Chapter 86

Chapter 86

It wasn't until Xu Yuqing stopped and scattered the noodles that everyone snapped back to reality.

Gao Min raised an eyebrow in a showy manner. "Impressive, right?"

No matter how many times one saw her knife skills, it was always astounding.

Zhang Xiuhong stared blankly at Xu Yuqing's movements. It took Gao Min's prompting for her to come back to herself, but her actions were still stiff.

She mechanically followed Gao Min's motions, her mind elsewhere.

Xu Yuqing focused on slicing her noodles, lost in her own world.

Everyone worked diligently, and the task progressed quickly.

In no time, they had cut all the dough sheets.

However, there was an awkward situation: they didn't have enough bamboo trays.

When Lin Qiqi pointed this out, Xu Yuqing was taken aback. Indeed, these noodles required at least two trays, but all the trays were already in use. This wouldn't do; the dough would spoil if not handled properly.

Xu Yuqing rubbed her temples in frustration. No, they had to find a solution.

How did she miss noticing the lack of trays earlier?

Suddenly, she remembered the bamboo trays at home. Her eyes lit up; the tray Xie Junli brought back hadn't been used yet!

Perfect, she could use it temporarily since it wasn't being used at home.

"Min Min! I'll go home to get a tray. You divide the noodles into small portions as I showed you, about this much." She demonstrated by grabbing a handful, showing Gao Min and Lin Qiqi.

They watched intently, and Xu Yuqing felt reassured. She continued.

"Get the steamer baskets ready. Divide the dough into portions, spread them out a bit, and shape them with a bowl before steaming."

She demonstrated the process, her wrist turning gently to form a circle.

Lin Qiqi understood and took the bowl, mimicking Xu Yuqing's movements, looking at her questioningly, her eyes speaking volumes.

Xu Yuqing nodded approvingly. "Yes, exactly like that. Don't overcrowd them. After shaping, steam them for 20 minutes."

"Got it."

The two responded loudly. Xu Yuqing rolled down her sleeves, wiped her hands clean, and dusted off the flour from her clothes. "I'll go get the tray. Luckily, it's lunchtime, so I'll be quick. You two start working."

Just as she was about to leave, Zhang Xiuhong called out. Xu Yuqing turned around, puzzled. "What is it?"

Zhang Xiuhong opened her mouth but hesitated. Seeing Xu Yuqing's slightly anxious look, she finally spoke. "Can you carry it alone?"

Xu Yuqing paused, understanding her concern. Was she worried about carrying it alone?

Perhaps she wanted to help.

Xu Yuqing smiled. "Sure, I was wondering how I'd manage two trays." She said jokingly.

Zhang Xiuhong, relieved, smiled faintly, her steps becoming lighter.

Together, they walked, and Xu Yuqing noticed Zhang Xiuhong's military uniform. It seemed rather conspicuous.

But she couldn't back out now. Looking at the empty road ahead, Xu Yuqing silently prayed that no one would be around.

If someone appeared, she'd have to make up an excuse, saying she needed a document for Xie Junli.

Lost in thought, Xu Yuqing seemed distracted. Zhang Xiuhong hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Comrade Yuqing, why did you decide to do this?"

Her words were vague, but the meaning was clear. Xu Yuqing understood immediately.

She looked up at the sky and said slowly, "There's no particular reason. When I learned about some people's difficult situations, I realized I had the ability to help, even if only a little. Every little bit counts, right?"

She couldn't help but smile, her face radiating warmth and gentleness.

Zhang Xiuhong was confused, following Xu Yuqing's gaze to the sky. What was so interesting about it? She didn't understand.

Perhaps it was the atmosphere or the sense of security she felt with Xu Yuqing. She opened her mouth.

"In the past, I never had any free time or helped others. They didn't understand why I couldn't stop, but only I knew that I dared not. If I stopped, the broom would hit me."

She spoke softly, her voice tinged with a sensitivity that only someone often beaten would possess. Today, she noticed something in Comrade Yuqing's eyes.

Better to speak up than wait for someone else to ask.

And she sensed a kinship between them.

After a long silence, Zhang Xiuhong looked at Xu Yuqing, who had lowered her head.

"What's wrong?"

Xu Yuqing shook her head, feeling a sharp pain. Images flashed through her mind and then vanished, like scenes from a movie, but she couldn't recall them afterward.

"It's nothing, just a headache," she whispered, her eyes filled with inexplicable sadness.

Zhang Xiuhong noticed and smiled faintly. "Actually, it doesn't hurt me anymore. I'm just used to not stopping. Besides, I proved that I'm stronger than those Zhen Guo and Zhen Hua!"

As she said this, she truly believed it, her eyes determined and her face smiling.

Xu Yuqing stared blankly at Zhang Xiuhong's face, feeling as if her head hurt even more, with a fine, needle-like pain piercing her.

Maintaining her composure, she replied to Zhang Xiuhong, "Yes, you're really great."

Yes, she was really great.

Maintaining her composure, with her familiar front door just a short distance away, she almost couldn't control herself and jogged inside. "Come in."

