Chapter 39 ☆ Make dinner

A hand suddenly stretched out from the room, white and with a faint fragrance like jasmine, and hooked onto the front of Xie San’s jacket.

Xie San’s heart was beating wildly, as if it were being scratched by a kitten. His Adam’s apple moved, and he pressed the mischievous hand on his chest: “Stop it.”

A half-enchantress-like face appeared from behind the crack in the door, with bright peach blossom eyes, and she whispered, “Why did you take so long?”

The house was so quiet in the afternoon that one could hear a pin drop. Grandma and Xie Fei were taking a nap, and it was unknown whether they were asleep or not. Xie San felt his heartbeat was like thunder, threatening to wake up everyone in the village. He lowered his voice and said, “It took a while.”

Cheng Yaoyao said: “Then come in.”

“…” Xie San’s narrow eyes suddenly dimmed, and he exhaled, “You… you have a good rest; I’ll go back to the room.”

Cheng Yaoyao raised her eyebrows and opened her rosy lips slightly: “Come in.”

He hooked his fingertips on the pipa buckle ^[1]refers to a type of traditional Chinese buckle often used in clothing., and pulled lightly, with the strength of a cat. Xie San involuntarily stepped into the house, and the wooden door closed immediately.

Cheng Yaoyao was held around the waist by a pair of strong arms. She turned around abruptly and pressed against the wooden door. The man’s hot chest pressed against her, and he breathed softly in her ears.

“What are you doing?” Cheng Yaoyao was startled by him. Xie San’s body was covered in sweat, and a fragrance mixed with sunlight and grass was rushing into her nose.

Cheng Yaoyao couldn’t help but gently rub the sweat on his neck. The little lotus leaf trembled with pleasure. She said with disdain: “You are all sweaty.”

Upon hearing this, Xie San immediately let go of her hand and looked at her with a little embarrassment, like a big dog who had made a mistake.

Cheng Yaoyao walked to the shelf. The white enamel basin was half full of water. It looked very cool. Cheng Yaoyao took the pink towel and threw it in to wash it, then took it out and wrung it dry.

The sound of the water splashing on her slender hands was particularly pleasant in the room in the afternoon. Xie San stood by the door and couldn’t help but look around the room.

The room, which was empty this morning and seemed spacious and cold, was now filled with many girl’s things. The quaint big bed was covered with a quilt with white flowers on a pink background, a small bamboo pillow, and a cool mat.

This is the room he has lived in for 20 years, and the bed he has slept on. From today on, Cheng Yaoyao will sleep on it every night.

Heat rose in his lower abdomen, and Xie San pinched his palms, forcing himself to divert his attention before losing control. He raised his eyes to see what Cheng Yaoyao was doing.

Cheng Yaoyao came over with a wet towel and put her hand on his face.

The cold temperature stimulated him to hiss and frown.

“Does it hurt? You’re running around the village with a sign on your head ^[2]refers to a phrase used to describe being easily identifiable or noticeable.,” Cheng Yaoyao mischievously pressed the wound hard.

Only then did Xie San realize that his face was swollen from being hit by his grandmother. He held back any sound and stared at Cheng Yaoyao, who was so close to him with his dark eyes, He felt the movement of Cheng Yaoyao gently wiping his face.

Cheng Yaoyao pouted, but her hands moved much more gently and involuntarily: “Next time grandma hits you, just run away. Otherwise, I won’t care about you anymore.”

Listening to Cheng Yaoyao’s serious bad advice, Xie San’s cold lips couldn’t help but bend slightly: “Hmm.”

Xie San’s wheat-colored cheeks were burning hot, and the towel was soon warmed up. Cheng Yaoyao pushed Xie San to sit on the edge of the bed, changed the water again, and pressed the towel on his face.

The cool towel was applied to the cheek, and the wound felt a slight sting at first, and then a cool and comfortable feeling came over me. Xie San said, “Very cool, is it fresh water?”

“… In the water tank.” Cheng Yaoyao felt guilty for a moment, then said calmly, “Your face is too hot. Why are you blushing?”

Cheng Yaoyao turned the tables, and Xie San indeed looked a little embarrassed, with his two big hands neatly placed on his knees, looking like a primary school student being questioned by a teacher.

