The flame of the oil lamp flickered in Chunfu’s eyes. Hearing him suggest she continue pretending to be foolish, she immediately protested, “I don’t want to. Why should I let them look down on me forever? I can live a dignified life too. No one is inherently superior to anyone else. Let them say whatever they want.”
Jicheng saw the mix of resentment, anger, and grievance in her eyes. Though young, she was stubborn, and the casual bullying and disdain from others had left deep scars on her heart. Because he had experienced it himself, he understood. He sighed, “You’re still too young. What’s the point of wasting time quarreling with those people? Such a stubborn girl—you say you don’t care what others say, but when they really start gossiping, you can’t bear it…”
Seeing he was about to lecture her seriously, Chunfu quickly interrupted, “I won’t pretend to be foolish anymore. Can’t I just stay away from them and live my own life? Stop frowning—you’re already so much older than me. If you get any older, you won’t be likable anymore.”
Jicheng’s expression stiffened at her last remark. How dare this girl be so bold? Yet, deep down, he found it somewhat pleasing. Keeping a straight face, he said, “Go to sleep. Tomorrow, I’ll go weed the fields. Wait for me at home, and I’ll cook for you when I get back. If anything happens, go find Sister Liansheng.” Then, as if making a solemn vow, he added firmly, “I won’t let Xiuhua or your sister-in-law bully you anymore. No one will. If they dare lay a finger on you, I, Jicheng, will throw away all dignity to make them pay double.”
When Chunfu had been “foolish,” she couldn’t cook, so Jicheng must have said that out of consideration. His final words filled her heart to bursting with joy and warmth. They lay down, the *kang* pleasantly cool. Jicheng’s bedding still left a gap between them—a distance that seemed as vast as the deep sea, though it could be crossed with just a step.
Jicheng was secretly delighted. Her recovery had been an unexpected blessing for him. She had grown even more lovely, and now they could chat and live like an ordinary couple. He felt invigorated—no one would dare bully her with him around. Spending his life with her, raising children together, filled him with sweetness. Unable to resist, he turned to look at her.
After the lamp was extinguished, the moonlight cast a hazy glow over her hair like a delicate mist. Sensing his gaze, Chunfu turned as well. In the quiet night, her voice, soft and alluring, effortlessly stirred a fire in him: “Why are you so far away? I sleep well—I don’t kick.”
Jicheng knew she slept soundly. Whenever he woke at night, she remained in the same position—small nose upturned, lips slightly pouted. He had often been tempted to steal a kiss but hesitated, feeling awkward without washing his mouth first. After a moment’s hesitation, he inched closer, shyly pulling her hand to his chest and closing his eyes. “Alright, sleep now.”
Chunfu had never really considered why this man, despite his desires, always held back like a monk. Only now did she realize that this man, who had lived over twenty years in this world, was even more reserved than she was—simply because of unspoken bashfulness.
Her palm was damp with sweat, but despite the discomfort, her heart fluttered at the sight of him. The night stretched on, and eventually, Chunfu fell asleep, their heads close together in silent intimacy.
Jicheng left at dawn. Chunfu vaguely sensed him getting up but was too drowsy to wake fully, sleeping until sunlight filled the room. She changed into a pale blue dress and set the old clothes aside in a wooden basin, planning to wash them along with Jicheng’s after breakfast.
Having often been sent to tend the fire by her sister-in-law before marriage, she skillfully gathered firewood and lit the stove. Instead of immediately cooking porridge, she first blanched the wild mustard greens and lamb’s quarters from yesterday, then soaked them in water before finally adding fresh water to boil the porridge. There were still a few leftover cornbread buns—just enough for the two of them.
Jicheng had already fed the pigs, chicks, and puppy before leaving. Once the pot boiled, Chunfu added the rice and had nothing else to do. She sat under the silk tree in the yard, its blossoms in full bloom. A breeze sent them swaying like little fans, delighting her. She thought of picking more later to stuff into pillows—sleep would be even sweeter with their fragrance.
Suddenly remembering the mushrooms stored inside, she worried they might have spoiled. They had carried them back with such effort, though they had shared plenty with Sister Liansheng and Third Uncle’s family. Two meals would finish them. But when she went inside, she couldn’t find them. After searching everywhere, she finally spotted them in the well and couldn’t help laughing—Jicheng had been thoughtful. Well, she’d go up the mountain in a couple of days to gather fresh ones and dry them properly for peace of mind.
The puppy, in its teething phase, had grown familiar with her. It bounded over, playfully tugging at her skirt with its teeth. Not wanting her new dress ruined, Chunfu scooped it up to take inside when a hoarse voice called from the gate: “Kind sister, could you spare a bowl of water?”
Turning, she saw a disheveled man with messy hair, looking somewhat worn but with an honest face. After a pause, he smiled. “I’m a traveler heading to the next village, but I’m too thirsty to go on. Could you give me some water?”
Chunfu nodded, fetched a bowl of water, and handed it to him. He drank it all in one go, thanked her, and left. She thought nothing more of it, assuming he was just a passerby. After rinsing the bowl with hot water, she busied herself seasoning the wild greens—slicing scallions, adding salt, vinegar, and sesame oil. If only they had sesame seeds, it would look even better.
Jicheng, worried she might go hungry, returned early. Staring at the food on the table in disbelief, Chunfu fetched clean clothes and handed them to him. “Change quickly. After eating, I’ll wash these. Why are you just standing there? Hurry up.”
He could hardly believe she could do all this after recovering. After washing his hands and changing, he sat down, picked up some cold greens with his chopsticks, and found them refreshingly crisp. Glancing at Chunfu, who sipped her porridge, she teased, “Hey, why are you eating pig food? Why aren’t you putting your chopsticks down?” Then she burst into laughter.
Jicheng still doubted. “This is really made from those weeds?”
“Why would I lie? Jicheng, let’s pick these flowers later—they’re so pretty. I’ll stuff them into pillows so we can smell them while sleeping. The day after tomorrow, I want to go up the mountain for more mushrooms. Will you come with me? The woods are too scary alone.”
Jicheng’s lips curled into a smile. “Alright, whatever you say.”
Meanwhile, in Dongpo Village, chaos erupted.
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