Zhou Song’s house renovations had begun. He moved everything usable over to Lin Erzhu’s place, while anything beyond repair was thrown out—after all, most of it would be replaced with new things once he got married. Since his house was unlivable during this period, Lin Erzhu and Aunt Qian suggested he stay with them. However, given that Liu Fang was around, it felt inappropriate for an outsider like him to stay. Instead, like others in the village who built homes, he set up a temporary straw shelter nearby. It was a bit basic, but it’d only be for ten days or so. Since it wasn’t winter and he was a strong guy, he figured he’d manage just fine.

The workers were all from the village, so he decided not to trouble himself with meals for them; they could go home to eat, and he’d just pay them a bit extra each day to save on the hassle.

As for furniture, Zhou Song went to the town to order custom pieces from a craftsman. While pricier than local options, the craftsmanship and materials were superior. Such items would be in use for decades, so spending a bit more wasn’t wasteful.

And there was more good news: Shen Qingzhu had finally found the land he wanted to buy.

It belonged to an elderly couple from a neighboring village. Their daughter was married far away, and their son lived in town, where he managed a business. For years, their son had urged them to sell the land and join him in town, but they’d refused. Having tilled the land their whole lives, they saw it as their lifeline and greatest security and couldn’t imagine selling it. Their son, knowing how stubborn his parents were, hadn’t pushed them further.

This year, however, he’d finally managed to convince them to sell off two acres near Qi Shan Village, hoping they’d have less backbreaking work. They weren’t short on money; they just wanted enough crops to sustain themselves.

Although it was only two acres, Shen Qingzhu and Wu Lanshu were thrilled.

They weren’t the only ones interested in buying land in the village, but the village chief prioritized them. After all, they’d just arrived and had no land of their own, which even worried the village chief a bit.

Although Shen Qingzhu was going to marry Zhou Song, Wu Lanshu still needed to support herself, and having land offered some security.

Zhou Song accompanied them to check out the land. The elderly couple had cared for their fields meticulously, and the two acres were in great condition, ready for planting in spring with no need for extra upkeep.

Satisfied, Wu Lanshu sealed the deal with the village chief and planned to finalize the paperwork in town the next day.

Seeing them buy land, Zhou Song got to thinking—maybe he should buy a cow.

Before, he hadn’t bothered since he could easily manage a few acres himself. His strength was above average, and he could plow a few acres without issue.

But once he married Shen Qingzhu, he didn’t want him working in the fields. Zhou Song couldn’t bear the thought of Kun Ze’s soft, fair hands wielding a hoe.

He still remembered how a few swings of the sickle had left his hands red and sore.

A cow would give him a good reason to keep Shen Qingzhu out of the fields. If Shen Qingzhu wanted to come along, he could just help with spreading seeds, which wouldn’t take much effort.

The next day, while Shen Qingzhu and the others went to town to complete the land transfer, Zhou Song accompanied them and went to the livestock market while they handled their business.

After some looking, he chose a young yellow cow that was not yet fully grown. With a few months of care, it’d be ready for spring plowing. Since it wasn’t fully mature, the cow was cheaper at seven taels. Usually, a full-grown cow would cost eight or nine taels, with some going as high as ten.

For a farming family, buying a cow was a hefty expense, often requiring years of savings. In the entire Qi Shan Village, only the Lin family owned a cow.

It wasn’t that people couldn’t afford it, but buying a cow often left little money for other needs. Families with many sons also had to consider wedding costs, making every penny precious.

After buying the cow, Zhou Song went to the nearby street to buy a few boxes of pastries. One was for Shen Qingzhu, another for Aunt Qian, who had helped out a lot with his house renovations, and the last for the village chief, who had gone out of his way to help them buy land.

Since they didn’t plan on buying much, their main purpose in town was to transfer the property. Afterward, Shen Qingzhu initially wanted to treat the village chief to a meal, but the chief declined with a wave, saying he’d hold him to it at their wedding instead.

With little choice, Shen Qingzhu asked Aunt Wu to buy some tea leaves as a gesture of thanks.

When they all met at the carriage, Zhou Song stood with his new yellow cow. The village chief chuckled, “Well, Shen Qingzhu just bought some land, and Zhou Song’s already gone and bought a cow!”

His tone was playful, and Zhou Song smiled shyly, lifting the box of pastries. “Didn’t forget your help, Chief.”

“You’re a clever one!” the village chief laughed, nodding at Zhou Song. “Tea and pastries—perfect pair.”

The double meaning made Zhou Song’s ears turn red, while Shen Qingzhu only smiled warmly.

They grabbed a bite at a noodle shop before returning to the village, first dropping off the chief. Zhou Song then pulled up in front of the Shen house, with the yellow cow obediently following along.

He hopped down, helping the others off, and asked Wu Lanshu, “Could I trouble you to look after the cow for a few days? Once my place is done, I’ll take it back.”

Although Aunt Qian’s house was closer and had space for animals, Zhou Song had already stored most of his belongings and chickens there. With Liu Fang being pregnant, he didn’t want to add more work.

The Shen house was relatively quiet; aside from a few chickens raised recently to provide eggs for Shen Qingzhu, there wasn’t much else to tend to.

Besides, Zhou Song wanted to grow closer to them since they’d be family soon and should visit more.

“Of course,” Wu Lanshu readily agreed. “Leave it here, and I’ll make sure it’s well cared for.”

