Chapter 32 p1
The sky was dark in the winter, and by the time they reached the village entrance, it was already getting dark.
When they got off the tractor and walked back, Lu Ze very naturally put the two oil paper bags he was carrying into the bamboo basket Xu Qingyan was carrying.
His movements were not concealed, and Xu Qingyan naturally noticed. He glanced at it and didn’t say anything.
He thought that Lu Ze was too lazy to carry them, so he didn’t pay much attention.
But it seemed that he had nothing else in his hands besides those two oil paper bags?
Xu Qingyan glanced at his hands again and couldn’t help but ask, “Didn’t you buy anything else?”
Lu Ze said, “What things?”
Xu Qingyan said, “Rice, noodles, vegetables, salt, and the like.”
When he went to his kitchen last time, there was nothing inside.
Lu Ze was silent for a moment.
He had been eating at the Xu family’s house from yesterday to today, and he really hadn’t thought about cooking. This trip to the city was not mainly for shopping.
Not to mention that the original host’s reputation as a hoodlum was too great. The police felt that he was familiar, and when they heard his report, they interrogated him for a long time before letting him go, which was why he was late coming back.
He said, “It’s okay. I’ll see if anyone has any extra grain tomorrow and buy some first.”
Xu Qingyan didn’t know what to say for a moment.
He said, “You can eat at our house for the next two days.”
“No trouble…” Lu Ze was about to open his mouth when Xu Qingyan said, “We’re having mutton hot pot at home tonight.”
Lu Ze paused.
Xu Qingyan looked at him. “I’ve saved some mutton and lamb bones, and I’ve also bought some vegetables. We can have hot pot tonight.”
Lu Ze looked at him.
Xu Qingyan said, “My mom’s cooking is very good, even better than the masters in the city.”
Lu Ze’s face was expressionless.
Xu Qingyan: “It’s the middle of winter. Isn’t it cold to go back and forth? Isn’t it good to have a hot pot to warm up?”
Lu Ze pursed his lips.
Xu Qingyan held back his laughter and softened his voice. “Alright, actually, if you don’t go, my mom definitely won’t make it. I’ve been craving mutton for a long time. Can you just do it for me?”
Only then did Lu Ze reluctantly nod.
Xu Qingyan’s eyes curved slightly. He was born with a childish look, and at this moment, his smile made him look even more youthful. It was much more pleasing to the eye than the composure he usually forced.
After they went back, Xu’s mother greeted them with great enthusiasm. She took the basket from Xu Qingyan’s hand and pushed the two of them into the side room. “It’s cold on the road. You should go back to the room with Yanyan and rest for a while. Pull the stove from the main room over and light it. I’ll let you taste my cooking today!”
Lu Ze could only say thank you. Xu Qingyan was afraid that she would be too busy alone and wanted to help her, but Xu’s mother said, “No need, no need. I’m just stewing the soup. It’s not a big deal! You and Lu Ze have fun.”
Only then did Xu Qingyan lead him into his own room.
The room was very clean and tidy.
There was a bed, and the quilt was neatly folded. There was a desk by the bed, and there was a book open on it. The owner should have just read it and hadn’t had time to put it away. There was also a wardrobe at the end of the bed, and besides that, there was nothing else.
Xu Qingyan smiled a little embarrassedly and pulled up a chair by the desk for him to sit. “The conditions are simple. Don’t mind.”
Lu Ze shook his head. “It’s very good.”
Xu Qingyan brought some melon seeds and peanuts from the outer room, and also moved the stove from the main room over, and poured him a glass of water. “Have some water.”
He paused, then said, “I just washed the cup.”
Lu Ze paused, remembering the scene from the morning, and didn’t explain much. He just obediently brought the cup to his lips and took a sip of water. “Thank you.”
Xu Qingyan saw that he was not forced at all and thought that he probably didn’t dislike their family.
Maybe he was just particular and didn’t want to use things with others.
He lowered his eyes and didn’t say anything more, and began to pack his own things.
