Today, the atmosphere between the young couple was a little strange.
Their eyes simply couldn’t meet. If they did, their faces would immediately flush red.
But the more you try to avoid something, the more it happens. From the moment they woke up until now, their gazes had already collided several times.
Cheng Baozhu couldn’t stand this sticky awkwardness any longer. For the first time, she felt the urge to go out for a walk, which startled Xu Chuan.
They had been married for several days, and aside from the one time he took her out to meet people, Cheng Baozhu had never wandered around the village again.
There had been some gossip in the village, but did Xu Chuan look like someone who cared about gossip?
If she didn’t want to go out, then so be it. Staying at home was fine. Yet today, this little turtle of his actually wanted to poke her head out and crawl around.
“I’m going to the old house,” Cheng Baozhu said stiffly toward the kitchen. “To find Hutou.”
With that, she ran off.
Xu Chuan was steaming red dates when he heard this, and he burst out laughing in surprise.
Find Hutou? For what? To play?
What was there to play with a six-year-old brat?
After stepping outside, Cheng Baozhu kicked a stone in regret, realizing she had said something silly.
Using Hutou as an excuse sounded rather foolish, but turning back now would be even worse.
Since she was already out, she headed toward the old house. Not wanting to run into people, she took a small path instead.
At this time, most villagers were working in the fields, leaving only children running around everywhere.
Even on the small path, many children were darting about. They climbed up the hill along the road, and whenever they saw Cheng Baozhu, they slipped away like loaches, hiding behind rocks or dirt piles, probably afraid she would report them to their parents.
But Cheng Baozhu didn’t understand and wondered why they all hid when they saw her.
After walking for a while without encountering anyone, she turned a corner and entered the old house.
It was quiet inside. When she realized only Hutou and Xiao Gu were home, she let out a long sigh of relief.
Hutou was surprised. “Aunt, do you need something?”
Could she say she didn’t?
Cheng Baozhu made up an excuse. “Your uncle is making something delicious. I’ll take you to try it later.”
Hutou’s expression lit up instantly, his lips curling into a grin. “I’ll definitely go!”
Xiao Gu rushed out from the room, clutching his little wooden horse, his eyes shining. “I’m going too, I’m going!”
“Alright, I’ll take you.”
Hutou was so eager to leave that before Cheng Baozhu could stop him, he had already locked the door.
Cheng Baozhu: …
She had come out to avoid things, and now she had to go back?
Well, at least she had two kids with her.
This time, she took the main road. The small path was uneven, and she didn’t want to carry Xiao Gu, so the main road was the only option.
Xiao Gu was only three years old, or rather, still two days away from turning three. Yet he looked more like a two-and-a-half-year-old, wobbling when he walked too fast.
His personality was completely opposite to Hutou’s. Most of the time, he stayed quiet, simply following his older brother without bothering anyone. Cheng Baozhu liked this kind of child very much.
Any child who didn’t trouble her was a good child.
As they walked home, Hutou chattered nonstop. Pointing at the distant fields, he said, “Grandma and the others are working there. Grandpa too.”
Cheng Baozhu looked over. “Your grandpa works in the fields too?”
Wasn’t he supposed to avoid labor to recover his health?
Hutou nodded. “Just a little, not too much.” Grandpa always said his body would rust if he didn’t move. Yesterday, he even argued with Grandma about wanting to work.
Hutou had a big mouth and soon vividly reenacted the old couple’s argument from the night before.
“Grandma said Grandpa was stubborn and didn’t know his limits, that if he threw out his back the whole village would laugh. Grandpa said Grandma must still be thinking about Old Zhao from Shanggang Village, that Old Zhao had no shame…”
Cheng Baozhu: …
“Hutou, stop talking. Kids shouldn’t repeat things adults say.”
If others heard this, it would be too embarrassing.
Hutou didn’t understand. If adults could say it, why couldn’t children?
