After lunch, Huo Yunshen said nothing, picked up his farming tools, and went back out to work.
Huo Yunqiao was still worried about Lin Peiru, but she also had afternoon work to do and had no choice but to follow her brother out, looking back step by step as she left.
Soon, the courtyard became quiet.
In the warm afternoon sunlight, Lin Peiru pulled a small stool over and sat beside Mu Xinyao, who was stitching shoe soles.
“Auntie, is Huo Yunshen… always this quiet?” she asked casually.
Mu Xinyao paused her needlework and looked at her with a probing gaze.
“He used to be fine when he was little. But after his father passed away, he stopped talking much. He became like a mute gourd.”
Lin Peiru blinked and continued asking, “Then… is he very capable at work? I feel like he can do everything.”
“Of course!” Mu Xinyao immediately perked up when talking about her son. “Don’t look at how young he is—he’s one of the best workers in the commune! Plowing fields, transplanting rice, threshing grain… he’s good at everything!”
Lin Peiru listened carefully, silently calculating in her mind.
She kept asking more questions—everything from when he started working in the fields to what he liked to eat.
The more she asked, the more Mu Xinyao felt something was off.
This girl… was she asking a little too carefully?
Mu Xinyao couldn’t help but overthink it. Could it be… she likes my wooden-headed son?
As soon as that thought appeared, her heart started pounding.
But then she reconsidered. Her son always had a cold face that scared people off. Maybe the girl was just trying to get along since she was living under their roof.
Yes, that must be it.
Meanwhile, after gathering all the information she wanted, Lin Peiru smoothly shifted the topic to the whole commune.
“Auntie, is our Red Flag Commune… not doing very well economically?”
She had only briefly visited in her past life and remembered it as extremely poor.
If she was going to stay here, she needed to understand everything clearly.
Mu Xinyao sighed and nodded.
“It’s just a poor place. Mountains and fields everywhere, barely any income.”
“But there’s one good thing—life here is simple. People are honest.”
“As long as you work hard and don’t slack off, no one will treat you badly.”
Lin Peiru felt relieved.
That was exactly what she needed.
Simple people meant easier to deal with. Fewer rules meant more opportunity.
Just then, Mu Xinyao stood up.
“Oh, it’s almost time to finish work. I should go cook.”
“Yunqiao went to the fields too. I wonder where she’s run off to.”
As she walked toward the kitchen, Lin Peiru quickly followed.
“Auntie, I’ll help you!”
…
The sunset dyed the sky orange-red, like burning fire.
Huo Yunqiao ran all the way home, panicked.
She had been so focused on earning work points that she forgot about cooking!
By the time she finished work, she slapped her forehead.
Oh no!
Peiru sister and her mother were still waiting for food!
She sprinted home.
But when she burst into the courtyard, she froze.
A rich aroma of food filled the air.
It smelled amazing.
She followed the scent into the kitchen—
The stove was burning brightly. Lin Peiru was holding a spatula, chatting and laughing with Mu Xinyao while cooking.
The pan sizzled loudly, filling the kitchen with fragrance.
Huo Yunqiao hurried over.
“Peiru sister!”
Her voice was full of guilt.
“Your hands are injured—why are you still cooking?!”
Lin Peiru turned around, her face slightly flushed from the heat of the stove, sweat glistening on her forehead, eyes bright and lively.
“It’s fine, it’s not serious.”
She smiled and lifted her bandaged hands.
“I wrapped it up, it doesn’t hurt.”
Mu Xinyao turned around and pretended to scold her daughter.
“You little girl, you’re finally back?”
“I’m here—do you think I’d let Peiru do all the work?”
Huo Yunqiao blinked.
Right… her mother was here.
Of course she wouldn’t let Peiru work too hard.
Relieved, she scratched her head awkwardly.
Then she looked at the dishes—and froze.
On the stove were already three dishes, and another was still being stir-fried.
One plate of cured pork with chili and pickled vegetables—savory, oily, and fragrant.
One plate of stir-fried greens topped with crispy dried fish crumbs—rich and appetizing.
One bowl of steamed egg with minced meat, topped with red chili sauce and luncheon meat bits—glossy and mouthwatering.
In the pan, vinegar-braised cabbage was still sizzling.
Next to it, a pot of soup simmered—fried egg floating in milky broth with green vegetables.
Huo Yunqiao swallowed hard.
“Peiru sister… you’re amazing!”
“This is way too rich!”
“We don’t even eat like this during New Year!”
Lin Peiru smiled modestly, though clearly proud.
“It’s nothing,” she said lightly, brushing a strand of hair back.
“In a couple of days, when I have time, I’ll go to town and buy more ingredients.”
“I’ll cook even better dishes for you all.”
Huo Yunqiao’s eyes lit up.
But then she hesitated.
“That… that’s not right! You just arrived here—you’re supposed to be suffering, how can you spend your own money?”
Lin Peiru chuckled and tapped her forehead.
“Silly girl, what’s wrong with that?”
“Just think of it as… I wanted to eat something good myself.”
Mu Xinyao watched from the side, her affection for the girl growing even more.
Just then, the courtyard door creaked open.
A tall figure stepped inside.
It was Huo Yunshen.