This entire afternoon, Qin Chuan practically spent it at the school.
After fetching water, he helped clean the courtyard, tidied up the classroom trash, wiped tables, the lectern, pasted up windows, and even fixed a bicycle tire...
Unknowingly, dusk had fallen!
Outside, snow was falling heavily, blanketing everything in white, heralding a beautiful new year.
A waft of cooking aroma drifted from a room not far away. Qin Chuan, inside the classroom, couldn't help but sniff the air, "So fragrant!"
He wondered if teacher Yang would invite him to stay for dinner?
Looking at the clean and tidy classroom around him, Qin Chuan realized all the work was done. It was time to test the depths of teacher Yang's intentions again.
He walked out of the classroom and arrived at Yang Zimo's room door.
"Teacher Yang, the classroom has been cleaned up. I... I'm heading home now!" Qin Chuan announced.
Inside the room, Yang Zimo, who was sitting down, quickly looked up at the sound of Qin Chuan's voice, his breath misting in the cold air.
A hint of hesitation flickered across her exquisite, pretty face before she finally spoke, "Qin Chuan, why don't you stay for dinner?"
He had been busy all afternoon, helping her with all the tasks. It would be truly impolite not to invite him for a meal. Even someone as sensitive as her had already sensed the young man at the door harbored ulterior motives.
"This... I wouldn't want to impose!" Qin Chuan rubbed his hands together. Though his words suggested otherwise, one leg had already crossed the threshold.
Yang Zimo, who was boiling noodles, pursed her rosy lips slightly, three words flashing through her mind: "Thick-skinned!"
She had known Qin Chuan before. After all, she had been teaching in Nanyang Village for half a year and knew almost everyone in the village. But perhaps it was because she hadn't paid attention, she had never noticed that this third son of the Qin family was so cunning. Bold and thick-skinned!
Everyone said the second son of the Qin family was a troublemaker, short-tempered, and difficult to deal with. In Yang Zimo's opinion, this third son, Qin Chuan, was the truly troublesome one. She had misjudged him before; this young man named Qin Chuan was not simple.
Dinner was a simple bowl of noodles, with a fried egg, a sprinkle of chopped scallions, a side of cold-dressed cucumber, two bottles of soda, and some snacks.
Qin Chuan and Yang Zimo sat opposite each other at the small dining table. Smelling the enticing aroma of the food, Qin Chuan picked up his bowl and slurped down the entire thing in no time. He was truly hungry. As a young man in his prime, he usually needed three bowls of noodles or four to five steamed buns to fill his stomach. After a busy afternoon, his stomach was completely empty.
Across from him, Yang Zimo was stunned by Qin Chuan's exaggerated eating speed. Her attractive lips parted slightly. She had barely taken a few bites of her own bowl.
"Qin Chuan, I... I'll get you more noodles. There's still some in the pot..." Yang Zimo came back to her senses and quickly stood up.
"Teacher Yang, no need! I can get them myself!" Qin Chuan stopped Yang Zimo's movement, walked to the pot, picked up a new pair of chopsticks from the utensils, and reached into the pot. This seemingly casual action made Yang Zimo, sitting on her stool, her eyes flicker.
With his second bowl, Qin Chuan finally slowed down a bit. He glanced at the soda bottles on the table and smiled, "Teacher Yang, you're from Jin Province, aren't you!"
"Huh? How did you know?" Yang Zimo looked curious, seemingly surprised that Qin Chuan could guess her hometown so easily.
"Because of this soda!" Qin Chuan pointed at the soda bottles on the table and smiled. "Taigang Soda. This is a unique brand in Jin Province. You can't buy it anywhere else."
"Have you been to Jin Province?" Yang Zimo was even more curious. As far as she knew, very few people in Nanyang Village had been to the provincial capital, let alone the city. Many people's biggest travel experience in their lives was the county town.
"No, I just heard someone mention it occasionally!" Qin Chuan realized he had almost made a mistake and quickly came up with an excuse.
Yang Zimo didn't suspect him, her eyes happily fixed on the two bottles of soda on the table. "Yes, my family is from Jin Province. This Taigang Soda is my favorite!" Even in winter, I enjoy a couple of sips!"
"It seems I'm fortunate to have some tonight!" Qin Chuan smiled, popped open a soda bottle, and took a large gulp. A cool, sweet flavor instantly filled his taste buds and chest, his face filled with bliss. It was indeed just as he remembered; it tasted great! In his previous life, when Qin Chuan was adventuring, he had spent some time in Jin Province, and Taigang Soda was his favorite, especially with hot pot, spicy stir-fry, or rice noodles.
"It's delicious, isn't it!" Seeing Qin Chuan's rapturous expression, Yang Zimo became even happier.
"Delicious!!" "I'll have to drink my fill when I go to Jin Province in the summer!"
They sat around the small dining table, eating and chatting, and the atmosphere was surprisingly harmonious. Occasionally, Qin Chuan's insights on certain matters would further surprise Yang Zimo, who never expected him to possess such outstanding comprehension skills.
When it ended, it was already past seven in the evening. It wasn't that Qin Chuan wanted to stay longer, but staying any longer would be inappropriate. After all, Yang Zimo was a single woman, and a teacher at that. If some villagers saw them, it could lead to gossip, which would be bad for Yang Zimo.
Stepping on the thick snow, Qin Chuan arrived at his elder brother's doorstep. Because his brother's house was the only one with lights on, there was no doubt that the second brother was mooching off his eldest brother's meal.
When Qin Chuan pushed open the door and entered, Qin Gang, who had been leaning against the wall lazily with a cigarette in his mouth, immediately perked up.
"Oh, look! Look!" "Which esteemed elder has returned, and even remembers the way home?" Qin Gang said sarcastically, his mockery undisguised.
Qin Chuan walked into the room unbothered. He first greeted his elder brother Qin Yang and sister-in-law Wu Yanyan, who were smiling by the stove, then slapped Qin Gang on the backside. "Move over! You're hogging half the bed by yourself!"
"Damn it!" Qin Gang, who had been holding back for a long time, finally exploded, his eyes wide with anger. "I've had enough of you!" "You bastard! Not only did you make me do all the work while you went chasing girls, but now you even control my rest time?"
Facing Qin Gang's fury, Qin Chuan remained calm, as if he had expected all of this.
"What do you mean chasing girls? She's your future sister-in-law, alright? Second brother, don't you think your current efforts are worth it?" Qin Chuan said.
Qin Gang froze for a moment, then burst into laughter. "You? You want to win over teacher Yang? Third brother, you've really gotten overconfident!" "Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you have a little skill. Teacher Yang is a beauty; there must be countless people pursuing her! Look in the mirror and see if you're good enough for her!"
This time, even Qin Yang and Wu Yanyan sighed. It was clear they weren't optimistic about Qin Chuan. Everyone in the village knew what Yang Zimo looked like. In the words of the elders, she was as beautiful as a celestial being, someone who shouldn't have been born into the mortal world. Although many people admired Yang Zimo, no one had ever dared to openly pursue her. Because everyone knew their place; they weren't good enough for teacher Yang!