Pei Jing brushed the snow off his body as he entered the house, saying, "I'm going into town to get some things in a bit. Stay home and be careful - it just snowed so the roads are slippery. Don't go out if you don't need to. Wait until I get back if you have anything you need to do."
"There's no need to rush, the snow hasn't stopped yet," Know Summer looked outside worriedly. "Actually I'm not that cold. I was knitting a sweater last night and lost track of time staying up late. I didn't want you to scold me for not resting well, so I said I couldn't get warm under the covers."
After she finished speaking, Know Summer noticed Pei Jing's gaze had lingered on her for a while, making her feel rather nervous.
But instead, he simply said, "I still have to go get the stuff back. This snow is coming down heavily, and once it starts snowing here it can keep going for days. I should go while the snow isn't too deep yet and it doesn't affect going out. In a few days when it gets deeper, it will be hard to even leave the house."
Since he put it that way, Know Summer didn't argue further, just telling him to be careful.
Before leaving, Pei Jing asked Know Summer to give him some money and ration tickets, because Old Pei had said before their marriage that Pei Jing should hand over all his finances to Know Summer to manage. Currently he didn't have a penny to his name.
Know Summer didn't ask what he was buying, just gave him what he requested.
With the sudden cold weather, everyone was hiding indoors and not coming out. But no one bothering them suited Know Summer just fine.
Pei Jing came back around noon, a large sack slung over his shoulder, and a net bag in his hand, also filled to the brim.
Know Summer hurried to open the door for him. He put the things down on the floor, and even with his strong physique he couldn't help but pant tiredly from the effort.
Know Summer swiftly brushed the snow off of him while he put down the towel and turned to go outside and dust himself off.
"Did you carry this all the way back from so far away?" Know Summer asked him.
"No, I borrowed a wheelbarrow and pushed it back," Pei Jing replied. Then he asked her, "Oh right, is there food at home?"
"I made mixed noodles, I'll go cook them now," she said and then went out towards the kitchen. She was afraid Pei Jing would follow her in, so once in the kitchen she quickly took out the noodles from her interspatial ring.
Pei Jing was still organizing the things he brought back in the room, so he didn't stand on ceremony.
By the time Know Summer brought the noodles over, he had already laid out the items on the table, though he left some things in the net bag.
"This afternoon I'm going to see Pei Meng. The things in the net bag are to bring to her. What's on the table is for you - your health is too frail and you need good nutrition. Eat up, don't skimp. When it's gone I'll figure out more," Pei Jing said while eating.
Know Summer nodded. "When we came here I brought a lot of facial creams. Bring a couple boxes to Pei Meng when you go. The weather here is quite dry, young girls care about looking pretty, she'll make good use of them."
"Alright," Pei Jing didn't refuse.
Right after eating, Know Summer took out the items for Pei Meng, and after some thought added some yarn as well, handing it all to Pei Jing.
She had met Pei Meng a few times before the girl went to the countryside. Though they didn't interact much, she could tell the girl had a good character.
For a young girl to come to the countryside alone, having to face the unfamiliar weather and arduous farm work, as well as the difference in living conditions - even if she was well fed and clothed, it certainly wouldn't be easy to bear.
In fact, if Pei Jing hadn't left on his mission, they should have gone to check on her long ago. This delay meant so much time had already passed.
Pei Jing walked on foot to the village where Pei Meng was sent down, arriving in the mid afternoon. After asking around the village, he found out Pei Meng was not staying at the designated place for educated youths, but was arranged to board with one of the villagers instead.
In fact the locals here were quite unwelcoming to unfamiliar outsiders. Luckily Pei Jing was in military uniform, which easily earned him others' trust.
Following the directions given, Pei Jing found the place. The front gate was open, but being polite, Pei Jing still called out first from outside, "Is anyone home?"
"Who is it?" The door curtain of the main room was lifted, and an old woman hunched over with age came out from inside.
At the same time, the door curtain of the side room was also pulled aside, and Pei Meng's delighted voice came from that side, "Uncle, you finally came! I've been waiting for you so long."
Pei Meng's voice gradually turned tearful, clearly like a wronged child.
Pei Jing reached out and ruffled her hair, just about to comfort the girl, when another person emerged from the side room - and it was a man.
Pei Jing's heart instantly sank, though with others present he could not outwardly show it on his face.
"Uncle brought you some things. Is it convenient for me to send them to your room?" Pei Jing asked her.
Pei Meng quickly nodded. "With all this snow, uncle must be frozen from coming all this way. Hurry in and warm up, there's a heated brick bed inside, it's nice and warm too."
The hunchbacked old woman didn't seem too happy seeing this, but still forced a smile and asked Pei Meng, "Mengmeng, this is...?"
"This is my uncle. He's stationed with the troops not far from here and came specially to see me," Pei Meng explained. "Auntie, I'll take my uncle inside to warm up. Don't mind us."
Since it was his niece staying in someone else's home, and he still didn't know the circumstances, Pei Jing maintained politeness and expressed his thanks before following Pei Meng inside.
The old woman signaled to her son - the man who had just emerged from the same room as Pei Meng. The man immediately nodded and rushed to the door, pressing his ear against the curtain to listen.
Only after ensuring they were observed did Pei Jing go inside the room and look around. There was nothing special about the dwelling, after all this was the countryside, poorer living conditions were to be expected. And the room had a heated brick bed, exuding a wave of warmth even in the middle of the day with windows and curtain closed.
Pei Meng was only 19. Seeing her uncle after suddenly leaving home, she was already feeling aggrieved, and now could hardly bear it.
Just as she was about to say something, Pei Jing grabbed her hand and shook his head at her.
Pei Meng hastily swallowed back the tears that had welled up, looking at Pei Jing in confusion.
Pei Jing quietly walked over to the door, then abruptly swept the curtain aside, exposing the man outside. Not expecting to be discovered, the man's expression was somewhat stunned for a moment.
Fortunately his reaction was quick, and he hastily said, "Comrade, you must be frozen stiff coming all this way. My mother said to ask if you want some hot water to warm up?"
"No need, thank you for the considerate offer. I will speak up if there is anything I require," Pei Jing replied, though he already felt extreme disgust towards this family Pei Meng was boarding with.
The man left awkwardly, still glancing back once on the way. Seeing Pei Jing's gaze still cold and fixed on his retreating figure, he was instantly shocked and didn't dare have any more improper thoughts.
Only then did Pei Jing let the curtain fall closed and turn back into the room. He immediately asked Pei Meng, "What's going on here? Why aren't you staying at the designated place for educated youth? And this family, have they mistreated you?"
It was no wonder Pei Jing would ask this - though it was broad daylight, with curtains and doors shut, an unrelated man and woman alone together in a room was highly inappropriate by any decent standard.
He knew Pei Meng's character very well - his niece would never do anything improper without the family knowing. But outsiders were another story.
At Pei Jing's age and experience, he was no naive youth, and understood human nature's dangerous side all too well.
