Chapter 40: Friend
As soon as Chen Fan finished speaking, Jiang Lili's blood rushed to her head, and her face turned red. Even her earlobes were red, and fine sweat was beginning to appear on her forehead.
Seeing her like this, Chen Fan's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Bad.
After drinking two liang of wine, he hadn't watched his mouth and hadn't paid attention to what he was saying.
Jiang Lili was already living cautiously here. Regardless of whether she knew those situations or not, there were some things she couldn't say.
His casual joke was nothing, but hearing it, she would only think of the worst possible scenario.
Thinking of this, Chen Fan quickly said, "Well, I was just joking. You're not angry, are you?"
Jiang Lili walked forward with her head down, not saying a word.
Chen Fan raised his hand, but he didn't dare to reach out and pull her. At this time, most of his alcohol had worn off. Thinking of this era and Jiang Lili's situation, if someone saw him pulling at her, it would probably be a big deal.
He had to bury the pit he had dug himself.
He could only walk two steps faster, saying with a wry smile, "I really was just joking. Look at me. I don't know where I came from, and I don't know if Constable Zhu can help me find my family. If I can find them, of course, I'll thank God, but if I can't find them, where I'll go in the future is also unknown. In my situation, I'm living in fear every day."
First, he sold himself as miserable to arouse the little girl's sympathy. Chen Fan glanced at Jiang Lili, and sure enough, her footsteps slowed down.
His heart immediately relaxed, and he continued his efforts.
"Oh, I still remember after waking up the day before yesterday, being surrounded by so many people, and my stomach was growling, but I didn't dare to move, afraid of being treated as a bad guy. Later, after they left, I almost fainted from hunger. At this time, you suddenly came over and asked me to eat. In my eyes, you were a living Bodhisattva, a great savior."
Jiang Lili's pace was even slower, but she still didn't look up.
But Chen Fan knew that the problem shouldn't be big anymore. He felt even more relaxed and smiled. "Don't laugh at me. I couldn't eat your grain. Grain is so precious. It can save lives at critical moments. But I was really too hungry, so I ate it shamelessly and even ate two big bowls. I must have scared you at the time, right? You didn't even dare to eat the dishes and only gnawed on pickled radishes."
Jiang Lili, "No."
Chen Fan was stunned and turned to look at her. "Huh? What?"
The voice was too small, and he hadn't been paying attention, so he hadn't heard what she was saying at all.
Jiang Lili raised her head and glanced at him. Chen Fan found that her complexion was slightly better, and her face wasn't as red.
Seeing Chen Fan's gaze, she quickly lowered her head again. After two seconds, she continued, "I said you didn't scare me. You were quite refined when you ate. Although you ate quickly, you didn't seem rude. I was just used to eating pickles. The dishes that day were made especially for you."
"Oh, is that so?"
Chen Fan smiled. "I'm a little curious. There are so many vegetables in the backyard. Why don't you eat them?"
Jiang Lili lowered her head. "I don't want to make so much food for myself alone. It's fine to just eat some pickles."
After a pause, she suddenly raised her head, looked around carefully, and then looked at Chen Fan, pursed her lips, and said softly,
"Last year, I saw an article in the newspaper about someone like me who was criticized for being a hedonist for eating a bowl of stir-fried cabbage with pork cracklings. If I eat too well, and people see me, some people might gossip, so I only eat pickles when I eat."
After speaking, she lowered her head again. "This is a secret in my heart. I haven't told anyone."
Chen Fan looked at her, suddenly feeling a little heartache. This little girl was only 17 years old, but because she was worried about other people's opinions, she didn't eat so many fresh vegetables. It really made him not know what to say.
After reacting, he forced a smile. "Don't worry, I'll keep your secret and won't tell anyone."
Jiang Lili's mouth turned up slightly, and she nodded gently.
But she was still walking with her head down, and Chen Fan couldn't see it.
At this time, they had reached the Educated Youth Spot. After the two entered the door, Chen Fan closed the door and said to her softly with a smile, "Look, the day before yesterday, you treated me to a meal. At night, you helped me make soft-shelled turtle. You don't know, when I picked up that soft-shelled turtle and went to find Captain Yang and the others, they laughed at me to death."
Jiang Lili pursed her lips and smiled. "No one here has ever eaten soft-shelled turtle before."
Chen Fan nodded with a smile. "That's why it was so special that you were willing to help me. From that time on, I considered you a friend. That's why I told you about secretly pouring out the wine and told you a joke, because I really consider you a friend."
Jiang Lili raised her head and looked at him, her eyes flashing with a few rays of light. "Friend?"
Three years ago, she had many good friends at school, but after something happened to her family, all her friends broke off contact with her. In the past three years, besides her parents and sister caring about her, she hadn't made a single friend.
Not to mention friends, even the educated youth who lived under the same roof, no one was close to her. Now Chen Fan was saying that he considered her a friend?
Chen Fan nodded and smiled. "Yes, friend. There was no one else just now. It was just a small joke between friends. You're not angry, are you?"
Jiang Lili bit her lip, just about to lower her head, but quickly held back and shook her head gently. "Not angry."
After a pause, she said, "I wasn't angry in the first place."
She wasn't really angry, she just felt very sad.
"Haha, it's good that you're not angry."
Chen Fan laughed and said, "My personality is just very carefree. Sometimes I speak without thinking. In the future, if I say the wrong thing again, don't take it to heart. Just tell me directly, and I'll apologize to you."
Jiang Lili smiled, shook her head, and said, "It's okay."
She thought about it, turned her head, glanced at the courtyard door, and then said softly to Chen Fan, "When I was listening to the commune members chatting, I heard them say that the pig slaughterers at the food station charge 2 yuan to slaughter a pig in the countryside, and they're not allowed to accept anything else. But besides money, the hosts usually treat them to a meal with wine, and when they leave, they also give them some pork and pig trotters.
If they don't have money, they give the whole set of pig offal, which is worth about 5 yuan in total, about the same as 2 yuan plus pork and pig trotters. Originally, according to the rules, these things had to be turned over, but very little was actually turned over. They all kept it for themselves.
So, if you see someone slaughtering a pig again, don't ask about the money. The pig slaughterer will be unhappy if he hears it."
Chen Fan nodded in realization. "So that's how it is."
Then he smiled at her. "Okay, I understand. I promise I won't ask in the future."
Jiang Lili nodded. "If you don't understand something, just come back and ask me. I'll tell you everything I know."
Chen Fan grinned. He didn't blame her for not saying it earlier and only saying it now.
Since they were friends, he should be more understanding. Trust between people always takes a process. If he asked and she told him everything right away, she couldn't have lived peacefully until now.
It was good like this now. He had his first person to talk about his heartfelt thoughts with in the village. Although she was just a marginalized educated youth, it was still a good start, and its significance was no less than teaching everyone how to cook soft-shelled turtle.
That's right, soft-shelled turtle.
Chen Fan patted his head and walked to the kitchen. "I'll boil some hot water and wash my face. I have to rush to Team 5 to be a teacher."
Jiang Lili looked at his back and smiled, then quickly followed. "I'll help you."
(End of Chapter)
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