Chapter 65 ☆ Drunk

Xie Zhao remained busy, while Cheng Yaoyao’s dissatisfaction continued.

News of the worker, peasant, and soldier quota for college students was spreading, stirring the educated youth’s hopes. Even Liu Minxia, aware of her limitations, entertained some hope.

No one wants to remain in the countryside forever. The initial enthusiasm for rural life had long faded under harsh conditions. For the educated youth, even a glimmer of hope was worth pursuing.

Cheng Yaoyao, uninterested in the quota herself, still held voting rights. The educated youth organized numerous meetings and discussions, which inevitably led to encounters with Shen Yan.

Ever since Cheng Yaoyao helped Zhang Xiaofeng get the news that day, she had not even looked at Shen Yan and turned away whenever she saw him. But in Shen Yan’s eyes, this attitude was just playing hard to get. In the past, Cheng Yaoyao’s heart was tied to Shen Yan, but he had abandoned her like a worn-out shoe. Now that Cheng Yaoyao turned her back on him, Shen Yan couldn’t help but desire her even more.

Wherever Shen Yan went, Cheng Nuonuo was there as well. In front of Cheng Nuonuo, Shen Yan dared not act, but his obsessed eyes were so noticeable that others saw them. How could he escape Cheng Nuonuo’s gaze?

Cheng Yaoyao was annoyed by these two people, and the others were gossiping about them. Only Zhang Xiaofeng and Han Yin knew the real story, and they surrounded Cheng Yaoyao tightly during every meeting to keep Shen Yan away.

That night, Xie Zhao returned home very late.

“Brother, you’re finally back,” Xie Fei greeted him happily. “We’ve been waiting for you to come back for snacks. Sister Yaoyao made almond tofu!”

Xie Zhao looked in the direction Xie Fei was pointing. On the small table were several bowls of something that looked like white tofu pudding—white and delicate. Grandma Xie and Cheng Yaoyao were both sitting at the table, seemingly waiting for him.

Xie Zhao’s eyes fell on Cheng Yaoyao’s face and paused for a few seconds. Cheng Yaoyao raised her eyelids and looked at him indifferently before sniffing and asking, “Where does the smell of alcohol come from?”

Grandma Xie also stood up and asked, “Brother Zhao, have you been drinking? Where did you go for dinner tonight?”

Xie Zhao went to wash his face and said, “The secretary’s house.”

Cheng Yaoyao was immediately furious. “Why did you go to his house for dinner?”

Xie Zhao glanced at her and spoke a little slower than usual. “The secretary’s grandson turned one, so he invited me to dinner, and I had a couple of drinks.”

Cheng Yaoyao wanted to scratch his face, but in front of Grandma Xie and Xie Fei, she could only stamp her feet and say, “You stink of alcohol!”

Grandma Xie handed Xie Zhao a teacup and said, “Rinse your mouth quickly. You’ll have a headache tomorrow if you drink.”

Xie Zhao rinsed his mouth obediently, drank a few sips of tea, and said, “I’m going to sleep for a while.”

Grandma Xie asked worriedly, “Brother Zhao, how about having a bowl of snacks before going to bed?”

“No, I’m very tired.” Xie Zhao took a few steps and then stopped, looking as if he had forgotten something, with a serious confusion on his brow.

His dark eyes turned and fell on Cheng Yaoyao’s face, then suddenly brightened up. “Call me later to help Sister with her bath.”

Grandma Xie didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, so she pushed him and said, “Okay, go to sleep for a while!”

Xie Zhao repeated stubbornly, “Remember to call me.”

Cheng Yaoyao said unhappily, “Got it!”

Only then did Xie Zhao walk away slowly.

Xie Fei smiled secretly and said to Cheng Yaoyao, “Isn’t it funny when my brother is drunk?”

“Is he drunk?” Cheng Yaoyao asked suspiciously. “Why isn’t his face red?”

Xie Fei smiled and said, “My brother doesn’t get drunk, but when he is, he acts like a child.”

Cheng Yaoyao couldn’t help but smile, then quickly straightened her face.

The package sent by Cheng’s father last time contained a bag of southern almonds, which were of high quality and perfect for making almond tofu. Almond tofu has a delicate and light taste with a slightly bitter almond aroma. Eating it regularly can calm the nerves and relieve asthma, and it also helps to whiten the skin. It’s a labor-intensive process to make, and without a food processor, everything is done by hand. Cheng Yaoyao used a small grinder to grind it for an afternoon, and then filtered it with gauze several times to achieve such a delicate taste.

The almond tofu was served in small bowls, white and tender. It was drizzled with a spoonful of honey. It was more tender than tofu pudding and mellower than jelly. Grandma Xie and Xie Fei both praised it highly.

Grandma Xie put the remaining portion away and said, “Let Zhao eat it tomorrow morning. Yaoyao spent so much effort making it; he must have a taste.”

Cheng Yaoyao hummed softly, “He doesn’t deserve to eat it. Who told him to go to that bald-headed boy’s house for dinner!”

