Competing for Work 

Lin Miaoyin blushed in embarrassment when she realized what Cui Fen was talking about. “Sister-in-law, why are you bringing this up in broad daylight?” 

Cui Fen glanced around to make sure no one else was nearby. “What’s there to be afraid of? It’s not like you’re an unmarried maiden anymore. Why can’t we talk about it?” 

But she really was an unmarried maiden. Lin Miaoyin looked up at the sky and changed the subject. “Sister-in-law, let’s get to work quickly. The sun will be strong soon.” 

She quickened her pace, and seeing this, Cui Fen could only shake her head helplessly and focus on her work. 

At noon, everyone carried their baskets to the designated gathering spot and dumped the sweet potato vines into a large pile. Under Mother Lin’s arrangement, each household could take some tender leaves home for cooking, while the old leaves would be sent to the team’s pigpen to feed the pigs. 

Lin Miaoyin also took a handful, tied them together with a dry stalk, and carried them home. She wanted to make a few sorghum pancakes and stir-fry the sweet potato vines. 

After getting back, she looked at the meat that had been marinated with salt a few days ago and prepared to fry it in the evening. 

Meanwhile, Meng Yuanzheng was in the yard drying honeysuckle, wild chrysanthemum, and mint that had been picked the day before. He used chopsticks to turn them over and arranged them on the drying rack. 

Hearing Lin Miaoyin call out from the kitchen that the food was ready, he washed his hands and went inside to help set the table. 

Suddenly, he remembered something and searched through his pockets, pulling out a handful of mulberries wrapped in mulberry leaves. He washed them carefully and placed them in a bowl on the table. 

When Lin Miaoyin sat down and saw the half-bowl of plump, deep-purple mulberries, she said excitedly, “Oh, where did these come from?” 

As she spoke, she reached out, picked up a mulberry, and put it in her mouth. The mulberry was ripe, fragrant, and sweet, melting in her mouth and leaving only a faint purple color on her fingers. 

“Come, try it too.” She picked up one and stuffed it directly into his mouth. 

Meng Yuanzheng held the bowl in his hand and obediently opened his mouth to take it. 

“After work, I went for a walk on the mountain and saw two kids using bamboo poles to knock the fruits off the top of a mulberry tree. I helped them pick some, and they gave me a few,” he explained. 

“Hmm, delicious.” She ate another one herself and signaled with her eyes that he should eat one too. 

Meng Yuanzheng pretended not to see it, but when she held another up to his mouth, he calmly bit it right out of her fingers. In the end, Lin Miaoyin’s hand was completely stained purple, while Meng Yuanzheng remained spotless. 

Lin Miaoyin felt that she was being tricked. She ate her meal angrily and then lay down to take a nap. Meng Yuanzheng washed the dishes and pulled the corner of the quilt to cover her chest and stomach. Feeling too dirty after picking up the manure, he sat on the chair and took a nap instead. 

The afternoon passed as usual with work, and then it was time to head home. 

That evening, Meng Yuanzheng came to pick her up as usual. The two of them left under the gaze of a bunch of old ladies and young wives. She was a little embarrassed, and said, “Maybe you shouldn’t come to pick me up anymore.” 

Meng Yuanzheng walked without looking around. “Why?” 

“It’s embarrassing when everyone watches.” 

“They’ll get used to it after seeing it a few more times.” 

Well… that did make some sense. 

“We’re going to have a review meeting the day after tomorrow morning. Have you prepared your self-criticism speech?” Lin Miaoyin asked. 

“Mm.” 

“Oh, right. I’m planning to dig up the plot behind the house to plant summer cabbage, water spinach, and late-season corn. Then, in October, I’ll plant winter vegetables.” 

“Okay.” 

“I’ll ask my father tomorrow if they have any seeds.” 

“Mm.” 

“Oh, and I want to raise two chickens.” 

“Sure.” 

One person kept talking, while the other responded with single-word answers. Lin Miaoyin didn’t mind his perfunctory replies—he was listening, and she was happy just talking. 

After returning home, they boiled water to take a bath as usual. This time, Lin Miaoyin went first. When she came out after bathing, the sky in the distance was red, and the sun had already sunk below the horizon. 

