Chapter 85: Chapter 85
Zhao Guodong stood tensely, wanting to stay but feeling awkward, so he looked at Zhang Linong. Zhang Linong smiled but didn’t rush to speak, making Zhao Guodong’s eyes widen further.
Ye Ling sat on the heated bed, watching the two and decided to speak up for Zhao Guodong, "You don’t need to worry. Back in the rural days, especially when I was young, my grandma always went to the fields with the production team, and I was alone at home. Even when it got dark, I wasn’t scared. Now that I’m grown, there’s even less to fear."
"What, what, what, can’t you change your accent? Look at your sister." Zhao Guodong felt embarrassed being seen through by Ye Ling, randomly shouting about something else to change the topic. But in doing so, he forgot and mentioned Ye Qian, only stopping when he saw Ye Ling’s changing expression, "I’m only doing this for your good. Look at the classmates at school, they laugh at you behind your back."
"I talk however I want, let those who want to laugh, laugh. The mouth is on others, I can’t stop what they want to say." Ye Ling knew this person’s mind lacked a thread, and there was no need to be angry with him. "Zhang Linong, take Zhao Guodong back. No need to come tomorrow; there’s enough leftover food for tomorrow. If there’s anything, let’s talk about it the day after at school."
"You’re ungrateful." Zhao Guodong felt a ball of fire in his chest, running around for her and not receiving a word of gratitude, while she considered Zhang Linong a good person.
Watching Zhao Guodong leave angrily, Zhang Linong smiled and nodded at Ye Ling, "Dongzi is just like that, you know him, so I won’t say much. We’ll meet at school the day after tomorrow, Dongzi and I will bring your school bag then."
Ye Ling thanked him, sitting on the heated bed, watching Zhang Linong close the main door and then reach outside to latch it before withdrawing her gaze. Zhang Linong and Zhao Guodong were indeed attentive; someone brought a cotton quilt from someplace which, coupled with the warm bed, didn’t need a mattress for a night’s sleep. Dinner too was already prepared and brought, with plain white rice and egg cake packed in a lunchbox. Ye Ling had no appetite, and with an injured hand, she ate a few bites and left it there. Eating it for breakfast tomorrow was fine; skipping lunch and dinner wouldn’t make her hungry.
Finally having a small space to daze, Ye Ling sat for half the night without feeling sleepy, thinking about past lives and this life, her mind a jumble which she couldn’t unravel.
It was very quiet at night except for a few dog barks, no other sounds. The roof of the flat house looked like it hadn’t had its straw replaced in years, and when wind blew by it made a ’woo...’ sound.
Ye Ling used to be scared of such sounds as a child, even when hugged close by her grandma. She wouldn’t dare move, afraid a ghost might jump out. Now with the lights off and moonlight seeping through the windows, she could see everything in the yard clearly under the faint glow, recalling dying alone in a dark room in a past life. But this life is different; at least when she ran away from home, two people helped her find a place to stay.
Hearing the main door sound, Ye Ling became alert, leaning against the wall watching the door in the moonlight. A pair of hands reached in to remove the latch and gently pushed the door open, Ye Ling unknowingly relaxed seeing the hunched figure entering.
Who else could it be but Zhao Guodong, who left angrily that afternoon? In the moonlight, she saw him stealthily close the door, holding a small cloth bundle. Wearing an ill-fitting military green jacket which made him look thin, Zhao Guodong was tall, but it looked like he was wrapped around a stick wearing Ye’s father’s jacket.
Ye Ling didn’t know what he wanted to do but wanted to see, so she lay back on the bed pretending to sleep. People nowadays were simple, and she didn’t believe Zhao Guodong had any other intentions. After a creak as the door was opened, footsteps quietly sounded above her, and then the room fell silent again. Zhao Guodong obviously didn’t want to wake her, and after waiting a while, seeing no movement from the bed, he placed the cloth bundle there and quietly left.
Outside the room, muttering to himself, "Sleeping like a pig. If a bad person came, she wouldn’t know."
Thinking his voice quietly wouldn’t wake Ye Ling inside, her lips inadvertently curved hearing it, restraining herself to hear the main door latch again. After five or six minutes, she sat up, opened the small cloth bundle beside her in the moonlight, and found white steamed buns with still rising heat nestled inside the little aluminum pot, which stunned Ye Ling.
Feeling a pang, she bit her lip, hugging the pot. The base of the aluminum was still hot, stinging Ye Ling’s palm like needles. Ye Ling didn’t care, teardrops falling one after another, breaking into a smile as happiness filled her heart.
Grandma was gone, but someone still cared for her, even if Zhao Guodong had a foul mouth. He never spoke pleasantly but always did touching things.
In the courtyard, Mrs. Zhao stood at her door, relaxing only when she saw her grandson return, and invited him in to change before asking, "Did you give it to Lingzi?"
Recalling when her grandson returned and said he wanted to learn how to make steamed buns, Mrs. Zhao initially couldn’t get anything out of him. But now he came back wanting to make rice and egg cake, and then steamed buns at midnight, especially after the incident with the Ye Family, making it obvious to Mrs. Zhao what was going on.
Not saying a word, Mrs. Zhao proceeded to knead dough, prepare cabbage and soy sauce paste for the filling, steamed the buns, packed them in a basin, and sent with the grandson.
"She was asleep and didn’t know I went in. I left it on the bed." Zhao Guodong spoke worriedly, "Grandma, what if bad people break in, and she doesn’t know?"
Mrs. Zhao, wise and knowing, thought of some things but didn’t explain to her grandson, only said, "You don’t need to worry about that. Nowadays, where are the bad people? Go wash up and sleep. Lingzi didn’t tutor you today, so you must study alone instead of playing without reading."
"I know." Zhao Guodong replied, heading into the bathroom.
Mrs. Zhao smiled watching him. Others said her grandson was too mischievous, but Mrs. Zhao didn’t agree. Boys are naughty; ones who aren’t are daughters. Look at her grandson’s good heart and mind.
Throughout the day, neither Zhao Guodong nor Zhang Linong disturbed Ye Ling, and when Zhang Linong found Ye’s house, he saw Ye’s father had left for the company early and didn’t mention Ye Ling’s affair. He said he wanted to help with her school bag but was refused by Ye’s mother, who stated she would personally deliver it tomorrow. (To be continued. If you work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation or monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)