Chapter 92: “heartthrob”
“That’s what you’re thinking.” Song Xiwei turned her head to look at her, pushed the bowl that was placed too close to the edge of the table inward, and then said, “Zhaozhao asked me to ask your opinion.”
The rest of the words weren’t said yet, Yuan Xiangniang hurriedly said, “See!”
“Arrange for the two to meet!”
Song Xiwei choked, “Don’t rush, listen to me finish first. You don’t even know what kind of person the other party is.”
“You’re Xiang Xiang’s biological aunt, your recommendation… means that young man is not bad, I trust you.” Yuan Xiangniang’s eyes were full of trust.
“…” Song Xiwei was speechless.
After a moment of silence, she said, “Xiang Xiang’s marriage still needs you to decide.”
Except for Lin Heling and Lin Zhao’s matters, she was too lazy to manage other things.
Yuan Xiangniang heard the implication in her younger sister’s words and didn’t force it, urging, “Tell me about that young man’s situation.”
Song Xiwei didn’t waste words, went straight to the point, and explained the man’s situation in a few sentences.
Of course, it was what Zhaozhao told her, relatively general basic information.
Yuan Xiangniang’s face sometimes showed a smile, sometimes frowned tightly, changing with Song Xiwei’s words.
After listening, her tone was emotional, with a hint of regret: “The conditions are good, it’s just… why does he have leg problems.”
Song Xiwei lifted her eyelids, her glance over was slightly sharp.
She spoke bluntly, “If it weren’t for the leg problem, a perfectly fine young man from the city, with a job and a house, would have been fought over long ago. How would it be Xiang Xiang’s turn.”
“You’re right, I overthought it.” Yuan Xiangniang smiled awkwardly.
She didn’t dislike him, just felt it was a pity.
“I’m still saying the same thing, let the two meet.”
Song Xiwei said, “Meeting is fine, but first tell Xiang Xiang about this and ask her opinion. If she has even a little unwillingness, then drop it. Can’t make my Zhaozhao in a difficult position; she still has to continue getting along with her colleagues.”
She was worried that Xiang Xiang had just been rejected in marriage and had no mind for matchmaking.
Marriage should be a happy thing, not marrying just for the sake of marrying.
“I know, I’ll go ask her right now.” Yuan Xiangniang thought of the villagers’ gossip and couldn’t sit still at all. She told Song Xiwei and turned to find her daughter.
At this time, a low cough came from inside the room, like someone covering their mouth with cloth, but still leaking a few hoarse breaths.
Song Xiwei suddenly stood up, rushing into the inner room in two steps instead of three.
“Why coughing again, uncomfortable?” Her tone was concerned.
Lin Heling suppressed the cough rising to his throat, his eyes apologetic, “Disturbed you.”
“Why say that.” Song Xiwei didn’t like hearing him say outsider words. She casually lifted the lid of the enamel mug, removed the rubber stopper from the water bottle, added hot water to the cup, and carried it to the bed, “Drink some water.”
Lin Heling smiled gently, took the enamel mug, drank some water, and the discomfort in his chest eased a bit.
His body, because he suffered a lot when young, couldn’t handle cold or heat, hunger or overeating. Even with careful nurturing, problems arose every few days.
Song Xiwei had taken him to many doctors, all saying it was a disease of wealth, needing good care.
These years, if not for his wife protecting him, the grass on his grave would be several feet high!
“Tomorrow, take the wild ginseng Cheng Huai sent and ask the doctor how to use it. The weather is cooling down soon, nurture it in advance.” Song Xiwei sat on the edge of the bed, smiling on her face, but her brows furrowed involuntarily, full of worry.
Every winter was hard for Lin Heling.
“Okay.” Lin Heling responded warmly, “You’ve worked hard.”
Song Xiwei was full of disapproval, “What hardship! If we nitpick so much in life, how can we live.”
She took the enamel mug from Lin Heling’s hand, casually placed it on the cabinet, held Lin Heling’s hand, felt the man’s hand was a bit cool, her face tense, cupped it with both hands, and rubbed it several times.
His hands were slender and well-proportioned, knuckles distinct but not bony. Under vigorous rubbing, they looked faintly pink.
“You’re the one I snatched home, I know all your conditions. To me, you’ve never been a burden.” Song Xiwei soothed her man’s emotions.
