April 3, 2015, cloudy.
At half past six in the morning, aromas drifted from the single-story houses by the River Dam. Chuchu stood before the gas stove, wearing a floral apron.
Hot oil crackled. She deftly leaned aside to avoid the splattering droplets, taking the chance to look at Jiang Ning, who was drinking tea at the dining table.
Jiang Ning asked, "Almost done?"
"Just the last dish."
There was one more dish than usual this morning. Maybe she had a favor to ask of Jiang Ning.
"You can call Tongtong to eat." Xue Chuchu gently turned the eggs in the pan with her spatula.
"Mm." Jiang Ning stepped out of the kitchen and into the yard. The fields stretched endlessly before him. Next door, Teacher Qian was holding his meal tin and chatting with Uncle Tang, having mooched some of Uncle Tang's pickles as well.
Teacher Qian gave Jiang Ning a few extra looks. Only after Jiang Ning went to Tongtong's house did he say, "Old Tang, have you noticed how diligent that kid Jiang is about going to Hua's place?"
Uncle Tang thought, Isn't that right?
"With a face like that girl Chuchu's, what young man wouldn't like her?"
Zhang Ruyun had pursued her before too, but in the end, it had all come to nothing.
Still, Uncle Tang disliked gossiping. He said, "They're just kids. Isn't it perfectly normal for them to play together?"
Teacher Qian's eyes shifted. "Next time, I'll put in a few words with Hua."
Uncle Tang glanced at him and thought, You really are something, kid.
Jiang Ning heard their conversation clearly, but he did not care much. If Teacher Qian put a little pressure on Hua Fengmei, it would not necessarily be a bad thing.
The ones suffering would be that mother