Chapter 24.2

Xie Hezhang didn’t have time to think about the educated youth dormitory anymore. He frowned at Shu Qingyao, “…Where am I going to sleep?”

Shu Qingyao: “I only bought two beds. Where do you think you’re going to sleep?”

Xie Hezhang glared at Shu Qingyao for a while, then turned his head, “Hurry up and finish your porridge. I’ll go order another bed from Master Jiang tomorrow.”

Shu Qingyao pouted, “Why? I bought a double bed. It’s okay to sleep together.”

Xie Hezhang, no matter how calm he was, was shocked by Shu Qingyao’s boldness.

How could she be bullied by the people in the educated youth dormitory? She must be lying to him. She wouldn’t bully them if she could!

The young man’s chest heaved violently, and a layer of blush gradually appeared on his wheat-colored handsome face. It was unclear whether it was from anger or shame.

Shu Qingyao sized him up, regretfully withdrawing her gaze.

Okay.

Xie Hezhang at this age was indeed quite innocent.

He hadn’t reached the point where he was wild and unrestrained.

If she continued, this guy would probably explode.

Shu Qingyao took a step back, “…Then Xie Xiaoqian and I will sleep in one bed.”

The master bedroom and the guest bedroom were both the best, after all, they were specially decorated by Secretary Wang for his son.

Xie Hezhang responded and began to help Shu Qingyao organize the things she had brought.

Shu Qingyao squatted by the wall, holding her bowl of porridge, watching Xie Hezhang deftly move the flour, noodles, and rice she had brought into the kitchen.

Then he took the thermos and basin she had placed on the table, the toothbrush holder, and sent them to her room.

After doing all this, he took a washcloth, called Xie Xiaoqian over, and took her to the well in the courtyard to wash.

In the hot summer, the well water was refreshing. Xie Xiaoqian wasn’t afraid of the cold, and the sound of a little girl’s silver bell-like laughter came from the courtyard.

Standing by the window, Shu Qingyao watched the young man squatting on the ground, carefully wiping his sister’s face. Her eyes gradually softened.

To be able to return to this time, to grow up slowly with the man she loved, to see his unique side, how lucky she was.

Thinking of this, she lowered her head and couldn’t help but gently touch the jade pendant in her bosom.

After being nurtured for these days, the jade pendant seemed to be more lustrous under the moonlight.

Shu Qingyao thought, if she could enter the dreamland this time, she must buy more eggs and duck eggs to bring back.

At the very least, she could bring back flour and rice.

*

After dinner, Shu Qingyao went into the bedroom.

She opened her suitcase, organizing the pajamas she would wear tonight, and then she heard footsteps.

It was Xie Hezhang.

He had changed clothes, his body still damp from the well water, his black hair wet, and he was holding a basin of well water in his hand.

He said to Shu Qingyao, “We can’t light a fire tonight, so I can’t boil water for you. Just make do with cold water for now.”

Shu Qingyao smiled, walked over to take the water, looked at the young man who was a head taller than her standing in front of her, and said softly, “Thank you.”

Xie Hezhang lowered his eyes and met Shu Qingyao’s gaze. Perhaps it was because of the different environment, or perhaps because he was used to living alone and suddenly had a woman in his house, he couldn’t help but look directly at Shu Qingyao’s eyes.

The familiar things in the house were all gone, the air smelled strange, even the blanket he was using tonight was taken from Shu Qingyao’s suitcase.

His life, his space, was suddenly completely occupied by this woman.

It was like a sudden storm.

By the time he came to his senses, he didn’t even have a chance to refuse.

“Then…see you tomorrow.” He coughed lightly.

Shu Qingyao smiled sweetly, her eyes curving, “Yeah, see you tomorrow.”

*

That night, covered with Shu Qingyao’s blanket, Xie Hezhang rarely had trouble sleeping.

Shu Qingyao slept very well.

