Chapter 20: Tears Came Unexpectedly
In the farthest room, Chen Fan leaned back in his chair, his feet soaking in hot water, comfortably enjoying the warmth.
The world is full of wonders, not to mention the surreal golden finger. Since I don't understand it, I won't think about it. When the time comes, I'll figure it out. As long as I work hard, I won't believe I can't improve my basic attributes.
Instead of thinking so much, I'd rather change these ragged-like cotton shoes. If I wear them any longer, I'm afraid I'll get athlete's foot.
He had put two large pieces of grated ginger into the scalding hot water. The sterilization effect is guaranteed, but there was a side effect—the strong spicy smell made his eyes water. Chen Fan had wanted to read, but he could only use a towel to wipe his eyes from time to time.
In a short while, his eyes were red-rimmed.
So when Jiang Lili came over, she saw Chen Fan wiping his tears. He seemed fine just moments ago. Why is he suddenly crying? Thinking about his sudden misfortune, he doesn't even know where his family is, it seems normal to hide and cry secretly. A wave of pity welled up in her heart.
But it had been a long time since she had comforted someone. For a moment, she stood there blankly, staring at Chen Fan, unsure of what to do.
The light at the doorway was blocked. Chen Fan, of course, noticed. He looked up and smiled, "Xiao Jiang, what's wrong? Do you need something?"
Jiang Lili hesitated, shaking her head slightly, "I'm fine."
Then she carefully looked at him, "Are you... okay?"
She silently marveled to herself: Even in this state, he was still forcing a smile. What a strong person!
"Me?"
Chen Fan was puzzled. Why ask him if he's okay? He shook his head and said, "I'm fine. What's wrong?"
Seeing that he wouldn't say anything, Jiang Lili didn't know what to do. She simply thought to herself, What a strong young man! He was just crying, and now he's acting like nothing happened.
After a two-second pause, she sighed inwardly. Since he won't talk about it, I'll just leave him be. I can't help anyone in my current state anyway.
Having made up her mind, she was about to say goodbye and leave.
At this time, Chen Fan smiled, "If you're not busy, come in and sit for a while. Let's chat."
Jiang Lili hesitated, but still mustered her courage to step inside.
Watching her sit down at the other side of the table, Chen Fan smiled, "We live in the same courtyard. We're sort of a family. Don't be polite. Help yourself to water."
Then he pointed to the broken cotton shoes he had thrown by the door, "I wore those shoes for a while, my feet are a little itchy, so I used some hot water to soak them."
Jiang Lili looked thoughtfully at the shoes, thinking, So, was it because of these shoes that he felt ashamed and thinking of his unknown family, causing him to cry alone?
Seeing that Jiang Lili didn't speak, Chen Fan didn't mind. Whether it's novels or TV shows, period dramas often have people with backgrounds similar to hers, and most of them have two types of personalities. Either they are like her, silent, withdrawn, self-deprecating, and sensitive, or they go to the other extreme, vicious and malicious, and hurtful.
She clearly belongs to the former type. And her behavior is pretty good. She can at least talk a few words, perhaps because no one here deliberately bullies her. Some people don't even speak, they avoid everyone and are very careful, afraid of getting into trouble.
It's okay, if she doesn't speak, I'll take the initiative.
Chen Fan cleared his throat, attracting Jiang Lili's attention, then smiled and said, "Captain Yang said that you've been here for three years?"
Jiang Lili was silent for a few seconds and nodded lightly, "In half a month, it will be exactly three years."
Half a month?
Chen Fan tilted his head and thought for a moment, today is the second day of the twelfth lunar month. In half a month, "Isn't that the seventeenth of the twelfth lunar month?"
Jiang Lili lowered her head, "I arrived here on the seventeenth of the twelfth lunar month."
Chen Fan was speechless.
Only half a month left, they are about to separate. And there's nothing to do in the countryside in winter, but they don't even let the family reunite for the Spring Festival? What kind of hatred is this?
After being silent for several seconds, Chen Fan exhaled and asked, "Have you gone back home during this time?"
Jiang Lili didn't speak, just shook her head lightly.
After a while, she looked up and forced a smile, "But my sister came to see me twice."
Chen Fan was curious, "You have a sister?"
Jiang Lili nodded, continuing to bury her head and act like an ostrich, "She works in the Prefectural Committee, she doesn't have much free time, and it's difficult for her to take leave. She only came twice."
Is it that difficult to take leave these days?
Chen Fan frowned and looked at Jiang Lili, and immediately understood. It's probably not difficult to take leave, but it's difficult for her sister to take leave.
If she's in this state, how can her sister be any better?
He could only sigh softly and didn't know what to say.
Jiang Lili waited for a while, and didn't hear his voice. She realized that she had said too much, so she quickly said, "I'm... sorry, I shouldn't have said these things."
Chen Fan came back to his senses, smiled and waved his hand, "Nonsense, what is there to apologize for? Besides, I was the one who asked first. I was thinking about what your sister does for a living and I lost my mind for a moment."
Hearing him say this, Jiang Lili smiled, and then said, "My sister is amazing. She used to be a saleswoman at the supply and marketing cooperative."
When she said this, her face froze, and she lowered her head again, "But I don't know what she's doing now. If I ask her, she won't tell me."
Chen Fan saw that this wouldn't work. If they talked about her family affairs, they wouldn't be able to say a few words before the conversation stalled. Let's talk about something else.
But before he could speak, Jiang Lili suddenly looked up and shouted, "Ah, the fire in the back."
Chen Fan slapped his forehead, "I almost forgot, I hope it hasn't gone out."
Jiang Lili quickly got up and ran out, "I'll go and check."
Chen Fan also picked up a towel and wiped his feet, changing into his new thousand-layer sole shoes.
Although it's a little cold to wear single shoes in this weather, it's still better than those broken cotton shoes. Chen Fan poured the water from the basin outside the yard, put the wooden basin back in the room, and then went to the backyard.
When he got to the stove, Jiang Lili had already rekindled the fire, and the pot was bubbling again. A fragrant smell of soft-shelled turtle meat wafted out with the steam, tempting the appetite.
She looked back at Chen Fan and said, "It's okay, the fire hadn't gone out when I came. The water just wasn't boiling."
She was also curious. The pot of soft-shelled turtle meat didn't smell fishy at all. I wonder how it will taste.
Chen Fan glanced at it and smiled, "It's okay, it'll just take a few more minutes to steam."
But he didn't dare to leave again. He moved two large bricks and the two of them sat by the stove.
Leaning against the warm stove, Chen Fan started making small talk again. Otherwise, the two of them would just sit there without speaking, which would be awkward.
(End of Chapter)
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