The car fell silent for a few seconds.
From Zhao Hui’s tone, Xu Xia could sense the man wasn’t pleased about her interacting with other men.
She let out a delicate sob. “You’re the one who said you didn’t want to marry me.”
Tears welling in her eyes, she cast a coquettish, timid glance at Zhao Hui before quickly looking away, turning instead to gaze out the car window—afraid she might break character and laugh.
So her previous efforts hadn’t been in vain. It seemed Zhao Hui was an exceptionally patient man.
The moment he saw Xu Xia’s tears, Zhao Hui regretted his words. Why was she crying?
Back at the Xu residence, she’d been so fiery-tempered, yet here she was shedding tears in front of him?
Zhao Hui didn’t know how to comfort people. After a long pause, he spoke stiffly, “Stop crying.”
“Okay, I’ll stop.” Xu Xia still sniffled twice.
At a loss, Zhao Hui pulled the car over. “I just don’t understand why you’re in such a hurry to get married. That Hu Zhengwen—how long have you known him? Do you really understand his background?”
“I told you, I wasn’t on a date with him. We just happened to run into each other. Why don’t you believe me?” Xu Xia said plaintively.
She pushed the car door open, refusing to ride any longer. She’d walk the rest of the way home herself and let Zhao Hui stew in his anxiety.
They arrived home one after the other but didn’t speak. He Hongying noticed something was wrong and pulled her son aside. “What happened? Did you two have a fight?”
“No.” Zhao Hui denied it.
“You definitely upset Xiaxia. You’re such a blockhead. Do you know what she told me? She said she’s not in a hurry to get married and doesn’t need introductions. She also said since you’re single, we should focus on you first—asked what kind of girl you like so she could help keep an eye out. Do you really think she just wants to help you find someone? That girl was trying to figure out what type of person you prefer.”
Of course, He Hongying didn’t actually know—if she did, she would’ve already made introductions for her son. She hadn’t planned to mention Bai Shijian, but after much deliberation, worried that Xiaxia and her son might truly lack fate, and considering the Bai family was also a good match, she decided to bring it up with Xiaxia.
Zhao Hui was utterly confused. “Mom, aren’t you overthinking this?”
He Hongying couldn’t help rolling her eyes. “Fine, stay single then. Better yet, remain a bachelor your whole life. I think Bai Shijian is perfectly suitable. I’ll call him later to come over for a meal.”
She snorted, not wanting to waste more words on her son, and stomped away in a huff.
For the next few days, Xu Xia gave Zhao Hui the cold shoulder. When moving day arrived, Zhao Hui offered to drive her.
“My parents said we have a car at home. No need to trouble others.” Zhao Hui blocked Xu Xia’s path, refusing to let her leave unless she agreed.
Xu Xia had no choice but to load her belongings into his car, but she sat in the backseat with her brother.
Xu Fengshou was thrilled about moving to their new home. Though the Zhao family had been kind, it wasn’t their own house, and he just wanted to reach the new place quickly, completely oblivious to the tension between the other two occupants.
The car stopped in front of the cinema. Xu Xia had few possessions—the pots, pans, and dishes had been bought with He Hongying.
The new home had two rooms. The inner chamber was smaller and given to Xu Xia, while the outer room was larger, with a partitioned space for Xu Fengshou’s bed and the remaining area serving as a living room.
Zhao Hui helped carry everything inside, and Xu Xia began organizing with her brother.
“Sis, are we going to live here from now on?” Xu Fengshou asked excitedly.
“Not necessarily. This is just a temporary residence. Once I become a regular employee and qualify for housing allocation, we’ll be able to live in a better place,” Xu Xia said.
“I think this place is quite nice. It has a courtyard and bamboo grove, and we each have our own room,” Xu Fengshou became more talkative only around his sister. “Besides, it’s not far from my school. I can take the bus to and from school later.”
Xu Xia said it wasn’t necessary. “I live here, and it’s just a few steps to work. Tomorrow I’ll teach you how to ride a bicycle. You can cycle to school from then on.”
