Entertainment: A song that brought his deceased wife back to life.

Most of the people in the cafeteria have left.

The smell of spoiled cabbage still lingered in the air.

Jiang Yue packed up the lunchbox containing only soup base and was about to lead Xu Qing away when a clattering sound came from behind her.

It looks like someone smashed up the blacksmith's shop.

"stop."

Granny Wang's voice came from the window, carrying a sense of contentment as if she had just finished picking her teeth.

Jiang Yue stopped in her tracks.

She didn't turn around, but simply shielded Xu Qing behind her.

"What's up?"

Jiang Yue's voice was cold, and her hand was already reaching for the half-section of steel bar at her waist.

If it's about picking a fight, she'll go all the way.

Granny Wang's fat body was squeezed into the narrow window, looking like a lump of over-fermented dough.

She held the large iron ladle that she had just used to perform the "wok-flipping skill" and pointed to the kitchen doorway.

There was a pile of iron pots over there, like a small mountain.

It was pitch black.

It was covered in grease.

Some pots still had bits of burnt rice stuck to the bottom, as hard as cement, from who-knows-when.

"See that?"

Wang Po spoke in an extremely irritating tone.

"Li, who washes the dishes, took the day off today."

"Go wash those pots and pans."

Jiang Yue turned around and glanced at the pile of pots.

There were about a dozen people.

This kind of large pot is used to cook for hundreds of people.

A single pot can weigh dozens of kilograms.

Let alone painting, even moving it is a struggle.

Moreover, in the dead of winter, the water flowing out of the pipes was all icy cold water.

If I wash them, my hands will probably be ruined.

"On what grounds?"

Jiang Yue raised an eyebrow.

"I'm here to eat, not to do hard labor."

"Whoever wants to wash it can wash it."

Jiang Yue pulled Xu Qing away.

"Oh dear, she's got quite a temper."

Granny Wang wasn't in a hurry.

She slowly tossed the iron spoon into the vegetable bowl.

With a snap.

The soup splashed everywhere.

"It's okay if you don't wash it."

"Anyway, I'll still be in charge of the kitchen tomorrow."

Wang Po's small eyes, squeezed into slits by her fat, gleamed with a wicked light.

She stared at Xu Qing behind Jiang Yue.

"Some people are just naturally as thin as bean sprouts."

"What if we don't even have half a steamed bun tomorrow?"

"I don't know if we can make it through this winter."

"I heard that a few empty spaces have recently become available in that messy graveyard behind the house, and they're short of people to fill them."

Jiang Yue's feet were rooted to the spot.

Her hands clenched instantly.

The joints made a cracking sound.

Having spent so many years in the welfare home, what kind of threats hasn't she seen?

If they're after her, she wouldn't even flinch if they locked her in a dark room.

But Wang Po's knife struck with perfect accuracy.

It struck at her weak spot.

Xu Qing had just eaten her fill for a few days, and her face had just regained some color.

If we run out of food.

Jiang Yue dared not think about it.

She turned her head and stared intently at Granny Wang's greasy face.

His eyes were fierce, like a wolf protecting its cubs.

If looks could kill, Granny Wang would have been chopped into minced meat and made into dumplings by now.

Granny Wang felt a little uneasy under her gaze and shrank back.

But the thought of having "the power over food" made him stand tall again.

"What are you looking at?"

"Should I wash it or not?"

"It's just a matter of a word."

"If we wash him clean, the mute man will at least have some hot soup to drink tomorrow."

"If I don't wash it..."

Granny Wang snorted, picked up a rag from the side, and pretended to wipe the windowsill.

Jiang Yue took a deep breath.

The cold wind rushed into my lungs, forcibly suppressing the anger that was raging inside me.

She loosened her clenched fist.

"OK."

"I'll wash it."

These two words seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

Granny Wang smiled smugly.

His face, with its bulging, fleshy features, was nauseating to look at.

"That's right."

"Young man, doing more work is good training."

"Remember to clean it thoroughly. If there's even a speck of oil left, you two will be starving tomorrow."

Jiang Yue ignored her.

She crouched down and looked at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing was tugging at her clothes.

Those eyes were full of worry, and he kept shaking his head.

He pointed to the pile of pots, then to Jiang Yue's hand.

The meaning is clear: Don't go, let's go.

Jiang Yue forced a slightly awkward smile.

She reached out and helped Xu Qing turn up her collar to block the wind from getting in.

"fine."

"Just a few pots. Your Sister Jiang used to practice Iron Palm, this is nothing."

"You go back first."

"Go back to that corner of the dormitory."

"Cover yourself up properly and don't run around."

Xu Qing still wouldn't let go.

Jiang Yue frowned.

"obedient!"

"If you stay here in the cold wind, you'll catch a cold and I'll have to take care of you."

"Go back right now!"

"If you dare to run around, I won't let you eat meat anymore."

Xu Qing hesitated for a moment.

He looked at Jiang Yue's hands, which were covered in chilblains, and then at Wang Po, who was grinning wickedly in the distance.

He made a mental note about the fat woman.

A very significant stroke.

Xu Qing nodded.

He loosened the hem of Jiang Yue's clothes.

Clutching the chipped enamel basin, he walked out, turning back every few steps.

That figure, small and lonely.

It's like a leaf that could be blown away by the wind at any moment.

Jiang Yue watched him walk out of the cafeteria until he was out of sight before turning around.

She rolled up her sleeves.

A section of his arm, so thin it was all bone, was exposed.

Heading towards that pile of malicious accusations.

……

The distance from the canteen to the dormitory is not long.

It's only a few hundred meters.

But Xu Qing walked very slowly.

The wind is too strong.

It scrapes my face like a knife.

