Chapter 85
◎We’ve Also Watched a Movie Together◎
Zhou Shunian had brought too many things, especially food. Their family only had four people now, and they couldn’t eat that much. Yu Juanfang kept the more expensive tea, honey, fabric, and malted milk extract for her own family, and divided the rest of the canned food, red sausage, and pastries into several portions, planning to give some to relatives and friends later.
Some of the neighbors and relatives in the village, hearing that the third branch’s family had guests, couldn’t help but come over to join in the fun.
Yu Juanfang had originally wanted to put everything away in the cabinet first, but seeing that everyone had seen it, she simply didn’t put it away.
Yu Yahong looked at the dazzling array of things and couldn’t help but feel envious. “Look at this tea, this honey, this fabric, this malted milk extract. It’s so good. These things are not cheap. This canned food smells more fragrant than meat. I heard you even need an industrial coupon to get it. How come my Shuanfu, Caogen, and Huwa haven’t been able to meet a generous friend like Little Zhou? And he’s the son of the municipal party committee’s administrative office commissioner!”
Yu Juanfang’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “We two are just benefiting from Juesheng’s good fortune. Juesheng doesn’t have many friends outside, just Little Zhou. We haven’t lost contact for so many years. It’s been more than ten years of friendship.”
“Does that Little Zhou have a girlfriend?” Auntie Zhang brought up the timeless gossip topic.
“I really don’t know about that. Probably not,” Yu Juanfang said.
“This Tangtang and Little Zhou look quite compatible when they stand together. A talented man and a beautiful woman!”
As soon as Auntie Zhang said this, everyone followed her gaze to the side of the vegetable patch in the courtyard. Although they were half a foot apart, one was cool and the other was bright. They didn’t know what they were talking about, but they were talking and laughing, and they did look like a good match.
“I think this Little Zhou, he doesn’t look like Juesheng’s friend coming to visit you two, but more like a son-in-law coming to visit!”
As soon as Auntie Zhang said this, the neighbors and relatives present couldn’t help but laugh.
“Third Sister-in-law, why don’t you find out if this Little Zhou has a girlfriend? Although Little Zhou’s family background is good, our Tangtang is not bad either. She has a quiet personality, is a great beauty in a ten-li radius, and is the only one in our entire Hongqi Commune to get into Capital University. Even if he’s the son of the municipal party committee’s administrative office commissioner, she’s still a good match for him!”
Yu Juanfang said helplessly, “You’re getting further and further off track. I’m not in a hurry for Tangtang to find a boyfriend. I just want her to be free for a few more years and finish her university studies.”
Hearing them gossip about Tangtang, Yu Juanfang’s tone was faint, and she was clearly not very happy.
Noticing Yu Juanfang’s displeasure, Yu Yahong quickly tried to smooth things over. “You don’t know, Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law dote on this daughter, Tangtang. They’re reluctant to let her get into a relationship too early.”
Auntie Zhang took the opportunity to back down. “Hah, that’s true. Third Sister-in-law is so lucky to have such a promising daughter.”
“Auntie Zhang, what are you saying? In a ten-li radius, who is as hardworking and capable as your Axiu…”
“I heard that Axiu’s husband has learned carpentry now, and their family is living a good life.”
“What’s the use? A married daughter is like spilled water. You can’t benefit from her at all.”
As everyone was chatting, a loud voice sounded in the courtyard. “Oh? Did I come at a good time? Is everyone here chatting?”
Everyone looked up and saw that it was Zhang Guixiang and her niece, Zhang Chunni.
“Eldest Sister-in-law, what is this?” Yu Yahong asked.
“My Chunni is here to visit relatives and has brought a lot of pastries, all bought from a pastry shop in the city. I guess you’ve never had them before. I specially brought them for you to taste!”
Zhang Guixiang was a little smug. Her niece had married into a good family, and she could also benefit from any good things.
Yu Juanfang looked at the two or three pieces of date paste pastries wrapped in oil paper in Zhang Guixiang’s hand. The pastries were indeed from a pastry shop in the county, but they looked a little oily and damp, and had probably been sitting there for about ten days. She said, “Eldest Sister-in-law, we have too many things at home and can’t eat that much. I’m just worrying about it. You should take them back for Tiedan and Gousheng to eat.”
“Third Sister-in-law, we’re sisters-in-law and relatives. Don’t be too embarrassed to accept it. You’re just bragging…” Before she could finish, Zhang Guixiang’s words suddenly got stuck in her throat.
She saw a corner of the navy blue polyester fabric spread out on the earthen kang behind Yu Juanfang. Next to it were two large iron tins of malted milk extract, as well as tea, honey, canned food, and a large pile of pastries.
My goodness, so many good things!
Zhang Guixiang subconsciously licked her lips.
Not to mention anything else, just that malted milk extract. The last time she went back to her parents’ home, her sister-in-law had made her a cup. That stuff was really delicious, with a rich, milky fragrance. She had heard that one can cost forty yuan!
Yu Yahong couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh. “Third Sister-in-law really isn’t being modest. Their family only has four mouths to feed. Look at this large pile.”
Zhang Chunni saw the figure by the vegetable patch, and her pupils couldn’t help but tremble.
Zhou Shunian, it was actually Zhou Shunian!
That young man who had stood out during the agricultural learning activity in Yuhuai Village, with his prominent family background. If she had gotten together with Zhou Shunian back then, she would probably have long since become a golden phoenix that had flown out of this poor mountain gully. Why would she have had to marry a lame man who was so much older than her!
Zhang Chunni tucked the curly hair at her temples behind her ear and called out softly, “Tangtang.”
“Don’t underestimate this small patch of land. The cucumbers and zucchini that grow here are enough for our whole family to eat in the summer…” Tangtang was talking with Zhou Shunian. She turned her head and saw Zhang Chunni. She called out, “Sister Chunni.”
“Comrade Zhou,” Zhang Chunni’s voice got stuck in her throat. The current Zhou Shunian and her, they were clearly from two different worlds.
Zhou Shunian nodded slightly. “Hello.”
Zhang Chunni secretly blushed, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz. “Comrade Zhou, I’m Tangtang’s cousin. Do you still remember that we watched a movie together one year? I still remember that we watched From Victory to Victory at that time.”
Zhou Shunian turned around, his eyes calm and without a ripple. “Did we? I don’t remember.”
Zhou Shunian’s indifferent tone in his light words shattered all the words she hadn’t said.
Tangtang was originally curious that Zhang Chunni and Zhou Shunian had even watched a movie together. But when she heard From Victory to Victory? Wasn’t that the movie that the whole village had watched together, with a large crowd squeezed into the open space at the village entrance?
When Zhang Guixiang and her niece left the third branch of the Su family’s house, they both looked like wilted eggplants. Zhang Guixiang had failed to show off, and Zhang Chunni also completely understood that perhaps in Zhou Shunian’s eyes, she was probably not even as good as a stranger!