Chapter 18.1

Qin Qingman’s home didn’t have a stable, but there was a storage shed in the yard.

The shed, used for farming tools and firewood, could be tidied up to make space for a horse.

After some clearing, the horse was tied in the shed, and the wild boar strapped to its back was unloaded.

The weather was cold, so even though the boar had been dead for half a day, it looked as fresh as if it had just been killed.

Chuchu only realized that the horse had been carrying a wild boar when Wei Ling unloaded it.

Seeing the boar’s shattered skull left the child both shocked and panicked, clutching tightly to Qin Qingman’s hand and refusing to let go.

Wherever Qin Qingman went, Chuchu followed closely.

With a child clinging to her side, Qin Qingman couldn’t fulfill her responsibilities as the head of the household and had to direct Wei Ling to do the work himself.

A few minutes later, lights were glowing in the Qin family’s main hall.

They were kerosene lamps.

Kaoshan Village had power lines and electricity, but the heavy snowfall in winter overloaded the wires, causing them to fail.

As a result, every household in the village had to rely on kerosene lamps. Though dimmer, the lamps filled the room with a warm, homely glow.

Qin Qingman told Wei Ling to leave the wild boar in the courtyard and then quickly called him inside.

Carrying a three-hundred-pound wild boar all the way had left Wei Ling’s inner clothes soaked with sweat.

With nightfall, the temperature dropped sharply, and if he didn’t wash up quickly, he’d surely catch a cold.

When Wei Ling entered the main hall, Qin Qingman had already prepared a basin of warm water and brought it into the east room.

The east room had belonged to her parents and hadn’t been used in a long time, but frequent cleaning kept it both tidy and dry.

Chuchu had just lit the fire under the brick bed, and the warmth spread quickly, raising the room’s temperature to a cozy level.

For someone like Wei Ling, with his robust constitution, the room’s warmth was more than enough.

“Comrade Wei.” Qin Qingman instructed, “wipe off your sweat and change clothes. There’s an old shirt on the bed, it was my father’s. I hope you don’t mind—just make do with it. It’s late, and I’ll go make dinner. We can talk after we’ve eaten.”

Her gaze wavered as she spoke, avoiding eye contact with Wei Ling.

The reason for her unease was simple: she’d borrowed his identity to solve her own troubles without consulting him.

In truth, she was making things difficult for him and showing a lack of respect. Feeling guilty, she was doing her best to make up for it now.

Wei Ling looked at Qin Qingman in silence for a long moment, until her face flushed deeper under his steady gaze. Finally, he nodded and said, “Alright.”

That one word conveyed his acceptance.

Seeing that Wei Ling wasn’t upset, Qin Qingman exhaled in relief, then left the room, quietly closing the door behind her.

The east room, though absent of Qin Qingman, didn’t feel empty.

Wei Ling glanced at the basin of steaming water, reaching out to test its warmth. It felt like spring sunlight on his skin.

He took off his outer coat and peeled off the inner clothing, which had long turned cold. As he wiped down his body with the warm towel, a wide smile spread across his face. He noticed that the towel was new, unused.

He quickly and thoroughly wiped down, then reached for the shirt on the bed and put it on.

Though it hadn’t been worn in a long time, the shirt was clean and carried a gentle warmth.

Five minutes later, Wei Ling, now dressed in the shirt, opened the door and stepped out carrying the basin of water. As soon as he opened the door, he caught a rich, savory aroma—it was the smell of mushrooms cooking.

By the stove, Qin Qingman was preparing a pot of rice with scallion oil and mushrooms, with Chuchu helping her. The scent was intensely appetizing.

Hearing the door, the siblings turned their gaze toward him at the same time.

As they caught sight of Wei Ling in the shirt, Qin Qingman’s face flushed, and she quickly looked away.

Wei Ling was already tall and well-built, and now, wearing only the shirt, his physique stood out starkly.

Her father had been a large man as well, but compared to Wei Ling, he still fell short by a margin.

The shirt, slightly small for Wei Ling, accentuated his form in a way that made his build clear.

With her face burning, Qin Qingman dared not look at him again.

Wei Ling’s physique was something she’d only seen in top models of the modern world. She was afraid that if she looked any longer, she wouldn’t be able to look away.

After all, even a girl could appreciate eye-catching beauty and feel drawn to it.

“Comrade Qin, may I use this water to wash my clothes?” Wei Ling asked.

He hadn’t intended to discard the water in the basin yet. Since it had only been used for a quick rinse, it was still clean enough for washing his sweat-soaked inner clothes.

In the Northeastern winter, water was a precious resource.