Xie San’s skin was a beautiful wheat color, and the long scar that was originally red and swollen had gradually subsided. If you didn’t look closely, you wouldn’t be able to see it. Cheng Yaoyao added a small cup of spiritual spring water to the basin, and it seemed that external application was also effective.

Cheng Yaoyao breathed a sigh of relief and lectured Xie San: “Aren’t you going to learn how to use a tractor? If you go with the wound on your face, people will think you are a little hooligan who fights every day.”

Xie San said: “I rarely fight.”

“I don’t believe it. You look so fierce.” Cheng Yaoyao chose to contradict him.

“……” Xie San’s narrow eyebrows were slightly twisted, contrasting with his usually stern face, as if confirming Cheng Yaoyao’s words.

Cheng Yaoyao said proudly: “Yes, that’s the expression! I was scared to death when we first met! Did you hate me very much at that time? You looked like you wanted to kill someone.”

“I just want you not to go into the mountain. It’s very dangerous.” Xie San hurriedly explained seriously, but he saw Cheng Yaoyao with her peach blossom eyes curved, with a cunning look.

Xie San finally realized that Cheng Yaoyao was joking with him, but he could do nothing about her sharp tongue, so he simply reached out and pulled her into his arms.

Cheng Yaoyao couldn’t stand steadily and sat directly on Xie San’s thigh, but suddenly she felt something pressing against her.

Both of them were stunned.

After a moment of daze, Cheng Yaoyao jumped up as if she were scalded and sat next to him.

Xie San’s long legs changed their positions. His pants were loose but thin in summer, and he could not hide the bulge of hot blood at all. The two sat side by side on the edge of the bed, not looking at each other, and the atmosphere became very strange for a while.

Cheng Yaoyao coughed lightly and tried to remain calm: “There’s some cold water on the table; would you like to drink some?”

“No need!” Xie San lowered his voice, revealing a hint of embarrassment that was hard to conceal.

Cheng Yaoyao was fine at first, but after seeing Xie San’s embarrassment, her cheeks couldn’t help but turn red.

Sitting side by side like this, they looked like a shy pair of newlyweds.

The room was warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Sunlight shone in through the carved window panes. By the time it filtered into the room, the warm sunlight had lost its heat and splashed patterns on the ground. The room was filled with the unique scent of old houses and the freshness of recent cleaning, which made people feel relaxed and drowsy.

Cheng Yaoyao felt a little sleepy, but she didn’t want to ruin the peaceful atmosphere. She yawned softly, covering her mouth with her hand, and unknowingly leaned on a solid shoulder.

She murmured, “Wake me up later, and I’ll make dinner.”

“Grandma and Xiao Fei can do it.”

“I want to do it.” Cheng Yaoyao’s eyelids drooped, her long, curled eyelashes trembling. She murmured softly, like a kitten, “I want Grandma to like me…”

“…Okay.” The deep voice exuded a hint of tenderness, like the plucked strings of a cello.

A spacious and bright room, a cool and soft mat, and a big bed all to oneself—Cheng Yaoyao hadn’t had such a comfortable sleep in a long time.

She rolled on the bed barefoot, hugging the blanket, and stretched across the bed from head to foot.

When the wooden door was gently knocked, she groaned and rubbed her cheek on the mat, “Who is it?”

“Sister, it’s me.” Xie Fei’s soft voice sounded.

Cheng Yaoyao stretched comfortably and said loudly, “Come in.”

Xie Fei walked in with a bowl of peaches in her hand and smiled, “Brother asked me to wake you up.”

Cheng Yaoyao twisted on the bed like a beauty snake, and finally, after a while, she slowly sat up. Her cheeks were rosy from sleep, making her look even more charming. Her black hair was draped over her shoulders like silk. When Xie Fei saw this, her cheeks flushed. She lowered her head and fiddled with the peaches on the table, “This peach has been hanging in the well for a day. It’s just right to eat it now. It’s icy. Sister, hurry up and eat it.”

Cheng Yaoyao slipped her feet into a pair of white shoes and walked to the shelf to wash her face.

