Chapter 13

When Grandma Ji saw Jiang Ning was going to wash her hair, she quickly smiled and nodded, “Okay, Ningning is so thoughtful.”

Ji Yanli watched Jiang Ning carefully washing his grandmother’s hair with gentle movements and focused eyes. A warm feeling welled up in his heart. It would be a blessing for him to have such a daughter-in-law.

As soon as he thought of Jiang Ning saying that she would divorce him after he recovered, his good mood suddenly darkened.

While washing her grandmother’s hair, Jiang Ning chatted with her about family matters and made her laugh from time to time.

Ji Yanli sat quietly aside, his eyes always on Jiang Ning.

After washing her hair, Jiang Ning gently wiped her grandmother’s hair with a dry towel.

At this time, a breeze blew, and Jiang Ning’s hair fluttered in the wind, with a few strands playfully falling on her cheeks.

Ji Yanli subconsciously reached out his hand, wanting to help her tuck her hair behind her ears, but stopped halfway.

Jiang Ning seemed to notice Ji Yanli’s actions and turned to look at him. Ji Yanli’s hand froze in mid-air and his face turned red instantly.

“what are you up to?”

Ji Yanli withdrew his hand awkwardly, but his heart was beating like a little rabbit.

“Um, I…my hair is also…”

Jiang Ning glanced at him without saying anything. He just silently picked up the basin and went into the kitchen to replace it with clean hot water.

Jiang Ning came to Ji Yanli with a wooden basin. A few dried wild chrysanthemums were floating on the steaming water.

Ji Yanli stared at the basin in front of him with wide eyes, the dancing water light reflected in his dark pupils.

“Lower your head.” Jiang Ning placed the wooden basin on a low stool and gently supported the back of his neck with his fingers.

The moment the warm water soaked his hair, Ji Yanli’s Adam’s apple rolled slightly.

Jiang Ning’s fingertips were dipped in soap foam and he slowly rubbed it from his forehead to the ends of his hair, massaging his scalp just right with neither too much nor too little force.

“You…thank you.” Ji Yanli’s voice was a little hoarse.

Jiang Ning chuckled: “No need to thank me, just get well soon.”

Upon hearing this, the corners of Ji Yanli’s mouth gradually drooped.

Jiang Ning’s fingertips unconsciously lingered in Ji Yanli’s hair for a few seconds, feeling the man’s suddenly tense shoulders and neck lines.

Drops of water slid down his temples and flowed over his angular jaw.

When Jiang Ning was wiping him with a towel, his thumb accidentally rubbed the skin behind his ear, where there was an old scar that felt rough.

Ji Yanli suddenly grabbed her wrist, and the burning temperature of his palm stunned both of them.

“I can do it myself.” He said in a low voice, but subconsciously tightened his fingers when she pulled her hand away.

The wild chrysanthemums in the basin of water were swirling, just like the indescribable atmosphere at the moment.

Jiang Ning watched the water droplets dripping from the ends of his hair, sliding across his collarbone and into his collar, and suddenly felt that the weather was so hot that it was suffocating.

Grandma Ji was delighted to see the interaction between the two. If things continued like this, she would have a great-grandson in her arms in no time.

In the evening, Ji Hongzhi and his wife and Ji Yansui came back from work. As soon as they entered the yard, they saw a water tank in the yard and Ji Yanli sitting next to the water tank.

“Yanli, why did you come out?” Tian Yufang walked to her son and asked.

“Jiang Ning said I needed sunshine, so he brought me out to bask in the sun.” Ji Yanli explained.

Tian Yufang nodded when she heard this, and her eyes suddenly caught sight of a number of carp swimming around in the water tank next to her.

“Yanli, where did this fish come from?” Tian Yufang opened her mouth in surprise.

“Jiang Ning caught it in the river.” Ji Yanli scratched his hair and said.

“What? Ningning caught the fish?” Ji Hongzhi also came over, his face full of disbelief.