On the surface, she contributed the most to this family, but in fact, Heling did his best to treat her well—
Taught her to read and recognize characters.
Knowing she wasn’t good at needlework, he learned himself. The clothes they wore were all made by him, even the bedding.
When she was pregnant and couldn’t eat anything, the man tried every way just to get her to eat one more bite. Knowing she felt comfortable eating sour preserved plums, he specially learned to make them.
When she gave birth to the first child, the baby was too big, almost couldn’t deliver. He gave her the life-saving medicine he had hidden away and was reluctant to eat.
The several children at home were raised by him, their enlightenment education was also by him. For the sons marrying wives, Zhaozhao’s marriage, he put in a lot of effort…
Piece by piece, countless.
This family must have Song Xiwei, but Lin Heling was also indispensable.
Hearing his wife’s words, Lin Heling seemed puzzled. How could she think he was the one she snatched back? A trace of surprise appeared on his face.
Helpless laughter welled up in his eyes, and he said warmly, “I willingly followed you, not that you snatched me back.”
“Hm?” This was different from what Song Xiwei thought.
“If I weren’t willing, I’d rather shatter like jade.” Lin Heling smiled.
Before meeting Xiwei, his world was a dark wasteland burned by a big fire, barren, even moonlight seemed shrouded in smoke and ashes. She was the only passionate flower breaking through his barren soil.
How could he not want to walk towards her?
Song Xiwei’s heart shook, she looked up at him, “Really?”
“Otherwise?” Lin Heling smiled and asked back, but the emotion on his face was as serious as it could be.
He sighed lightly, “How much of a failure am I? We’ve been together for over thirty years, and you still haven’t seen my true heart. Too much of a failure.”
They met before twenty, went through the most difficult war years, old system broken, new system rebuilt, children all married, even grandsons and granddaughters, unexpectedly such a misunderstanding.
Lin Heling laughed helplessly.
“Failure what, I never thought…” Song Xiwei always felt Lin Heling was something she forced.
When she first met Lin Heling, the scene was still vivid. Such a clear-boned and handsome youth, even covered in dirt, couldn’t hide his outstanding temperament, unforgettable upon seeing.
She was strong and knew some hand-to-hand skills, unruly since childhood. Rarely fancying someone, after saving him, she unhesitatingly carried him away.
Lin Heling had an exquisite heart, saw through his wife’s thoughts at a glance, and smiled, “Do you know what I felt when I first saw you?”
They hadn’t talked about this topic. Song Xiwei felt their beginning was not decent, avoided it at first, later felt living well in the present was most important, always deliberately evading.
Now.
They had lived most of their lives, nothing couldn’t be said.
“What was it?” She was really curious.
“I thought then, where did this female general come from, so valiant and spirited, and a bit envious…” Lin Heling leaned back, easing the cough rising to his throat.
“Envious?” Song Xiwei was slightly stunned, “You envied me?!” She was very surprised.
“What do I have to be envied for? Before knowing you, I couldn’t even recognize characters, like a wild monkey running around the mountains…”
Lin Heling shook his head disapprovingly, his voice clear and smooth as ever. He smiled, looking at his wife with infinitely gentle eyes, “No, you don’t know how dazzling you are.”
Dazzling?
Song Xiwei knew what this word meant, but never associated it with herself.
“The vibrant life force on you, the highly infectious smile, the confidence that nothing could defeat, all very dazzling.” Lin Heling said seriously.
What he didn’t say was, witnessing her beating away three bandits who burned, killed, looted, and smashed, a light appeared in his dark world.
Every step she approached had his push behind it.
Song Xiwei was happy inside, her whole body light, looking several years younger.
Inconveniently on her mouth: “We’re old, still talking about dazzling.”
Lin Heling still disapproved, “In my heart, you haven’t changed a bit.”
In his eyes, his wife was forever that fiery red girl who made his heart flutter at first sight.
Song Xiwei smiled, the laugh lines at her eyes tinged with happiness.
If someone were there, they could see that at this moment, her smile resembled Lin Heling’s a bit.
People in love together long, their expressions inevitably become similar.
Lin Heling supported himself on the bed edge to get up. When standing, the lines of his shoulders and neck tensed slightly, like a bow slowly drawn, movements a bit slow. Last night’s low fever, didn’t sleep well all night, made him feel powerless.
“Why get up, want to go to the toilet?” Song Xiwei reached to support him.
