The three of them finished a lively meal, and Lu Xiaotang planned to sit for a while by the cowshed. Xu Mo wanted to go back with him since Grandpa Qi would be taking him to school in the morning.

Xu Ning accompanied the two of them to the door and patted Xu Mo on the head, saying, “Xiao Mo is so clever; he can even recite poetry now.”

Xu Mo proudly replied, “Sister, I can recite many poems! Dad teaches me poetry and how to recognize characters every night, and I’m learning really fast.”

Xu Ning smiled and said, “The little tiger with the jade face is quite capable. Go back now, and make sure to listen well to your teacher tomorrow, okay?”

Xu Mo nodded and followed Lu Xiaotang to the cowshed.

Xu Ning checked Lu Xiaotang’s luggage again to see if there was anything he might have forgotten.

One bag contained pine nuts, hazelnuts, dried meat, and meat sauce, along with some dried vegetables and mushrooms for his aunt.

The other bag contained his belongings, while a smaller bag was filled with dry rations for the journey.

Xu Ning looked at these items and sighed; he would be leaving again tomorrow.

When Lu Xiaotang returned, she was sitting under the lamp reading. Upon seeing him come back, she said, “Brother Lu, you should rest early. We need to get up early tomorrow morning.”

As she prepared to head back inside, Lu Xiaotang took her hand and walked her to the door. He then patted her on the head affectionately and said, “Go to bed early! Tomorrow, you don’t have to wake up too early; just eat something casually.”

Xu Ning quickly replied, “Brother Lu, I’ve already mixed the dumpling filling. We must make dumplings tomorrow morning; you’re not allowed to cook anything else!”

Lu Xiaotang remembered how chaotic breakfast had been last time he left and chuckled, “Alright, tomorrow morning we’ll have dumplings. I’ll wake up to make them, and you can sleep in a bit longer.”

Xu Ning nodded with a smile, remembering that incident, and then went back to her room to sleep.

When she got up, she found the dumplings were already wrapped, and the water tank was full. Lu Xiaotang was busy tending to the fire.

Xu Ning asked, “Brother Lu, why aren’t you sleeping a bit longer? You’ll be on the bus for several days; where will you find time to rest?”

Lu Xiaotang smiled and replied, “It’s fine. I can rest on the bus. You should go wash up; I’ll start cooking the dumplings.”

After they finished breakfast, Xu Ning was washing the pot while Lu Xiaotang stood in the yard, looking around to see if there was anywhere that didn’t seem safe.

Seeing him like this, Xu Ning realized he was worried and comforted him, saying, “Brother Lu, don’t worry! It’s very safe here. I’m strong; no one dares to come in.”

Lu Xiaotang reminded her again, “Xiao Ning, if it snows, you’re not allowed to go into the mountains, understood? If I find out you’ve gone hunting in the mountains again, I’ll have to come back from the army to keep an eye on you.”

Xu Ning nodded, her eyes red, possibly feeling the impending separation. Tears began to flow uncontrollably.

Lu Xiaotang pulled her into his embrace, brushing his lips against her forehead as he said, “Don’t cry, Xiao Ning. Please don’t cry. I’ll do my best to come back next year.”

Xu Ning sniffled and nodded in his arms.

Lu Xiaotang said again, “When I go back, I’ll file for the marriage report. When I come back next time, we can get married, okay?”

Xu Ning, who was feeling sentimental in his embrace, was taken aback by this statement. Wait, how did the conversation turn to marriage? They had only been dating for a short while!

She looked up at him, seeing his serious expression, and thought for a moment before responding gently, “Brother Lu, I just turned eighteen this year; I’m still young.”

“Xiao Ning, I’m not saying we should get married this year. I mean when I come back next time. If I can’t make it back next year, it might be the year after. By then, you’ll be twenty, and the marriage law now allows for marriage at eighteen,” he explained.