After walking a few more steps, he suddenly added, “Aunt, I won’t say it, but you can. If you argue with Uncle later, you can ask if he’s still thinking about Sister Xiao Qian from the Tao family. Grandpa always mentions Old Zhao, and my mom mentions Aunt Honghua…”
“Wait.”
Cheng Baozhu stopped and turned to look at him. “What did you say?”
Hutou blinked. “I said when my mom brings up Aunt Honghua, my dad doesn’t dare argue anymore.”
“And who did you say I should bring up?”
“Sister Xiao Qian. Look, that’s her house over there.” Hutou pointed ahead.
Cheng Baozhu: “…Let’s go. Your uncle must have something tasty waiting for you.”
At the village’s edge—
Xu Chuan couldn’t find an iron steamer, so he used the bottomless wooden barrel he made yesterday instead. He placed it over a pot, set a rack inside, and spread the soaked glutinous rice on the bottom.
Then he layered steamed red dates over the rice, followed by another layer of rice, then red kidney beans on top, and finally another layer of rice and dates. He stoked the fire to its strongest and let it steam for two hours.
Just as he finished, there was movement at the door.
He shot to his feet, but upon hearing Hutou’s noisy voice, he silently sat back down.
“What are you here for?” he asked irritably.
Hutou didn’t notice his uncle’s dislike at all. He stood by the stove, inhaling the steam deeply.
“Uncle, it’s sweet!”
Xu Chuan thought, of course it’s sweet. He had added not only red dates but also candied dates.
He had gotten the candied dates from Gao Gangtie, who had bragged about receiving a bag from his brother-in-law. Xu Chuan had taken note of it ever since.
He didn’t like taking advantage of others, but Gao Gangtie’s mouth was too annoying.
Hutou already knew how delicious candied dates were and couldn’t help exclaiming. He refused to leave the kitchen, standing by the pot and sniffing nonstop.
Xiao Gu copied everything his brother did. Xu Chuan said nothing and quietly left.
He tiptoed into the room, but the moment he entered, a piece of clothing was suddenly thrown over his head.
“You put your unwashed coat on the bed again!” Cheng Baozhu snapped. “You wore it to the county and Da Wang Mountain, who knows how many germs are on it!”
Xu Chuan: ?
What was going on? What happened outside to make her suddenly so angry?
“I already put it on the bed before you left,” he said, puzzled.
“Oh really?” Cheng Baozhu shot back. “It was there when I left, and it’s still there when I came back!”
Was that somehow reasonable?
She snorted heavily. Xu Chuan scratched his head, set the coat aside, and leaned closer. “What’s wrong?”
Cheng Baozhu turned away, giving him her back.
He squeezed beside her and glanced outside. “Did Hutou and his brother do something?”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t blame others. You’re the one who upset me.”
“Me?” Xu Chuan was baffled.
Cheng Baozhu hesitated, then said awkwardly, “How could you do this? Before we got married, I never liked anyone, but you did.”
Xu Chuan froze for a long moment, then said in disbelief, “Don’t wrong me. When did I ever like someone?”
She paused, then said a little aggrieved, “The Tao family.”
Xu Chuan burst out laughing, burying his face against her shoulder as he shook with laughter.
“Why are you laughing instead of explaining?” she pushed him, but couldn’t budge him.
“Who told you that?” he asked, still holding back laughter.
“I heard it outside,” she said vaguely.
Xu Chuan immediately guessed Gao Gangtie was the culprit. Clearly, one bag of candied dates wasn’t enough. Next time, he’d have to get another.
Closing the door, he sat beside her again. “And you believe whatever you hear outside?”
She wanted to say she hadn’t believed it. If she had, she would have thrown a stool, not just his coat.
“Your brother and sister-in-law didn’t tell you? I had two matchmaking attempts before. The first was a girl from Shanggang Village. She was pitiful, fell into the river two years ago and didn’t survive.”
Cheng Baozhu remembered vaguely. That girl had slipped while picking wild duck eggs, leading the village to station guards by the river that season.
“The second was Tao Qian. We’re from the same village, but we barely spoke.”
