Chapter 423: Seventies: The Mature Husband 23

At this moment, Tang Wan said with a smile, “Wait a little longer. What if your big brother comes back soon? Let's wait for him and eat together, okay?”

The two of them froze for a moment, then nodded instinctively.

They couldn't help thinking: Sister Tang Wan is really so nice!

Everyone in the village looked down on them. Only Sister Tang Wan was willing to come to their house and even bring them delicious food.

……

A little after seven that evening, someone knocked on the gate.

“Big Brother is back!” Ruru immediately ran toward the courtyard to open the door.

Before long, Xue Xingtong's disheveled figure appeared in the courtyard.

When he looked up, he saw Tang Wan standing at the entrance of the main room, smiling at him. “You're back? I calculated that you should be able to make it back today, so I've been waiting for you to come home and eat.”

Hearing this, Xue Xingtong's heart warmed. Then he said to Ruru and the other child, “Ruru, you two go eat first.”

“Big Brother, we'll wait for you to eat together. Sister Wanwan bought meat bones today! The water in the pot is already boiling. Go take a bath first!” Ruru said.

Xue Xingtong's body stiffened at that, and he turned his deep gaze toward Tang Wan.

After a moment, he said, “Okay. You two go inside first.”

“Mm!”

Only after the two children entered the house did Xue Xingtong walk over to Tang Wan. Keeping a full two steps of distance from her, he handed her the money. “The watches I bought cost one hundred yuan each. I've already resold all the goods. I made a total profit of 320 yuan.”

Seeing this, Tang Wan smiled. “Keep the money. Let's count all of it as our capital. Go wash up first. We'll talk about this after dinner.”

“Mm.” Xue Xingtong nodded.

Thinking about how he was covered in dirt, the tips of his ears grew warm. He then hurried to the kitchen to draw some hot water for his bath.

After carrying the bucket to his room, he scrubbed his body hard with a towel again and again.

He regretted it inwardly: If I'd known she'd come to my house to wait for me, I should have taken a shower before coming back.

……

After washing and changing into clean clothes, Xue Xingtong finally walked toward the main room.

By then, the dishes, bowls, and chopsticks had already been set out on the table.

Seeing this, Xue Xingtong couldn't help thinking greedily: If only I could see her at the dinner table every day from now on.

But he knew that was impossible.

Sooner or later, she would return to the city that belonged to her, find a man who was well-matched with her in status, and marry and have children.

……

“Come eat! You've worked hard these past few days.” Tang Wan picked up the wooden ladle and served him some soup.

Xue Xingtong accepted the bowl somewhat flustered, his eyes happening to meet her clear, luminous eyes, as bright as autumn waters.

But very quickly, Xue Xingtong immediately withdrew his gaze.

Her eyes were so gentle, and her smile so sweet and beautiful. She was so beautiful that he felt even being able to share a meal with her right now was a happiness he had stolen. Sometimes, he couldn't help but develop the illusion that she liked him.

But he knew that this was nothing more than his own wishful thinking!

The fact that she was willing to pay him any attention was already a reflection of her kind heart. How could he foolishly hope for anything more?

Lifting the bowl, Xue Xingtong drank the soup one mouthful at a time. What filled his nostrils was clearly the rich fragrance of meat, yet what he tasted in his mouth was bitterness.

If he were the same age as her this year, or even just one or two years older, perhaps he would still fight with everything he had to pursue her.

But after the New Year, he would already be twenty-seven, nearly ten years older than her!

He was already an old man with no hope for the future, while she was the most delicate flower blooming in the early morning.

The distance between them was not only one of status, but also the passage of years.