After tasting Xu Xia’s Thousand Layer Cake, her colleagues learned she needed to clear out a storage room and helped her move the contents out the next day.
As for plastering the walls and repairing the roof, Xu Xia had to find others to do the work. Having no connections in Jiangcheng, she eventually found laborers through Sister Yu’s introductions.
However, these workers all had day jobs and only took on Xu Xia’s side projects during evenings and weekends, so progress was slow.
Fortunately, Xu Xia wasn’t in a hurry. She would stop by after work each day, brewing tea for them while sweet-talking them. Her charm motivated the three men to work exceptionally hard.
On Wednesday, Xu Xia arrived as usual carrying a pot of hot tea. She had bought tea stems, which tasted slightly bitter without the lingering sweetness of tea leaves, but during these times, it was already a rare treat—something ordinary families would only serve guests during holidays.
“Little Xu, what do you think of the wall plastering?” asked Old Lu, wiping sweat from his forehead before approaching. He kept his distance, worried his odor might bother her. “Just the inner room left to finish. I’ve applied a layer of cement to the base of the outer wall—guaranteed to keep rainwater out.”
Xu Xia addressed each of them as “brother” and brewed tea daily. Hearing that she had lost both parents and was raising her younger brother alone, they felt for her and worked with extra care.
Though Xu Xia knew little about renovation, a quick glance showed the plaster was evenly applied with no visible flaws.
She smiled warmly. “Today’s the last day. Thank you all so much for these past few days. I wouldn’t have known what to do without your help. Here—I brought some steamed buns with egg and chive filling from home for you to try.”
The lunchbox contained piping hot buns. None of the men were well-off, and Old Lu was already swallowing saliva, though he verbally declined.
“I made these especially for you. Without you three, I’d be clueless about fixing the roof and wiring,” Xu Xia said sweetly. Hu Zhengwen, the youngest of the group, blushed.
Hu Zhengwen’s cousin was Sister Yu, who had told him that Xu Xia had a job, was pretty, and only had one younger brother to support. She suggested he help with the work first—if he liked Xu Xia, he should work diligently, and they could formally meet at her home on Thursday.
Hu Zhengwen had been smitten at first sight. The thought of being set up with such a beautiful girl made him grin uncontrollably while working.
When Zhao Hui arrived, he saw three men gathered around Xu Xia, laughing and chatting—especially one dark-skinned fellow who was beaming at her.
“Ahem.”
Xu Xia turned in surprise. “Oh, Zhao Er Ge, weren’t you assigned to the military unit?”
She hadn’t seen Zhao Hui for days. Aunt He had originally suggested waiting for Zhao Hui’s return to handle the repairs, but Xu Xia declined—partly because she didn’t know when he’d be free, and partly because she didn’t want to bother him.
Zhao Hui had just returned home that evening and only saw Xu Fengshou. When he asked, “Where’s Xu Xia?” his mother immediately mentioned that Xu Xia had gone to deliver buns.
He Hongying’s exact words were: “It’s already dark. If you’re worried, go check on her and bring her back. Let me tell you—Xia Xia is quite popular. Just yesterday, your roommate Bai Shijian’s mother asked me about her, saying she wanted to introduce Xia Xia to her son.”
As soon as Zhao Hui entered the courtyard, he indeed saw three men vying for Xu Xia’s attention.
“Yeah, she’s coming back today.” Zhao Hui appeared calm on the surface while rolling up his sleeves. “Since I’m here, let me help out.”
Xu Xia declined, saying it wasn’t necessary. “We’re just finishing up the last bits, really no need for you to help.” She watched Zhao Hui stride inside and, in her urgency, grabbed the hem of his shirt near his waist.
A gust of wind slipped through Zhao Hui’s waist, tickling him. When he looked at Xu Xia again, her distant expression sparked a surge of irritation within him.
“Sorry, I was just worried you’d dirty your clothes,” Xu Xia explained.
“If they get dirty, they can be washed,” Zhao Hui emphasized. With his help, the remaining tasks were quickly completed.
After Xu Xia paid Old Lu and the others, Hu Zhengwen, who had reached the doorway, turned back. His cheeks flushed as he looked at Xu Xia. “Xu Xia, if you ever need anything, just ask me. I work at the machinery factory, and… I won’t charge you.”
Only after Hu Zhengwen ran off did Xu Xia realize Zhao Hui was still beside her. She silently shifted her gaze to his face, but he remained as unreadable as ever. Xu Xia suddenly felt like retreating.
