Chapter 07: Let’s Cook Together

Huo Qingshan once again realized that the young girl before him, despite her delicate and fragile appearance, possessed a sharp and quick tongue, which only made his own clumsy speech more apparent.

He stopped talking. His expression was cold and stern, his gaze deep, and his silence carried an invisible, imposing air.

The triumphant Lin Yingying said, “Let’s go, to the educated youth point. I still have eggs and white flour there. I’ll… you cook for me to eat.”

Miss Lin had been about to brag that she would cook for him, but the words turned on the tip of her tongue and she swallowed them back.

Huo Qingshan fixed her with a sharp gaze, hoping she would retreat in the face of difficulties. “A wife who doesn’t know how to cook, I don’t want.”

[Mother Huo: You wastrel, I can cook, there’s no need for your wife to do it!]

Lin Yingying was completely unafraid of him. “Did I say I don’t know how to cook? Before we get married, you cook for me to eat, and after we get married, I’ll cook for you to eat.”

I can learn, you know~

In truth, as a foodie, she could make a few delicate, refined dishes, though she rarely ever cooked.

Huo Qingshan lifted his foot and walked off, unwilling to waste words arguing with this little vixen.

Lin Yingying stomped her little leather shoes. “Huo Qingshan, I don’t know how to use your earthen stove. There’s no one at the educated youth point right now, do you want me to starve to death? Fine, I’ll just starve to death then.” She began holding her stomach and groaning, looking as though she was about to collapse. “I’m starving… wuwuwu…”

Huo Qingshan: “…”

While sobbing pitifully, Lin Yingying stole glances at him and quietly took two steps closer to narrow the distance.

Huo Qingshan drew in a deep breath, lifted his eyes to glance at the blue sky and the sun. Everything was as usual.

He turned to look at her and said slowly, “In my family, I have a widowed mother whose health is not very good, and a bunch of younger brothers and sisters who are noisy and disobedient. My family’s circumstances are poor. If you marry me, you will no longer have such beautiful clothes to wear, no delicious pastries to eat, no leisure to lie down and count the stars. You will have to rise early and work in the fields till late, harvesting wheat, gathering corn, and you’ll also have to cook, sew clothes, and grow vegetables. With you being so delicate, if you ever clash with my mother, I will not take your side.”

He looked at her coldly. “With things like this, do you still want to marry me?”

His gaze lingered on her soft lips, and for some reason, an inexplicable tension rose within him. She had better give up now, and later find someone whose family matched hers in status, instead of pestering him any further.

Lin Yingying widened her beautiful peach blossom eyes and looked at him as if he were a fool. “Huo Qingshan, you’re going to make me die of laughter, haha.”

A moment ago, he had said he wouldn’t marry her, yet now he was solemnly saying things like “if you marry me…”

Being this frank about your own family situation—this is the procedure for a blind date, you know, dear~~

Saying things like there will be no pastries to eat—do I seem like such a greedy person? Eating you would be enough for me~~

As for working in the fields, of course she was willing. She was a diligent member of the laboring people! The premise was whether he could bear to let her—he wrapped her hand in gauze and wouldn’t let her touch water, and if she had a bruise on her leg he made her apply medicine. Heehee, he probably hadn’t even noticed that himself.

And besides, what was there to fear about noisy younger brothers and sisters? She wasn’t afraid at all! Who was she? She was the little tyrant of the compound!

As for dealing with his younger brothers and sisters—well, she would have to hold back a little, out of politeness.

Raising younger brothers and sisters? That was only right, and she supported it wholeheartedly. She would even give him money to help raise them, making sure they were fair-skinned and chubby. Once she had trained them well, those who could earn money would earn money, those who could work would work, and she would go right on being Lin the Little Tyrant.

As for her mother-in-law, she wasn’t worried in the slightest. The brigade leader had said that Mother Huo had a gentle temperament, a bit soft, and was so worried over her son’s refusal to marry that it was about to drive her to distraction.

With herself being so hardworking, brave, thick-skinned, and good at managing a household, Mother Huo would only be delighted.

Heh heh, Huo Qingshan, let’s see what else you have to say.

Huo Qingshan had not heard a clear answer from her, so the stern look on his face did not ease in the slightest, and his gaze remained as sharp as ever, fixed on her.