“How can that be? A bicycle is so expensive. I’m afraid I might break it,” Xu Fengshou didn’t dare to ride.
“Things are meant to be used. Otherwise, leaving them to rust would be a waste. Don’t be afraid of breaking it. Ride boldly—we have money.” Xu Xia still had over four hundred yuan left in her hands.
She wasn’t a frugal person. Buying snacks, tea stems—everywhere was an opportunity to spend money. But she didn’t want to force herself to live austerely. There was no need for that. Money only becomes money when spent; if it stays in your pocket, it’s just paper.
When Zhao Hui arrived carrying the last coal stove, he overheard Xu Xia saying they had money. “One coal briquette costs ten cents. Cooking meals every day adds up to at least six or seven yuan a month, not including buying vegetables and rice. Xu Xia, if I remember correctly, your current salary is only eighteen yuan a month.”
Whereas his was one hundred twenty-six.
“After I become a regular employee, it won’t be just eighteen anymore. During these three months, my savings are more than enough. Thank you, Zhao Er Ge, for your concern, but we’ll manage just fine.” Xu Xia deliberately raised an eyebrow at Zhao Hui, which he interpreted as her still being upset with him.
She might be young, but her temper was big.
Then again, hadn’t he witnessed that back at the Xu family home?
Feeling snubbed, Zhao Hui placed the coal stove where Xu Xia indicated, pulled out a stack of food stamps and meat coupons, and left.
By the time Xu Xia turned around, she only saw the coupons on the table. She rushed to the door but caught nothing but the smell of car exhaust.
“Tsk, men and their pride.” Since it was from Zhao Hui, Xu Xia accepted them without guilt. She counted them—Zhao Hui had given quite a lot: one hundred fifty jin of food stamps and twenty jin of meat coupons.
Thinking about it, Zhao Hui didn’t need to spend money during his leave home, and there were even fewer expenses in the army. These were likely his savings. But such a large amount of coupons wasn’t something an ordinary person could save up—it had to be due to Zhao Hui’s favorable treatment.
Xu Xia put the coupons away safely. On their first day moving in, she took her brother out to eat, but he hesitated to order.
“Don’t listen to Zhao Er Ge. I have money; we can afford it.” Xu Xia ordered a braised fish and a stir-fried pumpkin. “Eat to your heart’s content. I won’t let us go hungry.”
But Xu Fengshou was worried. His sister had always lived by the principle of eating when there was food—would they really not starve later?
He thought about it and decided to save his pocket money. By the end of the month, it might come in handy.
Though the siblings had different thoughts, once the food arrived, Xu Fengshou forgot about money matters. The dishes were already ordered; it would be wasteful not to eat.
Full and satisfied, the brother and sister headed home together.
On their first night in the new home, the cotton quilts were new, warm, and carried the scent of sunshine. Xu Xia slept soundly until dawn.
The next day, when Xu Xia woke up, her brother had already cooked the congee.
“Sis, I’ve already eaten. There’s pickles on the table. I’m heading to school.” Xu Fengshou slung his backpack over his shoulder, noticing his sister rubbing her eyes, and added, “I boiled water on the coal stove—it’s in the thermos. The stove’s out now; we’ll relight it at noon to save coal. I’m off, sis!”
Xu Xia gave a soft “Mm,” gazing at the congee and pickles on the table, her thoughts drifting to the meals at the Zhao household.
With Zhao Manfu around, the military unit supplied fresh eggs and fish daily. Though mornings didn’t feature lavish spreads, Auntie He would fry eggs and whip up a couple of side dishes. Sometimes she’d boil noodles and toss them with her homemade soybean paste—incredibly fragrant.
But now, Xu Xia was eating pickles given by Auntie He, enough to last about half a month. As for noodles, forget it—white flour was as precious as a luxury item.
Just yesterday, Xu Xia had felt relatively well-off, but starting today’s practical life, she dared not calculate too much, afraid the numbers would only heighten her anxiety.
After a hurried breakfast, Xu Xia relit the coal stove anyway to fry Cong Bing for her colleagues.
