Chapter 23: Chapter 23

The two of them stood by the doorframe, and Shen Qiao felt an odd sense of awkwardness. She pulled a soft measuring tape from her pocket and said, “You should measure yourself.”

Eye estimates were never that accurate.

Zheng Zhong first handed her the oil paper package, then took the tape and wrapped it around his waist, tightening and loosening it, showing her the measurements.

His movements were quick, so much so that Shen Qiao didn’t have time to stop him. She pointed to herself and demonstrated, “Here, here, and here all need to be measured.”

The waist, hips, and legs were all essential measurements.

Zheng Zhong thought it was strange to do this in front of her, so he said, “Wait a minute.”

There it was again—the same phrase.

Shen Qiao couldn’t understand. Was his house not welcoming? As she scratched her shoe on the ground, she realized the biscuits had still ended up in her hands. She thought she should return them to him later.

Little did she know, Zheng Zhong didn’t not want her to come in, but rather because he had never had anyone over.

He had only one chair for himself, and one of its legs was wobbly. He usually balanced himself on it, but Shen Qiao didn’t look like someone with such good stability.

He couldn’t have her sit on his bed, could he? Looking around, there wasn’t really anywhere else for her to sit. He thought he’d need to get a couple of new chairs.

Thinking about it, there was a lot he needed, so he quickly finished taking measurements, and as he walked to the gate, it seemed like he was breathing faster.

Shen Qiao heard what he said and mentally made a note, saying, “Then I’ll head back.”

She thought about giving the biscuits back to him before leaving, but Zheng Zhong wasn’t one to refuse. He awkwardly said, “I’m closing the door.”

He said it was closing, but left a narrow gap, showing his clear, contrasting eyes.

Shen Qiao smiled wryly, “Who does that?”

Insisting on giving something to this extent.

Zheng Zhong also felt like his actions weren’t very polite. He opened the gap a little more and said, “It’s for you.”

He wanted to give it to her but was too awkward to know how.

Shen Qiao found this amusing. She stared at his door, wondering if it took a closer relationship to be allowed inside.

At any rate, she wouldn’t get to see the inside this time. She shrugged and said, “Goodbye.”

She walked further away, and Zheng Zhong, unable to help himself, stuck his head out to look at her small figure.

He closed the door, then thought, since he wasn’t going to work today, he might as well tidy up his place.

He lived in three mud-brick rooms: one for sleeping, one for the kitchen and dining, and the third for storing things, which was filled with all sorts of clutter.

He moved his grain into his bedroom, tidied up the storage room inside and out, and opened a window that had been sealed shut. A faint breeze blew in.

He was worried about the items getting damp. The window had been sealed with wooden boards, and now it didn’t look great with a few holes showing. The whole place appeared somewhat run-down.

This approach of hiding everything behind coverings had finally shown its flaws after many years.

Zheng Zhong thought to himself that the window needed to be replaced, the walls should be repainted, and if he put up tables and chairs, the place could be suitable for guests.

He’d been to other people’s homes and had some idea of what it should look like.

It was only a few things, but it would still take some work.

The next day, for the first time in a while, he took the day off and buried himself in work at his little yard.

Of course, someone with as many work points as him wasn’t too bothered by missing a day or two.

It was people like Shen Qiao, who might not have enough work points for the year, who had to work late into the night making clothes and show up exhausted at the fields the next day.

Yawns came one after another. Li Liyun couldn’t help but ask, “I saw you up really late last night, didn’t you?”

It wasn’t just late—she had burned half a candle.

Shen Qiao felt bad, but thinking about how she had received two pounds of biscuits, she had to make up for it by working extra hard. She said, “I was making something.”

Everyone knew her handwork was excellent, and her stitches were fine and even.

Li Liyun didn’t think twice. “Are you making a new outfit?”

Every year, the team members got a ration of fabric tickets, but many families were reluctant to use them, so they exchanged them instead. Shen Qiao used to mention she wanted a new outfit, not caring what it was. But now, there was no time to join the fun. She said, “No, I’m just mending some clothes.”

If she said she was making something new, people would wonder why they hadn’t seen her wearing it.

New clothes every three years, old clothes every three years.

Li Liyun thought about Shen Qiao’s situation this year and realized she’d asked the wrong question. She quickly changed the topic. “Well, don’t stay up too late, your eyes will get damaged.”

It was sunny in the afternoon, and sewing in the yard was fine. The weather was getting warmer, and the sun at noon was intense.

Shen Qiao didn’t want to sew in public. It would cause too much gossip if people saw her.

She had her own way of handling things and said, “Okay, I know.”

Everyone was just concerned, not prying.

Even if they were, people in distant places survived on these little bits of gossip.

Shen Qiao herself loved to listen to other people’s chatter, as there was nothing else to pass the time.

It’s true that despite the village being small, there were plenty of things happening every day. She had a few things others talked about.

But she couldn’t add any more to the gossip.

She thought this to herself as her hands kept busy, and gradually, a pair of pants began to take shape.

It was just a few pieces of fabric put together. She had her skills, and if she stayed up a bit longer at night, she would finish it.

People with weaker health had to work in the fields by day and do this kind of work at night. Her face showed a slight darkening under her eyes.

On the way, when no one was watching, Shen Qiao secretly mouthed something to Zheng Zhong.

He didn’t look at her lips first but at her eyes. He was somewhat stunned. The look she had, which had once made people feel sorry for her, now appeared even weaker.

He didn’t quite agree with this. How could one be energetic if they didn’t sleep well?

But the two just passed each other by, and it wasn’t until they reached a less crowded area that they spoke.

Shen Qiao said excitedly, “I’m done!”

Zheng Zhong didn’t know why she was so happy. He said, “Thank you.”

It seemed like that was the only thing that made sense to say.