Lin Yingying was not afraid of him in the least. At this moment, the aura from him that made her feel so comfortable surged toward her like a tide, wrapping around her. Compared to before, when she had to take the initiative to get close in order to absorb that energy, this was simply a generous giveaway.

It seemed that when his emotions fluctuated, the energy was stronger too.

At heart he treated her so well, yet on the surface he still acted so cold—what was the point of that? It must be exhausting.

She held her stomach, continuing to provoke him. “I’m starving to death…”

Huo Qingshan looked at her with quiet stubbornness, as if demanding an answer.

Lin Yingying raised her voice. “Huo Qingshan, your wife is about to starve to death!”

The sharp glint in Huo Qingshan’s eyes receded like the tide, replaced by a look of helplessness—utter, unshakable helplessness.

“Come on, I’ll help you start the fire and see what your cooking skills are like.”

Lin Yingying instantly perked up. “So that means you agree?”

Huo Qingshan turned his head to look at her. This girl was hard to deal with. If he rejected her outright, she would ignore it. If he said they were not suitable, she would come up with twisted reasoning and counter every move with another, always ready with a crooked argument. It seemed the only way was to let her give up on her own, or have her family rein her in.

Seeing that he did not respond, Lin Yingying knew she had rendered him speechless. She grinned and said, “Huo Qingshan, let me tell you, if you’re unhappy about something, just say it. Don’t you dare sneak off. Wherever you run, I’ll catch you and bring you back!”

To match her own momentum, she stretched out her small hand wrapped in gauze and made a gesture of control.

Huo Qingshan lowered his eyes to look at her, his gaze cool.

Lin Yingying tilted her head. “If you don’t believe me, try it.”

Huo Qingshan: … I believe you.

She had only been here a few days, yet all the little mud monkeys in the village had become her eyes and ears.

With a trace of unwillingness, he said in a flat tone, “Fine then, after we eat, come with me to harvest wheat. Let’s see if you can last.”

Lin Yingying: “Of course I can.”

Naturally she would follow him—how comfortable it was to be by his side. Just spending the whole morning with him made her feel as sweet and refreshing as eating a creamy ice cream on a June day. The only thing was, she was a bit thirsty. His presence could ease her old ailment, yet it also made her feel a little addicted, unable to stop wanting more.

Was this being spoiled, or had she built up a tolerance? No matter—just increase the dosage!

She cast a sly glance at his hands and mouth, wondering which would be easier to get close to.

On the road, whenever they saw someone, Lin Yingying would take the initiative to give a faint smile, making it clear that she and Huo Qingshan were on very close terms.

An elderly woman who was hard of hearing shouted loudly, “Well, isn’t this something! That eldest boy from Huo Zhenjiang’s family has brought home a fox spirit, and such a beautiful one too—like the Seventh Fairy Maiden herself!”

In the old lady’s eyes, a fox spirit was a celestial being, not a derogatory term.

Lin Yingying felt quite proud when she heard this. She tilted her chin toward Huo Qingshan as if to say, How about that, I’m bringing you honor! Of course, aside from looking a little too serious, he brought her honor as well.

Her parents would definitely like him when they saw him.

As they walked, Miss Lin secretly tried to hook her arm through his, but Huo Qingshan sidestepped her touch with perfect precision, as if he had eyes in the back of his head. He even shot her a sidelong glance to warn her to behave, which made the young lady pout in dissatisfaction.

When they arrived at the educated youth point, the door was not locked, just left ajar.

Lin Yingying pushed the door open and saw that the pot lid was still in place, and a bowl of pickled vegetables was turned upside down on the table, probably left for her.

Huo Qingshan set his things down by the door and opened it wider to let in some air. He went inside and lifted the pot lid, finding two mixed-grain steamed cornbread buns inside—dark, hard, and unappetizing—as well as a bowl of watery millet porridge.

To her, it truly had no appeal at all.

Lin Yingying came over and, as if making a complaint, said, “See? What kind of food is this? My throat’s rubbed raw—I can’t even swallow it with my neck straight.”

She tilted her head slightly and opened her mouth to show him her mouth ulcer.

Huo Qingshan didn’t look at her. He simply and efficiently took out the cornbread buns and millet porridge from the pot, then washed the pot. “What do you want to eat?”

Lin Yingying looked at him with a smiling gaze, pure on the surface yet carrying a self-assured hint of teasing that he saw through at once.

