Chapter 37 ☆ Moving into Xie’s house

“Nuonuo!” Shen Yan rushed out just in time to protect Cheng Yaoyao behind him, holding Cheng Nuonuo’s shoulders tightly with both hands, “What’s wrong with you?”

“Let me go! You protect her, and you protect her!” Cheng Nuonuo didn’t care about her relatives and scratched Shen Yan’s face with her nails.

Cheng Yaoyao screamed in shock. Four bloody scratches appeared on Shen Yan’s face, with his skin and flesh rolled up. It was obvious that Cheng Nuonuo had hurt him badly.

If this claw had scratched her face, Cheng Yaoyao couldn’t imagine…

Shen Yan was also stunned. It wasn’t until he felt warm liquid dripping down his face that he said in disbelief, “Nunuo, you hit me?”

Cheng Nuonuo sat slumped on the ground, not paying any attention to Shen Yan. She tightly grasped a jade pendant in her palm. The jade pendant was getting dimmer and dimmer, as if it had lost its life, with cracks appearing on the surface. More importantly, she could no longer summon the spiritual spring. Spiritual spring is Cheng Nuonuo’s greatest reliance. What should she do if she loses spiritual spring?

Zhang Xiaofeng suffered an unexpected disaster, and the wound on the back of her hand was not light. Han Yin said angrily, “Did Cheng Nuonuo get rabies? I don’t know if there are any germs in her nails!”

Cheng Yaoyao quietly added some spiritual spring water to the water, helped Zhang Xiaofeng clean the wound, and bandaged it.

Everyone was in a bad mood after Cheng Nuonuo’s outburst.

Cheng Yaoyao volunteered to make a large pot of fragrant noodles. The noodles were made from Fuqiang flour ^[1]which is a type of flour used to make noodles. and were white in color. Only salt and chives were added. They were mixed into the hot noodles. Although there was not a trace of oil, it made people salivate.

Everyone ate eagerly, and the tension from Cheng Nuonuo’s earlier outburst faded away. Only Shen Yan and Cheng Nuonuo stayed away from the table, unnoticed by the others. After finishing the farewell dinner, the educated youths packed their bags and left the temporary dormitory one by one.

Cheng Yaoyao had quite a lot of luggage, including a rattan box, a bag of sundries^[2]is a small bag or pouch used to hold miscellaneous items or essentials that are often needed on the go., and a roll of bedding. Han Yin and Zhang Xiaofeng helped her move to the entrance of the alley in the east of the village, and Cheng Yaoyao let them put it down and left. Han Yin and Zhang Xiaofeng lived in Lin Dafu’s house and Lin Dajun’s house, respectively, in the opposite direction.

As soon as the two left, the young man who had been waiting at the entrance of the alley came over, easily picked up the luggage that needed three girls to move, and walked into the alley first.

Xie San’s expression was as cold and stern as usual. His eyes lingered on Cheng Yaoyao’s lips for a moment before turning away. The beast-like eagerness and passion he had felt in the darkness last night seemed to be an illusion, disappearing without a trace as daylight came.

The narrow and long bluestone alley ^[3]which is a type of stone used for paving streets. seemed to be forgotten by the sun. The mud walls were covered with moss and sprouted with lush amaranth or pink crabapple flowers. Xie San walked in front, and Cheng Yaoyao followed behind with a small bag in her arms.

Occasionally, some women would sit in the alley weaving straw sandals or stringing straw beads, and would greet Cheng Yaoyao with a smile: “You are the educated Cheng who is going to live in Xie’s house, right?”

Cheng Yaoyao also smiled and greeted them: “Yes, I…”

Xie San interrupted her in a deep voice: “Let’s go!”

Cheng Yaoyao was startled. Xie San had never spoken to her in such a tone, let alone in front of others. Her face suddenly changed color. In the eyes of others, Cheng Yaoyao was a delicate and precious peony flower ^[4]which is a type of flower symbolizing beauty., but she was frightened by Xie San and looked so pitiful.

Cheng Yaoyao pursed her lips but managed to hold back from making a scene and just followed Xie San forward.

