Chapter 64: The Road-Building Madman (Part 18)

*Chapter 64 The Road-Building Madman (18)*

This afternoon, I’m pushing hard for updates, so please support me, friends! Happy New Year to everyone, and may all your wishes come true!

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After dinner, Hou Weidong went up to the fourth floor, turned on the lights in the guesthouse, lit a coil of mosquito repellent, and then returned to the second floor.

He boiled a pot of water in the rice cooker and let Xiaojia take a hot shower in the bathroom on the left side of the corridor. Once she was done, he carried two buckets of cold water inside and rinsed off thoroughly, the water splashing loudly.

Clean and refreshed, the two stood on the corridor, enjoying the mountain breeze and sipping Qinglin tea. They admired the clean, pure night sky of Shangqinglin, chatting softly while accompanied by the chirping of unknown insects.

"This morning in Shazhou, I ran into Jiang Dali," Xiaojia said, her hair still damp. The air carried the faint scent of shampoo, mixed with her unique fragrance. "I gave him your phone number."

At Shazhou College, Jiang Dali had been Hou Weidong’s best friend. After graduation, Jiang had gone south to Shenzhen and had been out of touch ever since. Hearing this news, Hou Weidong was delighted. "Wow, what is that guy up to? It’s been so long, and I couldn’t reach him at all."

"Right, I forgot to mention—he gave me a pager number for you to call him."

Although the price of pagers was dropping, they still cost over two thousand yuan each. Liu Kun, who worked at the county government, had one. Hearing that Jiang Dali also had a pager, Hou Weidong felt a sense of inadeacy; he didn’t even know how to use one. He made a silent resolution: There is only one path up Mount Hua. While I am in Shangqinglin, I must strive hard and transfer back to Shazhou as soon as possible.

They chatted about trivial matters, but Chen Qingrong and Zhang Yuanzheng loomed over them like two heavy mountains, pressing down on Xiaojia and Hou Weidong’s hearts. They carefully skirted around the topic, knowing that bringing it up would ruin the hard-won pleasant atmosphere.

The mountain breeze swept up from the valley, and the distant forest rustled with waves of sound, like a majestic symphony full of expression. If one were deep in the dark forest, such wind and noise might be chilling. But from a safe distance, the forest, the wind, and the distant animal calls became intoxicating.

"What a beautiful night," Xiaojia said, resting her head on Hou Weidong’s shoulder. "Why don’t I transfer to Qinglin Town to work? As long as we are together, it doesn’t matter where we are."

Hou Weidong was touched. He stroked Xiaojia’s shoulder and said, "You silly girl. People strive for higher places, and water flows to lower ones. Why transfer to a poor, remote place like Qinglin? Not only would your parents not agree, but I wouldn’t allow it either."

"Give me three years, and I will definitely transfer back to Shazhou," Hou Weidong said, gripping Xiaojia’s hand tightly. "You have to believe in me."

As they talked, an inexplicable affection rippled between them again, like two poles of a magnet, strongly attracting each other.

Hou Weidong pulled Xiaojia’s hand and said, "Let’s go inside; there are too many mosquitoes outside." Xiaojia understood the hint. She deliberately said, "It’s hot inside and cool outside. Let’s stay out here a bit longer." As she spoke, her cheeks flushed slightly.

After her shower, Xiaojia had changed into one of Hou Weidong’s oversized T-shirts, looking casual and relaxed. This made things convenient for Hou Weidong, who naturally didn’t hesitate; his hand slipped inside her shirt.

Once inside the inner room, they embraced. Xiaojia hummed the tune of "A Song Gently Played on the Midnight Radio," swaying softly under the moonlight filtering through the window, slowly dancing.

At midnight, Hou Weidong reluctantly left the small room on the second floor and went up to the guesthouse on the fourth floor. The lighting in the guesthouse was dim, and since no one had stayed there for a long time, it emitted a musty, inhuman smell. The second floor and the fourth floor had the same structure, but housing different people created different realms, different moods, and different feelings.

At six in the morning the next day, Hou Weidong woke up early. He waited until he saw people moving in the backyard, and an hour later, the mess hall became lively. Members of the work group came one after another to get hot water. Single men like Tian Xiuying sat on the benches, drinking porridge and eating steamed buns.

Hou Weidong went to the mess hall. As soon as he entered, Tian Xiuying looked him up and down with an indescribable gaze and said, "University Student Hou, you’re up so early. Why not sleep a little more?" Hou Weidong cursed inwardly, This gossip has nothing better to do than talk. But on his face, he smiled broadly, handed the key to Tian Xiuying, and said, "Sister Tian, here is the key. Thank you."

"Did you sleep well last night?" Tian Xiuying asked with an ambiguous smile.