She lightly bit her lip. “If I say what I want to eat, will you make it for me?”

Huo Qingshan lowered his eyes, his gaze lingering on her lips for a moment before calmly shifting away. He reached a hand toward her. “What kind of flour do you have? Take it out.”

Lin Yingying quickly grabbed his wheat-colored, broad hand. “I want to eat you! Ah-woo~~”

She actually leaned in and bit him like a little animal!

She didn’t truly bite, but her soft lips and the warm, moist tip of her tongue pressed against the back of his wheat-colored hand. The startling sensation made Huo Qingshan’s body tense instantly.

It took all his self-control not to shake her off. His voice came out hoarse and cold. “Educated Youth Lin, if you keep doing this…” Remembering her twisted reasoning, he suddenly didn’t know how to tell her things like how men and women should maintain proper boundaries.

Lin Yingying was secretly delighted—so physical contact really did work.

Although she didn’t understand the principle behind it, since she was ill and he was the medicine, there was nothing to hesitate over.

Go for it!

She cast him a coquettish glance, then calmly released his hand. “Don’t worry.” In other words, she would do it again in the future~~

Huo Qingshan naturally took “don’t worry” to mean she wouldn’t do it again, and he let out a breath of relief.

“Aiya, I’m starving~” Lin Yingying began to act spoiled again, urging him on.

She took out the two jin (1 kg) of white flour and a few eggs that the brigade leader’s wife had left for her yesterday after she was frightened. The woman had even made her egg hand-pulled noodles. Lin Yingying hadn’t taken them for nothing—since she didn’t want money or ration coupons, she gave the woman a paper packet containing half a jin (250 g) of fine white sugar.

Huo Qingshan washed his hands and asked her, “What do you want to eat?”

This time, if she dared to say something improper again… he would…

But Lin Yingying was sitting properly at the dining table, as well-behaved as a little girl waiting to be fed. Her big, dewy eyes looked at him. “Whatever you make, I’ll like to eat~~”

Her voice was soft and sweet, yet carried a hint of crispness, a tone so pleasant and captivating that it made one feel a tingling warmth from the ears all the way to the heart, liver, spleen, and lungs.

Huo Qingshan said, “I’ll make you egg pancakes.”

Lin Yingying asked, “Should we put in sugar?”

Huo Qingshan replied, “Do you want to eat it that way?”

Lin Yingying nodded obediently. “I do.”

Huo Qingshan said, “Bring it here.”

Lin Yingying went to open her suitcase and took out a packet of white sugar for him. She grinned. “Do you want more? I still have a whole big pile of sugar, all given to me by my little uncle.”

Huo Qingshan looked at her quietly and said in a calm voice, “Don’t show your wealth to others so casually.”

Lin Yingying replied, “How could you be just anyone to me? I’ve never done this with anyone else.” Anyway, when Ye Zhiting asked her for white sugar to give to Ye Manman, she simply didn’t give it.

Her charming smile carried a trace of slyness. It was hard to tell whether she was simply innocent or if she truly had ulterior motives.

Huo Qingshan knew that her words left him slightly dazed, yet he also felt it was wrong—he shouldn’t be overthinking it.

Lin Yingying found that Huo Qingshan was truly wonderful—presentable in public and capable in the kitchen. The way he cracked eggs with one hand and kneaded dough with the other, the graceful lines of his shoulders and back, was nothing short of blatant temptation to her.

“Come here, I’ll teach you how to light the fire.” Huo Qingshan crouched in front of the stove, grabbed a handful of dry grass, and placed it in the stove pit. He took a match, flicked one out with a chila sound, struck it, and leaned in to ignite the soft grass.

After waiting a couple of seconds, he pushed the burning grass inside and added more.

He turned his head to look at Lin Yingying. “Got it?”

Lin Yingying nodded, looking very adorable. “It’s so simple, of course I already know.”

Striking a match—who wouldn’t know how to do that?

Huo Qingshan glanced at her for a moment, then moved aside. “You do it.”

Lin Yingying hesitated for a moment, but then quickly sat down and began adding grass to the stove.

When Huo Qingshan saw her stuffing in so much at once, he didn’t have time to stop her. “You have to add the grass little by little. Too much will smother it.”

Sure enough, the fire he had lit was smothered back down by the large handful of grass she’d shoved in.

