Chapter 14
When Zhou Yao returned home, he found Wen Yue sitting beneath the eaves with a stool she’d dragged outside, a book cradled in her hands.
Leaning back against the chair, she lowered her head slightly. Wisps of hair slipped down along her cheeks, hanging softly in the air. From this angle, the elegant bridge of her nose seemed even more striking. Quiet and beautiful, she looked like a painting.
Zhou Yao found himself looking at her several times.
Sensing his gaze, Wen Yue finally emerged from her sea of knowledge and looked up. The moment she saw the tall figure standing by the courtyard gate, her eyes brightened.
“You’re back! How was it? Did they like the food?”
“Mhm.”
Zhou Yao responded lazily, glancing at the book in her hands.
“You got the books?”
Wen Yue nodded enthusiastically, her smile radiant.
“Yep! Nianqiu is seriously the nicest person ever. She even lent me all the notes she’d taken.”
Zhou Yao: “?”
Staring at her smiling face, he asked, “Is there anyone you actually think is a bad person?”
Wen Yue looked at him strangely.
“Of course there is.”
Her uncle and aunt, for starters.
“Did you deliver the meat? What did your friends say?” she asked.
Remembering the boast he’d made earlier, Zhou Yao rubbed the tip of his nose.
“They said it was delicious.”
Receiving the approval she wanted, Wen Yue’s eyes curved into crescents again.
“Then next time they’re free, invite them over for dinner.”
“We’ll see if there’s time.”
After a pause, he added, “Keep reading. I’m going to chop some firewood. We’re almost out.”
“Okay.”
Zhou Yao went into the kitchen, grabbed the chopping blade, and headed out.
About ten minutes later, he returned carrying a huge bundle of dry branches on his back and tossed it into the courtyard. Pulling out a small stool from the kitchen, he sat down and began sorting the messy pile into neat bundles.
It was unbearably hot.
He stripped off his dark-blue outer shirt and casually tossed it aside. Sweat rolled down his face, slid past his prominent Adam’s apple, and disappeared into the white undershirt clinging to his body.
The damp fabric hugged every contour of his chest.
Holding a branch thicker than Wen Yue’s arm in both hands, he exerted a little force. Veins immediately stood out along his forearms as the wood snapped cleanly in half.
Crack.
Crack.
The sound echoed continuously through the courtyard.
Unable to resist, Wen Yue glanced over.
The instant she did, her attention was captured by Zhou Yao’s physique.
This man’s body was ridiculously attractive.
She stole several more looks before hastily withdrawing her gaze, cheeks burning red.
Her eyes flickered nervously.
I wonder if I’ll ever get a chance to touch it.
She’d lived for more than twenty years and still didn’t know what abs actually felt like.
Before long, Zhou Yao finished organizing the firewood and carried the bundles into the kitchen one by one. After that, he shouldered a carrying pole with two buckets attached and headed out to fetch water.
Three or four trips later, the water tank was completely full.
The white undershirt on his body never had a chance to dry.
After hauling water, he swept the courtyard in front of their room, pushing all the poultry droppings toward the doors of the other two households.
Looking at the bedsheets fluttering in the courtyard, he called out,
“Should I bring the sheets inside?”
“Huh? I’ll do it later.”
It took him repeating himself twice before Wen Yue finally heard.
“Fine.”
Seeing that it was about time, Wen Yue put away her book, gathered the sheets, and brought them inside to remake the bed before heading into the kitchen.
If she started the chicken soup now, it’d be ready just in time for dinner.
“Oh right,” Zhou Yao said. “I’m going into the city again tomorrow. Need me to bring back anything? Or buy any groceries?”
Wen Yue blinked.
“Let me think about it. I’ll tell you once I decide.”
“Mhm.”
By now, she was quite comfortable handling ingredients.
She chopped the chicken in half—one half for soup, the other to braise with potatoes.
Her petite figure moved busily around the kitchen, constantly going back and forth.
Zhou Yao had already finished all his chores.
So he sat by the stove and watched.
Ever since his grandmother passed away, he’d lived alone.
Cooking alone.
Eating alone.
Doing everything alone.
The loneliness had become so unbearable that he often carried ingredients over to Fang Shitao’s house just so he wouldn’t have to eat by himself.
But afterward, he’d still return to a dark, empty home.
Alone.
Only now did Zhou Yao truly realize one advantage of being married.
At least…
he wasn’t by himself anymore.
“Zhou Yao!”
Wen Yue raised her voice.
The man turned his head, his gaze slightly unfocused.
“What are you thinking about? I told you to tend the fire. I’ve called you several times already!”
The confusion in his eyes gradually faded.
Picking up a handful of dry grass, he answered lazily,
“Yeah, yeah. I heard you.”
“The soup in the back pot needs a strong fire.”
A smile tugged at the corners of his eyes.
“Alright. Strong fire it is.”
The dry grass ignited instantly.
He shoved two bundles of firewood beneath the back stove.
Flames roared to life.
As Wen Yue washed, peeled, and diced potatoes, she said,
“Oh, if possible, can you buy me some sewing supplies tomorrow? Thread, fabric, or yarn—any of those would work.”
“As for food, maybe beef? Pork is fine too. I’ve been craving dumplings lately.”
There were no phones.
No computers.
No entertainment whatsoever.
Life was honestly a little boring.
