Chapter 37: Slacking Off

Leng You: “…”

She sauntered around Xiang Wentian with a completely nonchalant attitude until he couldn’t stand it anymore and grabbed her, pressing her onto the kang (heated bed).

When Xiang Huaixin and Bai Changpu saw her, their smiles were a little unnatural as they showered her with excessive praise, saying that Grandma Wen was incredibly skillful and had dressed her adorably and festively.

Leng You: “…”

She maintained her nonchalant demeanor, not refuting the two elders’ aesthetic judgment, simply accepting their compliments at face value.

The customs of Daheishan Village were similar to most places in the north, with a relatively simpler New Year’s breakfast.

Wen Jiuyue made rice, stewed pork with vermicelli, and vinegar-braised mung bean sprouts.

These seemingly simple dishes were of a higher standard than those served during previous New Year’s celebrations.

Everyone ate with great joy.

After the meal, despite Wen Jiuyue’s objections, Xiang Huaixin and Bai Changpu went down to the foot of the mountain to collect stones.

They had already gathered enough stones for the house, and these days they were collecting stone slabs for the floor. The distance to the county was too far, making transportation a major problem, so they couldn’t consider using bricks for the flooring and building.

Leng You and Xiang Wentian weren’t allowed to help at home, so they went to the deep valley again.

By lunchtime, everyone returned to Wen Jiuyue’s house.

Regardless of their circumstances, it was New Year’s, so Xiang Huaixin and Bai Changpu changed into the new clothes Wen Jiuyue had made for them.

They both wore newly made thick cotton-padded jackets and trousers underneath, with Zhongshan suits over them. However, the colors were different; Xiang Huaixin wore a dark gray Dacron suit, while Bai Changpu wore a dark blue one.

They wore the five-toe cotton shoes Leng You and the others had bought from the county town (Leng You couldn’t bear to see Wen Jiuyue working late into the night, so she bought them), with rubber soles for better grip.

Each person also wore a “sheepskin” coat, also made by Wen Jiuyue, which was warm and stylish.

Leng You urged Xiang Wentian to change into new clothes as well.

Like the others, with ample materials, Wen Jiuyue had made a complete set of clothes for Xiang Wentian, inside and out.

He wore a close-fitting cotton-padded jacket and trousers, a dark green thick corduroy Zhongshan suit, deer-skin lined cotton shoes Leng You had insisted on buying him in the county town, and his army coat over it all.

When Xiang Wentian appeared before Leng You in his new clothes, she was momentarily stunned. She seemed to see the cold and stern Mr. Xiang from twenty years later, traveling through time.

“What are you spacing out for?” His forehead received a light tap, followed by a large hand gently massaging her temples. Leng You snapped back to reality.

However, her gaze remained fixed on the young Xiang Wentian.

In her past life, she had been completely awestruck by Mr. Xiang’s ruthlessness, mystery, and power, a feeling only intensified by their final meeting before her death.

Although the beginning of this life had changed, perhaps the feelings of her past life would remain twenty years later, but they would certainly be accompanied by an undeniable air of majesty, bearing, and unparalleled handsomeness—a face as beautiful as a painting…

Even though he was only fifteen years old now.

The New Year’s lunch was the highlight of the year.

Braised pork knuckle, spicy wild chicken, four-joy meatballs, braised large grass carp, soy-braised roe deer meat, fried quail, spicy rabbit head, half a chicken stewed with potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, sauerkraut and pork stew with frozen tofu, and seaweed egg drop soup—ten dishes and one soup.

The staple was another of Wen Jiuyue’s specialties—steamed stuffed buns.

Everyone waited for Wen Jiuyue, sitting down together only after all the dishes were on the table.

Xiang Wentian poured Xiang Huaixin and Bai Changpu each a glass of the old baijiu (white liquor) he and Leng You had bought from the county town, while Leng You poured Wen Jiuyue a glass of red wine (at that time, the county town didn’t have much dry red or white wine).

Leng You and Xiang Wentian each had a glass of orange juice.

“On such a joyous occasion, Brother Xiang, you should say a few words.” The smell of alcohol had already made Bai Changpu’s mouth water, so he urged them as soon as they sat down.

“Say a few words?” He hadn’t had such a formal occasion in many years, and Xiang Huaixin wasn’t used to it.

“Brother Xiang, please say a few words!” Wen Jiuyue’s face was full of sincerity and respect.

“Alright, then I’ll say a few words.

We’ve been in Daheishan Village for many years, and this past month has been the happiest time of my life, and I believe the same is true for Lao Bai.

And this is mainly thanks to You girl. And also thanks to Wen Jiajie (Wen girl), thanks to your care, as Lao Bai said, we not only eat our fill, but also eat well, and we can also keep warm.

We, me and Lao Bai, will remember this kindness.

Of course, my son Wentian also deserves some credit.

But for now, our most important task is to get You girl back from the Leng family as quickly and safely as possible.

Although things are progressing according to our plan, everything is still a variable until we achieve our goal, and we must be extremely cautious.

Another important thing is building a house for Wen Jiajie and You girl.

All the necessary stones are ready, Wentian said he will cut down dry dead trees from the valley and transport them here, so we don’t have to worry about the wood being too wet and unusable.

We’ll start work as soon as the thaw begins. The village is currently plagued by ‘ghosts,’ and these ‘ghosts’ are closely related to us, so the villagers dare not approach us.

Even if one day they suddenly discover the new house, they’ll run away, thinking it’s a haunted house.

In any case, time is pressing, and everything must be expedited.”

Xiang Huaixin’s words implied more than he said.

Leng You’s eyes flickered, but she didn’t speak.

However, she understood. It seemed that Xiang Huaixin and Bai Changpu’s return to Pingdu within the year would proceed as in her past life, and they must have received news from Xiang Wentian.

As for how Xiang Wentian obtained such precise information, Leng You didn’t express any surprise or doubt. Xiang Wentian’s abilities had far exceeded her imagination.

She dared not imagine what Xiang Wentian would be like twenty years later in this life, whether he would be even more terrifying and unfathomable than in her previous life.

Wen Jiuyue certainly couldn’t understand the deeper meaning in Xiang Huaixin’s words, only taking it as his concern and anxiety for Leng You and their future life.

“According to the plan, the Leng family should be contacting us soon.” Bai Changpu’s face showed a childlike excitement and a mischievous smile.

“Ah? Contacting us? Are they going to take Youyou back?” Wen Jiuyue’s hand trembled, and her face turned pale.

“Sister Wen, don’t be afraid, it’s good news. The sooner they contact us, the sooner we can get little Youyou back.” Bai Changpu quickly comforted her.

“Is there something I don’t know?” Wen Jiuyue finally sensed something was wrong.