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She was walking back, holding a bundle of items, when she was stopped by a man dressed like a soldier who presented her with a portrait.
Xia Muxin glanced at the portrait lightly and then shook her head nonchalantly. The man stared at her for a moment, as if trying to determine whether she was lying. Seeing her calm demeanor and somewhat confused expression, he eventually let her go.
Without wasting any time, Xia Muxin headed toward the carriage with her belongings.
However, the further she walked, the more she felt something was off. Suddenly, a thought struck her—wasn't that portrait of Zhao Qiushui?
She had been too busy lately, and since the Wang family had stopped bullying the villagers, news about them had naturally decreased. She hadn't paid much attention, but now she could be certain that the person in the portrait was indeed her.
From a distance, Shen Muhan noticed her slowly walking along, distracted and burdened with items. He got out of the carriage and approached her, taking the things from her hands.
Xia Muxin pursed her lips and happily followed behind him.
"Uncle, um... did you have anything to do with Zhao Qiushui's situation?"
Ming Qi saw that Xia Muxin had entered the carriage and began to drive it forward slowly. Inside the carriage, Xia Muxin felt sore all over as she absentmindedly massaged her shoulders and limbs. While doing so, she turned to Shen Muhan and asked him again.
At that moment, Shen Muhan poured himself a cup of tea. With his long, clean fingers, he held out the cup to her lips, his gaze fixed on her as he replied without hesitation, "Yes."
Xia Muxin took a sip of the tea, enjoying its bitter yet sweet flavor. A smile crept onto her lips; he learned quickly—it was just the mixed tea she had prepared. After taking another couple of sips and feeling less parched, she asked:
"She... isn't dead, right?"
Shen Muhan placed the teacup back on the small tea table and then replaced Xia Muxin's small hands with his own large ones, gently massaging her arms. After a moment of easing her tension, he said in a charming voice:
"If she were dead, it would be too easy for her."
Upon hearing this, Xia Muxin's lips curled into a slight smile as she looked at Shen Muhan with bright eyes. Her expression carried a hint of certainty as she replied:
"She was sold to a brothel!"
Though it sounded like a question, there was an undeniable conviction in her words, as if she already knew that to be true.
Shen Muhan lightly coughed twice, his gaze sweeping over Xia Muxin's delicate face. With a charming smile that carried a hint of helplessness, he said, "Guess."
Xia Muxin's expression turned cold, and she felt an urge to curse. Guess what, you jerk?
"Or just give me a kiss."
Seeing the way this girl was gritting her teeth, Shen Muhan leaned closer, his long fingers tapping on his sensual lips as he exhaled softly.
Xia Muxin smirked, looking down on his desperate tactics. When she caught the provocative glint in Shen Muhan's eyes, a mischievous light flickered in her own. Without hesitation, she reached out and wrapped her arms around Shen Muhan's head, bringing her lips close to his.
Shen Muhan, surprised, closed his eyes.
"Mmm..."
Moments later, he frowned slightly as Xia Muxin quickly pulled away from his lips, licking the corner of her mouth and looking at him with pride.
Shen Muhan's eyebrows twitched; this girl really bit down hard...
Once home, Xia Muxin began preparing dinner. This was her first New Year in this world, and the reunion dinner had to be lavish.
To make it lively, she asked Songzi to call Er Dan Ge over. After all, being alone at home felt quite lonely; it was better to have some company.
She initially thought about inviting the village chief's family and Aunt Liu's family as well, but given the rural customs that required families to have their reunion dinner together, she dismissed that idea.
"Brother, have you finished peeling the bamboo skewers?"
After fussing around in the kitchen for quite a while, she suddenly stepped out and saw Xia Tieshu sitting under the eaves peeling bamboo skewers. She approached him and took away the ones he had already peeled.
"Is that enough?"
Xia Tieshu had been peeling for most of the morning and had at least several hundred skewers done. Seeing Xia Muxin come over to take them away, he asked.
Xia Muxin pondered for a moment before replying, "Let's peel another two hundred."
Xia Tieshu glanced at Xia Muxin with some surprise. This girl was acting mysteriously; what did she need all those bamboo skewers for? However, she didn't stop her work.
Xia Muxin brought the basket of bamboo skewers into the kitchen. Just as she filled a pot with water, Shen Muhan walked in.
He circled around her and then leaned down to plant a kiss on her forehead before squatting by the stove to add firewood.
"Uncle, your outfit is quite friendly, but that cold demeanor still can't be hidden," she remarked.
He had changed into a very ordinary dark robe, seemingly made by his mother during the time he was injured and away. She had always said he would come back and made a few clothes for him to change into. It was surprising that he had actually come out without regard for his status.
Shen Muhan added another piece of wood to the stove, glanced at Xia Muxin, and slowly said, "Well, this is called when in Rome, do as the Romans do; when marrying, follow your wife."
Uh...
When marrying, follow your wife.
