Gu Yan looked at the half-piece of pancake wrapped in a clean handkerchief in Meng Jiao’s hand, then at her clear eyes filled with concern. His Adam’s apple bobbed, but he ultimately turned his head away.
“No need.”
After saying this, he stopped looking at Meng Jiao and turned to limp toward the dilapidated woodshed.
That was usually where he slept.
His parents never allowed him to sleep in the main room, thinking he was too dirty. Moreover, they needed privacy at night for their activities, and his presence would be inconvenient.
Regardless of the season, this shabby little hut was Gu Yan’s personal sanctuary.
Meng Jiao watched his retreating figure, slowly lowering the hand holding the pancake, her heart feeling heavy.
She knew Gu Yan was stubborn, but she never expected he would refuse even the slightest kindness.
Just when their relationship had finally improved somewhat, it seemed they were back to square one.
She sighed and was about to leave when her gaze unintentionally swept over the spot where Gu Yan had been crouching earlier. She noticed something seemed to have fallen on the muddy ground.
Walking over to pick it up, she discovered it was actually the piece of fruit hard candy she had slipped to Gu Yan yesterday.
The candy was still intact inside its wrapper, though slightly stained with dirt.
He… he hadn’t eaten it?
Had he been carrying it with him all this time?
Did it accidentally fall out of his pocket during the beating earlier…
Meng Jiao stared at the candy in her palm, then at the tightly closed woodshed door, her emotions in turmoil.
This Gu Yan was truly a contradictory and worrisome person.
Having lived two lifetimes, Meng Jiao had never encountered someone like him.
Meanwhile, inside the woodshed, Gu Yan slid down against the cold wall, his back burning with pain.
He reached into his pocket, wanting to touch the only thing that carried a hint of sweetness, but found nothing.
Gu Yan froze for a moment, then pressed his lips together, his eyes dimming.
…Lost it?
Just as well.
Someone like him shouldn’t hope for any sweetness in life.
Outside the window, dull thunder rumbled, the sky growing increasingly overcast, heralding an approaching storm.
The days passed slowly yet steadily.
Every day, Meng Jiao went to cut pigweed with Xiao Cao, but now she always brought a little extra food—sometimes half a boiled sweet potato, sometimes a handful of roasted soybeans—which she would place beside Gu Yan’s jacket left on the ridge between fields.
Gu Yan remained as silent and reticent as ever, but Meng Jiao noticed that the things she left behind would disappear every time.
Moreover, he didn’t seem to resist her proximity as much anymore?
Although he still didn’t speak, at least he didn’t immediately jump away like a startled rabbit when she approached.
On this day, after setting down a small handful of roasted soybeans, Meng Jiao didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she crouched nearby, pretending to organize her carrying basket.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Gu Yan’s grass-cutting movements slow down. After hesitating briefly, he quickly reached out, grabbed the soybeans, and stuffed them into his pocket.
Meng Jiao secretly smiled to herself. This awkward person was still afraid of being seen.
As she stood up to leave, her gaze unintentionally swept over the spot where Gu Yan had been crouching earlier. There seemed to be a small glint on the muddy ground.
Curious, she moved closer for a better look and discovered it was a worn, shiny five-fen coin.
The coin clearly showed signs of being rubbed many times, its edges smooth and rounded.
Did Gu Yan drop it?
But where would he get money?
Questions arose in Meng Jiao’s mind.
With his father being the way he was, it was impossible for him to give Gu Yan pocket money. Could he have secretly saved it up himself?
Meng Jiao didn’t make a sound. She glanced at Gu Yan, who was still bent over cutting grass, and quietly used her toe to cover the coin with some soil.
Would he notice it when he came to retrieve his jacket later?
So this was Gu Yan’s little secret. It seemed he was secretly saving up for something.
Meng Jiao thought it was just as well—at least he wasn’t completely helpless and had his own way of fighting back.
Meanwhile, Meng Jiao and her father Meng Jianhua were gradually settling into rural life.
Although Meng Jianhua was a grown man, he was thoughtful and attentive, especially toward his daughter. Apart from his fondness for a occasional drink, he was truly considerate. During the day, he worked with the team to earn work points, and in the evenings, he would examine Meng Jiao’s clothes under the dim kerosene lamp, checking for holes or loose buttons.
One evening, after washing her feet, Meng Jiao sat on the kang, watching Meng Jianhua clumsily hold a needle as he mended a shirt with worn-out cuffs.
The stitches were crooked, like a few centipedes crawling across the fabric, yet Meng Jiao found the sight deeply comforting.
Though she knew how to sew herself, she insisted on watching how Meng Jianhua did it—who would have thought he’d sew like this…
“Dad, look at your stitches—they’re so ugly.”
Though her words were critical, her eyes sparkled with laughter.
Meng Jianhua’s face flushed, and he chuckled sheepishly. “They might be ugly, but I guarantee they’re sturdy! Our Jiaojiao will have to make do for now. Next time I go to the commune, I’ll see if there’s any nice fabric to get you a new one.”
“No, no, this is just fine,” Meng Jiao quickly replied. She knew their finances were tight and that Meng Jianhua had worked hard to save what little he had.
Besides, since they hadn’t known each other long, Meng Jianhua had already been exceptionally kind to her.
After sewing the final stitch, Meng Jianhua bit off the thread with his teeth, shook out the garment, and examined it, feeling a bit embarrassed himself.
Setting aside the needle and thread, he rummaged in the kang cabinet and pulled out a small bundle wrapped in a handkerchief.
“Jiaojiao, come here. Dad has something nice to show you.”
Curious, Meng Jiao leaned in.
Meng Jianhua carefully unwrapped the handkerchief layer by layer, revealing several brightly colored fruit candies and a small packet of animal-shaped biscuits wrapped in oiled paper.
“Wow!” Meng Jiao exclaimed in delight.
Such treats were rare luxuries at the time.
“Last time I went to the commune for a meeting, I received a subsidy. I didn’t want to spend it, so I exchanged it for some snacks for you.”
Watching Meng Jiao’s eyes light up, Meng Jianhua felt as sweet as if he’d drunk honey.
“Go on, try the biscuits. They’re delicious.”
Meng Jiao picked up a bunny-shaped biscuit and put it in her mouth. The creamy sweetness instantly spread across her tongue.
She broke it in half and insistently pushed one piece into Meng Jianhua’s mouth. “Dad, you have some too!”
Meng Jianhua was taken aback for a moment, the sweet taste spreading from his mouth straight to his heart.
As he chewed the biscuit and looked at Meng Jiao’s contented smile, he felt that all the hardships and weariness were worth it.
Bathed in the soft, yellow glow of the lamp, father and daughter shared the precious packet of biscuits, filling their modest room with warmth.
Meng Jiao thought that although life in the countryside was simple and lacked the tall buildings and bustle of the city, having Meng Jianhua by her side gave her a sense of security that nothing else could replace.
She was even starting to grow fond of this place.
Meanwhile, in the woodshed, Gu Yan used the moonlight streaming through the broken window to carefully retrieve an old tin box from a crack in the wall.
He opened the box, revealing several coins lying inside, including the five-cent piece he had nearly lost earlier that day but later recovered.
He extended his finger and counted them one by one. Though the total amount was meager, this was his entire savings—painstakingly scraped together by cutting corners on meals and occasionally collecting scrap to exchange for money.
He would definitely find a way to escape this place.