The alley became quieter and quieter, and there was no one around. But Xie San still didn’t look back at her. Cheng Yaoyao walked slower and slower, and finally stopped, staring at a bunch of crabapples growing out of a crack in the wall.

When Xie San finally turned around, he saw Cheng Yaoyao staring at the wall. He followed her gaze and said, “You like Haitang^[5]usually means a type of flower or plant called the Chinese flowering crabapple. It can also refer to dishes made with this flower or its fruit.? We have some at home, too.”

“I hate Haitang the most!” Cheng Yaoyao turned her head away and said it angrily.

Xie San said calmly: “Then go home.”

“…” Cheng Yaoyao’s pout grew higher and higher. Carrying a small bag, she followed Xie San with a clattering sound, like a young wife who was being bullied. Xie San was as hard-hearted as iron, and without even turning his head, he led her around one narrow alley after another and finally stopped.

Cheng Yaoyao looked up and saw an abandoned house with half of the wall collapsed. She was so confused that she forgot to be angry: “You live here?”

Suddenly, everything in front of Cheng Yaoyao darkened. Xie San dropped his things and walked up to her, gently holding her small chin. Cheng Yaoyao’s red eyes met his.

“Go away!” Cheng Yaoyao shouted angrily and kicked him hard on the knee, leaving a footprint on Xie San’s pants.

Xie San didn’t dodge; he grabbed Cheng Yaoyao’s hands and whispered, “What’s wrong? … Don’t cry.”

Cheng Yaoyao was about to make a scene, but when she heard Xie San’s words, she burst into tears: “I don’t want you to pay attention to me! Why are you so mean to me? I just came to your house, and you’re already so mean to me!”

“…No.” Xie San clumsily wiped Cheng Yaoyao’s face with his hand. His fingers were rough and left a red mark on her fair cheek. “I didn’t mean to be harsh to you.”

“You are really fierce! And in front of those people,” Cheng Yaoyao said, filled with grief, pointing at Xie San and accusing him, “You still ignored me. You’ve been ignoring me since we met just now!”

“I’m not ignoring you. Those people… don’t have a good relationship with my family.” Xie San was tongue-tied and had never been good at talking about these things. He lifted his coat to wipe Cheng Yaoyao’s face. The hot and wet tears formed dark spots on his coat, making him feel helpless.

Behind the alleys were prying eyes, and there was no shortage of gossiping tongues. Rumors can be destructive, and no one understood this better than Xie San. He didn’t want Cheng Yaoyao to fall into such a situation, but he also didn’t want to make her cry.

Xie San tried to hug Cheng Yaoyao’s slender waist, but she hit him hard. The pain stimulated his senses, and the dream from last night emerged before him. Xie San suddenly grabbed her hands and trapped her in his arms like a precious prey with beautiful fur.

Xie San pressed against her small earlobe and said seriously, “No, I’m not ignoring you.”

Cheng Yaoyao, comforted by his deep voice, said, “Then you’re not allowed to be mean to me in the future.”

Xie San tried hard to remember, but Cheng Yaoyao stepped on his foot to jog his memory. Only then did he realize that the word “gone” had been used in a way that deeply upset her.

Cheng Yaoyao’s eyes were tinged with crimson, with a little teardrop mole, and she was so beautiful it could take one’s breath away. Her rosy lips were flat, as if she had suffered a great injustice.

Xie San wanted to hold her in his arms and hurt her to death. He said in a hoarse voice: “I won’t do that again.”

Cheng Yaoyao’s slender waist, which had been arched like a cat in resistance, gradually softened, and Xie San held her in his arms and stroked her gently. Xie San was incredibly strong, lifting her like a child and shaking her awkwardly.

Cheng Yaoyao pouted her cherry lips and said, “A little higher.”

Xie San then lifted her up higher and turned her around. Cheng Yaoyao only remembered being held like this by her father when she was five years old. She looked down at Xie San’s handsome and silly face, and finally, a sweet smile appeared on her lips. She said, “Put me down.”

Xie San gently set her down on the ground. Cheng Yaoyao stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the lips. It was a very light and soft kiss, without any hint of passion. Before Xie San could respond, she buried herself in his arms and hid her red cheeks.