She was very strong, arm muscles bulging, could easily lift the man. At the beginning, often caused embarrassing mishaps, like Lin Heling’s feet suddenly leaving the ground, or being picked up by her bending over… Under the man’s embarrassed and helpless persuasion, she learned restraint.
This time just giving Lin Heling support, didn’t lift him off the ground.
“Lying uncomfortable, the hand-protecting ointment is gone, I’ll make new for you.” Lin Heling moved his body, feeling comfortable, walked side by side with Song Xiwei outward.
His head was injured, forgot where home was, what relatives, but learned knowledge not forgotten. Things in his brain messy and chaotic, gradually recalled some usable ones.
Hand-protecting ointment was just one, also face creams.
He tinkered whenever he had something to do, Song Xiwei fully supported, helped find materials. If not for Lin Heling’s various tinkering, the couple wouldn’t look ten years younger than peers.
“Wait till your body is better to make it, not too late.” Song Xiwei worried about her husband’s body.
Lin Heling’s fingertip rubbed her finger, smile warm, “I know my limits, if I can’t hold on, I’ll stop.”
Song Xiwei wanted to say something, saw her eldest sister.
Lin Heling nodded to Xiang Xiangniang, “Eldest Sister.”
“Ai.” Xiang Xiangniang just came out from the backyard, saw her younger sister and brother-in-law holding hands, discussing something, no room to squeeze in, wanted to quietly go back to the backyard, unexpectedly called by the sharp pair.
Aiya.
Younger sister and brother-in-law’s relationship good as ever after decades, her teeth were souring!
Song Xiwei calmly let go of the hand held with Lin Heling, asked, “Eldest Sister, have you asked Xiang Xiang’s opinion?”
Lin Heling patted his wife’s arm, went straight to the kitchen.
“Xi Bao…” Song Xiwei just called the name, Xi Bao grabbed the words: “Granny, I’ll help Grandpa!”
Saying that, the cheerful figure disappeared into the kitchen, a vibrant voice rang out, “Grandpa, I’ll help you start the fire!”
Outside the yard.
Song Xiwei lay on the bamboo chair under the jujube tree, took out the palm-leaf fan by the chair, fanned casually, asked eldest sister: “What did Xiang Xiang say?”
Xiang Xiangniang looked at her younger sister’s comfortable and relaxed appearance, her mood suddenly complex.
Life really isn’t the same with everyone.
This thought flashed through her mind, she came back to herself, said, “Xiang Xiang said she wants to see.”
“She knows that young man has leg problems?” Song Xiwei directly asked the key point.
“She knows, Xiang Xiang said she’s willing.” Xiang Xiangniang said.
At this time, Xi Bao carried two bowls over.
Xiang Xiangniang hurriedly stood up to take them.
In the bowls was soft and glutinous mung bean soup, with a few pieces of lily bulb floating.
“…Grandpa asked me to bring it.”
After putting down, she da-da-da ran back to the kitchen.
“Made early in the morning, Eldest Sister drink some too.”
Xiang Xiangniang didn’t stand on ceremony, drank a sip, smiled: “Added sugar.”
“The mung beans and sugar were sent by Zhaozhao, saying afraid me and her dad get heatstroke.” Song Xiwei smiled.
“Hard for Zhaozhao to think of you with good things, she’s filial, didn’t let you down.” Xiang Xiangniang said.
How well younger sister and brother-in-law treated their only daughter, she knew. Before she always worried Zhaozhao would be spoiled into heartless white-eyed wolf, now it seemed okay.
Song Xiwei smiled without speaking.
“Ding ling ling ling!” Bicycle bell rang outside the door.
Then a clear bright male voice.
“Little Aunt!”
The two women in the yard exchanged a glance.
“Perfect timing, let Yun Cheng help pass the message.” Song Xiwei smiled, shouted to the kitchen: “Xi Bao, bring another bowl of mung bean soup out.”
Xi Bao’s full-of-vitality voice came out, “Ai! Got it!”
…
After twelve o’clock, the sun more glaring, baring fangs and claws, as if wanting to scorch everything on the ground.
Song Yunjin bought soda, huffed and puffed riding back to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, forehead covered in sweat.
Not yet to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, at the corner saw Lin Zhao’s figure.
She wore a wide-brimmed hat, standing in the shade, holding a small bamboo basket in hand.