Grandma Xie yawned and went back to her room to sleep. The old lady always went to bed early and stayed up this late just to wait for Xie Zhao to return. Xie Fei took a bath, boiled water for Cheng Yaoyao, and went back to her room to sleep.

Cheng Yaoyao played in the yard for a while, and when the water boiled, she went to call Xie Zhao to get up.

Xie Zhao’s room was converted from a storage space. Medicinal herbs and furs were placed in the outer room, while the inner room had only a bed and a table. It was extremely simple.

Xie Zhao lay on the bed with his shirt open, not even taking off his shoes, and had fallen into a deep sleep. The room was cold, and he slept soundly without a blanket.

Cheng Yaoyao called out twice, “Xie Zhao, Xie Zhao!”

Xie Zhao was usually very alert when sleeping. He would come over when Cheng Yaoyao called him from the next room, but now he was motionless. Cheng Yaoyao came closer to look at him and smelled the alcohol on his collar. It was sorghum liquor^[1]also known as baijiu in China, is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented sorghum, a grain that is commonly used in its production.!

He can’t drink much but is trying to learn to drink white wine. Thinking of whose house he went to drink at, Cheng Yaoyao immediately pushed him away in disgust. “Wake up, I want to take a shower, get me some water!”

Xie Zhao said “hmm” and didn’t move.

Cheng Yaoyao was like a mischievous kitten. She grabbed his collar and started shaking him. “Who told you to go drink? Get up, get up, get up…”

Xie Zhao frowned, closed his eyes, and pulled her into his arms. “Don’t make trouble.”

Cheng Yaoyao fell heavily on his chest. Xie Zhao hadn’t showered yet, and he smelled of hormones and a hint of alcohol.

“Hmm…” Cheng Yaoyao covered her mouth, barely holding back a soft hum, and scratched Xie Zhao in frustration.

Xie Zhao, thick-skinned, remained unfazed. His arms were wrapped around her like an iron hoop.

Xie Zhao smelled good. Cheng Yaoyao took a deep breath of his scent, her cheeks flushed, and she felt her behavior was pathetic. While despising herself, she took the opportunity to sniff at Xie Zhao’s neck.

Xie Zhao chuckled softly. His deep and textured voice was so charming that it startled Cheng Yaoyao, making her stiffen. She dared not move.

Xie Zhao rubbed his chin against her hair, murmured “sister,” and then remained still.

Cheng Yaoyao slowly exhaled the breath she had been holding, glaring angrily at Xie Zhao’s collarbone. It had been so frightening! She waited quietly for a moment, then carefully lifted Xie Zhao’s arm, twisting her waist as she inched backward, bit by bit.

Xie Zhao let out a faint grunt, turned over, and one of his long legs landed heavily on Cheng Yaoyao.

Cheng Yaoyao felt almost suffocated by the weight and struggled to push him away, but Xie Zhao clung to her like a child refusing to let go of his favorite toy. Her strength was no match for his, and in no time, she found herself being hugged tightly in his arms like a pillow.

Cheng Yaoyao gave up and remained still.

The Yang energy surged into her body through their physical contact, causing the small lotus leaves inside her to instantly stretch out and sway happily.

Cheng Yaoyao stared at Xie Zhao’s sleeping face. His narrow eyes were closed, and his sharp eyebrows made him look even colder and more aloof. Looking down, he had a high nose bridge and a pair of lips that were neither thick nor thin, slightly open, with a faint smell of alcohol on his breath.

Cheng Yaoyao found herself staring at his lips for some unknown reason and whispered, “Xie Zhao, Xie Zhao, are you awake?”

There was no answer. Xie Zhao was breathing evenly and soundly.

Cheng Yaoyao pursed her lips. She was still angry with Xie Zhao and didn’t want to kiss him! This was just to absorb Yang Qi!

A pair of narrow eyes opened in the darkness, like a wolf ready to pounce.

…

Cheng Yaoyao was forced to absorb the surging Yang energy. The Yang energy that had been depleted over the past few days was quickly replenished, and it even overflowed.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of dripping water woke Cheng Yaoyao.

The small lotus leaf had grown a size bigger and was happily showing itself to Cheng Yaoyao. Annoyed, Cheng Yaoyao blocked it out, kicked her legs wildly, and accidentally kicked something solid and warm, waking up immediately.

A little gray light leaked in from the skylight. Cheng Yaoyao looked at Xie Zhao, who was sleeping in her arms. The memories of last night instantly flooded her mind.

Cheng Yaoyao tried her best to stay calm.

She carefully lifted Xie Zhao’s arm, rolled up the blanket, and stuffed it around him. Xie Zhao turned over holding the blanket, and Cheng Yaoyao took the opportunity to slip out of bed.

She tiptoed to pick up the scattered clothes and put them on. Looking back, she saw that a corner of the blanket was draped over Xie Zhao’s lower abdomen, and his muscles were clearly defined in the morning light. He slept with his brows relaxed and his short hair sticking up in a messy way, which added a youthful charm to his appearance.

