Jian Yiyi did not know why Song Xinya suddenly asked about her family situation. The expression on her fair, delicate face shifted.
It was not that she did not want to tell Song Xinya about her family, but rather that her family situation was simply too complicated...
Moreover, from the perspective of the general public, there was an unspeakable sense of shame attached to her family background.
Although Jian Yiyi had not known Song Xinya for long, someone who dared to stand up and help others when they were being bullied could not possibly have a bad character.
In a society where everyone just wanted to protect themselves and avoid trouble, Song Xinya was one of the few, precious sources of kindness that Jian Yiyi had received.
Jian Yiyi longed for this kindness and wanted it to stay with her a little longer.
She was worried that once she told Song Xinya about her family, Song Xinya's eyes would fill with that same strange look as everyone else who knew about her situation.
Because her family situation was just so unbearable...
The iron bucket hit the ground with a dull thud.
Jian Yiyi ran over as if trying to escape. The soybeans have all been scooped out of the basin. It is time to grind and filter them.
She stood among a pile of soybeans, her eyelashes lowered, holding a plastic scoop in her hand. She bent down and straightened up, looking very busy.
Song Xinya knew the little girl was deliberately avoiding the topic.
Song Xinya did not think there was anything wrong with Jian Yiyi's behavior. Everyone had secrets they did not want to tell, and everyone had the right to refuse others.
Besides, Song Xinya and Jian Yiyi had only met twice.
Song Xinya asking Jian Yiyi about her family was already crossing a line.
Song Xinya was just too anxious. She desperately wanted to figure out the reason behind the instant sense of familiarity she felt toward Jian Yiyi.
A shadow fell from above, and a refreshing scent of oranges wafted into her nose. Jin Ruizhi stood in front of Song Xinya.
Teacher Song, I have scooped out all the soybeans.
Song Xinya: Good job. I will reward you with a little red flower later.
Jin Ruizhi put on a cool, arrogant look, his face cold: I am not a little kid.
Song Xinya: Then I will save myself the trouble. No little red flower for you.
Jin Ruizhi: Teacher Song, you cannot take back what you have said. You have to keep your word and do what you say.
Song Xinya patted her legs and stood up from the chair: Young man, if you want a little red flower, just say so. When it comes to things you care about, you should be brave enough to express yourself. Do not be stubborn, do not beat around the bush, and certainly do not say one thing while meaning another.
Jin Ruizhi: I want a little red flower.
Song Xinya: Alright, I will make you one tonight when I get back and give it to you tomorrow.
Jin Ruizhi asked, What do I need to do next?
Song Xinya looked toward Jian Yiyi: Do I look like someone who knows how to make tofu? Go ask Yiyi.
Jin Ruizhi walked up to Jian Yiyi: Yiyi, I want to help you. Please give me a chance.
Song Xinya raised an eyebrow. This kid learned really fast. His speaking skills had skyrocketed; even as a married woman, her ears felt hot hearing it.
Jian Yiyi almost dropped the scoop in her hand when she heard him.
The young girl was thin-skinned. She turned around, putting her back to Jin Ruizhi.
Jin Ruizhi looked at Song Xinya for help.
On the day she took the job, Song Xinya never expected that as a private tutor, she would have to teach someone how to date step by step.
Grinding and filtering, as the name implies, means grinding the soybeans into a paste.
She pointed to a millstone by the door: Go grind the soybeans.
Jin Ruizhi: I have only seen this kind of millstone on TV, pulled by an old ox.
Song Xinya: Raising old oxen is not allowed in the city. Right now, you are the old ox.
Without another word, Jin Ruizhi poured the soybeans into the millstone, grabbed the handles with both hands, planted his feet on the ground, and started pushing the mill in circles.
The millstone was made of stone and was extremely heavy. Usually, it took two people working together to push it.
Even though Jin Ruizhi was strong, pushing it was very strenuous. Before long, bead-sized drops of sweat were rolling down his sharp facial contours, and his white shirt clung damply to his body.
A young master who had never done physical labor in his life was now willingly acting as an old ox, keeping his head down and pushing the millstone without a single word of complaint.
The air was filled with the creaking sound of the millstone and the heavy, rhythmic thuds of the young man's footsteps on the ground.
The two sounds mixed together, giving off a particularly miserable vibe.
Light, quick footsteps approached, and the slender, pretty young girl stood in front of Jin Ruizhi: Stop pushing the millstone.
Jin Ruizhi looked up at Jian Yiyi: Is it because I am pushing too slowly? Yiyi, I will push faster, I promise. I will work harder. Please let me push.
Jian Yiyi looked at him. His face, pale to the point of being almost transparent, was covered in sweat, like morning dew scattered over white porcelain. He looked a bit wretched, but there was no denying that he was still handsome at this moment.
She turned her face away, no longer looking at him. Her thick, butterfly-like eyelashes drooped as she said, Using a millstone to grind soybeans was phased out a long time ago. Nowadays, everyone uses an electric grinding machine.
