The dinner left for him was on the stove, and Fang Fang was helping to boil medicine.
Peng Fei downed the noodles in a few gulps and went to the yard to wash up.
After rinsing off with two basins of cold water, he changed into a clean undershirt and shorts, and brought hot water to Zhan Jingchun.
Zhan Jingchun knew she had been drinking too little water lately, which was bad for her health, so she didn't refuse and drank from his hand.
The two sat facing each other, very close. Seeing his lips were dry and chapped, and his fingers were large and rough, she couldn't help but ask him.
"Have you eaten?"
She actually cared about him.
Peng Fei smiled, revealing a row of white teeth.
"Yes, they saved food for me."
"Noodles?"
"Mm. Fang Fang said you only ate half a bowl. Are you full?"
He was a man who worked all day, and only drank one bowl of noodles. She was lying down doing nothing, how could half a bowl of rice not be enough?
Zhan Jingchun silently sighed in her heart, "I'm full."
"What are you doing this for? I can really give you a lot of money, enough for you to buy a house in the city and start a small business. You don't have to live so hard."
"Really, Peng Fei, as long as you let me go..."
When it came to this, Peng Fei fell silent again.
Just then, Fang Fang brought the medicine over.
It was too hot, so Peng Fei helped hold the bowl, blowing on it slowly. Seeing their unhappy expressions, Fang Fang识趣ly said she would go do her homework.
The whole yard was quiet, with only the sounds of frogs and cicadas chirping outside the window.
After a few minutes, the two were still silent, and Fang Fang timidly walked over with her homework.
"Brother, I don't understand this problem."
Peng Fei held the medicine bowl in one hand and took her notebook with the other.
He glanced at the problem and began to explain fluently.
Zhan Jingchun was surprised to find that he had been educated and could even write word problems! How could he be so ignorant?
"Fang Fang, what grade are you in?"
Fang Fang said fourth grade.
It seemed Peng Fei had gone further than her.
"Did you go to school too?"
Fang Fang liked talking to her sister-in-law and quickly answered.
"Yes. My brother went all the way to high school. He was a good student and got into the key high school in the county town, but unfortunately, Dad got sick later..."
He could get into a key high school?
Zhan Jingchun wanted to ask more, but Peng Fei seemed unwilling to bring it up and interrupted.
"Okay, you can drink it now. Hold it yourself and drink slowly."
Fang Fang识趣ly left again.
The two had no more topics of conversation and just sat there drinking. After a while, Peng Fei said hesitantly.
"I know our family is poor and I'm not good enough for you. But you're already here, and we've already... Can you please stop thinking about leaving?"
"I promise I'll treat you well and won't let you work. If you don't want to go out in the sun, you can stay home all day. I'll cook, and you just need to watch the child."
"I'll farm well, and I'll buy you a TV, a refrigerator, and a washing machine in the future."
Perhaps to him, this was a great goal, a sincere promise.
But to Zhan Jingchun, it was a complete joke.
He had to work his hardest to earn a mere TV and refrigerator. What was the point of having a child?
To suffer with them, to not see the world, and to repeat the same mistakes in the future?
Of course, she had become smarter. Knowing he didn't like to hear it, she didn't argue with him on this topic.
She planned to use a gentle approach, take care of her health first, then slowly familiarize herself with the surroundings, and she would always find a way to leave.
"Who says I don't like the sun? I love the sun the most. Don't you know that people's resistance weakens if they don't get enough sun? Drinking more medicine is useless."
Peng Fei understood this. Seeing that she liked the sun, he sincerely promised.
"As long as you don't think about leaving, I won't lock you up. You can go out in the sun, you can do whatever you want."
"Really?"
"Of course. In a couple of days, a friend's child is having a full moon celebration, and there will be a banquet in the village. If you like, I can take you."
Zhan Jingchun felt as if she had been given a shot of adrenaline.
A banquet in the village, wouldn't that mean many people would gather? It would be noisy?
For her, wouldn't that be a good opportunity?
She pretended to smile gently and sweetly at Peng Fei.
"That's great. I quite like eating at banquets. It's a deal, I'll go with you then."
It was as if they had made vows of eternal love. That night, Peng Fei was extremely happy, snuggling up to her tightly like a warm furnace.
Although they didn't do anything, she could feel his immense happiness.
Zhan Jingchun endured the urge to push him away, lay down obediently, and the night passed without incident.
The next morning, Peng Fei discussed with his mother about going to the market.
The family hadn't bought anything for several months, and they needed to stock up on laundry detergent, oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar.
Plus, Zhan Jingchun had no clean clothes, and it wasn't good to continue like this, so his mother approved.
Peng Fei happily ran into the room to ask her what she wanted. Zhan Jingchun didn't hold back.
Her beautiful hair, which had been well-maintained since childhood, was being washed with laundry detergent at their home, and she couldn't stand it anymore.
Shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, body wash, body lotion, facial cream – she listed a lot of items.
Peng Fei frowned slightly at these unfamiliar names, calculating the money in his mind, but he still didn't object.
"Okay, I'll be back early. If you're thirsty or hungry, tell Mom. I'm leaving."
He was gone for the whole day. During the day, only Peng Mama and Zhan Jingchun were there.
The two had nothing to say. Peng Mama cooked noodles for her with the leftover chicken soup from yesterday and boiled medicine. After putting it down, she went out.
Zhan Jingchun enjoyed the peace and quiet, feeling a bit like a child eagerly awaiting New Year's, waiting for Peng Fei to return with gifts for her.
As the sun set, he finally returned.
Peng Fei first spoke with his mother and was scolded by her. Then he came back to the room with a bag, his face full of smiles.
Although Zhan Jingchun's list had been discounted, he had bought everything.
The clothes were a common set for young women in the market: a pink t-shirt and denim shorts.
A one-yuan bag of baby cream for her face.
A nine-yuan-and-nine-cent bottle of a generic body lotion, an unnamed shampoo, a pink toothbrush, and even a pink hair tie with two cherries hanging from it.
Peng Fei, like a child seeking praise, eagerly waited for her to compliment him.
Zhan Jingchun, however, thought with disdain, with their living conditions, how dare he promise to buy her a refrigerator, TV, and washing machine?
The total cost was less than 50 yuan, and he was also scolded by his mother.
Sigh!
After eating three chickens and drinking two doses of Chinese medicine, Zhan Jingchun's complexion finally recovered, and she had the strength to get out of bed and move around.
Tomorrow was Sunday, and Fang Fang was very happy. She could also go to the banquet.
Listening to them discuss the banquet, Zhan Jingchun's heart pounded.
She was both excited for tomorrow and filled with worry.
After dinner, lying in bed in a daze, Peng Fei came over early.
He blew out the light, lay down beside her, and his hand began to wander to places it shouldn't.