Transmigration: Flirted with My Childhood Sweetheart-Chapter 37 - 36 The Familiar Little Old Man

37: Chapter 36: The Familiar Little Old Man

37 -36: The Familiar Little Old Man

After Wang Xue raised the question, the room fell silent for a moment.

Just as she thought the two had fallen asleep, Yu Xiangqin suddenly turned over and looked at her, counter-asking, “Do you also feel that something is off?”

Wang Xue replied vaguely, “I just feel that the two of them are quite strange.”

Wrapped in her quilt, Yu Xiangqin sat up, cross-legged, and said, “What do you mean quite strange?

They are too strange!

She said that the man is her neighbor, right?

What kind of neighbor delivers grain and meat?”

“She’s only been here a few days, right?

And this neighbor has come three times!

Even a real brother wouldn’t look after her that much… Ah right, what do you think he came for today?

Was it because of Zhao Zhuangshi’s issue?

Otherwise, Widow Zhao must have been kicked in the head by a donkey to beat her own son like that!”

Yu Xiangqin kept going on and on.

The room was unlit, and she couldn’t see Wang Xue’s uncertain expression.

Miao Yulan opened her mouth at the end of the platform bed, but her habitual silence made it impossible for her to interject.

Resting her head on her arm, Wang Xue stared at the pitch-black wall, her voice very soft, “But Lin Nianhe is only seventeen; they probably aren’t dating, right?”

“So what if he’s seventeen?

In the village, they could already be engaged,” Yu Xiangqin pursed her lips, convinced, “There must be something between them!”

Wang Xue didn’t want to respond to that.

Getting no response, Yu Xiangqin turned and patted Miao Yulan, “Yulan, what do you think?”

After thinking for a bit, Miao Yulan replied softly, “Educated Youth Lin is good looking, and both of them are from Beijing, so…it’s normal, I guess?”

It was as if someone had choked Yu Xiangqin, and she stopped abruptly with a “gah” sound.

Miao Yulan buried half of her face into the worn quilt and continued, “Don’t overthink it.

If there really was something, why would Educated Youth Lin come to the countryside?”

Miao Yulan’s intention was to defend Lin Nianhe for a moment, to save her from earning a bad reputation for improper conduct.

Yet, her words reminded Wang Xue, reigniting her previously wilted thoughts.

Yes, if there really was something between them, couldn’t they just get married?

Why bother coming to the countryside to endure hardships and suffering?

Wang Xue’s spirits, which had been down all day, finally lifted a bit.

In the night, the corners of her mouth lifted.

Day after day, the sun rose punctually.

At four-thirty, sounds of starting fires and cooking came from the front yard.

Lin Nainhe turned over and opened her eyes.

The biological clock is indeed a peculiar thing.

She had adapted to waking up early within just a few days of her arrival.

By five o’clock, the village came to life.

The sound of pots and pans clanging, children being scolded and crying, along with Gouzi’s barking, intertwined to paint a vivid picture of everyday life.

After changing her clothes, Lin Nianhe opened the window, and the cool morning air mixed with the dampness of dew hit her face.

She wasn’t sure if it was because she rode the bicycle too hard yesterday or last night’s activities were a bit too much, or perhaps her body was just too delicate, but Lin Nianhe felt like a tin man who had rusted, with stiff muscles and sluggish movements.

She didn’t rush to eat, instead standing at the door stretching and kicking her legs to warm up.

After moving about for about ten minutes, her body began to feel slightly warm.

Seeing that working hours were approaching, Wang Shumei hurried to the backyard.

Lin Nianhe stopped her stretches and greeted her with a smile, “Have you eaten?”

“I have,” Wang Shumei came to her side and asked, “What about you?

Feeling any better?”

“Quite good,” Lin Nianhe smiled, “I’ll go to work tomorrow.”

“Mmm.”

Wang Shumei looked at her, and after a moment of silence said, “Xiao Lan was worried about you last night, she shut the doors and windows by seven, we thought you were not feeling well.”

