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Xishan Village, Lin Family.
Madam Li had begun making new clothes. The children’s old clothes had been stuffed with cotton and were already being worn. At this moment, she was guiding Wanqing and her sister in sewing.
Wanqing wasn’t interested in needlework and used the excuse of going to the kitchen to prepare food to sneak away.
Now that the family had flour and eggs, Wanqing started thinking about making some pastries. She didn’t bother with anything too complicated—just some simple cookies and snacks.
A few days ago, she had asked Lin Heng to build an oven, based on a design she had seen from a video blogger in her past life. Whether it would work or not, she wasn’t sure, but today, she was going to test it.
She mixed flour, sugar, and eggs evenly, used the bottom of a bowl to shape them into round pieces, and placed them on an iron plate. Then she heated the oven, removed the firewood, and placed the iron plate inside. After a few trials, the fragrant cookies were ready.
With this experience, Wanqing thought that in the future, she could try baking bread, roasting chicken, or even roasting a pig’s head.
At that moment, Lin Heng was working in the fields. The land nearby had already been cleared, and by next spring, they could start growing vegetables.
Zhiwen and his brothers were helping nearby. Seeing the smoke rising from the kitchen, Zhìqīn and Zhiyuan couldn’t resist running home.
Before they even reached the door, they caught a whiff of the delicious aroma. Their stomachs were already growling.
“What did Second Sister make this time? It smells amazing!”
Entering the courtyard, they saw Wanqing busy beside the oven. A bamboo basket full of pastries sat on a nearby bench, the source of the enticing fragrance.
“Sis, what’s this?”
Seeing her two younger brothers return, Wanqing introduced them to her creation. “Cookies. Try some.”
Zhìqīn and Zhiyuan each grabbed a cookie and took a bite.
Crunch!
Crispy and delicious! The flavor was incredible.
Wanqing shrugged—this was nothing special.
Flour, sugar, and eggs made the simplest combination. If only she had milk and sesame seeds, then she could really show them what perfection tasted like.
While the cookies were still warm, Wanqing shared them with Madam Li and Wanru. Wanru was particularly interested in pastries and asked Wanqing how to make them, wanting to learn herself. Wanqing was more than happy to teach her—if Wanru mastered it, she wouldn’t have to do all the work herself.
The days passed by in a cycle of eating and relaxing.
Without weekends like in her past life and no need to go to work, Wanqing had lost track of time. It wasn’t until Madam Li mentioned that the New Year was approaching that Wanqing was startled—was it really almost New Year already?
“Qing’er, are you looking forward to the New Year?”
Lately, Hehua had been spending all her time with Wanru. The two girls worked on needlework together, exchanging embroidery patterns and growing as close as real sisters.
Even Wanqing felt a little jealous.
Seeing Hehua tease her, Wanqing retorted, “Sister Hehua, you say that as if you’re not looking forward to the New Year.”
“Of course, I am! New clothes, delicious food, visiting relatives, and playing with everyone—it’s so much fun!” Hehua said, full of excitement.
“I like the New Year too,” Wanqing said, reminiscing about the lively celebrations in her past life. She was eager to experience how the New Year was celebrated in this era.
Just then, Zhiwen knocked on the door.
“I’m going up the mountain with Hǔzi. Do you guys want to come?”
“Yes! Wait for me!”
Wanqing thought that staying idle every day wasn’t great. Before the real cold set in, she might as well get some exercise.
She stretched a little, wrapped a piece of cloth around her head, and followed Zhiwen out.
At the foot of the mountain, Wanqing grew impatient with how slowly her brothers were walking. She announced that she would go ahead and then dashed up the slope.
Hǔzi turned to Zhiwen and commented, “Qing’er’s body is really getting stronger. She moves like a monkey, even faster than us.”
Reaching halfway up the mountain, Wanqing waved her headscarf and called out, “Big Brother—I’m here!”
“Oh—I see you!” Zhiwen shouted back.
Wanqing sat on the mountainside, enjoying the view while waiting for them to catch up.
Once they arrived, they headed to check the traps they had set for wild rabbits.
Meanwhile, Wanqing wandered off alone to search for winter mushrooms.
She made her way into a pine forest, searching as she walked.
Suddenly, she saw a pair of feet ahead.
Startled, she almost screamed.
Looking around quickly, she noticed that there was no movement nearby.
Cautiously, she stepped closer.
It was a young man, fair-skinned and dressed in a dark brocade robe, with black boots on his feet. His complexion was pale, and he was hunched over.
There were no visible wounds or blood on his body.
What happened to him?
Wanqing circled around the man, hesitating before placing her hand near his nose.
His breathing was weak, but he was still alive.
What was he doing here alone in Daxi Mountain? It didn’t seem like he was being hunted.
Wanqing ran through all the TV shows and novels she had seen in her past life but couldn’t think of a reason.
She sat down and observed the man.
Noticing his Adam’s apple move slightly and his lips chapped and dry, she had a thought.
Thirsty? He needs water?
Glancing around to confirm she was alone, Wanqing released a small drop of her spiritual spring water, letting it drip from her fingertips into the man’s mouth.
At this moment, Lu Jin felt as though he were trapped in an ice cellar, his entire body frozen to the core.
Then, suddenly, a single drop of sweet dew fell from the heavens.
It entered his mouth, traveled down his throat, and seeped into his chest.
The warm spring water flowed through him like a gentle stream, soothing his internal organs and dispelling some of the bone-chilling cold. The unbearable cold subsided slightly.
Wanqing thought a few drops to moisten his lips would be enough, but to her surprise, the man instinctively swallowed nonstop.
Her hand was getting sore. What was with this guy?