Wang Ailing’s face turned even paler.
"Sis, are you carsick?"
Wang Ailing swallowed and nodded, not daring to speak. She finally managed a smile at Jiang Xinyu.
Half an hour later, they arrived at the village and finally got off the bus. Wang Ailing rushed to the roadside and started retching, while Jiang Xinyu’s face didn’t look good either.
Kong ngjie was the first to get off, and she seed fine. She didn’t bother with the two of them. Now that she was here, Kong ngjie felt a sense of relief.
Her dad was the village chief, and she was born to have a higher status than them. In the county, she had no choice but to be humble under the circumstances.
Stepping on this land restored her pride and confidence.
The two of them followed behind her sluggishly, walking for a while. Jiang Xinyu took off her coat and held it, worried about sweating and getting a cold. At this point, she was the only one still wearing a cotton coat.
"Xinyu, why don’t you co to my house for dinner tonight?"
"No, I have to start a fire."
"Do you have food at ho?"
"There’s so in the cellar, don’t worry. I won’t let myself go hungry. Are you coming with to grind cornal at midnight?"
"Let my brother go, I’ll deliver it to you tomorrow morning."
"Alright, I’ll take it back with this ti. Or could you talk to my uncle about giving us a ride back? There’s plenty of firewood at ho, and we need it even in sumr, right?"
"Sure, let’s take the ox cart back, so we won’t get carsick."
Kong ngjie held her breath, but the two bags of fabric were quite heavy, making it tough for her. The laughing and joking from the two behind only made her more irritable.
Still, she couldn’t bring herself to ask them for help.
It was getting darker, and by the ti they reached ho, it was already an hour later. They dispersed and went ho separately.
Jiang Xinyu opened the door and felt the yard was particularly desolate and rundown.
Upon entering the main room, she slled a cool scent. Hastily, she turned on the flashlight and lit a kerosene lamp.
The water in the jar was still a large block of ice. With no other choice, she had to fetch water first.
Just as she opened the door, Wang Ailing and Wang Xiaolong arrived.
"Xinyu, my brother ca to fetch water for you."
"That’s great, thank you, Brother Xiaolong."
The young man didn’t seem to mind the work and soon brought back two buckets of water.
Jiang Xinyu scrubbed the pot and poured water into it. Wang Xiaolong went for a second round, while Wang Ailing helped start the fire.
"Xinyu, this house is too cold."
"It’s fine, it’ll be warm in less than two hours, and it’s not as cold as in mid-winter."
The second round of water all went into the pot, the third round into the large basin, small basin, and finally two more buckets for storage.
"Tomorrow your water tank will thaw out."
The two brothers carried half a sack of corn back ho, where their family was waiting for dinner.
Jiang Xinyu sat by the stove, where it was warm.
She took out a at bun from her stash and drank a bag of milk; that was dinner.
Once the water boiled, she quickly dusted off the kangbed, which was covered in dust.
She kept busy until eleven o’clock before finally crawling into bed. Although the room was chilly, the bed was quite warm.
Wei Kaiyun wasn’t resting either. He lay on the kang, pondering.
He wondered how that girl was doing. Her house had no one living in it, it must be cold. Why go back at all? It would have been better to start out in the morning and return in the afternoon.
Then his thoughts turned to his own trip to the Capital, making him feel uncertain.
The visit to the Provincial City was supposedly for observation and learning, but it was really just a cover for his trip to the Capital. He was carrying too much money, so going to the Capital first would make him feel more secure.
He wondered if the person above would agree to his request.
Old Yang could probably retire after returning this ti, right?
From the look of things, the two of them must have achieved sothing significant.
That would be better, no need for any rewards.
However, given that person’s character, he likely won’t trouble him much, but whether he releases him is uncertain.
Wei Kaiyun felt uneasy. He’d been out since he was ten years old, now it’s been eighteen years. Eighteen years should be enough to repay his debts.
He’d wait until they t before making a decision. If it doesn’t work, he’ll just give up his duties.
He needed a family, a wife and kids. He was no longer the man who had no ties, so he was afraid and wanted out.
Wei Kaiyun chuckled to himself, really afraid, afraid of implicating his future family.
Half-dazed, he slled the fragrance on the pillow, which reaffird his thoughts.
The next day, Jiang Xinyu hadn’t woken up yet when she heard a knock at the door. Even wanting to sleep in wasn’t possible.
On opening the door, she found it was Tian Shulan. "Auntie, so early?"
"Yes, sorry to disturb your sleep."
"It’s no bother, Auntie, co in."
Tian Shulan felt surprised. It hadn’t even been a month, and this girl’s change was remarkable. She had gotten fairer, taller, filled out, and looked a lot prettier. Standing next to ngjie now, there wouldn’t be much difference.
"Xinyu, why did you start working without letting us know?"
"Auntie, I just felt I’d had enough and decided to go to work."
"Your house doesn’t seem right; it’s too cold. Better get a fire going quickly."
"That’s what I plan to do. I’ll first go burn paper for my parents, then co back and start the fire."
"Alright, I won’t hold you up. Co to my house for lunch."
"No need, Auntie, I have food. Everyone’s struggling, I don’t want to burden you."
"Why are you being so distant?"
"Auntie, it’s not being distant. If there’s nothing else, I won’t keep you. I’m off to burn paper."
"Go ahead, co over to my house in the afternoon; it’ll be warm."
"Sure, I’ll tidy up the house and then co over."
Jiang Xinyu saw off Tian Shulan and climbed to the top of the woodshed to pull down a bag of paper for burning. She took out half to go burn paper.
She squatted in front of the grave, lit the paper, and muttered softly, "I will live well in place of Jiang Xinyu." Finally, she knelt and bowed three tis before heading back.
Arriving ho, she saw Wang Ailing waiting at the door.
"Where did you go?"
"Burning paper. I’m going to be on a study tour for a month. I might not make it back for Qingming, so I sent them money in advance."
"Oh, where are you going?"
"Departing next week to learn at the Provincial City’s textile factory."
"That’s nice, getting to see the Provincial City."
"Is there anything you want? I’ll bring it back for you."
"I don’t even know what there is in the Provincial City."
"I don’t know either. Just tell what you want the most, and if I see it, I’ll bring it back for you."
The two chatted as they entered the house.
"I really want a watch. My dad said he’d give a hundred bucks. I’ve saved up forty dollars in three months, but I’m still short of a watch coupon. I can’t afford those pricey ones."
"Oh, I don’t have a watch coupon either. I know the secretary of the supply and marketing departnt, so I’ll try to ask for you. But you need to save up; the good-looking ones are all over a hundred and eighty."
"I know, I’ll keep saving. Ugh, without my dad’s help, I estimate two years just to buy a watch would be quite lucky."
Jiang Xinyu just smiled, "That’s your uncle and aunt being good to you."
User Comments
0 comments from readers