“Hiss—” The icy touch pressed against his burning abs, making Qin Lie suck in a sharp breath. His entire body tensed, and he dared not move a muscle, afraid he might lose control and pin her down completely.
“Why are you dodging? My feet are cold,” Li Jiao said matter-of-factly, kicking his waist lightly. “You’re my personal hot water bottle. Keep them warm for me, and don’t you dare move. If you try to squirm again, I’ll tie you up. It’s not like your legs can move anyway.”
Qin Lie sighed helplessly, reaching out to gently hold her feet. A storm brewed in his eyes as his fingertips lightly traced her skin.
He could have thrown caution to the wind and pinned her down right then and there…
Letting her know that she was practically inviting him to force himself on her.
But no, he couldn’t. He had laid his trap for so many days—how could he ruin it all in a moment of impulse?
What he wanted was her undivided attention.
Qin Lie’s Adam’s apple bobbed violently, his blood surging through his body.
Li Jiao, however, seemed oblivious—though she was well aware that Qin Lie’s legs were still injured. No matter how intimate they got, they’d have to wait until he recovered.
Didn’t Li Jiao want it too? She didn’t know why she felt such a strong urge toward Qin Lie.
Perhaps it was… a search for security after being reborn?
Qin Lie was enveloped by Li Jiao’s fragrance all night, while she slept soundly.
The next morning, as the sun rose, the entire Shishui Village was blanketed in white.
Li Jiao wrapped herself in a thick cotton coat, holding a rusty shovel as she trudged step by step toward the rocky slope behind the house.
Everyone in Shishui Village thought this place was downright eerie.
While everywhere else was buried under heavy snow in winter, this rocky slope was the only spot where snowflakes melted into water as soon as they touched the ground, leaving it muddy and treacherous.
Even weeds were scarce, making it look utterly bizarre.
The village elders said a drought demon was buried beneath it—an ominous place that brought misfortune to anyone who touched it.
Li Jiao walked to the edge of the land, scanned the area, and without minding the dirt, reached out and grabbed a handful of soil.
The soil felt warm to the touch, strangely so.
Li Jiao rubbed her hands together, her heart racing wildly. So this was what Cinnabar Warming Soil felt like.
In her previous life, while locked in a pigpen, she had heard people say that such unique terrains were often called “earth dragon turning over”—a top-tier bed for cultivating rare medicinal herbs.
“Truly, knowledge limits one’s perspective. To discard such a treasure trove as garbage… tsk tsk, thank you, Qin family, for this precious gift.”
Li Jiao stood up, a smug smile curling at the corner of her lips.
She glanced around, her brow slightly furrowed. Although the ground was warm, the weather was still cold—it was only November, after all. If she planted the medicinal seedlings directly, they’d likely freeze to death with the first gust of wind.
She needed to build a shed.
Li Jiao quickly began calculating. She had to find out where she could buy agricultural film.
It was said that the south had already fully adopted such materials. In her previous life, the family that bought her had used it too, and all the farming tasks had fallen to her.
If she didn’t work, she’d be beaten.
Suddenly, a metallic taste filled Li Jiao’s throat—she had unknowingly bitten down so hard that her teeth drew blood.
She closed her eyes. She hadn’t gone after Li Wenbo these past few days because Qin Lie’s situation took priority. But once the opportunity arose, she would exact her revenge.
Li Jiao opened her eyes, her gaze sweeping over the land once more.
She needed to go to the county town to buy agricultural film, then use willow branches from the riverbank as the frame. If possible, she could use the locust wood from behind the house as the main support—that way, it definitely wouldn’t be blown down by the wind.
Once that was done, not only could medicinal herbs be grown, but off-season vegetables could also be cultivated!
The more she thought about it, the more excited she became. Li Jiao turned and ran back into the house.
“Qin Lie! Qin Lie!”
