She held out a hand to block him and said, "Oh, stop making a mess in here. Go on out; I can handle the kitchen work by myself."
Wang Jianguo was caught off guard by the sudden interception. His hand hovered awkwardly in mid-air, and a bitter smile crossed his face. He knew Hé Yǔshuǐ’s temperament—once she made up her mind, not even a team of oxen could pull her back. With no other choice, he sullenly lowered his sleeves, took a few steps back, and stood in the corner of the kitchen.
Still, he couldn't bear to just stand there and watch Hé Yǔshuǐ work alone, so he began chatting to make conversation. They talked about the opening of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative that day, recent village gossip, and all sorts of trivial household matters. Wang Jianguo’s mouth ran like it had been wound up with a spring, never stopping for a moment. Hé Yǔshuǐ chimed in occasionally, but most of the time, she just smiled and listened, her hands never slowing down.
Chapter 447