Gu Yunsheng lay on the kang, feeling extremely happy.
“Huo Chengxuan, this gate still doesn’t feel very secure. What if a wild boar really runs down here?”
Huo Chengxuan, who was taking off his clothes, paused for a moment before replying,
“Don’t worry. When the time comes, my father and I will set up a few traps nearby.”
Gu Yunsheng suddenly sat up, grabbed his arm, and looked at him with sparkling eyes.
“Hubby, I want to go up the back mountain tomorrow.”
Huo Chengxuan refused without hesitation.
“No!”
Although he had never gone up there himself, from what the villagers said, it was clear how dangerous the back mountain was.
Gu Yunsheng’s eyes immediately reddened as she looked at him pitifully.
Huo Chengxuan pretended not to see it and deliberately turned away.
“The back mountain is off-limits. You said it yourself—what if there are wild boars?”
“Really not allowed?”
Gu Yunsheng asked again.
“Mm.”
Gu Yunsheng frowned. That wouldn’t do.
The book had mentioned that although the back mountain of Qianjin Brigade was dangerous, it also held many valuable things.
The most memorable one for her was lingzhi.
If she remembered correctly, it was found by Du Shaojie and later given to Gu Yunzhao.
Thinking of this, Gu Yunsheng became even more determined to go. Besides, she had her space if she encountered danger, she could just hide inside.
Gu Yunsheng pushed him away and pretended to be angry, ignoring him.
Huo Chengxuan said helplessly,
“Shengsheng, the back mountain is too dangerous. After the autumn harvest, I’ll find time to take you there, alright?”
“Really?”
“Mm. But you’re not allowed to sneak up there by yourself.”
After hearing this, Gu Yunsheng brightened up again. She even hugged Huo Chengxuan and kissed him, saying sweetly,
“Hubby, you’re the best!”
A trace of a smile flickered in Huo Chengxuan’s beautiful, black-onyx-like eyes, and even the corners of his lips lifted.
Gu Yunsheng froze.
When he smiled like this, his already delicate features became even more striking.
Seeing her dazed expression, Huo Chengxuan raised an eyebrow slightly.
Only then did Gu Yunsheng come back to her senses and blurt out,
“You look really handsome when you smile.”
Huo Chengxuan’s smile faded a little not cold, but the light in his eyes became gentle and refined.
“Well… it’s late. Let’s sleep.”
“Okay.”
Since they had just moved in today, there was no firewood, so they couldn’t heat the kang.
As soon as Huo Chengxuan lay down under the covers, Gu Yunsheng burrowed into his arms.
Gu Yunsheng was afraid of the cold, and Huo Chengxuan was like a furnace, so she instinctively wanted to get closer.
Besides, they were husband and wife with a marriage certificate so she didn’t feel there was anything wrong with it.
Her action made Huo Chengxuan inhale sharply.
Because as she pressed closer, she accidentally brushed against something indescribable.
His voice turned low.
“Don’t move.”
Gu Yunsheng naturally noticed it too. Although she had been single in her previous life, she wasn’t naive. Her face immediately flushed red.
“Well… I’m just a little cold.”
“Mm.”
Huo Chengxuan quietly steadied his breathing.
Gu Yunsheng wanted to move away a little, but the situation didn’t allow it.
In the Northeast, it might be scorching during the day, but without a heated kang at night, it was truly cold.
Pretending not to notice his stiffness, she nestled in his arms and soon fell asleep.
This left Huo Chengxuan suffering. At an age full of vigor, and recalling what had happened between them that night, he eventually had no choice but to get up and take a cold shower.
The next day, Gu Yunsheng woke up naturally.
As she ate breakfast, she felt exceptionally happy.
A house with its own courtyard she no longer had to worry about being judged for whatever she ate.
After breakfast, Gu Yunsheng got busy in the kitchen.
She replenished all the rice and flour. After all, no one in the Huo family had had time to check exactly how much she had bought yesterday.
After checking the time, she soaked a small handful of mung beans, planning to cook mung bean soup in the afternoon and deliver it to the fields.
Then she started cooking.
By the time she finished, Huo Chengxuan and the others had returned from work.
After setting the dishes on the table, Gu Yunsheng went back to her room to change clothes. When she came out, she seemed distracted.
“Ouch!”
She bumped into something and cried out.
Looking up while covering her nose, she realized she had run straight into… Huo Chengxuan’s chest.
Gu Yunsheng widened her eyes as if questioning why he made no sound while walking.
Huo Chengxuan understood her look and raised an eyebrow.
“What were you thinking about so intently?”
“Thinking about you.”
She rubbed her nose and answered instinctively.
“Thinking about me?”
His voice deepened slightly, though he felt quite pleased inside.
“I was—”
Meeting his gaze, Gu Yunsheng suddenly realized what she had said and paused.
“I was thinking about why you hadn’t come back yet. Are Dad and Mom back? I’m starving!”
She lowered her hand from her nose and looked at him with bright peach-blossom eyes. The tip of her nose was slightly red, as if brushed with rouge, making her look especially adorable.
“They’re back. Let’s eat.”
“Mm.”
Gu Yunsheng took his hand and said with a smile,
“I made Dongpo pork today, braised eggplant…”
As she spoke, she leaned her head slightly toward him.
“And your favorite carrots.”
She had learned from Huo’s mother that Huo Chengxuan actually liked carrots.
Such a unique preference.
When she was little, she hated carrots the most and would always pick them out. Only after growing up did she gradually accept them, though she still only found them tolerable.
Under her gaze, Huo Chengxuan felt a little embarrassed and slowly looked away.
“The food will get cold.”
The two sat down. Huo’s mother, Huo Zhenguo, and Wan’er were already waiting.
“Dad, Mom, Wan’er, you’ve worked hard!”
Huo’s mother smiled.
“It’s nothing. Eat.”
“Mm.”
Gu Yunsheng ladled a bowl of soup and placed it in front of Huo Chengxuan.
“Check if the carrots are soft enough.”
Wan’er took a bite of ribs and said,
“Sister-in-law, didn’t you say it wrong? Shouldn’t you be asking if the ribs are tender?”
Huo Chengxuan glanced at her and said flatly,
“Even eating can’t shut your mouth?”
Wan’er pouted at her sharp-tongued older brother.
Hmph!
Meanwhile, Gu Yunsheng picked up a piece of Dongpo pork for herself.
Neatly cut like mahjong tiles, the pork glistened with a rich red color. One bite revealed lean meat that was soft but not mushy, and fatty meat that was rich without being greasy.
Oh my!
Her cooking skills were truly amazing!
Gu Yunsheng ate to her heart’s content, and for a moment, she seemed to forget something important.
Only after finishing did she remember.