Lin Xun’s mother had died early, and she grew up with relatives. She had long learned to cook, and she was good at it.
Tonight, she made a lamb hotpot. She simmered lamb bones for an hour to make a rich broth and stir-fried a simple hotpot base with beef tallow, chili, and seasonings.
The base slowly melted into the lamb broth. The flavor of the meat blended perfectly with the spiciness of the seasoning. She added the sliced lamb, cooked it until it changed color, then dipped it in sauce. The taste was exquisite.
“This is amazing! Xiao Xun, even in Beijing I have never tasted lamb this good!” Lü Yuzhi, a person who preferred light flavors, could not stop praising.
Lin Xun smiled. “The key is that the meat is fresh.”
Lü Yuzhi teased, “I know. Someone bought good lamb, right?”
Huo Yanzhou glanced at Lin Xun, slightly red in the ears and throat moving. “Let’s eat.”
Seeing his embarrassed expression, Lin Xun almost wanted to say something. “I was just praising the meat!”
It grew dark early in the Northwest. Soon after dinner, night fell.
While Lin Xun washed up, Lü Yuzhi quietly went to the master bedroom and took out a set of blankets.
Huo Yanzhou was stunned. “Mom, what are you doing?”
Lowering her voice, Lü Yuzhi said, “I am preventing you from sleeping on the floor.”
She knew her son was meticulous and would insist on following the “living together for convenience” plan. One would sleep on the bed, one on the floor.
But after spending time with Lin Xun, Lü Yuzhi was increasingly satisfied with her as a daughter-in-law. She also noticed her son was not completely indifferent.
As a good mother, she wanted to give a push.
Huo Yanzhou was helpless. “Mom…”
“What? Even if you cannot have children, you cannot ignore Xiao Xun. How is this a wedding night?”
Huo Yanzhou had injured his waist on a mission, affecting his fertility, but this was top military secret, known only to a few leaders and the Huo family.
Lü Yuzhi no longer hoped for grandchildren, but she knew from experience that harmony in the marital bedroom mattered greatly, regardless of whether they could have children.
She left carrying the blankets. When Lin Xun returned from washing up and saw Huo Yanzhou’s helpless expression, she understood.
“The bed is big. Let’s sleep together. It’s cold, and even a strong man like you can’t sleep without enough blankets.”
Lin Xun said, “Even after Mom leaves, you sleep here. It will be warmer.”
Only the master bedroom had the heated wall. Sleeping here would keep him warm and save firewood.
Huo Yanzhou did not refuse.
But in front of Lin Xun, a thin sweater could not hide her graceful figure. Approaching him, she carried a faint fragrance.
Huo Yanzhou felt as if burned and looked away. “Don’t worry. I won’t do anything.”
Lin Xun smiled. “I believe you.”
She trusted him completely. In both lives, Huo Yanzhou was the most upright and good man she had ever seen.
Because of this trust, Lin Xun soon fell asleep after getting into bed.
Huo Yanzhou, however, could not sleep.
As a scout, his senses were sharper than normal, but tonight they seemed unusually acute. He could still smell her faint fragrance from across the bed.
Has his reconnaissance skills improved?
Just as he tried to ignore it and fall asleep, he felt movement on the blanket.
Moonlight revealed a small foot resting across him.
Even with the heated wall, Huo Yanzhou worried Lin Xun might get cold, so he gently moved her foot back. Soon, she moved again.
This time, it was her whole body leaning against him, her hands on his shoulders as if she wanted to hold on tightly.
The fragrance grew stronger. He inhaled deeply, preparing to move her slightly. Suddenly, he noticed her face was pale and sweaty.
He lit a candle and saw Lin Xun’s furrowed brow and cold sweat.
“Lin Xun? What’s wrong?”
She had had a nightmare. She knew it was a dream because everything was so bloody.
A train had fallen off a cliff. The wreckage was in pieces. Bodies were everywhere, blood staining stones, trees, and even the river. Just as she tried to escape, she saw a familiar face.
“Mom… Mom!”