In truth, few girls in the village spoke to Xu Chuan. No matter how handsome he was, his habit of not working had long eroded his appeal.
Cheng Baozhu asked curiously, “Then how did you manage to marry above your station?”
Xu Chuan frowned. “How was I the one marrying up? My mother mentioned it once, and her family agreed immediately.”
“And then?”
She adjusted herself comfortably, urging him to continue.
“And then… wait a minute.” Xu Chuan narrowed his eyes. “That expression of yours looks just like Aunt Bai Feng and the others gossiping at the village entrance.”
She lightly slapped him. “Stop changing the subject. Hurry up, what happened next? What if Hutou comes in?”
“Then the engagement was barely half a month old when she suddenly looked down on me and got together with Xu Feng from the Commune.”
Xu Chuan spoke lightly, showing no sign of resentment.
“Xu Feng?”
The name sounded familiar to Cheng Baozhu, and she began searching her memory.
“He lives near the bridge in the Commune. Our families share the same ancestry, but by my father’s generation we were already beyond the fifth degree of kinship.”
Xu Feng’s family was well-off, though he himself was narrow-minded.
Back then, he had been classmates with Xu Chuan’s elder sister and always tried to escort her home. Xu Chuan had seen through him immediately.
Even if their relationship was distant, they still shared the same surname. How could that be acceptable?
So from then on, Xu Chuan made a point of picking up his sister every day, clashing with Xu Feng until even now, they still cursed each other when they met.
Cheng Baozhu nodded absentmindedly. Then, as if thinking of something, she suddenly sat up straight and said earnestly, “Sorry, I wronged you.”
Xu Chuan: ?
“I’m not afraid when you’re angry, but when you suddenly apologize, it’s unsettling,” he said.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing.” She blinked.
Then she got up and went outside. “Hutou, your uncle says the oranges on the back hill are ripe. Want to go pick some?”
“I do!” Hutou ran out like a firecracker.
Soon, Cheng Baozhu left with the two boys, heading toward the back hill.
Xu Chuan: …
The hill wasn’t steep, so he wasn’t worried.
Only after leaving did Cheng Baozhu finally let out a quiet sigh.
Xu Feng… wasn’t he the match her original body’s eldest brother had arranged for her?
Later, her third brother had objected, saying being a stepmother wasn’t easy, and the matter quietly dropped.
She had only known about it because her sister-in-law had let it slip.
This had to stay buried. Xu Chuan must never find out!
That afternoon, the house was filled with the rich aroma of zenggao.
Even Cheng Baozhu stood by the stove, staring eagerly at the pot, swallowing from time to time.
The two children had no resistance at all. If Xu Chuan hadn’t stopped them, they might have stuck their heads into the pot.
“Is it done yet?” she asked for the third time.
The weather was poor, so Xu Chuan couldn’t rely on the sun to judge time. He sniffed carefully and nodded. “It’s ready.”
The moment he lifted the lid, a fragrant sweetness rushed out, instantly awakening everyone’s appetite.
Xiao Gu froze, staring at Xu Chuan with sparkling eyes.
If Li Cuifen had been there, she would have immediately carried him away and tried to correct that look.
Hutou had once looked the same way, and ever since, he had been completely devoted to his uncle.
Xu Chuan chuckled and pinched Xiao Gu’s cheek. “Xiao Gu, am I amazing?”
The child nodded vigorously. “Then will you come to my place from now on?”
He clenched his little fists and nodded again.
“Good!” Meanwhile, in the fields, Li Cuifen suddenly shivered.
Zenggao was best eaten hot. The red dates had melted, their sweetness fully absorbed into the glutinous rice.
Cheng Baozhu took a bite, her eyes widening in surprise.
It was soft and sweet, with the natural fragrance of grains, not greasy at all. The red kidney beans and dates were perfectly balanced, enhancing the flavor without overpowering it.
“There are osmanthus flowers on the mountain,” Xu Chuan said. “If we had the conditions, adding some osmanthus honey would make it even better for those who like sweets.”
