“Where is Xiao Song from?” Bai Zhengqian asked.

Song Zhi replied cautiously, “I’m from the capital.”

Tan Fenghui brought over some cotton swabs and iodine, then carefully cleaned the wounds on Song Zhi’s face and hands.

Song Zhi said softly, “Thank you, sister-in-law.”

Bai Zhengqian asked again, “Are you a student?”

Song Zhi hesitated for a moment before answering, “I… I’m not a student. I’ve already graduated from university. I had planned to stay on campus as a teacher, but then…”

Bai Zhengqian had served as the village secretary of Ruyi Village for many years and was someone who had seen a lot.

Song Zhi, with his talent and appearance, had already become a university teacher, yet suddenly found himself in the countryside as a educated youth? Seeing Song Zhi stammering when mentioning this and considering the capital was nearly two thousand miles away, there had to be a reason behind it.

After some thought, Bai Zhengqian said, “Since you’re here, just settle down. Our village isn’t wealthy, but our mindset is progressive. You can also teach here if you stay. Everyone is a screw in the machine of socialism, and wherever there’s a need, we screw in!”

After a long pause, Song Zhi finally responded with a faint “Mm.”

He felt a warm and soft sensation from behind him and seemed to detect a clear, sweet fruity fragrance wafting around him. Unable to resist, he glanced back.

—He saw a beautiful young girl with bright eyes, snow-white skin, and jet-black hair. Her sparkling eyes were filled with curiosity as she looked at him.

Bai Zhengqian quickly explained, “It’s okay! Xiao Song¹, don’t mind her. This is my fourth child. Although she’s seventeen this year, she still has a child’s personality. Just treat her like you would Hongdou or Huangdou.”

Song Zhi glanced at the four- or five-year-old siblings, Hongdou and Huangdou, and understood.

He tried to give Bai Taotao a kind smile.

Bai Taoji, however, stared at Song Zhi in shock.

—No, wasn’t this His Majesty the Immortal Emperor? How…

She was a bit dazed and couldn’t help but think of her past life.

—In her previous life, Bai Taoji had been a peach spirit but not a peach tree spirit.

The difference lay in the fact that she had been a fully ripened peach from an immortal peach tree; delicious, soft, and juicy. She was picked by an immortal maid and presented to a noble. That noble held her for ten days and nights, seemingly contemplating something difficult. When they were about to eat her, they were suddenly called away and left her aside. The peach, soaked in the noble man’s spiritual energy, eventually transformed into human form.

Thus, Bai Taoji was born.

Later, because there was no one to guard her, she stumbled her way out and accidentally fell into the mortal world. Seeing her beauty, people harbored ill intentions and tried to harm her, but she was saved by a passing elder of the Meizong sect and eventually became a disciple.

After an unknown amount of time had passed, representatives from all realms brought gifts to celebrate the Immortal Emperor’s birthday. Bai Taoji accompanied the elder to attend and, under her master’s order, performed a dance for the Immortal Emperor during the banquet.

It was her first time seeing the Immortal Emperor, and she was utterly shocked.

—So the Immortal Emperor was the noble who had nourished her with spiritual energy back then?

Coincidentally, the Immortal Emperor’s name was also Song Zhi!

This…

At this moment, Bai Taoji deeply inhaled the rich spiritual energy emanating from the educated youth Song Zhi. She curiously studied him and wondered if he was truly the Immortal Emperor Song Zhi. Should she reveal herself to him? And then ask why, during his birthday banquet, as she danced beautifully, a sudden heavenly lightning struck her and caused her to end up here? Was he also here because of that lightning?

But with so many people in the room, it didn’t seem appropriate to ask.

Bai Taoji sighed.

Her breath, fragrant like orchids and osmanthus, carried a faint peach aroma and brushed against Song Zhi’s face, making him blush.

Song Zhi was unaccustomed to being so close to a girl, especially one as strikingly beautiful as Bai Taotao. The little beauty pressed her hand against his back, tilted her head to curiously examine him, and her fair, delicate face was nearly inches from his…

Tan Fenghui finished tending to Song Zhi’s wounds and gently said to Bai Taotao, “Taotao, sit properly now.”

