When the pears are green

Song Li did not sleep well. Sometimes she woke up from her dreams, and sometimes she stared into the darkness in a daze. She almost did not sleep all night.

The sound of roosters crowing completely drove away Song Li's sleepiness.

Song Li looked at the hazy night, then simply got up and walked into the kitchen to start boiling water and cooking.

The Jiang family's stove was a double-burner stove, and Song Li poured water into two pots. There was more water in the front pot, ready for Jiang Qingzhou to wash his face and soak his feet. There was less water in the back pot, ready for cooking porridge.

After Song Li boiled the water, it was already dawn, and there was a knock on the door. Song Li happily ran to the gate. Although she was excited, she still patiently asked, "Who is it?"

"Xiao Li, it's me." A familiar voice came from outside the door. Song Li quickly removed the door bar and opened the door.

Song Li reached out and held Jiang Qingzhou's right hand, saying, "It's so cool."

Jiang Qingzhou smiled and took his hand away from Song Li, then said to Song Li: "It's too cold, you go in first, I'll close the door."

Song Li quickly ran into the kitchen and poured hot water into the ceramic basin and wooden barrel. She said to Jiang Qingzhou who had just entered the kitchen, "Wash your face with hot water first, then soak your feet. The meal will be ready soon. After dinner, you can go back to sleep."

While Jiang Qingzhou was washing his face, he looked at Song Li who was busy at the stove. He asked, "Xiao Li, why did you wake up so early?"

"I went to bed early yesterday, so I woke up early." Song Li, who was making a fire, yawned after saying this.

Jiang Qingzhou laughed softly after seeing this.

Song Li, who realized it later, covered her mouth in a hurry after hearing the laughter, and held back a yawn, glaring at Jiang Qingzhou angrily.

Song Li said angrily, "I wasn't sleepy at first, but I became sleepy as soon as you came back. It's all your fault."

Seeing this, Jiang Qingzhou wanted to step forward and apologize to Song Li, but before he said anything, he noticed that Song Li's eyes were a little dull, and guessed that Song Li probably didn't sleep well last night.

"It's still early, no need to rush to get out of the field, take a rest!" Jiang Qingzhou said, staring at Song Li.

Song Li felt embarrassed when Jiang Qingzhou stared at her, and quickly said, "I see. Go pour the water and call Qingye to eat!"

Jiang Qingzhou nodded, poured the water in the pottery basin into the wooden bucket, and then walked out with the wooden bucket. Jiang Qingzhou had just poured out the water when he heard Jiang Qingye's voice, "Brother, when did you come back?"

"I just came back not long ago. Xiaoli has boiled some hot water and the meal is almost ready. Go wash your face." Jiang Qingzhou said as he pulled Jiang Qingye towards the kitchen.

When the Jiang brothers walked into the kitchen, Song Li was yawning and serving rice. When she saw Jiang Qingye, she hurriedly said, "Qingye, there's water in the pot in front, go wash your face. Qingzhou, help me put the bowl on the table."

Jiang Qingzhou and Jiang Qingye nodded and went about their respective business.

Jiang Qingye looked at Song Li who was yawning and Jiang Qingzhou who hadn't slept all night, and whispered, "Brother, sister-in-law, after dinner, I'll clean up the kitchen, you go and rest first!"

While yawning, Song Li put down her chopsticks and said to Jiang Qingye, "Sorry to bother you Qingye, I can't hold on any longer. I have to go back first. You guys take your time eating." After saying that, Song Li quickly walked out of the kitchen.

After Song Li left, Jiang Qingye looked at Jiang Qingzhou who was eating faster, and laughed secretly with his hands covering his mouth.

When Jiang Qingzhou saw this, he tapped Jiang Qingye on the forehead and said, "What are you laughing at? After you clean up the kitchen, read the book I brought you at noon. In the afternoon, I will go to the fields with you. Don't run outside, understand?"

