Yu Xifeng came out from Old Cai’s place this time.

Old Cai gave her a day off.

He said practicing martial arts should have a balance of tension and relaxation—too much or too little is bad.

Yu Xifeng hadn’t paid much attention to her space these past few days. Every time before sleeping, she would drag her tired body inside, quickly add some food supplies, then come out.

Even when Little Orange rubbed against her, she couldn’t lift a hand to pet it.

Taking advantage of this break, Yu Xifeng went into the space and tidied up the chicken and pig pens.

She had dug a pit of about three square meters in the barren mountain, about one meter deep.

She coated the inside and outside with cement.

To save time inside the space, she mixed the cement outside the house.

If it weren’t for the lack of tiles, she would have built herself a proper swimming pool.

Though the design was simple, it could be considered an open-air hot spring.

Yu Xifeng heated the water herself.

Then she sprinkled in the bag of herbs that Zhang Qiu had given her.

Yu Xifeng submerged herself in the water and closed her eyes comfortably. She wasn’t sure if it was the hot water or the herbs, but soaking in it truly relaxed her muscles and eased her fatigue.

After about twenty minutes, Yu Xifeng wrapped herself in a towel and got out of the pool.

Some herbal residue stuck to her body.

She rinsed off with clean water.

The chickens and ducks were led out by the goose for a stroll.

Yu Xifeng had named the goose “Big White.”

Big White circled around Yu Xifeng once. She was dressing and not paying attention when Big White suddenly flapped and plunged into the pool.

One by one, the chickens and ducks behind it jumped in as well.

The herbs brewed by the hot water had turned a brownish-black color like dye.

Every bird in the water turned into a brown-feathered duck, brown-feathered goose, or brown-feathered chicken.

Yu Xifeng’s mind went blank for a second.

Somehow, she recalled the braised pork made with herbs by Zhang Qiu that day.

It had smelled intoxicating.

Should she send Big White over to be cooked?

Big White probably tasted the water once, flapped its wings, and splashed back out.

The chickens, ducks, and goose flapped chaotically, but eventually lined up again.

They followed Big White, which now deserved the name “Big Brown,” back.

Yu Xifeng resigned herself to cleaning up the scattered residue.

She glanced at the animals hunched over eating in the chicken pen.

“Sooner or later, I’m going to pluck your feathers and stew you all.”

Next door, Aunt Zhang was earnestly talking to her daughter.

“I’ve been watching that girl next door for several days. Her parents probably died outside. She only has some distant relatives living in Zone 2. For her to have a place here, either her connections are strong or she has a lot of stuff. Your brother’s no kid anymore, finally likes a girl, you should help him out.”

Deng Mifen looked troubled.

“I’m not familiar with her.”

“What good is that? The two families live so close, and you don’t even know which way her door opens. You just eat for free every day without thinking about your brother.”

Aunt Zhang slapped Deng Mifen on the head.

“Hurry up and bring out something presentable. I’ll give the girl a gift so she won’t look down on our family.”

Deng Mifen hesitated.

“The stuff’s all locked in the cabinet, the key’s with Jun Chao.”

“I swear, you’re going to drive me crazy.”

In the end, Aunt Zhang managed to coax a pack of biscuits and half a box of cheese sticks out of Deng Mifen.

“That’s for Xiao Wei,” Deng Mifen tried to stop her.

Aunt Zhang pulled her daughter aside.

“Xiao Wei doesn’t need this food. His uncle’s marriage still isn’t settled.”

Deng Mifen held her children and cried quietly.

Aunt Zhang proudly took the items and her son out the door, shoving the food into Deng Feiyu’s hand.

“Be smart and eat it. Don’t let your two greedy nephews see it.”

Deng Feiyu felt embarrassed.

His meals with his sister were indeed plain and tasteless.

But if he didn’t eat what his mother forced on him, it would make her uncomfortable.

Reluctantly, Deng Feiyu started eating.

Aunt Zhang smiled happily.

Deng Feiyu asked, “Should I deliver the rest to her?”

Aunt Zhang glared.

“What for? When she gets married here, if she wants something to eat but can’t have it, don’t worry, Mom will arrange everything nicely for you.”

The door knocked again just then.

Yu Xifeng had just come out of the space.

She put away things that shouldn’t be out and then opened the door.

Outside stood Wang Anmin.

Yu Xifeng instantly tensed but forced herself to act normal.

Wang Anmin was still in uniform, and Yu Xifeng saw a new badge on his chest—he had been promoted.

His gaze was scrutinizing but not guarded.

Neither the letter he sent nor Zheng Weiyang’s factory had uncovered anything about her.

Yu Xifeng made a judgment and relaxed her muscles.

Martial artists instinctively straighten their posture; relaxing is possible, but letting go completely is not. Experts can see the difference.

The Two Forms Fist style emphasizes formlessness and constant change.

Old Cai’s skills looked like those of a rough old man—no trace of a master’s elegance or calm.

That made it easier for Yu Xifeng to maintain her disguise.

She needed to seem harmless in front of Wang Anmin.

Yu Xifeng asked, “Why are you here? Can I still call you Team Leader Wang?”

Wang Anmin handed her a canned meat, but Yu Xifeng didn’t take it, so he squatted and put it on the ground.

He looked at her small face with unspoken gentleness.

“Just call me Wang Anmin.”

“You moved out of the neighborhood. I was worried. It’s too chaotic outside now. I… sorry, I checked up on you and found you came here. You’re sharp,” Wang Anmin said.

Yu Xifeng was surprised.

Since when was their relationship good enough to keep in touch?

Wang Anmin said, “Things will be rough outside for a while. Unless necessary, better not to leave the inner zone.”

“Thanks for the warning. I’ll be careful,” Yu Xifeng replied.

Wang Anmin stood by the door, his gaze intense.

“Uh, want some tea?”

There was only one chair inside.

Wang Anmin didn’t sit.

Yu Xifeng wanted to sit but felt awkward.

The tea was the sesame bean tea Zhang Qiu had given her.

She sipped but wasn’t in the mood to drink, so she put it back.

Wang Anmin finished the tea standing up.

After finishing, he was about to leave.

Halfway out, he hesitated but turned back to ask:

“You never come to find me. Did I do something wrong?”

Yu Xifeng looked up and met a pair of clear, firm eyes.

This seemed like the first time Wang Anmin truly saw her eyes.

They were so bright, like a bundle of fire burning endlessly.

That strange contrast returned.

How could such a well-behaved appearance hide such rebellious eyes?

Who was she, the person he cared about? What kind of person was she really?

Wang Anmin, grown up this far, was confused for the first time.

Yu Xifeng said, “You’re a good person. It’s just, I don’t need your kindness, Wang Anmin. Don’t come looking for me again. Take the canned meat with you—have it as your own meal.”

Wang Anmin nodded, didn’t insist, and turned to leave.

That was the first time Yu Xifeng called him by name.

But it was to reject him.

Wang Anmin left, but the canned meat stayed on the floor.

Yu Xifeng glanced at the tin can and sighed.

The door knocked again.

Today really was lively.

Outside was Aunt Zhang, who tried to squeeze inside when the door opened.

Yu Xifeng didn’t indulge her and kicked the meat Aunt Zhang was pushing inside out.

“Ow,” Aunt Zhang rolled on the doorstep, “It’s me, it’s me.”

“You were the one I kicked.”

Yu Xifeng feigned shock.

“Oh Aunt Zhang, it’s you. I thought it was some thief coming in without so much as a greeting—sorry about that.”