The soil on the ground was swirled up, making it impossible for people to open their eyes.

Xu Qing hugged the enamel basin to her chest.

This broken basin may not keep you warm, but at least it can block some of the wind.

He kept his head down, counting his steps.

step.

Two steps.

My mind was filled with the image of Jiang Yue squatting on the ground and rolling up her sleeves.

That old woman, Wang Po.

The hand that tosses the wok.

Xu Qing narrowed his eyes.

Although he doesn't speak, he's quick-witted.

He was wondering if there was any way to deal with that wicked woman.

For example, add some dish soap to her precious oil jar?

Or perhaps he would steal the key she was wearing on her waist and throw it into the latrine?

These thoughts swirled in his mind, only to be suppressed.

No.

It's too obvious.

If she gets caught, Jiang Yue will also be in trouble.

We need to come up with a dirty trick.

The kind that leaves no room for anyone to find fault with it.

As Xu Qing was pondering this, he unknowingly arrived at the entrance of the dormitory.

It's break time now.

Most of the children are out playing outside.

They either went to the back hill to collect firewood or rolled around on the playground.

The room was quiet.

Only the wind rattled through the broken window.

Xu Qing pushed open the door.

A musty smell wafted over me.

He was used to it.

I even found the smell somewhat familiar.

It's at least stronger than the cold wind outside.

He walked to the innermost corner.

That was his and Jiang Yue's territory.

The bed was still made the way he had made it that morning.

Tofu cubes.

Neat and tidy.

Xu Qing placed the enamel basin on the bedside table, took off his shoes, and prepared to crawl into Jiang Yue's bed to warm up.

Just then.

The light at the doorway suddenly dimmed.

It was as if a dark cloud was blocking the doorway.

Xu Qing subconsciously turned around.

Er Lei was standing at the door.

He is not alone.

Behind him followed the tall, thin man and two usually inconspicuous followers.

Several people completely blocked the already narrow entrance.

The injuries on Er Lei's face haven't fully healed yet.

The bluish-purple birthmark, combined with the scab at the corner of his mouth, made him look even more grotesque.

But he didn't bring a stick today.

They didn't bring any bricks.

With his hands tucked into the pockets of his tattered cotton trousers, he actually looked somewhat "kind."

of course.

That was the kind of amiable greeting a weasel would give to a chicken.

"Yo."

"Isn't this our little mute?"

Er Lei stepped across the threshold and came in.

His steps were very light.

It's like a cat approaching a mouse.

The tall, thin man quickly closed the door.

The light inside the room became even dimmer.

Xu Qing didn't move.

He sat on the bed, his back pressed against the cold wall.

His hand instinctively reached for the sleeve beside him.

That was a "help" signal.

But the area around it was completely empty.

The figure in the old military green cotton-padded jacket was nowhere to be seen.

There was no Jiang Yue who would immediately jump up and curse.

There was only air.

Xu Qing's fingers made a grasping motion in the air, then slowly withdrew.

He put his hands inside his clothes.

There was a "weapon" that Jiang Yue had given him.

An old chopstick that has been sharpened.

Although it's not very lethal, if it gets stuck in your eye, it'll be a real problem.

Er Lei noticed Xu Qing's subtle actions.

He smiled.

His mouthful of big yellow teeth was showing, and it looked particularly disgusting.

"take it easy."

"I'm not a tiger, I don't eat people."

Erlei walked to the empty bed next to him and sat down casually.

He even crossed his legs.

The tattered cloth shoes with exposed toes swayed in mid-air.

"Where is Jiang Yue?"

Er Lei asked the question knowing the answer already.

"Oh, right."

"I just passed by the cafeteria and saw her washing pots."

"Tsk tsk tsk."

"It was terrible."

"Such a huge pile of pots, and that fat old woman Wang is supervising the work."

"I guess I'll be scrolling until dark, right?"

As Er Lei spoke, he observed Xu Qing's expression.

Xu Qing remained expressionless.

Those eyes stared coldly at Er Lei.

It's like a bottomless, dry well.

Er Lei felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze.

This kid's eyes are too eerie.

He doesn't look like a seven-year-old at all.

"cough."

Er Lei cleared his throat and decided to get straight to the point.

"Actually, I also feel sorry for Jiang Yue."

"That old woman, Wang Po, is truly a scoundrel."

"Intentionally to prank someone."

"Did Jiang Yue not eat enough for lunch today?"

Er Lei lowered his voice.

They seemed very mysterious.

"I just saw her give you the steamed bun, and then she ate a cornbread herself."

"That cornbread was so hard it could kill a dog."

"She still has so much work to do."

"Even an Iron Man would be exhausted by the end of the day."

These words struck a chord with Xu Qing.

His eyes flickered.

The hand that was holding the chopsticks loosened slightly.

Erlei noticed this subtle change.

He was secretly delighted.

There's a chance.

Although this mute man is a blockhead, he is truly single-minded when it comes to Jiang Yue.

As long as you bring up Jiang Yue, it's sure to work.

Erlei moved forward a little.

A strong, sour smell of someone who hasn't showered hit me.

"Dumb."

"How about we make a deal?"

Er Lei lowered his voice, as if afraid of being overheard by the rats in the corner.

"You know that abandoned warehouse behind the mountain, right?"

"A batch of supplies was just delivered this morning."

"That old dean is senile; he locked the door because he was afraid we'd steal it."

"But she didn't know that one of the exhaust fan vents in the warehouse was broken."

As Er Lei spoke, he gestured to indicate the name.

"There's something good in there."

"It's not the kind of flour that's moldy."

"They are compressed biscuits."

"And there are also those packaged sausages."

"Beef flavored."