Chapter 18: He Is Different

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“Xiaoye, Grandma doesn’t need your help with this. Go sit down and read the newspaper or something.”
“Grandma, I want to spend more time with you. I’m usually too busy to visit.”
The steel mill wasn’t actually that busy; Shen Qingye just didn’t dare to come back.
Qiao Yufen smiled cheerfully and pulled out a strip of cured meat from the cupboard.
Judging by its color, it had been stored for a very long time.
The elderly woman was reluctant to eat or wear anything, so that cured meat had been kept for years.
Shen Qingye felt a pang of guilt inside.
“Grandma, please take these.”
He handed over the ration tickets and oil coupons from his pocket to Qiao Yufen.
But Qiao Yufen refused to accept them, telling Shen Qingye to treat himself better outside.
“Grandma, please accept them. Shen Dongsheng knows what benefits I get at the factory and tries to snatch them from me every few days.”
As soon as he spoke, Qiao Yufen’s eyes widened.
That Shen Dongsheng was truly shameless.
Just as she was about to curse loudly, Shen Qingye quickly explained.
Lowering his voice, Shen Qingye said, “No, Yaoyao just helped me take it back. I want you to keep it safe for me. I feel more at ease if it’s with you.”
“Those, Grandma will keep them for you.”
Qiao Yufen reluctantly accepted the items.
Humming a tune, she stir-fried a plate of cured meat.
The ever-present radish was also served, making the richly colored cured meat all the more appetizing.
Shen Qingyao caught the aroma and set the table while picking up chopsticks.
Before Shen Qingye sat down, Shen Qingyao eagerly took a bite of the cured meat.
Indeed, this was the real flavor of cured meat.
It was so different from the synthetic, harsh-tasting ones.
After tasting it, Shen Qingyao wanted more, but Qiao Yufen struck her hand with a chopstick.
“Eat less. If you eat too much, what will your brother have?”
If she hadn’t known how kind Qiao Yufen was to her, Shen Qingyao would have thrown a fit today.
Being hit didn’t matter; all Shen Qingyao had to do was smile apologetically.
“It’s okay, Yaoyao loves it, so let her eat more.”
Qiao Yufen sighed, “Tang Tang said Yaoyao has loved meat since she was little.”
The atmosphere suddenly became strained.
That remark reminded them all of Du Tang.
Shen Qingyao didn’t know what Du Tang looked like, but she knew there was a photo hidden inside a biscuit tin at home.
She had stared into the mirror, thinking that could very well be Du Tang’s photo.
“Grandma, let’s not talk about sad things.”
Shen Qingye picked up a piece of meat for Qiao Yufen.

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Qiao Yufen’s tears were about to fall but she forced them back.
“Hey, eat, just eat.”
After the meal, Shen Qingye washed the dishes in the kitchen while Shen Qingyao and Qiao Yufen continued shelling peanuts under the warm light.
“I’ll fry a plate for you later. Let your brother take some back to the factory. He needs something to eat after work.”
“Are the liquor sellers near the factory cheap? Still two cents a bag?”
“The weather’s getting colder soon. Grandma will make each of you a piece of clothing.”
Qiao Yufen savored this moment, always full of things to say.
No matter how much Qiao Yufen talked, Shen Qingyao just nodded and smiled in response.
Until she thought of a subject.
“Grandma, what do you think of that person who came to our house last time?”
Qiao Yufen thought for a moment and recalled Jiang Yan.
She patted Shen Qingyao’s thigh firmly. “Isn’t that my grandson-in-law? By the way, why didn’t you bring my grandson-in-law home for dinner today?”
“Ow, ow, ow! Grandma, that hurts!”
“I know it hurts. Next time, bring him home. We’ll have a meal together. Some family rules can’t be forgotten.”
Qiao Yufen’s advice was something Shen Qingyao pondered.
It did seem right.
Though marrying Jiang Yan was unexpected, she wasn’t the kind to discard him after use.
All in all, Jiang Yan wasn’t bad.
If they kept getting along, it might just work out.
Shen Qingyao thought for a moment—since that was the case, she would talk to Jiang Yan next time.
“Grandma, I cleaned the kitchen for you. Are you satisfied?”
“Satisfied, satisfied. I’m most pleased with what my good granddaughter does.”
Qiao Yufen’s face beamed with joy.
After a night had passed, she seemed much younger.
Under the warm yellow light, a few strands of silver hair on Qiao Yufen’s head shone softly, highlighting her entire aura.
Shen Qingyao had once wondered what she would look like when she grew old—perhaps not as good as Qiao Yufen.
Shen Qingye moved a small wooden stool and sat down, joining them shelling peanuts.
Seeing this scene, Shen Qingyao felt a warm glow inside.
Back when she was at the orphanage, she had wondered if she would ever be adopted or have a family like this.
But by the time she turned eighteen, she still hadn’t had that day.
Later, Shen Qingyao learned to pretend not to care.
She fooled everyone, almost even herself.
Her nose tingled, and she could only act spoiled with Qiao Yufen.
“Grandma, why don’t you praise me for what I did?”
“It’s not easy to get the young lady to do chores. I can’t praise you, or you won’t do them anymore.”

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Qiao Yufen spoke jokingly, and Shen Qingyao continued to act spoiled.
As they shelled peanuts, Qiao Yufen brought up Jiang Yan—still in front of Shen Qingye.
From the moment Qiao Yufen started talking about Jiang Yan, Shen Qingye’s face darkened.
“That little Jiang, he looks spirited enough. Shouldn’t be a rascal.”
“That demeanor—if I didn’t know he’d been in the army, I’d have thought he was a scholar.”
“He’s very good to Yaoyao. Men who know when to be warm or cold are rare these days. Yaoyao, you must cherish little Jiang.”
Qiao Yufen said many kind things, but Shen Qingyao cared more about Shen Qingye’s opinion.
She stole glances at Shen Qingye, who remained expressionless while shelling peanuts.
Alright, it seemed her brother really didn’t like Jiang Yan.
What to do then?
But why did Shen Qingye dislike Jiang Yan so much?
Shen Qingyao couldn’t figure it out.
“Our contact with them has been too little. We shouldn’t jump to conclusions.”
“Brother, Jiang Yan is a good person.”
“How good? Is he the kind who buys you snow cream?”
Shen Qingye glanced at Shen Qingyao.
Knowing she was at fault, she didn’t say another word.
Apparently, that snow cream was quite enticing.
Shen Qingyao had thought it was just her imagination.
But the scent was indeed strong enough that even Shen Qingye noticed it.
“Well, he really is a good person.”
Shen Qingye pressed further, “How good? In what way?”
“Have you asked about his family? Where he lives? Have you been there?”
“Why are you also…”
She had heard questions like this a second time.
To be honest, she really didn’t know.
Even the fact that Jiang Yan was transferred back from BJ, she heard from others.
It seemed she needed a whole day to have a proper talk with Jiang Yan.
“Although I don’t know everything you said, brother, I feel Jiang Yan is really different from others.”
Shen Qingye was left speechless by Shen Qingyao’s words.
“Then prove it to me.”