Several days passed, and He Yun still hadn’t gone to see Xue Yue. But she was afraid Xue Yue would exaggerate things and complain to her third brother. Her third brother seed easygoing most of the ti, but if he got angry and lost his temper, she was still very scared of him.
While He Yun didn’t go, Gu Yuwei went looking for He Lang.
That afternoon, He Lang had just returned from town and was at his front gate when he saw Gu Yuwei standing there, staring intently at him.
He Lang intended to walk past her and into the courtyard.
"He San." Her voice was dripping with affection. If Xue Yue had been there, she would have gotten goosebumps.
He Lang held up a hand, glancing at Gu Yuwei. "Stop. Gu Zhiqing, I’m not in the habit of casually adopting sisters. Call Mr. He or He Lang."
Gu Yuwei’s face flushed red. She clasped her hands together, digging her nails into her own skin, and paused for a few seconds.
"He Lang, I want to talk to you about sothing."
He Lang said nothing.
Gu Yuwei then began to recount the events of a few days prior. Seeing He Lang listen without a change in expression, she felt she had done the right thing by tattling to him. ’This will show him how jealous and petty that woman is.’
After a long mont, He Lang let out a soft chuckle. "Are you finished?"
Gu Yuwei took a step forward. "He Lang, I’m not telling you this to bla Comrade Xue. I just don’t want her to get the wrong idea. I honestly ant well. Besides, Sister Xiao Yun only said a few words on my behalf and got scolded by Comrade Xue for it. Sister Xiao Yun has been very upset these past few days."
He Lang’s lips thinned into a hard line. His eyes were jet-black as he said in a cold tone, "You think my wife is short on a piece of cloth from you?"
Gu Yuwei’s expression froze. The words sounded very familiar.
"What I wear is none of your damn business! The reason I don’t change my shirt is because my wife made it, and I like wearing it. So what? Is that a problem for you? You think you’re so clever? That everyone else is an idiot like He Yun? Let tell you sothing: don’t you ever get near my wife again. Otherwise, I’m not above hitting a woman! What the hell is wrong with you?"
With that roguish declaration, He Lang turned and entered the courtyard.
Gu Yuwei stood at the gate as if struck by lightning, utterly unable to believe those words had co from He Lang.
’He Lang is so handso. I’ve never seen anyone better-looking, not even in Beijing City. I thought eting him was the best thing to co out of being sent to the countryside. I just never expected him to suddenly get married. But I finally seized the chance to move into the He Family ho. I was sure that, given the opportunity, I could make He Lang fall for .’
’But in the He household, they even ate separately. I hardly ever saw He Lang, and even when I did, he never once looked at . It was so frustrating. I thought I could use this opportunity to drive a wedge between him and his wife, but instead, I just got a lecture from him.’
’Gu Yuwei had never t a man who could be so rciless and rude to her, viciously rebuking her without a shred of gentlemanly grace. All that crude language... Is this how people in the countryside are raised?’
’Gu Yuwei found it hard to accept. It felt like she had wasted her affections on the wrong person, yet she couldn’t just give up. On what grounds did Xue Yue deserve him?’
Just then, Xue Yue was roasting sweet potatoes on the stove. When she saw He Lang return, she smiled and said, "You’re back! Look at the sweet potatoes I’m roasting. They’re all caralized and juicy. Co and have one, quick. They’re so sweet."
He Lang set down the bag he was carrying, walked over to Xue Yue, and stopped. He glanced at her, then at the sweet potato in her hand.
Xue Yue handed it to him. "What are you staring at? Here, take it. The others are ready, too."
He Lang took the sweet potato from her hand.
He Lang watched as Xue Yue skillfully turned the sweet potatoes, a smile on her face. Her big, watery eyes sparkled brightly. In that mont, He Lang felt that Xue Yue emanated a power that filled him with a sense of peace and tranquility.
