Chapter 52 ☆ Shared Table

Cheng Yaoyao suddenly realized how those traces were left. Those vague fragments were not dreams. Where did the big lion come from? From the beginning to the end, there was only this big-tailed wolf!

Cheng Yaoyao was both ashamed and angry. She slapped Xie San’s wrist and said vaguely, “You… you stop for a moment…”

Cheng Yaoyao’s voice was soft, swallowed between her lips and teeth. The force of her rejection was like that of a kitten, and it had no effect other than adding fuel to the fire.

…

Xie San’s narrow eyes were burning with passion, filled with deep affection that Cheng Yaoyao had never seen clearly in the past. “Yaoyao, I will marry you.”

Cheng Yaoyao couldn’t stand his gaze, so she turned her head and buried her face in Xie San’s shoulder. Her small earlobes and neck were flushed, and she muttered vaguely, “Who wants to marry you…”

Cheng Yaoyao had never thought about getting married. She was fierce in her words but didn’t make any more noise. Xie San wanted to put her down, but she still held onto his collar and refused to let go.

After they separated today, they would not see each other for several days, so it would be safer to absorb more Yang energy. Cheng Yaoyao thought so and continued to lie on Xie San’s shoulder with peace of mind.

How could Cheng Yaoyao be so light? Xie San held her in his arms, feeling like he was holding a noble and disobedient cat. This cat had beautiful fur, was arrogant and picky, but suddenly it obediently crawled into his arms. Xie San was flattered and didn’t know how to love her.

Cheng Yaoyao lay on Xie San’s broad shoulders and was rocked gently by him like a baby. After she was coaxed into submission, she felt a little embarrassed and tried to find words to say, “How did you know I was in the black market?”

Xie San held her in the shade of the corner and said, “I couldn’t find you at the supply and marketing cooperative, so I came to the black market to try my luck. Don’t come here alone in the future, understand?”

Cheng Yaoyao said aggrievedly, “But I want to sell things.” She secretly tightened her arms. As long as Xie San asked her not to sell, she would strangle him to death.

Xie San sighed imperceptibly beside her ear and said, “I’ll help you sell them in the future.”

“Really?!” Cheng Yaoyao raised her head and looked at his deep-lined face happily. “I’ll split the profits with you.”

“I don’t want your money,” Xie San said. “I want you…”

He whispered something in Cheng Yaoyao’s ear. Cheng Yaoyao glanced at him, her eyes trembling, her cheeks flushing as if she were drunk. She forced herself to be calm and spat at him: “You wish!”

Xie San just smiled and said nothing.

The small lotus leaf absorbed enough Yang energy and swayed gently and comfortably. Cheng Yaoyao was too lazy to move a finger and suddenly had an idea: “I want to be held like last time.”

Xie San was puzzled: “How to hug?”

Cheng Yaoyao whined and kicked him lightly with her toes: “Lift me up high!”

Xie San understood and lifted her a little higher without any effort, holding her and walking slowly as if coaxing a three-year-old sister. Cheng Yaoyao looked down from above, seeing past the library’s wall covered with wisteria and creepers, and into the interior.

The two-story brick-red Soviet-style building of the library was very quiet. Several windows had cracks from being smashed, and no one had repaired them. The corridor was covered with a thick layer of dead leaves and dust, showing that it had not been taken care of for a long time.

Cheng Yaoyao looked inside and said, “I wonder if there are any more books in this library.”

“Do you want to read a book?” Xie San looked up at Cheng Yaoyao. At this time, a breeze was blowing on his face. Her slightly messy hair was blown up by the wind, and a few strands stuck to his lips, with a unique rose scent.

Cheng Yaoyao stared at the library building with envy. “Well, there is no TV or radio in the countryside. I’m bored to death every night.”

Xie San asked, “What book do you want to read?”

Cheng Yaoyao hesitated for a moment, then added quickly, “If you have any college entrance examination review materials, you can get some.”

Xie San’s arms stiffened for a moment. “College entrance examination?”

Cheng Yaoyao had mentioned it casually, but now her mind was racing. “Yes, the college entrance examination.”

Although schools across the country were now in a state of disarray, the national college entrance examination would resume in two years. The two protagonists in the original book studied together and were both admitted to Shanghai University. If I start reviewing two years in advance, there will be no problem!

The more Cheng Yaoyao thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. She hugged Xie San’s neck tightly and asked excitedly, “What do you think? Do you want to take the college entrance examination with me?”

Cheng Yaoyao’s peach blossom eyes were curved, bright enough to light up all the gloom, but they couldn’t shine into Xie San’s eyes. “College entrance examination? Me? I haven’t been to school.”

