Chapter 33
Scratch Each Other’s Back
Madam Kong asked, “What is it? Just tell me.”
Zhao Chuchu did not say anything about building the wall earlier to Niu Tongsheng. She planned to look for him that night to talk to him about it, thinking that he would have a better impression of her after that.
However, since Madam Kong was here, she thought she might as well let Madam Kong relay the message to her husband.
“I want to renovate the house. I am wondering if Madam Kong can ask the village chief to send some trustworthy people to help me? Also, I want to build a wall around the yard. I don’t want people sneaking around my house and stealing my food.”
Madam Kong knew that Madam Yang’s family often stole rice and noodles from the Xie family.
However, since the Xie family did not say anything about this in public, they also pretended not to know about it.
“Oh, why didn’t you say so earlier?” Madam Kong exclaimed.
When Zhao Chuchu heard that, she did not expose Madam Kong.
Everyone had their self-interests in mind. Now they were only scratching each other’s back.
“I used to be so scared of the Zhao family in the past. But after falling so seriously ill, I’ve thought it through. If I continue to give in to them, they will bully me even further. I don’t want to put up with their ill-treatment anymore. Madam Kong, as you know, my husband is blind and Junjun is sick. I’m afraid I need the village chief’s help on this.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of this for you. I’ll talk to Chief Niu later. I’ll definitely help you.”
“Thank you, Madam Kong.”
“Child, don’t worry. Your family now has so much grain in the house. Someone may indeed try to steal them. I’ll take to Chief Niu about this when I get home. This matter shouldn’t be delayed.”
“Okay, I’ll have to trouble you then.”
Zhao Chu Chu went to see Madam Kong off.
Xie Jun looked at her in adoration.
“Sister, everyone says that Madam Kong is the fiercest woman in the village. Why are you not afraid of her?”
“She is a reasonable person. But I am not even afraid of unreasonable people.”
“Sister, can I be as brave as you in the future?”
“When your health improves, you can also become a brave person.”
Zhao Chuchu was coaxing Xie Jun patiently.
She would always be tolerant and understanding toward a well-behaved child.
She then whipped out two milk candies that had their wrappers peeled off like she was performing a magic trick. She handed them to Junjun. “I’m giving you these candies as a reward.”
“Do they taste sweet?”
“Yes.”
Xie Jun took them and gave one to Zhao Chuchu. “Sister, eat this.”
Zhao Chuchu was about to refuse it when she saw Xie Jun’s expectant look. Finally, she opened her mouth and bit it.
Xie Jun took the other candy and gave it to Xie Heng: “Brother, Sister gave this to me. But I have a toothache. The doctor said I can’t eat candy if I have a toothache.”
Xie Heng saw for himself what had happened. He was very happy to see how sensible Xie Jun was.
“I don’t want it, Junjun, keep it for yourself.”
“But I have a toothache. Can you eat it for me?’
Xie Heng saw that he was obviously longing to eat the candy. Yet he was so sensible to give it up for him.
Xie Heng took a bite of the candy, and its milky scent filled the room. He was surprised to find that it was not overly sweet. It did not taste like any candy that he had eaten in the past.
Xie Jun then ate the remaining candy himself.
His eyes lit up instantly. “Brother, this candy that Sister gave me tastes so good.”
“Yeah, it’s delicious.”
Even he had not eaten this candy before.
He wondered where Zhao Chuchu bought the candy from.
When they were away those two weeks, Zhao Chuchu was rarely out of his sight.
“This candy has a very special taste.” Xie Heng told Zhao Chuchu.
Zhao Chuchu smiled as she whispered in his ear, “I made it myself when I was cooking this afternoon. But it’s a pity that it’s not too successful. I only managed to make two.”
Xie Heng gave up trying to figure out how Zhao Chuchu got hold of the candy.
The two of them were standing so close to each other that it made Xie Heng feel uncomfortable.
He leaned back slightly so he was a little further away from Zhao Chuchu.
Zhao Chuchu noticed that Xie Heng’s ears had turned red. She could not help but smile.