The mountain paths were always veiled in a layer of mist at dawn. Even though summer had already arrived, the breeze still carried a cool chill.
Lu Yunfei got up early to practice his boxing. He leaned close to Han Xiuxiu’s ear to wake her, his warm breath tickling her. She pushed his face away with one hand, but instead of getting annoyed, he took her hand and kissed it twice.
With a smile, Lu Yunfei said, “Who was it that said they weren’t afraid of hardship and wanted to practice boxing with me?”
Han Xiuxiu couldn’t even open her eyes. She stretched out a leg to kick him, only to discover that her whole body was sore. Immediately, she became irritated.
“It’s all your fault!”
“Alright, alright, alright. My fault,” Lu Yunfei said as he tucked the blanket back around her. “Then go back to sleep. I’ll make breakfast.”
Han Xiuxiu was too sleepy to keep her eyes open. She merely murmured an “Mm,” and seeing how deeply asleep she still was, Lu Yunfei quietly closed the door behind him and left.
Han Xiuxiu lazed in bed for another half hour before finally waking. Her body still felt weak and achy. Hearing the sounds of Lu Yunfei practicing his boxing outside, she sighed inwardly.
Beauty truly is a distraction.
If she kept practicing only once every few days like this, when would she ever be fit enough to venture into the mountains?
By the time Lu Yunfei had finished several forms, steam seemed to rise from his body. He felt refreshed all over. Looking up, he saw Han Xiuxiu standing by the doorway and smiled.
“I told you to sleep a little longer.”
Ignoring him, Han Xiuxiu walked right past and went to inspect the vegetable seedlings they had planted the day before.
After a night’s rest, the seedlings looked lively and healthy. Hopefully they’d all taken root.
Lu Yunfei rubbed his nose awkwardly. His cheerful smile turned into an embarrassed grin.
My wife is still angry with me.
But… she clearly enjoyed herself last night too…
A woman’s heart really is as deep as the sea. Impossible to understand.
Knowing better than to argue, he obediently went to prepare breakfast. His own wife deserved to be pampered by him.
After checking the vegetables, Han Xiuxiu went to look at the two hens they’d been raising. Seeing that the feed trough had been cleaned out, she called for Black Panther, picked up a basket, and took the dog into the hills to cut fresh grass.
The mountain air was wonderfully fresh. Black Panther raced happily ahead, sprinting every now and then before pouncing into patches of grass. Yesterday the couple had been away all day, leaving him to guard the house. Naturally he had to sniff around and re-mark all his territory.
Han Xiuxiu let him do as he pleased while she searched along the roadside, cutting tender grass tips to feed the chickens. In less than half an hour, she’d filled the basket. Calling Black Panther, she headed home.
Halfway back, she spotted Lu Yunfei coming toward them.
“The porridge is ready,” he said, taking the basket from her with his long arms. “We can eat as soon as we get home. Why did you cut so much grass?”
Seeing him being so considerate, Han Xiuxiu could hardly keep giving him the cold shoulder.
“Lanxiang is getting married tomorrow. We’ll be attending the wedding feast, so I cut extra. It’ll be enough for the chickens tomorrow too.”
“Oh, you mean the one who’s marrying that fool?”
Han Xiuxiu rolled her eyes.
“He just suffered brain damage from a fever when he was little. He’s not a fool.”
Lu Yunfei chuckled.
“Oh, the one marrying the man whose brain was damaged.”
Han Xiuxiu was so annoyed she nearly kicked him. Li Xianglan had been the original Han Xiuxiu’s only close friend, and the poor girl had had a difficult life.
She said seriously, “She’s just like me. She lost her mother when she was little too. We’ve always shared the same fate. No matter who she’s marrying, I sincerely hope she’ll live a peaceful and happy life. Don’t say things like that about her again.”
Hearing the sincerity in her words, Lu Yunfei realized his joke had indeed been inappropriate and immediately shut his mouth.
Just then, Black Panther came charging from behind and leaped onto him, leaving several muddy paw prints across his clothes.
Han Xiuxiu burst into laughter.
“Good boy, Black Panther!”
Looking at the dog wagging his tail innocently, Lu Yunfei laughed and scolded, “You silly dog. I’ve raised you for years, and after only half a month you’ve already switched sides?”
Han Xiuxiu called, “Black Panther.”
The dog immediately abandoned Lu Yunfei and ran over to her. She patted his head.
“Such a good boy. See? He’s smart.”
Lu Yunfei shook his head.
It really was strange. Ever since Black Panther had first met Han Xiuxiu, he’d adored her. Back then, Lu Yunfei himself had foolishly resisted getting married.
Thinking about it now…
Am I actually worse than the dog?
Bah. What nonsense.
The couple and their dog walked along the winding mountain path. The cool breeze eased Lu Yunfei’s embarrassment.
Breakfast was simple: rice porridge, one boiled egg each, and some pickled vegetables.
After eating, Lu Yunfei planned to cut more bamboo, and Han Xiuxiu went along with him. Carrying a rake, she gathered bamboo leaves and husks for kindling. Though they took up a lot of space, they were indispensable for starting fires. Come autumn, they could also harvest thatching grass from the mountains.
