Chapter 13

Ye Qingshui was so shocked that the book in her hand fell to the ground. She didn’t even bother to pick it up—her eyes were locked onto him in that instant, as if he could see right through her thick disguise and into who she really was.

Ye Qingshui didn’t think she could really hide her speculative dealings from Xie Tingyu.

After all, the two of them lived under the same roof—any small movement would be crystal clear. As long as Xie Tingyu wasn’t blind, he would find out sooner or later.

So be it, if he found out. It’s just that… making money this way wasn’t exactly “honorable.”

In this era, speculative trading was considered wrongdoing. Expecting people of this time to understand it was unrealistic. If her mother and grandmother ever found out she made money from such dealings, they’d probably be scared to death. She just didn’t know—how did Xie Tingyu see it?

She took off the heavy straw hat.

“You… why are you here?”

Xie Tingyu pressed his lips into a thin line and didn’t speak.

The shop assistant, a young girl, said cheerfully, “You need a purchase coupon for this book. It’s our best-seller!”

The “coupon” she spoke of was a book purchase ticket. Ye Qingshui hadn’t expected even books to require a ticket. She searched her belongings for a while but couldn’t find one, so she had no choice but to painfully part with the book and put it back, looking rather dejected.

That’s when Xie Tingyu finally spoke. “I have one.”

He pulled out a leather wallet, fished out a book ticket, and casually tossed the math book into Ye Qingshui’s basket. The leather wallet looked smooth and high-quality to the touch.

“I have something to say to you.”

Xie Tingyu pulled her out of the bookstore.

Ye Qingshui followed behind him, staring at his tall figure, and couldn’t help but ask, “Why did you come here?”

Xie Tingyu pushed her into a small alley, looking down at her from above. “You disappeared in the middle of the night. I thought you fell into the river again, so I came out to look for you.”

His eyes fell on the basket in her hand, and he seemed to come to a realization, as though the past few days’ odd behaviors all made sense now.

“Speculative trading… do you know how dangerous that is? And you still dare to get involved?”

He looked at the strands of hair on her forehead soaked with sweat. Her slim back was drenched, her clothes were dirty, and the only visible part of her face—her eyelids—were tinged with a faint bluish shadow. Her entire expression showed the fatigue of labor.

From his tone, Ye Qingshui could tell this wasn’t going to end well.

Seeing her frowning and not at all aware of the danger, Xie Tingyu felt a pounding pain in his temples.

After all, he had been raised with a good education, with upright values and a strong moral compass.

What’s more, he was currently living and eating in the Ye household. For the sake of keeping up with the good meals he was enjoying, this young girl was being forced to go out and earn money—didn’t he share a bit of the responsibility? Thinking this way, Xie Tingyu, who usually minded his own business, found it hard to stay uninvolved.

Seeing Ye Qingshui lower her head, he said calmly:

“Out of money, is that it? If you don’t have any, I can give you some. After all, I’m eating and living at your place right now. But you have to promise me, no more of this stuff. Give me the basket and the cloth—”

As Xie Tingyu spoke, he pulled out a big unity bill. Ye Qingshui took the money with a confused expression, and suddenly found it laughably absurd. She shoved him away and snapped fiercely:

“Who are you to lecture me and give me money?”

The way he spoke—it was like he was trying to save a lost young girl… If it were the foolish Qingshui from her past life hearing such concern from Xie Tingyu, she might have been moved to tears. But the current Ye Qingshui could only find it ridiculous and infuriating that he looked down on her with such pity.

“Honestly, you’re just afraid I’ll drag you down. You don’t really care that much about me, do you? Such false righteousness!”

Ye Qingshui pushed him aside, picked up her basket, and in one smooth motion got onto her bicycle.

Xie Tingyu stared at his hand that had just been smacked away, stunned, then took a few long strides and quickly caught up to her. With his tall build and long legs, he reached her bicycle in no time and grabbed the handlebars.

“Why are you suddenly so angry? Such a typical girl’s temper.”

He rubbed his throbbing temples with a helpless expression.

“Don’t talk to me like that—I hate it!”

“Beat up that stinking reactionary’s brat—”

A group of kids ran by, yelling, “Hand over the buns already! Where’d you steal these from? Someone like you, so poor and shabby, there’s no way you could afford them!”

Her bicycle was bumped by the rowdy children, and Ye Qingshui almost fell headfirst off the bike. Luckily, Xie Tingyu caught her by the shoulders just in time.

He steadied her and started to speak again.

“Wait—” Ye Qingshui had no time to argue with him.

She had spotted Zhou Ke—the boy who had helped her sell buns in the early morning—being bullied badly. The small child was hunched over, trying his best to protect the buns in his arms. Snot and tears covered his face as he sobbed, “I didn’t, I didn’t!”

Ye Qingshui rushed over and yanked the child sitting on top of Zhou Ke off him. She barked sternly, “What are you all doing?”

The troublemakers scattered.

Ye Qingshui helped Zhou Ke up and gently comforted him, “It’s okay, don’t cry—I still have more.”

But Zhou Ke trembled slightly, picked up the dusty, dirt-covered bun from the ground, and began eating it in big bites. The sand crunched loudly under his teeth.

