Chapter 23: I Really Like You

It collapsed.

The bed collapsed.

The man’s single bed collapsed…

Bricks scattered everywhere, the wooden boards snapped in two, and the bedding was crushed underneath.

How did this happen?

Just as Luo Yaqing was puzzled and confused, Han Zhixu walked into the room.

He saw his small, broken bed and then turned to look at Luo Yaqing.

His gaze was probing.

“What are you looking at me for? I didn’t break the bed!”

Luo Yaqing felt uncomfortable all over, her small face tense, her black-and-white eyes glaring at him.

How dare he suspect her!

Han Zhixu pressed his lips together and bent down to clean up the mess on the floor.

A certain image flashed through his mind.

Likewise, Luo Yaqing thought of Qiu Shimin.

This morning, when Qiu Shimin came back into the room to get her scarf, the loud noise wasn’t from knocking over the washbasin rack—

It was the sound of dismantling the bed.

“Aiya, it’s broken like this—definitely can’t be used anymore. Forget it, just squeeze in with me in the inner room tonight.”

Luo Yaqing kicked the wooden boards and grabbed the blanket from Han Zhixu’s hands.

Time to be proactive.

Otherwise, she’d be letting the elder’s efforts go to waste.

Han Zhixu opened his mouth, just about to speak…

But Luo Yaqing didn’t give him the chance. She carried the bedding and went inside to make the bed.

She layered the extra quilt over the big red one, making it thick and cozy.

“The bed’s made. Let’s sleep.” She stepped out of the inner room.

Han Zhixu stopped mid-scoop of noodles. “Didn’t you say on the bus that you wanted to eat pancakes?”

Luo Yaqing grinned, “Not anymore. Let’s wash up and get to bed early.”

Han Zhixu’s handsome face flushed slightly.

After they washed up, they lay side by side on the double bed.

“Han Zhixu, I want to ask you something.”

“Mm?”

“Do you know someone likes you?” Luo Yaqing turned over, propping up her face to look at him.

Han Zhixu shook his head.

Luo Yaqing leaned closer: “Seriously, I really like you.”

Han Zhixu opened his eyes, stared at her for a few seconds, then closed them again.

Luo Yaqing: “…”

What kind of attitude was that?

How hurtful to her pride!

…

Early morning.

Han Zhixu brought back steamed buns and porridge from the canteen. Luo Yaqing ate silently without saying a word.

But it didn’t take long before her mood brightened.

She happily took the ration book Han Zhixu handed her, flipping through it over and over, studying it intently.

Han Zhixu didn’t get it—this wasn’t her first time seeing a ration book. Why so amazed?

A simple little book kept Luo Yaqing smiling all day. When Han Zhixu didn’t return for lunch, she just made do with something light and began preparing dinner as the sun went down.

She heated the pan with oil, added the fish, fried it until both sides were golden, added a bit of soy sauce, ginger, and dried chili, then poured in a splash of water. Once the sauce thickened, she sprinkled scallions and plated it. The fish had already been marinated, so no need for salt.

Then she tore off a few cabbage stems and stir-fried a plate of sour cabbage.

The main course was multigrain rice.

Han Zhixu returned after dark. Hearing footsteps outside, Luo Yaqing went to open the door.

“You’re ba—”

Luo Yaqing’s words got stuck the moment she saw him, her smile freezing.

Han Zhixu had a plank of wood slung over his shoulder. “Watch out. Don’t get hit.”

Luo Yaqing stepped aside to let him pass, staring as he carried the wood inside.

“What are you doing bringing back wood?”

“Making a bed,” Han Zhixu said as he leaned the board against the wall.

Luo Yaqing’s mouth twitched. “You really like sleeping alone, huh?”

Han Zhixu said nothing.

Luo Yaqing swallowed her rising anger. “Wash your hands. Time to eat!”

After washing, Han Zhixu sat down and took the bowl of rice Luo Yaqing served.

“Thanks for the food.”

“Not as hard as what you did—carrying that plank all the way back.” Luo Yaqing said sarcastically.

Han Zhixu replied, “It’s not far, only about a ten-minute walk.”

Luo Yaqing snorted. “It’s going to be even harder building the bed.”