Anxious, Lin Yingying quickly leaned in to blow on it. Huo Qingshan’s expression changed. “Back away!”

At the same time, Lin Yingying gave one long breath, reviving the fire. With a sudden hula, the tongue of flame shot out toward her face.

Startled, Lin Yingying cried out and squeezed her eyes shut, but was pulled away by Huo Qingshan.

This time, he half-knelt behind her, pulling her straight into his broad embrace, no longer offering her only the hard barrier of his arm.

The heat of his chest was intense, almost scalding. Lin Yingying instinctively shrank back, yet that comforting aura wrapped around her again, making her want to lean in even closer.

But Huo Qingshan had already pulled away. “Don’t lean in to blow. The flames could burn off your eyebrows and hair.”

Lin Yingying patted her chest in lingering fear. “Good thing, good thing—if you hadn’t reacted so quickly, your wife would have turned into the Eyebrowless Heroine and the Bald-headed Monster.”

Huo Qingshan couldn’t help but picture the scene she described. When he glanced at her again, he froze for a moment, then silently went back to making the pancakes. While cooking, he instructed her on how to keep the fire low so the pan wouldn’t burn.

He found that although she was delicate, she learned quickly and understood with just a hint.

Soon, the aroma of scallion and egg pancakes drifted from the pan. There wasn’t much oil, but the smell alone was enough to make one’s mouth water.

Unable to resist her greed, Lin Yingying leaned closer, watching expectantly.

Huo Qingshan placed one pancake onto a plate set to the side. As he reached for the knife to cut it, he caught sight out of the corner of his eye of the greedy young lady eagerly stretching out her little paw. He quickly reminded her, “It’s hot!”

Lin Yingying let out a hiss. “So hot, so hot!” As she exclaimed, she went up on her toes and pinched Huo Qingshan’s ear.

Huo Qingshan: “!!!”

It felt as if his ear were being roasted by fire, and even his neck flushed red in an instant.

She was putting her hands all over him again!

He froze for a moment, then quickly tilted his head to get away. He tore the pancake apart, bounced it lightly in his hands to cool it, then handed it to her. “Here.”

Lin Yingying pressed her scalded fingertips to her lips to cool them, then looked at him curiously. “You’re not afraid of the heat?”

Huo Qingshan’s gaze lingered on her lips for a moment before quickly shifting away. “Thick skin and tough flesh, I’m not afraid.”

Lin Yingying lightly patted his hand and said softly, with a note of tenderness, “From now on you have to take good care of yourself, understand? You’re no longer just you—you’re mine. Your hands, your feet, your body…” She didn’t finish the sentence, but tilted her head and smiled with narrowed eyes, using her gaze to tease him, watching his face grow redder and redder.

Not only did Huo Qingshan’s face flush, but it felt as if something had struck his heart. Words this bold and heated… it was the first time he had heard them, and his ears were going numb.

Whether it was because she had broken her promise and kept putting her hands all over him, or because of that clear yet flirtatious look in her eyes, or perhaps because of this caring remark, he felt a little flustered.

Afraid she might try to touch him again, he decisively moved a bit farther away from her.

But Lin Yingying was already enjoying the sweet, fragrant egg pancake, her face full of bliss. She even tore off a piece and leaned over to feed him, paying no attention at all to the fact that he was trying to keep his distance.

Huo Qingshan quickly dodged away. “You eat it yourself.”

He wanted to keep a stern face and scold her, telling her to stick to the agreement and stop putting her hands all over him, but seeing her so bright and innocently cheerful, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Maybe she acted like this with others too. He glanced at her, steadying his thoughts.

When she saw that he had finally finished cooking, Lin Yingying urged him, “It’s so good while it’s hot, come on, eat!”

Huo Qingshan said, “I’ll eat at home.”

Lin Yingying patted herself. “Your wife is right here!”

Huo Qingshan: “…”

Lin Yingying said, “Hurry up and eat. Once you’re full, take the rest back for our mother and the younger brothers and sisters to eat.”

Huo Qingshan: “…”

He had already finished cooking for her and was turning to leave, but as he stepped out the door, he saw a slender young girl standing outside. She stared at him wide-eyed, as if she had just seen a ghost.

Ye Manman raised her hand and pointed at him. “You you you… you… what are you two doing?”