Chapter 62

Seeing it was late, Xu Ran decided to go back, but he needed to drop by Zhuo Yun before going home.

There was still a tube of chili paste in his pack basket, specially for Zhuo Yun.

Xu Ran had intended to build a good relationship with Zhuo Yun, so naturally he paid great attention to him and kept him in mind all the time.

Just arriving at the door of the seed shop, Xu Ran saw Zhuo Yun coming from other side of the way. They looked at each other, both considering it as a coincidence.

Zhuo Yun quickly took a couple of steps forward, “Brother Xu, what brings you here?”

“I’m in the town to buy some stuff and drop by. By the way, I’ve got something for you.” Speaking of this, Xu Ran put down the pack basket and took the bamboo tube out, giving it to Zhuo Yun.

Zhuo Yun took it over and gave a look, finding nothing special, so he looked at Xu Ran in bewilderment.

Xu Ran smiled, “It’s nothing special, just some chili paste made by me and my spouse. Have a try and let me know if you like it.”

“Thanks, Brother Xu. Spicy food is my spouse’s favorite.” Zhuo Yun thanked Xu Ran with a smile. He was so happy for the chili paste might be able to bring him a smile from his love which he hadn’t seen for many years.

Xu Ran had nothing to do here but sent the chili paste, so he was about to leave as Zhuo Yun took the paste.

Xu Ran said goodbye to Zhuo Yun, “Mr. Zhuo, I have something to deal with at home and gotta go now.”

“Brother Xu, let’s go to the tea house to sit for a while.”

“Sorry, Mr. Zhuo.” Xu Ran waved his hand, “I’ve really got something to do. I will come back and bug you next time.”

Saying that, Xu Ran turned around and left. He was not used to talking to Zhuo Yun in such a cultured way. ‘Why is he, a well-educated man, coming to sell seeds and doing business? Isn’t all saying that businessmen is the most inferior job?’

Beyond his comprehension, Xu Ran stopped thinking about this. Anyway, it was not his business.

Having spent so much money, however, Xu Ran forgot to buy some food for the two kids. When he saw the kids looking at him with longing at the gate of the yard, Xu Ran felt namelessly guilty for what he had done to the kids.

He coughed embarrassingly, “Sorry, Tangtang and Guoguo. I forgot to buy you some food. Is it okay that I make it up next time?”

It was not until recently that asking for food had become a habit of Tangtang and Guoguo. Getting no food this time didn’t get them down since they had been suffering from food shortage for a long time before. They were very tolerant, only asking Xu Ran not to forget to bring some food back next time.

Getting through this, Xu Ran immediately entered into his room, holding his pack basket tightly and no one knew what was inside.

Upon getting into his room, Xu Ran closed the door. It was still early and Liu Tong was cooking lunch in the kitchen. Xu Ran put down the pack basket and took all the stuff out, hiding them under the quilt.

Finishing this, he clapped his hands, going out to the kitchen to tell Liu Tong he was back. Then he went to teach the kids to read.

Xu Ran decided to try something new to eat since there were dried chilies instead of soybeans this time. Always eating the same flavor kind of bored him.

Xu Ran decided to catch some fishes, smashing and mixing with the chilies. There was only one brook in the Xu Village, and Xu Ran had no high expectation for it. Anyway, Xu Ran decided to have a try and he would have to go to the town if nothing was gained.

So the Xu Family marched to the brook with bamboo baskets and water buckets.

It was a long brook, coming out of the hill. It wasn’t a good idea to catch fishes at the entrance of the village. How could there be fishes at the place where people came to do the laundry and feed cattle every day.

Xu Ran and his family were going to the foot of the hill near the source of the brook, few people going there.

The same as cutting firewood on the hill, Xu Ran wasn’t good at catching fishes in the brook either. In his previous life, Xu Ran was not allowed by his mum to go to ponds or rivers and her reason was that she was afraid of him drowning himself while she wouldn’t bother to have a second child.

Xu Ran asked himself the same question hundreds of times, ‘Is there any other mothers like her in the world?’

The water at the foot of the hill was clear and cold, small fishes swimming in it, but not too many.

Xu Ran gave the glorious task of catching fish to Liu Tong, and he took the kids to catch the little shrimps, the size of which was small but the amount was large.

Working the whole afternoon, they had got something. The shrimps Xu Ran and his kids caught were enough to make a dish, and Liu Tong also caught several fishes, but not big.

It was better than never. The family started going back happily.

Speaking of Zhuo Yun, after got the chili paste, he took it home pleasantly. Just getting to the kitchen, he saw the servant entering into the kitchen with dishes uneaten.

Zhuo Yun frowned, “What’s up? Isn’t the lord having lunch? Why are all the dishes taken away?”

“Master, the lord said he had no appetite today and asked to take all the food away.”

Zhuo Yun’s frown deepened. He passed the bamboo tube to the servant, “Give it to Uncle Zhuo and ask him to make a bowl of noodles for Shuwen.”

“Yes.” The servant took the bamboo tube, turning around into the kitchen.

Back to the room, Zhuo Yun saw that Qin Shuwen was drawing without even giving him a look. Zhuo Yun had been used to be ignored; he said nothing, draped a piece of clothing over Qin Shuwen’s shoulders and then said, “Why don’t you have lunch?”

Qin Shuwen answered without turning his head, “I don’t have appetite. I’m not hungry either.”

Zhuo Yun sighed helplessly. It had been five years and he didn’t know what had supported him in this five years. His love had been in front of him all the time but never looked him in the face. The only reason was that Shuwen didn’t care about him at all.

But he couldn’t care any more about Shuwen.

“I’ve asked Uncle Zhuo to make you some noodles. Have some anyway. Being hungry is not good for your health.”

Shuwen didn’t agree nor refuse to eat, still drawing.

Uncle Zhuo was very efficient. It wasn’t long before the servant brought the noodles in. Zhuo Yun took it over and laid it on the table, persuading Qin Shuwen to eat.

Qin Shuwen gave the noodles a look grudgingly. The red chili paste on the white noodles looked so tempting, plus the yellow egg, all stimulated his appetite.

He walked over and tasted a little chili with the chopsticks, surprised as he had gotten something previous, a rare smile on his face, just caught by Zhuo Yun.

Zhuo Yun felt like he was on cloud nine. ‘I must thank Brother Xu.’ Zhuo Yun said to himself in his heart.