Meng Xiangbei quickened his pace and returned home, where he saw Lin Zhibai coming out of the kitchen.
When Lin Zhibai saw him coming back, he shook his head slightly, blinked his eyelashes, suppressed the emotions in his eyes, and walked towards Meng Xiangbei, "Brother Meng, you're back. Just in time, I've prepared the meal."
Lin Zhibai had a smile on his lips, just like usual, even brighter and with a hint of flattery, but Meng Xiangbei could clearly see his swollen eyes.
Meng Xiangbei put down the bamboo basket behind him and said, "Okay."
The kitchen is not big. After building a clay stove and making some space for firewood, food and other things, it can barely fit a small wooden table as a dining table.
Rice with fish soup, this is what Meng Xiangbei asked him to cook before going to the town. Otherwise, with the current food situation at home and Lin Zhibai's constant frugality, the dish would definitely not be as full of rice as it is now.
However, it was only for Meng Xiangbei. Lin Zhibai only filled one-third of the bowl himself, saying that he had no appetite and there was also fish soup to drink.
"Really? But I've already eaten something when I came back from the town, so I can't eat much now. Xiaobai, I'll ask you to eat more and don't waste food." As he spoke, Meng Xiangbei held the bowl and gave a small half bowl to Lin Zhibai.
How could he not know why Lin Zhibai said that? The fact that he had no appetite was clearly a lie, and he just wanted to leave more rice for him.
Meng Xiangbei's heart ached slightly. This idiot, why doesn't he know how to feel sorry for himself?
Lin Zhibai was afraid that Meng Xiangbei would be angry, so he refused several times and then said nothing. He lowered his head and ate quietly. Somehow, his eyes gradually became hot. He even found an excuse to go to the room. When he came back, Meng Xiangbei clearly saw that his eyes were slightly red.
Meng Xiangbei finished his meal and poured himself some fish soup. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I heard that the village chief's daughter Zhang Youyu came over today."
As soon as he finished speaking, the young man opposite him paused in his eating, and the fingertips holding the bowl tightened and turned slightly pale.
He didn't look up and just said "hmm" softly.
"Did she come to see me? What did she say?" Meng Xiangbei drank the fish soup in one gulp, put down the bowl and asked.
"No, nothing." Lin Zhibai didn't eat either. He put the bowl on the wooden table, but his hands were still tightly clenched, as if only in this way could he barely have the courage to hold on.
"But I heard some things when I came back."
Lin Zhibai hid the mist in his eyes and looked up, "Brother Meng, she really didn't say anything. Let's eat quickly. I'm so hungry."
As he spoke, he picked up the bowl and ate bite after bite without stopping, as if that would end the topic.
Meng Xiangbei felt helpless and distressed when he saw him escaping like this.
Lin Zhibai is a clean and well-educated young man. Although his every move cannot be said to be elegant, he is gentle and polite.
It was obvious that he couldn't bear to eat so fast. After just a few bites, he choked and started coughing.
Meng Xiangbei immediately snatched his bowl away, went to his side and stroked his back. It took a long while for Lin Zhibai to recover.
Whether it was because of the cough or some other reason, but his eyes were red and filled with tears, and he looked so pitiful.
Meng Xiangbei looked down at him with a cold face, "Why are you eating so fast? You were the one who said you had no appetite just now, and you are the one who is wolfing down your food now. Now that you are choking, you are happy, right?"
Meng Xiangbei actually doesn't have a bad temper and has a gentle personality, but when he gets angry, his face looks bad and his tone becomes heavier.
Lin Zhibai panicked. What he feared most was that Meng Xiangbei would be angry.
Once Meng Xiangbei got angry, he always felt like he was being abandoned.
Lin Zhibai didn't dare to get up. He sat on the small stool and raised his head. His face was pretty but pale, and his eyes were red. He stretched out his hand and grabbed the corner of Meng Xiangbei's clothes. "Brother Meng, I know I was wrong. Don't be angry."
He suppressed his sobs, but his tone still had a hint of tears.
Seeing Meng Xiangbei silent, he immediately said, "Brother Meng, don't be angry with me. It doesn't matter if you scold me or starve me, as long as, as long as..." as long as you don't abandon me.
He bit his lips with his pearly teeth, unable to continue speaking. He lowered his head slightly, but tightened his grip on the corner of Meng Xiangbei's clothes. He was unwilling to let go of Meng Xiangbei.
He was thin and sitting, a small person, his shoulders were still trembling slightly, and he looked very pitiful, like a bullied cub who was holding on to the last glimmer of hope and was afraid of being abandoned.
Seeing him like this, Meng Xiangbei's temper was softened at once, and he could no longer be angry.
He squatted down, held Lin Zhibai's face with both hands, and forced him to look at him.
"Xiaobai, I will only say what I am going to say once, so you have to listen carefully."
"I know that there have been a lot of rumors about Zhang Youyu and I in the village recently. I also know that Zhang Youyu came to see you today. But I don't like Zhang Youyu. From the beginning to the end, the only person I like is you, Lin Zhibai."
After a pause, Meng Xiangbei continued, "During this period, I have indeed been close to Zhang Youyu, but there is a reason. The primary school in the town is recruiting teachers recently, and each village has two vacancies, and the vacancies are with the village chief.
You know, I saved Zhang Youyu a while ago. She is the daughter of the village chief. I was thinking if I could get a place for you from the village chief through her."
Lin Zhibai was stunned. Meng Xiangbei's words were obviously beyond his expectations.
Meng Xiangbei continued, "I learned from your friends that your dream has always been to become a teacher. Two years ago, you must have wanted to take the college entrance examination. I'm sorry that I burned your books and prevented you from realizing your dream. Instead, I kept you by my side. I was too selfish."
Lin Zhibai burst into tears and shook his head desperately. He hugged Meng Xiangbei and said, "No, you just like me. You are not selfish."
Meng Xiangbei suddenly smiled, touched his hair, and chuckled, "You still know that I like you."
"You stayed with me, but I know that you still have a dream of becoming a teacher, Xiaobai. I've figured it out. I love you, so I should support you in realizing your dream. So I support you in taking the college entrance examination. Before the college entrance examination, I don't want you to do heavy work anymore, so it's good for you to be a primary school teacher in town. I'm serious. I even bought you a book today."
As he spoke, Meng Xiangbei loosened his arms, took the book out of the bamboo basket, and handed it to Lin Zhibai as if he were presenting a treasure.
"Look, this is the book I bought for you. However, the books in the bookstore are too expensive, and I don't have enough money to buy them. I can only buy them from the recycling station, and I can't buy all of them. You can just use them as they are. I will definitely make more money and buy you all the books and exercise books you need."
The book in his hand was old and creased because it had been used, and there were even traces of writing on it, but Lin Zhibai didn't care.
He just felt like he was dreaming. He once thought that he might never come across these books again in his life.
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