https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-30-A-Man-Seems-to-Be-Following-Her/12831709/
Chapter 29: Do I Really Need to Ask Her?
Chapter 29: Do I Really Need to Ask Her?
Wen Wan, dressed in a white dress, spoke with a naturally gentle voice, "Big Brother Zhou, are you going to the market? Can you give me a ride? I left a bit late today, and I'm afraid the lamb won't sell well if I'm late. It might go bad in this hot weather."
Her voice was genuinely soft, not forced, making people feel as if they were basking in a warm breeze.
Zhou Chenglei glanced at the lamb in her iron cart and hesitated.
Normally, he would help a neighbor without a second thought. But he was worried that Jiang Xia wouldn't be able to tolerate the smell of the lamb. She already got motion sickness from riding in a tractor, and the strong, gamey odor of the lamb would only make it worse.
He turned to Jiang Xia, "Do you mind the smell?"
Wen Wan: "..."
Do I really need to ask her?
If Jiang Xia minded the smell, would she not let her ride in the tractor? What about the soldiers' pledge to serve the people?
Jiang Xia wasn't bothered by smells; she had grown up in a market and was used to all kinds of odors.
Noticing Zhou Chenglei's hesitation, she said, "I don't mind."
Zhou Chenglei then told Wen Wan, "Sure."
He wasn't surprised by her answer; she had changed a lot in the past couple of days.
Zhou Chenglei got out of the driver's seat, still worried that Jiang Xia might not be able to handle it. "The lamb has a strong smell. Do you want to sit in the front with me?"
"Sure."
The tractor's cab was spacious enough for two people, and the roof provided shade from the sun.
Jiang Xia agreed and started to get off the tractor.
As she jumped down from the cargo bed, Zhou Chenglei reached out to support her, worried she might hurt her ankle.
The cargo bed was high, and he didn't want her to twist her foot.
Wen Wan glanced at Zhou Chenglei. Without a doubt, he was a very considerate man, even taking care of a woman who had wronged him.
But when would they divorce? Could Jiang Xia really tolerate living in that dilapidated house? Was today the day they would finally part ways?
After helping Jiang Xia down, Zhou Chenglei went to help Wen Wan load the lamb onto the tractor.
Wen Wan quickly said, "Don't trouble yourself, Big Brother Zhou. I can manage."
Just as Zhou Chenglei's hands gripped the wooden pallet, Wen Wan's hand also reached out, touching his.
Her face turned red, and she quickly withdrew her hand. "Sorry."
Zhou Chenglei, expressionless, lifted the pallet of lamb onto the tractor. He then lifted the iron cart and placed it on the tractor as well. He found two stones by the roadside and wedged them under the cart's wheels to secure it, then washed his hands.
He told Wen Wan, "Remember to hold the cart when we get there."
His voice was cold, with a hint of "keep your distance."
With that, he returned to the driver's seat.
Wen Wan felt Zhou Chenglei's demeanor grow even colder and responded meekly.
She felt a bit wronged. Wasn't it normal to accidentally touch someone? It wasn't like she did it on purpose!
Wen Wan thought back to the dream she had last night, where he saved her from being swept away by the waves.
In the dream, she was drowning in the ocean, convinced she was going to die. He had bravely plunged into the sea and pulled her into his arms.
The scene felt very real, especially after the typhoon. She believed it was a sign, and by then, Jiang Xia would have divorced him.
The typhoon was coming soon! With this thought, Wen Wan climbed onto the tractor with a smile.
The tractor's cargo bed was high, and she was wearing a dress, making her climb a bit awkward. Both Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia turned to watch her.
Her face turned a deep shade of red.
Zhou Chenglei glanced at her and then turned away.
Wen Wan looked at Jiang Xia, feeling like Jiang Xia was laughing at her.
Earlier, when Jiang Xia got off the tractor, Zhou Chenglei had helped her. When she climbed onto the low driver's platform, he had even shielded her head with his hand.
In comparison, she felt especially unloved.
But such a good man wouldn't be cherished by Jiang Xia for long. Eventually, he would be hers.
Blushing, she said to Zhou Chenglei, "Big Brother Zhou, I'm ready."
Zhou Chenglei didn’t respond to her. Instead, he turned to Jiang Xia and said, “Sit tight, I’m starting the tractor.”
Jiang Xia, who had been looking back, turned around and settled in. “Alright, let’s go!”
The tractor rumbled along the bumpy dirt road, jolting and swaying.
Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei sat side by side, and the rough terrain sometimes caused their shoulders to bump into each other. Jiang Xia subtly shifted her seat a bit outward, fearing she might accidentally fall off.
She tightly gripped the handle above her head to keep herself steady.
Zhou Chenglei, worried about her falling or getting motion sickness, said, “Sit closer, be careful you don’t fall off.”
Jiang Xia didn’t move. “I’m fine, I’ve got a good grip.”
The tractor had no enclosed cabin, and Wen Wan, sitting in the back, could see the subtle closeness between the two. She felt a bit uncomfortable and wanted to break the tension.
She called out with a smile, “Sister Jiang Xia, you must be used to riding in cars, right? And being from the city, you’re probably not used to tractors, huh?”
She knew Jiang Xia took pride in being from the city and looked down on rural people.
Jiang Xia countered, “Does every household in the village have a tractor?”
Wen Wan: “Of course not. Only one family and the village committee have one.”
Jiang Xia: “Exactly.”
Wen Wan: “...”
Exactly what? Wen Wan was confused. Suddenly, it hit her—Jiang Xia meant that since not every household in the village had a tractor, it wasn’t just city people who were unaccustomed to them; village people were also unaccustomed.
Wen Wan didn’t want to talk to Jiang Xia anymore. She found her way of speaking indirect and sarcastic. She hated the way city people acted superior.
In her past life, she had a roommate in the city who was from the local area. This person was so condescending, looking down on her for being from the countryside.
Jiang Xia seemed to be the same type of person.
Bah, if she looked down on the countryside, why didn’t she just go back to the city?
Wen Wan decided to talk to Zhou Chenglei instead, asking tentatively, “Brother Zhou, are you going to the market or somewhere else?”
Wen Wan was sitting behind Zhou Chenglei and knew he was partially deaf. She leaned closer to the low barrier between them to speak to him.
Zhou Chenglei, who had been leaning against the barrier, straightened up and moved away, responding with a faint “Hmm.”
Hmm? What did that mean? Was he going to the market? Wen Wan asked again, “What do you plan to buy? I often sell mutton at the market, so I know which vendors have the best prices and quality.”
“Buy things.”
Wen Wan: “...”
“Brother Zhou, is your house fixed yet?”
“Hmm.”
“I heard a typhoon might come in a few days. The wind and waves will be strong, so remember to secure your boat and don’t go out to sea.”
“Hmm.”
“Brother Zhou, what time do you usually go out to sea?”
“...”
“Brother Zhou, what time do you usually come back? Do you hire someone to clean the fish? I need to earn some money for school fees.”
“No need to hire.”
“That’s fine. Just remember to call me when you need someone. I’m very good at cleaning fish.”
“Brother Zhou...”
...
Wen Wan kept chattering away.
Zhou Chenglei, a man of few words, had never found the trip to town so long!
He regretted bringing her along. Why couldn’t she sit quietly like Jiang Xia?
Finally, Zhou Chenglei couldn’t take it anymore and blurted out, “You’re so noisy!”
Wen Wan: “...”
(End of Chapter)
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