She mixed rice flour batter, stirred in two eggs, and wrapped it around fresh scallions. The sizzle of oil filled the air, the aroma wafting from Xu Xia’s spot straight into the office.
Director Zhang sniffed and asked the office, “Whose lunch smells so amazing today?”
Sister Yu chuckled, “We just started work—everyone’s meals are still tucked in bags, no way the smell’s coming from there. I bet it’s Xu Xia cooking. She’s quite skilled; my mouth’s watering just from the scent.”
Director Zhang swallowed his own saliva. With no screenings scheduled, the team had a leisurely day, fostering a relaxed atmosphere.
He considered reminding Xu Xia to keep a low profile since work hours were approaching—even with backing, it was wise to be discreet. But just as the thought crossed his mind, Xu Xia appeared with a plate of steaming hot Cong Bing, offering it to them.
Director Zhang swallowed his words.
“I moved in yesterday and wanted to thank you all for your understanding. I don’t have much to show my gratitude, so I made some Cong Bing—hope you don’t mind.”
Xu Xia knew that getting along comfortably at work meant building good rapport with colleagues. The cinema had a small staff and relatively simple dynamics, but she understood that without the Zhao family’s influence, Director Zhang would never have let her stay in the storage room. Setting this precedent might stir future requests or resentments from others who’d been denied similar favors.
Unlike technical roles with graded assessments or promotion paths, the cinema job lacked competition, making the environment more cordial. To ensure her own comfort, Xu Xia needed to proactively foster good relationships.
Aware of her “connections” status, she made extra effort to be amiable and likable.
As she distributed the Cong Bing, Director Zhang was the first to praise it. “Xu Xia, your cooking beats the state-owned restaurant’s!”
“You flatter me, Director. This is just home-style—nowhere near the state-owned restaurant’s level,” Xu Xia replied cheerfully, sitting down to pour herself tea and nibble on a Cong Bing. Rice flour was as scarce as white flour; the good ingredients she had were all prepared by Auntie He, and she could only afford to use them sparingly.
Director Zhang, lips glistening with oil, abandoned any thought of advising Xu Xia on discretion and hummed a tune as he headed to his office to read the newspaper.
Before long, National Day arrived. Xu Xia had previously arranged with the Zhao family to host them for a meal once Zhao Manfu had free time.
On the day of the dinner invitation, Xu Xia sent her younger brother out early in the morning to buy meat and fish. “For the pork belly, make sure it’s half lean and half fat—don’t pick anything too fatty. And take these two yuan—buy some candies and snacks if you see any. Even if you won’t eat them, I want to. Understood?”
After living with her brother for a few days, she had come to understand that not only was he quiet, but he was also stingy. Every time she spent money, his eyes nearly popped out of his head. Fortunately, he was obedient and made a good errand-runner.
She saw him off at the door. “Today, we’re inviting Zhao Bobo and his family for a meal. They’ve helped us so much—if we’re too tight-fisted, we’ll be laughed at. Remember that?”
Xu Fengshou nodded. Though he hated spending money, he was grateful for the Zhao family’s help. After moving to Jiangcheng, he no longer had to endure his aunt’s disdainful looks or his cousin’s occasional shoves. His sister might be greedy and fond of comfort, but she always had his best interests at heart, and he understood that.
After her brother left to buy groceries, Xu Xia busied herself with tidying the house.
She wasn’t someone who enjoyed household chores—in this, she was exactly like the original owner. Back when they lived with the Zhao family, her diligence had been feigned. Since living on their own, sweeping and wiping tables had all been done by her brother.
Today, however, she had no choice but to do it herself.
By almost eight o’clock, her brother had returned. Xu Xia minced the lean meat into a paste, mixed it with yam, and planned to later cook meatball and seaweed soup.
The fish was to be braised in soy sauce. After marinating it in advance, Xu Xia heated oil in a wok and cut the remaining pork belly into thick, finger-sized strips—she intended to make red-braised pork.
When the sugar in the wok turned brown, she added the stir-fried pork belly. Once each piece was coated in a glossy brown caramel color, she drizzled a spoonful of aged wine along the edge of the wok. It sizzled, releasing a fragrant aroma, before she added soy sauce and other seasonings.
