FDNL CH 07

Chapter 7 – Sweet Potatoes

Originally, Su Lianyi had only planned to wash a few changes of clothes—
but before she knew it, she’d washed everything in the yard,
including piles of filthy bedding.

Practice makes perfect—
she actually began to master the art of washing clothes.
It had been years since she’d done it herself.
Back in the modern world, she’d been too busy with work—
and besides, there was a miraculous invention called the washing machine.

Still, she had to admit—
using a wooden basin with soapberry powder, soaking the clothes,
and stomping on them with her feet
was both efficient and surprisingly effective.
It worked on the same principle as pounding laundry with a stick—
basically, the ancient version of a front-loading washer.

Su Family Village was in the north, where the air was dry.
It was early summer now,
so by morning, the first batch of washed clothes was already half-dry.

Before dawn, a few roosters started to crow.
As the sun rose, they joined together in full chorus—
their triumphant cries filling the quiet countryside.

***

Dahu woke up, still wearing the same clothes he had changed into last night.
They were dirty, yes,
but at least cleaner than the ones he wore for fieldwork—no mud.

“Morning.”

In the yard, Lianyi paused from her morning stretches
and greeted him with a smile.

The man lifted his eyes. His face stayed expressionless—
but his pupils suddenly widened.

All around the courtyard,
long ropes crisscrossed from wall to wall,
covered in brightly colored clothes and sheets fluttering in the morning breeze—
like rows of vivid flags dancing under the sunlight.

She had done all this?

His sharp gaze locked on her.

She was still plump, her greasy bangs now sticking to her round face with sweat.
Yesterday’s makeup—thick white powder and bright rouge—
had smudged overnight, leaving a blotchy mix of red and white.
She still wasn’t what anyone would call pretty.
Even the pimples on her cheeks hadn’t changed.

But her eyes…

They were clear—crystal clear—like a deep spring under moonlight.
Pure, yet unfathomable.

He stared at her; she stared right back.

She said nothing,
but that didn’t mean she couldn’t tell—
this man was no fool.
Far from it.

That aura around him—cold, restrained, dangerous—
it wasn’t something an ordinary farmer could possess.
That killing intent, that commanding presence…
he could only be someone trained—
a killer, or perhaps a former assassin.

Lianyi’s large round eyes narrowed slightly.
Her thick lashes lowered, hiding her calculating gaze.
If he had such skills and a sharp mind,
why would he pretend to be some dumb peasant husband
married off to a fat, ill-tempered woman?

It didn’t make sense—
unless this “Dahu” identity was nothing but a cover.

Her suspicion flickered for an instant,
then vanished behind a gentle smile.

“Dahu, change out of those dirty clothes.
I just washed a clean set for you.”

She walked over to the clothesline,
picked out a navy-blue short set, and handed it to him.

The man gave her a long, searching look,
then silently took the clothes and went inside to change.

***

Standing in the courtyard, Lianyi smiled faintly,
but her mind was racing.

Had she made a mistake by acting kind and calm?
Would it have been safer to keep pretending to be the rude, bullying Su Lianyi everyone feared?

But she just couldn’t bring herself to behave that way—
not after hearing from Uncle Ma how the original Su Lianyi had bullied the villagers.

She had thought escaping the Li family meant safety.
Now she realized—
the greatest danger was right here, at home.

The man called Dahu radiated quiet menace.
Living beside him felt like sleeping next to a caged beast—
one that might wake at any moment and bite.

Should she run?
It was tempting—but impossible.
She had no money, no plan, no understanding of this world.
In modern society, a woman alone was already vulnerable—
in ancient times, it would be suicide.

No. Running wasn’t the answer.
She’d just have to stay cautious—
and find a way to survive.

***

Dahu returned in less than two minutes.
He changed fast.

In the blue work clothes, his tall, lean figure looked even more striking.
He hadn’t bothered washing his hair,
just tied it carelessly on top of his head.
Without the mud covering it,
his face—full of festering sores—was even more terrifying to look at.
A perfect physique, ruined by a ruined face.

“Breakfast.”
He pointed toward the kitchen.

Lianyi blinked.
Breakfast… right.
They’d used up nearly everything yesterday—
the last of the flour, the last of the vegetables.

What now?

You can’t cook without ingredients, no matter how good you are.

“Dahu, do you know where I can buy food?”

Practical concerns came first—even if he really was an assassin.

He glanced north and pointed with his chin.

Lianyi followed his gesture.
Through the gaps between houses,
she spotted a white sign with red characters in the distance—
one of them read “粮” (grain).

A grain shop—just like a small grocery in her world.

Good.
But then she froze again.
She had no money.

Yesterday, when she’d cleaned the house, she had searched every corner—
not a single coin to be found.

“Dahu, do you have any money?” she asked, half hoping.

He shook his head, his eyes full of disdain.

Lianyi chuckled awkwardly.

“No money, huh? Then what’s with that look?”

He raised a brow.

“You went to the Li Manor yesterday. You took all the money with you.”

Her eyes widened—
oh, right!
She had given every bit of silver she had to Mama Liu yesterday,
trying to save her brother’s business.
No wonder that old woman’s attitude had changed so fast—
it must have been a generous amount.
Now she realized she’d handed over her grocery money too.

No wonder Dahu was looking at her like she was an idiot.

“Ahem…” she coughed, embarrassed,
rolling her eyes as she scrambled for an idea.

He might be dangerous,
but she couldn’t afford to anger him now.

“Wait here a moment, Dahu—I’ve got an idea.”
And she dashed back into the kitchen.

***

If she remembered correctly,
there were still a few sweet potatoes left.

Sweet potatoes—what a wonderful thing!
As Compendium of Materia Medica said,
they replenish energy, strengthen the spleen and kidneys,
and help longevity.
They could be eaten raw, steamed, boiled, or fried.

And there was one simple, delicious way to prepare them—
sweet potato cakes.

You just cut the sweet potatoes into pieces,
mix them with sugar and flour to form small patties,
and fry them in oil.
Crispy outside, soft inside—
sweet, filling, and full of energy.
The hospital cafeteria in her past life had served them every morning.
Comfort food, both tasty and practical.

Before long, a batch of golden-red sweet potato cakes sizzled out of the pan,
shiny and fragrant, making her mouth water.

***

After yesterday’s “pig food” surprise,
Dahu didn’t dare underestimate her cooking again.
He sat at the table,
glaring suspiciously at the three golden cakes on a white plate,
as though deciding whether to risk poisoning himself.

Lianyi took a seat too—
but at the far end of the table,
keeping a healthy distance between them,
alert as ever.

He noticed her caution but said nothing.
After a brief hesitation,
he finally picked up one of the cakes.
His brows twitched,
then he took a bite.

The moment the taste hit his tongue,
his face contorted.
He quickly grabbed the nearest cup of tea
and gulped it down.

Lianyi froze.
Was it that bad?
Her perfectionist heart couldn’t accept such failure.

“What’s wrong? Did I mess something up?”

Dahu drained the entire cup,
his throat working as he swallowed hard.
Only after a long moment did his brow finally relax.

“Too sweet,” he said flatly.

Lianyi blinked, speechless—
then couldn’t help laughing softly.