Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Are We Going to Share a Room Now?
Su ixi was stunned by the favoritism. Weren’t they not supposed to help out?
But then she thought, feeding fish wasn’t exactly difficult; just sprinkling so feed over the water would suffice. She had done it many tis in parks.
Grandpa Gu explained to her from the side, “This fish feeding, there’s a knack to it. Fish don’t know when they’re full, and they’ll eat whatever you give them. If you’re not careful, they can easily overstuff themselves to death. So, you see, just feeding them once a day is enough…”
As she listened to him, Su ixi couldn’t help but think of her own grandfather.
Her grandfather had also taught her various things since she was young, with a gentle tone.
While feeding the fish, Grandpa Gu unexpectedly comnted, “Xiao Su, Gu Wei has told about your situation. Grandad thinks you’re a very strong girl. It’s rare for soone to remain self-reliant and strong-willed in such circumstances. That quality is not easy to co by.”
Hearing this, Su ixi almost burst into tears.
But after praising her, Grandpa Gu continued, “Grandad has planted so things on the roof and needs to tend to them for a bit. You and Gu Wei can go for a walk nearby.”
Plants on the rooftop?
Su ixi almost laughed again at the thought.
…
Gu Wei ca out and moved two recliners from the house, and they sat under the locust tree to enjoy the cool breeze.
Suddenly, Su ixi felt that if she could, soday when older, sit in a yard like this to cool off, that would be wonderful.
She understood why so many elderly didn’t like to live in the city. In the countryside, a person could live a fulfilling, busy life on their own. Why then confine themselves in the concrete and steel of the city?
“What are you thinking about?” asked Gu Wei.
“I’m thinking, when I grow old, I’d also like to live a life like your granddad.”
“That’s possible,” said Gu Wei.
Su ixi thought for a mont and then added, “I just don’t know whether your older brother would agree.”
“What does it matter if he agrees?” Gu Wei was puzzled.
“Of course, it matters. He has a right to the inheritance of your granddad’s house. What if he also wants to co back after he retires?”
Listening to her endearingly innocent remark, Gu Wei couldn’t help but laugh.
“We’ll have my brother sign a waiver of inheritance the next ti we go back.”
“Don’t. Grandpa is well and good. Signing sothing that inauspicious is not good luck. Let’s talk about it when the ti cos. I was only joking, and I’m not even sure I’ll co back.”
…
After lunch, Su ixi and Gu Wei took a walk around the countryside.
Quite a few people recognized Gu Wei.
“Isn’t that the Gu Family’s second grandson? You’ve co back to visit Grandpa, have you? Oh, and you’ve brought your girlfriend too.”
“My radishes are ready. Take so back with you to fry; they’re fresh.”
“Do you want so peaches and plums? I’ll pick so for you later.”
“…”
Setting out empty-handed, they returned with their arms full of goods, all given by the villagers insistently.
Gu Wei, in the end, didn’t refuse them. These were the relationships Grandpa Gu had built over the years. The stone bridge at the entrance of the village, the basketball court at the village school, and the fitness center for villagers were all initiated and built under Grandpa’s guidance.
The day finally turned to night.
Usually, in the city, days felt very short for Su ixi; they seed to pass in the blink of an eye.
Here, though, the day seed incredibly long. It was as if she had enjoyed the cool air for ages, taken a leisurely stroll for ages, and eaten lots of osmanthus cakes and fresh fruit.
After dinner, Grandpa Gu finally had so free ti and watched the news in the living room with Aunt Zhang.
Aunt Zhang suggested to Gu Wei, “If you two don’t want to watch the news, you can go back to your room to watch sothing else. There’s a TV in there too.”
Su ixi’s heart skipped a beat.
…
Gu Wei led Su ixi upstairs all the sa.
Although the exterior walls of the old house were worn, the interior had been renovated, particularly the second floor.
The second floor was tiled and spotlessly clean. There were four rooms, with the guest room at the very end.
The room was spacious, housing a king-size bed, a desk, bedside tables, and a wardrobe, but there was no bathroom.
Standing at the door, Su ixi stared at the bed, pondering how they would sleep tonight?
Sleeping in the sa bed?
If that happens, would sothing go on between us?
Oh well, since they got their marriage license, they haven’t had their wedding night yet, so tonight might as well count as it.
She entered the room with a sacrificial spirit and placed her backpack solemnly in the closet.
Gu Wei said, “Ah Xi, why don’t you go take a shower first? We use a solar water heater here, and the water might get cold if you wait too long.”
Su ixi thought to herself: It seems he can’t wait any longer.
“Sure, I’ll go take a shower.”
There was a bathroom with a shower right by the stairs.
She took out a set of cotton sports clothes from her backpack and walked to the bathroom.
The reason she chose sportswear was that she felt it wasn’t proper to wear pajamas to soone else’s house, and sportswear was better since it could serve for sleeping and as ho wear.
After the shower, she returned to the room to find Gu Wei sitting on the bed, watching the science and education channel on TV.
She quickly said, “I’m done showering, it’s your turn now.”
Gu Wei uttered an “oh” and also picked up his clothes to go take a shower.
When he ca back, Su ixi noticed he was wearing sportswear as well.
Hers was white, and his was black.
It was such a coincidence, just like a set of couple outfits.
At that mont, Su ixi’s entire mind was filled with fantasies, and her heart rate began to speed up.
The more nervous she beca, the hotter she felt.
She subconsciously wanted to turn on the air conditioner.
However, the air conditioner in the room was broken.
Gu Wei fiddled with it for a bit, confird it wouldn’t work, and went downstairs to find Aunt Zhang, who was also puzzled: “It’s broken? I hadn’t noticed. People haven’t stayed in that room for over half a year, and your elder brother hasn’t stayed overnight here either.”
There were only four rooms here, one for Grandpa Gu, one for Aunt Zhang, a storage room, so there was no possibility of switching rooms.
Aunt Zhang brought up a fan and said, “It seems we’ll have to inconvenience you tonight. This room isn’t hot; I have never had to use the air conditioner when I sleep.”
Aunt Zhang says it’s not hot because people of her age might not feel the heat, but for young people like Gu Wei and Su ixi, it would be strange not to feel hot.
The deeper into the night it got, the hotter Su ixi felt.
Since they were in the countryside and there were many insects, if they kept the windows open, the bugs would fly in, but closing them made the room stuffy.
Su ixi broke into a sweat.
Seeing this, Gu Wei casually suggested, “Ah Xi, would you like to go sit on the rooftop? It’s cooler up there.”
“Can we?” Su ixi asked.
“Of course, there’s a small pavilion up there.”
Su ixi was more than willing, “Then let’s go.”
It was now past 9 p.m.
Grandpa Gu and Aunt Zhang had already gone to bed, and the two of them tiptoed to the rooftop.
The wind was strong on the rooftop, and Su ixi finally felt her whole body relax.
The moon was full tonight, and the visibility was clear even without lights.
The rooftop was filled with various plants, from grapes to roses, and many more that Su ixi couldn’t na.
Gu Wei led Su ixi to the grapevines, then spread out two loungers, and they each lay down on one.
The evening breeze was beyond comfortable!
“Gu Wei, can we sleep on the rooftop all night?” Su ixi asked.
“Of course, we can,” Gu Wei said.
“Will there be mosquitoes?”
“There might be so, but we’ll spray so mosquito repellent later, and if we bring up a couple of thin blankets, it’ll be fine.”
“Gu Wei, did you ever sleep on the rooftop when you were a kid?”
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