After the contents came to a boil, she transferred the red-braised pork to a clay pot, placing ten eggs—each scored with shallow cuts—at the bottom. They would absorb the flavors and taste just as delicious when cooked.
Soon, the aroma of Xu Xia’s red-braised pork wafted out of the yard. Luckily, the cinema was closed today, or her colleagues would surely have come asking what delicious dish she was making.
“Fengshou, go buy a bottle of liquor,” Xu Xia handed him the empty bottle. “Get erguotou—a decent one, not the cheapest. It’s for your Zhao Bobo.”
After sending her brother off, Xu Xia continued cooking the other dishes.
Xu Fengshou hurried to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative and, on his way back, ran into Zhao Bobo and his family of three. He promptly greeted them.
Zhao Manfu caught a whiff of the aroma. “Fengshou, what delicious food is your sister making? It’s making my mouth water.”
“Red-braised pork and red-braised fish!” Xu Fengshou listed the luxurious dishes while mentally calculating the cost of the meal. They would have to economize in the coming days, or they’d exceed their budget by month’s end.
Zhao Manfu exclaimed, “Wow, such fine dishes! Ever since you moved out, I’ve missed Xiaxia’s cooking. Let’s hurry—I’m starving.”
He Hongying cheerfully added that she was hungry too and turned to urge her son, “Hurry up! Xiaxia specifically asked for you to come—don’t dawdle.”
Zhao Hui leaned against the car door, his thin lips quirking imperceptibly. After ignoring him for so long, she had specifically requested his presence today. He decided to see for himself what scheme Xu Xia was up to.
Zhao Hui trailed at the back as they arrived at Xu Xia’s place. Seeing her approach with a smile, yet receiving no acknowledgment from her, his thick eyebrows furrowed slightly.
“Zhao Bobo, Auntie He, I’ve just finished cooking. Please come inside.” Xu Xia warmly invited them, finally turning her gaze to Zhao Hui and calling out in a lively tone, “Zhao Er Ge.”
Zhao Hui immediately relaxed his furrowed brow and cleared his throat. “Mm.”
Xu Xia thought to herself, how formal he’s being, tsk tsk. She decided to let him stew a little longer.
After everyone was seated, Xu Xia poured wine for them and half a glass for herself. “Zhao Bobo, Auntie He, and Zhao Er Ge, I’m not much of a drinker, so let me propose this toast to all of you. Thank you for helping me find a job and putting in a good word for me with Director Zhang. My brother and I will always remember your kindness. If you ever need anything from us in the future, just say the word!”
She downed the wine in one go but was overwhelmed by the strong taste, coughing several times while patting her chest.
He Hongying brought her some water. “You’re too earnest. If you can’t drink, you should use tea instead. We’re not outsiders here—we don’t stand on ceremony like that.” Seeing Xu Xia’s flushed face, she added some food to her plate. “Have a few bites to settle the alcohol. Don’t drink any more after this.”
Xu Xia nodded obediently, but her face was already burning hot. “Please, help yourselves to the food. This meal wasn’t easy to prepare—Fengshou went to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative at the crack of dawn today.”
“Whatever you make is bound to be delicious. I love it,” He Hongying said, picking up a piece of braised pork. It was slightly sweet but not greasy, with the fatty part melting into a rich broth in her mouth and the lean meat stewed until tender and flavorful. Xu Xia truly had excellent culinary skills.
Zhao Manfu also enjoyed Xu Xia’s cooking. “Xia Xia, you must visit us more often. With you all gone and Zhao Hui often away from home, we two old folks get so bored.”
“I’ll definitely come,” Xu Xia said, pouring wine for Zhao Manfu. When it was Zhao Hui’s turn, she looked up at him and asked, “Zhao Er Ge, did you drive today?”
Zhao Hui said he had, which was why he hadn’t been drinking earlier.
