A big pot of Pig Lung Soup—three people ate to their fill, but still couldn’t finish it.
Once everyone was satisfied, Cao Wen packed up a bowl of Pig Lung Soup he had set aside earlier and put it into the Food Box, planning to send it over to his uncle’s family.
Although they hadn’t interacted much lately, they were still close relatives.
It wasn’t easy for villagers to eat meat, and now that he wasn’t going hungry, sending a bowl of meat over was also a way to show filial piety.
“Just finished harvesting the wheat, and now the court wants us to go inspect the paddy fields again. There’s no time to tend to our own farmwork at all, is there.”
“We help out day after day, working ourselves to the bone, while they live the good life, dressed in gold and silver. We can’t even get a decent meal. Look at Erqiang, he’s so thin he’s all skin and bones. How are we supposed to keep living like this.”
Cao Wen had just reached the path behind Cao Yongquan’s house when he heard a woman’s complaints and soft sobbing coming from the kitchen lit by an oil lamp.
“Aren’t all the tenant farmers in this hollow living like this? Just wait until after the autumn harvest, things will get better.”
“Autumn harvest, autumn harvest—if only we can make it that far. Just look at how many grains of rice there are in tonight’s porridge!”
Cao Wen raised his brows slightly, and when he reached the yard, he called out in a clear voice, “Uncle, are you home?”
The people inside immediately stopped talking when they heard his voice.
Cao Yongquan recognized the person standing outside and hurried out to open the gate.
“Awen, what brings you here so late? Come in, quick.”
Cao Yushi stood by the door, glancing over, trying to guess why Cao Wen had come.
She wasn’t too fond of this boy—always hanging around with Zheng Kui, making a ruckus, and when it came to collecting debts, he never spared the neighbors any face, not even his own uncle.
To put it bluntly, he really was like a dog raised by Zheng Kui.
She tilted her head, watching the uncle and nephew whisper a few words at the door, feeling even more uneasy, worried that Zheng Kui had sent some new errand.
After the two of them muttered for a good while, Cao Wen didn’t even come inside, but turned and left.
Watching Cao Wen disappear into the night, she finally went over.
“What’s going on? Did Zheng Kui send him with some message again?!”
“What message? Awen isn’t running around with Zheng Kui anymore. He wouldn’t be running errands for him now.”
Cao Yongquan said with relief.
“Look, Awen just brought over some Pig Lung Soup.”
When Cao Yushi heard meat had been sent over, her eyes lit up.
She quickly took the Food Box from her husband, impatiently lifting the lid. Instantly, the rich aroma of meat wafted into her nose.
Seeing the bowl filled to the brim with radish and Pig Lung Soup, she couldn’t help but swallow her saliva.
“Did that boy strike it rich or something!”
“Rich? Awen’s wife’s family’s house got washed away in a heavy rain, and now even his mother-in-law has moved in. I guess they just wanted a good meal for once.”
Cao Yushi was startled.
“That’s terrible! Did anyone get hurt?”
“Thankfully, no, everyone’s fine—just a good scare.”
“Those poor women…It’s good they’re here now, better to have them close than always worrying. Awen really handled this well—hard times, and he still thinks of our family.”
Cao Yongquan nodded.
“Call Erqiang in for dinner.”
Cao Yushi clutched the still-warm Food Box tightly.
“Alright.”
When Cao Wen returned to his own yard, Lu Lingbi was herding two big chickens into the Chicken Coop.
The chickens were spending their first night in the new coop and weren’t used to it, running circles around her and refusing to go in.
“If you don’t go in, I’ll butcher you tomorrow.”
Cao Wen strode over, pressed down on one chicken, and stuffed it straight into the coop.
As if they understood the threat, the two chickens clucked twice after entering, then quieted down.
Lu Lingbi let out a few breaths, chasing the chickens had actually made her break a sweat.
Cao Wen quickly pulled over a chair for Lu Lingbi.
“Auntie, you finished the Chicken Coop and cooked today—must be tired out. Please don’t take on so much work from now on.”
“I don’t sleep much. I dozed a bit at noon, and just lying in bed makes me feel even weaker. It’s better to find something to do to pass the time—otherwise all my thoughts turn to my illness, and that’s even harder to bear.”
Lu Lingbi spoke sincerely.
“This afternoon actually passed quickly.”
“Then from now on, I’ll herd the chickens into the coop. You shouldn’t do such chores.”
“Alright.”
Lu Lingbi nodded gently.