Ye Qingshui’s heart twisted. She still remembered the look of pure joy on his face when he received those two steaming soup buns earlier.

Seeing his head bleeding and still crying as he walked away, she didn’t feel at ease and followed him. Xie Tingyu, seeing this, also pushed the bicycle and followed along.

They arrived at an old, rundown communal building. Zhou Ke, bloodied and dirty, pushed open the rickety door. A damp and stale smell greeted them. A bleak, withered scene lay before their eyes, and Ye Qingshui fell silent for a moment.

Zhou Ke took out another filthy bun from his coat, placed it on the bed, and let his tears fall.

“Grandpa, here’s your favorite bun. Hurry and eat.”

The old man on the bed, weak and near death, slowly opened his eyes. Though he was gravely ill, his cloudy eyes held a sharp glint. First, he saw the blood pouring from his grandson’s head, then noticed the two unexpected visitors in the room.

Ye Qingshui noticed the man’s half-shaved “yin-yang” haircut, a sign of political punishment or humiliation.

The bun Zhou Ke had tried so hard to protect was too filthy to even look at. He carefully brushed off the dirt and blew on it. Ye Qingshui couldn’t bear to watch any longer and pulled out the bun she couldn’t bring herself to sell, handing it to Zhou Ke. It was still warm, with a trace of heat.

“Wait—go wash your hands first.”

Zhou Ke washed up, then gratefully took the clean bun and gave it to his grandfather. He tore off a piece of the wrapper, and suddenly, the rich juices of the bun dripped down his arms. He licked them up as he laughed, blood still running down his forehead.

“It’s really delicious! Grandpa, eat it all before you die. You’ve never had anything this good.”

The old man rolled his eyes but still accepted the bun that had been shoved into his mouth. The familiar taste lingered on his tongue, spreading an unbelievably sweet flavor. In that moment, the dying man could only feel the sweetness he longed for.

Zhou Ke added, “It’s good, right, Grandpa? Hang in there. Trust me—I’ll earn you buns like this every day.”

His eyes welled up again. “Even if you can’t hang on, it’s okay. When you get to the other side, say hi to Mom and Dad for me. Tell them… I miss them.”

The old man weakly rolled his eyes again.

“To still have the energy to roll your eyes after eating a bun—you really are the coolest Grandpa ever,” Zhou Ke said through his tears, managing a laugh.

Ye Qingshui’s anger faded. Watching the child and elder exchange looks made her strangely sad, though Zhou Ke’s words made her want to cry and laugh at the same time.

Perhaps the old man felt ashamed of his condition being seen by outsiders. He struggled to sit up but failed. Slurring, he said, “Ke’er, take the bun… away.”

Zhou Ke pulled the bun from his mouth, and the old man gave a proud little snort.

“Haven’t I taught you—not to take things from others? Go bring Grandpa’s stuff and return it.”

Zhou Ke wiped away his tears, nodded, and disappeared for a long time before running back.

He stuffed something heavy, wrapped in dry grass, into Ye Qingshui’s arms. She opened it and found a thumb-sized pearl, glowing with iridescence. She was stunned and quickly tucked it away.

The old man said flatly, “Ke’er, see them out.”

Then, turning his head, he glanced at the book in Ye Qingshui’s basket and added, still with that flat tone, “You don’t need to read that book.”

Despite both comments being said in the same flat tone, Ye Qingshui could tell the difference—especially the latter one, laced with a subtle, disdainful sneer.

She was good at reading between the lines and could sense the pride the old man was holding back.

Before the bun was even finished, both she and Xie Tingyu were unceremoniously ushered out. Holding the pearl in her hand, she frowned and told Zhou Ke:

“This is far too valuable. I can’t accept it.”

She recognized it immediately—it was clearly worth a lot. A single bun for a pearl? She wasn’t shameless enough to take advantage like that.

Zhou Ke just shed more tears, wiping his red nose as he said, “It’s not expensive—not at all. You couldn’t even trade it for a pound of rice. You’re kind-hearted and gave me two meals. You deserve it. I’m going to go see Grandpa off now—he’s tired of living…”

Ye Qingshui couldn’t help but chuckle. Looking at the pearl, she thought for a moment, then said:

“Your grandpa’s a smart man. Tell him… hmm, say this—”

‘Dying in the darkness before dawn is too tragic.’

She had a thousand things she wanted to say—like how the Gang of Four would be crushed this year, how next year would bring the beginning of full reform and opening up, and the year after that, the “black categories” like his would finally be rehabilitated. The stigma would be lifted. There would be hope everywhere—but it just required patience. A bit longer. Hang in there. Heaven wouldn’t let those who waited through the darkest nights be disappointed.

But Ye Qingshui swallowed her thoughts, reached into her pocket, and pulled out the Two yuan and thirty cents she had worked so hard to earn that morning. She handed it to Zhou Ke.

“Use this to get your grandpa treated. And put some medicine on your own head, too.”

“Sigh…” Ye Qingshui couldn’t bear scenes like this.

Author’s Note:

The old man’s scornful eyes: These two young people are so annoying. Feeding me buns right before I die.

Do I look like the kind of person who would surrender for a bun?

Shuiya: So… was it tasty?

Old man: Emmmmm… not sweet enough.

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