Chapter 313 - 119: The Green Tea Female Supporting Character in a Period Novel (6)
Chapter 313: Chapter 119: The Green Tea Female Supporting Character in a Period Novel (6)
She took out the mung bean cakes she had bought two days ago, arranged them on a small plate, and placed it in front of him. After washing her hands, she sat at the table and began to focus on writing a letter to her parents.
Chi Yun’er first went over the events since her arrival in Bian Family Village in her mind. She decided to change her usual tone, starting the letter by mentioning that Jiang Yihua would be delivering it for her. Only then, in a dejected voice, did she write about how she had been dragging everyone down.
"Mom, Dad, I was young and foolish before. I went down to the countryside to support the development efforts with my peers, full of youthful passion, but I never truly considered what I would be facing."
"I’m so sorry that it’s taken me over a year to think through this simple issue."
"There are many ways to contribute to our country and its people. You don’t have to blindly follow the crowd; you have to consider your own situation."
"I’m too delicate. I can’t handle hardship or exhaustion, and I’m completely useless in the fields. Rather than making everyone else feel resentful, it would be better for me to return to the city, find a proper job, and do my part in an ordinary position. That’s a contribution too, isn’t it...?"
She then expressed how much she missed her parents, hoping they wouldn’t hold her past willfulness and immaturity against her.
Chi Yun’er thought of her own little bed, her pink bicycle, the locust flower pancakes her mother used to make, and the small wooden cabin her father had helped her build...
As she wrote about these deeply emotional memories, she began to sob. Clutching a handkerchief, she lost herself in her sorrow, crying pitifully.
Jiang Yihua sighed silently.
’The sent-down youths assigned to the farms are all driven and outstanding individuals. Even the female comrades never complain about the hardship or exhaustion; they’re like perpetual motion machines that never tire.’
’This was the first time he’d seen a girl her age cry over being homesick. She really is as delicate as they come.’
However, he couldn’t help but turn his head slightly. Not daring to let his gaze linger on her, he let his peripheral vision rest vaguely on the schoolbag hanging on the wall.
’The young woman lives a refined life; everything she has is neat and tidy. Her army-green backpack is ordinary, and a year of use has washed it to a faded white.’
’But in the pale yellow threads mending the holes and the faint white paint dabbed around them, he could still see dandelions and wildflowers blooming vibrantly on a green hill!’
Chi Yun’er couldn’t stop herself and ended up writing four full pages. Her arm, wrist, and neck were all faintly sore.
She stretched a little, then checked the letter twice carefully. Once she was sure she hadn’t missed anything, she folded it and put it in an envelope.
She took out some glue, affixed a stamp, and sealed the envelope. Then, she solemnly filled out the sender’s and recipient’s addresses.
Letting out a long sigh of relief, Chi Yun’er’s eyes curved into crescents as she handed the letter to Jiang Yihua.
Jiang Yihua’s gaze fell on her fingers, which were mottled with ink stains. His brow twitched, but he ultimately took the letter with a straight face and placed it in his bag.
He stood up. "I’ve been out for a while. I should head back. There’s a lot of work in the fields that can’t be delayed."
"If you have any other messages or things you need me to take, just have someone let me know."
"If that doesn’t work, I’ll come by one more time before I leave."
Chi Yun’er bit her lip and couldn’t help but ask, "Brother Hua, are... are you this warm and generous to everyone from back home?"
Jiang Yihua glanced at her and said flatly, "Not at all. Zishu is too calculating; he wasn’t right for you. It’s actually a good thing that you two have separated."
"Uncle Chi and your aunt only have you as a child. Logically, you never should have had to come to the countryside. Even without a job, you could have lived comfortably at home."
"It was Zishu who selfishly manipulated you into following him here to suffer. Now, trying to go back will be met with all sorts of obstacles."
"Although you and I don’t know each other well, the Jiang Family and the Chi Family have been old neighbors for years. That makes you something like a little sister to me. Whether it’s because of our families’ relationship or my disapproval of Zishu’s actions, I ought to look out for you."
Chi Yun’er nodded. ’These two brothers certainly have a way with words.’
But looking at the man’s fierce yet inexplicably reassuring face, she couldn’t stop herself from asking, "If—Brother Hua—if Brother Zishu did something to wrong me, something that ruined my life, what would you do?"
Jiang Yihua frowned and looked her over from head to toe. Seeing nothing amiss aside from a constant, sickly pallor, he replied, "However he bullied you, I’ll make him pay for it in kind!"
Chi Yun’er was taken aback. Even though she felt their relationship was still distant, his words were startlingly abrupt. It was as if Jiang Zishi wasn’t his own brother, but she was his sister instead.
But she smiled, not dwelling on whether he meant it or not. "Then I’ll thank you in advance, Brother Hua."