It was the weekend, Xie Hezhang didn’t have to work, and Shu Qingyao didn’t have to go to class. She slept until the sun was high in the sky. When she woke up, she found that Xie Hezhang had washed the blanket she had given him yesterday.

The blanket with the phoenix pattern was hanging on the clothesline, fluttering in the wind.

Shu Qingyao was sitting on the bed and could see the blanket through the window.

She was a little depressed.

Was Xie Hezhang disgusted by her being dirty?

Her blanket was new.

She hadn’t even used it yet.

Xie Xiaoqian was still sleeping on her back. Shu Qingyao quietly got out of bed, took her toothbrush and soap, held her toothbrush holder, and went to the well to brush her teeth and wash her face.

It was quiet around her. She didn’t know where Xie Hezhang had gone.

They rarely had a day off together. She wanted to ask Xie Hezhang to go to town to buy some pork and beef.

Now that they were living together, they didn’t need to bother the kitchen staff to cook, so they wouldn’t have to let the cook take advantage of them, and they could save a lot of meat.

Just as she was about to go to a neighbor’s house to ask where Xie Hezhang had gone, Shu Qingyao saw Xie Hezhang walking slowly towards her on the narrow path, carrying a pot on his back.

He was accompanied by three or four friends, all of them laughing and talking. When they reached Shu Qingyao, the two boys saluted her and said to her in unison, “Sister-in-law! Good morning!”

Xie Hezhang, carrying the pot: “…”

Shu Qingyao burst out laughing. She recognized these people. They were the young men who had come to eat with Xie Hezhang when she met him at the public canteen.

“Sister-in-law, Hezhang was afraid you wouldn’t have breakfast, so he went to town early in the morning to queue up and buy a pot for you!”

Shu Qingyao looked at Xie Hezhang in surprise. She saw that Xie Hezhang was blushing with anger. He kicked Fang Han and said angrily, “Fang Han, if you don’t speak, no one will think you’re mute!”

Shu Qingyao told Xie Hezhang to put the pot in the kitchen, then smiled at the teenage boys, “Today Xie Hezhang and I are both free. Do you want to eat at our place?”

“Yes, yes! I want to eat rice!”

Shu Qingyao smiled sweetly, “I’ll have enough rice for everyone!”

Xie Hezhang put the pot away in the house and came out. He saw his brothers surrounding Shu Qingyao, their appearance almost made them wag their tails.

He walked over with a gloomy face.

Fang Han couldn’t read the atmosphere and boasted to Xie Hezhang, “Hezhang, Sister-in-law said she’s going to treat us to rice at noon!”

Xie Hezhang suppressed the urge to kick him, coldly said, “You’re a big man, you’re eating a girl’s food, are you ashamed?”

Shu Qingyao: “They’re your friends. What’s wrong with treating your friends to dinner? But there’s not much good food at home, don’t be picky.”

“Picky about what! Sister-in-law is treating us to dinner, how could we be picky!”

Xie Hezhang walked over and kicked the three guys who were sticking to Shu Qingyao aside, one by one, “If you want to eat, then show some sincerity. Go catch some fish from the river!”

Then he stood in front of Shu Qingyao and said to her, “Don’t be too polite to them. They have big appetites. Just grab a handful of rice and add more water.”

Shu Qingyao stood aside and giggled.

Fang Han, who had been kicked, clicked his tongue. He couldn’t believe it. Xie Hezhang, who looked like a tough guy, was actually so protective of his food. He had only chatted with his sister-in-law for a few words, and they were kicked out.

After sending Fang Han and the others to the river to catch fish, Xie Hezhang looked at Shu Qingyao. She was still smiling, her eyes sparkling, reflecting his face. He originally wanted to say something, but when he saw her smile, his brain suddenly went blank.

Then he saw Shu Qingyao pout and ask him in a soft and sweet voice:

“Xie Hezhang, why did you wash the blanket I gave you? It’s new, I haven’t used it yet.”

Xie Hezhang: “…………”

Xie Hezhang rarely fled in a panic.