Like what you like, protect what you like
Author: 橙子澄澄
Source: Instadoses
"Okay, thank you, Grandpa Chief. I'm going to have to trouble you for this trip again."
"No thanks. You have to lead the people in the village to grow medicinal herbs. In the future, the village will develop better and better, and I'll have glory on my face as the village head. Thanks to you, I might be promoted to a town chief, hahaha."
"Then I'll first congratulate Grandpa Chief!"
The honey mouthed child really made Liu Jinfu's heart swell. Having been a village chief for so many years didn't mean he wasn't greedy for that sesame-sized official position. But, living in one lifetime, who wouldn't want to move up, go higher, do better, and create shade for future generations?
"Now the villagers have begun to actively cultivate the wasteland, and by next spring, it's estimated that every household will be able to run 10 acres out. Nannan, you decide what herbs to plant, and also inform everyone about it in advance, so that everyone will have a good idea of what to expect. That way, you'll let them prepare for it beforehand. When it comes to growing herbs, everyone is new to it. No one's ever grown them before, so you have to teach them well, so that they don't get rough and ruin the medicinal herb seedlings for nothing."
"Okay, I know Grandpa Chief. Before next year's spring, I'll make it clear to the villagers the types of herbs to be planted and the planting methods."
Despite the somewhat sharp gaze of the young man in the other corner, Liu Jinfu rubbed the top of the little girl's furry head before leaving with his hands behind his back and humming a little tune.
The young man frequently looked over, and Liu Yusheng naturally noticed. But she didn't approach him, and instead sat on a chair with two hands on her cheeks, grinning at the hounded and sometimes dark look on the young man's face.
After shedding the façade of indifference and showing his true emotions, this was what a boy should really look like.
Half a month ago, she had turned seven, and Brother Axiu should have been turned twelve. Unfortunately, she didn't know his birthday and couldn't celebrate for him.
But even at twelve, he was still half a teenager.
Rather being mature and wise, she hoped more than ever that someday, when he thought back on his youth, he would recall being young and unrestrained.
That the word youth wouldn't be in vain.
From afar, the boy felt the gaze of the girl on him. Seeing the brightness in her eyes when she looked at him, plus the bright smile on her face, Axiu's tense emotions slowly relaxed.
The restlessness that had been suppressed for half the afternoon gradually dissipated.
She didn't need to do anything but sit quietly and watch him; let him feel her attention, and he'd be completely pacified.
Seeing that the hour was about right, only then did Liu Yusheng walk over to free the boy.
The children had been pestering him for half an afternoon and he had reached his limit.
"Look guys, there's only half the red sun left in the sky, so hurry up and go home for dinner." Axiu had just let out a breath of turbid air when he heard the girl add. "Come over tomorrow to learn new words."
"Sister Nannan, Brother Axiu, we're leaving!" Shuanzi was very obedient and waved his little hand, leading the bunch of carrot heads in line to leave. "Sister Nannan, you eat and rest early. I'll come back tomorrow to take care of you."
"Okay, I'll wait for you guys then."
Axiu pursed his lips. Before they could come, should he take Shengsheng on a hike? Didn't she just buy Xinghua Ridge?
It was reasonable to go inspecting her own land.
As soon as the children left, the Liu courtyard immediately cleared down.
It was the beginning of summer, and the sun in the horizon was setting westward with purple-red fiery clouds, burning the whole sky into purple-gray.
A gorgeous layer of tulle also enveloped the small courtyard.
It was peaceful – the smell of years of tranquility.
"Unhappy?" Liu Yusheng took the initiative to hold the young man's hand. She asked with a smile, but her dark eyes were astute.
"Can I ignore them?"
"I'll teach them then. I might just be a little busy." As she said that, she rubbed her nape that was no longer sore and swollen.
Axiu sighed low in frustration.
One step back today for two steps forward tomorrow, he could compromise.
He lifted his index finger, and tapped the tip of the girl's tiny nose. "You're bullying me, Shengsheng."
"When did I?" Liu Yusheng couldn't help but laugh.
She wouldn't be soft when he accused her like that.
She was also a child from Xinghua Village, the kind that got reached out for a yard after taking an inch .
Axiu also gently smiled – soft and gentle as the soft glow falling from the sky.
His dark, deep eyes shone with dots of starlight. At some point, those dusty, foggy eyes had been rinsed clean to reproduce a starry galaxy.
"There's no harm in having them, and you're allowed to bully."
After nightfall, Liu Yusheng led Axiu back to the West Wing after she took a shower.
Since her seventh birthday, she had suggested that Axiu go back to the west wing to sleep alone.
She thought it would take a lot of talking, but to her surprise, the boy only looked deeply at her and made no protest.
From then on, they slept separately.
The adults in the family could finally rest their minds in peace.
"After applying the ointment for nearly two months, the bumps on your face have almost smoothed out, and the color has also recovered to the same level as your skin." Sitting the young man down on the edge of the bed, Liu Yusheng took out a cotton ball with the ointment and skillfully applied it to his face. "This is the last bottle of ointment. Ater applying it, when the hard scars that caked up on the outer layer fall off, it should be all better."
A bottle of ointment could last for almost a month. And this last bottle of potion, she had specially raised the concentration, so the effect was better than the first two bottles.
Soon, his appearance would be back to how it used to be.
The whole time she was applying the ointment, the young man's eyes had always been on her.
They were very close, so close that he could feel the warm breath she exhaled.
The floral fragrance emanating from her hair, elegant and nice, lingered on his nose.
Shengsheng was seven years old, and other than growing a little taller, there wasn't much change from when she was a child.
Her black and white eyes, when smiling, would curl into pretty crescents.
A layer of powder seemed to coat her white and tender skin, and every time he pinched her cheeks, he could feel the soft and smooth touch.
The undiminished baby fats on her face didn't affect her delicate features, but added a little cuteness and daintiness to them.
The girl was beautiful, but what he loved most about her was her smile.
Bright and warm.
That kind of smile, with the soft warmth of the April sun, but also has the penetrating power to break through the dark clouds.
It attracted people who lived in the shadows to chase after it, grabbing it and unwilling to let go.
"Shengsheng."
"Huh?" Liu Yusheng raised her eyebrows in confusion. "What's wrong?"
"Are you happy with your life now?"
"Of course, I'm happy. I like the simplicity and plainness of things now." She had experienced the hustle and bustle, the strife and hassles, the knives stabbed in her back by her closest relatives. But Xinghua Village now was a rare pure land in her heart.
She was lucky to have this kind of life.
"What about you? Do you like it?" She asked.
"Hmm." He replied, "I like what you like."
So, I'll guard what you like.
For a moment, Liu Yusheng thought she saw bitterness in the young man's eyes.
But then she blinked again, he was still smiling as soft as the evening breeze.
Note this is for Offline reading/purpose only credits to the authors, publishers, editors and translators.