Inside the house, Qin Lie was leaning against the edge of the heated brick bed. Hearing Li Jiao’s excited shouts, his hands paused mid-action. “What’s wrong? Why are you running so fast? Be careful not to trip.”
Qin Lie instinctively wanted to reach out, but seeing the wood shavings on his hands, he held back.
“Qin Lie, we’re going to get rich!” Li Jiao kicked off her shoes and climbed onto the heated bed, carefully avoiding Qin Lie’s injured leg as she nestled into his arms, her eyes sparkling.
“I just went to take a closer look at that plot of land behind the house. There really is geothermal heat underneath—it’s definitely a treasure!”
Li Jiao spoke excitedly, gesturing animatedly as she described her plans.
Qin Lie was already completely captivated by the warm, soft body in his arms. He thought to himself: if that muddy plot of land, despised by everyone, was a treasure in Li Jiao’s eyes, what about him, who was scorned by everyone?
“I’ve figured it out,” Li Jiao said, oblivious to the turbulent emotions in the man’s eyes as she continued planning. “I’m going to the county town to buy agricultural film. We’ll build a greenhouse on that plot and grow medicinal herbs there. It’d be best to grow saffron. Once the greenhouse is up, the temperature in that land will definitely be sufficient.”
As she spoke, her gaze remained fixed on Qin Lie, the smile in her eyes almost overwhelming him.
“Alright.”
Qin Lie’s eyes flickered slightly, a trace of imperceptible delight flashing in their depths.
Growing medicinal herbs wasn’t a task that could be completed in a day or two. From building the greenhouse to sowing the seeds and finally harvesting, it would take at least several months, if not a year or more.
This meant she was prepared to stay here for a long time. She wasn’t planning to leave—at least, not before these medicinal herbs grew.
“I’ll listen to you in everything. It’s just that I’m useless now and can’t help…”
“What nonsense are you talking?” Li Jiao frowned and directly covered his mouth with her hand. “Who said you’re useless? Your task is to heal your leg properly.”
Li Jiao thought for a moment. “Here’s what we’ll do: later, you tell Da Niu that I’ll pay him wages. That kid is strong, and it’ll also be a chance to repay the money we owe him. As for you, you’ll stay at home and oversee things. If he refuses to take the money, just scold him.”
Li Jiao spoke while laughing, her fingers restlessly tracing circles over his chest until Qin Lie, breathing heavily, grabbed her wrist. Only then did she sit up straight with a giggle.
“Alright.” Qin Lie sighed helplessly, suppressing the surging emotions within him, then gently squeezed her fingers. “Later, tell Da Niu to cut willow branches from the riverbank. They’re flexible and should be suitable for the frame. Even though I can’t move, I know how to build it sturdy.”
“Great! Then it’s settled. I’ll go measure how much agricultural film we need now. You rest first—time waits for no one!”
Li Jiao dashed off energetically. Qin Lie leaned back against the quilt, his previously gentle expression instantly vanishing.
Da Niu, who had been peeking in from outside, walked in.
He sniffled, his voice tinged with hesitation. “Brother Lie, I just saw that fair-faced Li Wenbo behind the house. He had a cloth bandage wrapped around his head and looked miserable. He wouldn’t… be planning to come looking for sister-in-law, would he?”
“Shut up.” Qin Lie’s expression darkened as he handed Da Niu a ten-yuan note. “Later, go to the back hill and cut some thicker willow branches, bring them back to me. Then follow her instructions. If she really goes to buy agricultural film and doesn’t have enough money, cover the difference for her. Don’t tell her it’s from me.”
“If she really goes to see Li Wenbo…”
As Qin Lie said this, a faint smile curled at the corner of his mouth. “Then come back and tell me. I’ll personally go bring her back.”
After teasing him for so many days, how could he let her leave so easily?
In a good mood, Qin Lie lowered his head and blew away the wood shavings from the nearly finished wooden base for the vanishing cream.
Meanwhile, Li Jiao seemed to sense something. Standing on that patch of red earth, she turned her head and glanced back.