Even after all that, this man showed no reaction—either he was incredibly patient or he simply had no feelings for her.
On the way home, Xu Xia kept wondering: What kind of woman would Zhao Hui even like?
Unable to find an answer, she arrived at the Zhao residence. Watching Zhao Hui wordlessly head upstairs, she decided to drop the matter and retreated to her own room to rest.
The newly renovated house needed a few days to air out. Staying with the Zhao family was comfortable, but it lacked a sense of freedom. Moreover, lingering there too long wouldn’t leave a good impression.
Before heading out the next day, Xu Xia specifically sought out Aunt He to discuss moving. “I don’t have much to bring. Once I move, I’ll treat you all to a meal.”
“Alright, alright. I bought six jin of cotton for you. It’s getting colder each day since autumn’s arrived. Once I make it into bedding, it’ll be my housewarming gift for you.” He Hongying was reluctant to see Xu Xia go. Having a lovely young woman around had brightened her days just by sight.
Xu Xia knew cotton wasn’t easy to acquire—it required ration coupons and had limited supply. Whenever the Supply and Marketing Cooperative had stock, people rushed to buy it. For Aunt He to secure six jin for her, she must have pulled some strings.
Xu Xia expressed her sincere gratitude to Aunt He before setting off for Sister Yu’s place.
Carrying a bag of oranges, Xu Xia was greeted by a five- or six-year-old boy holding a wooden sword. Upon seeing her, he immediately shouted into the house, “Mom, the pretty auntie you mentioned is here! She’s really, really pretty!”
Sister Yu was washing vegetables and came out wearing an apron, cheerfully urging Xu Xia to come inside. “My husband’s at work, and my eldest is at school. It’s more relaxed with fewer people around. Let me pour you some osmanthus tea. Stay for dinner today and try my cooking.”
She then told her young son to behave and not run around.
The boy indeed stopped running. Resting his chin in both hands like a little flower, he gazed at Xu Xia with a mix of shyness and fascination. “Auntie, you’re so pretty. Are you Mom’s new coworker?”
Xu Xia nodded yes. “Would you like an orange? I can peel one for you.”
He said he would.
When Sister Yu finished cooking and came out, she was surprised to see her usually hyperactive son quietly reading with Xu Xia.
She thought to herself, “Men really are the same at any age—they can’t help but be captivated by a pretty young woman.”
“Xu Xia, dinner’s ready. Lele, take Auntie to wash her hands.” Sister Yu untied her apron, having asked her cousin to come back in the afternoon to avoid making the meal too formal.
She wanted to matchmake her cousin with Xu Xia, but in case it didn’t work out, she didn’t want their relationship to become awkward. Keeping things casual was better.
Lele held Xu Xia’s hand as they went to wash up. With Xu Xia around, Lele was especially obedient, doing whatever his mother asked, which made Sister Yu smile.
“If only you could visit more often, Xu Xia. You have no idea – this little one of mine can’t sit still during meals and has even less patience for reading. I was absolutely astonished to see him reading with you today.” Sister Yu cheerfully served food to Xu Xia while sharing mundane household stories.
Xu Xia didn’t find it boring. Through Sister Yu’s chatter, she learned about various matters in Jiangcheng, mentally noting anything useful.
When someone knocked at the door, Xu Xia was slightly puzzled to see Hu Zhengwen, until Sister Yu introduced him as her cousin.
Hu Zhengwen carried chestnuts and persimmons from his village. The moment he stepped inside, his face turned bright red.
“Say hello,” Sister Yu whispered to prompt him.
“H-hello.” Hu Zhengwen didn’t dare look directly at Xu Xia, stumbling over his words from nervousness.
Sister Yu sighed at his lack of initiative, pulling her cousin to sit down before introducing him to Xu Xia. “My cousin here is very dependable. His father is a senior technician at the machinery factory, and he works there too. You’ve probably noticed while he’s been helping you these past few days – he never slacks off and is very reliable.”
Xu Xia nodded in agreement. This wasn’t mere politeness – she had observed every worker’s performance.
Then Sister Yu announced she was going to boil the chestnuts, taking Lele with her. “You two aren’t strangers anymore, feel free to chat about anything. I’m going to the kitchen to prepare the chestnuts.”
Only then did Xu Xia realize Sister Yu intended to matchmake her with Hu Zhengwen – she had been completely unaware of this plan.
Once Sister Yu left, the atmosphere turned instantly awkward.