“Sis!”
Lin Zhao looked up, under natural light, the exposed skin white dazzling, bright and beautiful.
“Sis, what are you doing outside, what if heatstroke!” Song Yunjin jumped off the bicycle, expression anxious.
What doing? Buying movie tickets, conveniently taking two jin of meat from the storage ring, planning to let Yun Jin take back.
Lin Zhao stepped forward a few steps, stuffed the basket into his hands, grabbed the bicycle, said: “Got two jin of meat, take it back. You’re drooling like that, I don’t even want to know you.”
Her strength followed her biological mother, a light push, Song Yunjin was forced away from the spot.
The youth carefully lifted the lid, saw the good-colored fresh meat, pupils shrank, dumbfounded: “Sis, where did you get the meat from?”
Still two jin!
“None of your business, take the meat back, I’ll come again near end of my shift.” Lin Zhao couldn’t explain well, so impatiently sent him off.
Song Yunjin used to his sis’s temperamental, didn’t dare ask, while hanging the basket on the bike handle, said: “Sis, I don’t want it, take it back for the four kids to eat. My parents said, make me understand you, if I take what you give again, they’ll beat me.”
Words done wanted to run, was grabbed by Lin Zhao at the back collar.
“…”
Song Yunjin legs kicked, couldn’t move forward half a meter.
He helplessly turned back, pleading: “Sis, let go quick, seen by others so embarrassing.”
Lin Zhao let go, stuffed the basket back into his arms, threatened: “Dare push back again, I’ll beat you now!”
“Let uncle and aunt beat, or me beat, think clearly.”
Song Yunjin: He’s not dumb okay, parents together beating, still not as painful as sis alone.
“Sis~!” Song Yunjin called aggrievedly.
He drooped his brows, eye corners down, like a large dog wronged by owner.
“Don’t act pitiful!” Lin Zhao patted the youth’s head, boldly said: “Just say I forced you to take it, if you don’t I get angry, uncle and aunt won’t beat you.”
Song Yunjin’s whole face lit up, said: “Then I’ll take it?”
Lin Zhao glanced at him, didn’t speak, pushed the bike away.
Walking, ahead appeared several students with eyes sharp as hawks, scanning all suspicious people.
These few, Lin Zhao felt familiar.
Looked closely, it was those who previously blocked her and Gu Chenghuai, questioned if engaging in illicit affairs, ordered them to show marriage certificate, finally driven away by Gu Chenghuai’s “get lost.”
Song Yunjin saw these few, face slightly changed, hurried forward, wanted to block in front of sis.
But saw, those few just faintly glanced at them, then turned and left.
Damn, the nemesis’s wife!
Run.
“Huh?” Song Yunjin confused.
“Strange.” He voice extremely low, eyes flickering with something.
“Those few just now are the most aggressive group in our school, see a mouse hole in the wall corner and want to dig it, see if hiding bad elements inside. Unexpectedly so easygoing today.”
Lin Zhao said, “Your brother-in-law and I met them on the road, even blocked by them.”
“After blocking?” Song Yunjin blocked the slanting sun for sis, asked curiously.
“Your brother-in-law is a soldier who’s seen blood, how could he be scared by a few kids. He said ‘get lost’, those few just now made way, we left.” Lin Zhao smiled.
Song Yunjin imagined the scene, whole person fired up, breathing heavier, black bright eyes like two small flames.
“Calm down.” Lin Zhao crooked finger, gave him a knuckle rap on head, mocked: “Your brother-in-law is soldier, experienced big winds and waves, not afraid of those messing kids. If you dare say ‘get lost’, legs could be broken.”
Song Yunjin came back to senses, gave an embarrassed smile.
“I know my weight, didn’t think to be silly.” He said.
“Best that way, hurry back. At home put the meat away properly, careful it goes bad. I still have work, going in first.” Lin Zhao left these words, left the spot.
…
Around one in the afternoon, Li Fen’s man came to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative again, brought money for those 500 matchboxes, also new materials.
Lin Zhao thanked, received the money and materials.
This money and materials for gluing matchboxes, wait for Gu Chenghuai to send two stones tonight, conveniently send over.
Didn’t know if Zai’s dad had gone to elder sister-in-law’s house?
Wei Family.
Wei Xiangdong came back from on the mountain, learned two stones were taken away, raised brow, didn’t say anything, bottom of heart completely changed view of Gu Family’s Third Branch.
