Tian Jing's playful pout made Li Zhengguo's eyes crinkle with a smile, "You like me too, don't you?"
"Oh, you're such a scoundrel!"
"Yes, yes, I'm a scoundrel." Tian Jing's face was already flushed with shyness and annoyance. Li Zhengguo dared not tease her further, lest she become truly angry.
"Hmph!" Tian Jing let out a soft snort, then couldn't help but burst into laughter.
They say women in love are fools. She wasn't a fool, but she was close.
She was learning to act spoiled, something she rarely did before the apocalypse. After the apocalypse, women who acted spoiled could only rely on the strong.
Li Zhengguo reached out and stroked her short hair, "With me, you can be whoever you want to be. No matter what you're like, I'll love it."
"Even if I throw a tantrum and curse?"
"I'll love it."
"Even if I fight?"
"No matter who you fight, never hold back. You must win. Otherwise, if even a single strand of your hair falls, I'll be heartbroken."
"Li Zhengguo, is what you're saying true?"
"True, very true."
Tian Jing swayed his arm again, "Li Zhengguo, my heart is very small. Once you're in it, there's only you. You can't deceive me, and you can't distrust me."
"I will never fail you! Tian Tian, I'm so glad I got to live again. I always thought reliving meant making up for the past, but now I know clearly, reliving means meeting you."
Li Zhengguo knew Tian Tian was sensitive about her past self, and he needed to reassure her with words.
Tian Jing smiled, her smile turning her into a little fool, "I'm also grateful that I became her."
Li Zhengguo, captivated, simply stared foolishly at her mischievous and beautiful smile.
Wen Jianshe, who returned in a hurry, paused at the door, contemplating, "Should I go in? Or should I go in? Or should I go in?"
Li Zhengguo reacted quickly, looking up at the door and asking, "How much plastic sheeting can we get?"
"We should be able to get four kilograms. I heard people calculate that about seven to ten kilograms of plastic sheeting are used per mu of land. Your three fen should be about right."
Seeing Wen Jianshe enter, Tian Jing tried to withdraw her hand, but Li Zhengguo held on, reluctant to let go.
Unable to pull away, Tian Jing let him hold her hand, "It should be enough. Let's use this for now; we still need to place an order."
Since Tian Tian agreed, Li Zhengguo naturally agreed too. "Okay, we'll take these four kilograms. You go buy them for us, and we'll go ahead and procure other things."
By the time Wen Jianshe helped deliver the four kilograms of plastic sheeting to Grandpa Song's place and returned, he found that these two weren't just procuring; they were practically moving.
Not only were the two bamboo baskets full, but there were also four large bundles. Su Dan Novel Network
Li Zhengguo hoisted the large bamboo basket and picked up two large bundles of toilet paper tied with cloth strips, along with about ten pieces of corduroy fabric neatly packed. "Let's go, to the warehouse in the back."
Tian Jing shouldered her small bamboo basket, which was filled with snacks and treats, and picked up a cotton bundle, following behind Li Zhengguo.
Wen Jianshe invited Sister Tang again. Upon seeing Tian Jing, Sister Tang complimented, "This outfit looks much prettier on you."
"Thank you, Sister Tang, sorry to trouble you again."
"No trouble at all; it's all the same who I sell to."
This time, Tian Jing chose four bolts of light-colored cotton fabric and four bolts of darker-colored cotton fabric. To Sister Tang's astonishment, she asked, "Sister Tang, do you have any fabric suitable for making trousers?"
"Yes." Sister Tang brought out several bolts of plain, light-colored fabric. "This is polycotton twill. It was rained on and couldn't be sold. The manager said to sell it for 20 yuan per bolt."
"I'll take these four bolts: beige, dark gray, smoky gray, and blue."
Tian Jing quickly placed her order, quelling Sister Tang's concerns.
Sister Tang happily pulled out the four bolts of fabric and then, from a corner, dragged out three sheets of thick white cotton cloth, handing them to Wen Jianshe to help pack.