Hou Weidong replied seriously, "The guesthouse is very clean, but it has one drawback: too many mosquitoes. Next time, I suggest spraying some insecticide."

Seeing Hou Weidong’s serious expression and his lack of response to her insinuations, Tian Xiuying lost interest and focused on drinking her porridge and eating her buns.

Hou Weidong borrowed a basin from the mess hall, filled it with steaming hot porridge and buns. Today was different from usual; Xiaojia was staying on the second floor. Serving meals to his beloved was truly a happy thing. Therefore, Hou Weidong’s feet seemed to have wind-fire wheels attached, stepping with extra vigor.

When he arrived on the second floor, the door was already open. Xiaojia was combing her hair in front of a small round makeup mirror. Seeing Hou Weidong enter, she scolded playfully, "Weidong, why isn’t there even a mirror in the room?"

A woman combing her hair and a man shaving are particularly sexy actions. Seeing Xiaojia combing her hair, Hou Weidong couldn’t help but feel stirred.

Caught off guard, Xiaojia pinched Hou Weidong’s shoulder hard and said, "Have you brushed your teeth? Go do it quickly."

Happy days are always short. The couple greeted the rising sun of Shangqinglin and energetically made love once more. By the time they had dressed and tidied the room, it was nearly ten o’clock.

From Shangqinglin Town to Shazhou took about seven hours. From Shangqinglin to Xiaqinglin took at least half an hour. From Qinglin Town to Yiyang County took three hours, and from Yiyang to Shazhou took another three-plus hours.

So, Hou Weidong and Xiaojia sat for a while at Director Gao’s house, then went downstairs, preparing to head to Yiyang County. When Xiaojia saw Yang Xinchun’s postal agency, she called the office where Duan Ying worked.

Hou Weidong and Duan Ying had that ambiguous relationship. Hearing Xiaojia call Duan Ying, he silently prayed, I hope Duan Ying isn’t there. But things did not go as planned. The call reached the laboratory, and the person who answered was precisely Duan Ying.

"I’ve arrived in Yiyang and will be returning to Shazhou soon. Third Brother, wait for me at the station. I must see you."

On the other end of the line, Duan Ying replied briskly, "Okay, I’ll wait for you."

After hanging up, the two went down the mountain. As they walked, Xiaojia talked about Duan Ying’s recent situation, and Hou Weidong nodded continuously. He felt somewhat puzzled: Xiaojia has Duan Ying’s phone number, so Duan Ying must have Xiaojia’s number too. Yet she never mentioned this.

It was September, and the sun was still scorching. The public bus naturally had no air conditioning, but since it was drafty on all sides, despite the dust in their faces, it was quite cool.

When Hou Weidong and Xiaojia got off the bus, they felt dusty and disheveled. Xiaojia’s newly changed beautiful long dress had been crushed on the bus. The dress, originally like a pure and elegant young girl, had become loose and wrinkled after the ordeal, losing its elegance. Xiaojia, who cared about her appearance, smoothed her dress as soon as she got off, but to no avail.

Duan Ying, dressed in a red skirt and holding a small umbrella, stood gracefully at the station platform. Among the busy pedestrians at the station, she was like a fiery azalea, particularly eye-catching. Seeing Hou Weidong, her heart still tightened involuntarily, but she quickly controlled her emotions, waved vigorously, and said, "Xiaojia, over here."

Xiaojia and Duan Ying greeted each other warmly, holding hands and not letting go. Their chatter, "Ge, ge, ge," burst out like machine-gun fire.

Hou Weidong could only stand aside, looking foolish.

Duan Ying said affectionately, "Xiaojia, don’t leave tonight. Stay at my place."

"Our Section Chief is like a supervisor, especially on Monday mornings. He definitely stands with his hands behind his back at the unit’s gate. I dare not be late," Xiaojia said. Knowing that Duan Ying lived alone, she envied her and added, "I really want to have a room to myself, even if it can only fit a bed."

Hearing Xiaojia’s sigh, especially the mention of a single bed, Duan Ying couldn’t help but recall many past events. Her heart felt sour, but her expression remained unchanged. She smiled and said, "This room isn’t mine either. As soon as the owner returns, I’ll have to sleep on the street."

Hou Weidong went to the ticket window to buy tickets to Shazhou.

Before boarding, Duan Ying tactfully stepped aside. Xiaojia tightly linked her arm with Hou Weidong’s and said, "Hou Weidong, your parents’ attitude has caused you to suffer grievances. Don’t take it to heart."

"I understand your parents. They truly mean well for you, and there is nothing to criticize," Hou Weidong said, forcing himself to remain calm and smiling. "Perhaps if I have a daughter, I will be even stricter than your parents."