And she didn’t particularly want to spend every day with her nose buried in books.
If she bought fabric and yarn, at least she could make handicrafts to pass the time.
“Sure. What color?”
“Black or white. Oh—and make sure it’s cotton!”
She’d heard that synthetic fabrics were extremely popular nowadays, but they were awful in summer—hot, stuffy, and uncomfortable.
Zhou Yao didn’t ask why.
“Got it.”
The chicken soup was left to simmer over low heat while Wen Yue started cooking the braised chicken and potatoes.
Not having a rice cooker was incredibly inconvenient.
Two pots weren’t enough.
There wasn’t even anywhere to cook the rice.
She had to finish the dishes first before she could use a pot to steam the rice.
The rich aroma of chicken soup soon filled the kitchen.
Before long, the savory scent of braised chicken and potatoes joined it.
The two fragrances intertwined and drifted out beyond the courtyard.
As dinnertime approached, villagers returning from the fields passed by the Zhou family home and immediately slowed to a halt.
“What smells so good?”
“Chicken stew, right? That’s definitely chicken!”
“They’re eating that well?”
“It has to be Zhou Yao. The guy’s got money. With a thousand yuan, he could eat chicken every day if he wanted!”
The crowd whispered among themselves, voices thick with envy.
But not everyone was impressed.
A few people sneered.
“With the way Zhou Yao wastes money running around all day, that thousand yuan will be gone before you know it.”
“He’s just lucky he had a good father. Otherwise he’d have starved to death long ago.”
“Exactly. Just wait. With his habits, he’ll be broke soon enough.”
“…”
“…”
Carrying out a basin of rinse water, Wen Yue froze when she saw a crowd gathered outside their courtyard, pointing and whispering.
“Zhou Yao, why are all those people standing outside our house?”
“Hm?”
Zhou Yao walked over to the gate and glanced outside.
Then he immediately lost interest.
“Don’t worry about them. They’re just bored.”
Hands shoved into his pockets, he returned to his stool and sat down in his usual relaxed sprawl.
“Oh. Okay.”
Since he wasn’t concerned, Wen Yue didn’t pay it any mind either and continued cooking.
By the time noises of banging and shouting erupted from next door, the rice had finished steaming.
She ladled the chicken soup from the back pot into a large basin and ordered Zhou Yao to carry it out.
Together, they quickly set the table.
Once everything was ready, Zhou Yao didn’t even need to be reminded.
Very knowingly, he returned to the kitchen to wash his hands, dried them with the towel hanging beneath the eaves, and sat down at the table.
Wen Yue smiled brightly.
“Look at you, washing your hands before eating now. So clean!”
Zhou Yao offered a perfunctory smile.
“That’s because you’ve taught me so well.”
Wen Yue gave him a thumbs-up.
“Comrade Zhou Yao, keep up the good work. The organization officially approves and commends your progress.”
Without responding, Zhou Yao picked up the iron ladle and filled two bowls with soup.
He pushed one toward her.
“Even food can’t keep your mouth busy.”
The chicken soup was wonderfully rich and flavorful.
The braised chicken with potatoes was even better.
The potatoes had absorbed the sauce until they were soft and creamy. The chicken was tender and firm without being dry.
Both dishes paired perfectly with rice.
Zhou Yao ate two huge bowls.
Even Wen Yue finished a full bowl herself.
The braised chicken and potatoes disappeared completely, leaving only a little soup behind.
Patting her slightly rounded stomach, Wen Yue covered her mouth and let out a tiny burp.
“We can save the soup and make noodles with it tomorrow morning. If you’re leaving early, cook yourself a bowl before you go.”
There was no way she’d be waking up that early.
“Okay.”
Zhou Yao stood and began clearing the dishes.
After storing the remaining soup, he washed the pot, filled it with water, and started heating bathwater.
Now it was Wen Yue’s turn to sit by the stove feeding in firewood.
Resting her chin on one hand, she watched the flames from the corner of her eye and poked the fire with a pair of tongs.
“Are you coming back late again tomorrow?”
“Mhm. It’ll take at least three or four hours to get back from the city.”
Wen Yue nodded.
“Then should I save some dinner for you?”
Zhou Yao lifted his gaze.
His dark eyes were bright and unreadable.
“Up to you. Leave some if you want. Don’t if you don’t.”
Wen Yue: “?”
“Fine.”
Seeing the water begin to boil, she stood up to fetch a bucket.
“Then I won’t leave any.”
She mixed hot and cold water into a large wooden bucket until it was full.
It looked heavy enough to break her arms.
Turning around, she looked at Zhou Yao and softened her voice.
“Zhou Yao, can you carry it inside for me? It’s too heavy. I can’t lift it.”
The corner of his mouth twitched.
“Carry it yourself. I haven’t eaten. No strength.”
Wen Yue’s eyes widened.
“Are you really that petty?”
“Yep.”
Shaking the water from his hands, Zhou Yao walked over with a half-smile and effortlessly lifted the bucket into the small bathing room.
“There. Go take your bath.”
Wen Yue shot him a playful glare before gathering her clothes and heading inside.
The glance was lively and enchanting, her eyes shimmering with unspoken charm.
Zhou Yao stood there, stunned for several seconds.
His heartbeat suddenly sped up.
His body temperature seemed to rise for no reason.
Frowning, he reached up and touched his forehead.
…Was he coming down with a fever?