Xu Ning stared at him, bewildered. Twenty still felt very young! She hadn’t planned on getting married so soon; she intended to finish college first.

Just as she was about to speak, Old Chen’s voice called from outside, “Xu Zhiqing, Comrade Lu, are you all packed up yet?”

Lu Xiaotang quickly replied, “Grandpa Chen, we’re all set. Just give me a moment; I’ll be right over.”

After saying that, Lu Xiaotang hugged her once more and said, “Xiao Ning, I’m leaving. You have to take care of yourself at home. Remember what I told you: never go hunting in the mountains alone; it’s very dangerous, okay?”

Feeling sad again, Xu Ning nodded and started to help him with his luggage.

Lu Xiaotang handed her the small bag while he carried two larger ones in front, placing their belongings onto the ox cart.

He turned back to her and said, “When I get back, I’ll file for the marriage report. I’ll do my best to come back next year, and then we can get married.”

Without waiting for her response, he quickly climbed onto the ox cart and said to Old Chen, “Grandpa Chen, let’s go.”

Old Chen cheerfully urged the ox cart forward, and Lu Xiaotang waited until they had moved a few meters before daring to look back at Xu Ning.

She had a dazed expression, as if she had just been struck by lightning, still processing what he had said. Lu Xiaotang felt a bit guilty and waved at her, saying, “Go back quickly.”

As Old Chen drove the ox cart, he laughed and said, “Comrade Lu, when you come back next year, you’ll be marrying Xu Zhiqing!?”

Lu Xiaotang paused for a moment before firmly stating, “Yes, Grandpa Chen, the next time I come back, I will marry Xu Ning.”

Old Chen chuckled and replied, “Good, good! It’s best to marry early. Xu Zhiqing is a rare good girl.”

Lu Xiaotang nodded, saying, “Yes, she’s wonderful,” adding in his heart, No one is better than her.

By the time the clever girl Xu Ning realized what was happening, the ox cart had already traveled far away. She stomped her foot in frustration, thinking, Who said anything about getting married next year? He really just talks without thinking!

What she didn’t know was that by the time Old Chen returned in the afternoon, nearly everyone in the village was already aware that Xu Zhiqing was set to marry her boyfriend next year.

Fuming, she returned home and glanced around at the empty house, feeling a wave of sadness wash over her. In the past, there was Xiao An to talk to, but now she was all alone.

She grabbed her basket and locked the door, preparing to head up the mountain to collect wild goods. It was still a bit early, and no one had ventured up yet, so she stayed near the foot of the mountain to look around.

After spending the day gathering wild goods, her appetite diminished at the thought of eating alone. She reheated some leftover dumplings from breakfast and had those instead.

After finishing her meal with nothing much to do, Xu Ning sat on the kang, listening to the radio while making shoes.

Suddenly, she heard a soft knock on the door, which startled her. After a moment of thought, she figured it must be someone from the cowshed.

She opened the door and quietly asked, “Who is it?”

Outside, she first heard two soft meows, followed by a whisper, “Sister, it’s me, the little tiger with the jade face.”

Upon realizing it was Xu Mo, Xu Ning hurried to open the door. Standing at the entrance was Xu Mo, grinning as he held a small bundle and his school bag. On the main road, two men stood watching—Father Xu and Uncle Lu.

When father Xu and Uncle Lu saw that she had opened the door, they waved goodbye and headed back. Xu Mo had already run into the house, and Xu Ning locked the door before following him inside.

Xu Mo lay on the kang and said, “Sister, from now on, I’ll come over in the evenings to keep you company. You don’t have to be afraid; I’m a man now and can protect you.”

Xu Ning thought, What do I need protection for? I’m not scared at all.

However, she didn’t want to hurt his feelings, so she sat beside him, hugged him, and said with emotion, “Xiao Mo, you’re such a good little brother.”

Xu Mo sat up and patted her hand, assuring her, “Sister, don’t worry. I’ll always be here for you.” (awww ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა❀)