Qi Chengyan wasn't much of a cook, so he could only watch from the side.
Cheng You's small body seemed to contain endless energy, running back and forth without a hint of fatigue.
Besides the pigeon, she also stir-fried a plate of cured meat, scrambled eggs with chives, and a cold dish.
As she brought out the last dish, a strand of hair fell down, lightly brushing her delicate jawline.
Qi Chengyan's hand moved as if it had a mind of its own, and he raised it, tucking her hair behind her ear.
Cheng You came back to her senses, her ear tips turning bright red.
The ear he had touched felt like it was on fire.
Qi Chengyan realized what he had done, coughed lightly, and explained in a low voice, "It was about to fall into the food."
His hand, resting on his thigh, gently rubbed, as if savoring the soft touch just now.
He had lived a life of simple desires for so many years, yet this was the first time his thoughts had been so chaotic.
The more he tried to control his wandering thoughts, the more he found himself unable to stop thinking about them.
In the past, if such thoughts entered his mind, he would have slapped himself.
"Grandma, this soup is nourishing. It's not hot now, please try it."
Old Mrs. Li had suffered from heatstroke some time ago and hadn't eaten much since, her body remaining in a very weak state.
If it weren't for Cheng You's hawthorn, and if she continued to refuse to eat, Uncle Li said that Old Mrs. Li would have been on her last legs, and it wouldn't have been an exaggeration.
The staple food was the flatbread Cheng You had made today. A bite of meat, a sip of soup, and then a bite of the flatbread – it was pure bliss.
Qi Chengyan sat opposite Cheng You.
She ate with great regularity, taking a bite of meat or vegetables first, chewing and swallowing slowly, then sipping some soup, and finally eating the flatbread.
This cycle repeated, and she ate very slowly, like a little squirrel, her mouth puffing out adorably.
It seemed that just watching her eat made his own appetite improve.
After everyone had eaten their fill, Old Mrs. Li returned to her room as usual, and Qi Chengyan volunteered to help clear the dishes.
Uncle Li took out some tea from inside and brewed a pot, then sat in the courtyard, leisurely sipping it.
With Qi Chengyan washing the dishes, Cheng You was free and relaxed. She poured herself a cup of tea, its fragrance filling the air.
"My family doesn't really drink tea, we don't even have any. Uncle, this tea you have here smells really good."
"This is actually home-roasted. They gave me a bag. If you like it, I can pack some for you to take back."
Cheng You naturally shook her head. If she really took it home, no one would care for it.
If anyone truly cared, then this tea wouldn't be hers anymore.
The courtyard was quiet, with Uncle Li and Cheng You exchanging a few words occasionally.
Qi Chengyan sat under the eaves, watching the girl's figure in the courtyard.
Her voice was soft and sweet, pleasant to listen to.
Soon, an angry shout shattered the peace.
"Cheng You, get out here!"
It was Cheng Tianhua who had arrived.
Even so, Cheng You didn't feel scared. She calmly put down her teacup.
"Dad, this isn't home. Shouting like this isn't very appropriate, is it?"
As soon as Cheng Tianhua stepped inside, he saw Uncle Li.
His expression froze. He was too angry and momentarily forgot that they were outside.
"You're coming home with me right now!"
Uncle Li squinted at him, "What, I can't have a chat and a cup of tea with the girl?"
Cheng Tianhua smiled, "Uncle Li, it's not that you can't. It's just that I arranged for this girl to go work in the fields, and she's here slacking off with you. It's simply unacceptable!"
"Slacking off? Who said Cheng You is slacking off with me? She's here to help me!"
Cheng Tianhua didn't take it to heart. He didn't believe Cheng You could help.
She couldn't even manage the farm work properly, let alone help Uncle Li.
"Uncle Li, you don't need to be polite to me. I know what kind of person Cheng You is better than anyone!"
With that, he glared at Cheng You, "I told you to go work in the fields, and you're slacking off! Not only are you slacking off, but you're also hanging out with that educated youth from the youth point. Haven't I told you not to associate with people from the youth point anymore!"
Qi Chengyan, who was sitting under the eaves, raised an eyebrow and glanced at him, "Captain Cheng is talking about me?"
His calm, unwavering tone exuded an overwhelming sense of pressure.
He had been careless and hadn't noticed his presence.
Uncle Li snorted, "Chengyan is my guest. I invited him to dinner. Is there a problem?"
Cheng Tianhua quickly replied, "Of course, there's no problem."
"Then why do you look like you're catching someone in the act? Are you saying that from now on, wherever Chengyan is, Cheng You can't go, and if she does, it's infidelity?"
Cheng Tianhua cursed inwardly, wishing Cheng Tao hadn't gathered such incomplete information before speaking to him.
"Uncle Li, of course not! It's just that Cheng You is eighteen years old, and she has a marriage engagement. I naturally need to pay more attention."
Uncle Li scoffed, "Your so-called attention is to rush to smear her reputation? First Zhao Yunlin came, then you. What do you think this place is, some sort of dirty den? Cheng You is working with me, and she needs to be guarded against like this? Should you represent the entire Wujing Village and drive me out?"
Cheng Tianhua quickly apologized, "Uncle Li, what are you saying? I'm just anxious, but I would never think that way."
He then changed his mind and asked, "Did Yunlin come over today too?"
"Indeed, he kept saying he liked Cheng Tao more and wanted to marry Cheng Tao. I never thought that you, a production team leader, would let him choose between your two daughters. Anyone who didn't know would think you were begging for something, eagerly offering your daughters."
Cheng Tianhua's face changed drastically, "Did he really say that?"
Cheng You snorted, "He also said that Cheng Tao is a hundred times better than me. I don't know if these two have dated before, otherwise how would they know each other so well? Dad, I'm not set on marrying into the Zhao family. If my sister likes him, she could have just told me directly. I wouldn't fight with her."
Cheng Tianhua's face turned dark, as if it were about to drip with water.
The idea of the elder sister marrying in place of the younger sister was utterly preposterous!
He still had his pride!
"What nonsense are you talking about? Your marriage was decided when your mother was still alive, and it cannot be changed! Don't take Zhao Yunlin's words to heart. Your sister is kind and simple; she would absolutely not snatch your marriage."
Cheng You chuckled lightly. Clearly, Cheng Tianhua didn't understand her, nor did he understand Cheng Tao.
The idea of Cheng Tao being simple and kind was laughable.
"If Dad says so, then I'm naturally relieved." Cheng You smiled sweetly, her dimples like bowls of honey.
Cheng Tianhua turned and left, his back radiating anger. It was unclear who he would take it out on when he got back.
Was it Song Yulian? Or Cheng Tao?
Cheng You covered her mouth and laughed, looking very happy.
Qi Chengyan's eyes swept over her with a deep gaze, then he got up to leave.
Seeing this, Cheng You also followed.
"Uncle Li, I'll come back tomorrow."
Saying this, she and Qi Chengyan left the door one after the other.
"Educated Youth Qi, wait for me! It's a bit dark, I can't see the road clearly."
Cheng You whined playfully, her voice soft and alluring, piercing his heart.