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墨書 Inktalez
Upon hearing this, Xia Muxin bit her lip, seemingly deep in thought.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up as she grabbed Shen Muhan, who was still examining her, and dashed off in a particular direction.
Shen Muhan looked at their joined hands, a smile creeping into his eyes. With a gentle tug, he pulled her into his embrace and leaned close to her ear, whispering softly, "Did you think of something that requires such urgency?"
Xia Muxin was caught off guard by his sudden pull, tumbling into his arms. Her lips brushed against his chest, and his voice was low and alluring. As he finished speaking, he lightly nipped at her earlobe, sending shivers down her spine.
She seemed particularly sensitive to his touch, and each time she found herself passively allowing him to take liberties while feeling an unexpected thrill.
Is this what they call youthful infatuation?
With that thought in mind, Xia Muxin couldn't help but blink in frustration, shaking her head vigorously to rid herself of those impure thoughts.
Noticing her tense demeanor as she blinked and shook her head, Shen Muhan let out a low chuckle with mischief in his voice.
"How about we get married once your brother and the others do?"
Suddenly, he wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder as he earnestly sought her opinion.
"Uncle, if you keep acting so impatiently, people might think you can't find a wife!"
Xia Muxin exclaimed in surprise before teasing him back.
"It's not that I can't find one; it's that I can't wait."
Shen Muhan's chin rested on her shoulder, but he did not put his weight on her. Instead, he leaned down closer to her neck, inhaling her unique fragrance, and a familiar ache began to rise within him.
He felt as if he was seeking out punishment, yet he couldn't help himself.
Xia Muxin also sensed his tense body; even his breathing had grown rough. It felt as if something was pressing against her from behind. Suddenly, her cheeks flushed, and she hurriedly said, "Uncle, um... let's go find some mud!"
Reluctantly, Shen Muhan released her fragrant form, taking her hand in his large one as he asked in a low voice, "Where to?"
"He Xiaoyu!"
As soon as Xia Muxin finished speaking, Shen Muhan wrapped his long arm around her waist and pressed her head into the crook of his arm. With a swift motion, he lifted her and soared far into the air.
Just as they departed, a figure emerged from the nearby thicket—it was none other than Zhou Cailian. Perhaps due to the effects of her pregnancy, she looked considerably haggard. She had been called out by her mother to gather firewood but stumbled upon mushrooms similar to those at Xia Muxin's home beneath the tree. As she squatted down to step on them, she unexpectedly encountered Xia Muxin and Shen Muhan.
Watching their sweet interaction made Zhou Cailian's eyes turn red with jealousy. She glared at Xia Muxin with venomous intent, wishing she could find countless flaws in her. Everything that was meant for her had been ruined because of Xia Muxin; even her future seemed bleak.
"Color Lotus, what are you dawdling about? It's been ages and not a single stick of firewood has come back! Are you two trying to kill me?"
Not far away, You Shi was panting heavily while carrying a bundle of firewood. Her hair was disheveled by branches, and her face bore smudges from moss. Seeing Zhou Cailian squatting there motionless from afar, she shouted at the top of her lungs.
Zhou Guilian also brought over a bundle of firewood. Although it wasn't as large as You Shi's load, it was enough to account for herself.
At You Shi's call, Zhou Cailian quickly lowered her head and dug out the cluster of mushrooms she had found. With a beaming smile on her face, she walked towards You Shi and the others while revealing the mushrooms in her palm, saying with delight:
"Mother, look what I picked!"
"I've seen this before; it's called a mushroom, yes, a mushroom!"
Upon hearing this, You's eyes brightened. She had seen Xia Muxin gather them before, and they had collected basket after basket. Just a few days ago, they had dried quite a few in their yard.
"How long has it been? You only brought back this little thing, and you still have the nerve to say you've done something?"
Zhou Guilian couldn't help but scoff at Zhou Cailian's triumphant smile. She was fed up with her family for locking her in the woodshed for so many days without even letting her wash; she felt like she was going to stink to death. Meanwhile, Zhou Cailian had managed to charm everyone into submission. The two of them were now like fire and water, arguing every time they met.
"Mother..."
Seeing Zhou Guilian's cold expression, Zhou Cailian pouted and looked at You with a wronged expression.
"Alright, she's pregnant now; can't you, as her older sister, give her a break?"
You was already immune to their bickering and muttered irritably.
At these words, Zhou Guilian became even angrier, glaring fiercely at the smug Zhou Cailian...
Xia Muxin could only feel the wind roaring in his ears. Glancing at the vast ground beneath him, he couldn't help but shiver; he had flown quite high.
"Uh, alright, we're here! Uncle, it's right over there!"
Suddenly, she pointed to a raised area in the middle of the river not far away and called for Shen Muhan to stop. Following her finger, Shen Muhan gathered his energy again, and in the blink of an eye, Xia Muxin felt his feet touch the ground.
She felt a bit dizzy, completely disoriented. It was clear that she needed to exercise more; once everything settled down, she would practice all the things she had learned before.
"Is there something you need here?" Shen Muhan asked, still holding her slender waist as he scanned the surroundings with a frown.
The terrain of Daimiao Mountain was quite peculiar. Take their current location, for instance: it was situated in the middle of the He Xiaoyu River, resembling a small mountain isolated from everything else. There was nothing particularly unusual above—just the same flowers, grasses, and trees found on Daimiao Mountain. Ming Yi and the others had come to investigate this area before. Moreover, the downstream flow of the Donghe River led to a body of water known as Fanggu River, which was vast and unfathomably deep. Many fishermen were scattered about, casting their nets from various boats.
Across the river, one could vaguely see some houses.
