Lin Qinghe looked up and saw the tall You Rong standing at the kitchen door.
"Why are you back so early today?" Lin Qinghe asked in surprise.
You Rong took two steps inside. "The client's house was completed today."
Lin Qinghe suddenly understood. "So that's why you're back earlier than usual. Dinner is ready, go wash your hands and eat with us."
Mother You coughed softly, suppressing her cough, and said to You Rong with a smile, "You Rong, we're in for a treat today. Qinghe is truly amazing. She made such fragrant dishes with pig offal! I've lived for most of my life, and I can't even compare to her cooking skills. The dishes she's made these past few days are all new to me, and they're delicious."
You Rong also smelled the aroma wafting through the entire kitchen. Hearing that it was made with pungent pig offal, he was equally surprised. "Really?"
You Rong looked at Lin Qinghe, and without thinking, Lin Qinghe picked up a piece of stir-fried pork intestine and offered it to him.
You Rong bent slightly and ate it. Lin Qinghe only snapped back to reality then, retracting her hand awkwardly.
You Rong hadn't said he wanted to eat, so why did she pick it up and offer it to his mouth?
Seeing You Rong chew and swallow, Lin Qinghe couldn't help but ask with anticipation, "How did it taste? Do you like it?"
You Rong replied, "...It's good, it tastes great."
Hearing this, Lin Qinghe's eyes curved, and she smiled, "That's good... I was afraid you wouldn't like it. Then... go wash your hands quickly, it's time for dinner."
After they finished dinner and cleaned the dishes, as soon as they entered the front room, they heard Mother You's worried voice.
"You Rong, my illness is truly cured. You don't need to go into the mountains to hunt for my medicine anymore, especially since you're going alone this time. It's too dangerous!"
You Rong patted Mother You's shoulder and comforted her, "Mother, I'm familiar with Junwu Mountain. I've been exploring in the mountains since I was a child. I'll be fine going alone. Besides, it's not the first time I've gone into the mountains alone. I was fine before."
Hunting in the mountains is naturally better with company, but Uncle Wang and the others were busy with farm work and couldn't accompany him. His mother's medicine was running low, and there wasn't much food at home. Fortunately, Lin Qinghe pawned her earrings to buy some rice and flour to last for a while. But what about the future? They couldn't eat only sweet potatoes and potatoes every day, so he had to go hunting, even though it was indeed dangerous.
"But..."
"Mother, no 'buts.' I won't have any problems. I'll be back from the mountain in at most three days. You don't need to worry."
Mother You wiped away tears, blaming herself. "It's all my fault for being useless and becoming a burden to you..."
"Mother, please don't think that way. You worked hard to raise me. It's my duty to serve you and let you live a comfortable life."
Lin Qinghe stood at the doorway, her lips moving slightly, not knowing what to say. Hunting in the mountains was inherently dangerous, but since You Rong had decided to go, she knew she couldn't stop him.
However, she trusted him, believing he had the confidence to return safely.
Lin Qinghe pondered. She decided to make all the remaining flour into flatbreads for You Rong to take as provisions, so he wouldn't go hungry in the mountains.
With that thought, Lin Qinghe turned and went to the kitchen to knead dough and prepare to bake flatbreads.
Just as she finished kneading the dough, You Rong arrived. Lin Qinghe smiled unnaturally when she saw his gaze on the dough in the ceramic basin and explained, "I plan to bake some flatbreads for you to take into the mountains as dry rations."
You Rong nodded slightly, but didn't leave. He stood at the kitchen door and watched Lin Qinghe.
Being watched by You Rong, Lin Qinghe couldn't fathom his thoughts and felt uneasy. She gave a dry laugh and said, "Um... You Rong, there's nothing you can do to help here. Why don't you go into the room and chat with Mother?"
You Rong grunted, but instead of turning to leave, he walked towards her.
Lin Qinghe was bewildered. What was You Rong trying to do?
You Rong said abruptly, "...Open your mouth."
