Shen Xiaoyan wiped the sweat from her forehead, breathing lightly, and nodded at Zheng Wei.
Zheng Wei found Shen Xiaoyan's actions both amusing and heart-wrenching. However, he knew her stubborn nature; if he told her not to come in the afternoon, she would certainly refuse, so he could only take her hand and lead her home.
"What are you pulling me for? My hands are covered in dirt." Shen Xiaoyan complained, but her tone was full of sweetness.
"What does it matter if your hands are covered in dirt? Does Mimi still dislike me?" Zheng Wei tilted his head and smiled at Shen Xiaoyan.
Shen Xiaoyan was momentarily lost in Zheng Wei's smile. In the sunlight, his features appeared even more perfect, and the scar on his face seemed to have faded a bit. His complexion hadn't changed much, but his demeanor had softened considerably.
Zheng Wei deeply appreciated Shen Xiaoyan's gaze.
He felt his greatest pride was not in the number of wild game he hunted or the money he earned.
It was that he could make this little woman in front of him utterly smitten. Watching her gaze become more infatuated with him, his heart grew softer and softer.
The two walked home hand in hand, washed their hands, and without changing their clothes, went directly to the kitchen to cook.
Shen Xiaoyan remembered the clay pot rice she loved in her previous life and decided to have it for lunch today.
It had meat, vegetables, and eggs, making it convenient, quick, and delicious.
Fortunately, they had a clay pot at home, so it was convenient.
Shen Xiaoyan had just turned off the fire; the rice needed to steam for a bit longer before it was ready.
While waiting, Shen Xiaoyan prepared a soup. Before the soup was ready, the bell in the courtyard rang.
Before Shen Xiaoyan could speak, Zheng Wei got up and walked towards the door, saying as he went, "I'll get the door."
When Shen Xiaoming washed his hands and walked into the kitchen with Zheng Wei, Shen Xiaoyan had just ladled three bowls of soup.
"Xiaoming is back, just in time for dinner," Shen Xiaoyan said, smiling sweetly at Shen Xiaoming.
The three carried the food and went to the main room, sitting around the kang bed to eat.
Shen Xiaoming took a sip of the soup, feeling a warmth flow through his body. Then, beaming, he told Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei, "Big sister, brother-in-law, Teacher Xu is so kind, and his lectures are excellent. All my classmates are good. I sit in front of Da Gang ge, and Bai Yan ge sits to Da Gang ge's left. They all take good care of me."
Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei exchanged a look, a smile flashing in their eyes.
Shen Xiaoming was afraid they would worry, so he said all this at once to put them at ease.
"En, it's good that everything is fine. You must also study hard and listen to the teacher, understand?" Shen Xiaoyan reminded him.
"I understand, sister," Shen Xiaoming nodded emphatically.
Zheng Wei looked at the two siblings and then said, "Eat quickly. After eating, take a nap. Otherwise, you won't have energy for afternoon classes."
The three smiled at each other and lowered their heads to eat.
After a half-hour nap after lunch, the three went out together.
Shen Xiaoming went to the study hall. Although it was still early for class, it was good to go early and review the lessons.
Shen Xiaoyan was deeply comforted by Shen Xiaoming's diligence.
After seeing Shen Xiaoming off, Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei went to the fields again.
Even though they worked at a fast pace, it still took them nearly half a month to finally plow through all the land.
The time had now entered February. After February 2nd, all things began to revive, and it was time to plant trees and flowers.
When they went to the county town during the New Year, Shen Xiaoyan had inquired that the county town sold fruit tree saplings and flower saplings at this time every year.
On February 20th, Shen Xiaoming happened to not have classes. Early in the morning, before dawn, Zheng Wei drove the cart, taking Shen Xiaoming and Shen Xiaoyan to the county town.
With Luoluo at home, and Old Hei and Hei Zi guarding the house, Shen Xiaoyan was very relieved.
The striped tiger family of three had returned to the mountains after the New Year. They were wild animals and accustomed to a free life; it was impossible to keep them confined like Old Hei and Hei Zi.
Even if they left, they would visit from time to time, bringing animals they hunted as a token of their goodwill.
The county town they were going to was called Huangshan County. Huangshan County had jurisdiction over five towns, and Tongling Town was one of them.
The county town was a seven-hour journey from Tongling Town, assuming they were traveling by cart. If they walked, Shen Xiaoyan said she didn't know.
Departing from Baiyun Village, even though they started before dawn, it would be dark by the time they reached Huangshan County.
Besides, they had intended to stay in the county town for a few days, to see if there was anything they needed, or anything novel that could earn money.
The matting in the cart was very thick, but after sitting for a long time, people couldn't bear it.
When they arrived at Huangshan County, Shen Xiaoyan felt as if her bones were about to rattle apart.
The cart entered the city before the city gates closed, avoiding the possibility of them spending the night outside.
The cart traveled for another fifteen minutes before stopping. When Shen Xiaoyan finally got out of the cart, she felt like she had come back to life.
In the dim twilight, Shen Xiaoyan looked at her surroundings and recognized it as the backyard of the inn where they had stayed the last time they visited the county.
This courtyard was quite large, with several carts already parked inside. In the stable next to it, several horses were eating fodder.
As soon as Shen Xiaoyan and Shen Xiaoming got out of the cart, a shop assistant approached them. "Welcome, honored guests. Please come in. I'll take care of this."
Zheng Wei unhitched the cart, and the shop assistant led the mule to the stable, telling it to eat and rest.
The three walked forward together. Entering the main hall from the back door, they could see that most of the tables in the hall were already occupied.
The shop assistant soon followed and said to Shen Xiaoyan and the other two with a smile, "Honored guests, would you like to eat first, or rest for a while?"
Zheng Wei said, "Please open two adjoining rooms for us and bring hot water first."
"All right, honored guests, please follow me." The shop assistant agreed and walked ahead to lead the way.
The group arrived on the second floor, in the east wing, and followed the shop assistant into a guest room.
Having stayed here before, they were familiar with the layout of the room, so Shen Xiaoyan was not curious.
The three followed the shop assistant to the adjacent room. After taking the keys from the shop assistant, they asked the shop assistant to bring them hot water.
Perhaps because many people were eating, but few were staying overnight, or perhaps this inn's service was better, but before long, the shop assistant returned with hot water.
Zheng Wei took the water, ordered some food, gave the shop assistant some tip money, and sent him away.
The three washed their hands and faces, ate their meal, chatted for a while, washed up again, and then rested.
After sitting in the cart all day, they were exhausted both physically and mentally.
That night, Shen Xiaoyan slept particularly soundly.
Logically, in her previous life, she was very alert. Even when sleeping in her own room at the base, she was a light sleeper, and any slight disturbance would wake her immediately.
However, since arriving here, whether it was due to the peaceful life or the presence of Zheng Wei, she often slept very well. Sometimes, Zheng Wei would get up and leave, and she wouldn't even know.
Despite her thoughts, she still loved this kind of life very much. To be able to trust and rely on someone wholeheartedly truly made her feel very happy.
The next day, Shen Xiaoyan was woken by the voices downstairs. Drowsily, she opened her eyes and found herself still in Zheng Wei's arms.