Transmigrated as an Unwanted Ugly Girl

Chapter 466: Chapter 244: Wordless Communication 2

Juhua glanced at him with an air of serene composure. Mimicking his expression, she smiled faintly but didn’t acknowledge him, simply putting the shoes away and tying up her bundle.

Huai Zi watched her gaze slide past his face, as if to say, ’Can you even compare? He’s already engaged, and you’ve still got a long way to go!’

And so, he let out a soft, mournful sigh—though it was more sweet than bitter. He gave Juhua a look of feigned helplessness and asked with a smile, "Hasn’t your brother come back yet? You said you were going to work on the fish pond. Have you set a date for it?"

Juhua thought it would be too cold to work on the fish pond at the end of the year, so she had discussed it with her parents and they had decided to start earlier. Catching the fish was secondary; the main goal was to clean the pond—clearing out the silt to use as fertilizer and then digging the pond deeper and wider.

Hearing his question, she replied with a smile, "Of course we have to wait for a time when you’re all free. Otherwise, we won’t be able to round up any help. You don’t expect my mother and I to get in there ourselves, do you?"

Huai Zi couldn’t help but laugh. He told her not to worry, saying that cleaning up the little fish pond would be quick. If it weren’t for the lotus roots that needed to be carefully dug out for replanting, they wouldn’t need much help at all.

After they finished talking, he glanced up at the sun, looking like he was reluctantly about to leave. Then, he suddenly remembered something and turned back to Juhua. "Laixi also brought a message. He said your grandmother wants you to come visit for a few days."

Juhua nodded to show she understood. Seeing that he was about to leave, she called out, "Wait a second—" She hurried back into the house and came out with a pair of gloves, which she handed to him. "These are for you."

When she’d been making gloves for her parents and brother, she had followed her heart and couldn’t resist making a pair for Huai Zi, too. There was no particular reason for it; she just felt like it, so she did.

Zhang Huai was stunned that Juhua was giving him gloves. ’I never asked her to make them for me,’ he thought, ’and I didn’t even mention it just now. But she went and made them for me without a word, and now she’s just... giving them to me.’

He took the gloves, but he wasn’t ecstatic or bursting with excitement. He simply gazed at Juhua for a moment before lowering his eyes, a telltale blush creeping up his tanned cheeks.

It was, after all, a young man’s first brush with love. Though he had day after day longed for Juhua to show him some affection, it had always been a one-sided hope. Now, she had suddenly made her feelings clear. That brief meeting of their eyes seeped into his heart like a spring rain, making his heartstrings tremble. He felt an overwhelming mix of sweetness and shyness, and was suddenly at a loss for what to do.

Juhua looked at the young farm boy, dressed in a slightly worn short coat and a padded jacket, standing tall and straight in the winter sun like an oak on the back hill. A smile spread across his face—a mix of joy, relief, and shyness. It was like the warm winter sun itself, making her feel warm and grounded.

After a moment of silence, she noticed the blush on his face. ’He’s so young, after all,’ she thought. ’Not as brazen as I am.’ A mischievous impulse took hold of her, and she deliberately called out, "Huai Zi, Huai Zi, what’s wrong? Don’t you like the gloves? My needlework has never been very good..."

Huai Zi’s head shot up. He clutched the gloves tightly and said in a rush, "I like them! I really like them, Juhua..." He trailed off, then looked at her and broke into a silent smile—he had realized she was just teasing him.

Just as he was about to say something, he heard his mother, He, calling for Zhang Yang from next door. "Yangzi! Come give your mother a hand! Carry this bucket of radish tops out back to feed the pigs."

Her call snapped him out of his reverie. "I have to go feed the pigs," he said to Juhua in a hurry. "I’ll come back to talk to you tonight." He gave her an apologetic smile, and only after she nodded did he turn and stride away.

Watching him go, Juhua was in a wonderful mood. She turned to head to the kitchen to cook, but nearly tripped over the little gray dog at her feet. The puppy was just like Black Dog when he was young, always content to lie by Juhua’s feet.

The near-trip completely shattered Juhua’s romantic mood. She looked down at the puppy’s chubby little body, its belly so plump it sagged and swayed as it waddled. She was both exasperated and amused. "All you do all day is get under my feet," she scolded. "You fearless little thing! If I’d actually stepped on you, I would’ve squeezed your guts right out!"

She had actually been terrified for a second. ’If I’d really stepped on it just now... ugh! What a gory sight that would have been.’

Black Dog lay in the courtyard, leisurely watching Juhua scold the little gray dog. He was probably gloating. ’Heh, kid, you really can’t read the room. You gotta pick your moments if you want to get close to the master. I grew up getting yelled at, and I’ve finally learned some sense. Now that you’re here, you can take the scoldings for me!’

Chastised by Juhua, the little gray dog scrambled to the side, only to start squaring off with the cat a moment later.

At noon, the members of the Zheng Family who had been out working returned home. When they saw the big bag of shoes Liu Yunlan had brought, they all broke into wide smiles. They busily admired and compared the shoes before eagerly trying them on.

Qingmu wriggled his toes in the soft shoes. His feet felt warm, and his heart felt tender. ’It’s been a while since I’ve seen her,’ he thought. ’I wonder how she’s doing. I should find some time to visit Liujiatang! Hmm, that’s right. After we work on the fish pond in a couple of days, I can bring some fish to Grandma and my uncles, and take some to her, too.’

Mrs. Yang saw her son quietly trying on shoes, a faint smile on his face. She exchanged a look with Juhua, then said with a smile, "Qingmu, after we’re done with the fish pond in a couple of days, take some fish to your grandmother’s house. And while you’re at it, bring some to Yunlan and see how she’s doing! Then, when we’re free during the first month of next year, we’ll talk with her family about setting the wedding for the end of the year. That way, she can join us to celebrate the New Year!" (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com and vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)