Cheng You returned home with wild wood ear mushrooms, earning her a rare flicker of approval from Cheng Tianhua.
During dinner, Cheng Tianhua specifically asked about Zhao Yunlin. "Didn't he ask you to go to the movies? Remember to wear something nice."
Cheng You lowered her gaze, not wanting to engage with his words.
However, she didn't have the leverage to openly defy Cheng Tianhua yet.
"Yes, he asked me to the movies this afternoon." Though she had no intention of going.
Cheng Tianhua grunted, a look of satisfaction appearing on his face.
Seeing Cheng Tao's expression drastically change, Song Yulian gently patted her hand, urging her to be patient.
Having eaten meat on the mountain, Cheng You's stomach was full, and she had no appetite for these wild vegetable buns.
After a few perfunctory bites, and not wanting to stay any longer to face them, she declared, "I'm full."
Then she got up and returned to her room.
Song Yulian looked displeased. "Cheng You is getting lazier and lazier."
Not cooking was one thing, but she didn't even wash the dishes.
Cheng Tianhua, however, surprisingly spoke up, "Cheng You went up the mountain to gather pig feed, she must be tired."
Song Yulian's face stiffened. "Why would she go up the mountain to gather pig feed out of the blue? Does the family lack her few work points?"
Cheng Tianhua didn't respond, as he himself disagreed with Cheng You earning work points.
The only value this daughter held in his eyes was her looks.
"I went to inquire at the old Zhao family's place today. Wang Hongxia's intention is for Cheng You to go over these next few days and get acquainted with the old Zhao family."
Song Yulian was eager to see Cheng You tormented by Wang Hongxia.
Cheng Tianhua naturally had no objections, as he was the one now eager to marry off his daughter.
"You have time to manage Wen Yu. He's thirteen and never home. Now he won't even come back for meals!"
Song Yulian smiled and agreed.
After finishing her meal, Cheng Tao secretly went to knock on Cheng You's door.
"Cheng You, are you resting?"
"No."
But Cheng Tao waited for a while, and the door didn't open.
She could only say softly at the door, "Are you going to the movies this afternoon?"
Cheng You, lying on the bed, raised her eyebrows.
"Who cares about a movie? I'm not some country bumpkin who's never seen the world."
Cheng Tao: "..."
She suspected Cheng You was subtly insulting her.
Cheng Tao bit her lip, suppressing the anger in her chest. "So, you're not going this afternoon, are you?"
"Not going."
Having received her answer, Cheng Tao breathed a sigh of relief.
She had already prepared her clothes. If Cheng You had changed her mind at the last minute, she would have been furious.
Cheng You looked at the small pool of clear spring water in her mind. She had used a lot to recover her body. Today, when making the wild chicken, she had surreptitiously added two drops, and now there was very little left.
She felt a pang of melancholy. Was this a one-time thing? Was there no way for it to replenish?
Lying on the bed, she drifted off to sleep.
After a good sleep, she only then remembered that she also had to go gather pig feed in the afternoon.
As soon as she walked out of the room, she saw Cheng Wenyu in the courtyard.
The two exchanged glances, with nothing to say to each other.
After walking a few steps, Cheng You suddenly raised her eyebrows, looked at him, and her voice softened, "Cheng Wenyu, can I ask you a favor?"
Cheng Wenyu looked surprised and stiffly turned his head.
It was strange that Cheng You was speaking to him in such a tone.
He gruffly asked, "What is it?"
"I heard Zhao Yunlin was going to the county town to watch a movie, but he didn't actually ask me. I think he's going with another girl."
Upon hearing this, a childish anger flared on Cheng Wenyu's face.
No matter what, Cheng You was his older sister, and of course, he sided with his own sister.
"If he dares to mess around, I'll beat him to death! I'll go find him right now!"
Cheng You hadn't expected him to be so easily provoked and quickly stopped him. "Dad wants me to marry Zhao Yunlin. You know his temper, right? If I mess up this marriage, he'll definitely scold me! Just help me follow him secretly and see who he's going to the movies with."
Cheng Wenyu frowned. "And then?"
"Then I'll talk to that young lady and handle it privately."
Cheng Wenyu felt a bit reluctant, thinking Cheng You was too cowardly.
Then he thought of Cheng Tianhua and suppressed his reluctance.
"Alright then, I'll go and see for you."
Cheng You nervously reminded him, "Just follow from a distance, don't disturb them."
"Got it." Coward.
Cheng Wenyu sneered. If he caught Zhao Yunlin watching a movie with another woman, that guy would be finished!
Watching him walk out, Cheng You turned and went into the kitchen, rummaging through the cabinets until she found white sugar.
She had promised to make candied hawthorns, and now she could make some and take them to San Leng.
Candied hawthorns were simple to make. Jiang Qing had made them for Cheng You several times when she was alive, so Cheng You had already learned.
Coated with sweet frosting, a bite revealed the sourness of the hawthorn, mingling with the sweetness. This sweet and sour taste made one's mouth water.
However, in this hot weather, the sugar melted easily, so she didn't dare to make too much at once.
It was enough to make some to taste.
She remembered San Leng saying that Sixth Aunt hadn't had much of an appetite lately, so she decided to send some over for Sixth Aunt to try.
Upon reaching the door, Sixth Aunt's face clearly showed surprise when she saw her.
"It's Cheng You, why are you here?"
Cheng You walked in with a smile and put down the candied hawthorns.
She had wrapped them in oiled paper, so they didn't look like much.
"Sixth Grandmother, San Leng and I picked some hawthorns this morning. He said you haven't had much of an appetite lately, so I brought some for you to try."
Before Sixth Aunt could say anything, she patted the basket on her back. "Making this took some time, I need to go up the mountain to gather pig feed."
"Oh, hurry along then."
Seeing Cheng You leave, Sixth Aunt chided Cheng Xianjing, who was standing nearby.
"She was delayed making this, and she even specially brought it to us, yet you were just saying she's afraid of hardship and wouldn't go."
Sixth Aunt felt proud. She knew she wouldn't misjudge someone.
Just because someone looked good didn't mean they were necessarily delicate.
She picked up the oiled paper and opened it.
"My, this must have used a lot of sugar."
Cheng Xianjing reached out to take it, but she slapped his hand away.
She glared at him. "Your old mother hasn't eaten yet."
Cheng Xianjing chuckled and said, "Mother, eat quickly. It looks pretty good. I didn't expect that little girl to know how to make this."
Sixth Aunt then picked up a hawthorn and took a bite.
Her expression was one of surprise. It was indeed appetizing, with its sweet and sour taste.
She ate one, then another, unable to stop.
Only after eating three in a row did Cheng Xianjing stop her. "Mother, at least leave some for me."
Sixth Aunt, still not quite satisfied, handed him the oiled paper.
"You try it."
As soon as Cheng Xianjing popped a hawthorn into his mouth, he saw Uncle Li walk in from outside, looking worried.
Sixth Aunt asked, "Little Li, what's wrong?"
"Auntie, are you selling your chickens? I'll exchange them for something." Uncle Li asked.