While having soup in the evening, Aunt Zhou told him about what happened in the melon field during the day.
She said that Zhou Xiaoying and her sister were jealous of how well they treated Chuntao, so not only did they spread rumors in the village, but they also went and ruined the watermelons.
Zhou Zhijun's face immediately darkened like the bottom of a pot. He gritted his teeth and said, These two girls have such dark hearts at such a young age. What will they be like when they grow up!
Aunt Zhou snorted, Isn't it because of what their mother taught them? With a mother like that, how could she raise good kids?
Zhou Zhijun originally wanted to go find Zhou Zhimin to talk about this, but on second thought, bringing it up now would only add fuel to the fire and put Chuntao in a difficult position, so he temporarily pushed the idea aside.
He took a walk around the melon field in Donggou and, finding nothing unusual, turned and headed toward Chuntao's house.
Chuntao had just finished feeding the pigs, boiled a pot of hot water, and was washing her feet in the kitchen. Hearing a noise, she looked up and saw Zhou Zhijun walking up to the kitchen door.
Zhou Zhijun turned his head to look at the main room. Wang Xiaohong's room was unlit, so he asked, Where is Xiaohong?
Wang Xiaohong had just gone out, saying she was going to have Zhou Hongxia teach her how to embroider shoe insoles and would sleep at her house tonight. Chuntao didn't dare say this, afraid that it would give Zhou Zhijun ideas.
Actually, when Zhou Zhijun was coming back from the melon field just now, he had run into Wang Xiaohong at the edge of the village. Seeing her clutching shoe insole patterns in her hand, he had asked where she was going.
I'm going to find Hongxia to learn how to embroider shoe insoles!
Hearing this, Zhou Zhijun immediately said, It's getting dark. Go home early, it's not safe if you're out too late!
But Wang Xiaohong replied, I'm sleeping over at Hongxia's tonight and will come back tomorrow morning!
Zhou Zhijun was overjoyed inwardly, but his face maintained a serious expression. Alright, go ahead then! He had asked Chuntao just now on purpose.
He reached into his jacket pocket, took out the fifteen yuan, and gently placed it on the stove.
There's a fair in town. Take this money to go to the fair and buy yourself something.
Chuntao's eyes fell on those few crumpled banknotes, and tears welled up again.
He always remembered how hard her life was, helping out with matters big and small at home, contributing both his effort and his money.
He had already spent a lot buying her food, drinks, clothes, and daily necessities. She didn't want to owe him any more money.
I don't have anything I need to buy. Take the money back. Chuntao turned her face away, her voice as low as a mosquito's hum.
Taking advantage of the moment when Zhou Zhijun wasn't touching her, she hurriedly grabbed an old piece of coarse cloth draped over the firewood, quickly dried her feet, and put on her cloth shoes, her fingers trembling as she did so.
Buy a couple of unlined summer shirts. The ones you have are washed out and the cuffs are frayed.
Zhou Zhijun's tone was stiff, yet it hid an undeniable tenderness.
Chuntao avoided the topic and whispered, Brother Zhijun, it's getting late. I'm going to bed.
Saying that, she picked up the washbasin and headed for the door, but he snatched it from her hands and set it aside.
He then scooped her up and sat her on the stove. Tao, in this life, only I can have you. You can only bear children for me, Zhou Zhijun...
Chuntao caught a glimpse of the money on the stove, her heart as tangled as a ball of hemp.
Zhou Zhijun was so good to her, and it was precisely this goodness that made it impossible for her to flatly refuse him.
She reached out, grabbed the money from the stove, and held it out to him. I don't want this money. I have money!
Zhou Zhijun stared at her with bloodshot eyes and leaned in closer, making no move to take the money from her hand.
Last night, Chuntao had a dream again...
In the dream, there was no smoke and fire from the kitchen, only snow-white clouds wrapping her and Zhou Zhijun inside. It felt as if they were the only two people left in the entire world.
She wished time could stop and freeze in that moment forever.
She repeated in her heart over and over, Please don't let this be a dream, but when she opened her eyes, the space beside her was empty and cold. Outside the window, it was pitch black, and tears slid from the corners of her eyes into her ears.
After Zhou Zhijun took her in Donggou that day, she was resentful, hating him for forcing himself on her.
But something seemed to have sprouted in her heart, something even she couldn't suppress.
The piglets in the yard grunted and squealed, crying out one after another.
Suddenly, the big yellow dog at Wang Chunxiao's house to the west started barking too.