“Alright, then I’ll head back and see how the work’s going,” Zhou Song replied, not wanting to linger. The workers were busy adding on the extra rooms, with plans for final touches after, and he wanted to supervise to ensure everything went as planned.

Wu Lanshu knew he was busy and didn’t insist on keeping him, telling him to ask if he needed anything.

Zhou Song agreed, then glanced at Shen Qingzhu. “I’ll head off, then.”

Shen Qingzhu smiled and nodded.

Even though he felt reluctant, the thought of marrying Shen Qingzhu in two months filled him with energy, and he strode off with renewed purpose.

Watching him leave, Wu Lanshu remarked, “Zhou seems different lately. He’s not as silent as when we first arrived in the village; he even bantered with the chief earlier.”

Shen Qingzhu watched his figure disappear down the path, his eyes curving with a smile. “That’s good. It shows he has more to look forward to in life.”

When Zhou Song returned, the workers were still bustling away. Even in the chill of late autumn, some of them had stripped down to the waist.

Seeing that things were in order, he headed to Lin Erzhu’s place, dropping off the pastries he’d bought.

Liu Fang had been uncomfortable lately, finding it hard to sit or lie down, so Lin Erzhu had taken her out for a walk to lift her spirits and wasn’t home.

Aunt Qian scolded him for wasting money, but he brushed it off, saying it wasn’t much. After leaving the pastries, he returned home and tidied up his temporary shelter, organizing the few items he’d stored there.

Afterward, he helped with the construction, lending a hand where he could, carrying bricks, fetching supplies, and reviewing the blueprints with the foreman.

Aside from the new rooms, he planned to replace the old latrine in the backyard with a larger, brick-built one. He also wanted a cow shed. Although he could build it himself, it made sense to do it now along with the house.

The front yard would be paved to prevent mud when it rained. While he didn’t mind, he didn’t want Shen Qingzhu stepping in mud. The backyard would only have a few paths paved, leaving the rest as soil for planting or livestock.

As dusk settled and the work stopped, Zhou Song washed his hands and face, realizing he was hungry.

He’d set up a small outdoor stove near the shelter where he could make simple meals. Although Aunt Qian had insisted he join them for meals, he’d refused, not wanting to impose for the two weeks it’d take to finish the renovations.

As he poured out his wash water, he saw a faint light approaching from the corner of his eye. Squinting, he realized someone was coming with a lantern and recognized the familiar silhouette.

“Qingzhu?” he called hesitantly.

The figure came closer, and the lantern light illuminated Shen Qingzhu’s face. “It’s me.”

Zhou Song rushed over and took the basket Shen Qingzhu was carrying, feeling its weight. “It’s almost dark; what are you doing here?”

Shen Qingzhu pointed to the basket. “Aunt Wu made lard pancakes and thought it might be difficult for you to cook, so she asked me to bring you some.”

Seeing Zhou Song’s lingering disapproval, he added, “Don’t worry. I took the main road. There are houses nearby, and if anything happened, someone would hear.”

Relieved, Zhou Song led him into the shelter and placed the basket on the small table, quickly lighting an oil lamp. Thankfully, he’d tidied up, so it was in decent shape.

Shen Qingzhu looked around, noting the shelter’s simplicity and the draft that let in a bit of wind. “Isn’t it cold here at night?”

“No, I run warm,” Zhou Song answered, then turned to look at him. “Are you cold?”

Shen Qingzhu chuckled, gesturing to his outfit. “Do I look cold?”

The autumn nights were chilly, and Wu Lanshu had layered him in multiple layers and draped him in a thick cloak. His hands and feet were warm.

Satisfied, Zhou Song looked around, noticing he only had two wobbly stools. He walked to the bed, smoothed out the covers, and said a little awkwardly, “How about you sit here?”

Shen Qingzhu nodded, placing the lantern aside and sitting on the bed. He checked the blanket’s thickness and said, “Eat before it gets cold.”

Zhou Song, his face slightly flushed, sat on the stool by the table. Lifting the cloth covering the basket, he was greeted by the delicious smell of lard pancakes, making his empty stomach rumble.

Wu Lanshu had packed ten pancakes, knowing his appetite. The pancakes were filled with juicy minced pork, and she’d included a side of carrot salad and a bowl of egg-drop soup.

The pancakes were deliciously fragrant, and Zhou Song devoured one in a few bites. He followed it with a bite of carrot salad and a large sip of soup, feeling deeply satisfied.

Seeing him eat so happily, Shen Qingzhu’s eyes curved into a smile. “I’ll bring you meals until your house is ready.”

Zhou Song paused mid-sip. “No need to trouble yourself. I can cook here.”

“It’s no trouble. Besides, I don’t have much to do, and the walk is a good stretch for my legs.” Knowing Zhou Song would try to refuse, he added, “After all, you’re working hard to fix up our home, so I should contribute something.”

Zhou Song hesitated, his gaze lowering as he smiled softly. He liked hearing Kun Ze refer to it as “our home.”

“If you don’t say anything, I’ll take that as a yes,” Shen Qingzhu declared.

Zhou Song opened his mouth but, seeing the warm sparkle in Shen Qingzhu’s eyes under the lamplight, couldn’t bring himself to reject the offer. He thought for a moment and said, “For dinner, I’ll just come to your place instead. It’s safer after dark.”

Shen Qingzhu had no objections and nodded. He nudged Zhou Song to continue eating.

“Alright,” Zhou Song replied, taking another bite and a sip of soup. It wasn’t just his stomach that felt warm—his heart felt warm too.