"Ah?" Lin Qinghe opened her mouth in confusion. She saw You Rong take out something wrapped in oil paper from his pocket, unwrap it, and put it into her mouth.
Lin Qinghe: "Mmm? You Rong, what is this..."
You Rong replied, "The client's house was completed, and they gave the workers peanut brittle."
At the time, he saw Uncle Wang and the others were reluctant to eat it, saying they would take it back for their children. For some reason, he thought of Lin Qinghe, so he brought some back.
Before Lin Qinghe could react, You Rong had already turned and returned to the front room, leaving her stunned with peanut brittle in her mouth.
Suddenly, a system notification sounded: "Progress bar increased by one percent, total progress is one percent."
Lin Qinghe snapped back to reality and, in her excitement, swallowed the peanut brittle without paying attention, nearly choking to death.
After coughing a few times, Lin Qinghe recovered and couldn't help but sigh, "Although it's only one percent, this one percent progress indicates that You Rong is starting to change his perception of me. I don't have to live in fear of him driving me away anymore..."
From now on, she only needed to treat You Rong and Mother You well, and the progress bar would surely increase soon!
Lin Qinghe continued to knead the dough. She smudged her lips and muttered to herself, "I almost choked to death swallowing it directly, but the peanut brittle is quite sweet..."
After baking the flatbreads, they washed up simply, extinguished the oil lamp, and went to bed.
In the darkness, Lin Qinghe blinked her eyes and couldn't resist whispering to You Rong, "Thank you. The peanut brittle today was very sweet..."
You Rong was still with his back to Lin Qinghe. In the darkness, Lin Qinghe couldn't see his expression. She only heard him faintly say, "Mm," and then there was silence.
Lin Qinghe assumed You Rong had fallen asleep. Thinking that he needed to go hunting the next day, she didn't dare disturb him further and closed her eyes to sleep.
Once Lin Qinghe's breathing gradually stabilized, You Rong opened his eyes and gently rubbed his thumb and index finger.
Whether the peanut brittle was sweet or not, he didn't know. When he fed her the candy just now, his fingertips accidentally brushed her lips. Her lips... were quite soft.
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The next morning.
After breakfast, You Rong slung his bow and arrows over his back and a chopping knife at his waist, preparing to set off for Junwu Mountain to hunt.
Junwu Mountain was about an hour's journey from Xinghua Village.
Mother You worriedly instructed, "Don't go into the deep mountains. Just catch some rabbits and pheasants around the outskirts of the mountain. Do you understand?"
You Rong replied, "Mother, don't worry, I will."
Lin Qinghe handed the dry rations and water bag in her hands to You Rong and smiled at him, "Don't worry, I'll take good care of the house and Mother. You... just come back safely."
You Rong's gaze flickered. He nodded and said in a deep voice, "Yes, I'll trouble you to take care of Mother these few days."
Lin Qinghe watched You Rong's retreating figure until he was out of sight, then helped Mother You back into the house.
Perhaps influenced by Mother You's worry, Lin Qinghe also felt a little down about You Rong going hunting. She sighed, patted her face, and told herself not to overthink.
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On the first day You Rong left, Lin Qinghe went to the fields and harvested all the corn, hanging it under the eaves to dry.
On the second day, Lin Qinghe cleared a piece of empty land behind the house and planted white radishes, planning to have pork stew with radishes in winter.
On the third day, Lin Qinghe expected You Rong to return. She steamed rice, stir-fried eggs and vegetables, and waited until late at night. Unfortunately, You Rong did not return.
On the fourth day, both Lin Qinghe and Mother You were worried, but You Rong still didn't return.
On the fifth day, Mother You was too worried to sit still. She grabbed Lin Qinghe and said, "Could something have happened to You Rong in the mountains? I'll take you to Uncle Wang. We'll ask him to find some people to search Junwu Mountain for You Rong."
Lin Qinghe's expression was somewhat solemn. She nodded. "Mother, alright. I'll help you to Uncle Wang's house now."