Without waiting for a response from the person behind her, she entered the house and went to the bathroom, hurriedly saying, "I'm not feeling well; wait for me a moment."

She disappeared immediately.

Zhang Xiuhong stood dumbfounded at the doorway, unsure whether to enter or not. Ultimately, to avoid being seen by others, she went in and closed the courtyard gate behind her.

However, she stayed in the courtyard without following Xu Yuqing inside.

She keenly sensed that something was off with Xu Yuqing's mood.

Was it because of her? She looked up at the sky, confused.

Did she misjudge the situation? Should she not have said anything?

But in the bathroom, things were different from what Zhang Xiuhong had imagined. Xu Yuqing was crouched on the floor, holding her head, unable to suppress the sounds of distress.

"So painful..."

More and more memories flooded her mind, and Xu Yuqing couldn't help but shed tears, more and more, until they formed a puddle.

After a long while, which might have been just a few minutes, Xu Yuqing finally regained her senses. She pushed open the wooden bathroom door with a creak and walked weakly to her usual small stool in the kitchen.

She remembered everything, all of it.

She wasn't just in a book; she had traveled through time, and reincarnated...

How ironic, was she the protagonist of a tragic novel, experiencing so many rebirths? But... she didn't want this!

She covered her eyes, tears streaming through her fingers.

Xu Yuqing had indeed been a food blogger, but that was only at the beginning. Later, she was transported to a worker's family, where she had an older brother and a younger brother.

Born with her memories intact, she was naturally wise. At first, her parents were delighted and proud, but as she grew older and more accomplished, she made her brothers look inadequate. Her proud sons resented her, and her parents began to see her as a liability.

Her younger brother's attitude toward her worsened over time, even resorting to verbal abuse and physical violence. Xu Yuqing wanted to escape, but in those times, without proper credentials, there was nowhere to go.

Being kidnapped was common.

When she lost hope, she lost her chance to attend school.

No, rather, she was going to be sold to the son of a factory manager as a second wife.

Xu Yuqing couldn't escape; they watched her closely. The money from the sale would cover her brother's dowry. Fortunately, the arrival of educated youth saved her.

Each household had to send one member to the countryside, and neither of her brothers wanted to go. In the end, Xu Yuqing gained her freedom and went to the countryside.

She thought it would be freedom, but fate was cruel. The village accountant wanted to marry her, and when she refused, she was assigned the most grueling work—carrying manure.

The other educated youth avoided her.

At night, she endured harassment from disgusting men, keeping her door tightly shut, staying awake until dawn.

She knew no one would come to save her.

Looking at her dirty hands, she considered suicide but ended up saving a man instead.

Xie Junli, her savior, freed her from her predicament. To not burden him, she chose to stay in the village and care for his family, agreeing to divorce once he found someone else.

But later...

When caught for illegal trading, Xu Yuqing saw Sun Meiyu's malicious smile. She didn't understand why these people wouldn't let her live a better life.

In prison, she finally found release in death.

But unexpectedly, she returned, forgetting her past life, living another painful existence. Just as she could change her fate, she remembered her proudest moments.

Xu Yuqing took deep breaths, slowly regaining her composure. She had wasted ten minutes, but she still had company. She patted her face, stood up, and picked up the bamboo tray from the kitchen.

Where was the living room?

Xu Yuqing looked outside and saw Zhang Xiuhong in the courtyard. She quickly walked out. "Why didn't you come in? It's so cold out here?"

Zhang Xiuhong shook her head, noticing Xu Yuqing's red-rimmed eyes. "What happened?"

Putting down the bamboo tray, she managed a weak smile. "Nothing, I think I ate something bad. It hurts a lot. Can you take this back? I'll come over later."

The two bamboo trays weren't heavy, and Zhang Xiuhong agreed. She wanted to ask what was wrong, but it didn't seem like stomach pain. However, it wasn't her place to pry.

She nodded and left under Xu Yuqing's watchful gaze. Turning at the gate, she looked worriedly at Xu Yuqing, suddenly sensing a change.

If before she seemed gentle and outgoing, now she exuded a faint sadness, yet her smile was even more beautiful...

She gazed transfixed until Xu Yuqing waved, bringing her back to reality. "Don't come over later; just steam them and we'll eat. Gao Min can handle it. I'll rest a bit too."

Xu Yuqing paused, recognizing Zhang Xiuhong's hidden concern. She smiled faintly and said gratefully, "Okay."

She would remember this kindness.

Compared to her, Zhang Xiuhong was truly remarkable. It was hard to imagine how she had risen from a rural background, enduring immense hardship and sacrifice.

Zhang Xiuhong's silhouette remained steady, like a bamboo shoot, resilient against all odds, standing firm against the winds.

She extended her calloused hand and closed the door. With that, Xu Yuqing could no longer hold herself up and sat down on the ground.

All her strength left her with the closing of the door, and she couldn't stand up anymore.

So... I've already experienced these things?