With the rivers covered in thick ice, water had to come from wells, melted snow, or ice chipping. Qin Qingman’s family was relatively fortunate to have a well right outside the kitchen, a treasured legacy from her parents.

Thanks to this convenience, as long as they had enough firewood, the Qin family could manage to bathe every few days. Otherwise, they would be like some families in the village, going weeks without a bath.

When she heard Wei Ling’s intention, Qin Qingman hesitated for a few seconds, then stopped him. “Comrade Wei, we have a well, so water is easy to get. Go ahead and pour that out, and draw some fresh water for washing.”

Used water, no matter how clean, was never as good as fresh.

“Alright.”

Wei Ling was easygoing by nature. Hearing that water was readily available in Qin Qingman’s household, he obediently went outside and poured the water at the door.

The moment he threw the water out, it froze almost instantly.

Under Qin Qingman’s instruction, Chuchu took Wei Ling to the well, guiding him through the hall and then into the kitchen.

Outside the kitchen was a well with a lid on it. When they lifted the cover, a faint white mist drifted upward.

It was beautiful. During the day, sunlight would cause the mist to refract into a rainbow of colors.

“Brother, aren’t you cold?” Chuchu asked, setting down the kettle he had brought. It was filled with hot water, prepared for Wei Ling to wash his clothes.

“No, not cold at all.”

Wei Ling efficiently drew water from the well and poured it into the basin. Exposed to the cold air, the well water’s temperature gradually dropped—not enough to freeze yet, but noticeably cooler than when he’d first drawn it.

He didn’t add any hot water, instead soaking his sweaty inner clothes directly in the cold basin and beginning to scrub them.

“Brother, here, use this soapberry soap!” Chuchu said, handing Wei Ling the essential soap for washing clothes.

Fascinated by Wei Ling, Chuchu squatted beside him, not returning to the hall. He even considered pouring some hot water from the kettle into Wei Ling’s basin to warm it up.

“No need for hot water; I’m not cold.” Wei Ling said, noticing the weight of the large kettle Chuchu was trying to lift and quickly stopping him.

“Are you ‘really’ not cold?” Chuchu asked, watching Wei Ling scrub his clothes with a wrinkled brow. In winter, Chuchu never dared to wash anything with cold water, which felt so icy it could peel the skin from his hands.

Amused by the child’s expression, Wei Ling patiently explained, “We train in the snow every day, so we’re used to it. A bit of cold water isn’t chilly for us as long as we don’t stay in it for too long.”

It was rare for the normally quiet Wei Ling to say so many words at once.

“You’re amazing, Brother!” Chuchu’s eyes filled with admiration as he listened to how Wei Ling and his comrades trained in the snow every day.

It was quite remarkable. Though once timid like the former head of the household, Chuchu’s courage had been growing.

Ever since Qin Qingman had confidently reclaimed some of the supplies owed to them by her aunts, Chuchu had become noticeably bolder. And with the company of two geese, he’d grown even braver.

Now he was talking to Wei Ling, a stranger he’d only just met, with ease.

As Wei Ling continued washing, he listened to the child’s chatter, learning quite a bit about the Qin family’s situation.

Within a few minutes, he understood the basics of their household.

When he heard how Qin Qingman’s aunts often bullied both her and Chuchu, his expression darkened.

It made sense why Qin Qingman had dealt with Liu Hechang so directly earlier.

Wei Ling was not a stickler for conventional rules, and the extreme contrast in Qin Qingman’s character only drew him in more.

From their first encounter at the state-owned restaurant in town, he’d sensed that Qin Qingman was not as frail as she appeared.

Meeting her again in the mountains, he’d been impressed to see her calm determination in fleeing for her life.

“What are you two whispering about out there? Are you done yet? Come inside—dinner’s ready!” Qin Qingman’s voice called out from the hall.

She had been cooking and preparing dishes in the main room, initially intending to check if Chuchu had been bullied while she was out.

But when he disappeared after fetching hot water, she finally opened the window and called toward the kitchen.

“Coming!”

Wei Ling and Chuchu exchanged a glance, then hurried to finish up.

Wei Ling was almost done washing his one damp undershirt, and after calling back to Qin Qingman, he quickly wrung it out.

He replaced the well cover and picked up the kettle, following Chuchu back into the hall.

The moment he entered, he was greeted by the warm, cozy atmosphere inside.

And a wonderful aroma.

Qin Qingman had finished cooking. She had made scallion-oil-infused rice with mushrooms, along with a simple stir-fry of garlic sprouts and pickled cabbage, another with bean sprouts, and a simmered radish soup.

It was a modest three-dish meal with a soup, but for the winter season in the Northeast, where snow blocked the mountains and vegetables were a rare luxury, it was nearly a feast.