Jiang Qingye nodded quickly and said with a smile: "I understand, brother."

When Jiang Qingzhou returned to the room, Song Li had already fallen asleep. He walked over, gently took off Song Li's shoes, and whispered, "I am the only one patrolling the night, and there are only two people staying up late at home!"

When Song Li woke up again, Jiang Qingzhou was still sleeping soundly. She slowly passed Jiang Qingzhou, but still woke him up.

Jiang Qingzhou opened his eyes, sat up, and asked Song Li with a smile: "Are you not sleepy anymore?"

Song Li nodded and said, "I'm not sleepy anymore, you can sleep a little longer!"

"I'm not going to sleep anymore. If I sleep any more, I'll have insomnia at night." Jiang Qingzhou said with a smile.

Song Li looked at Jiang Qingzhou, and then asked: "Is it cold at night? How many people are in your team?"

Jiang Qingzhou touched Song Li's hair and said, "When it's coldest, we can make a fire and won't freeze. We are now a team of six, and we are all from the same family."

Without waiting for Song Li to say anything, Jiang Qingzhou asked again: "Xiao Li, why didn't you sleep well last night? Are you scared?"

"I'm not scared, I'm worried about you. As soon as I closed my eyes, I thought of the knife stabbing your back, so I didn't sleep well." Song Li explained to Jiang Qingzhou.

After Jiang Qingzhou heard this, he held Song Li's hand and said, "Xiao Li, I will protect myself. This kind of thing will not happen again. I don't want you to be frightened because of me. Xiao Li, whether I am with you or not, you must take good care of yourself."

Song Li snuggled up to Jiang Qingzhou and said slowly, "Then you have to promise me, and swear an oath."

Jiang Qingzhou raised two fingers and was about to speak when Song Li covered his mouth. Song Li looked at him and said, "Okay, I believe you."

After saying this, both of them laughed.

After lunch, Jiang Qingzhou carried a basket of garlic cloves and led Song Li and Jiang Qingye to work in the fields.

This piece of land is close to the entrance of the village. Not only the Jiang family, but many villagers grow vegetables here. Now is the season for harvesting radishes, so the field is very busy.

While Song Li was planting garlic, she heard two women on the roadside say, "Have you heard? Someone said that the Hu Ji Restaurant in town is buying dried vegetables, 20 cents a pound!"

Song Li kept it in mind silently, thinking of going to the town to take a look tomorrow.

The three of them worked together and soon planted the garlic.

Song Li sat on the edge of the field, silently watching the setting sun in the west. The crimson clouds covered half of the sky. Occasionally, a bird flew by, leaving behind a trail of shadows.

Jiang Qingzhou asked Jiang Qingye to go home first, then walked to Song Li and sat down next to her. He didn't know what Song Li was thinking. He knew that although Song Li cared about him and was close to him, she didn't open up to him.

Jiang Qingzhou thought of the old man in the county town again. Song Li said that he was a loner. Was he also talking about himself?

Song Li looked back at Jiang Qingzhou, who looked thoughtful. Song Li asked softly, "Qingzhou, what's wrong with you?"

Jiang Qingzhou smiled and whispered, "I'm very discouraged."

"What are you so discouraged about?" Song Li asked puzzledly.

Jiang Qingzhou opened his mouth but never said what was in his mind. He just said, "Nothing. I'll go to town with you tomorrow to see if what the aunts said is true or false."

Song Li looked at him in surprise. Jiang Qingzhou smiled and said, "I heard what they said. Seeing that you listened carefully, I guessed that you were also interested. The wind has cooled, let's go back!"

After Jiang Qingzhou finished speaking, he pulled Song Li up. Song Li pointed at the sunset and said, "I really like watching the sunset. It gives me a desolate and heavy feeling."

These simple words made Jiang Qingzhou very happy. This was the first time Song Li expressed her feelings to him.

"Yeah, I like it too." Jiang Qingzhou said softly.