Chapter 141 Both Fall into the Pit

Qin Junyao saw that Qin Mother and the others had come out to see Zhao Liangcai off, so she had no choice but to stand up and point to the heavily laden baskets, saying provocatively to Zhao Liangcai, "Yours, it's a bit heavy."

Heavy?

Zhao Liangcai grabbed the strap of the basket with one hand. It was indeed a bit heavy.

However, this weight was nothing for him, who used a long-handled hammer as his weapon.

Qin Junyao watched as Zhao Liangcai effortlessly hoisted the large basket she had deliberately filled onto his back, making her feel as though her strength training had been in vain.

Her strength had clearly increased significantly.

After seeing Zhao Liangcai off, Qin Junyao washed two pieces of clothing and carried the saplings to the saxaul planting area.

With seeds produced in her space and water from her space, all the Cistanche planted next to the saxaul had sprouted. Now, rows of small shoots emerged from the sand, looking very pleasing.

Qin Junyao put on her straw hat, tied her scarf, and tightened the gloves Qin Mother had made for her, then grabbed her hoe and got to work.

Before she had even finished digging one tree pit, Qin Junyao's hoe was suddenly grabbed.

Qin Junyao tried to counterattack but realized the person holding the hoe was Zhao Liangcai.

"Can you please speak first next time? It's quite startling to do something like that so suddenly," Qin Junyao pushed her straw hat up to get a better look at Zhao Liangcai.

Zhao Liangcai twirled the hoe in his hand, "Practicing your courage, how deep are you digging?"

"Why are you here? Aren't you going to rest after just returning?" Qin Junyao tried to retrieve the hoe, but Zhao Liangcai dodged.

"You're working, how could I possibly rest comfortably at home?" Zhao Liangcai bent down and leaned closer to Qin Junyao, "Didn't you notice no one else came to help you today?"

Qin Junyao hadn't really noticed until Zhao Liangcai mentioned it. Normally, someone would accompany her when she came to the saxaul planting area. If no one else was available, Qin San Niu would follow.

Today, everyone seemed very busy. Even Qin Xiaoyu was helping her second uncle with weeding.

"Dig one foot deep," Qin Junyao, having understood the reason, pointed to the pit she had just dug and told Zhao Liangcai to continue digging.

With free labor, why not take advantage of it?

Zhao Liangcai didn't start working immediately. He propped the hoe on the ground with one hand and looked at Qin Junyao, saying cheekily, "This place is far from people. Aren't you afraid I'll do something?"

"Hurry up and dig. You look like an old scoundrel," Qin Junyao said with disdain.

If she had only heard his voice, she might have blushed.

Now, Zhao Liangcai had deliberately changed into old clothes to work. They were dusty and patched, and his pant legs were a bit short, exposing his ankles.

With the hoe propped up, wearing a large straw hat, and his full beard almost obscuring his eyes, saying such a thing in this appearance lacked any hint of romance. He looked exactly like a rogue trying to tease an honest woman.

Zhao Liangcai, who had some intentions earlier, was completely doused by Qin Junyao's words.

He raised his hand and pressed down hard on Qin Junyao's head, "You, you just wait until we get married."

Qin Junyao lifted her straw hat, which was blocking her eyes, and clenched her fist, shaking it at Zhao Liangcai, "Are you scared of me? I'm quite capable now too."

Zhao Liangcai swung the hoe and dug a pit, "Let's spar on the mountaintop tomorrow morning. I'll see how much you've improved."

"Spar, then," Qin Junyao placed a sapling into the pit. "Hey? Aren't you going to the salt lake?"

"Yes, Suozi doesn't know I'm back yet, so I'll accompany you for a couple of days first. This trip will take over two months, and I won't be able to return."

"Just bury it like that?" Zhao Liangcai asked about the sapling Qin Junyao had placed in the pit.

Qin Junyao pointed ahead, "You keep digging the pits, I'll do the burying."