Although he was not in school, he had been paying attention to the trends in high school. In addition, he also had some classmates who he had played well with in the past who were in high school. Xu Qingyan would often ask them what study materials they had bought, and if possible, he would also buy a copy of the same.
This time he went out, one of his purposes was to buy books, but he went at an inopportune time. Two of the books were out of stock and would not be available for two days.
But to go to the city again in two days would be a bit troublesome.
The village chief’s family didn’t go every day, usually only once every ten days or half a month. How to get there then would also be a problem.
But if he had to wait for another ten days or half a month, his progress would be delayed for that long.
Xu Qingyan thought for a moment and couldn’t help but glance at Lu Ze next to him.
Lu Ze was shelling peanuts and eating them one by one. Sensing Xu Qingyan’s gaze, he looked up questioningly. Seeing that he was a little troubled, he couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong?”
Xu Qingyan pursed his lips, a little embarrassed. “Are you still going to the city recently?”
Lu Ze said, “I might go in two days.”
In two days, the police should be able to grasp the evidence and catch that group of people in one go. At that time, he would have to go over to take over the factory.
Xu Qingyan’s eyes lit up. He hesitated for a moment and then said, “Then… if you go then, can you bring me two books?”
Lu Ze looked at him. “Books?”
Xu Qingyan said, “When I went to buy them today, they were already gone from the bookstore. They might not be in stock for two days. If it’s convenient for you, can you bring them for me?”
Lu Ze asked, “What books?”
Xu Qingyan took a piece of paper and wrote two names. “These two.”
Lu Ze looked down. The first thing he noticed was not the content, but the handwriting itself.
It was restrained yet contained a hidden sharpness.
Lu Ze said, “Good handwriting.”
Xu Qingyan smiled slightly, seeming very embarrassed.
Lu Ze put the paper away. “I’ll bring them for you if I go.”
Xu Qingyan’s eyes instantly lit up with a smile. He then went to get the money and, after thinking for a moment, said, “If the money is not enough then, please help me pay for it. I’ll pay you back when I get back.”
Although he had asked his classmates about the price of the books in advance, he couldn’t guarantee that it wouldn’t change.
Lu Ze said okay.
Then there was a period of peace.
Xu’s mother was busy in the kitchen, and Lu Ze was also slowly eating his peanuts, not saying much. Xu Qingyan also felt at ease and picked up the book he had just bought to read.
The questions inside were relatively new. Xu Qingyan’s brows furrowed slightly, and he slowly immersed himself in his own world.
In the room, besides the crisp sound of shelling peanuts, there was only the subtle sound of the pen tip sliding across the paper.
Lu Ze glanced at him. The young man’s hair was a bit long, and when he lowered his head, his bangs would always cover his vision. He unconsciously put the pen in his mouth and bit it, and from time to time, he would fiddle with his hair. His entire body and mind were clearly immersed in it.
Lu Ze withdrew his gaze and looked out the window.
The sky was already completely dark, and the wind outside was cold and fierce. There was a stove in the room, so it was still warm.
He suddenly thought of Lin Zhiyan.
There was no other reason. It was just that whenever he was free, he would always uncontrollably think of him.
He thought of how every winter, he would also snuggle in his arms like this, holding the latest journal of papers in his hands, and would kiss him after reading for a while. Sometimes, when he wanted to eat something, he would also act coquettishly and ask him to make it.
It rarely snowed in the capital. Every time it snowed, Lin Zhiyan would take a day off from work, and the two of them would spend the whole day being wrapped up in each other.
“Lu Ze?” The voice in his ear was clear and gentle. Lu Ze thought for a moment that it was Lin Zhiyan calling him.
He looked up and saw that Xu Qingyan had already put away his book and stood up. “It’s time to eat.”
Only then did Lu Ze hear Xu’s mother calling for dinner outside. He was silent for a moment. “Sorry, I was just thinking about something.”
Xu Qingyan said, “It’s okay. Let’s go over quickly.”
Lu Ze stood up, his palm still holding a handful of shelled peanuts.
He paused slightly, then put the peanuts in his pocket.
