After finishing all that, it was time for the afternoon's work.
To avoid upsetting her mother and causing the whole family discomfort with her usual complaints, Peng Fei went out to the fields without eating.
Zhan Jingchun felt groggy. After eating, she fell asleep again. When she woke up, Fangfang was bringing her dinner.
This time, it wasn't chicken soup, but a large bowl of white rice with chicken.
The chicken was cooked until it was soft, drizzled with sesame oil, and sprinkled with chopped scallions. It was fragrant and looked appealing, truly delightful.
Zhan Jingchun sat up to take the bowl. It was a bit hot, and Fangfang saw her slender, fair hand flinch. She quickly said in a small voice,
"I'm not afraid of the heat. I'll hold it for you, and you can eat."
This was the first time Zhan Jingchun had looked at her closely.
Her eyes were like apricots, round and large. Because she was young, they held a clear light, appearing very lively.
Her nose was very similar to her brother's, with a delicate, small tip and a high bridge. Paired with that small, thin mouth, she was truly beautiful.
It was a pity that she was born into this family. Exposed to the elements daily, her skin was already sallow and rough at such a young age, just like her hair. At first glance, she looked like a malnourished, yellow-haired girl.
Her hands, though small, were also very rough, even calloused on the palms, which was why she wasn't afraid of the heat.
Seeing her say this so sincerely, Zhan Jingchun felt a bit like she was bullying her.
Even though she hated her brother and her mother, it had nothing to do with the child.
"No need. Help me find something to prop it up with, I can manage myself. You go eat yours."
Fangfang glanced at the chicken, trying her best to suppress her craving.
"I'll eat later, it's fine. I'll hold it for you."
The Zhan family had always respected people and advocated for democracy; they didn't have a habit of ordering others around. Zhan Jingchun was not used to Fangfang being like this.
"Really, no need. I said I can do it myself."
Fangfang then explained with some embarrassment, "My brother gave me an order, saying I shouldn't let you not eat properly. Sister-in-law, please let me stay until you've finished eating."
Zhan Jingchun: "...Where did your brother go?"
Fangfang: "Third Aunt's old sow is having piglets. Third Uncle is old, and Brother Ergen is simple-minded. He went to help."
"..."
To allow Fangfang to complete her task smoothly, Zhan Jingchun had no choice but to eat with her holding the bowl.
The taste was very good. After eating a piece of chicken, she picked out a piece for Fangfang.
"You must be hungry after a day at school. You eat too."
Fangfang shyly turned her head aside, pursing her lips, "I won't eat. You eat."
Zhan Jingchun suddenly remembered she hadn't brushed her teeth properly in a long time and awkwardly withdrew her hand.
"Are you disgusted with me?"
Fangfang looked bewildered, "Huh?"
"I'm too dirty... It's all your brother's fault for being stingy and not even willing to buy me a toothbrush."
"..." Terrified, she shook her head, "No, no, I'm not disgusted with you..."
"You're not dirty at all. You're cleaner and prettier than our teacher... Sister-in-law, you're the most beautiful person I've ever seen in my life."
Zhan Jingchun: "..."
For a moment, she didn't know whether to be happy.
She ate the piece of chicken herself and then asked Fangfang,
"Did you eat at school at noon? I didn't see you come back. What do you eat at school?"
Fangfang was a bit embarrassed to say, their meals were too poor.
She smiled shyly, "I'm not hungry anyway. You're not well, so this is all yours."
All hers, what did that mean? Were they not eating?
"This was made just for me? You guys aren't eating?"
Fangfang was silent for two seconds, then nodded.
"The family only raised 20 chicks this year, and 15 survived. They're usually for laying eggs. We only slaughter two at the end of the year. But now that you're here, my brother said you're not well, so he killed a few for you to eat."
"I'm not hungry. I'm perfectly healthy, I don't need it."
Zhan Jingchun hadn't expected that a mere chicken could be so important in a poor family. She felt ashamed of herself for potentially fighting over food with a child.
"Then what about your brother? He's not eating either?"
"My brother is healthier, he needs it even less. We're having noodles for dinner tonight."
Noodles again.
"Do you eat noodles every night?"
"Basically, yes."
"Without meat or eggs?"
Fangfang shook her head, "The family only has one pig, and we're counting on selling it for money at the end of the year, so we can't slaughter it. Therefore, we don't eat meat normally."
"Ah? Don't you go shopping normally? Don't you buy some meat when you go shopping?"
"Shopping?" Fangfang blinked her big eyes, "What does that mean?"
"Like going to a big mall, or a wet market..."
"Oh, you mean going to the market. Our market is very far away. We only go once in a long while to buy necessary things. We rarely buy meat unless it's a special occasion."
What Fangfang said made Zhan Jingchun feel even more embarrassed to eat.
But on second thought, why shouldn't she eat?
Their hardship wasn't caused by her.
Once she felt pity for them, there was no way she could leave. She didn't want to stay in this godforsaken place forever, marry him, have children, and have them end up like Fangfang.
But she still felt sorry for Fangfang. Zhan Jingchun ate half and left the other half, pretending she was full.
"I can't eat anymore. You take this and eat it."
Fangfang sensibly shook her head, "If I can't eat it, I'll take it back for you. We can heat it up tomorrow. I'm not eating it anyway."
"Are you afraid your mother will scold you?"
Fangfang pursed her lips and didn't speak again.
Just then, Peng's mother called her from outside.
"It takes so long to eat a meal? Not done yet? The noodles are cooked, hurry up!"
Fangfang seemed to have been caught by her pigtails and quickly stood up.
"I'll leave once you're full. I'll bring you water after I finish eating. You just lie down."
Zhan Jingchun lay on the bed, looking at the dilapidated ceiling, and inevitably thought of her family again.
What were Mommy and Daddy doing now? Were they anxiously looking for her?
What about her boyfriend? Was he going crazy with worry too?
She dared not think about these things. The moment she did, her heart ached as if it were being squeezed, and tears flowed uncontrollably.
After a long period of grogginess, Peng Fei's voice finally came from the yard.
After greeting his mother, he pushed open the door and entered the room.
In the dim light, Zhan Jingchun could see large drops of sweat on his arms and face.
His clothes looked as if they had been washed with water, clinging to his chest and back. His entire body smelled faintly of sweat, but inexplicably, he exuded a powerful aura.
Peng Fei wiped his forehead with his rough hand and asked Zhan Jingchun,
"Did you eat dinner? What did they make for you? Are you full?"
"How are you feeling today? Did you go to the toilet? Is your urine still yellow? Did Fangfang empty it for you?"
As he spoke, he looked into the basin. Seeing it empty, he couldn't help but frown.
"Was it emptied, or did you not go at all? Why do you always like to hold it in? It's bad for you if you do it for too long. I'll go boil some hot water for you."
She didn't know if he had eaten. She could tell he was very busy and had rushed back without stopping.
Looking at him like this, Zhan Jingchun felt a mix of emotions.
How could there be such a person in the world who made you hate them while also unable to help but pity them?