Cheng You watched his hurried retreating figure. After hesitating for a moment, she ultimately did not speak, opened the door, and went inside.
She had already told Cheng Wenyu that she would be back late today, urging him to go to sleep early after finishing his book.
To her surprise, she found him still awake when she entered.
"Why aren't you asleep yet? Aren't you cold?"
There wasn't much good about Sixth Aunt's old house, except for one thing: it had a heated brick bed.
Once the brick bed was heated, the entire room became warm.
It just consumed a lot of firewood. As soon as the weather cleared tomorrow, she would have to go to the mountain to gather more.
Seeing her return, Cheng Wenyu quickly poured her a cup of hot water.
"I'll sleep after you're back."
Cheng You took off her gloves and took a few sips of the hot water.
"Go to sleep quickly."
Cheng Wenyu tidied up his textbooks and turned to go into his room.
The weather was so cold that Cheng You decided against taking a bath, opting to pour a basin of hot water to wash her body and hands and feet.
As she lay in bed, she couldn't help but think of Qi Chengyan again.
He had told her, "I like you."
How could such a statement not stir one's heart?
It stirred her so much that even Cheng You found herself wavering.
After being out in the cold for a while, she finally cleared her head.
The more touching the words, the more poisonous they were, and the more painful they would sting.
Just like Qi Chengyan. She had seen him, pursued him with all her might, only to end up with a heart-wrenching pain.
Having experienced that feeling once was enough. She had to be clear-headed and not fall into the same trap again.
She slept soundly without dreams until dawn.
The snow outside had stopped, and the sun shone through the window.
Cheng You struggled to get out of the quilt. She still had to go out and clear the snow.
While washing up, she sighed, lamenting who wouldn't want to be a pampered young lady who knew nothing.
At least, when her mother was around, she had never done such things.
After clearing the snow, Cheng Wenyu woke up.
"Sis, didn't you say you'd leave it for me to clear?"
There wasn't much he could do for the family. If he couldn't even manage this small task, he would feel even more guilty.
Cheng You smiled. "We're family. It's all the same whether you do it or I do it."
Cheng Wenyu disliked her saying that. "Since it's all the same, then leave it for me to do!"
"Alright, I'll definitely leave it for you next time. Hurry up and wash up. I'll go in and make breakfast, and we'll go to school after eating."
As Cheng Wenyu brushed his teeth, he said, "I'll go to the mountain to gather firewood after I come back from school. You don't go."
Cheng You glanced at the firewood in the corner. There was enough.
"Okay, I won't go this time, I promise."
After finishing breakfast, Cheng Wenyu reiterated his instructions before leaving, telling her not to go up the mountain.
Only after receiving Cheng You's assurance did he leave.
Cheng You tidied up at home for a while before heading to Uncle Li's house.
The weather was cold, and Uncle Li and Old Mrs. Li also woke up later.
Sometimes Cheng You would arrive early enough to make breakfast for them.
Her shoes crunched on the snow-covered ground.
Stopping at the entrance, she immediately saw a bunch of small yellow flowers placed in the corner.
They stood out vividly against the white snow.
To find such a bunch of fresh flowers in this cold winter would likely require searching all over the mountains and fields.
Cheng You bent down, intending to reach out and touch them.
Her hand hovered in mid-air and then stopped.
After a moment, she retracted her hand and pushed the door open.
By the time Qi Chengyan arrived in the afternoon, the small yellow flowers were still steadily placed at the entrance, untouched by anyone.
At least, she hadn't touched them.
He walked in and took his medicine as usual.
His leg injury had improved after this period.
However, he didn't want it to heal too quickly, otherwise, he wouldn't have an excuse to come back.
"You don't like it," he said, looking at Cheng You.
Cheng You paused in her actions and replied, "I like it."
She disliked the cold winter and always longed for the arrival of spring, when wild flowers would bloom across the mountains and fields.
Who wouldn't love flowers that bloomed in defiance of the cold wind?
Qi Chengyan's gaze fell on the entrance. The small yellow flowers were still there, like abandoned little waifs.
"Qi Chengyan, don't send them anymore. I only want a nominal boyfriend. The way things were before was fine."
He let out a low chuckle, his tongue pressing against his cheek.
"I regret it."
He truly regretted it, the kind of regret that still caused heartache.
Cheng You said softly, "Let's both look forward."
It was also this time that she realized that liking someone wasn't enough to be together.
Before and after liking, there were the words "suitable."
Qi Chengyan didn't respond, looking up at the sky.
He looked forward because she was in front of him.
...
The rumors flew for a while before gradually subsiding.
After a period of time, the village rarely heard any news about Deputy Director Qian.
Cheng You stayed home every day, pretending to be ill, to show everyone how badly Sixth Aunt had bullied her last time.
Wang Hongxia doted on her with good food and drinks while cursing Sixth Aunt, blaming her for almost causing the loss of her grandson.
Cheng Tao felt that while it was comfortable at home, she was somewhat uneasy.
Her pregnancy was fake, and if it were discovered, it would be disastrous. She needed to resolve it as soon as possible.
Later, she heard about a quota for a Worker-Peasant-Soldier university in the brigade, which Cheng Tianhua had submitted.
Cheng Tao set her sights on it.
In fact, it wasn't just her; many people in the village were also eyeing it.
She braved the cold and went out, wanting to have a good talk with Cheng Tianhua to get him to give her the quota.
Cheng Tianhua flatly refused, "Don't even think about it. This quota won't go to anyone in our village."
The educated youths at the youth point all had connections in the city and had exerted considerable effort.
Cheng Tao was somewhat disappointed. "Those educated youths don't have the same intentions as us villagers, Dad. Why are you doing this for them?"
"Precisely because they don't have the same intentions, we want to send them away. You wouldn't understand even if I explained it. Anyway, don't bother with this. Just stay home and rest."
Cheng Tao's expression stiffened. If she were truly pregnant, she wouldn't be this anxious.
"Dad, it's fine if I don't go to the Worker-Peasant-Soldier university. Then arrange a job for me, something that earns work points and money."
Cheng Tianhua scoffed, "Is there such a good thing? Can you arrange one for me?"
If earning money and work points were that easy, everyone would be doing it, and it would be her turn?
Cheng Tao looked at his undisguised sarcasm and felt a surge of anger.
"But I don't know how to do anything, and my mother-in-law always looks down on me. I also want to be like Cheng You, go out and earn money, and be filial to you, Dad."
Ideally, she could avoid Wang Hongxia, and then find an opportunity to abort the "baby."
Song Yulian said, "Why don't you also apprentice yourself, learn from Uncle Li."
Cheng You had only been learning for a short while and was already able to make medicine and earn so much.
She didn't believe Cheng Tao would be worse than Cheng You.
"Mom, we tried last time, and Uncle Li was unwilling."
She refused to warm a cold shoulder.
Song Yulian comforted her, "That was different. Last time it was to help out. This time it's to apprentice. Why can Cheng You, and you can't? You're smarter than her, and you'll definitely learn better than her. Your village only has Uncle Li as a barefoot doctor. This is a stable job. In my opinion, this should be competitive to get."