The college entrance examination was a distant concept to Xie San, who had never been to school.

Facing Cheng Yaoyao’s surprised look, he added with a hint of hesitation, “…I can read. When I was a child, my family hired a teacher to teach me.”

Cheng Yaoyao suddenly hugged his neck and said with a smile, “Well, I know that if you went to school, you would definitely study better than anyone else!”

“I’m not as good as you say,” Xie San gently stroked her hair. Cheng Yaoyao’s childish words could always easily dispel the gloom in his heart.

Cheng Yaoyao shook her head and twisted her body. “You have it!”

“…Sister.” Xie San’s voice was mixed with a hint of laughter that he couldn’t hide.

His voice was low and pleasant, with indescribable doting and tenderness. Cheng Yaoyao’s ears felt hot, and she slipped down from Xie San’s arms embarrassedly. “I’m hungry.”

In fact, Cheng Yaoyao wasn’t hungry, but she remembered that Xie San had asked for leave and could not stay too long. Xie San glanced at Cheng Yaoyao’s watch and said, “I’ll take you to dinner.”

Cheng Yaoyao’s hair was messy, and her skirt was a little wrinkled. Xie San held a small mirror for her while she carefully fixed her hair and straightened her skirt. Xie San waited patiently, and the more he looked at her, the more he felt she resembled a cat grooming its fur.

By the time Cheng Yaoyao had finally dressed up nicely and walked to the restaurant with Xie San, it was almost half past twelve. The restaurant was full of people. Cheng Yaoyao followed Xie San into the restaurant, looking around for an empty seat.

The beautiful and noble female educated youth and the poor boy in a ragged coat attracted countless glances as soon as they entered. Cheng Yaoyao was completely unaware of this. Xie San looked solemn and kept some distance from Cheng Yaoyao in silence.

Cheng Yaoyao said to Xie San, “Two bowls of plain noodles and stir-fried pork with green peppers. I’ll go find a seat!”

Xie San nodded and told the fat salesperson, “Two bowls of plain noodles and a plate of stir-fried pork with green peppers.”

The salesperson had just had an argument with a colleague and was in a bad mood. She rolled her eyes, looked at Xie San’s oily vest and worn-out Liberation shoes, and said unhappily, “No room left!”

Xie San took a quick look and said, “We can share the table.”

“Then ask them if they are willing to let you sit with them!” The salesperson threw the greasy towel on the counter and spoke in an aggressive tone.

Xie San pursed the corners of his lips. He had been subjected to such cold looks since he was a child and thought it would no longer affect him emotionally. However, he had never felt more embarrassed than at this moment.

Cheng Yaoyao came over and cheerfully said, “You can share the table by the window. Just order your food and go over.”

The salesperson was stunned for a moment when he saw Cheng Yaoyao’s appearance. Then he looked up and down at Cheng Yaoyao’s clothes, then turned to look at Xie San, with an exaggerated expression on his face. “Are you together?”

“No way?” Cheng Yaoyao raised her eyebrows and stared at the salesperson.

The salespeople these days are as arrogant as the Empress Dowager Cixi, and Cheng Yaoyao glanced at him arrogantly, immediately causing a stir: “Okay! What do you want to eat!”

Xie San held down Cheng Yaoyao, who was about to get angry, and told him the dish again.

The salesperson held out his hand. “One Yuan and six cents, four ounces of food coupons!”

Cheng Yaoyao was about to pay, but Xie San held her hand down. He took out money from his pocket, a neatly stacked stack of bills that had been there for who knows how long. He carefully counted out the money and food coupons and handed them to the salesperson.

The clerk pinched the money with his fingers and said in a voice loud enough for the two men to hear, “What kind of money is this? It’s 1.5 cents and so dirty! You’re treating your date to a shabby meal like this!”

After saying that, he immediately turned around and shouted, “Two bowls of plain noodles and a plate of stir-fried pork with green peppers!”

Cheng Yaoyao was furious and rushed forward, saying, “You!”

Xie San grabbed her arm and said calmly, “Let’s go over and sit down.”

Cheng Yaoyao’s cheeks turned red, and she glared at the clerk several times before reluctantly following Xie San to find a table.

There was a large round table near the window, big enough to seat seven or eight people. At this moment, two young men were already sitting there: the brothers Lin Jiaqi and Lin Jiajun.

Seeing Cheng Yaoyao coming over, Lin Jiajun stood up attentively. “Cheng Zhiqing, this way!”