But Zhao Manfu pressed Xu Xia’s hand and filled his son’s glass to the brim. “Today is a happy occasion. What does driving matter? We can walk back later, and you can come get the car tomorrow. A real man should drink a little—don’t be so hesitant.”
With the glass full, Zhao Hui looked at Xu Xia’s flushed face, her shyness rippling out in layers. Her slender fingers held the glass as if she would cry if he refused to drink.
Zhao Hui took the glass and downed it boldly in one gulp. He noticed Xu Xia’s eyes, seductive as silk threads, wrapping around him like a golden cage, tightening relentlessly until he could barely breathe. He poured himself another glass and drank it too.
“Zhao Er Ge, don’t just drink—eat more,” Xu Xia whispered, aware of the intensity in his gaze. Having achieved her goal, she didn’t look at Zhao Hui again but chatted with Zhao Manfu and his wife instead. “My colleagues are all very nice, and our director is easy to talk to. After I become a permanent employee, I’ll treat you all to another meal.”
The salary for a permanent employee was nearly double that of a temporary worker, and the job at the cinema was relaxed. Xu Xia was happy to work there. As for the layoffs that would come over a decade later, by that time, she was sure she’d have found other ways to enjoy life.
“As long as the people are good. You have such a gentle temperament and speak so softly—I was really worried you might be bullied,” He Hongying said. In her eyes, Xu Xia was like a delicate lotus flower, easily blown away by a strong wind, needing careful protection.
Zhao Manfu agreed, “That’s right, Xia Xia. If you ever feel wronged, you must tell us. Our second son is unlucky—let him stay single his whole life. Your aunt and I will find you a better match.”
He had scolded and argued, but his son wouldn’t listen. Since that was the case, he simply stopped pressing the matter. As the old saying goes, a forced melon is never sweet.
Xu Xia smiled with pursed lips, and Zhao Manfu took it as shyness.
After three rounds of drinks, He Hongying pulled Xu Xia aside to chat. Zhao Manfu was a very busy man, especially during National Day. After sitting for a while, he prepared to leave.
He Hongying followed him back. Originally, Zhao Hui had driven them there, but since Zhao Hui had been drinking, the elderly couple decided to walk home.
Xu Xia saw them out. When she returned, her younger brother was already clearing the dishes. She glanced around and asked, “Where’s Zhao Er Ge?”
“I saw he was a bit drowsy, so I let him rest on my bed for a while,” Xu Fengshou replied sensibly. He always helped with household chores. “Sis, you go rest too. I’ll take care of this.”
“Then be quiet. I’ll go make some tea for Zhao Er Ge to sober him up. We can’t let him sleep in your room all day,” Xu Xia said. She boiled water, prepared the tea, and then went to check on Zhao Hui.
Zhao Hui was lying on his side. Xu Xia crouched by the bed and gently patted him. “Zhao Er Ge, have some tea first. It’ll help you feel better.”
Initially, seeing how boldly Zhao Hui drank, she had thought he had a high alcohol tolerance. Turns out, it was just average—nothing exceptional.
Xu Xia tried several times but couldn’t rouse Zhao Hui. It seemed he was fast asleep.
Fine, let him sleep for now.
But he really was good-looking, with even his eyelashes thick and attractive. Asleep, he wasn’t intimidating and seemed much more likable.
Xu Xia reached out and poked Zhao Hui’s cheek. It was quite amusing.
She let Zhao Hui continue sleeping and went out to help finish cleaning up. Then, she and her brother moved the table to the doorway. She lay down to rest while her brother did his homework.
“I’m going to nap for a bit. Keep working on your own,” Xu Xia said. She had been busy since early morning and was tired now.
She didn’t know how long she slept, but she woke up groggy. Seeing her brother still doing homework, she went over to remind him, “Take a break if you’re tired. Is it almost dark? We won’t cook tonight. Go buy two portions of rice, and we’ll just eat it with the leftover braised pork sauce from lunch.”
Xu Fengshou took money and food stamps from the drawer and glanced toward his room. “Sis, Zhao Er Ge is still asleep. What should we do about him?”