It turns out I was once so weak? Thinking about how my proud self never understood the actions of my former self, she couldn't help but shed tears.

How painful.

Viewing myself from God's perspective, it turns out I am such a failure, even to the point where I'm slandered after death.

Not knowing how long she had been sitting there, the door suddenly opened.

Xu Yuqing lifted her head in a daze, seeing a familiar face.

The face she once regarded as a savior, too timid to disturb, hiding her feelings, in the book, after her death, he remained unmarried until his sacrifice.

Was he influenced by me, thinking all women were terrifying creatures?

Clinging to him and then running off with someone else—what a vicious person.

Tears fell again as Xu Yuqing struggled to speak, reaching out helplessly to grab his trouser leg.

This sight completely threw Xie Yunli off balance, even causing his heart to ache.

With his left hand, he closed the courtyard gate. Without struggling against her grip, he knelt down on one knee and picked her up.

His right hand caressed her cold hands, his eyes filled with concern as he wrapped her in his coat and carried her back into the house.

Upon returning to the room, just as he was about to place her on the bed, Xu Yuqing suddenly struggled, "My pants!"

The girl, still crying, pleaded about her pants, and being her beloved wife, Xie Yunli felt his heart soften, as if it could be kneaded at will.

Helping her remove her cotton trousers and jacket, he tucked her into the quilt, watching her continue to cry. Xie Yunli took out a handkerchief and asked softly, "What's wrong?"

Several thoughts raced through his mind. Was it because of those soldiers? Although he had confirmed their character, they did band together, and the thought of his wife possibly suffering under their hands...

Xie Yunli's eyes turned cold, but when Xu Yuqing looked at him, his expression softened, and he embraced her.

Xu Yuqing had stopped crying; the quilt was like her shell, providing instant security upon entering it.

This matter definitely couldn't be mentioned, only buried deep within her heart. Seeing the worry in Xie Yunli's eyes, she burrowed deeper into the quilt, her muffled voice coming through, "I just don't feel well. I'll come out later. Could you go get some food first?"

Xie Yunli was taken aback, hearing the plea in her tone. He gently stroked her head through the quilt, his voice hoarse, "I'll go."

Adjusting the quilt slightly to leave a small gap, Xie Yunli finally felt reassured and walked out.

The room grew quiet, and Xu Yuqing slowly emerged from the quilt. Alone in the room, she felt safe.

Lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, Xu Yuqing emptied her mind, not thinking about anything.

But memories long forgotten seemed eager to assert themselves, constantly popping up in her mind.

Covering her forehead, Xu Yuqing gave up resisting, letting these unpleasant memories dance in her head.

Perhaps it was a desensitization reaction; after a while, Xu Yuqing suddenly felt indifferent.

She had already escaped that environment.

The weak one was her.

The proud one was her.

The confident one was her.

All of these were her.

People can't stay in one state forever; a multifaceted her could make her better.

Looking at the wall, Xu Yuqing suddenly smiled faintly. Having lived three lives, shouldn't she be stronger now?

Taking a few deep breaths, Xu Yuqing sat up. The past was over; now, her life was good.

Striving for what she loved.

The past wasn't worth dwelling on; the future was what mattered.

However, the grudges needed settling.

Thinking about how after her death, she was slandered and her reputation ruined, with the culprits living happily ever after.

Considering the hypocritical couple, Xie Yunli and Sun Meiyu, if He Xiuhua was evil without guile, openly malicious, the boldest thing she did was revealing Xie Yunli's background.

But the evil of Xie Yunli and Sun Meiyu was like a venomous snake, lurking in the shadows, ready to strike when least expected.

A mere bite would be merciful compared to being swallowed whole.

Exhaling deeply, Xu Yuqing stood up. She would settle their accounts when the time came, especially since she knew a big secret about Sun Meiyu.

Not retaliating would be unfair given her hostility.

Washing her face, Xu Yuqing had fully recovered. Perhaps her best trait was her ability to adjust her mindset. If not utterly hopeless, she wouldn't have ended her own life.

Sitting in the living room, she leisurely brewed a pot of hawthorn tea and settled down.

Before she could take a sip, the door opened.

Xu Yuqing was startled, watching the man stride in, sweat on his brow, "What happened?"

Xie Junli looked at her, his gaze scanning her from head to toe. "It's fine, let's eat."

He took out the lunch box from his chest. When he came in, he was still slightly out of breath, but now he had recovered. It seemed that the time spent on the way was very short, as the lunch box was still warm.

When Xu Yuqing touched the lunch box, she felt the warmth spread from her fingertips to her heart, making her feel cozy and warm inside.

"I want a hug."

She extended her arms, her bright almond eyes sparkling as she looked at the man. Xie Junli's heart softened, and he reached out to pull her into his embrace.

Such a lover was something he had never experienced before. Although he liked it, he hoped that his lover would be as energetic and driven as before.

The person in his arms was soft and cuddly, clinging to him with dependency. Xie Junli felt deeply satisfied, yet deep down, he felt a bit unsatisfied.

If only she could rely on me a little more, it would be better.