After finishing all this, it was time for the afternoon work.
To avoid her mother getting angry and complaining, which would upset the whole family, Peng Fei went to the fields without eating.
Zhan Jingchun was groggy, and after eating, she fell asleep again. When she woke up the next time, 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 soft, drizzled with sesame oil, and sprinkled with chopped scallions. It smelled fragrant and looked appealing, truly delightful.
Zhan Jingchun sat up to take the bowl. It was a bit hot, and Fangfang, seeing her delicate, fair hands flinch, quickly whispered.
"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 carefully.
Her eyes were like apricots, round and large. Because she was young, they held a clear light, making her look very spirited.
Her nose was very similar to her brother's, with a delicate and small tip, and a high bridge. Combined with her small, thin lips, she was truly beautiful.
It was a pity that she was born into this family, exposed to the elements every day. At such a young age, her skin was already sallow and rough, like her hair. At first glance, she looked like a typical malnourished, yellow-haired girl.
Her hands, though small, were also rough, with calluses on her palms, which was why she wasn't afraid of the heat.
Seeing her sincerity, 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 get something to prop it up, I'll do it myself. You go eat your own food."
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 the habit of ordering others around. Zhan Jingchun was not used to Fangfang acting this way.
"Really, no need. I said I can do it myself."
Fangfang then explained with embarrassment, "My brother gave me an order, saying I shouldn't let you eat properly if I didn't watch you. Sister-in-law, it's better if I stay until you finish eating."
Zhan Jingchun: "...What was your brother doing himself?"
Fangfang: "Third Aunt's sow was being bred. Third Uncle is old, and Brother Ergen is simple-minded, so he went to help."
"..."
To allow Fangfang to complete her task smoothly, Zhan Jingchun could only eat with her hand holding the bowl.
The taste was very good. After eating a piece of chicken, she picked another 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'm not eating, you eat."
Zhan Jingchun suddenly remembered that she hadn't brushed her teeth properly in a long time, and sheepishly withdrew her hand.
"You're disgusted with me?"
Fangfang looked bewildered, "Ah?"
"I'm too dirty... It's all your brother's fault for being stingy, he wouldn't even buy me a toothbrush."
"..." She shook her head in fright, "No, no, I'm not disgusted with you..."
"You're not dirty at all. You're cleaner and more beautiful than our teacher... Sister-in-law, you are the most beautiful person I have ever seen in my life."
Zhan Jingchun: "..."
For a moment, she didn't know whether to be happy or not.
Eating the piece of chicken herself, Zhan Jingchun asked her.
"Did you eat at school at noon? I didn't see you come back. What do you eat at school?"
Fangfang was a little embarrassed to say, their meals were too poor.
She smiled shyly, "Anyway, I'm not hungry. You're not well, so this is all yours."
All hers, what did that mean? Were none of them eating?
"This was made for me alone? 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 are usually used for laying eggs. We only slaughter two at the end of the year. But now that you're here, brother said you're not well, so he killed a few for you to eat."
"I'm not hungry. I'm very healthy, I don't need it."
Zhan Jingchun did not expect that a chicken could be so highly valued in a poor family. She felt like she was fighting over food with a child.
"Then what about your brother? He's not eating either?"
"My brother is even healthier, he needs it even less. We're eating noodles 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 at the end of the year. We can't possibly slaughter it, so we don't usually eat meat."
"Ah? Don't you go shopping regularly? Don't you buy some meat when you go shopping?"
"Shopping?" Fangfang blinked her big eyes, "What does that mean?"
"It means going to big malls, or vegetable markets..."
"Oh, you mean going to the market. The market is very far from here, and we usually only go once in a while to buy necessary things. We don't cut meat for no reason."
Hearing this made Zhan Jingchun feel even more embarrassed to eat.
But thinking about it carefully, why shouldn't she eat?
Their suffering was not caused by her.
Once she felt pity for them, she knew she could never leave. She didn't want to stay in this godforsaken place forever, marry and have children, and have her children suffer the same fate as Fangfang.
But she still felt sorry for Fangfang, so Zhan Jingchun ate half of it and left the other half, pretending she was full.
"I can't eat anymore, you eat this."
Fangfang wisely shook her head, "If I can't eat it, I'll take it back for you. We can reheat it tomorrow. Anyway, I'm not eating."
"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? Still not done? The noodles are ready, hurry up!"
Fangfang looked like she had been caught by her hair and quickly stood up.
"I'll leave after you're full. I'll bring you water after I finish eating. You lie down."
Zhan Jingchun lay on the bed, looking at the dilapidated ceiling, and couldn't help but think of her family again.
What were Mommy and Daddy doing now? Were they looking for her anxiously?
What about her boyfriend? Was he going crazy with worry?
She dared not think about these things. The thought alone made her heart ache as if being squeezed, and tears flowed uncontrollably.
After being in a daze for a long time, Peng Fei's voice finally came from the courtyard.
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. He smelled of sweat, but inexplicably, there was also a sense of overwhelming hormones.
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 pour it for you?"
As he spoke, he looked into the basin. Seeing that it was empty, he couldn't help but frown.
"Did you pour it, or did you not go at all? Why do you always like to hold it? It will cause problems if you do it for too long. I'll go boil some hot water for you."
She didn't know if he had eaten, but it was evident that 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 feeling sympathy for them?