Xu Xia had assumed Zhao Hui would have woken up by now. “It’s fine, I’ll go wake him. Then buy three portions of rice, just in case he stays for dinner. If he doesn’t eat, we can have fried rice tomorrow.”
She splashed her face with cold water and went to wake him.
Men are heavy. Xu Xia struggled to lift Zhao Hui’s arm but couldn’t pull him up.
“Wake up, it’s almost dark,” she urged, tugging at him again without success. In a final attempt, she yanked hard, but instead, a powerful force pulled her back.
With a thud, Xu Xia landed on top of Zhao Hui. When she looked up, she met his pitch-black eyes—like a tiger poised to hunt, radiating danger.
Xu Xia’s heart sank. Frantically, she tried to get up, but a large hand suddenly gripped her waist, pressing her down forcefully against Zhao Hui’s chest.
“Ah, that hurts!”
A soft moan snapped Zhao Hui fully awake. He had thought it was a dream, wondering why it felt so close and so soft.
The dim light was insufficient to clearly discern the other’s expression, yet touch and smell became exceptionally acute. Zhao Hui caught a faint, sweet fragrance that made his Adam’s apple subconsciously bob.
When he realized where his hand was resting, both his hand and body stiffened.
Xu Xia noticed Zhao Hui’s growing warmth and hastily pushed him away. “Zhao… Zhao Er Ge, you’re awake.”
Zhao Hui responded with an unnatural “Mm,” his voice seeming to grow thick and sticky. His mind was in disarray, still lingering on the image of Xu Xia pressed against his chest moments before.
Especially Xu Xia’s waist—so slender, it had effortlessly collided with his embrace with the slightest pull, stirring unrestrained thoughts…
“Zhao Er Ge, your nose is bleeding!” Xu Xia hurried to fetch tissues, but Zhao Hui prevented her from approaching.
“Leave the tissues there and go out first!”
“Are you alright? Should I take you to the hospital?” Xu Xia, being a transmigrator and not an innocent young girl, recognized this trope all too well. So Zhao Hui couldn’t handle a little teasing—they’d barely started, and he was already nosebleeding.
Zhao Hui dared not go to the hospital; his dirty thoughts were utterly unspeakable. He scrambled to his feet and, upon opening the door, ran into Xu Fengshou returning with food. Without even greeting him, Zhao Hui fled as if escaping.
“Sis, what happened to Zhao Er Ge?” Xu Fengshou asked, puzzled.
Xu Xia shook her head and made up an excuse, “Maybe he drank and felt unwell, or it’s getting late and he’s rushing home to handle something. Don’t mind him, let’s eat.”
Thinking of Zhao Hui’s nosebleed, Xu Xia found it amusing. She’d always said men in their twenties should be full of vigor.
After dinner, with no entertainment options, Xu Xia stopped her brother from doing more homework to avoid straining his eyes.
“Go to bed early—you’re at an age when you’re still growing,” Xu Xia instructed her brother.
“Sis, I’m not tired. I’d rather do some homework.” Since his sister emphasized that he should focus on studies while young, Xu Fengshou worked especially hard, aiming for first place to bring her honor.
Xu Xia disagreed, “Even if you can’t sleep, just lie down. The lighting here isn’t as good as at the Zhao’s—what if you ruin your eyes?”
She didn’t aspire for her brother to become a dragon; health and happiness mattered most. By the time he reached adulthood, only a year would remain before the reform and opening-up, when policies would change, offering numerous opportunities and choices. She’d support him in any lawful pursuit he chose.
After seeing her brother to bed and turning off the light, Xu Xia took a flashlight to use the restroom at the cinema.
Her living quarters had no toilet, only a chamber pot, which Xu Xia disliked cleaning and avoided whenever possible. She refrained from drinking water after nightfall, holding it until dawn.
But just as she reached the courtyard, she spotted a tall figure—it was Zhao Hui, who had returned.
The moonlight stretched his shadow long and far, just connecting with Xu Xia’s.
In the hazy night, Xu Xia couldn’t clearly see Zhao Hui’s expression. As he stepped closer, her heartbeat quickened involuntarily.