“Lin Xun?”
Opening her eyes, she met Huo Yanzhou’s worried gaze and finally breathed again, drenched in sweat as if pulled from water.
Huo Yanzhou poured her a cup of hot water. “Did you have a nightmare?”
Lin Xun nodded. “I dreamed of something bad.”
Huo Yanzhou heard her calling Lü Yuzhi in the dream but did not think much. “Dreams are the opposite. Don’t be afraid. You are awake now.”
To most people, dreams were indeed opposite, but not for Lin Xun.
She did not know when it began, but possibly since her previous life, she frequently had prophetic dreams. Good things never appeared, but bad things were like prophecies, occurring within one to three days.
These dreams were limited. She could only dream about herself or people very close to her.
Though she and Lü Yuzhi had gotten along well, they had only known each other a few days, not enough to be considered close. Lin Xun thought it must be because of Huo Yanzhou. Sleeping in the same bed affected her dreams.
No matter the reason, Lin Xun could not ignore them. Even for strangers, she would try to save them. Lü Yuzhi was one of the best people in her life.
But how could she save her?
The dream was strange. Lin Xun decided not to tell Huo Yanzhou, first because she could not explain it, and second because he would not believe her.
She had to handle this herself.
Lin Xun closed her eyes and tried to recall the dream.
In the dream, the train car was destroyed. Lü Yuzhi had said she would take the train back to Beijing tomorrow night. That meant she would have an accident on the way.
The only solution was to avoid that train, either leaving earlier or later.
If the train fell off a cliff, it could be due to derailment or collision. Either way, the railway would be closed afterward, affecting subsequent trains.
So postponing Lü Yuzhi’s departure for too long would not work. Rail repairs took time, and it would interfere with her work and require someone to look after the Huo family.
The best plan was to make Lü Yuzhi leave earlier.
But Lin Xun could not just tell her to leave. She and Huo Yanzhou had just married. Sending his mother away the next day would seem cold.
She needed an excuse.
After thinking all night, Lin Xun finally came up with a feasible plan.
Early the next morning, Huo Yanzhou was called away for military duties. Lü Yuzhi, worried he had no wedding leave, would be reassured by Lin Xun. “Don’t worry. After this busy period, Yanzhou will be much freer.”
Lin Xun did not worry about him. She only worried about Lü Yuzhi’s life.
Trains from the Northwest to Beijing ran twice a day, at noon and six in the evening.
It took at least two hours to reach the station, buy tickets, and pack. Lin Xun had to bring this up now.
She held Lü Yuzhi’s hand. “Mom, remember I said I wanted to work as a veterinarian at the farm?”
Lü Yuzhi nodded. “Yes. Why?”
Lin Xun said, “The farm has high requirements. They might need an exam. My books are all at home. Could you borrow some from the Beijing library and send them over so I can study?”
“Of course! When I get back, I will help you find them.”
Lin Xun smiled. “I need them urgently. Please try to do it as soon as possible.”
Lü Yuzhi paused, then realized. “So urgent?”
“Yes. I want more time to study.”
Seeing the worry in Lin Xun’s eyes, Lü Yuzhi sighed. “Alright. I will pack and return to Beijing this morning.”
Lü Yuzhi was not foolish. She understood Lin Xun wanted her to leave quickly.
But why? Yesterday, Lin Xun still held her hand, wanting to show her around the grasslands. How had her attitude changed overnight?
Lü Yuzhi could not figure it out. She assumed she was disturbing the newlyweds. Being generous, she did not complain and left, catching the next train.
Even on the train, she frowned.
After the Huo family’s misfortunes, every member was vital. Lü Yuzhi cherished Lin Xun and wanted to treat her well. Being sent away unexpectedly hurt her.
While she worried, the train suddenly stopped.
“What happened? Has it not arrived at the station?” someone asked.
The conductor’s panicked voice came through: “The six o’clock train to Beijing has derailed. All railways require emergency inspection.”
Lü Yuzhi stood up in shock. That was the train she was supposed to take.