Chapter 236

“How could you come back to help with the mud bricks after working hard for four or five days? Isn’t that just heartless!”

Hu Wenhua had just set down the mud brick tools when he heard a coquettish voice. Goosebumps rose uncontrollably all over his body.

Who is this?

Is she talking to him?

Did he walk in on something private?

He shook his head immediately. Impossible, broad daylight in a work area, who would choose such a place for a private meeting?

“Brother Wenhua, are you tired? If you are, sit and rest for a while.”

Hu Wenhua almost choked on his own saliva!

This person was actually talking to him.

He straightened up, slowly turned around, and looked at the person.

A woman he didn’t recognize, working under the scorching sun without even a straw hat for shade, her sweat-soaked hair sticking messily to her forehead and face;

Quite thin, but that was normal. Few people in Shanshui Village were fat, most had only recently had enough to eat, and it was hard to gain weight with no fat and doing physical labor.

She was also quite dark, even darker than many men in the village.

But that wasn’t the point; the point was he didn’t know her at all!

Why did she speak to him like she was familiar and concerned?

“Didn’t the Ding family hire someone? Are they trying to save money, forcing you to make mud bricks despite your condition? How could they do that?!”

Hu Wenhua was stunned in place as the woman stomped her foot after speaking, “Who are you?”

Zhang Chunhua, asked this, shyly lowered her head, twirling her hair with her hand, and said, “My name is Zhang Chunhua.”

Hu Wenhua’s gaze fell on her muddy fingers twisting her hair, thinking this girl not only lacked hygiene but also comprehension.

Was he asking for her name? He was just clarifying that he didn’t know her at all!

Annoyed, he explained along with his previous question: “The Ding family didn’t make me come. I came to work because I had nothing else to do;

I’m not stupid. If I’m tired, I know to sit and rest.” I don’t need you to tell me that.

Zhang Chunhua, remembering what her mother taught her, quickly praised, “Brother Wenhua, you have such great stamina!”

Hu Wenhua found this compliment weird.

An unmarried girl praising a strange man like this?

Which family did this Zhang Chunhua belong to, and didn’t her parents teach her?

Over there, Auntie Li and her family shook their heads.

“Chunhua, you can’t say things like that. Ask your mother when you get home, and you’ll understand,” Auntie Li couldn’t help but advise.

Zhang Tuzi’s family really should teach her. If Chunhua said this outside or was overheard by the wrong person, what would happen to her reputation?

Zhang Chunhua twisted her neck, feeling inconvenienced by the presence of outsiders!

Ask her mother what? This was what her mother had told her.

Her mother also said she praised her father this way back then, and her father was very pleased and insisted on marrying her.

“Auntie Li, I know my own business. Don’t worry about it. Oh, by the way, isn’t Sister Tiantian older than me? Are you preparing the way for her?”

Auntie Li’s chest heaved with anger!

She indeed favored Hu Wenhua. Last night, after the family members returned, they praised him nonstop. The Hu family’s conditions were also good, and Shuiqing, the sister-in-law, was exceptional.

But Tiantian only wanted to learn a craft from Ding Jiajia and earn money following Shuiqing. She said she wanted to stay with her for two more years and didn’t want to marry early.

With that, how could Auntie Li not understand? To Tiantian, earning money was more important than marriage now.

In other words, no matter how good Hu Wenhua was, he wasn’t Tiantian’s type.

Marriage needs a mutual connection. It’s no use if only the elders approve, as they won’t be the ones spending a lifetime together. Since Tiantian felt it wasn’t suitable, her mother had given up on the idea.

Today she was just kindly reminding Zhang Chunhua, but she didn’t expect to be treated this way!

She looked at Zhang Chunhua and said softly, “Tiantian is still young. I want to keep her for another two years. We’ll talk about it then.”

“Keep her? If you wait any longer, all the good ones will be taken, and there will be no place to cry!” Zhang Chunhua retorted sharply.

Auntie Li gave Zhang Chunhua a deep look and said no more.

She decided that when she went back, she would alert her family and close friends to be cautious about Zhang Chunhua. Any family that took her in would have their days turned upside down.

Seeing Auntie Li retreat, Zhang Chunhua felt triumphant. She threw down her work and ran over to Hu Wenhua, looking up and saying, “Brother Wenhua, just call me Chunhua.”

They would be leaving again tomorrow, and she had to make a strong impression on him. When they returned in four or five days, perhaps Hu Wenhua would come looking for her on his own!

Hu Wenhua was so startled that he took several large steps back, putting a considerable distance between them.

He had just seen up close that her face and hair were covered in a mix of sweat and mud. When she spoke, there was even a piece of vegetable stuck on her teeth, and she had come close enough for him to see it clearly!

Although his family wasn’t well-off and their clothes were often patched, his mother always kept them clean and tidy. Their small home was also kept spotless. Even he and his father, two rough men, were influenced by this and couldn’t tolerate dirtiness.

“Jiajia? Jiajia, why are you here!”

Fan Sanzhu’s delighted shout drew Hu Wenhua’s attention. He turned abruptly to see what was happening.

Up ahead, Fan Jiang and Fan He were carrying a large wooden bucket, while Ding Jiajia carried a bamboo basket covered with a layer of blue cotton cloth.

Zhang Chunhua also looked over.

In the glaring sun, Ding Jiajia had her hair tied up high, revealing her fair and slender neck. She wore a wide-brimmed straw hat that shaded her delicate, fair face.

Dressed in a light green outfit, she looked refreshing in the summer heat, making her exposed skin appear even more white and delicate.

Everyone present was looking at Ding Jiajia, and Fan Sanzhu even went up to greet her.

Zhang Chunhua bit her lip. If she wore that outfit, she would look just as good.

Then, the eyes of all these men would be on her!

Seeing Fan Sanzhu walking towards Ding Jiajia, Hu Wenhua tensed up and strode forward without thinking.

“Jiajia, why did you come in this heat? You should be resting at home because of your weak health, unlike us men who are strong and can do this work without a problem.” Fan Sanzhu’s gaze fell on the delicate, white hand holding the bamboo basket, and he reached out, saying, “Here, let me help you with that!”

Ding Jiajia pulled her hand back, “No need, I can carry it.”

She had just seen Zhang Chunhua and Wenhua together, not too close, but they seemed to be talking.

Did they know each other?

Fan Erzhu’s injury was on his hand, so after bandaging it and hanging it in a sling around his neck, he could still walk. In the afternoon, he came with his parents and two younger brothers to check the progress on their section of the road.

As soon as he arrived, he saw Sanzhu happily heading towards Ding Jiajia.

Ding Jiajia? That toad?