Lin Nianhe discerned a deep meaning from this ordinary statement.

She smiled softly and replied, “I’ve been a heavy sleeper since I was a child, and these past few days have been so exhausting that I go to bed even earlier.”

Wang Shumei saw her composed expression and secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she had been overthinking.

The last time she came to see Lin Nianhe, she saw her writing and drawing, and yesterday after Wen Lan mentioned it, she worried that Lin Nianhe, young and naive, might hide in her room to sneak a look at some inappropriate books.

Wang Shumei didn’t think further, patted Lin Nianhe on the shoulder, “As long as everything’s okay, I’m heading to work now, take some more rest at home.”

“Alrighty,” Lin Nianhe waved at her, “Be careful at work.”

Wang Shumei didn’t say anything more and turned to leave.

Watching her retreating figure, Lin Nianhe clicked her tongue lightly.

Looks like she will have to close the door later tonight, but it’s pity for her eyes, having to endure the dim light of the candle.

After the gong for work sounded, the Educated Youth Corps soon returned to quietness.

Lin Nianhe washed the cherries, ignoring her empty stomach, she ate one first.

Yesterday, Wang Xixi’s wild cherries had indeed been sour, but they also triggered her cravings, she even dreamed about bright red cherries last night.

Now, the sweet juice spread in her mouth, instantly dispelling the mental shadow left by the sour cherries.

For breakfast, she ate half a basket of crab roe buns, accompanied by a cup of malted milk.

This cross-era combination was unexpectedly delicious, satisfying Lin Nianhe immensely.

In the morning, while the Educated Youth Corps was empty, Lin Nianhe released a robotic vacuum cleaner to sweep the floors and she continued yesterday’s interrupted watering work.

After all, being outside, she still didn’t dare to use the spray bottle, honestly watering with a scoop instead.

Being lazy feels great momentarily, but getting caught means catastrophe.

While Lin Nianhe’s life here was quiet and peaceful, outside it wasn’t so calm.

An official from the commune had gone to Wang Hong’s house to gather information, and on the way, they also brought the news that the entire Old Zhang Family had been arrested—

Indeed, the whole family was arrested, as the adults weren’t home, two children from the second household of the Zhang Family had been taken to the police station.

It was not just the Zhang Family, even the old bachelor who had talked about paying one hundred yuan as dowry was taken away.

The old bachelor felt wronged, never having thought he’d be questioned by the Public Security for failing to find a wife.

That afternoon, when Lin Nianhe went to change Wang Xixi’s dressing, she encountered Second Uncle Li and a slightly familiar old man on the road.

Lin Nianhe pondered for a moment and remembered who that person was— the chief of the Nine-miles Team, he had been beside them the day she arrived.

If Li Dahe secretly disliked the educated youths, then the chief of the Nine-miles Team openly despised them.

Lin Nianhe remembered that when he had received the educated youths that day, he hadn’t spared any harsh words, he spat nothing but unkind words, his pettiness almost causing instant depression.

“Second Uncle Li, you look busy.”

Lin Nianhe’s face sported an obliging smile as she casually greeted Second Uncle Li.

“Hmm,” Second Uncle Li, still the straightforward and hardworking personality, nodded at Lin Nianhe and said no more.

Lin Nianhe didn’t feel awkward at all, still smiling brightly, “Then you carry on, I’m off to change Daxi’s dressing, Aunt Wang will get anxious if I’m late.”

As she spoke, she even patted her small shoulder bag.

Second Uncle Li was a bit puzzled as to why this kid was telling him all these details, he hadn’t asked her what she was up to!

But the little old man standing next to him lit up, his look at Lin Nianhe suddenly changed.

“Oh my, you’re the Educated Youth Lin who’s been treating Daxi’s illness?

I just heard Li Da talk about you yesterday, well, I’m Daxi’s third uncle, heading to see her too.

Let’s go, young lady, we’ll go together.”