Zhou Xing lay in the water and stretched lazily in comfort.
Wrapped in hot water, her body finally felt a sense of relaxation she had never experienced before.
Still, she did not dare relax for too long. The water would cool quickly, and she worried that Xie Yuan still needed to sleep.
There were no oil lamps in the house. Once darkness fell so completely that one could not see their own hand, everyone had to go to bed. At the first crow of the rooster the next morning, they would rise and work.
Anyone who claimed to enjoy pastoral life should come and try living like this.
That so-called leisurely countryside life was merely entertainment for wealthy people with too much free time.
For true peasants living in ancient times like them, every waking moment was filled with endless labor. Everything had to be done by hand, and travel depended entirely on one’s own legs.
Where would anyone find the mood for “picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence and leisurely gazing at the southern mountains”?
Could feelings fill an empty stomach?
Ah, better accept fate.
She loosened her hair and soaked it in water, using a broken-toothed comb to forcefully brush through it, but it was impossible to untangle.
In the end, she gave up.
She could only keep washing with plant ash, trying her best to remove the dirt.
She scrubbed her body the same way, using a dried pumpkin sponge as a bath scrubber, rubbing until long strips of grime rolled off her skin—no less than what came off the two children.
Honestly… what could she even say?
There was no way she would keep using this pumpkin sponge. Later she would go ask Aunt He if she could borrow another one.
After nearly half an hour, she finally cleaned herself up enough to put on her clothes. Then she called Xie Yuan to help dump the water.
Fortunately, it was dark enough that the muddy black water in the basin could not be seen clearly. Otherwise, she would have been too embarrassed to show her face.
Xie Yuan said he did not need to bathe because he had already washed in the mountain spring at noon.
“Isn’t the spring water cold?” Zhou Xing asked casually. She knew some people liked winter swimming, so naturally some liked bathing in cold water. As long as one was healthy, it was not a problem.
“That spring stays warm even in winter,” Xie Yuan replied. “It’s just a little far away. If you like, I can take you there sometime.”
After speaking, he suddenly realized how inappropriate it sounded, and the tips of his ears turned red.
But Zhou Xing happily agreed.
“Sure, take me there when we have time. A natural hot spring is wonderful for the body.”
Being able to soak in a hot spring was an incredible luxury.
Even if it was far away, she did not mind.
Xie Yuan gave a muffled response. “Mm.”
Zhou Xing noticed nothing strange. She went to check on the two children and found them already asleep. After carefully tucking the blankets around them, she returned to the east room.
Trying to climb into bed in the dark, she tripped over a straw sandal and fell onto the bed.
Xie Yuan let out a muffled grunt and hurriedly asked, “Are you alright? Did you hurt yourself anywhere?”
Zhou Xing rubbed her shoulder awkwardly. “I’m fine. I didn’t crush you, did I?”
During the collision, she noticed that although Xie Yuan was thin, the muscles on his body were firm and solid. That surprised her somewhat. Still, she probably had not hurt him.
“Go to sleep early,” Xie Yuan said without elaborating, signaling for her to move further inside.
Listening to the rustling sound of her pulling up the blanket, Xie Yuan finally let out a breath.
These past few days, he had been preoccupied with his own thoughts and had not noticed that the bed now carried the faint fragrance unique to a woman. That subtle scent made him strangely restless.
Fortunately, she had noticed nothing.
Once her breathing became even, Xie Yuan turned to look at the person beside him. Under the moonlight, he could see her curled eyelashes, straight nose, and delicate lips.
A’Xing was actually very beautiful.
When he first met her, her face had been gaunt and lifeless, as though she were gravely ill. Only her determined eyes reminded him of his past self.
Now it seemed he had stumbled upon an incredible bargain.
A’Xing was a beauty, but her body had not fully matured yet. Thinking of that, he clenched his fists. That might not necessarily be a good thing—it depended on whether he had the ability to protect her.
Turning over again, Xie Yuan thought about how he would soon enter the mountains to search for the ginseng.
He already knew the general location, but wherever precious treasures grew, venomous snakes would also be present.
That was why he had been entering the mountains so frequently lately: first to familiarize himself with the terrain, and second to find suitable wood for making bows and arrows.
Now the wood had already been found. Tie Niu and Uncle Lin had started crafting them, but he still needed to prepare some realgar powder to ward off snakes…
This time, failure was not an option.
Breakfast was still millet and yam porridge, but this time sweet sugarcane juice had been added. The children ate happily.
“Are we going to cut sugarcane today?” Zhou Xing asked.
“Not today. It’s time for spring planting. We’ll go in a couple of days instead. I invited some people to help, so tomorrow we’ll need to prepare food for them,” Xie Yuan replied.
Zhou Xing nodded. That made sense. Their family still had plenty of land, and delaying spring planting would reduce the year’s harvest. They could not neglect important matters.
“What food should we prepare?”
“This is one hundred copper coins. Buy whatever you think is appropriate, as long as everyone can eat their fill.” Xie Yuan handed her a string of coins.
Zhou Xing accepted it. She had no idea how much purchasing power one hundred coins had, but it was a good chance to look around the market.
Shuiquan Town was not far from Dashi Village. Walking there took about half an hour.
Located beside Liuhua River, Shuiquan Town was surprisingly lively. Because of the boats constantly coming and going, a small dock had naturally formed there.
Zhou Xing did not bring the two brothers along and instead left them at Aunt He’s house.
When Lin Shan heard that Zhou Xing was going to the market, she eagerly volunteered to accompany her.
“Sister A’Xing, what do you want to buy? I know this market really well.”
Zhou Xing glanced at the bustling crowd around them.
“My family is plowing the fields tomorrow. Brother Xie invited several men to help, and I want to prepare some food to treat them. What do you think would be suitable?”
She truly did not understand these matters and felt fortunate to have A’Shan with her.
“Oh, so that’s why. My brother is going too tomorrow. Those rough men don’t need fancy treatment. As long as they can eat their fill, it’s enough,” Lin Shan said with a grin. “My mother usually just makes steamed flatbread and some stew.”
So that was how it was.
Ever since arriving here, Zhou Xing had never heard of anyone making mantou. Could it be that the concept of fermented dough did not exist yet?
“Does your mother make mantou too?” she asked. She had eaten steamed flatbread before—the bean cakes from earlier were one kind of it. Hard enough to chip teeth, though undeniably filling.
Lin Shan looked shocked.
“Those big fluffy mantou are food from restaurants! My father said only Baiwei Restaurant sells them. Sister A’Xing, can you make them too?”
Zhou Xing was delighted.
This was something she definitely knew how to do!
Back then, she had even researched fruit yeast methods. She could handle this effortlessly.
Look at that—another money-making idea had practically fallen into her lap.
“Those big mantou are probably stuffed buns, right? I’ve heard of them too. I can try making them.”
Though inwardly ecstatic, Zhou Xing still tried to appear calm and composed.
Even so, Lin Shan could not hide her admiration.
“Sister A’Xing, you’re amazing! When you make mantou, can you let me try some?”
“What’s the problem with that? I’ll let you eat as much as you want.” Zhou Xing waved casually. “Now take me to buy some pork fat, and let’s also get some salt. Without seasoning, even the best dishes have no flavor.”