Chapter 34 (1/2)

The wooden box was about half a foot, in which a hairpin and a pair of earrings were lain on a satin.

The hairpin was made of the old mahogany in brown, and the head of the hairpin was made of lotus stone in form of lotus flower. The end of the lotus stone was covered with silver.

Even though the lotus stone was not very big, it was high quality and had been properly designed, which was just like a blooming lotus flower.

Both of the quality of the lotus stone and the designs could be regarded as perfect.

As for the pair of earrings in shape of water drop, the materials were the same. The pair of earrings looked pretty elegant and graceful, for which any girls would like it.

Zhao’er liked such beautiful stuff like the other girls as well. However, she was too busy to spare any time in that. Besides, she was short of money, and never would she be able to afford such expensive stuff.

However, Xue gave her this loveable gift. She could not be happier.

Seeing Zhao’er’s satisfaction of this gift, Xue was somewhat relieves. He had been worried that Zhao’er might not be happy to know him spend so much money.

Zhao’er happened to ask him about the price.

Xue attempted to lie, but it was obvious that the gift would not be cheap. Therefore, he honestly told the true price to Zhao’er.

Hearing the price, Zhao’er was a little uncomfortable since it was too expensive. But she was not so uncomfortable anyway. She also had earned a lot these days. It was different between spending one tael of silver with more than ten tael of silver and spending all of the one tael of silver.

It occurred to her that Xue might have worked hard to earn this one tael of silver. After all, the money earned by him through transcribing had been spent. He should have transcribed another volume to earn the one tael of silver?

Considering about this, she was really touched and said, “You must have earned the one tael of silver through transcribing, don’t you? Since you have bought it, it will be no meaning to say more. But I will make up for you.”

“No.” Xue said decisively and quickly.

Zhao’er was still thinking about the specific meaning of him, when he asked her, “Do you like it?”

She looked at him. His eyes were pretty black, while bright, like the eyes of the little puppy.

She recalled how she had bought Heizi, the little puppy, from Jiang’s family. At that time, the little puppy stared at her just like Xue and licked her palm with its pink tongue.

Now, the little puppy had grown up, so had her young men. Now her young men even knew how to care her and buy the hairpin for her.

Zhao’er could not help but to mess his hair, and said, “I love it. But I haven’t pierced my ear. I may not be able to wear the earrings.”

Xue unconsciously looked at her ears.

Generally, the ears of Zhao’er were loveable and cute in pink. As the old saying goes, the people who had such ears would be lucky.

He somehow wanted to bite her ears, while contained such impulsive. He felt his heart beating heavily and tightly.

“I help you wear the hairpin.”

“Now? But I haven’t combed my hair.”

“I help you wear it.” Xue repeated.

Under this condition, Zhao’er had no other choice. She lowered her head so that Xue could be able to wear the hairpin for her.

Xue took out the hairpin, and put it into the hair of Zhao’er. He watched her carefully. She was really beautiful with the hairpin.

It took a long period of time. And Zhao’er finally asked him, “Is it ok?”

Xue suddenly loosed his hand, and cough to cover his absent-minded, “It’s ok.”

“Does it look good?” Zhao’er stood up and turned her head. It was the first time that she had worn such girl-like hairpin. She usually just tied her hair with hair tie before.

Even though the hairpin was not heavy, she felt her head heavier.

“Isn’t it strange?”

Xue said, “Not at all. It looks good.”

“Well.” She still couldn’t help but to look into a mirror.

The found mirror was worn, and was covered by scars and dirt. Besides, the mirror was made poorly, for which Zhao’er could only see the vague shadow in the mirror. Therefore, Zhao’er put the mirror down, and said to Xue, “You can take a rest. I should cook now.”

She put the box on the table, and took a piece of pork from the basket under the tale. After Zhao’er left the room, Xue heard that she was talking with Mrs. Zhou. Even though he was reading book, while her white neck and pink ears were showing on the books.

There were fried meat, stewed tofu with topaz, fired Baisong, as well as Chinese yam at dinner table. Besides, Zhao’er had prepared a big pot of white rice. The rice was bought in the Rice Store, since the rice didn’t grow here in Xia County. Therefore, Zhao’er just bought five catty of rice.

Those dishes were too much for they two. Zhao’er spared a large amount of the dishes and put the rest in another bowl. It was noisy in the yard. The father and son of the eldest family came back.

“Zhou, cook as quick as possible.” The father ordered.

Mrs. Zhou had prepared the food materials for the dishes, and the rice was being boiled as well. She just waited for her husband and son to come back to cook the dishes for them. Zhao’er had just finished the cooking so that Mrs. Zhou could cook for her husband and son.

Zhao’er came to the kitchen twice to get the dishes all back her own room. She asked Xue to eat and she had to take the reserved meat dish to the principle room.

In the principle room where Mrs. Zhao lived, she was inquiring Xue Juncai and was so concerned of his life in the school.

Zhao’er entered the room and greeted with the father of Xue’s family with smile, “Grand Father, Tingxiang and I prepared some dishes to serve for you and Grand Mother.”

“You are concerned. It’s good. Shall you come to eat together?”

Zhao’er said politely, “Thanks for your kindness and consideration. There is one bowl of dishes reserved. Tingxiang was hungry when he came back several hours ago. I had planned to wait for Juncai, but it was a bit of late. So I cooked in advance and Tingxiang is having his dinner now. May I?”

Father of Xue’s family said nothing more, but admitted silently. Zhao’er left and returned the secondary room, only to find Tingxiang still waiting for her.

The dishes had been placed by Tingxiang on the table in order, and the rice also had been prepared by him.

Zhao’er took of the shoes and went to the kang, asked, “Why not eat first?”

“I’m waiting for you.”

“There is no need to wait for me. Well, just have the meal.”

Zhao’er asked him some questions about his life in school, such as whether there were bad boys bullying him, whether the teachers were strict.

Xue answered her one by one.