“The chickens only need to be put in the coop a couple of times. Once they get used to it, they’ll go in to rest by themselves.”
Cao Wen patted the low Chicken Coop.
The roof was woven from turf and vines, and the fence was made from bamboo—sturdy and nice to look at.
He felt more and more that Lu Lingbi’s hands were truly skillful, rivaling the best carpenters.
“Where’s Ayan?”
“She’s inside, working with mint.”
Cao Wen’s brows lifted at that, and he headed into the house.
As soon as he entered the kitchen, a fresh minty scent hit him, even stronger than simply holding mint leaves to the nose.
Xu Duoyan was bent over the small stove, stirring something in a pot, occasionally adding leaves Cao Wen didn’t recognize.
Beside her was an old Herbal Book, which caught his interest.
Xu Duoyan ignored him, focusing on the clay pot.
“You can read?”
Xu Duoyan replied calmly.
Seeing he was about to ask how she could read, she explained herself: “My mother taught me. Before she got married, she was a young lady from a wealthy family, learned to read from a young age. When my father was alive, life was steady, and in her spare time, she taught me.”
Cao Wen was a bit surprised, but thinking of Lu Lingbi’s refined manner, it made sense.
“What about you? How did you learn to read?”
Cao Wen’s gaze flickered.
“How do you know I can read?”
Xu Duoyan’s hand paused, her eyes shifting away.
“Didn’t you say before that you’d write me a Divorce Certificate? How would you write one if you couldn’t read?”
Cao Wen choked at that.
So observant—she’d figured out he could read from that little detail.
He felt a bit annoyed, thinking she was reminding him that he still hadn’t given her the Divorce Certificate.
Cao Wen pretended not to understand.
“There’s a Private School in the village. When I was little, I used to sneak around the doorway and learn.”
Actually, the original owner used to follow Zheng Kui around causing trouble, never studying—he’d hide under the Private School window and throw mud inside, not learning a thing.
But to show a better side, he cleverly glossed over the details.
Xu Duoyan glanced at him.
“You’re clever, even sneaking lessons. If you’d studied properly, maybe you’d have passed the exams.”
“Girls usually like scholars, right? If I’d realized that sooner, maybe I wouldn’t have failed at matchmaking so much. I wonder if it’s too late to study now.”
Cao Wen looked at Xu Duoyan.
“What about you? Do you like scholars?”
Xu Duoyan was stunned for a moment, then looked back at Cao Wen.
“What does it matter if I do? What, if I say yes, are you going to introduce me to someone?”
“What if I could? Would you want me to?”
Xu Duoyan: …………
“It’s no use asking me. You should ask the scholars if they’re willing. After all, I’m someone who’s been through a Divorce—scholars all value their reputation.”
“You have a good temper and you’re pretty—someone will be willing.”
“So is it you who likes scholars, or are you asking if I do? Why are you matchmaking like this?”
Cao Wen was left speechless again.
Why was he trying to test Xu Duoyan?
The two of them sat in silence for a while.
Xu Duoyan fell quiet, feeling she’d been a bit too harsh.
She didn’t know why, but whenever Cao Wen brought this up, she got anxious.
Seeing the bruise on his chin had darkened after a whole afternoon, looking even more obvious under the lamp, she felt a bit awkward.
“Want some ointment?”
Cao Wen thought she meant his hand that had been injured while hunting wild boar, and instinctively opened his mouth.
“It’s already scabbed over. The medicine you put on before worked really well.”
Xu Duoyan was silent for a moment, then pointed at his chin.
“……”
They both remembered the thing they’d silently agreed to forget.
Suddenly, Xu Duoyan turned and went into the house.
Cao Wen looked at the bubbling pot, wanting to call her back to ask what to do with it, but she quickly returned with the familiar medicine box.
Seeing the medicine box, he obediently found a stool and sat down.
The wound on his hand had indeed scabbed over.
Xu Duoyan was surprised at how fast he healed, but she still applied more ointment and rewrapped it with gauze from the Pharmacy Owner.
Once his hand was done, Cao Wen lifted his face on his own.
Their eyes met, and Xu Duoyan, holding the cotton swab, froze.
Noticing Xu Duoyan’s discomfort, Cao Wen sensibly closed his eyes.
“Don’t get the medicine in my eyes.”
Under the gentle lamp light, half his face was in light and half in shadow, making his already strong features look even sharper.
Xu Duoyan looked at his tall nose—like a tower rising from the ground.
Her own nose was high, but Cao Wen’s appearance was completely different from her delicate features.
