Chapter 701 Bringing Your Partner Home
As the afterglow of the setting sun dyed the adobe walls of Zhao Shuzhuo's house into honey color, the sound of two bicycle bells came from far away.
The wheels rolled over the newly paved gravel road outside the yard, startling the napping chickens in the corner, which flapped their wings and dived into the haystack under the fence.
Wang Jianguo was the first to stop the car. The chain was still making clicking sounds due to inertia, but he was stopped by the scene in front of him.
The bluestone slabs in the yard were polished to a shine, reflecting the last rays of sunset in the sky.
He Yushui found a few wild chrysanthemums from somewhere, put them in a rough pottery vase and placed it on the windowsill. The delicate petals trembled slightly in the wind.
The firewood pile against the wall was stacked neatly. Each piece of firewood had its branches cut off and was stacked neatly into a pyramid shape. The top was carefully covered with rainproof tarpaulin.
Freshly washed blue sheets were fluttering on the clothesline, and the fragrance of soapberries mixed with the scent of mugwort drying in the yard gently flowed in the evening breeze.
"Rainwater this girl..."
Wang Jianguo sighed softly, and his Adam's apple rolled unconsciously.
He remembered the way He Yushui patted her chest and made promises before leaving. Her ponytail swayed violently with her movements. He didn't expect that in just an hour or so, she could tidy up the yard so neatly.
He tugged at his sweat-soaked collar and suddenly felt the back of his neck getting hot, as if it had been exposed to the setting sun for too long.
"Rainwater, come out! Look who's coming!"
His voice hit the courtyard wall and bounced back, startling the swallows under the eaves and making them flutter and fly.
Before he could finish his words, the kitchen door creaked open and He Yushui rushed out wearing a floral apron, with specks of flour on the ends of her hair.
She ran so fast that the strands of hair on her temples were stuck to her red cheeks by sweat, but her eyes were surprisingly bright, as if they contained two dancing flames.
"Brother Shuzhuo!"
Her voice was filled with uncontrollable joy, and when her eyes swept over Yang Xiaohua beside Zhao Shuzhuo, she paused slightly.
Before she could say anything, Shen Chunhua followed out with a bamboo basket filled with freshly picked beans, with water droplets hanging on the green vines.
"Finally I've got you guys back!"
Shen Chunhua wiped the sweat from his forehead with a smile, his eyes fell on Yang Xiaohua, curiosity flashed in his eyes.
“This is…”
Zhao Shuzhuo took off his military cap and wiped his forehead with his sleeve. The fatigue in his eyes was diluted by a smile.
He reached out and gently held Yang Xiaohua's shoulders, his rough palm forming a sharp contrast with her thin shoulders:
"This is Xiaohua. She will be a member of our Great Northern Wilderness from now on."
Yang Xiaohua nodded slightly, a faint blush appeared on her pale cheeks, and the silver hairpin on the end of her hair swayed gently with her movement.
He Yushui immediately went over and took the canvas bag from Yang Xiaohua:
"Come in and have a rest! The kang is warm for you, and there's braised pork in the pot, waiting for you to come back and open the pot!"
She turned and winked at Wang Jianguo, unable to hide the smugness on her face:
"I put two extra spoons of sugar in it, I guarantee it will be more delicious than the ones sold at the supply and marketing cooperative!"
Wang Jianguo looked at He Yushui's busy back, the back of her apron lifted up and then fell down by the wind.
The aroma wafting from the kitchen was wrapped in the smell of firewood, mixed with the faint scent of soapberry on her body, weaving a warm net in the twilight.
He suddenly remembered the year when he first arrived in the Great Northern Wilderness. It was also an evening like this. He Yushui was squatting in the yard washing clothes, humming an off-tune song, splashing water all over the yard.
And now, she has been able to manage this small courtyard so warmly and comfortably, like a sunflower taking root and growing in the black soil, stubborn and passionate.
The twilight cast a layer of hazy soft light on the courtyard. Shen Chunhua walked quickly forward with a freshly-made sugar cake, her apron still stained with white traces of flour.
She gently placed the porcelain plate on the stone table, and her eyes were immediately attracted by Yang Xiaohua.
The girl stood beside Zhao Shuzhuo, her light pink floral shirt swaying gently in the evening breeze, and the silver hairpins on the ends of her hair refracted tiny rays of light as she moved, like a galaxy hidden at her temples.
"Yo!"
Shen Chunhua's voice rose with a hint of surprise, and he walked around Yang Xiaohua in two steps, looking her over.
Her rough fingers almost touched the other person's hair, then she suddenly pulled back and rubbed them on the apron.
"She looks so fresh and lively, as if she came out of a New Year picture!"
Her eyes swept across Yang Xiaohua's pale but delicate eyebrows and fell on her slender wrist, where she was wearing a plain silver bracelet, which glowed warmly in the twilight.
Yang Xiaohua felt uncomfortable being stared at. Her toes unconsciously crushed the gravel on the ground, and her fingers, which were twisting the corners of her clothes, turned slightly white.
Zhao Shuzhuo's Adam's apple rolled when he saw this, and he stretched out his hand to gently block her:
"Auntie, stop staring at me like that. Xiaohua is getting scared."
His voice was gentle like a brother's, but it couldn't hide the tension in his eyes.
Shen Chunhua laughed so hard that she fell backwards, and joy was overflowing in the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.
She reached out and patted Zhao Shuzhuo's shoulder with such force that he staggered half a step:
"Shuzhuo!"
Her voice was thick with laughter.
"Auntie has finally been waiting for this day!"
She turned to look at Yang Xiaohua, her eyes full of love.
"Look at this girl, she's so soft-skinned and speaks so softly, unlike us rough people who roll around in the mud!"
She suddenly held Yang Xiaohua's hand, and the warmth of her palm came through her skin. Yang Xiaohua was stunned, these hands were covered with calluses, but they were exceptionally warm.
"Don't blame me for being nosy,"
Shen Chunhua moved closer and lowered his voice:
"Shuzhuo looks quite smart on weekdays, but he becomes stupid when it comes to finding a partner. I don't know how many good marriages he has turned down over the years. I thought he was going to be single!"
Her eyes lingered on their clasped hands for a moment, and she laughed out loud again.
"I never thought I would bring back a beautiful bride from the city!"
Zhao Shuzhuo's face flushed instantly, and even his ears were flushed. He opened his mouth, but didn't know how to refute, so he could only scratch his head in embarrassment.
Yang Xiaohua's face was as red as a ripe apple. She wanted to pull her hand back but Shen Chunhua held it tightly.
"Auntie, you misunderstood..."
She explained softly, but her voice was drowned out by Shen Chunhua's hearty laughter.
"What misunderstanding!"
Shen Chunhua blinked and winked at Wang Jianguo and He Yushui.
"According to the rules of our Great Northern Wilderness, taking a girl home means you've made it!"
She let go of Yang Xiaohua's hand and patted the back of her hand gently.
"Don't worry, Auntie is the most caring one! Tomorrow, Auntie will take you to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy a few feet of red silk and make you a new dress!"
A burst of laughter broke out in the yard, startling the chicks under the grape trellis, who flapped their wings and ran around.
Yang Xiaohua lowered her head, listening to the lively sounds around her, but a strange ripple was rising in her heart.
As the dusk deepened, Shen Chunhua's passionate words were still echoing in her ears, and Zhao Shuzhuo's embarrassed and gentle gaze, like a warm light, quietly dispelled the haze in her heart.