265: Chapter 264 Psychological Shadow 265: Chapter 264 Psychological Shadow Lin Nianhe didn’t stay long at the village school.
There were still two little ones at the Educated Youth Corps, and she was worried that they would be frightened if they woke up to find no familiar faces.
She did not forget to ntion to Principal Wu that the two children would be attending the village school.
Principal Wu, always welcoming to students, rely furrowed her brow and sighed, “Parents’ sins, the child suffers first,” after hearing their background from Lin Nianhe.
Lin Nianhe wholeheartedly agreed.
Not to ntion their future life, just seeing the current state of the two children, one could tell that the drastic changes at ho had already caused them considerable psychological trauma.
Bai Xiaojun was sowhat better off, as he was young and still naive.
Zheng Shan, however…
“Shanshan, what are you doing?”
Lin Nianhe returned to the Educated Youth Corps and imdiately spotted Zheng Shan.
She was sitting on a small stool, hanging her head low, fiddling absentmindedly with a corner of her clothing.
Near her, Bai Xiaojun, with a wooden gun in one hand and a stick in the other, was squatting in the corner, digging at an anthill.
Seeing Bai Xiaojun entertaining himself quite well, Lin Nianhe approached Zheng Shan first and squatted down to gently ask her.
Zheng Shan pursed her lips, glanced up at Lin Nianhe, then quickly dropped her head again.
Lin Nianhe’s brow slightly furrowed, her worry deepened.
Just as she was about to say a few more words to Zheng Shan, soone tugged at her sleeve.
Turning around, it was Wang Xiaoxiao.
Wang Xiaoxiao glanced at Zheng Shan, then leaned in close to Lin Nianhe and whispered, “Sister Lin, I think this little sister might be sick… I spoke a lot to her but she didn’t respond at all.
Sister Wen carried her out from the house and she’s just been sitting here.”
Lin Nianhe glanced at Zheng Shan, who was still twiddling with her clothing corner, her brows furrowed tightly.
She nodded at Wang Xiaoxiao and said, “The little sister isn’t feeling unwell, she’s just a bit shy around strangers.
It’s okay, I’ll stay with her.”
As Lin Nianhe talked to Wang Xiaoxiao, her attention remained on Zheng Shan.
She noticed that at the ntion of “shy around strangers,” Zheng Shan’s finger paused slightly and seed sowhat loosened.
Wang Xiaoxiao wanted to say sothing more, but Lin Nianhe subtly shook her head.
Wang Xiaoxiao humd in acknowledgnt, stepped back two paces, thought for a mont, and still waved to Zheng Shan, “Little sister, co find when you want to play!”
Zheng Shan did not look up, did not speak, and had no reaction.
Wang Xiaoxiao was not annoyed but went back to cling to Wang Shui.
After she left, Lin Nianhe asked Zheng Shan, “Shanshan, you don’t like crowded places, right?
Shall we go inside?”
Zheng Shan stopped twiddling her clothing corner.
She quickly glanced at Lin Nianhe but kept her lips sealed.
Lin Nianhe held out her hand and softly said, “If you want to go back inside, just take my hand.”
Zheng Shan stared at Lin Nianhe’s hand, silent and as still as a wooden puppet.
Lin Nianhe did not touch her or rush her, just held out her hand, waiting.
After a long while, Lin Nianhe’s arm was getting stiff, Zheng Shan finally slowly reached out her hand, tentatively and lightly placing her fingers in Lin Nianhe’s palm.
Lin Nianhe held her fingers, gently pulling her up from the small stool.
She led Zheng Shan inside, made her sit on a chair, and then went out to borrow another chair from Wang Shui’s house, sitting down at the table herself.
Lin Nianhe placed water and sugar by Zheng Shan’s hand, then took out a blank notebook and a pencil and placed them in front of her.
She said, “Shanshan, if you want, you can draw.”
Zheng Shan leaned back in the chair, retreating into her own little world, perhaps feeling safest there.
Lin Nianhe worried inside, but her expression remained composed.
Casually, she took out a set of physics exam papers, forcing her attention away from Zheng Shan, and began working on the problems.
The scratching of the pen on the paper elongated the ti, accompanied by the chirping of birds and insects, soothing one’s heart gradually.