However, the water did not flow directly out; instead, it was separated by a large mountain. At the base of this mountain was a large arched opening that allowed the water to flow out. This was also why the Donghe River retained water year-round; its outlet was only so large.
"Yes, Uncle, look down there!" Xia Muxin finally stopped feeling dizzy and curiously glanced at their standing position. Hearing Shen Muhan's question, she smiled and pointed towards the water below.
The water here was not deep and very clear; through its transparency, one could see the mud beneath.
Yes, what she was looking for was precisely this River Mud.
This spot was right next to where she had argued with the Wang family last time. She had noticed it inadvertently and had spent so much time on the mountain that she almost provoked his beastly instincts.
"This is the sticky soil you were looking for."
"Yes, to be precise, it's River Mud."
"Hey, Uncle, have you noticed that this area is much higher than over there? Look, the River Mud is almost breaking the surface of the water, while that side is much deeper."
As the two of them were lost in their thoughts, Xia Muxin suddenly spoke up, as if she had discovered something puzzling.
"Well, this area should have originally been a mountain. It might have been affected by a flash flood or a surge of water that washed away the sides. Look over there; doesn’t it seem a bit asymmetrical? I guess this mountain must have been pushed over to that side and stuck to the larger mountain over there."
Shen Muhan pointed to a mound of earth not far away. If it weren't for the few large trees growing on top, it might have been eroded away by now. However, with the trees' roots extending into the soil of the adjacent mountain, they provided it with some stability.
Xia Muxin nodded, seeming to agree with his reasoning. What exactly had happened here before?
Natural disaster? Human intervention?
For some reason, there was a string in her mind that made her eager to find answers.
"Now that we've found this, what should we do next?"
Seeing her troubled expression, Shen Muhan gently rubbed her head and asked softly.
"Oh, about that, let's take some back first so I can study it properly," Xia Muxin replied, finally recalling the task at hand as she glanced down at the River Mud.
She knew even less about making cement than she did about firing kilns, so she needed to take her time to figure it out.
"Alright, I'll have someone come get it later!"
Noticing that she wasn't in a hurry, Shen Muhan responded and then wrapped his arms around her as they flew away from the spot.
Xia Muxin didn't refuse; after all, they didn’t have any tools with them. There was no way they could carry the River Mud back with their bare hands.
"Just sleep if you're tired."
Shen Muhan did not take her back; instead, he stopped atop a towering tree. He found a sturdy branch, rested his head on his hand, and comfortably lay back, allowing Xia Muxin to lie on him. From a distance, it appeared as if she was above him.
Xia Muxin felt extremely embarrassed, her cheeks flushed like apples. She glared at him with a mischievous smile and muttered, "I can't sleep!"
Moreover, they had only found River Mud, and Limestone had yet to return. With nothing much to do at the moment and to avoid further awkwardness, she sat on his waist, admiring the view from high above.
Shen Muhan looked at her rosy cheeks, his eyes shimmering like water. Her long eyelashes fluttered gently in the sparse sunlight like butterfly wings. He swallowed hard and then turned his head away.
After a while, he glanced back at her. She was curiously looking around, occasionally making playful expressions. A warm smile crept onto his lips before he closed his eyes for a brief rest.
He feared that if he looked at her for too long, he wouldn't be able to resist...
Before long, it was time to unload the kiln.
Xia Muxin and the others arrived early at the Kiln. Seeing everyone standing by with tools in hand, they greeted her with smiles. Xia Muxin returned their smiles and then walked around the kiln, inspecting it several times before standing in front of everyone. The Deity said, "Build the wooden bridge!"
Xia Muxin explained the general steps for unloading the kiln to Er Dan and the others and asked them to relay the information to the other villagers.
Unloading the kiln was relatively easier but still posed risks. The unloading had to be done from top to bottom. The wooden bridge was constructed during the kiln's building phase. Upon hearing Xia Muxin's instructions, Black Bull and a few others brought over the wooden materials. Together, they worked for about an incense stick's worth of time to complete the bridge.
Xia Muxin was the first to climb up to the top of the kiln but was stopped by Shen Muhan. He said nothing; he simply took her hand and led her step by step upward.
Others also followed behind them with tools for picking bricks.
Once on the kiln roof, Xia Muxin's first task was to check the kiln opening in the center, where smoke was billowing out. From above, it looked dark and chaotic, making her feel uneasy.
She then began to instruct everyone on how to unload the kiln and informed Ming Yi that after removing several rows of bricks, they would take down the first ring of the kiln hoop.
Everyone listened intently, and those who had questions raised them willingly. Xia Muxin had mentioned that this was hard labor and could be dangerous if not done properly. Therefore, she encouraged everyone to voice their concerns, fearing she might overlook some important details.
Xia Muxin addressed all their doubts and questions one by one until everyone was satisfied and applauded.
Seeing this, Xia Muxin finished explaining a few matters and descended from the kiln. She led a few people to another area, where she drew a large rectangle in the mud with a stick. Once done, she said:
"Uncle, you all wait here. When they bring the bricks over after unloading, you will stack them just like building a kiln, but this shape won't be round."
After Xia Muxin finished speaking, she waited for a while until several people brought over dozens of bricks. She demonstrated how to stack them before staying at the kiln for a bit longer before leaving.
Yesterday, Limestone had returned, but not in large quantities. She had temporarily set up a stove outside the courtyard and was eager to return to grind stones.
Just as she and Shen Muhan left, not far away, dozens of lifeless eyes stared fixedly at the kiln. Soon after, several sacks were thrown out. The sacks ignited spontaneously under the morning sun.
As the sacks caught fire, hundreds of venomous snakes crawled out in a frenzy, darting around like headless flies, and they were only a few dozen meters away from the kiln.
- End of Chapter -
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