

She would never know how such a casual sentence of hers had set off crashing waves in his heart. Like a sailor adrift in a raging sea finally spotting the beam of a lighthouse, she was his guiding light in the dark—his very life.

“Grandma, Grandma!” Even before entering the courtyard, her cheerful voice rang out.

Granny Xu hurriedly set down the clothes in her hands, wiped her palms on her apron, and greeted her with a smile. “Jiaojiao.”

“Grandma, I bought bread for you.”

Xu Jiaojiao handed over the soft loaves with a sweet smile. Grandma Xu gladly took them, their rich milky scent wafting out even through the paper wrapping.

“Where’s Grandpa?”

“He’s in the fields, talking with your father.”

“Oh, then I’ll get going.”

But Grandma Xu quickly called her back, rushing inside to fetch something from the very bottom of a cabinet. She came out holding a cloth bundle, fished out ten yuan, tucked it away carefully, then hurried over.

Seeing her granddaughter leaning affectionately against Xie Zhi, both smiling so warmly, her own face bloomed like a flower. She had always thought this young man was a fine match for her Jiaojiao.

“Jiaojiao, take this money. Buy yourself something nice to eat.”

“Grandma, how can I take your money?” Xu Jiaojiao refused immediately.

But Grandma Xu’s face hardened, and she firmly pressed the money into her hands. “The government gives us money every month. Your grandpa and I barely spend any of it. Take it, buy yourself a dress. Be good.”

With her grandmother insisting, Xu Jiaojiao had no choice but to accept. After a few more affectionate words, she and Xie Zhi left.

As she slipped the ten yuan into her bag, she noticed Xie Zhi’s calm face. “You don’t seem surprised.”

“Jiaojiao, before… you didn’t just accept money each month. You even asked for more—only to spend it all on other people,” he replied casually, unaware of the shock his words caused her.

Xu Jiaojiao’s jaw nearly dropped to the floor. No wonder her family had suspected she’d been possessed.

The money in her pocket felt like a hot potato.

Sure enough, when she delivered the bread to her relatives, everyone was delighted. Xu Ze even pretended to wipe away a tear, dragging out his words, “Jiaojiao, I never thought you actually had us in your heart.”

“Enough nonsense. Is Fourth Brother back yet?”

“No.”

Dinner had already been prepared. For Xie Zhi, she chose a sausage bread topped with a bit of cream. She remembered that he had lived abroad before, so he might like it.

Curled up in his arms, she unwrapped the paper bag. The rich, cake-like aroma grew stronger. Holding the bread to his lips, she coaxed, “Have a bite.”

Xie Zhi looked at her with teasing eyes. Just from her hand alone, the dominance and insistence were undeniable. He took a bite, his gaze scorching.

She instantly flustered, pretending calm. “I’ll try it too.”

It was the classic old-style bread, exactly what she had imagined. In later years, so much bread had been filled with additives that it lost its original taste.

Xie Zhi arched a brow. “Well?”

“It’s delicious.”

“Then tomorrow morning, I’ll buy some fresh-baked ones. Too bad you can’t come with me. Otherwise, you could’ve bought your perming tools.”

After saying that, Xu Jiaojiao mischievously tugged at his shirt, leaving wrinkles across the crisp white fabric as if they’d been up to something improper. Realizing what she’d done, she quickly pulled her hand back, avoiding his eyes.

His voice was low, magnetic. “It’s fine. The weekend will do. Jiaojiao, you’re wonderful.”

She felt strange. She had sworn to become a strong, independent heroine of her own story, but every time she was with him, she just wanted to lean on him—as if he were her unshakable support.

Her father and brothers hadn’t returned yet. Since Xie Zhi had already heated water under the sun, Xu Jiaojiao simply took her pajamas and went to shower first. She didn’t sweat much, but in this heat, she still felt sticky.

Honestly, she had no idea how Xie Zhi could even stand to kiss her like this.

When she came out, they had all returned.

As they sat down to dinner, Father Xu said, “The grain quota went up again this year. Good thing the harvest was good.”

Mother Yan added, “Make sure we keep a few extra jin just in case something happens.”

There were always problems during collection, and short-weighing was common.

Seeing her father’s heavy expression, Xu Jiaojiao tried asking tentatively, “Dad, we haven’t even dried the rice yet, and already we need to hand over grain? How much?”

Her father bit into the bread and replied, “Five percent.”

“Oh.” She calculated silently. It wasn’t too bad, but most of that rice wasn’t for eating—it was meant to be sold for oil and other daily necessities. Five percent was still a huge loss.