Chapter 15: New Ideas

The wind howled loudly as the three of them took a break. Li Feng was in charge of cleaning the courtyard, while Cao Xi and Qin Zhao cleaned the house. Although everyone was tired, they were all full of energy and determination.

Li Feng cleaned faster and more thoroughly. After finishing the courtyard, he went on to organize the wood shed.

The shed still had some leftover firewood, probably from the previous tenants, but it wasn’t enough for the two of them. The two rooms were mostly organized, though they were still a bit messy, and it was hard to tell whether they had been properly cleaned. The items that Cao Xi brought were already neatly placed in the kitchen.

The kitchen had its utensils, and having a pot felt truly comforting—it was nice to think about cooking food she liked.

They ate a light lunch, and after a while, Cao Xi went out to buy fresh vegetables. She invited Li Feng to stay for a meal, thanking him for his help with the cleaning. Without him, they wouldn’t have been able to finish so quickly.

As soon as Cao Xi left, Qin Zhao and Li Feng exchanged an intense look. Neither of them spoke, and it was unclear what either was thinking.

“I remember you always liked me talking, so why are you glaring at me now?” Li Feng said with a teasing smile, having helped him for the whole morning but not receiving any gratitude in return.

“Why don’t you stare at Cao Xi then?” Qin Zhao turned his face away, his eyes filled with subtle reproach.

Li Feng chuckled. “It’s admiration. I truly admire Cao Xi’s ability to make money.”

“Men and women shouldn’t be too close. Don’t stare at her like that.” Qin Zhao was irritated, seeing it as inappropriate behavior.

“Are you jealous of her?” Li Feng asked, giving Qin Zhao a deep look.

“What do you mean?” Qin Zhao was confused.

Li Feng spoke slowly, his words carrying a hint of suspicion. “You’re always so attached to Cao Xi. Aren’t you afraid it might annoy her?”

Qin Zhao’s expression instantly darkened, feeling like someone was trying to sow discord.

“I’m just keeping her company. She’s an important person to me,” Qin Zhao said firmly.

“Important, huh? Not sure what you’re afraid of,” Li Feng said casually, then added, “Wait, are you perhaps Cao Xi’s cousin?”

The argument stopped abruptly, and Qin Zhao froze for a moment. His face changed, and he panicked as he began to explain, “Nonsense! I’m her cousin!” His breath became rapid, and his eyes looked evasive, like a cat caught in a trap.

“Oh,” Li Feng said, sounding as if he had uncovered a big secret, his gaze lingering on Qin Zhao for a long time.

Qin Zhao felt exposed, like his secret had been revealed. His fists clenched tightly.

Li Feng felt a strange sense of satisfaction seeing him flustered.

“If you’re not even her cousin, then what reason do you have to stand by her side and stop anyone from getting close?” Li Feng smiled at Qin Zhao, his expression holding an unmistakable hint of danger.

Qin Zhao suddenly caught on to Li Feng’s meaning. “So you admit it, huh? You have ill intentions toward Cao Xi. I’ve suspected it from the beginning,” he said, now fully on guard, like a tiger ready to spring.

Li Feng continued with an innocent expression. “Hmm, maybe I’m just her future brother-in-law.”

Qin Zhao retorted, “Stop dreaming. Cao Xi would never marry someone like you.”

“That’s not certain.” Li Feng seemed lost in thought, contemplating how a child at his age might end up in such a situation. His expression darkened, as if he had just witnessed something that shattered his happiness. He imagined the boy might end up terribly miserable, perhaps even worse than he was now.

Li Feng became more and more irritated, and in the end, he turned and left without saying anything further.

Qin Zhao stared at Li Feng’s retreating figure, feeling frustrated. He had wanted to say something in response, but the words were stuck in his throat, leaving him feeling utterly helpless.

When Cao Xi returned, she noticed Qin Zhao sitting under the jujube tree, looking lost in thought, unsure of what was going on with him.

Cao Xi asked, “Why are you sitting here? Did Li Feng leave?”

