Chapter 697 Zhao Shuzhuo is back
The sunset over the brick factory dyed the kiln roof a honey color. Cheng Erhua and Liu Erzhu were surrounding Wang Jianguo and making a noise when suddenly a rapid sound of bells came from afar.
The three looked in the direction of the sound and saw He Yushui riding the half-new 28-inch bicycle, bumping along the ruts on the dirt road.
The strands of hair on her forehead were stuck to her cheeks by sweat, and the back of her blue shirt was soaked with sweat, but she still tried to straighten her back to keep her balance. The mud splashed when the wheels rolled over the gravel formed dark flowers on her trouser legs.
The bicycle braked suddenly next to the brick pile. He Yushui held the handlebars and gasped, his chest heaving violently.
Liu Erzhu quickly handed over the iron kettle hanging next to the brick kiln:
"Sister Yushui, they say Cao Cao is the fastest, and it's true! We were just talking about who is prettier between you and Comrade Yang Xiaohua!"
His playful look made Cheng Erhua hold back his laughter.
Wang Jianguo raised his hand and patted Liu Erzhu, then turned to look at He Yushui with concern. The setting sun cast a layer of warm light on her pale cheeks, and beads of sweat condensed on her eyelashes.
He didn't rush to ask, but took out a clean handkerchief from his pocket, and waited until her breath was steady before he asked softly:
"You're running so fast, are you here to help us move bricks? Or is there something urgent going on at the supply and marketing cooperative?"
He Yushui took the handkerchief and wiped her forehead, finally catching her breath. She looked at the neatly stacked bricks behind Wang Jianguo, the gaps between the bricks still seeping with the warmth of the day:
"Brother Jianguo, I finally found you."
She paused, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"I saw Director Song call you away this morning, and I thought you must be discussing important matters at the commune. But when I got there, I found out that you had just left."
"I went to the production team again and asked everyone present, but they all said they hadn't seen you."
She tightened her fingers slightly around the handkerchief.
"Thinking that there was still work to do at the brick factory, I rode my bike here. The chain fell off twice on the way..."
As she spoke, she subconsciously looked down at her dirty trouser legs, and suddenly seemed to remember something, and took out an oil-paper bag from the basket:
"I almost forgot. My aunt asked me to bring you some brown sugar cakes. She said you've been staying up late to read blueprints lately, so you need to catch up."
When the oil paper package was handed to me, it was still slightly warm, mixed with the aroma of wheat and the sweetness of brown sugar, spreading in the evening breeze.
Cheng Erhua and Liu Erzhu came over and stared at the oil paper bag eagerly. Liu Erzhu smacked his lips:
"Sister Yushui, you are biased! We have been moving bricks here all day and we can't even have this blessing!"
He Yushui was amused, with curved eyes:
"You are just greedy! I will ask Auntie to make more tomorrow as a snack for you."
As dusk deepened, the lights in the brick factory gradually lit up. Wang Jianguo looked at He Yushui's flushed cheeks and suddenly remembered what she had just said, "I searched all the communes and production teams."
The wind blew through the gaps between the brick piles, bringing with it the sweet scent of locust flowers and gently lifting the loose hair at her temples.
The fluttering of birds returning to their nests and the chirping of insects came from afar, quietly blending the warmth and concern of the moment into the night of the Great Northern Wilderness.
In the steaming heat of the brick factory, Wang Jianguo took the towel, which was still warm from his body, from his neck, folded it neatly and handed it to him. The rough edges shone softly in the sunset:
"Yushui, you've run so hard that your hair is all messed up. What's the urgent matter that has you looking for me all over the world?"
His eyes swept over the large sweat stains on the back of her blue shirt and a few spots of mud on the cuffs, obviously she had been speeding all the way here.
He Yushui took the towel and pressed it against her burning forehead. The rough cotton cloth absorbed the sweat and brought a cool feeling. Her chest was heaving violently, and she was still breathing heavily when she spoke:
"Brother Shuzhuo...Brother Shuzhuo is back! He's waiting for you at the supply and marketing cooperative!"
Before he finished speaking, the chirping of cicadas in the brick factory seemed to suddenly quiet down for a moment.
The brick in Cheng Erhua's hand hit the brick pile with a "dong" sound, splashing fine dust. He took two steps at a time and came over, his eyes shining like an oil lamp:
"Is this true? This captain is also a Cao Cao. He came back right after we finished talking!"
Liu Erzhu, who was standing by, rubbed his hands excitedly, and the wrenches in his work pants pocket clinked.
Wang Jianguo's heartbeat suddenly quickened, and his fingers unconsciously stroked the key chain around his waist.
When I saw the captain off three months ago, the man was standing on the dirt road with his bag on his back, with the morning glow behind him.
At this moment, the scene overlapped with the porch of the supply and marketing cooperative, and he asked anxiously:
"Brother Shuzhuo came back by himself? Is Comrade Yang Xiaohua here?"
He heard his own hoarse voice as his Adam's apple rolled up and down.
He Yushui nodded vigorously, her ponytail swaying in a lively arc as she moved:
"Here it comes! I saw it with my own eyes!"
Her eyes sparkled as she described it, as if she was still immersed in the scene of her first encounter.
"Brother Shuzhuo was pushing a bicycle, and on the back seat sat a female comrade wearing a light blue dacron shirt, holding a tin suitcase with a red cross printed on it."
"The two of them were standing at the door of the supply and marketing cooperative and talking, and Brother Shuzhuo never took his eyes off them!"
Liu Erzhu whistled, and only stopped laughing after Cheng Erhua poked him in the waist.
Wang Jianguo didn't have time to joke. The gentle appearance of Yang Xiaohua appeared in his mind.
During the last communication, the captain specifically mentioned that she always liked to wear a daisy in the pocket of her white coat.
"Let's go!" He turned around, grabbed his straw hat and put it on his head, and brick dust fell on his shoulders.
"We can't keep them waiting any longer!"
The four of them walked out of the brick factory quickly, the setting sun stretching their shadows very long. In the distance, the red flag of the supply and marketing cooperative fluttered in the wind, and the crisp sound of bicycle bells could be heard faintly.
He Yushui trotted to catch up with Wang Jianguo and suddenly lowered his voice:
"Brother Jianguo, Comrade Yang Xiaohua speaks softly, and standing next to Brother Shuzhuo, they look like a perfect match..."
Her words were carried by the evening breeze, mixed with the fragrance of wild flowers on the roadside, and drifted towards the direction of their upcoming reunion.
The heat rising from the brick kiln had not yet dissipated, and the setting sun stretched Wang Jianguo's shadow very long.
When he heard the news brought by He Yushui, his hands trembled unconsciously - the captain was back, and brought with him the girl he had been thinking about day and night.
At this moment, his mind was full of how to make this welcoming banquet decent and not let the guests who came from afar suffer any injustice.
"Erhua, go ahead!"
Wang Jianguo bent down and quickly gathered the scattered drawings, wrenches and measuring ropes on the ground. He was unaware that his rough palm was scratched by the wire.
He stuffed all the tools into Cheng Erhua's arms and glanced at Cheng Erhua's face covered in brick dust.
"Keep a close eye on the kiln. There must be no problems with the batch of bricks produced tonight."
When he turned to face He Yushui, his tone became hurried and steady:
"Rainwater, you go home right now."
He wiped the sweat from his forehead and rubbed it on his trouser leg.
"Go to Erhua's house and find Aunt Du to borrow a new quilt. Tell her that we will go to the city to buy the best fabric and add ten kilograms of new cotton and return it to her."