The Scorching Sun - 33

 The other room was for Xiao Mu.

Ye Yuncheng couldn't manage the stall alone. He needed someone's help. Xiao Mu was physically strong, obedient, and sensible. Though not particularly bright, he understood the basic rules of society and knew how to take care of himself.

After several unpleasant work experiences, he'd become somewhat withdrawn. None of the jobs Liu Qiaohong introduced him to seemed satisfactory. He either locked himself in his room or squatted pitifully outside Ye Yuncheng's door, insisting on staying by his side.

To Xiao Mu, Ye Yuncheng was family. He had watched him grow up and had never once shown him any prejudice. Xiao Mu felt wronged and wanted comfort, so he came back. And Ye Yuncheng couldn't bear to turn him away.

Fang Zhuo understood and let out a quiet sigh. "Alright."

"You should stay at school. It's more convenient," Ye Yuncheng said. "There's no bed or furniture here yet. You'd be uncomfortable, and it'll affect your studies,” Besides, Lie Lie stays at school too. He'd be bored all by himself. The two of you can keep each other company and study together on weekends."

In just two short sentences, he had mentioned "study" twice. Fang Zhuo could perfectly grasp his intent now.

From the very beginning, Ye Yuncheng had no intention of letting Fang Zhuo get involved in his business venture.

The early stages were bound to be difficult. This was an adult's responsibility, not something to pass onto a student.

Yan Lie was by the window taking photos. Without turning his head, he chimed in, "Exactly. We're all family here. How could you bear to abandon one of your own?"

He said it so matter-of-factly that Fang Zhuo was left with no words.

Turning around, Yan Lie declared, "Right, Uncle?"

Ye Yuncheng nodded. "Right."

Yan Lie said, "I'll bring you a mattress this afternoon."

Ye Yuncheng blinked. "Huh?"

"My family also has a place in A City. Nobody really lives there most of the time," Yan Lie said. "I'll move the mattress over first. How can you keep sleeping on the floor like this?”

Ye Yuncheng hurriedly refused. "No, that won't do. Your family's not here. How can I just take your things?"

"It's just a mattress. When Xiao Mu brings yours over, I'll take it back." Yan Lie's expression was innocent. "Didn't you say we were family? Why are you being so formal with me?"

Ye Yuncheng didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Fang Zhuo ignored them both. She set down her backpack, took out her homework, and laid it out on the bay window in the bedroom. Seeing this, Ye Yuncheng lowered his voice so he wouldn't disturb her.

Yan Lie pulled out his books as well and sat beside her.

The bay window wasn't actually a comfortable place to sit. There was nowhere to rest their feet, and the height was awkward. Both of them had to hunch over to write.

Ye Yuncheng thought this wouldn't do. He dismantled his folding cart and managed to assemble a crude temporary desk for them. After standing behind them for a while, he said with concern, "Maybe you two should just go back to school this afternoon. Let me make you lunch first."

In truth, the few possessions he had here was transported in one trip by a small truck.

But that had been a ride from a fellow villager, and there hadn't been much room. He had prioritized moving over the equipment he needed to earn money.

He'd originally planned to rent a truck in a few days and transport the rest of his belongings. Xiao Mu had been called back by his uncle for the New Year's holiday and wouldn't return until the third. Ye Yuncheng figured he would just make do for now and wait until Xiao Mu came back so they could organize everything together, saving himself from having to rent a truck twice.

Half an hour later, the rich aroma drifting from the kitchen had completely destroyed their ability to focus.

The two of them put down their pens and quietly debated what lunch might be before Ye Yuncheng came to call them to the table.

They were having noodles.

The soup base was a simple tomato and egg broth. The pork had been minced finely, then braised with tofu in a thick, dark, savory sauce, ladled over the noodles as a topping. It made their mouths water.

Fang Zhuo liked spicy food. Of the three of them, she was the only one who could handle it. Yan Lie, on the other hand, couldn't touch even a bit of spice. The moment he ate it, his mouth would break out in blisters.

After Ye Yuncheng learned this, he specifically studied how to make chili sauce from the people in the parents' group chat. It could also serve as a secret sauce for his food stall. After several experiments, he had finally achieved a great success. Today, he scooped an extra spoonful into Fang Zhuo's bowl for her to try the flavor.

Looking at the egg floating in the soup, Fang Zhuo suddenly remembered something. "What about our chickens?"

"I asked your Uncle Liu to help feed them. In a few days, I'll go back to clean up the yard." Ye Yuncheng sounded quite regretful. "I originally wanted to bring Baldie too. Too bad you can't raise chickens here. They'd make a mess."

Fang Zhuo glanced at Yan Lie. The chicken's father showed no reaction whatsoever, as though he'd already forgotten his ugly son existed.

Yan Lie absolutely could not be trusted with pets in the future. His interests burned out too quickly. In the end, she'd be the one stuck taking care of them.

Yan Lie bore her gaze without much reaction. After eating a couple more bites, he raised his head and asked, "Is it good?"

Fang Zhuo answered honestly. "Yeah. It's good."

Yan Lie's face lit up with sudden realization. "Is this what they call a beauty feast for the eyes?"

Fang Zhuo: "?"

