Reborn in 1982, the prodigal son returns

The sky was just beginning to lighten.

Lin Nuo opened his eyes, but did not rush to get up. He turned his head and looked at Su Wanqing's eyes, where there was still a trace of dried tear on her eyelashes.

What happened last night has resurfaced.

He held Su Wanqing in his arms and told her everything.

Su Wanqing was so frightened that she started crying.

He glanced down at Su Wanqing; she was still asleep, breathing lightly and slowly, the tear stains on her eyelashes barely visible in the morning light.

He bent down, gently touched her forehead, and then pushed the door open and went out.

In the yard, Lin Weiguo was already squatting at the entrance of the chicken coop: "Going to get chicks today?"

"Um."

Lin Nuo squatted down, took the straw from his father's hand, and helped him spread it out.

Go early and come back early.

Be careful on the road.

Lin Nuo was taken aback:

"Understood, Father."

Zhao Xiuying took two boiled eggs from a bowl next to the stove and put them into Lin Nuo's hand.

"Eat on the way, don't go hungry. Da Wu is here, waiting at the door."

The egg was still hot, burning his palms. Lin Nuo tossed it between his two hands, grinning:

"Wow, Mother's giving me eggs today?"

Zhao Xiuying then raised her head and glared at him:

She was writing so intently that she didn't even hear Lin Nuo come in.

Lin Nuo tiptoed over, sat down next to her, and glanced down at the manuscript paper.

Su Wanqing then realized what was happening, instinctively covering the manuscript with her hand, her ears turning red instantly.

Lin Nuo couldn't help but laugh:

"Teacher Su, what are you writing? Are you afraid I'll see it?"

"Who's afraid?"

Su Wanqing removed her hand, slightly raising her chin, but dared not look at him:

"I haven't finished writing it yet. I'll show it to you when I'm done."

Lin Nuo leaned closer and lowered his voice: "Then the bet still stands?"

Su Wanqing's face turned even redder.

"...It counts." The voice was so soft it was like a mosquito's hum.

Lin Nuo was secretly delighted, but she didn't show it on her face, and said in a serious tone:

"Then Teacher Su, you'd better keep up the good work. The county newspaper editor might be waiting for my next article."

Su Wanqing lightly spat, folded the manuscript paper, and stuffed it under her pillow to prevent him from seeing it.

"Keep bragging."

She said it, but the corners of her mouth were turned up.

Just then, Zhao Xiuying's voice came from outside the door:

"Nuozi, your brother is here to see you."

It's so late, my brother must have something to say to me.

Lin Nuo released Su Wanqing's hand, stood up, patted the dust off her cotton-padded coat, and walked out of the east room.

Lin Jiang stood at the entrance of the courtyard.

He saw Lin Nuo come out, his lips moved slightly, then closed again.

Lin Nuo walked over:

"Brother, why aren't you coming in?"

Lin Jiang didn't move, looking somewhat troubled.

"Nuozi...can you..." His voice was muffled, as if it were being squeezed out of his throat.

Looking at his older brother's expression, Lin Nuo understood everything.

"Brother, just tell me."

Lin Jiang remained silent for a long while:

"Nuozi... could you lend me fifty yuan?"

After he finished speaking, he turned his head away, not daring to look at Lin Nuo.

Lin Nuo didn't hesitate: "Okay."

Lin Jiang was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting his second brother to agree so readily, and his eyes reddened slightly.

"But brother, I'll bring the money and go with you tomorrow."