Chapter 18: Good at Craftsmanship

As Li Yiyi got closer, Jiang Dashao exclaimed, “Oh my god, Li Yiyi, how did you gather so many wild vegetables? And two rabbits too!”

“It seems like no one else went to that area, so there were a lot of wild vegetables there, I dug them all up. These two rabbits were fighting and killed each other, I just picked them up.” After explaining, Li Yiyi felt a bit embarrassed, thinking her explanation was weak.

“Li Yiyi, you really have good luck. My Dashao and I have been gathering wild vegetables here for so many years and we’ve never found rabbits,” Jiang Ersao said enviously.

Hearing this, Li Yiyi felt even more awkward, her smile growing sheepish.

On the way back, Jiang Dashao called out, “Let’s go home!” Not long after, Jiang Jianshe and the children caught up with them.

Once they reached the foot of the mountain, Li Yiyi handed one of the rabbits to Jiang Dashao. “Dashao, Ersao, our family only has four people, we can’t finish these two rabbits, you take one home and cook it.”

“How can we accept that? How about you take it home and salt it to save for later?” Jiang Dashao suggested.

Li Yiyi shoved the rabbit into her basket. “No need, I think fresh ones taste better. I’ll head back now.” She quickly left with the two children, afraid that they might return the rabbit.

Jiang Dashao watched them go with a complicated smile.

On the other side, Li Yiyi, carrying the wild vegetables and holding a rabbit, hurried back home.

As soon as she opened the door, she saw a tall figure in the yard, busy repairing some furniture.

Jiang Hong raised his head and saw his wife and children coming in. He quickly put down his tools and walked over to help with the basket, soon noticing the rabbit inside.

“I was lucky, I found it on the mountain,” Li Yiyi explained, feeling a bit guilty as he stared at the rabbit.

“Good luck. I’ll take care of the rabbit.” Without asking any more questions, he took the basket into the kitchen.

Li Yiyi breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to tell the children to wash their hands while she went to fetch water for them.

While preparing the water, her attention was drawn to two books on the table. She walked over excitedly and flipped through a few pages, her lips curling into a pleased smile.

She immediately ran to the kitchen, holding the books, and asked happily, “Where did you get these two books from?”

Jiang Hong stopped what he was doing and answered, “I asked a friend to get them for me. You can use them to review for now.”

Li Yiyi felt as though Jiang Hong was glowing, and suddenly realized how fortunate she was to have him by her side.

“Thank you, Jiang Hong. You’ve really helped me out. To show my gratitude, I’ll make you something delicious today,” she said with a smile.

Jiang Hong didn’t know why, but he felt a warmth in his heart at her words, and suddenly agreed, “Okay.”

Li Yiyi, always eager to repay kindness, shooed him out of the kitchen and began to prepare a hearty meal.

First, she looked at the rabbit he had prepared, and her mind immediately went to the idea of making spicy rabbit chunks. She had recently bought some chili peppers from the space supermarket, and the thought of spicy rabbit meat made her mouth water.

In the yard, Jiang Hong kept an eye on the children while he continued his work on the furniture.

Soon, a delicious aroma wafted from the kitchen, making the children’s stomachs growl.

Just as Li Yiyi was about to finish cooking, she suddenly felt two little arms wrap around her legs. It was her two children.

“Mama, it smells so good!” Jiang Xiaobao said, drooling, looking up at her with a cute expression.

Li Yiyi smiled and picked up two pieces of rabbit meat from the pot. After cooling them, she put them in the children’s mouths.

The moment the meat touched their tongues, their eyes lit up.

“Yummy, yummy!” they exclaimed in unison, eating eagerly.

Li Yiyi couldn’t help but laugh at their dramatic performance. “Alright, go call your dad to get ready for dinner.”

Hearing they were about to eat the delicious meat, the two children grabbed each other’s hands and rushed out of the kitchen.

At the dinner table, Jiang Hong washed his hands and sat down. He looked at the large plate of fragrant and appetizing dishes on the table. As he listened to Li Yiyi gently serving food to their children, he couldn’t help but gaze at her with a different kind of look.

In all the years they had been married, he felt like it was the first time he realized she actually had a talent for cooking.

“Why are you looking at me like that? The rabbit meat isn’t even that good,” Li Yiyi said, noticing his stare and trying to deflect the attention.

“You look better than the rabbit meat,” he said with a smile, then quickly lowered his head to serve her more food.

Li Yiyi’s lips curved into a smile. She had thought this man was as tight-lipped as a saw, but it seems she was wrong.

After dinner, Jiang Hong volunteered to do the dishes.

At this point, Li Yiyi noticed the children were starting to doze off. She quickly boiled some hot water and gave them a bath.

By the time she had settled the children, about half an hour had passed.

Li Yiyi was exhausted, and all she could think of was one word—tired.

When Jiang Hong finished the dishes and brought over hot water, he found her lying on the bed, looking completely exhausted.

He walked over and pulled her up.

Li Yiyi was startled by his action and stared at the man who was suddenly so close to her.

Soon, she realized he was offering to give her a massage.

“Our training is intense, and when we’re tired, we use this method to relieve fatigue,” he explained softly as he worked on her shoulders.

Li Yiyi smiled, looking up at him. “Not bad, I didn’t expect you to have this skill. You’re doing it like a master.”

Jiang Hong, hearing her words, silently chanted to himself, “Form is emptiness, emptiness is form.”

Having been stuck at home for years, hearing that voice and realizing she was his wife… he couldn’t help but feel affected.

Li Yiyi, oblivious to the thoughts racing in his mind, simply enjoyed the massage, her body relaxing completely.

“Jiang Hong, your skills are pretty good. If you ever decide to open a business, you could definitely use this skill to run a shop,” she said, lying on the bed with a content smile.

Jiang Hong took a deep breath and stopped the massage. It wasn’t just his hands massaging her, it felt like he was massaging his own heart.

He knew now wasn’t the time to pursue anything further.

Although he hadn’t been back for long, he could clearly feel that she was purposefully avoiding him.