Drama Couple in the 80s

Chapter 11

Opening the He family's gate, He Cheng swaggered inside.

"Is Chunhong back?" Bao Lanxiang asked from the main living area and instructed, "Your second brother hasn't returned yet, right? Don't bolt the door; leave it open for him."

He Cheng remained silent, heading straight towards the west room. The door to the living area creaked open as Bao Lanxiang, wrapped in her padded jacket, poked her head out. Surprised, she scolded him, "Dacheng? It's you? Honestly, child, I've been asking for so long without even a peep from you. Were you just coming home?"

He Cheng paused momentarily, thinking, It wasn't like you were addressing me directly. However, to maintain his character, he continued to stay silent.

Bao Lanxiang tightened her jacket and stepped outside, standing at the doorway while looking at He Dacheng. She reprimanded, "Honestly, when someone asks you something, can't you at least respond?"

"Hm." With that brief acknowledgment, He Cheng pushed open the door and entered the west room.

"What were you doing running off? Where did you go?" Bao Lanxiang followed him to the entrance of the west room, persistently questioning, "Why did you go out?"

The room was pitch-black, and being new to this environment, He Cheng fumbled around but couldn't find any matches. Unwilling to ask Bao Lanxiang, he decided not to light the lamp after all. Since he intended to sleep anyway, he felt his way by touching the bed near the north wall, kicked off his shoes, and casually lay down.

Receiving no response for quite some time, Bao Lanxiang sighed and muttered angrily, "Acting dead all day, never answering when called or questioned. You're going to worry me to death. What sins must I have committed in my past life?"

Unable to hold back, He Cheng sat up and asked, "What's wrong? Am I not allowed to go out at night?"

His sudden response startled Bao Lanxiang, she opened her mouth and said hesitantly, "No... It's just that, don't you usually never go out at night?"

Ah, okay then. He Cheng closed his mouth and lay back down.

Bao Lanxiang stood uncertainly by the door for a moment before probing further, "Where did you go? Dacheng, you shouldn't wander off like that. Even if you must leave, please let me know first. All evening, I had no idea when you slipped away. What were you doing outside?"

"Just playing."

"Playing where?"

"Anywhere."

Bao Lanxiang lingered for a while longer, unsure what else to say, her words caught in her throat. For some reason, this unusual behavior from her simple-minded son made her apprehensive and somewhat bewildered. She couldn't get any more information from him and feared inadvertently upsetting him. Eventually, with a sigh, she retreated back to the main room.

In the dimness, He Cheng removed his padded jacket and trousers, leaving only a summer cotton shirt and shorts underneath. As he slid under the chilly quilt, shivering from the cold, he couldn't help but curse softly.

According to Jiang Ya, this was how most people dressed in rural areas during this era. With barely enough food to satisfy hunger, luxuries like undergarments and thermal shirts were scarce; only city dwellers who valued such items would purchase them.

So, just before bed, He Cheng adjusted his short-term goals for the near future. Besides eating meat, he now aimed to sleep in a warm blanket nest.

To achieve that warmth, he first needed to bring home a wife. And during their wedding, they must definitely buy two decent winter clothes and inner garments beforehand.