“Okay! Sitting—properly!” Bai Taoji answered sweetly.

The girl was as beautiful as a flower, her voice sweet and crisp with a hint of coquettishness. It reminded one of a ripe, juicy peach in the height of summer, leaving Song Zhi’s heart fluttering. Even the back of his neck turned red.

He tried to steady himself and pretend not to care, but the redness of his ears betrayed him.

At that moment, Bai Xingxing hurriedly returned, calling out as she entered, “Dad! Brother and sister-in-law… ah, Song Zhi?”

Seeing Song Zhi, Bai Xingxing froze.

Bai Dongsheng was surprised.

He looked at Song Zhi, then at Bai Xingxing, and asked curiously, “Xing’er, you and Song Zhi… know each other?”

Song Zhi also looked at Bai Xingxing in confusion—he had just arrived at Ruyi Village today, so he didn’t know her. How did she know him? And even his name?

Bai Xingxing quickly came up with an excuse. “Ah, just now I… I went to the Educated Youth Station…”

Hongdou tilted his head and said, “I went to the Educated Youth Station with Huangdou earlier and didn’t see Fifth Aunt!”

Bai Xingxing almost had her secret exposed, so she quickly patched it up, “Oh, I went after everyone had already left, hahaha… I heard someone say that elder brother brought Song Zhi home, hahaha…”

When Tan Fenghui married into the Bai family, her sisters-in-law were only about seven, six, and five years old. She truly treated them like her own children. Seeing Bai Xingxing’s clumsy excuses, she scolded, “I told you to stay home and look after your fourth sister. Where did you run off to? Do you even know your fourth aunt barged in and bullied your fourth sister?”

Bai Xingxing let out a loud “Oh!” and jumped up angrily. “Fourth Aunt bullied my fourth sister again? I’m going to settle the score with her!”

Just as she was about to storm out—

Tang Liren and Bai Lili walked in, carrying a large pot together. Both mother and daughter wore expressions as dark as ink.

Bai Xingxing widened her eyes and asked, “Mom, Third Sister, what happened?”

Tang Liren instructed Hongdou, “Go and close the door first.”

Bai Lili, her eyes red with anger, said, “Look for yourself!” She motioned toward the pot.

The Bai family hadn’t split into separate households yet. Bai Zhengqian had set the rule that each branch would take turns cooking for three days. Originally, all branches ate together in the courtyard, but with so many children and the sisters-in-law not getting along well, the chaos was unbearable. Finally, Old Lady Bai, Chen Juxiang, decided that each branch should take their portion of food back to their own rooms.

When Bai Xingxing saw the pot, she was furious.

Everyone else had also seen it and frowned deeply.

—In these hard times, no household was well-off. The Bai family’s tradition was to have thin porridge for breakfast and lunch and eat solid food for dinner. The women had been taking turns cooking for a long time and were generally fair about food portions.

The noodle soup at lunch today was only about two-thirds of the usual portion! And the broth was so watery that it barely had any noodles in it.

Today, it was Second Aunt’s turn to cook. She was well-known as a kind-hearted person and had always been close to the first branch of the family. There was no way she would have shortened their portion.

There was only one possibility—

Li Cui’er must have gone to the kitchen ahead of time and scooped out noodles from the main branch’s pot into her own!

Bai Zhengqian, as the head of the household, considered the situation. With Song Zhi present, it wouldn’t be appropriate to air their family disputes in front of an outsider. So, he said in a deep voice, “Alright, alright. Let’s just eat first. We’ll talk about anything else later tonight.”

Everyone gathered around the kang table. Tan Fenghui busied herself, both greeting Song Zhi and arranging for Bai Lili and Bai Xingxing to serve the noodle soup.

Tang Liren glanced at Bai Zhengqian.

After being married for so many years, Bai Zhengqian understood his wife’s look immediately—she was asking if they should bring out the meat buns.

With so many people at home and not much money to spare, buying meat buns from town had already been a splurge. They’d bought just enough for everyone, not a single extra bun. Now that Song Zhi was here, there wouldn’t be enough to go around.

Besides, the noodle soup was already less than usual today!