A flush crept across Xia Muxin's face, and she stopped talking back. Instead, she placed the bamboo skewers into the pot to boil.
She went back to preparing the spices while Shen Muhan watched her rosy cheeks with a smile that revealed his fondness for her.
Xia Muxin sliced up several pieces of lean meat and fish while also kneading some dough.
"Are you going to fry something again?" Shen Muhan asked as he washed his hands, ready to help, thinking she was about to make something new.
"No, I'm just making some fish and shrimp meatballs," Xia Muxin replied without letting him assist, focusing on her task.
Shen Muhan returned to the stove, watching her skilled movements while adding more firewood.
Xia Muxin finished preparing the fish meatballs and noticed that the water in the pot was boiling vigorously. She called out, "Uncle, please help me take these bamboo skewers out and soak them in clean water."
Shen Muhan listened to her and fished out the bamboo skewers, placing them in a Wooden Basin filled with clean water.
After a moment, Xia Muxin added her prepared ingredients to the pot, sautéed them lightly for a few moments, and then quickly scooped them out. She began threading meat skewers and fish slices onto the skewers.
As Shen Muhan watched her thread a few skewers, he took the soaked bamboo skewers out of the basin and placed them into a clean basket beside Xia Muxin. He then emptied the Wooden Basin and found a clean cloth to wipe away the water stains before placing it at Xia Muxin's feet.
"Uncle, you..."
Seeing this, Xia Muxin was somewhat incredulous, her eyes wide as she stared at him.
"Didn't you say that a husband should support his wife?"
Shen Muhan chuckled as he stood up, picked up a bamboo skewer from the side, and began to thread it just like she did.
At that moment, Xia Muxin found herself at a loss for words. With such a husband, what more could she ask for?
"Ah, the Old Fish Family hasn't sold their beans this year either. I heard that they can't even afford meat for the New Year. They don't have anyone to rely on; those two old folks are really pitiful."
As they were working together in harmony, Summer Old Man and Summer Forest walked in carrying a basket. They rummaged through the kitchen shelves for a few items and sighed as they spoke.
Upon hearing this, Xia Muxin paused her movements and asked her father, "Dad, is it soybeans? How many do we have?"
"Yes, about fifty or sixty pounds. In previous years, someone would come to collect them around New Year’s, but this year no one has come. The old couple took their beans to Town to sell by ox cart, but the market had already closed down. They couldn't sell even a single bean and can't afford the cart fees; they're crying at the door," Summer Forest explained with a sigh.
Xia Muxin knew some details about the Old Fish Family. They originally had both sons and daughters; however, one son had gone mad while another was paralyzed. Both daughters-in-law had committed suicide when life became unbearable. Their daughter married far away and couldn't return even once a year. The elderly couple was over seventy years old and still had to support their two sons; they were considered one of the most unfortunate families in Daimiao Village.
"Uncle, let Ming Yi and the others help out with this. I'll step out for a bit."
Upon hearing this, Xia Muxin's eyes lit up. She leaned closer to Shen Muhan and whispered something before walking over to her father. She took his arm and cheerfully said,
"Dad, are you going to the Old Fish Family? I want to go with you."
As she spoke, she grabbed about two pounds of meat and a three-pound fish, placing them into the basket held by Summer Forest. Before Summer Forest could react, he was pulled out by Xia Muxin.
Shen Muhan called Ming Yi and the others in, briefly explaining the process of what needed to be done before demonstrating it himself and then leaving the kitchen.
When Xia Muxin returned, Summer Forest was busy carrying dozens of pounds of beans on his shoulder. Upon her return, Xia Muxin quickly set up a large water tank to soak the beans.
Ah, it seemed all her little jars would come in handy now.
"Muxin, what are you planning to do?"
After soaking the beans, Xia Muxin rummaged through the storage for something, and Summer Forest followed her, asking curiously.
"Dad, I'm looking for Gypsum."
Hearing this, Summer Forest hesitated.
"Are you going to make tofu?"
Making tofu definitely required Gypsum; even country folks knew that.
"Yes, Dad. Do you remember where we put the Gypsum? I thought we stored it in this room."
"I know, I know..."
*
Before night fell, the Xia Family lit their lanterns. The flickering flames danced within the red lanterns, creating a hazy and surreal atmosphere. Songzi stood at the door for a long time, unable to decipher what was painted on the lanterns.
Xia Muxin had Ming Yi and the others help her light the grill. She cleaned the iron plate for roasting Cartoon Cake and placed it on the grill, using two small iron rods that she had washed, positioning them ten centimeters below the plate. Then, she began to grill various skewered foods on the rods.
The iron plate was brushed with a layer of oil, and beside it stood a small table covered with many wooden boxes, each containing different ingredients such as Five-Spice Powder, Sichuan Pepper Powder, pepper, cumin, and more.
It had taken her quite a while to prepare all of these.