Cao Wen’s features, like his stature, were bold—thick brows, prominent brow bones, all giving him a rugged look.
She’d seen Cao Wen before, cowering behind Zheng Kui, so unremarkable that no one would look twice.
But ever since he’d stopped associating with Zheng Kui, it was as if he’d straightened up.
Now, even in a crowd, his looks would stand out.
Perhaps a person’s aura was what mattered most.
She gazed at this face that was completely unguarded before her, and found her own breathing growing unsteady.
She didn’t know if it was because she’d been pretending to be meek and reserved for so long that it had become second nature—she didn’t dare meet people’s eyes and always instinctively looked away.
Xu Duoyan didn’t know what was wrong with her, but she secretly blamed it on envying Cao Wen’s looks.
She forced herself to look directly at Cao Wen’s face as she applied the ointment, suppressing the urge to look away until she finished.
When she packed up the medicine box, she realized her composure was all thanks to holding her breath.
She couldn’t help cursing herself inside.
She had to save up money and leave this place soon.
She couldn’t keep pretending to be a woman.
If she kept this up, who knew what might happen…
Cao Wen opened his eyes to see Xu Duoyan fleeing with the medicine box, baffled.
After a good meal and a restful night, Cao Wen lay down on the freshly aired bedding, soft and cool, and slept soundly, barely turning over all night.
But in the next room, Xu Duoyan tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
First it was the mosquitoes, then the heat, then a restless feeling in her heart.
After a shallow night’s sleep, she woke to find it was already bright outside.
She tumbled out of bed, realizing she’d dreamed all night.
She dreamed of Cao Wen smiling and saying he liked her, then dreamed of him sadly talking about Divorce, then…then dreamed of him with a cold face, asking why she lied to him, telling her to get out.
Xu Duoyan felt like she’d been possessed, her whole body weak and exhausted.
She regretted stubbornly staring at his face last night, so much that those wild, bold brows had followed her into her dreams.
“Ayan, are you awake?”
Lu Lingbi’s voice from outside snapped Xu Duoyan back to herself.
She hurriedly dressed and got out of bed.
Opening the door, she saw Lu Lingbi standing there with a beaming smile.
Xu Duoyan raised her brows.
“Mother, you look well today.”
Lu Lingbi touched her slightly rosy face and smiled.
“I slept well last night, barely coughed at all, and woke up feeling light and refreshed.”
Thank goodness the rain didn’t make her sick.
Seeing her mother healthy, Xu Duoyan’s worries vanished, her mood much improved.
“Let’s eat. I was going to wake you up for breakfast, but Awen said to let you sleep. You slept all the way into the morning, the food’s almost cold.”
Lu Lingbi chattered as she uncovered the dishes on the table.
As expected, breakfast was porridge, but she’d also made a plate of her homemade pickles.
“Awen originally wanted noodles, but since you didn’t get up, I changed the plan.”
She lowered her voice, “He left at dawn, said he was going to the market to sell Mountain Delicacies. There’s nobody home.”
Xu Duoyan knew her mother meant she could talk freely, but her mind wasn’t on that.
She smiled helplessly and indulgently.
“It’s only been a short while, and you’re already talking about him all the time—Awen this, Awen that.”
Xu Duoyan tilted her head.
“Why don’t you just adopt him as your son.”
Lu Lingbi wasn’t embarrassed by her son’s teasing.
Instead, she replied earnestly, “He really is a good young man, takes care of people. Your father was just as kind when he was young.”
As she spoke, she pinched Xu Duoyan’s cheek.
“See, our Ayan has finally put on a bit of weight.”
Xu Duoyan munched on pickles, neither agreeing nor denying her mother’s words.
“I think Awen is a good kid, always helping us and looking out for us. Even if we can’t be family, I still hope he finds a good wife.”
Lu Lingbi sighed, then perked up.
“Before I leave, I’ll help him find a good girl.”
Xu Duoyan nearly spat out her porridge, hastily covering her mouth as she choked.
“Aiya, what’s wrong? Eat slowly, no one’s fighting you for food.”
Xu Duoyan’s face flushed from coughing, then she looked up quickly.
“Mother, please don’t get involved. He…he knows what he wants. It’s not our place to meddle.”
Lu Lingbi replied, “I’m just saying, if I see a good girl, I’ll mention it to him. Whether he wants it is up to him. Why are you so anxious, silly child?”
Xu Duoyan widened her eyes.
“I’m not anxious, I just don’t want you tiring yourself out with more things!”
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