His gaze was as gentle as water as he stared at Xue Yue, the depth of affection in his eyes a mystery even to himself.
"He Lang, is it sweet?"
He Lang pulled his gaze away and took a bite. ’Mmm, it’s really sweet.’
He Lang went to the bag, took out a book, and handed it to Xue Yue.
"A book?" Xue Yue said, surprised and delighted.
"Mhm, I had soone buy it for , but it’s not new." He Lang rembered that Xue Yue had said she loved to read.
Xue Yue set the sweet potato aside, wiped her hands, and picked the book up again.
It was a copy of *Forest Sea Snowfield*, which wasn’t a banned book.
Xue Yue took the book, sat on the *kang*, and began to read, completely forgetting about the sweet potatoes on the stove.
Watching her absorbed expression, He Lang smiled and shook his head, moving the rest of the sweet potatoes to the edge of the stove.
Then he took out the brown sugar, crackers, and two ceramic mugs he had brought back and put them away in the cabinet.
The family always drank water from bowls. He’d only rembered when he saw the ceramic mugs at the black market, so he bought two.
He Lang didn’t disturb Xue Yue and went to the main house.
Mrs. He was holding Erya and feeding her malted milk. He Lang had brought it back for his mother as a show of filial piety, but it was all going to Erya now.
But there was no helping it. Erya had no mother’s milk, and they couldn’t afford or even find any formula.
Mr. He was at the head of the *kang*, smoking his water pipe.
He Yun and Daya were sitting on the *kang*, eating crackers that He Lang had also brought back previously.
When He Yun saw He Lang enter, she lowered her head, looking guilty.
"San is here."
He Lang looked at Mr. He. "Dad, you should smoke less. It’s not good for you."
Mrs. He chid in, "San is right. You should cut back. You start smoking the mont you open your eyes, and there’s a pregnant woman and children in this house."
Only then did Mr. He put down his pipe. "I’ll stop, I’ll stop."
He Lang looked at Erya, quietly drinking her malted milk in Mrs. He’s lap, and gently stroked her tiny hand.
Seeing this, He Yun smiled. "He San, if you like kids so much, you should have your wife give you one soon!"
He Lang let out a short laugh. "Can’t afford it. You think everyone’s like you, just showing up at their parents’ house with an open mouth, ready to be fed? I can’t be like that. I have to be able to provide for a child before having one. Otherwise, bringing one into the world would just be creating a problem."
He Yun’s expression stiffened, and the hand holding a cracker began to tremble.
Both Mr. and Mrs. He stared at He Lang.
"What’s wrong with you, San? Why are your words so harsh?" Mrs. He’s face darkened.
He Lang smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
"It’s nothing. It’s just that the New Year is almost here, and it’s about ti He Yun went back to her own ho. We should spare our family the embarrassnt of being the village laughingstock. A married daughter, constantly living and mooching off her parents, who also finds ti to help outsiders bully her own family... That’s simply inexcusable."
Then, as if just rembering sothing, He Lang added, "Oh, right. And that educated youth. We should send her packing as soon as possible. Our family isn’t so destitute that we need her charity. She was just at our gate trying to sow discord between and my wife. It’s best to stay far away from people like that. If anyone here feels closer to an outsider, they’re welco to go with them."
After He Lang finished speaking, Mr. and Mrs. He remained silent. He Yun, however, burst into tears. "He San," she sobbed, "I really didn’t say anything! Did your wife tell you sothing? I’m your own sister! How can you listen to soone else and accuse like this without distinguishing right from wrong?"
Mrs. He nodded. "San, I was there. Xiao Yun really didn’t say much. I even gave her a long scolding when we got back."
He Lang stared at He Yun. "Your wife hasn’t said a single word to about this, from start to finish. If soone hadn’t blocked at the gate to tattle, I would still be in the dark. Am I the one who’s being indiscriminate, or are you the one who can’t tell right from wrong?"
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