Then he saw Xie San beside Cheng Yaoyao, and the smile on his face froze.

Xie San also saw the two Lin brothers and paused.

Cheng Yaoyao was completely unaware and smiled, “What a coincidence! They are also eating here. It’s a good opportunity for us to share the table.”

Cheng Yaoyao took Xie San to the table and sat down face-to-face with Lin Jiaqi and Lin Jiajun. Lin Jiajun was impatient, and his expression had changed a long time ago, staring at Xie San. Lin Jiaqi patted his brother’s shoulder and said politely to Xie San, “What a coincidence. Let’s sit together.”

No one spoke at the table for a moment.

The Lin brothers had ordered three or four dishes: two meat dishes, one vegetable dish, and one soup, which was quite a spread. They set out four sets of bowls and chopsticks. Cheng Yaoyao asked curiously, “Is there anyone else?”

“Yes, my sister and her friends,” Lin Jiajun rushed to answer, then suddenly looked towards the door. “Speak of the devil.”

Two young girls came over, one wearing a yellow smock and the other a pink dacron blouse. Both were very striking in appearance.

Xie San’s expression changed slightly, and he couldn’t help but glance at Cheng Yaoyao.

Cheng Yaoyao’s face changed drastically, and she became furious. She glared at the girl who was walking towards her.

Lin Jiajun smiled and waved, “Lulu, this way!”

Lin Lulu took Wu Man’s hand and walked over quickly, saying in a coquettish tone, “Second brother, Brother Xie San, why are you here too?”

She was talking to her brother, but her eyes kept darting sideways at Xie San. Her pretty face was slightly flushed, unable to hide her joy and shyness.

Xie San just nodded slightly.

Lin Lulu and Wu Man sat down. Lin Lulu introduced them, “Brother, this is my good friend Wu Man. You’ve also met her. Who is this?”

“Hello.” Lin Jiaqi and Lin Jiajun nodded calmly. Lin Jiaqi immediately introduced Cheng Yaoyao to Lin Lulu, “This is Cheng Yaoyao, Cheng Zhiqing from Shanghai. She has only been in the village for three months; you haven’t met her yet, right?”

Lin Lulu stared at Cheng Yaoyao. Her appearance, clothes, and demeanor made her feel dizzy. At this moment, she was sitting with Xie San. Although they kept a normal distance, the girl’s intuition made her aware of something.

Cheng Yaoyao’s face was as cold as ice, and she looked like she didn’t want to talk to anyone, so Xie San answered for her, “This is Cheng Yaoyao, an educated youth.”

Lin Lulu’s smile froze instantly, and she could hardly maintain it. She stared at Xie San and asked, “Did Brother Xie San run into her by chance?”

Before Xie San could answer, Cheng Yaoyao said clearly, “I live in his house.”

Their voices were pleasant to hear, their Mandarin was pronounced clearly, and their voices were so sweet that they made people’s ears soften.

Lin Lulu was a country girl after all and couldn’t hide her thoughts. Her face turned pale immediately. She had been obsessed with Xie San since she was a child and had never been so close to him.

Everyone’s attention was focused on Cheng Yaoyao.

Wu Man’s smile was a little stiff. She had dressed up carefully for the selection of the art troupe. She didn’t even remove her makeup and came to dinner with Lin Lulu just because she heard that her second brother had retired from the army and would soon be assigned to work at the county public security bureau. She was originally very confident, but now Cheng Yaoyao is sitting opposite her!

Wu Man didn’t expect to see Cheng Yaoyao again so soon. This vixen, who suddenly appeared and took up a place in the art troupe, was now sitting face-to-face with her, which perfectly illustrated the saying “enemies meet on a narrow road.”

Wu Man had always been outstanding and wanted to be the center of attention. She couldn’t stand people not paying attention to her. She coughed lightly and found an excuse to speak. “So your name is Cheng Yaoyao. What a coincidence, We meet again.”

Cheng Yaoyao then raised her eyelids to look at her. She was far away before and didn’t see her face clearly. Now she looked carefully. Wasn’t this the woman who offered 100 yuan to buy her skirt at the supply and marketing cooperative last time? Cheng Yaoyao was even more disgusted and turned away again.

Lin Lulu immediately asked, “Have you seen her before?”

Wu Man smiled reservedly. “I went to register for the art troupe this morning and ran into her by chance.”

Wu Man subtly mentioned that she was joining the art troupe and waited for everyone’s envious looks and inquiries.

But the three men all looked at Cheng Yaoyao. Xie San’s lips moved, and Lin Jiaqi asked first, “You want to join the art troupe?!”