Cheng Baozhu nodded. This might really sell well.
It looked hearty, tasted great, and was filling.
Of course, it had its drawbacks. Eating too much would tire the jaw before one got sick of it. But no one could afford to eat that much anyway.
Xu Chuan had already considered this, dividing the zenggao into different portion sizes and setting prices so Lao Ban could sell it easily.
“Hutou, take this home,” Xu Chuan said, handing him a bowl.
The two brothers had even eaten lunch here, and their mother was probably already waiting anxiously.
Hutou nodded, holding the bowl tightly as he led his brother home.
Xu Chuan didn’t idle either. He borrowed a bicycle from Xu Jialiang, dressed properly, and set off for the county with the zenggao.
“I’ll go and come back quickly. If you’re hungry, eat some zenggao or biscuits first. I’ll bring buns when I return.”
Cheng Baozhu looked at the sky, worried. “It’s getting late. Can’t you go tomorrow?”
“It’s fine. I’ll ride fast,” he reassured her. “Just stay at home. Don’t open the door for anyone.”
She stamped her foot lightly. “Do you think I’m a child?”
Xu Chuan smiled, suddenly leaned in, and kissed her before riding off quickly.
Cheng Baozhu froze, then slammed the courtyard gate shut with a red face.
On the road, Xu Chuan thought that if things went well tonight, he could start selling tomorrow.
Winter was coming, and it looked like it would be cold. He needed to save money.
Even if they couldn’t build a new house yet, they should at least build a small bathhouse so Baozhu wouldn’t have to shyly send him outside every time she bathed.
If things went even better…
They could repay the team’s debt by the end of the year, and maybe even build a new house next year.
For the first time, Xu Chuan felt truly driven. He wanted to earn money, a lot of it.
He reached the county quickly and arrived at Ban Ming’s house, startling him.
“What are you doing here at this hour?”
Xu Chuan handed him a bundle. “Try it while it’s hot. Tell me honestly if you can sell this for me.”
Ban Ming had just eaten and was full.
“Just one bite,” Xu Chuan insisted.
“Fine.” Ban Ming opened it and saw a dark-looking food. It didn’t look particularly appetizing.
But after one bite, his brows lifted, and he nodded.
“Not bad.”
Xu Chuan grinned. “I’ll bring the first batch tomorrow morning.”
“Alright, go quickly,” Ban Ming urged, seeing it was getting dark.
“Be careful!” he called after him.
“System, when will it rain?”
At the same moment, in different places, husband and wife asked the same question.
Cheng Baozhu sat by the door, restless, constantly getting up to peek outside.
“System, where is Xu Chuan now?”
[He has entered the Commune. He will arrive in about fifteen minutes. He is safe.]
“Okay.” She relaxed and returned inside.
[The strawberry cake you wanted will be removed at midnight.]
“Are you tempting me on purpose?”
[There is also a chocolate Black Forest cake available for three hours, costing eight points.]
“You think I can’t resist?”
She absolutely couldn’t. She quickly exchanged for the cake.
A small, exquisite chocolate cake appeared on the table, layered with cream and chocolate.
She took a bite and felt a deep sense of happiness. Sweet food really did bring joy.
Though… something was missing.
Sharing. It would be even sweeter if Xu Chuan were eating it with her.
[He has entered the village.]
“Still time!”
She quickly finished the cake, cleaned everything up, and ran to the door.
When Xu Chuan arrived, she opened it with shining eyes. “Did it go well?”
“Yes. Let’s talk inside. It’s about to rain.”
Just as he spoke, a light drizzle began.
Inside, under bright light, Cheng Baozhu busied herself, bringing him water and tea, watching him with excitement.
Xu Chuan found it strange.
Suddenly, he leaned closer. “What’s this?”
Cheng Baozhu froze. He wiped the corner of her mouth and then licked his finger.
“…If I say it’s brown sugar, would you believe me?”
She forced a stiff smile.