Chapter 26: The First Day of Homework

Chapter 26: The First Day of Homework

Mother Cheng turned around and saw her good-for-nothing kid munching on biscuits one after another, and immediately smacked Cheng Miao on the head.

"You're eating so many biscuits—aren't you gonna eat lunch later?" Mother Cheng said irritably.

Cheng Miao, looking all pitiful, shoved the biscuit he had just picked up into Lu Yu's hand. "I got it for Lu Yu."

"Don't think I didn't see you—you already ate a bunch. And now you're only giving one to Lu Yu?"

Cheng Miao gave Lu Yu a pleading look, but Lu Yu pretended not to hear and quietly nibbled on the biscuit Cheng Miao had just handed him.

Cheng Miao then looked at his dad, hoping the old man would help him out, but his dad gave him a helpless look. And so Cheng Miao was dragged off by his mom, Ma Lianhua, for a lecture.

Only after he finally got the lesson—no snacks before lunch—did she let him go.

Cheng Miao walked up to his dad, looking miserable. "Why don't you two have a second child? Preferably a daughter, to distract Mom."

His dad looked wistful. "You think I don't want to!"

Cheng Miao glanced down at his dad's crotch and said flatly, "Hah, can't hide much down there, can you?"

Then the whole courtyard echoed with Cheng Miao's yelps—unsurprisingly, he got another beating.

After being beaten, Cheng Miao looked at his buddy with pitiful eyes and complained, sniffling. "I know some men care about that kind of thing, but I never thought Old Cheng, a smart, tough guy like him, would get angry over a joke like that."

Lu Yu patted his head and said calmly, "How do you know it's just a joke?"

Cheng Miao froze. No way, he didn't believe it.

Back at home, after Lin Jinrui returned, Ding Cuicui was still asleep. She carefully placed the biscuits in her schoolbag in her small room.

Then she tiptoed to the main room, hesitating over whether to make lunch. If she didn't cook, her mom would wake up hungry and get mad. If she did, she might wake her up and still get yelled at.

As she was hesitating, Ding Cuicui yawned and woke up. Seeing Lin Jinrui standing there in a daze, she said irritably, "Why aren't you cooking? What are you just standing there for!"

Lin Jinrui hurriedly lit the fire, kneaded the dough, and stir-fried the vegetables—all things she was used to doing, her movements second nature. She couldn't help thinking about Cheng Miao's mom. Why was she so nice?

If her real mom were here, she would probably be that nice too. Lin Jinrui felt a pang of loss. Her mother had given her away. She didn't have a mom anymore.

The meal was quickly prepared. During lunch, seeing that Ding Cuicui was in a decent mood, Lin Jinrui worked up the courage to ask, "Can I go to a classmate's house tomorrow morning to do homework?"

Ding Cuicui said between bites, "Go ahead, but make breakfast first."

Lin Jinrui beamed and nodded.

"Don't come back for lunch," Ding Cuicui added flatly.

"But—" Lin Jinrui didn't know what to say.

"What, your classmate's family won't even give you lunch?" Ding Cuicui slammed her chopsticks down. "Don't expect me to make you lunch."

"I..."

"Then don't go."

Lin Jinrui hung her head a little. She wanted to say she could come back to make lunch.

Looking at Ding Cuicui's cold look, she figured skipping lunch wouldn't be a big deal. She'd eat a bit more in the morning, leave when Cheng Miao's family was about to eat, go sit at their secret spot for a while, and then come back in the afternoon.

That thought put her at ease.

The next day, Lin Jinrui woke up right at a little past seven. She dressed, packed her schoolbag, and tiptoed to the main room. Carefully, she put rice in the pot, added two sticks of wood, and placed steamed buns in the steamer.

Then she curled up quietly by the edge of the kang, terrified of waking her mother. If she got mad and wouldn't let her leave, that would be bad.

Luckily, Ding Cuicui was still fast asleep. The porridge in the pot started to simmer. While she waited, Lin Jinrui fetched a basin of cold water, gave her face a quick wash, and then sat quietly by the kang, waiting for the food to be ready.

She waited a full half hour, figuring it should be about ready. She closed the stove vent, stepped onto a stool, and reached to lift the pot lid to take out a steamed bun—but a burst of steam shot out and scalded her hand.

The sudden pain made her let go instinctively, and the aluminum lid clanged loudly to the floor.

The loud noise filled the entire room. Lin Jinrui stood there dumbstruck. Sure enough, Ding Cuicui was startled awake. She sat up with her hair disheveled and shrieked, "What the hell! Get out of here!"

Lin Jinrui hurriedly picked up the lid and rushed out. Clutching her schoolbag, she drifted around with no real direction. It was still a bit early to go to Cheng Miao's house, but she didn't want to stay home at all.

Before she knew it, she had drifted to Cheng Miao's doorstep. She hesitated at the entrance, wondering whether to go in, when she saw Lu Yu coming out to fetch firewood.

"Morning!" Lin Jinrui hastily greeted him.

Lu Yu opened the door and said flatly, "Come in."

Lu Yu led her inside, had her sit in the outer room, and then went to wake Cheng Miao. Cheng Miao was sleeping soundly—finally on break, he had no desire to get up at all. No matter how many times Lu Yu called, he wouldn't budge.

Lu Yu pulled off his blanket, leaving Cheng Miao curled up pitifully in just his long underwear. Even though he was a bit cold, he still refused to get up, lying sprawled on the kang, desperately soaking up the warmth.

"Cheng Miao, Lin Jinrui is here. If you don't get up, I'll let her come in."

Cheng Miao's heart stirred at that, but the overwhelming drowsiness defeated his sense of shame. "Come on in, I'm just a kid, it doesn't matter." Cheng Miao mumbled, his curled-up body not moving an inch.

Lu Yu had no choice but to cover him with the blanket again. He conceded—since there was no school today, let him sleep a little longer.

Lu Yu tilted his head toward Lin Jinrui, signaling her to come in. Seeing Cheng Miao still asleep, she was a bit surprised but instinctively walked softly.

Lu Yu set up the kang table. The porridge was almost ready. He looked at Lin Jinrui and asked, "Have you eaten?"

Lin Jinrui hesitated, then nodded.

Lu Yu walked to the main room, grabbed another steamed bun, and put it in the steamer. He took out the two buns that were already heated and ladled out two bowls of porridge.

Seeing this, Lin Jinrui hurried over to help him carry the bowls. Once everything was set out, Lu Yu sat down directly, handed Lin Jinrui a pair of chopsticks, and said, "Eat."

Lin Jinrui was about to decline when Lu Yu said impatiently, "Eat quickly. If it gets cold, we'll have to reheat it."

Lin Jinrui dared not say another word. She lowered her head and sipped the porridge in small mouthfuls when a steamed bun suddenly appeared before her.

"Take it," came the same cold tone.

Lin Jinrui silently took it. The two of them finished their meal in that quiet stillness, and Lin Jinrui followed Lu Yu to clean up the dishes.

"Cheng Miao, aren't you eating?" She was a little worried she might have eaten his share.

Lu Yu pointed to the pot. "It's kept warm for him. He can eat when he wakes up."

Lin Jinrui nodded. Lu Yu cleared the kang table, and the two sat down to quietly do their homework. The winter sunlight streamed through the glass window, a bit dazzling, and Cheng Miao, basking in that warm glow, slept comfortably until half past ten.