Han Zhixu could hear the sarcasm but didn’t understand why she was upset. He didn’t dare ask, so he just focused on eating.

Luo Yaqing clenched her teeth in frustration.

After a few bites: “Whoever finishes last does the dishes!”

Han Zhixu finished eating, quietly cleaned up, washed the dishes, wiped the table, and then started laying bricks to rebuild the bed.

Just as he finished, a quilt was suddenly tossed onto the new single bed.

He looked up to see Luo Yaqing’s emotionless face.

“I brought you a quilt.”

“…Thanks,” Han Zhixu replied.

Luo Yaqing waved her hand. “I warmed your bed for two or three nights and didn’t even get a ‘thank you.’”

Han Zhixu: …

“Good night!”

Luo Yaqing turned and went back to the inner room, switched off the light, and lay down on the double bed.

She liked Han Zhixu.

She liked his temper, and even more, his great physique.

Luo Yaqing was a brave woman—but she also had self-respect.

That ration book had made her believe she and Han Zhixu might be going somewhere.

But it turned out to be wishful thinking.

He clearly had no interest in her.

Thinking about how she’d been overenthusiastic, she felt nothing but embarrassment.

So she decided—she would kill this budding feeling before it could grow.

…

After a few gloomy days…

Luo Yaqing was back to her cheerful self. She grabbed a cloth bag and went to the supply store to buy salt.

“Wow, four jin of salt—enough to last you a year!” Saleswoman Sister Pan laughed.

Luo Yaqing watched as she used a short-handled iron scoop to shovel the salt into her cloth bag.

At this time, salt was sold loose—no fine salt, just large coarse grains the size of soybeans.

After weighing it, Sister Pan handed it over. “Hold it steady, don’t spill it.”

“Sister Pan, I’m off.”

Carrying the bag of salt, Luo Yaqing left the store, thinking about asking Zhang Guiqin to help pickle sour cabbage.

A big black bicycle zoomed past her, then suddenly stopped.

“Sis-in-law!”

That one call stunned Luo Yaqing.

“…”

“Sis-in-law, don’t you recognize me? I’m Liu, from Xinglin Village. Last time I almost hit you with my bike on the street, remember? We talked.”

With that reminder, Luo Yaqing finally recalled who he was.

No wonder he looked a little familiar.

This guy had some sketchy connection with Ye Hongping.

Luo Yaqing didn’t want anything to do with him. She shook her head and pretended not to know, continuing forward.

Liu Chunlei pushed his bike to catch up, babbling all sorts of small talk.

Luo Yaqing was getting seriously annoyed, her face icy.

But Liu Chunlei just didn’t get the hint. “Sis-in-law, that looks heavy. Let me hang it on my handlebars and give you a lift.”

Luo Yaqing snapped coldly, “Comrade, if you don’t get lost right now, I’m going to shout for help.”

Liu Chunlei was instantly cowed.

As a soldier’s wife, she commanded his full respect.

He just thought she was pretty and wanted to chat a little.

“Sis-in-law, I’m not a bad guy,” he muttered, aggrieved, before hopping on his bike and riding off.

Luo Yaqing glanced after him—he really didn’t look like a good guy.

Back at the family compound, Luo Yaqing didn’t even go home. She carried the salt straight to Zhang Guiqin.

Zhang Guiqin was doing laundry, and seeing Luo Yaqing come find her made her very happy.

She dropped the laundry and grabbed a big stone.

As they walked, she said, “This rock is just the right size to press down the jar.”

Luo Yaqing asked, “Auntie, is this salt enough?”

Zhang Guiqin looked at the cloth bag in Luo Yaqing’s hand. “Who told you to buy salt? You won’t need it.”

“…You don’t need salt to make sour cabbage? How do you pickle it without salt?” Luo Yaqing was shocked.

She had specifically gone to the supply store because she worried the little jar at home wouldn’t be enough.

Zhang Guiqin was amused by Luo Yaqing’s clueless expression. “Salt? That’d make salty cabbage. Real sour cabbage doesn’t need salt.”

Luo Yaqing still looked lost.

Zhang Guiqin sighed. “Forget it, you’ll see soon enough.”