“Comrade Wei, I’m sorry for the limited food. I hope you don’t mind.” Qin Qingman said, not offering flowery words of thanks to the man who’d saved her life.

Instead, she’d brought out the best food she had as hospitality. Though simple, she’d prepared the meal with care.

The fragrant rice cooked with scallion oil and mushrooms was especially inviting.

When she lifted the lid, a rich, savory aroma filled the room, making Wei Ling’s Adam’s apple shift slightly as he swallowed in anticipation.

“Thank you.” Wei Ling said, as he took the bowl of rice Qin Qingman handed him, feeling reluctant to take even the first bite.

The rice, glistening from the infused scallion oil, was almost translucent, shining temptingly in the dim light. Shredded wild hazel mushrooms were mixed throughout the rice, their rich aroma blending seamlessly with the fragrance of the grains, making the bowl look like a perfectly crafted work of art.

“Comrade Wei, it’s best eaten warm. Don’t worry; there’s plenty more in the pot.” Qin Qingman encouraged him, knowing Wei Ling’s appetite and having prepared extra for dinner to ensure he’d be satisfied.

“Alright.” he replied with a nod, not at all bothered by the special attention. He took a mouthful of the rice, savoring its flavors.

As he had anticipated, it was delicious—richly fragrant without being overly greasy, perfectly balanced in texture, neither too hard nor too soft. The rice instantly won him over, and a look of contentment crossed his face as he squinted his eyes slightly.

While Wei Ling, raised in the esteemed surroundings of a noble family, maintained a dignified composure before this feast, young Chuchu, born and bred in the countryside, had no such reservations.

Never having tasted such a delicious meal, Chuchu couldn’t even stop to speak; he simply buried his head in the bowl, wolfing down the rice. If not for Qin Qingman occasionally offering him bites of vegetables, he might have devoured two whole bowls of rice alone.

By the end of the meal, everyone was thoroughly content.

Chuchu sprawled on his chair, patting his full belly with a satisfied sigh.

The food had been so good that not only was the entire pot of rice emptied, but even the remaining sauces on the plates were scraped clean.

As Qin Qingman quietly cleared the dishes, she glanced discreetly at Wei Ling, noticing with surprise that he hadn’t overfilled himself despite the generous portions. At lunch, he had eaten quite a bit, and she had prepared extra dinner accordingly, but somehow, they had still managed to finish it all.

Wei Ling’s senses were sharp, and he caught Qin Qingman’s supposedly subtle glance in an instant.

A hint of redness crept onto his usually calm face.

His appetite was rarely this large, but after carrying a wild boar all day, he had been quite hungry.

Plus, Qin Qingman’s cooking was exceptionally good, and he hadn’t realized he’d eaten so much until it was all gone.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Wei Ling stood up and joined her in tidying up.

Having spent time in the military, both in his previous and current life, he held no antiquated views about household chores; he believed in shared responsibilities.

Qin Qingman, busy washing dishes, didn’t stop Wei Ling from helping.

During a break, she glanced at Chuchu, who was dozing off contentedly, and softly murmured, “Comrade Wei, I apologize. I acted on my own today. I used your identity without asking first. It was presumptuous of me, and it may have affected your reputation. I’m sorry.”

Her apology was sincere.

Wei Ling didn’t respond right away, his silence stretching out just long enough to make Qin Qingman’s expression tighten with worry. Then he finally spoke. “Was that man your aunt’s idea of a suitor?”

Their first meeting at the State-Owned Restaurant had been purely by chance, but it had given them both some insight into each other’s situations.

Qin Qingman didn’t feel offended by his straightforward question. Instead, she answered without hesitation, “Yes, he’s exactly the sort of man my aunts want to match me with. None of them are decent, all of them make me sick.”

Since she’d dared to kick Liu Hechang in Wei Ling’s presence earlier, she had no intention of pretending to be a meek or delicate lady now.

And in any case, she wasn’t that kind of woman.

In the household, there were only a few people eating, so there weren’t many used dishes.

While Qin Qingman and Wei Ling exchanged a few words, the dishes were already washed, cleaned, and neatly arranged.

Qin Qingman even poured warm water for them to wash their hands.

The soap-lathered hands were quickly cleansed in the warm water, leaving a faint, fresh scent of soap behind.

Wei Ling accepted the towel Qin Qingman handed over to dry his hands. Then, he took out a photo from his pocket and handed it over.

Looking at the photo he passed over, Qin Qingman took a moment to recall where the picture came from.

The photo was not very clear, and the distance made the figures appear a bit blurred. No wonder Qin Caiyun had been lured by Liu Hechang; the photo only revealed less than half of Qin Qingman’s appearance.

