Chapter 5: I Borrowed Noodles from Duan Chengliang

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Duan Chengliang was quite content, lying on the warm kang bed, entering a peaceful state of mind. Qin Huairu composed herself, calming her racing heart, and glanced at Duan Chengliang lying on the kang. Though not very robust, his muscles were clearly defined beneath his skin.

She was overwhelmed with mixed emotions.

Though today’s incident was strange and somewhat absurd, it left her savoring a feeling she had never known before—that of being cherished as a woman.

Yet, no matter how wonderful it felt, it wasn’t Jia Dongxu, nor was it Banggeng’s father. She had, bewilderingly and involuntarily, done such a thing.

Duan Chengliang lingered on the memory for a moment before turning to see Qin Huairu standing nearby, her face flushed and lost in thought. That’s when he remembered she had come to borrow some noodles.

He got up from the kang, tiptoed over to the basket hanging from the beam.

Fortunately, there was still a bowl of noodles in the space’s container. He scooped out a bowl and took two steamed buns from the basket.

Then, stepping down, he handed the noodles and buns to the still stunned Qin Huairu. “Sister Qin, here. I’ve got noodles and two buns stored in the basket. Take them and use them first—just to tide you over.”

Qin Huairu came back to herself, her cheeks flushed, eyes complicated as she looked at Duan Chengliang, but she still accepted the bowl and buns.

She pursed her lips tightly for a moment, then said seriously, “Let’s just pretend what happened earlier never did. From now on, we’ll be just like before, okay?”

Duan Chengliang smiled. “Do you think that’s possible? From your reaction just now, I know you won’t forget that feeling any time soon. Well, let’s not talk about it now. We’ll deal with the future later. Go back and cook quickly—you’re in a hurry, aren’t you?”

Qin Huairu left in a daze.

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Duan Chengliang lay back on the kang, once again thoroughly satisfied. By his experience, Qin Huairu must be one of those women with a subtle charm. Considering Jia Dongxu’s slight frame, no wonder he couldn’t handle it.

Although his body had once been considered weak by his biological parents at the smithy, after two years of hard work at the coal yard, his muscles had become well-defined and his strength was no ordinary thing. The only drawback was a slight lack of nutrition, making his endurance a bit lacking.

Lost in thought, Duan Chengliang turned over, added two lumps of coal to the stove, sealed the fire, then sprawled back on the kang lazily. He was so relaxed he didn’t even have the energy to continue exploring the space.

This was what winter hibernation felt like in Beijing. Too bad he and Qin Huairu could only have brief encounters, not nights spent together; holding her soft body would have been so comforting.

Savoring the memory, Duan Chengliang slowly drifted into sleep, perhaps to meet her again in his dreams.

Meanwhile, though Qin Huairu’s body ached all over, she carried the noodles and two buns back home, still busy stirring the batter to cook.

Jia Zhang looked at the bowl of noodles and the two buns in her hand, curled her lips, snorted twice, and said, “You’ve been out so long and only borrowed this little?”

Qin Huairu was stunned, emotions tangled inside her. Her eyes reddened suddenly, but she bit her lip, steadied herself, and tried to speak calmly. “You heard just now—I asked Xu Damao but he wouldn’t lend any, and foolish Zhu still hasn’t come back. Across the way at Master Yi’s place, you don’t want me dealing with them. So I had to run in circles asking around. But at least I was able to borrow this bowl of noodles and two buns from Duan Chengliang. It’s enough for now; I’ll figure out the rest tomorrow. Mom, I’m stirring the batter and heating the buns. Please go to the back cellar and get a cabbage so I can shred it to eat with later.”

Jia Zhang was busy stitching shoe soles, hardly making any progress, but when she heard Qin Huairu’s words, her hands suddenly worked faster. Adjusting her glasses, she said, “I’m busy stitching soles right now, can’t put down my work. After you finish stirring the batter, just take it to the front and get it yourself. It’s no trouble.”

Qin Huairu approached the stove, tears already falling, but she held back her sobs, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. She didn’t bother arguing with her lazy mother-in-law; it was useless anyway.

She finished stirring the batter, reheated the buns, then left the room to fetch cabbage from the backyard cellar.

Her mother-in-law was truly lazy—she didn’t want to climb the stairs to the cellar even once, let alone twice. Qin Huairu grumbled quietly as she picked a small cabbage, carried it upstairs, re-covered the cellar entrance, and brushed off the dirt from her clothes.

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As she reached Xu Damao’s door, it creaked open and he came out.

He still walked with a limp, but his face was full of curiosity and his attitude noticeably warmer than before. Smiling, he asked Qin Huairu, “Qin Huairu, did you manage to borrow noodles from Duan Chengliang?”

This was one reason why Qin Huairu didn’t like Xu Damao much. He was about the same age as Duan Chengliang, only a year or two older.

Yet, he rarely addressed her as “Sister-in-law” or “Sister Qin,” always calling her simply by her name. Unlike Duan Chengliang, who always spoke warmly and affectionately, calling her Sister Qin.

Suddenly thinking of Duan Chengliang, Qin Huairu felt weak inexplicably, her feelings growing complicated again.

Seeing her blush, Xu Damao’s gaze became somewhat unfocused. Qin Huairu in that state was strikingly beautiful, like a peach blossom, making him feel a bit flustered and breathless.

So, the Xu Damao who had been trying to find trouble for Duan Chengliang earlier now abandoned his pursuit of whether she had borrowed noodles. Instead, he warmly said, “Sister Qin, there’s still noodles in my container. I’ll tighten my belt and eat less these days. I’ll pack you two pounds in a small cloth bag. You can take it back to help Banggeng for now.”

Qin Huairu, lost in thought about Duan Chengliang, was startled by Xu Damao’s sudden change in attitude. She looked at him strangely, unable to understand why he had become so friendly all of a sudden.

Just moments ago, he had greeted her with a gloating expression; now he was so warm.

Then she noticed the intense way his eyes roamed over her. Looking at his long face and thin mustache, and the way his gaze seemed to strip her bare, Qin Huairu felt a wave of disgust.

She snorted, “No need. I borrowed noodles from Duan Chengliang, and he even gave me two buns. That’s enough for today.”