“He left,” Qin Zhao replied with a hint of frustration. As soon as Cao Xi returned, she had asked him about it, which made him feel even more agitated and upset.

Cao Xi was confused; he had seemed so happy earlier, but now he appeared so upset.

“Did you two argue?” Cao Xi asked gently.

“A little.” Qin Zhao didn’t want to talk about Li Feng, especially not about the content of their conversation. He didn’t want Cao Xi to know about it.

Seeing that he wasn’t going to elaborate, Cao Xi persisted, hoping to get him to open up. She was just trying to ensure he wasn’t feeling taken advantage of.

“I bought some pork bones and pork water for the stew. We’re having braised pork ribs tonight. How about I steam some buns too?” Cao Xi asked.

“That sounds great,” Qin Zhao replied with a small smile. “I love the meals you cook, Cao Xi.”

……………….

Cao Xi filled the pot with water and asked Qin Zhao to tend the fire while she cleaned the pork bones, cutting them in half. As the water heated up, they blanched the bones to remove any blood, then put them back in the pot to sear and add flavor before adding the other ingredients. They also steamed the buns while preparing the meal.

As they worked together, chatting and enjoying the simple task, the sound of the courtyard gate opening interrupted them. Li Feng walked in, carrying a bundle of firewood on his back.

Cao Xi hurried over to greet him. “Why didn’t you say anything before you left? Qin Zhao and I were wondering where you went.”

Li Feng smiled at her. “The wood in the shed was running low. I thought I’d go get some more since I had some free time.”

Cao Xi said, “Dinner is almost ready. I made braised pork ribs today.”

Li Feng washed his face with well water and wiped the sweat off his brow. “I’ve been looking forward to eating your braised ribs. It’s been a while since I had a meal made by you.”

Their conversation, though simple, did not go unnoticed. Qin Zhao, standing in the kitchen doorway, overheard everything. His teeth clenched, and he felt his anger rise. He couldn’t stand Li Feng’s insincerity and pretentiousness—he found it increasingly difficult to deal with.

When the meal was ready, Cao Xi set the table under the jujube tree. Qin Zhao took care of the bowls and chopsticks, while Li Feng helped serve the dishes. Cao Xi prepared a simple soup to go with the meal. It was a modest but heartfelt gathering to celebrate their new home.

“Thank you again for helping us move in today,” Cao Xi said, placing a piece of braised pork rib in Li Feng’s bowl.

Li Feng replied with a warm smile, “You’re too kind. It was a pleasure to help.”

Qin Zhao, already halfway through his meal, couldn’t help but compliment the food. “Cao Xi, your cooking is really delicious,” he said after taking a bite of the braised pork ribs. “You’ve really outdone yourself.”

Qin Zhao, this brainless fan, Cao Xi had long since become immune to his praise.

Li Feng commented, “This braised pork rib is truly exceptional. You must have spent a lot of time making it.”

Cao Xi smiled, “I do enjoy cooking.”

“It’s not bad at all,” Li Feng said, expressing confidence in Cao Xi’s cooking skills.

“I’ll definitely let you know when I have a specific method in mind,” Cao Xi responded. After all, he needed to find someone reliable for this.

…………………..

As evening approached, Li Feng finished his dinner and chatted leisurely with Cao Xi before heading back to the temple.

In the kitchen, Cao Xi was washing the dishes, while Qin Zhao was boiling water. “Are you really planning to teach Li Feng how to cook?” he asked.

Cao Xi answered, “Yes, the two of us are in the same boat. If we don’t find someone experienced to guide us, we’ll end up at a disadvantage.” She continued, “Besides, Li Feng is a tough person who’s not easily swayed by the outside world.”

Qin Zhao muttered, “Who does he think he is?”

“He’s fourteen,” Cao Xi replied, not even looking up from her task.

Qin Zhao fell silent.

Qin Zhao pointed to the pig’s water in the corner by the wall. “What are you going to do with this smelly stuff you bought?”

Cao Xi smiled. “Tomorrow, I’m going to make braised meat. I’ll take it to the restaurant and see if they want to buy it.”