Ji Yansui’s eyes widened as well. “Sister-in-law, this is amazing! That’s great! Our family will never lack fish to eat in the future.”

At this time, Jiang Ning came out of the kitchen with the cooked fish in his hand.

Seeing everyone gathered around the water tank, he said, “It’s time to eat.”

The family sat around the table. Tian Yufang took Jiang Ning’s hand, her face full of satisfaction. “Ningning, you are really capable. You don’t mind the hardship of living here, and you always think about everyone.”

Jiang Ning smiled faintly and pulled his hand back, “Mom, this is what I should do.”

Ji Yanli sat beside her, watching the scene quietly. He could feel that Jiang Ning’s attitude towards his family was polite yet distant. Maybe he was thinking about leaving in the future.

Grandma Ji smiled so hard that her eyes narrowed into slits. She murmured softly, “These days are becoming more and more promising.”

“Ningning, what are you going to do with the fish in the yard?” Tian Yufang asked.

“Mom, I plan to go to the black market to exchange for some rice and flour tomorrow.” Jiang Ning replied.

“What?”

“Go to the black market?”

Ji Hongzhi and Tian Yufang exclaimed.

“Sister-in-law, are you going to the black market?” Ji Yansui reacted and was also shocked.

Ji Yanli was also shocked. He looked at Jiang Ning and said seriously, “The black market is too dangerous. You can’t go there. It would be bad if you get caught by the Red Guards.”

“Yes, Ningning, don’t scare your mother. We can’t go to that place.” Tian Yufang persuaded.

“Yes, Ningning, although our family is not rich, every household in the village is like this. You can’t take this risk for that little food!” Ji Hongzhi also persuaded.

Jiang Ning ignored everyone’s advice and just finished the rice in his bowl in silence.

She put the dishes and chopsticks on the table, looked at everyone and said, “Well, I understand!”

The sky gradually darkened, and the aroma of braised carp wafted through the yard. The family sat around the table and had a warm and satisfying dinner.

After a simple wash in the evening, Jiang Ning returned to the room and saw Ji Yanli sitting on the kang, reading the book in his hand seriously.

Jiang Ning raised an eyebrow. “Why, are you addicted to reading this kind of book?”

Upon hearing this, Ji Yanli took the book and looked at her and said softly, “Didn’t you give it to me to pass the time?”

Jiang Ning spread the quilt at the end of the kang, took off her shoes and got on the kang. It seemed as if there was a huge gap between her and Ji Yanli.

“Go to bed early. Reading at night is bad for your eyes.”

After saying that, she turned around and rested with her back to Ji Yanli.

Seeing this, Ji Yanli put down the book, blew out the kerosene lamp on the kang, and lay down, but his eyes were fixed on the dark ceiling and he couldn’t fall asleep.

After a long time, he heard Jiang Ning’s even breathing and knew that she had fallen asleep.

He turned his head to look at Jiang Ning’s back, feeling inexplicably melancholy and his mind was a mess.

Time flies and it is late at night.

Jiang Ning opened her eyes in the darkness, sat up gently, turned her head to look at Ji Yanli who was sleeping soundly on the other side, and got out of bed quietly.

Her movements were gentle and cautious, for fear of waking Ji Yanli up. She carefully opened the door and walked out quietly.

However, Jiang Ning didn’t know that the moment she stood up, Ji Yanli had actually woken up.

Years of military experience have enabled him to develop a high degree of alertness and keen perception.

Even when asleep, his body can react quickly to changes in the surrounding environment.

Ji Yanli opened his eyes slightly and saw Jiang Ning get up quietly and then tiptoe towards the door.

He didn’t say a word, staring at the ceiling, beating his legs helplessly, a deep feeling of powerlessness sweeping over his heart.

Jiang Ning put all the fish in the water tank in the yard into the space, then put on a backpack and quietly went out.

After leaving the village, she took out a bicycle from the space and rode it towards the town. Her figure soon disappeared into the night.