Xu Xia didn’t plan to initiate conversation, while Hu Zhengwen was too nervous to speak.
Actually, Hu Zhengwen had decent qualifications. His father being a senior technician surely meant good wages, and with his own stable job, he wouldn’t have to worry about food or housing. Hu Zhengwen had an honest-looking face, his skin slightly darker than Zhao Hui’s, with features less handsome but pleasant enough to grow on you.
Unconsciously, Xu Xia compared Hu Zhengwen with Zhao Hui in her mind.
When Sister Yu returned to find neither had spoken, she felt like cursing in frustration. Then Xu Xia stood up to leave, making Sister Yu despair inwardly – Xu Xia must not have taken a liking to her blockheaded cousin.
“Let me walk you down,” Sister Yu offered.
Xu Xia declined politely, “No need to trouble yourself. I remember the way now. It’s getting late – I’ll visit again another time.”
After closing the door, when Sister Yu learned her cousin hadn’t spoken a single word to Xu Xia, she slapped his arm in exasperation. “You’re the man! You should start the conversation – can’t expect the girl to talk to you first! You blockhead, no wonder your parents worry you’ll never find a wife!”
Remembering the persimmons he brought, she added, “Quick, take these to Xu Xia! Make sure to walk her to the bus stop. If you still don’t talk to her, don’t expect me to help matchmake again!”
Hu Zhengwen dumbly grabbed the persimmons and rushed after Xu Xia. Finally catching up, he stammered, “C-comrade Xu… Xia, my cousin asked me to… to give you these to eat.”
Xu Xia was about to say it wasn’t necessary when Hu Zhengwen already stuffed the persimmons into her arms.
“I’ll walk you to the bus stop.” Hu Zhengwen walked ahead, realized he was walking too fast, and stopped to wait for her.
The two walked single file, with Hu Zhengwen stopping and starting as he escorted Xu Xia to the bus stop. After scratching his head and uttering a quick “goodbye,” he dashed off at lightning speed.
Seeing Hu Zhengwen like this, Xu Xia didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. The young man was too shy to even hold a conversation. It was tough on her—she still had to come up with an excuse that wouldn’t affect her relationship with Sister Yu while tactfully turning down Hu Zhengwen.
As Xu Xia was pondering this, a car pulled up right in front of her.
“Get in.”
Zhao Hui’s face was dark, clearly in a very bad mood.
No sooner had Xu Xia gotten in the car than Zhao Hui asked out of the blue, “Interested in him?”
“What?”
“That guy just now—gave you persimmons and walked you to the bus stop. You even dressed up specially to go out today. Was it to meet him?” Zhao Hui had noticed Xu Xia was wearing a new hair tie and relatively new clothes. Her two braids swung back and forth, irritatingly distracting.
“No, I was visiting Sister Yu’s home. Hu Zhengwen is her cousin, we just happened to run into each other,” Xu Xia explained.
While waiting for pedestrians to cross the road, Zhao Hui tilted his head to look at her, studying Xu Xia’s expression carefully.
From Xiao Liang to Hu Zhengwen, and Bai Shijian who hadn’t appeared yet—he never realized Xu Xia was so popular. Just thinking about these few people made him agitated.
The car remained silent for half a minute until the vehicle behind them honked. Zhao Hui stepped on the accelerator again. “Xu Xia, are you really in such a hurry to get married?”
“Huh?”
“I’m twenty-six this year, with a monthly salary of 126 yuan. Once married, I can apply for housing—a three-bedroom unit. I have no illnesses or bad habits, and I have principles in how I live and work.”
Zhao Hui paused, his knuckles tightening imperceptibly on the steering wheel, veins bulging prominently. “Xu Xia, if you’re thinking about marriage, shouldn’t you consider me first?”
The novel will go VIP tomorrow at 24:00, will distribute red packets to everyone then. Thank you for your support!
.
[Next Era Novel Preview “The Self-Interested One’s 1970s”]
Lu Shuangyue was beautiful and educated, though her family background wasn’t ideal.
Seeing educated youth returning to the city through job recruitment, Lu Shuangyue thought it over for a night.
She didn’t want to live an ordinary, hard life in the countryside forever, nor did she want to marry just any man. She went to the military Compound and found the man who almost became her brother-in-law.
The man was tall and imposing, his thick brows just beginning to furrow when her tears started falling pattering down. Her mother had said that seeing a pretty girl cry would soften even the toughest man.
Lu Shuangyue wanted a good life—a very, very good one!