She pointed to a machine placed against the wall inside the house: We use that to grind the soybeans now.
Song Xinya's leisurely voice drifted over: Yeah, in an industrialized society, who still uses a hand-pushed millstone? With sixty pounds of soybeans, you could not finish grinding them even if you pushed for a day and a night.
Jin Ruizhi: Then why did you make me act like an old ox...
Wait a minute. He suddenly realized that Jian Yiyi, who had been giving him the cold shoulder all this time, had taken the initiative to speak to him!
Why did Teacher Song make him act like an old ox?
This was the reason.
The look Jin Ruizhi gave Song Xinya was half gratitude, half admiration.
Song Xinya: Do not just stand there. Hurry up and go work with Yiyi. The customer is coming to pick up the tofu in two hours.
Pressed for time, Jian Yiyi quickly ran over to the electric grinder and started grinding the soybeans.
Jin Ruizhi ran over as well, reaching out to snatch the scoop from her hand and blocking her way: Let me do it.
Jian Yiyi: You do not know how.
Jin Ruizhi: Teach me.
She reached out to grab the scoop back from him.
He raised his arm high in the air.
She stretched out her arm and jumped up and down on the spot, but still could not reach it.
Jin Ruizhi watched her hop around like a little white rabbit, her cheeks flushed with a lively shade of red from anxiety.
After jumping several times in a row, Jian Yiyi lost her footing and pitched headfirst into his arms.
Her smooth, fair forehead bumped against his firm chest.
Jian Yiyi covered her forehead and tilted her small, palm-sized face up. Her little mouth pouted slightly as she glared at him fiercely.
Jin Ruizhi only felt that the way she glared at him was incredibly cute.
He said to her: You have to listen to me on this. I will do the work, and you stand on the side and guide me. Otherwise, we will just stand here doing nothing.
Jian Yiyi's face turned bright red: You are being unreasonable. You are acting like a hooligan.
Jin Ruizhi thought to himself: Even the way she scolds me is so cute.
Song Xinya: You two, stop standing there playing musical statues. Put all this love and hate aside for now and finish the work first.
Jian Yiyi gave up insisting: Let us work.
Jin Ruizhi let out a loud whistle, his tone cheerful. Let's get to work!
Jian Yiyi said, Don't whistle like a hooligan.
Jin Ruizhi replied, Alright, I won't.
When men and women work together, the work never feels tiring.
Even after grinding sixty catties of soybeans into milk, Jin Ruizhi was still full of energy.
This was the first time he had been this close to her.
And it was the first time they were doing something together.
This feeling made him happier than playing video games, singing karaoke, going to amusement parks, flying to Milan for fashion shows, traveling around Europe, or skiing in the Alps.
Looking at Jian Yiyi, whose face and body were covered in sweat, Jin Ruizhi said, Go sit on the chair and rest. I can handle this by myself.
Jian Yiyi replied, How could I do that?
A smile rippled across Jin Ruizhi's youthful and handsome face as he asked her, Are you feeling sorry for me?
Jian Yiyi's lowered eyelashes fluttered slightly as she replied, I just want to get the tofu made as quickly as possible.
Jin Ruizhi said, Then I'll keep making the tofu.
Jian Yiyi asked, Why don't you rest a bit before continuing?
Jin Ruizhi replied, You go rest. I'm not tired at all.
While Jian Yiyi rested, Jin Ruizhi kept busy making tofu without stopping.
Two hours later, Jin Ruizhi, Jian Yiyi, and Song Xinya had turned all sixty catties of soybeans into tofu.
The customer arrived and picked up the tofu within the agreed time.
Jian Yiyi's heart suddenly relaxed. Mission accomplished, and we kept our reputation. That's wonderful!
Song Xinya checked the time. It's getting late, so we'll head out now. You must be exhausted after doing so much work. Get some good rest, Yiyi.
Jin Ruizhi was reluctant to leave. I feel like it's still early. I can help Jian Yiyi with a bit more work.
Song Xinya grabbed him and dragged him outside. Little worker bee, that's enough for today. Yiyi still has her own life and studies to attend to.
There was still one whole block of tofu left. Jian Yiyi cut it in half, put the pieces into bags, and gave half to Song Xinya and half to Jin Ruizhi.
Thank you both for helping me today. I'm treating you to tofu for now, but I'll treat you to a proper meal another day.
Song Xinya said, No need to treat us to a meal. The tofu is already delicious, right, Young Master Jin?
Jin Ruizhi agreed, Yes, I just love eating Jian Yiyi's tofu.
Blushing, Jian Yiyi lowered her head and ran back into the house.
Actually, Jin Ruizhi literally meant eating the tofu; he didn't mean anything else by it.
A certain little classmate was just overthinking it.
Song Xinya got into her Frozen Berry Porsche. She looked at the freshly made, white, tender, and still-steaming tofu. Just as she was about to lower her head and take a bite, her phone rang.
Qin Yuhe had sent her a message—