"If you're going away for such a long time, what about Fuzi?"

"I told Grandma. When Qian Shi and the others come back, Fuzi will stay with you. This year, I'll be able to send Qian Shi and Zhao Rui away. Qian Duo might have to wait a bit longer."

Seeing Zhao Liangcai digging pits ahead, Qin Junyao quickly poured some space water into the pit in front of her with her left hand, then used her hands to push the sand into the pit and stood up to compact it.

"Where are you sending them? Does Fuzi agree?"

"Sending them away was Fuzi's idea, but someone will come to pick them up, and Qian Shi will willingly go with them."

"Guess who made the socks I'm wearing?" Zhao Liangcai wanted to change the subject and saw Qin Junyao wasn't responding.

Zhao Liangcai stretched his long legs towards Qin Junyao.

"You're very childish. I guess I made them."

The matchmaker Zhao Liangcai hired brought gifts during the Na Ji ceremony, a process commonly known as "Ding Pin," which is equivalent to an engagement.

During the Na Ji ceremony, the bride's family was expected to give a return gift, often handmade needlework from the bride-to-be, to showcase the woman's skills.

Among the many pairs of shoes and socks the Qin family gave back, only one pair of socks was handmade by Qin Junyao. It was easily distinguishable by the stitching and seams.

As soon as Zhao Liangcai mentioned it, Qin Junyao realized he was referring to the socks she had made.

"Heh heh, I guessed wrong. I put the socks you made under my pillow and haven't worn them at all."

"Zhao Liangcai, you're so annoying~~."

They spent the entire afternoon planting saxaul trees. The saying "men and women working together is not tiring" held true. The number of saxaul trees they planted, while bickering, was more than what Qin Junyao and her father had planted together. Their interaction also became more natural, thanks in no small part to Zhao Liangcai's shamelessness.

All the saplings Qin Junyao had brought were planted. They walked back together.

Zhao Liangcai carried the hoe, enjoyed the gentle breeze, and walked alongside Qin Junyao, feeling very content.

It wasn't the passionate thrill of the battlefield, but it felt as comfortable as a hot bath. It seemed he needed to resolve the salt lake matter quickly so he could marry Qin Junyao soon.

"Are we planting saxaul trees again tomorrow?" Zhao Liangcai asked Qin Junyao, looking back at the saxaul trees they had planted together.

Qin Junyao untied her scarf and shook the sand off it. After thinking for a moment, she said, "I want to go to the deep mountains tomorrow."

"Is that okay?"

Zhao Liangcai looked down at Qin Junyao, who was wearing a straw hat, tilting her head, her big eyes wide open, her cheeks flushed from the heat. His heart pounded faster.

"Not okay?" Qin Junyao tilted her head and asked again.

The straw hat was a bit too big, and Qin Junyao couldn't see Zhao Liangcai unless she tilted her head.

"Okay, of course, it's okay. With me, nothing is impossible," Zhao Liangcai patted his chest. "What do you want to hunt in the mountains?"

"Roe deer, sika deer, even tigers if you want. There are bears in the mountains too..." Zhao Liangcai listed six or seven types of large prey.

Zhao Liangcai, acting like this, didn't resemble a general at all. He was like a peacock displaying its feathers.

Qin Junyao heard this and turned her head back to face forward, giving Zhao Liangcai a view of her back. Her neck hurt from being tilted.

"Not hunting. I've never been to the deep mountains and want to see what they're like. I saw some good medicinal herbs at Doctor Sheng's place, and I want to try my luck."

"Not hunting, huh," Zhao Liangcai's tone was tinged with regret. "Then wear more clothes tomorrow. It's colder in the mountains than outside."

"I'll bring the food and insect repellent. You just need to tie your sleeves and pant legs tightly."

"I know a stream in the mountains. With the recent rainfall, we might even be able to catch fish..."

Qin Junyao listened to Zhao Liangcai plan their schedule for the next day, and a smile slowly spread across her lips.