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That day, Yan Xiao had just returned home and gone into the kitchen to rinse rice and cook, intending to use the spare rice he had bought in the cupboard.
But when he saw the young girl entering, he had no choice but to lift the lid of the rice jar. Seeing it increasingly full, his eye twitched.
Under the girl’s sparkling gaze, he grit his teeth and scooped the beautifully colored glutinous rice from the jar to rinse and cook.
Throughout the cooking process, he stiffly used the magically enhanced oil and salt under her expectant eyes.
When the meal was served, the girl took a bite of the glutinous rice, her soft, coquettish voice exaggerating:
“Wow~ Brother Yan~ today’s rice is so delicious! I can eat two bowls!”
This obvious attempt to hide the truth… only she thought she could get away with it.
Yan Xiao chuckled. Fine—if she liked it, he would use this little fairy’s magically enhanced rice from now on.
The days were spent working the fields in the morning, returning under the moonlight.
The harvest had been going on for several tens of days and had finally come to an end.
During this time, acupuncture sessions every three days had always been arranged by Yan Xiao, who would hitch the ox cart to bring Ling Huaqing to administer acupuncture to the girl.
Most sessions were done while Wen Qinghe slept, because she was afraid of needles. Sometimes, Ling Huaqing would first induce a sleep point so she would be asleep before starting.
After the acupuncture, Yan Xiao would once again escort her back under the stars and moonlight.
With the harvest over, the first round of acupuncture had come to a close.
Ling Huaqing packed up the needles and began tidying the medicine kit.
“All done. For the next month, just come see me once.
My current duties are complete. Young man, I heard you’re getting married? Don’t forget to invite me to your wedding banquet.”
Yan Xiao raised a slight brow, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth: “Alright, definitely!”
Next, he had to take the young girl on a long journey. Considering her health, he asked:
“Old Ling, I’m taking Qingqing to the northwest to see her father. Do you think the long journey will affect her health?”
Ling Huaqing pondered for a moment: “It should be fine, but if you’re worried, does she still have her previous medicine? Just continue giving it to her during the break from acupuncture.”
Yan Xiao’s expression relaxed slightly. He took out some He Shou Wu he had found while hunting in the mountains, speaking with respect and gratitude:
“This is He Shou Wu, over thirty years old. Thank you for all your help during this period!”
Ling Huaqing’s eyes brightened. Thirty years? This young man always used decades-old medicinal herbs.
This time, he wouldn’t be polite.
…
After the harvest, the next farming season would start in half a month.
During this half-month, Yan Xiao arranged leave certificates and letters of introduction with the team leader.
At this time, traveling required a letter of introduction; without it, one couldn’t take the train or stay in a hotel. The letter acted as a personal pass.
He specifically asked Heizi to use connections to buy sleeper tickets from Anshi to Longnan.
The journey would take two days, and he only hoped the young girl would be comfortable and relaxed.
…
That night after dinner, Wen Qinghe saw Yan Xiao packing their luggage.
The suitcase was made from peeled willow branches, about eighty centimeters long and forty centimeters wide.
The lid and bottom were joined in the middle with a handle and two clasps, and the inside of the lid was lined with some unknown type of paper.
Now the suitcase was filled entirely with her clothes, both inner and outerwear, as well as her face basin, towels, toothbrush, cup, body wash, body lotion, and other toiletries.
In the corners, there were some of her favorite small snacks.
The entire willow branch suitcase contained all her belongings, along with a large, bulging travel bag. Yan Xiao had packed something in there as well…
…
To reach Anshi, they had to change vehicles several times. The next morning, before dawn, Yan Xiao and Wen Qinghe woke up.
Winter was approaching; now the days were short and the nights long, and early morning was the coldest time of the day. Even shallow breaths formed visible white mist.
Considering the long journey, Wen Qinghe had taken out her thermal pants from her spatial stash that morning.
In her modern life, she had only worn thermal pants a few times in twenty-one years.
But now, she had no choice—it was freezing.
She wore a deep green sweater bought by Yan Xiao, old-fashioned and dull in style, but layered a white shirt from her spatial stash underneath, instantly giving a vintage academy vibe.
Her lower half had black pants over the thermal pants and a beige trench coat from Yan Xiao on top.
From head to toe, aside from the base layer and thermal pants, everything else was bought by Yan Xiao.
Seeing her emerge from the room, Yan Xiao’s eyes flickered with admiration.
He didn’t know why, but despite the ordinary clothing, she looked better than anyone else in them, holding his gaze.
But even the best outfit couldn’t fight against a kind of cold—one that made the wearer feel chilled.
When Wen Qinghe sat on the ox cart, she was forced to wear a thin red jacket on top.
She looked a bit helpless. Earlier, seeing Yan Xiao’s admiring eyes had made her happy.
After all, she came from the 21st century, where clothes only looked ugly because people didn’t know how to match them.
But now, looking at herself, red paired with green—was it okay?!
Yan Xiao didn’t understand why she had started sulking once she left the house, barely speaking.
He thought she might be unwell and quickly asked:
“My precious, are you feeling unwell?”
Wen Qinghe looked at him plaintively, then shook her head.
Yan Xiao felt a pang of guilt—had he made her unhappy?
With a third person on the cart, he couldn’t hug her. He gently comforted her by rubbing her delicate, boneless hands.
Upon arriving in town and getting off the cart, the day was fully bright. Sunshine pierced the clouds, painting the misty land with a layer of rosy light.
The temperature gradually rose, and seeing thin sweat on her nose, Yan Xiao spoke, a sudden inspiration striking him:
“My precious, are you hot? Should we take off your jacket?”
Wen Qinghe’s eyes brightened immediately.
“You said it~”
Fearing he might change his mind, she quickly removed the red thin jacket and stuffed it into his arms.
Seeing her eager action, Yan Xiao realized she didn’t like the jacket.
“Don’t like this little jacket, my precious?”
Wen Qinghe’s face scrunched up: “I don’t dislike it, it’s just… Brother Yan, have you heard this saying?”
“What?”
“Red with green, worse than dog poop…”