The bamboo branches and leaves left from their last trip had dried nicely. They gathered those as well—they’d make good firewood for several meals.
In this ancient world, almost everything was put to good use. There was scarcely anything that went to waste.
This time Lu Yunfei cut several more bamboo stalks. As usual, he only carried home the poles, spreading the branches and leaves across a clearing to dry. With the weather so hot, they’d be ready for burning in a few days.
Back home, he split the bamboo into strips of equal length and drove them into the ground around the vegetable garden at an angle. Then he wove them together one by one into a fence.
Since the chicks were still tiny, the gaps had to be especially narrow, otherwise they’d squeeze right through.
Lu Yunfei’s strength made the first part easy. While he planted the bamboo stakes, Han Xiuxiu wove them together. She started slowly but became faster as she got the hang of it. Even so, the work was hard on her hands.
When Lu Yunfei finished his part, he immediately took over.
“Watch out for the splinters. I’ll do it.”
Han Xiuxiu gladly accepted. There was no need to compete over every task. Keeping him company and offering encouragement was worthwhile too.
Lu Yunfei apparently had a touch of perfectionism. Before continuing, he painstakingly adjusted every section Han Xiuxiu had woven so the gaps were all the same size. Only when everything looked symmetrical did he continue.
Han Xiuxiu: “…”
So it wasn’t just because he felt sorry for me. He couldn’t stand looking at my uneven weaving.
Perfectionists really are terrifying.
She immediately lost interest in watching and instead chopped up the fresh grass she’d gathered, mixed it with the rice bran they’d bought yesterday, and fed the chickens.
Raising chickens meant fresh eggs, but it also came with plenty of extra chores. One of them was cleaning up chicken droppings.
Chickens relieved themselves wherever they pleased. Lu Yunfei’s yard had once been spotless, but now little messes dotted the ground. Han Xiuxiu first swept everything clean with a large broom, then scraped up the obvious droppings with a shovel and piled them together. Once enough accumulated, she’d mix them with wood ash and spread them over the vegetable patch as fertilizer.
By the time she finished, the whole morning had slipped away, and it was already time to cook lunch.
Using the pork they’d bought yesterday, she stir-fried the lean meat with freshly picked water celery. She also blanched some fiddlehead ferns before stir-frying them with fatty pork.
Lu Yunfei liked fatty meat, while Han Xiuxiu preferred the lean cuts.
Lu Yunfei wasn’t picky. As long as there was food, he left all decisions about cooking to her.
Unlike the original Han Xiuxiu’s family, where having two meat dishes in one meal would have been unimaginable—something only wealthy households could afford—now that she was managing her own home, she could finally live a little better.
Black Panther circled beneath the table. Lu Yunfei picked up a piece of fatty pork with his chopsticks and tossed it over. The dog caught it in one bite and swallowed it whole.
“I’m taking Black Panther into the mountains tomorrow,” Lu Yunfei said. “If you stay late at the wedding, just spend the night at your parents’ place.”
Han Xiuxiu glanced at him.
“Have you forgotten? Newlyweds aren’t supposed to sleep apart during the first month after marriage. Even if I wanted to stay overnight, they’d chase me back.”
“I forgot about that.” Lu Yunfei grinned sheepishly. “Then if I finish early, I’ll come pick you up.”
“Alright.”
Truthfully, Han Xiuxiu wasn’t very eager to return to her parents’ home.
Madam Li was sharp-tongued, while Han Daliang, the original Han Xiuxiu’s father, always tried to smooth things over. Given her own temperament, she’d probably end up arguing with Madam Li.
Keeping some distance suited her just fine.
The custom against sleeping apart during the first month gave her a convenient excuse and spared everyone the awkwardness.
After lunch, Lu Yunfei washed the dishes. Having annoyed Han Xiuxiu several times today, he knew he’d better make up for it through actions.
Meanwhile, Han Xiuxiu fed the chicks again, refilled their water, then took out the cotton cloth they’d bought yesterday. Since she had free time that afternoon, she could start cutting the fabric for their new clothes.
After finishing the dishes, Lu Yunfei couldn’t find her in either the main hall or the courtyard. When he entered their room, he saw her spreading the pale yellow fabric across the bed, preparing to cut it.
His spirits immediately lifted.
She’d said yesterday that she planned to make each of them a new set of underclothes.
Standing in the doorway, he deliberately cleared his throat.
Seeing her pause with the scissors, he asked—trying to sound calm while barely hiding his anticipation and delight—
“Shouldn’t you measure me first?”
Without even turning around, Han Xiuxiu replied,
“I’ll just compare it to one of your old clothes. No need to measure.”
“…”
Once again, Lu Yunfei felt he’d run into a wall.
My wife really does know how to hold a grudge.
Rubbing his nose, he walked over and gently rested his hands on her shoulders.
“I promise I won’t speak that way about your friend again.”
“So… don’t stay mad at me anymore.”
Han Xiuxiu paused for a moment before answering,
“This time… I’ll let it go.”