“Is it really okay?” Qin Zhao asked skeptically.

Cao Xi reassured him, “Don’t worry about the smell. Once it’s cooked, it’ll be incredibly fragrant. You’ll see tomorrow.”

“The water’s ready. You should wash up,” Qin Zhao said, lifting the lid from the pot and pouring water for her.

Cao Xi nodded. “Alright, I’ll wash up now. I’ve been working all day and I’m covered in dirt and sweat.”

“I know,” Qin Zhao said, his voice soft. “I’ll keep you company tonight. Want to sleep together?”

“No, our room is big enough, and I’m used to sleeping alone,” Cao Xi replied, picking up the basin of water and heading toward the bedroom. She looked back at Qin Zhao and added, “You’d better hurry up and finish getting ready, then go to sleep.”

“Okay,” Qin Zhao replied in a low voice. He knew that Cao Xi preferred to sleep alone, and he understood that she might distance herself from him once she was settled in. No hard feelings—he wasn’t a fool.

Cao Xi rolled around on the bed, feeling at last like she had her own space. She relaxed, lying on the bed, turning from side to side.

Cao Xi tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. She felt like something was missing.

She was thinking about Qin Zhao. Even though he was a bit old-fashioned, with his reluctance to be close with women, he would always sneak a hand over to her when they went to bed. She wasn’t sure if he had gotten used to sleeping alone. The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. Finally, she decided to quietly go to him.

The light in Qin Zhao’s room had already been turned off, and the place was eerily quiet, suggesting he was already asleep. When Cao Xi gently pushed the door open a crack, she heard Qin Zhao’s voice from inside, “Cao Xi, is that you?”

Hearing that he was still awake, Cao Xi pushed the door open fully and walked in. “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

“I can’t sleep with no one around,” Qin Zhao said, his voice full of grievance. The moonlight shone on his face, making him look even more delicate and lovable.

“I can’t sleep either,” Cao Xi said, “so I came to find you.” She took off her shoes and climbed into bed, pulling the blanket over Qin Zhao.

“Are you staying here tonight?” Qin Zhao turned to look at her, his eyes full of expectation.

“No, I’ll just lie here for now. Once you fall asleep, I’ll leave,” Cao Xi said, turning on her side, facing away from Qin Zhao.

“Oh…” Qin Zhao’s mood seemed to drop a little.

Seeing this, Cao Xi quickly added, “How about I tell you a bedtime story?”

“Okay,” Qin Zhao said, brightening up a little. He loved hearing Cao Xi’s stories, as they were always so interesting.

Cao Xi began telling him the story of Cinderella. After hearing it, Qin Zhao became outraged. “That stepmother was really awful!” He huffed in indignation, turning to Cao Xi with a face full of anger.

As Cao Xi playfully rubbed his face, Qin Zhao looked like a deflated flower, his hair messily tousled from her touch. Seeing him so helpless made Cao Xi unable to hold back a chuckle.

Qin Zhao was upset, his eyes full of resentment. Cao Xi felt a tickling sensation in her chest. Trying to hold back her laughter, she explained the story to him from a different perspective.

“The stepmother in Cinderella was really bad, but the girls she treated so cruelly were also quite spoiled. Love, too, has its complexities. People always act according to their circumstances.”

Qin Zhao didn’t seem to completely understand the explanation, his eyes flickering between confusion and realization. Cao Xi then told him the story of Snow White. After hearing it, Qin Zhao was quiet for a long time before he finally said, “I guess it’s about having friends.”

Cao Xi felt her intellect being completely outmatched by this young boy, whose ability to analyze and adapt far exceeded hers, despite being a native.

Qin Zhao, energized by the bedtime stories, grew more and more awake, while Cao Xi was the one who eventually couldn’t keep her eyes open. She fell asleep with her hand still gently holding Qin Zhao’s. He lay there for a while, confirming she was deeply asleep, and whispered to himself, “Finally, she’s asleep. I can’t keep going much longer myself.”