Chapter 39

She clearly remembered closing the gate when she left.

Slowly pushing open the courtyard gate, she saw a man standing with his back to her, by her bicycle, fiddling with something.

She picked up the gate latch and slowly approached the man.

When she got closer, Song Shishi raised the latch and was about to smash it against the man’s back of the head.

But just then, the man seemed to sense something and turned around.

“Comrade Song, you’re back.”

Seeing that it was Shi Tou, Song Shishi quickly hid the latch behind her.

“Yeah, Shi Tou, what are you doing here?”

“Oh, Master asked me to call you. I knocked on the door, and the gate opened. I saw all your stuff on the bike, and no one was home, so I thought I’d help you put it in the kitchen.”

Shi Tou glanced at the latch, not angry, and patiently explained.

What could Zhao the Carpenter want from her?

Song Shishi really couldn’t think of anything.

“That’s great, I was planning to visit him this afternoon.”

She walked into the kitchen, picked up the wine and cakes, and pointed to a toolbox next to it, saying to Shi Tou, “Shi Tou, can you help me carry this?”

“Okay.”

Afraid that Shi Tou would refuse, Song Shishi didn’t say anything until they were almost at Zhao the Carpenter’s house, “Shi Tou, this toolbox is a gift for you. I hope you like it.”

“This… this can’t be.” Shi Tou was stunned for a moment, quickly put the toolbox on the ground, and waved his hand in refusal.

“Take a look at what’s inside first, then decide whether you want it, okay?”

It’s always best to give a gift that someone likes.

Song Shishi didn’t want to force Shi Tou. If he really didn’t want it, she would have to find another way.

Shi Tou hesitated for a moment, nodded, squatted down, and opened the box.

When he saw the wood carving tools in the box, Shi Tou stiffly looked up at her, his eyes filled with shock.

“These are all for me?”

Song Shishi nodded and said with a smile, “I didn’t know what to get you. You’re apprenticing with Uncle Zhao now, right? If you can carve some beautiful patterns on those furniture, the price should be better.

Uncle Zhao’s conditions are just like that, I’m sure he can’t afford to prepare a set of carving tools for you separately, so I bought them.”

“This is too expensive. Actually… I didn’t do anything.”

Shi Tou loved the tools but felt unworthy of receiving them, and he was a little conflicted for a moment.

“Okay, just take it. Maybe I’ll need your help next time. If you don’t take it, I’ll be embarrassed to ask you next time.”

“Alright, thank you. I really need this.”

Seeing Shi Tou carefully put the tools back in the box, Song Shishi walked over with a smile and knocked on the door of Zhao the Carpenter’s house.

“Who is it?” Zhao the Carpenter’s voice soon came from inside.

It sounded like he was in a good mood.

She quickly replied, “Uncle Zhao, it’s me, Song Shishi.”

“Coming.”

She had left her name when she ordered the cabinet last time, so Zhao the Carpenter naturally knew who she was.

The courtyard gate opened, and Zhao the Carpenter saw the wine jug and paper package in her hand. He raised an eyebrow and said politely, “You’ve come all this way, why bring things?”

After saying that, Zhao the Carpenter calmed his emotions and looked at Shi Tou behind her, grumbling, “I call you Shi Tou, and you really are a Shi Tou. A guest has come, and you don’t even know how to open the door.”

Shi Tou chuckled, scratched his head, and walked to Song Shishi’s side, whispering, “Comrade Song, please come in, I’ll make you some tea.”

“Okay.”

She followed behind Zhao the Carpenter, her smile as warm as the sun, “It’s not good to come empty-handed when visiting someone. I know you only like these things, so I bought some for you when I went to town today.”

“You’ve gone to so much trouble.” Zhao the Carpenter sat down in the main room and gestured for Song Shishi to sit down.

After Shi Tou brought the tea, Zhao the Carpenter started talking business.

“I called you here today mainly to ask for your help.”

Since she came to Huaqing Brigade, she had only interacted with Zhao the Carpenter when she bought the cabinet at the beginning, and she hadn’t been here since.

Now he suddenly said he needed her help, she couldn’t think of what it could be.

“Just tell me, if I can help, I will.”

Zhao the Carpenter looked up at Shi Tou in the courtyard, lowered his voice, and said, “Actually, I want you to help me write a letter, but I don’t want Shi Tou to know.”

“A letter?”

If it was just a simple letter, there were so many educated youths in the village, why would Zhao the Carpenter ask her?

“This letter is special. I want you to help me finish writing it and send it directly to Qinghe Town. There are too many people gossiping in the village, I’m afraid…”

Zhao the Carpenter didn’t continue, but Song Shishi understood what he meant.

The recipient of the letter must have some connection to Shi Tou, so Zhao the Carpenter didn’t want Shi Tou to know.

And Zhao the Carpenter, who was always alone, suddenly wanted to send a letter, which would inevitably attract gossip from the villagers.

“It’s not a big deal, I go to town every week. I’ll let you know in advance when I go next week.”

Zhao the Carpenter thought for a moment and asked, “Can you go earlier?”

“Is the letter urgent?” Song Shishi asked.

Zhao the Carpenter nodded, “Urgent.”

“Okay, I’ll write the letter for you now, and I’ll ride my bike to town tomorrow morning to mail it for you, how about that?”

“Okay.”

To avoid Shi Tou coming in and hearing the content of the letter, Zhao the Carpenter deliberately found an excuse to send Shi Tou out.

Chen Shanhe hadn’t recovered from yesterday’s incident, so he wouldn’t come to Zhao the Carpenter’s place for a while.

When Shi Tou came back, Song Shishi had already finished writing the letter and put it in her bag.

“Uncle Zhao, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way.”

“Okay.” Zhao the Carpenter nodded and beckoned Shi Tou, “Shi Tou, go see Comrade Song off.”

Shi Tou was an honest man. Zhao the Carpenter asked him to see Song Shishi off, and he didn’t stop until he sent Song Shishi back home.

Looking at Shi Tou’s retreating figure, Song Shishi couldn’t help but sigh.

Zhao the Carpenter’s letter was written to Shi Tou’s mother.

His mother was also an educated youth from Huaqing Village, but she was unfortunately defiled by a local hooligan.

In the village, unmarried pregnant female educated youths were always gossiped about wherever they went.

When Shi Tou was three years old, his mother somehow got the opportunity to go to the Workers’, Peasants’, and Soldiers’ University, so she left Shi Tou behind and resolutely left.

Life was hard for everyone in the village at that time, and no one was willing to take Shi Tou in.

In the end, Zhao the Carpenter took pity on him, took him in, and taught him carpentry.

Not long ago, Zhao the Carpenter accidentally learned about Shi Tou’s mother from a friend, so he thought about writing a letter to that female educated youth.

The letter didn’t say much, just telling the female educated youth about Shi Tou’s current situation.

And Zhao the Carpenter felt that he was getting old now, and his abilities were limited, so he hoped that the female educated youth would help, for the sake of Shi Tou being her son.

This was a secret that Zhao the Carpenter kept in his heart. Since he didn’t want Shi Tou to know, Song Shishi naturally had to keep it a secret for him.

“Sister, why are you just coming back?”

As soon as she entered the courtyard, Xu Li rushed out, looking mysteriously at the educated youth’s courtyard, “You missed a big show.”