Meng Yuanzheng had already taken down the clothes drying in the yard, boiled some water, and made tea with mint, honeysuckle, and wild chrysanthemum to cool. The porridge was cooking on the small stove, and the meat was blanching in the big pot. 

Lin Miaoyin placed the bucket under the eaves and was about to go inside to cook, but she was stopped by Meng Yuanzheng. 

“What are you doing?” She looked up at him. 

“You just took a bath,” he said. 

“?” 

“The kitchen is filled with heavy smoke, so don’t go in,” he explained. 

“Who will cook if I don’t go in? It can’t be you.” 

“I’ll cook it,” Meng Yuanzheng said as he went back to pick up the meat, put it on the chopping board, and started cutting the meat in an orderly manner. 

Lin Miaoyin stuck one foot in, but when she saw his gaze, she quickly withdrew it. “Alright, you get to work.” 

She returned to the eaves and sat waiting for dinner, only to realize that Meng Yuanzheng had taken over her chores of washing clothes and cooking. 

How impressive! 

As she sat, mosquitoes kept biting and buzzing around her. Feeling annoyed, she stood up and thought about getting some mugwort to keep them away.

Before long, Meng Yuanzheng had cooked the meal and placed it on the table. The stir-fried pork with chili looked and smelled great. Lin Miaoyin picked up a piece and tried it, her eyes lighting up. It was tasty! 

She praised him without holding back. “You’re so impressive! You’ve been hiding your skills. You have to teach me how to cook someday!”

Her flattery made Meng Yuanzheng smile faintly. 

He sat across from her and started eating. 

Lin Miaoyin gulped down a few mouthfuls of porridge and praised, “The porridge is also well-cooked, not too watery or dry, but thick and soft. You could open a restaurant!” 

“Just eat.” Meng Yuanzheng put down his chopsticks helplessly and looked at her. 

Lin Miaoyin took a few bites and noticed that he wasn’t picking up much vegetable, and when he did, it was mostly fatty meat. 

“Why aren’t you eating the lean meat?” 

“I don’t like it.” Meng Yuanzheng took a piece of fatty meat without changing his expression. 

She didn’t believe him. Quickly, she grabbed a few big pieces of the leanest, best meat and put them in his bowl, staring at him. “Are you going to eat it or not? If not, you’re not sleeping tonight!” 

Meng Yuanzheng met her gaze and smiled. “I’ll eat.” 

He lowered his head and obediently ate all the meat in the bowl, and only then was Lin Miaoyin satisfied. 

After the meal, Meng Yuanzheng washed the dishes, took a bath, and cleaned the clothes. Lin Miaoyin wanted to help, but he wouldn’t let her. By the time he was done, it was already late at night.

Lin Miaoyin was half-asleep when she suddenly woke up, sat up, and murmured, “Come here, give me a massage.”

Meng Yuanzheng walked over and pressed her shoulders. As she slowly woke up, she turned her head and said, “I’ll massage you too.”

“Let me massage your first,” he said gently, kneading her shoulders with care. Lin Miaoyin let her body relax completely, enjoying the warmth of his touch until she nearly drifted off again.

After he finished the massage, they changed positions, and Lin Miaoyin gave him a massage as well. As she was massaging him, she lowered her head and could see the graceful lines of the back of his head, the angle of his jaw, and his slightly drooping eyelashes. There was also a faint smell of soap on his body. 

His neck had been sunburned over the past two days and had faint marks on it. Looking down from above, along the collar of his shirt, one could clearly see his chest and two moles. 

She recalled what Cui Fen had said during the day. The original owner and Meng Yuanzheng must have done that thing. What if he forced himself on her one day? After all, they were husband and wife, and she would not be able to argue with him anywhere. 

But since he is so handsome, she doesn’t seem to be at a disadvantage. 

Author’s Note:

Lin Miaoyin: Yes, I admit it, I’m openly attracted to his body. 🫣

This chapter is pretty much daily life, nothing too exciting, just setting up the plot for future events mixed with daily moments.  

Thanks for the support, 😘 ~