Chapter 1057: Sharing Blessings and Hardships Together

The weather was so cold that after He Jinxuan settled everyone in, he went out by himself.

Not long after, he returned with a steaming bowl of noodles: "Xinyan, quickly, have something warm."

Xinyan had originally thought of having some snacks from her bag: "Where did this come from?"

He Jinxuan handed the bowl to her with a smile: "I found the kitchen chef in the inn’s backyard."

A warm feeling surged into Xinyan’s heart: "Did they give you a hard time?"

He Jinxuan raised his hand to gently rub the top of Xinyan’s head: "No, the kitchen chef is nice. I didn’t make him busy for nothing; I gave him a pack of cigarettes."

Xinyan looked up at him: "What about yours?"

Only then did He Jinxuan remember: "Mine’s still in the backyard kitchen. I’ll go get it now. You go ahead and eat; don’t wait for me."

Xinyan watched him leave: "Hurry up, I’m waiting for you, so we can eat together."

He Jinxuan wasn’t good at expressing himself and mostly showed his feelings through actions. Hearing Xinyan call out to him filled him with joy.

Not long after, He Jinxuan returned. The two sat facing each other. Xinyan looked at the noodles in her bowl: "Jinxuan, I can’t finish this much. I’ll give you some."

He Jinxuan laughed: "The bowl looks big, but it doesn’t hold much. You eat first. Leave the rest for me."

Xinyan felt a bit embarrassed but agreed anyway. The two of them, each with a bowl of noodles, sat facing each other. It almost felt like dining in a fancy restaurant.

Halfway through eating, Xinyan picked up a bite to find two hidden eggs underneath. She looked up at He Jinxuan’s bowl: "Where are your eggs?"

He Jinxuan mumbled: "I’ve already eaten them."

Xinyan thought he was lying: "Hand over your bowl."

She said as she was about to pick up an egg to put into his bowl.

He Jinxuan hurriedly stopped her: "Don’t give it to me. You eat more."

Xinyan pretended to pout: "What, you find it distasteful?"

He Jinxuan didn’t dare say more and could only comply: "Alright, I give up."

Then they both smiled at each other, and Xinyan said: "This is called ’Sharing blessings and enduring hardships together.’"

The next day, the two of them bought a lot of New Year’s goods in the county before taking the bus back to Malan Town.

Unexpectedly, they met the Su family’s youngest son, who lived next to Granny Zhang, on the bus: "Hey, Xinyan, are you bringing your boyfriend back to see Granny Zhang?"

Xinyan greeted him with a smile: "Yes, it’s a holiday, so I came back to see Granny Zhang."

The Su family’s youngest son couldn’t stop talking about Granny Zhang: "Now my Aunt Zhang is living such a good life, I envy her. A few of the elderly are gardening together, harvesting crops, drying vegetables, making soy paste. When winter comes, they gather to gossip. Life is so pleasant."

Xinyan laughed, realizing that Granny Zhang, along with her grandparents, were all living quite happily.

When they got off the bus, they saw Uncle Shanzi already waiting there. Xinyan waved: "Uncle Shanzi, how did you know we’d be on this bus?"

Zhang Yueshan looked at the young girl: "Granny Zhang sent me out early in the morning to pick you up. This is my second trip."

Xinyan burst into laughter: "With Granny Zhang’s personality, it’s entirely possible."

Zhang Yueshan saw her laughing happily: "What do you mean possible? It’s a fact right in front of you, and you’re still laughing."

Zhang Yueshan saw the items they had bought: "How much have you guys bought? I’ve prepared quite a bit myself. Let alone New Year, I doubt we’ll finish all of this by the 15th."

Xinyan looked at the stuff on the ground: "I just thought, since it often snows here, it’s better to stock up more, so you don’t have to keep running out."

Zhang Yueshan didn’t know what to say: "Alright then, no arguing with you. Luckily, I brought a cart, or else it would’ve taken several trips."

The Su family’s youngest son also chimed in, coming over: "Great timing, I can hitch a ride on the cart too."

He said, unabashedly placing several bags he was carrying onto the cart.

Before they reached the front door, Granny Zhang’s laughter was already audible: "Yanyan, Jinxuan, oh my, Uncle Shanzi finally brought you over."

Seeing that someone was about to come out to greet them, Xinyan quickly stopped them: "You just stand right there, we’re coming over now."