It wasn't until she was nearly finished with her noodles that she finally understood the joke. Her expression shifting to something deeply unamused, she lifted her head, ready to mock Yan Lie for his narcissism. But the guy was no longer at the table.

Ye Yuncheng stood up to clear the dishes. Seeing her strange expression, he asked, "What's wrong?"

Fang Zhuo shook her head ruefully. "Nothing."

After lunch, Yan Lie left to retrieve the mattress from his family's house. Fang Zhuo decided to return to the village and clean the backyard.

Ye Yuncheng had been gone for over a week now. If nobody cleaned up, the yard would start to smell.

She could also sort through the house while she was there. That way, when Ye Yuncheng rented a truck to move everything, the process would be much easier.

Ye Yuncheng thought it was a good idea and agreed. Before she left, he stopped her and gave a long list of instructions.

"It's New Year's, isn't it? Your Uncle Liu has always helped us a great deal. This time, he was also the one who helped us apply for the permits. There will surely be more things we'll need to trouble him with in the future. It's only right to thank him during holidays. When you go downstairs, buy him a small gift. Fruit, or anything, just remember: don't make it too expensive. If it's expensive, he won't accept it. Also, I told him the eggs from home were for him. If he insists on refusing, just follow his wishes and bring a few back."

Fang Zhuo nodded to show she understood.

"Do you know how to get there?" Ye Yuncheng put his hand in his pocket. "I don't need it for now anyway. Take my phone with you. And remember to come back early."

Fang Zhuo emptied her backpack and headed downstairs with the light black bag. Following the GPS, she stopped at the Century Lianhua supermarket next door to buy some fruit.

While carefully selecting apples, she heard an announcement over the store speakers.

The hair-care section was running a promotion on Bawang anti-hair-loss products. Everything was thirty percent off today.

It wasn't that Fang Zhuo thought anyone in particular was balding. She simply felt there was nothing wrong with taking precautions in advance. After all, even the thickest, most lustrous hair needed protection. So she grabbed a bottle and headed for the checkout.

Now this was a gift Uncle Liu couldn't possibly refuse.

The entire trip went unusually smoothly that afternoon. She barely had to wait when changing buses and arrived at the village entrance nearly half an hour earlier than usual. The good fortune lifted her mood considerably.

Her plan was simple: Clean the yard first. Visit Uncle Liu afterward and deliver New Year's greetings. Then return to school in a great mood and enjoy evening study session.

She hadn't expected to run straight into Liu Qiaohong right at her doorstep, merging two of her errands into one.

Liu Qiaohong was standing at the edge of the dirt road, fiddling with his old bicycle.

He wore a black jacket. The back of it was streaked with gray and white from dried mud. His head hung low, and after several attempts he still couldn't get the chain back on. He looked unusually drained.

Fang Zhuo approached. She didn't deliberately soften her footsteps, but when she called out "Uncle Liu," it still startled him badly.

Liu Qiaohong took two deep breaths before calming down. Only then did he belatedly lift a hand and brush at his bangs, trying to hide his face behind them.

Fang Zhuo clearly saw two red marks on his face. Her voice turned cold. "What happened to you? Who hit you?"

"It's nothing." Liu Qiaohong didn't want to say much in front of her. "Just took a fall. Why are you back?"

Fang Zhuo's expression darkened. "You don't get injuries like that from a fall."

"Just a work conflict. Forget it." Liu Qiaohong waved it off. "Why are you back?"

Fang Zhuo stubbornly pressed on. "What kind of conflict?"

Liu Qiaohong opened his mouth, hesitated, and finally told her the truth.

With a sigh, he said, "I was delivering eggs to them. They refused to take them and said we were only putting on a show. Then they threw everything into the road. One of the girls from our department got angry and argued with them. So they got physical."

Fang Zhuo nearly choked on her own outrage. "How can people be like that?!"

Liu Qiaohong kept his head down. "Some poverty simply can't be lifted out of. Let it go. People like them are a minority. No need to take it to heart. Look at you, for example. You've worked so hard."

There wasn't much grievance in his voice. He had probably long grown numb to stuff like this by now.

Some people grew accustomed to receiving help. They lacked education, lacked ambition, and didn't even care about their dignity. What could anyone do with people like that?

Only young people like Fang Zhuo still felt such righteous indignation.

Fang Zhuo seethed silently for a long time. Only after helping Liu Qiaohong fix the bicycle chain did she remember why she'd come. "I came back to clean the yard."

"I already cleaned it for you. Collected the eggs too. They're in my refrigerator." Liu Qiaohong smiled. "You arrived at just the right time. Saves me a trip to deliver them to you."

Fang Zhuo stood there silently, deep in thought. After a long pause, she abruptly asked a completely unrelated question. "Can we hit them back?"

Liu Qiaohong hadn't expected her to still be hung up on it.

He laughed. "You're still angry? I'm the one who got hit. Why are you this upset?"

Fang Zhuo simply didn't want kind people to suffer such injustice.

Maybe the thought was naive, but she didn't want Liu Qiaohong to go through things like this.

"We already called the police," Liu Qiaohong said. "Those people will probably get seven days of detention and a five-hundred-yuan fine. They're not getting away with it."

Only then did Fang Zhuo feel a little better.

Justice had prevailed.

Liu Qiaohong reached out and gave her arm a tug. "Come on."

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