Chapter 131: Giving Them Time Off

"You can add sugarcane," Zhong Yuxiu smiled. "It makes the broth fresh, sweet, and exceptionally delicious."

"Really?"

"You'll see once you taste it." Zhong Yuxiu's smile was radiant. "We have a feast tonight. I'll leave you two to your work."

Once she left, Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo exchanged glances, half-doubting her words.

Zhong Yuxiu returned to the living room and resumed her seat. Yan Rushan brought her a tray of snacks, which she accepted naturally. She ate a peanut first, then, catching him off guard, popped one into his mouth.

Yan Rushan was taken aback, but he took it into his mouth, his eyes crinkling with amusement. His thin lips curved upward as he reached out to pat her head.

"You eat, no need to feed me."

"Let's eat together." She held the tray out toward him. Seeing him reach for more, she quickly stopped him. "Don't bother shelling any more; we've had enough. Your hands will ache if you keep at it."

He withdrew his hand, watching her with a gentle, smiling gaze. His heart felt incredibly soft, as if he were basking in a warm, gentle breeze. So, this was what it felt like to be cared for by a loved one. It was wonderful!

Zhong Yuxiu ate one, then fed him one. Neither spoke, yet the silence was more eloquent than words.

After finishing the snacks, Zhong Yuxiu leaned forward to pick up her teacup, but Yan Rushan was faster. He brought it to her. "Drink slowly; the water is still hot."

"Mm." She took a small sip and frowned slightly; the water hadn't cooled much and was still burning hot.

"Don't drink it yet. Have some pomelo to quench your thirst." He took the cup away and brought over a plate of pomelo. "Here, pomelo is juicy; it's almost as good as drinking water."

Zhong Yuxiu nodded and began eating, the sweetness reaching her heart. She looked up and smiled at him. "It's so sweet—better than plain water."

"I'll bring some more over for you later, so you can have it whenever you like."

Having spent over an hour at the Zhong residence, Yan Rushan kept his word. He went home, brought back over a dozen pomelos, and placed them in the storage room. Only when he guessed that Elder Yan would be returning did he reluctantly bid farewell.

"Sleep in tomorrow. I'll come by at ten, and then we'll head to my place for dinner."

"Shouldn't I go earlier to help out?" It was her first time visiting, and since both their families lived in the same residential compound, she worried that arriving too late might be seen as impolite.

The young woman was so thoughtful and considerate that Yan Rushan reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's fine. My mother is preparing the meal, and Dad and I will help. As a guest of honor on your first visit, you should just relax and enjoy yourself."

"Alright then, I'll wait for you to pick me up." She agreed readily.

Yan Rushan chuckled. "I should go. See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

After seeing him off, Zhong Yuxiu returned to the living room. Without the scent of him lingering in the air, she felt a slight sense of loss. She turned toward the kitchen, nearly bumping into Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo, who were just finishing up.

"Comrade Zhong, has Comrade Yan left?" Hao Nan asked.

"He's gone," Zhong Yuxiu nodded. "You two should go outside and sit for a while. Thank you for helping Gou Dan."

"It's our duty, you're too kind. We have to eat too, don't we?"

Zhong Yuxiu smiled. After they left, she went into the kitchen. There was plenty of meat and a couple of vegetable dishes. The lamb, in particular, smelled delicious and completely free of any gamey odor.

"Gou Dan, well done."

"Beep-beep."

Gou Dan turned its head, its sensor scanning her before it went back to its work.

Zhong Yuxiu wandered around the kitchen. The more she looked, the hungrier she became. Since it wasn't dinner time yet and the lamb still needed more cooking, she decided to go back out and have some snacks.

Back in the living room, she sat on the sofa. As her eyes swept over Hao and Tian, she suddenly remembered she needed to give them time off. She walked over to the telephone and dialed Xi Nian’s number. It rang a few times before being answered.

"Is this Comrade Xi Nian?"

"Yes, Comrade Zhong. Hello, and wishing you a happy New Year in advance." Xi Nian’s voice came through. The connection wasn't great—certainly not as clear as the phones of the future.

Zhong Yuxiu laughed. "Happy New Year to you too, Comrade Xi Nian. I'm calling because I have something to discuss."

"Please, go ahead."

"Comrade Hao Nan and Comrade Tian Shangguo have been protecting me and haven't had time to visit their families. With the New Year approaching, I realized I should give them leave so they can reunite with their loved ones."

Xi Nian replied, "Their duty is to protect you. If they leave, you won't be safe going out."

"I know. I won't leave the compound alone while they're gone. At most, I'll walk around inside the grounds, so don't worry." Zhong Yuxiu paused, then added, "They have to be back by the tenth day of the New Year. It's only about ten days of leave."

"Very well. However, I must arrange for two others to come and protect you." Xi Nian compromised but remained concerned for her safety.

Zhong Yuxiu pulled up a chair and sat down calmly. "No need to send anyone. The compound is very safe. I said I wouldn't leave, and I won't. Thank you for your kindness, but I'd like to enjoy a quiet New Year."

There was a long silence on the other end.

"Then you must not leave the compound. If you do, you must let me know, and I will send people to guard you personally."

"Alright. I'll tell them now so they can pack their things. By the way, with the New Year only a few days away, are train tickets hard to get?" Every year, so many people traveled home that both train and bus tickets were notoriously difficult to purchase.

Back then, scalpers were not allowed, though that would change once policies opened up in a few years.

Xi Nian’s soft laughter echoed through the line. "I understand. I'll contact someone to help with the tickets. I'll come by later today to deliver them. I hope you don't mind if I scrounge a meal at your place when I do."

"You're welcome to! Gou Dan made lamb today; you're in for a treat." Zhong Yuxiu’s tone was light and sincere. "If possible, please get tickets for tonight or tomorrow. Standing or seated, it doesn't matter, as long as they can get on board."

In the late seventies, train regulations weren't as strict; one could board with a standing ticket and secure a seat, or upgrade to a sleeper, once on the train if there was space.

After hanging up, she returned to the sofa and spoke to the two men.

"Comrade Hao, Comrade Tian, please pack your things after dinner. Go and have a good reunion with your families. I'm giving you fifteen days of leave. Your homes aren't too far from the capital; even with three or five days for travel, you'll still have ten days at home. Just be back by the tenth. Classes at Hua University resume on the twelfth, and I have to be there to manage my class."

Taking on a new class was not as simple as being a teaching assistant; she had to handle everything personally until things were on the right track and she could delegate tasks to the class monitors.

If she let go too early, it would be difficult to truly understand the students in her new class.