Cheng Yaoyao inexplicably wanted to leave some money on the bedside table. She shook her head, picked up her slippers, and slipped out of Xie Zhao’s room like a thief.

The next morning, Xie Fei knocked on the door and called Cheng Yaoyao to have breakfast, but Cheng Yaoyao pretended to be asleep and didn’t dare to go out. It wasn’t until noon that she slowly washed and left the room.

As soon as she went outside, she saw Xie Zhao sitting in the yard doing carpentry work.

Cheng Yaoyao was startled and turned around to go back inside.

Xie Fei had already called out, “Sister, you’re finally up. Get ready for lunch!”

“…Oh.” Cheng Yaoyao had no choice but to turn around stiffly and go to the yard to wash up.

The entire yard was filled with the smell of wood. The bathtub was almost finished, and Xie Zhao was busy smoothing out the rough edges. His coat was sweaty, and he seemed unaware of how long he had been working.

Cheng Yaoyao stared at the water tank beside him for a long time before walking over to scoop some water, then ran away quickly with the water in her hands.

Xie Zhao: “…”

Xie Zhao put down his tools with a sullen face and walked to the well to scoop water and wash his face.

The two of them, one on the left and one on the right, almost left a yard between them. Grandma Xie put the food on the table, not knowing whether to be worried or relieved.

Grandma made lunch: mashed eggplant, green peppers with bacon, bitter bamboo shoot soup, mushroom scrambled eggs, and an egg in Xie Zhao’s bowl of white rice.

Xie Zhao was eating with an unremarkable expression. Cheng Yaoyao glanced at him secretly, feeling very uncomfortable. Did Xie Zhao remember what happened last night?

Grandma Xie picked up a piece of meat and put it in Xie Zhao’s bowl with concern. “Brother Zhao, what’s wrong? Don’t you have a good appetite?”

Xie Zhao said, “My head hurts a bit.”

“It’s inevitable that sorghum liquor causes a hard burn,” Grandma Xie scolded. “Don’t drink next time. You’re driving a tractor now, and drinking will only make things worse. Look at you, you were drunk last night and didn’t prepare a bath for Yaoyao, and this morning the pot was full of water when I woke up.”

Cheng Yaoyao choked on a mouthful of rice, and her face turned red from coughing.

“Look at you, why are you so careless…” Grandma Xie and Xie Fei were busy patting Cheng Yaoyao on the back to calm her down.

Xie Zhao poured a glass of water and handed it to her. Cheng Yaoyao glanced at him and turned away as if she had been scalded. She drank several sips of water before slowly calming down.

Xie Zhao’s eyes darkened. He ate a few more mouthfuls of rice, stood up, and said, “I’m going to work.”

Grandma Xie asked worriedly, “Does your head still hurt? How about taking half a day off and not going?”

“It’s okay.” Xie Zhao put on his bamboo hat and said, “Let’s go.”

On the day when the last batch of melons was transported away, the weather suddenly changed, and it started to rain heavily. The villagers of Tianshui Village were very grateful, as picking melons in the rain is not an easy task.

The rain was heavy, and it was dark in the afternoon. The strong wind made the windows rattle, and rain mixed with leaves rushed into the house. Cheng Yaoyao and Xie Fei were busy bringing the dried vegetables from the yard back into the kitchen. The chicken coop and the firewood pile were covered with oilcloth and were soaked.

Cheng Yaoyao stood in front of the hall steps, stretched out her hand, and felt the rain sting her palm. “It’s raining so hard! It’s much cooler now!”

“Yaoyao, don’t stand outside. There’s thunder in the sky.” Grandma Xie lit a kerosene lamp and looked at the sky worriedly. “I don’t know how long it will take for the rain to stop. Brother Zhao should be back by now, right?”

Xie Fei calculated the time and comforted her grandmother, “Brother went into the city this morning. He is probably taking shelter from the rain in the city now. He will be fine.”

Despite this, looking at the heavy rain, the three women were all worried.

Thunder and lightning flashed across the sky, and the hall was dimly lit. The kerosene lamp flickered. Grandma Xie was weaving straw sandals. She had been doing this for decades. Even with her eyes closed, her fingers could skillfully weave through the straw. She could create a sturdy pair of straw sandals in half an hour. Liberation shoes are not breathable, so the villagers are still used to wearing their own straw sandals in summer, which are breathable and cost-effective.

Cheng Yaoyao took a small stool and sat in front of the hall to enjoy the breeze, resting her chin in her hands, looking listless. Xie Fei tried to engage her with a game of cat’s cradle, but Cheng Yaoyao lacked the energy to join in.

Gradually, the sky darkened.

Cheng Yaoyao finally came to her senses and said, “I’ll go light the lamp.”

As she stood up, a knock on the door pierced through the sound of the rain: “Open the door! Open the door!!”

***

If you’d like to show your appreciation, consider buying me a coffee—it really helps me keep going! 𖹭