Lin Nianhe had just finished half of her exam paper when she heard another rustling sound.
She slightly tilted her head, catching a glimpse of Zheng Shan holding a pencil from the corner of her eye.
Lin Nianhe didn’t look at her again and continued writing with her eyes downcast.
The two of them were each doing their own thing, without any interaction, but Lin Nianhe distinctly felt that Zheng Shan’s mood had relaxed sowhat.
After nearly half an hour, voices could be heard from outside, it was Wen Lan who had gone to pick up firewood with Qian Guozhu returning.
“Hezi, what are you doing?” Wen Lan, covered in sweat, handed over an enal jar through the window, “Do you have any water?
Pour so.”
“I do, just a mont.”
Lin Nianhe took the enal jar and went to pour water, seemingly inadvertently glancing at Zheng Shan’s book.
The little girl had put down her pencil when Wen Lan ca over and had once again withdrawn back into her chair.
On her book, she had drawn four people and a river.
Her drawing wasn’t very good, Lin Nianhe guessed, perhaps they were catching fish as a family of four.
Lin Nianhe only glanced briefly then nonchalantly handed the enal jar to Wen Lan, after Sister Lan had drunk a few sips of water, Lin Nianhe said, “Sister Lan, I promised Xiao Jun this noon that I would take him to catch fish, are you tired?”
“Not tired, let’s go.” Wen Lan lifted her chin, looking extrely smug, “I saw Comrade Sie catch fish last ti, I feel I’ve learned it too.”
In terms of working, Lin Nianhe would never question Wen Lan.
She couldn’t afford it.
“Okay, wait for , I’ll get ready.”
“Alright, I’ll go ask if Xiaoxiao wants to co.”
After Wen Lan left, Lin Nianhe smiled at Zheng Shan and said, “Shanshan, let’s go catch fish.”
Zheng Shan pursed her lips and looked up at her.
Her clear, black and white eyes held hesitation, reluctance, and a trace of fear.
Lin Nianhe said, “I promised Xiao Jun at noon, I can’t break my word.
If you don’t want to go into the river, we can just play on the shore.”
Zheng Shan’s eyes slowly moved down to Lin Nianhe’s hand.
Understanding, Lin Nianhe reached out her hand again.
This ti, Zheng Shan didn’t make Lin Nianhe wait and quickly grasped her fingers.
Lin Nianhe held her hand as they went to find Bai Xiaojun, whose chubby face instantly filled with anticipation when he heard they were going to catch fish.
Yet, he didn’t imdiately agree, looking around and not seeing Zheng Lirong, he had to ask Zheng Shan, “Sister, can we go?”
The little fat boy who ran around on the train had learned to ask for opinions, Lin Nianhe watched but didn’t feel like praising him for being sensible.
Zheng Shan still reacted to Bai Xiaojun, she nodded and squeezed Lin Nianhe’s hand unconsciously harder.
Lin Nianhe firmly held her hand, returning warmth.
When they heard they were going to catch fish, Qian Guozhu, feeling worried, put down the firewood and followed them.
By the winding river, Lin Nianhe and Zheng Shan sat side by side.
Wang Xiaoxiao, wearing Wang Shui’s clothes with the sleeves and trouser legs rolled up twice, stepped into the river, her laughter carried by the current and drifting far.
She was enjoying herself, while her other hand did not forget to drag Bai Xiaojun along.
The two were like mischievous spirits, terrifying the fish which swam rapidly around them.
This irritated Wen Lan who wanted to show off her fishing skills since she couldn’t find any targets, Sister Lan simply gave up on fishing and started splashing water with a stick at the two youngsters.
Their laughter ford a noisy group, making Lin Nianhe and Zheng Shan’s spot seem sowhat deserted.
Lin Nianhe peeled open two White Rabbit candies, handing one to Zheng Shan.
Zheng Shan held the candy, gazing steadily at the three playing and laughing.
Lin Nianhe said, “Shanshan, do you want to play for a while too?
I’ll accompany you.”
Her lightly trembling eyelashes paused, lifted a fraction, then fell back down.
She slowly lowered her head, her small hand gripping the corner of her clothes again.
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