Wen Jianshe was bewildered. He had asked for this kind of packaging cloth how many times? Weren't they told there wasn't any? Where did this come from?
After directing Wen Jianshe in his work, Sister Tang pulled out a large white cloth bag from another corner. This type of large bag was the outer packaging for cotton.
Sister Tang grabbed two large handfuls of fabric scraps from the bag and said, "Here, take these back for making shoe soles."
"Thank you, Sister Tang." Tian Jing was surprised by the abundance of free gifts.
The sweet "thank you" from Tian Jing made Sister Tang feel even better. She then pulled out several wide cloth strips used for tying fabric rolls. "Take these home, wash them, and flatten them. You can use them to mend clothes or make shoe soles."
"Thank you so much, Sister Tang. You're so kind."
Wen Jianshe, who was packing, thought, "Why don't I see Sister Tang's kindness?"
Tian Jing took out money and paid. The hardworking packer, Wen Jianshe, was then happily asked by Sister Tang, "Comrade Xiao Wen, can you help deliver this?"
After Tian Jing went to Wen Jianshe's warehouse and selected two ceramic basins and a string of tea mugs, deliveryman Wen Jianshe was put to work, carrying the fabric to Grandpa Song's courtyard.
As soon as the items were set down, Wen Jianshe didn't even ask Li Zhengguo if he needed help securing the cart and bolted away.
This time, Li Zhengguo didn't borrow a basket. Fortunately, the fabric rolls had outer packaging. He sandwiched the long rolls of plastic sheeting between the fabric and placed them at the very bottom.
On top of that were fifty catties of rice and flour. The corduroy fabric was placed next to the rice and flour, parallel to the large bamboo basket. The two bundles of toilet paper and the cotton were placed on top of the basket, and with a rope pulled and secured, the cart was tied.
Tian Jing, carrying her small basket and two bottles of local Daqu liquor and a kerosene lamp, followed Li Zhengguo, bidding farewell to a surprised Grandpa Song.
They turned onto the dirt road leading to Rocket Commune. Tian Jing, having already taken snacks from her small basket to feed herself, wanted to switch with Li Zhengguo. "Li Zhengguo, have something to eat, let me push for a while."
"Can you keep your balance?" Li Zhengguo was a little worried. Tian Tian had enough strength, but that didn't mean she could push a cart well, especially a heavily loaded one.
"We'll only know if we try, won't we?"
Li Zhengguo stopped the cart and yielded the 'driver's seat.'
Tian Jing put down her small basket, easily lifted the handles, and pushed a few steps slowly to test it. She quickly found her balance, and her speed gradually increased. Li Zhengguo had to jog to keep up.
It wasn't until they passed the Zhangshan Production Team that Li Zhengguo took back his 'steering wheel' and tied the small basket to the very top of the cart.
As they approached the five-li slope turn, with Tian Jing helping to push, she passed the five-li slope turn for the first time with such lightness.
After passing the Wang Er Production Team, Tian Jing became anxious again, "The sun is setting. I'll push."
Li Zhengguo steadied the cart and pulled her into his arms, kissing her mouth that worried him so.
Suddenly attacked, Tian Jing, after a moment of stunned surprise, stood on her tiptoes and eagerly responded. There was no one on the road, so she could indulge her feelings.
Li Zhengguo, with the same thought, deepened the kiss again and again.
When he finally released her, Tian Jing leaned softly against his chest. This man could last longer than she, an ability user.
"Tian Tian."
"Hmm?"
"From now on, when there's something I can do, you don't need to help. I can do it. I can take care of my Tian Tian."
Li Zhengguo didn't want to be lazy by relying on Tian Tian's abilities. Taking care of Tian Tian was his responsibility.
"Aren't you tired?"
"Not tired." Li Zhengguo gently stroked the back of the woman in his arms, "As long as I can take care of you, I'm willing to do any tiring work."
"Alright then, I won't help. Let's hurry back."
Tian Jing was worried that her mother-in-law and Li Min would be waiting anxiously.
"No rush. If we get back late, no one will see how much stuff is on the cart. You can ride on my back; I'll carry you."