He bent down, scooped water to wash face, sweat-soaked coarse cloth shirt stuck to body, outlining distinct muscular lines.
“Eldest Sister-in-law came today.” Gu Chan suddenly said.
Wei Xiangdong abruptly looked up, eyes sharp, “What did she come for, didn’t bully you, right?”
“She wanted to hit me, luckily Cheng Huai came to see me…” And helped me vent.
The latter half not said in time, man wiped face, casually flung water from hands, strode out the door, straight to Wei Family old house.
As soon as entered, picked up the carrying pole by the wall, smashed at Third Branch’s door, shaking window frames with falling dust.
Amid flying wood chips.
Wei Xiangdong’s voice thick with anger rang out, “Get out here!”
Wei Dasao didn’t dare breathe, shrank in room corner pretending dead.
“You, you, look what you’ve done.” Wei Dage expression irritable, complained.
His own wife’s death act, he didn’t dare go out either. Old Second angry, doesn’t recognize kin, doesn’t care if big brother, reaches out for a beating.
“Don’t pretend dead, I know you’re in the room, hurry roll out, or I’ll demolish your house!” Wei Xiangdong said menacingly.
Wei Dasao cared most about these few rooms, impulsively opened door, blocked in front, said: “You dare!”
Wei Xiangdong too lazy for nonsense, picked up nearby broom, arm swung, broom accurately flew to her face.
First a “bang”, then a slap.
Broom intimately contacted Wei Dasao’s face, then fell to ground.
Wei Dasao’s face burning pain, reached to wipe, fingers had bright red blood.
She slumped to ground, threw her head back and howled: “Ah, hitting people! Wei Xiangdong hitting sister-in-law—”
Several heads popped from neighboring earthen walls, curious what Wei Family quarreling about again.
Wei Family old couple startled awake from sleep, hurriedly ran out.
“Xiangdong, what’s this again?” Wei Laotai glanced at eldest daughter-in-law on ground, didn’t go help.
“Mom you ask her, she took advantage I’m not home, wanted to hit my wife, if not beat her who.” Wei Xiangdong’s fire very fierce.
Old Master Wei didn’t want family laughed at, after shooing neighbors watching from walls, said: “If something, tell us old couple, why hands on directly…”
Words not finished, interrupted by Wei Xiangdong, “Is Dad can control her, or Mom can control her?”
Wei Family old couple: “…”
“Past matters I won’t mention, now separated households, if she dares come to my door again, trouble A Chan, I’ll come beat her.”
Wei Xiangdong words just fell, Gu Chan arrived late, called parents-in-law, didn’t look at sister-in-law on ground wailing for compensation money, pulled man away.
The couple left Wei Family’s door.
Gu Chan vaguely heard that reasonable mother-in-law scolding Wei Dasao.
“Don’t howl, you deserve it. Know old second protects A Chan most, still dare trouble her, you’re really sick bad!”
Wei Laotai finished scolding eldest daughter-in-law, walked up, bang bang bang knocked on First Branch’s door.
“Eldest, you dead in room? Hurry out, manage your wife. Grown man, how waste like this! Me and your dad not cowards, how birthed you this useless thing…”
Wei Dage face flushed red.
Abruptly sat up, rushed out, grabbed wife’s wrist, pulled her back to room.
Not long, crackle sounds, couple cursing each other, curses very ugly.
Lin Zhao temporarily unaware of these.
Near three o’clock, she seemed to hear several familiar childish voices.
“My kids came.” Lin Zhao looked to door.
Next instant.
Two identical small faces popped out.
The two little brothers wearing new clothes, new sandals, hair grown out, fluffy, small faces pink and white, eyes clear and bright, looking clever and cute.
Two pairs of eyes quickly scanned the counter, focused on Lin Zhao’s figure, immediately became sparkly, stomp stomp stomp small ran in.
“Mom!” Da Zai happily shouted.
First time seeing mom at work, little friend both novel and proud, face red and flushed.
“Mom, off work soon?” Er Zai clung to counter, tiptoed hard, lifted small head, eyes expectant and excited.
Lin Zhao raised wrist to check time, two minutes left.
“Right away.”
“Where’s your dad?”
Da Zai answered mom’s question formally: “Dad at door, San Zai Si Zai they all at door.”
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