Qin Qingman took the photo without hesitation and threw it directly into the furnace.

“This photo was taken when I graduated from high school. It was originally intended as an ID photo for exams, but the photographer had some issues, so it didn’t turn out well. They gave it to me, and I kept it tucked in a book. When my parents passed away, the house was chaotic, and many things got lost. I didn’t expect that someone with ulterior motives would hide this photo away.” she explained while the flames licked the edges of the picture.

Gradually, the photo, along with the person captured within it, faded away to nothing.

The photo held little emotional significance for Qin Qingman since the person in the photo didn’t feel like her. Moreover, it had been in Liu Hechang’s possession for a time, which only made her feel disgusted.

Thinking about Liu Hechang’s lecherous, unpleasant face made Qin Qingman feel like her hands were dirty from touching the photo.

She hurriedly poured more water to wash her hands again.

After washing, she looked at Wei Ling.

Wei Ling quietly stepped forward and obediently washed his hands once more. When he finished, he hesitated for a few seconds before asking, “Should I wash my pants too?” His question was genuine, as he could clearly see how repulsed Qin Qingman was by anything related to Liu Hechang.

Unfortunately, that photo had been in his pocket earlier.

When she heard Wei Ling’s question, it was Qin Qingman’s turn to go silent, a slight blush coloring her face.

Turning her head slightly, she asked in a soft voice, “Are you going back to the military camp today?”

If he was returning, there was no need to wash his pants; if not, it might be better to wash them after all.

Anyway, the fire in the living room was warm enough, and if the pants were dried overnight, they’d definitely be ready by morning.

Wei Ling’s eyes lit up a bit, and he spoke a little faster, “I’m on leave these days, so I don’t need to return to the military camp.” After all, such a large wild boar—Qin Qingman wouldn’t be able to handle it alone without his help.

“Then… then wash them. I… I’ll go find some pants for you.”

The embarrassed Qin Qingman, with a slightly flushed face, quickly finished her sentence and went back into the east room.

The east room’s heated kang bed was burning well, warming up quickly until the temperature nearly matched that of the main room.

In under a minute, Qin Qingman found an old set of clothes that had once belonged to her father.

The clothes were not new but rather worn, washed to the point of fading. Some areas were patched over and over due to frequent use. Instead of discarding them, the original owner had kept them as a memento.

At the moment, this was the only set in the house that might fit Wei Ling, so Qin Qingman had no choice but to bring it out.

In truth, there was a bit of personal intention behind her choice of this outfit.

She understood the underlying message in Wei Ling’s words; he wouldn’t be leaving tonight. He would even stay to help with the wild boar.

Just the thought of such a large boar made Qin Qingman’s mind flash with images of delicious foods: sweet and sour ribs, steamed pork, braised pork with preserved vegetables, stewed pork trotters, marinated intestines, sausages, smoked meat…

Lost in her thoughts of food, she even swallowed a bit of drool.

Calmly, Qin Qingman wiped the corner of her mouth.

It wasn’t her fault for craving meat; in these times, eating pork was indeed a rare luxury.

Qin Qingman assumed her little movements in the east room went unnoticed.

However, she didn’t realize that Wei Ling, who had practiced martial arts from a young age, had exceptionally sharp senses.

He heard the faint sound of her swallowing from where he stood in the main room.

After spending a year in this era, Wei Ling had not only learned its history but also experienced its hardships.

In his previous life, although guarding the border was challenging, he still had money and could eat meat regularly. But in this era, even clothing required fabric ration tickets, and food—especially meat—was rationed too.

Sometimes, even with money, it was impossible to buy supplies.

Fully aware of the hardships of the era, Wei Ling understood why Qin Qingman craved meat. It wasn’t just her; he craved it as well. Disciplined as he was, even when he hunted in the mountains, he would bring his catch back to the military camp rather than keep it for himself.

Yet the cook’s skills in the camp mess hall truly ruined the game he worked so hard to bring in.

Just as Wei Ling was recalling Qin Qingman’s culinary skills, Qin Qingman reappeared from the east room, her mood composed, holding the clothes. They were winter wear and looked quite sturdy.

“Comrade Wei, put on these clothes.” she said.

Truthfully, Qin Qingman felt a bit cold just watching Wei Ling go in and out with only a shirt on in the middle of winter. After all, this era had no central heating, and being prone to the cold herself, she felt cold on his behalf.

Facing the clothes Qin Qingman handed him, Wei Ling accepted them with satisfaction and gratitude. Taking the clothes, he went into the east room to change without hesitation.

—o—o—o—