Xie San rested his chin on the top of her head and gently sniffed the jasmine scent coming from her silky hair. His mind went blank for a moment before he came back to his senses.

The squeamish guy wanted his life before he even entered the door.

The spoiled girl who had been riding on Xie San’s head and acting arrogantly changed her attitude as soon as she entered the house. Cheng Yaoyao stood in the yard almost shyly and greeted Grandma Xie: “Hello, Grandma.”

This landlord’s house, which had been described many times in the original book, appeared in front of Cheng Yaoyao for the first time in its true appearance.

The floor is paved with blue bricks, the beams are made of camphor wood ^[6]which is a type of wood often used for its pleasant fragrance and durability., the eaves are raised and the tiles are tilted, and the caisson ^[7]a decorative ceiling panel. is engraved with auspicious and delicate patterns. There must have been a large family living here, and there were long-term workers and maids rushing to and fro to maintain the prosperity and order of the house.

Now that its prosperity has faded, the courtyard has lost its popularity and financial support, showing inevitable signs of decline.

The spacious hall was empty, with a simple wooden table and stools that did not match the style. The patio and yard at the entrance were clean and tidy, with a large water tank. A few strings of chili peppers and garlic were hung under the kitchen window. In the corner of the yard, there was a vegetable garden with chives and Chinese cabbage, surrounded by a bamboo fence, and three hens in it. There was also a pile of firewood, covered with a waterproof plastic sheet.

The whole yard exudes an atmosphere of contentment with poverty.

While Cheng Yaoyao was curiously looking around the yard, Grandma Xie also looked at Cheng Yaoyao carefully. Her eyes were clear, and there was a sense of pride between her eyebrows. She naturally had the capital to be proud. With such beauty, she could be happy or angry, and her every frown and smile were full of charm. Why wouldn’t she be proud? People would naturally come forward and praise her.

Cheng Yaoyao was looked at by Grandma Xie. She pursed her lips and smiled sweetly, then said hello: “Grandma Xie, my name is Cheng Yaoyao. I am an educated youth from Shanghai. I will live in your house from now on. Sorry for disturbing you.”

She had lived with her grandparents since she was a child, and she was good at dealing with the elderly. But being stared at by Grandma Xie like this, she couldn’t help feeling a little uneasy and turned to look at Xie San.

Xie San immediately said, “Grandma, let’s put the things inside first.”

Grandma Xie’s eyelids jumped. The tone of her grandson’s voice was unexpectedly… She sighed deeply and said, “Brother Zhao, put your things away and come to my room.”

Xie San led Cheng Yaoyao to the east wing, pushed open the door with hollow carved window panes, and immediately felt a cool breeze.

The walls of the room were wiped clean, and there was a wooden bed and a table, with the blue brick floor wiped to a shine. Xie Fei was wiping the table, and when she saw Cheng Yaoyao, she dropped the rag and came over happily: “Sister Yaoyao, you’re here!”

“Yeah!” Cheng Yaoyao was warmly welcomed by Xie Fei, and the smile on her lips deepened a little.

Xie Fei was genuinely happy and circled around Cheng Yaoyao like a little butterfly. Maybe it was because she was in her own home, so she was not so shy anymore. She pulled Cheng Yaoyao and said, “Brother cleaned up all night yesterday. Sister Yaoyao, come and see.”

“Xiao Fei.” Xie San interrupted Xie Fei, with a hint of discomfort on his wheat-colored face, “Help me pack up.”

Xie Fei stuck out her tongue, exchanged a smiling look with Cheng Yaoyao, and picked up Cheng Yaoyao’s bedding, skillfully making the bed.

Xie San then lowered his head to look at Cheng Yaoyao again, and his tone softened: “You pack up first. I’ll go to Grandma’s room.”

“Wait a minute.” Cheng Yaoyao pulled at his clothes and whispered, “Grandma don’t want me to come?”

“No.” Xie San learned from the pettiness of the spoiled girl and said seriously, “Don’t think about it. Wait for me to come back.”

Xie San turned and went out.

Xie Fei had already made the bed and said, “Sister Yaoyao, take a look at this cool mat my brother made for you. Does it look good?”