However, Bai Zhengqian thought about how their son, Bai Dongsheng, still had to work in the afternoon. He couldn’t go hungry.

So, he nodded at his wife.

Tang Liren understood and instructed her granddaughter, “Hongdou, go get them.”

Hongdou bounced away and soon returned, handing the bag of meat buns to Tang Liren.

Having already learned about Song Zhi’s background from her daughter-in-law, Tang Liren smiled warmly and said, “Educated Youth Song, don’t be shy here. Treat this as your own home.”

Song Zhi was still flustered and weak from Bai Taotao’s clinginess, wishing he could leave right away. Yet, a strange and unfamiliar feeling stirred in his heart. Hearing Tang Liren’s words, he lowered his head and softly replied, “Mm.”

Tang Liren began distributing the meat buns.

Everyone stared eagerly—

Bai Xingxing, Bai Dongsheng, and Song Zhi, who had been unaware of the meat buns, were visibly surprised at the sight of the plump, round buns.

Tang Liren quickly handed out the buns—one for each person, leaving none for herself.

Bai Zhengqian smiled, broke his bun in half, and handed one part to his wife. Then he turned to the children and said, “What are you all staring at? Hurry up and eat!”

Tang Liren took the half bun but put it back in his bowl. “You’re not well. You need to eat more to build your strength.”

Bai Zhengqian objected, “I lie at home every day. What do I need strength for? You’re the one managing everything inside and out. You eat it!”

Tan Fenghui stood up. “Dad, eat yours. I’ll give mine to Mom.” As she spoke, she picked up her bun and tried to put it in Tang Liren’s bowl.

Tang Liren stopped her. “Don’t. You’re pregnant—you need to eat more!”

Bai Dongsheng added, “Mom, take mine. Hui’er already gave me a boiled sweet potato this morning, and I ate it close to eleven. I’m not even hungry yet…”

Tang Liren shook her head. “No way. The whole family depends on you to work alone. If anyone were to not eat, it can’t be you…”

Bai Lili, Bai Xingxing, and the younger kids—Hongdou and Huangdou—started chiming in too—

“Mom, take mine. I don’t even like meat buns!”
“Mom, take mine. I’ll split one with Third Sister!”
“Grandmother, let’s split one, okay?”
“Grandmother, I’ll give you the meat filling, and you give me the bun…”

Seeing how filial her children and grandchildren were, Tang Liren’s eyes crinkled with joy.

Song Zhi looked at the meat bun in his bowl, then at the watery noodle soup. Standing up, he said to Bai Zhengqian, “Uncle, Aunt, I… I have something to do, so I should go now.”

Bai Zhengqian quickly tried to stop him. “No, no. Whatever it is, eat first!”

Bai Dongsheng chimed in, “Song Zhi, you should eat before leaving. It’s late—you probably won’t have any food left at the Educated Youth Station if you go back now.”

After absorbing spiritual energy for so long, Bai Taotao felt refreshed and relaxed. Seeing everyone fussing over the buns, she suddenly reached out and put her meat bun into Tang Liren’s bowl. Then she grabbed the bun in front of Song Zhi, tore it in half, stuffed the smaller half with less meat into her mouth, and pushed the larger half with more meat toward Song Zhi’s mouth.

Song Zhi instinctively opened his mouth and bit down.

Everyone froze.

“Mom, eat! Dad, eat!” Bai Taotao then tilted her head, smiling sweetly at Song Zhi. “Brother Song Zhi… eat!”

Both Bai Zhengqian and Tang Liren were touched by their simple-minded daughter. They stopped the back-and-forth and said to the family, “Alright, alright! Let’s eat!”

Bai Taotao munched on her bun. While it was delicious, she still felt that the spiritual energy coming from Song Zhi was more satisfying. She nibbled on the bun slowly with one hand while stubbornly holding onto Song Zhi’s arm with the other.

—Physical contact made it faster and easier to absorb his spiritual energy!

Song Zhi took another bite of the juicy, flavorful bun. Then, sneaked a glance at the sweet and pretty Bai Taotao clinging to his side, before he lowered his gaze.

1.  Little Song. ↩︎