Everyone watched in curious amazement as Xia Muxin skillfully turned the skewers on the rods. In no time, they began to sizzle, filling the air with the mouthwatering aroma of grilled meat and fish. Seeing that some of the food was nearly done, she took it off and placed it on the top plate before putting new skewers onto the rods.
Then she added seasonings to the cooked skewers; these had already been marinated beforehand, so they only needed a little finishing touch.
On the nearby table sat a large platter where Xia Muxin placed all the edible skewers and called everyone over to taste.
With Ming Yi and their group numbering over twenty people, Xia Muxin had prepared more than enough skewers.
After tasting, everyone displayed expressions of disbelief and praised her cooking endlessly.
Seeing this, Xia Muxin smiled and made space for them to grill themselves. This was simple enough; anyone could do it just by watching her since she had prepared everything.
Next, she cooked a large pot of porridge with Goji Berries and pork ribs before finally starting on the rice.
Knowing that there would be plenty of barbecue, she didn’t cook much rice and casually stir-fried ten different dishes. However, each one was meticulously crafted, resembling exquisite pieces of art.
This might have been their most unique and delicious New Year's Eve dinner. After eating their fill, everyone voluntarily began to wash the dishes.
The night was quiet and still.
The countryside's New Year's Eve was not as lively as in Town. There were no lantern displays or acrobatics to watch. Villages closer to Town would usually join in the festivities, but their village was too far away for that. Yet, unlike usual nights when lights were turned off early, every household was illuminated at this hour.
As the saying goes, "The fire must not go out on New Year's Eve," meaning that even a tiny spark in the stove was acceptable. The lights on New Year's Day were meant to stay lit throughout. Xia Muxin learned this from her family; at that moment, they were burning charcoal in their stove while hanging various fish and meats above it.
Ming Yi and his group took Songzi and Sister-in-law to Town for some fun since they had never experienced New Year's Eve there. Exhausted, Xia Muxin didn’t dare move her fingers; instead, she sat on her bed with her eyes closed to rest.
Suddenly, the door creaked open. Without looking, she knew who it was; after all, her room's light was still on.
Shen Muhan walked in and noticed Xia Muxin had her eyes barely open. He took off his shoes, socks, and outer robe before slipping under the covers. With long arms, he pulled her close, allowing her to find a comfortable position against him. He lowered his head and gently pressed a kiss on her forehead, then spoke with concern.
"Look at you, exhausting yourself like this every day."
Xia Muxin nestled against his solid chest, a hint of a smile playing on her lips as she sleepily replied, "The whole year's plan lies in spring. I need to finish these experiments and get satisfactory results. Only then can I make money when spring comes."
When she arrived, it was midsummer; many things couldn't be planted or stepped on. She had missed too much, and once the year passed, she became busy.
"Weren't you supposed to come with me to the capital? Why are you still thinking about all this?"
Shen Muhan was somewhat displeased with her words and pinched her nose lightly as he spoke.
"Going there doesn't mean I won't come back. Besides, I have to sort things out at home so that my brother and the others can expand the business. My dream is to make my own name known throughout the world."
"You have such grand ambitions, and you're quite greedy too."
Upon hearing this, Shen Muhan couldn't help but chuckle.
"Aren't you the one who shamelessly wants to cling to me? What’s this? Having second thoughts?"
Xia Muxin opened her eyes and playfully glared at him.
"Second thoughts? Ha! Every day I want to merge with you. By the way, when will you give me that right?"
Shen Muhan also smiled mischievously. His large hand began to wander restlessly across his chest, touching a few times before he pondered aloud.
"It’s been a while since I’ve touched; it seems like there’s been some growth."
Xia Muxin swatted his hand away, shot him an annoyed look, muttering something about his lack of seriousness before turning over to sleep.
Shen Muhan wrapped his arms around her from behind, and they both fell into silence.
The next day, Xia Muxin was awakened by the loud crackling of firecrackers.
She turned over and noticed that Shen Muhan was no longer there, but the warmth beside her lingered, along with his unique scent. A smile crept onto her lips as she got up to get dressed.
Descending the stairs, she saw her aunt, Xia Jihua, cooking noodles in the kitchen, so she stepped outside.
There, she found Shen Muhan basking in the sunlight that had just emerged, with the Golden Python coiled beside him.
Having been busy these days, she had neglected her Python Brother. Xia Muxin bounced over to them and cheerfully said, "Uncle, Python Brother, Happy New Year!"
Shen Muhan raised an eyebrow; he had grown accustomed to her occasional odd behavior. The Golden Python flicked its tail and lifted its head in response.
He thought his goddess had been ignoring it, which had made it feel down for several days.
Xia Muxin realized that it had been feeling neglected lately and opened her arms to hug it. However, halfway there, she was pulled into Shen Muhan's embrace instead. He leaned closer to her ear and whispered, "Its wife will get jealous if she sees this."
- End of Chapter -
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