She poured half a basin of spiritual spring water into a wash basin, scooped some up, and splashed it on her face. The cool, refreshing water made her feel revitalized. As droplets rolled down her cheeks, her skin appeared so white and tender that it seemed to glow.

After wiping the water off her face, Cheng Yaoyao walked to the table to eat a peach. The peach was only half the size of a fist, with a pointed tip and a bright red color. She took a bite, and the sweet and sour juice made her shiver. It was so cool!

“Why is it so cold?” Cheng Yaoyao was thirsty from sleep and happily ate the peach.

Xie Fei said with some pride, “Our well is very deep. In the summer, we hang food in the well to keep it cold. It can be stored for several days.”

“It’s really cool, almost as cool as a refrigerator.” Cheng Yaoyao was praised sincerely.

She ate two peaches, her hands sticky with sweet and sour juice. She put her fingertips into her mouth and sucked them clean. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Xie San walking towards her. When their eyes met in the hall, he suddenly turned around and ran away, as if he had seen a ghost.

Cheng Yaoyao: “…”

It was already five o’clock. The sky was still bright, but the heat of the sun had waned. The air was especially dry, and the smell of cooking smoke wafted from every household.

Xie Fei said that Grandma Xie had a headache today and was resting in her room. Cheng Yaoyao knew that Grandma Xie must have a headache because she was upset.

The two walked into the kitchen together. Although her brother had said that Cheng Yaoyao would cook today, Xie Fei still stayed to help.

Xie Fei opened a rice jar in the corner, which was half full of buckwheat noodles and a bag of cornmeal. She first scooped out about half a pound of cornmeal and put it in a basin. Then she picked up a gourd ladle to scoop out buckwheat noodles, but Cheng Yaoyao stopped her.

“Why separate them?” Cheng Yaoyao asked in confusion.

“Brother said that cornmeal and rice are your rations, so they should be cooked separately,” Xie Fei explained.

“Nonsense! I’ve moved in, so what’s yours and mine?” Cheng Yaoyao suddenly got angry and bit her lip.

If Cheng Yaoyao is not Xie Fei’s sister, you might want to clarify the relationship in the sentence. Here’s a revised version:

“But…” Xie Fei looked at Cheng Yaoyao in embarrassment. She was afraid that Yaoyao would be angry, but she didn’t dare to go against her brother’s wishes.

Cheng Yaoyao grabbed the ladle and said, “No coarse grains tonight! Let’s eat white rice!”

The white rice was kept in another small jar. Cheng Yaoyao hadn’t seen white rice in a long time. The white rice of this year was not polished, with a slightly yellowish and rough color, but the aroma of the rice was overwhelming.

Cheng Yaoyao also found a small bag of mung beans, which were a bit flat and not very plump. She had an idea, “Let’s make mung bean porridge tonight.”

Cheng Yaoyao scooped two cups of white rice and a handful of mung beans, washed and soaked them in well water, and went out to pick vegetables.

There were many green vegetables planted in the Xie family’s yard, including loofah, cucumber, tomato, and green pepper. In addition, there were green and tender wood ear vegetables climbing on the wall. Cheng Yaoyao picked a few green peppers and tomatoes, and also picked a handful of wood ear vegetables.

Xie Fei was very quick and diligent. She fetched water from the well and washed the vegetables one by one with Cheng Yaoyao.

The well water was icy cold, and it was very comfortable to soak their hands in it. The cucumbers were crisp and juicy, and the ice floated in the water. The local tomatoes were pink in color. After washing them clean, they broke open, and the flesh inside oozed juice. Cheng Yaoyao and Xie Fei each ate half, and the sour and sweet taste quenched their thirst.

After draining the water from the green peppers, Xie Fei brought a small stone mortar and said, “I’ll teach you how to make chili paste.”

Cheng Yaoyao remembered that Xie San loved to eat this, and she immediately became excited and watched Xie Fei carefully demonstrate how to make it.

The laughter of the two echoed in the yard like silver bells. The yard, which had been silent for twenty years, was lively for the first time, as if the prosperous times from many years ago were reappearing.

Grandma Xie looked out the window, with a hint of melancholy in her weathered eyes.