Chapter 110: Ancient Men Are Pretty Innocent
“Zi Yuan, something seems to have happened over there.” Chu Yu, who was standing on the rooftop sweeping snow, said while looking toward the village.
“Something happened? What happened?” Mo Ziyuan was stunned.
“It should be that last night’s heavy snow collapsed someone’s house, burying the people inside. They’re probably not going to make it.” Lin Xin listened attentively, faintly hearing a faint cry, and answered softly.
“Last night, someone’s house in the village collapsed, and they just dug the people out. Apparently, they were all frozen stiff.” Zhou Qi, who had gone to help sweep snow at Lin Xin’s home, came back carrying a broom, and his first words upon entering the door were these.
“Last night’s snow really came down heavy. Stepping into it reaches halfway up my calves.” Gao Yong followed behind Zhou Qi as he walked in, pointing to his already half-wet pant legs.
“Alright, all of you stop standing outside. Hurry in and drink a bowl of ginger soup. Those whose clothes are wet, go back and change them. It’s the middle of winter—do you all want to catch a cold?” Cui Shi shouted from the kitchen. He had gotten up early and, knowing they were going to sweep snow, had simmered a pot of brown sugar ginger soup. The aroma was so strong that Lin Xin hurried out after washing up.
“I say, Old Cui, ginger soup is ginger soup. Why did you put in so much brown sugar? We’re not delicate ladies!” After downing a bowl of ginger soup, Gao Yong smacked his lips and said.
“You stinking brat, it’s good enough that you have something to drink. If you keep being picky, next time Old Man will put some bitter herbs in your bowl!” Cui Shi picked up a wooden chunk from the ground and threw it at Gao Yong.
Gao Yong dodged aside, put down his bowl, and made a funny face at Old Cui: “Heh heh heh, you missed!” Then he darted out of the kitchen like smoke to go back to his room and change clothes.
“This stinking brat!” Cui Shi watched his retreating back, his beard twitching in anger.
The others didn’t dare say a word and obediently gulped down a bowl of sweet and spicy ginger soup. Though the taste in their mouths wasn’t great, a warm current indeed flowed from their stomachs to their limbs, making their entire bodies warm up.
By late morning, the snow gradually stopped. Only when the wind blew would some accumulated snow drift down from the trees. The weather seemed even colder than in the morning.
The village gradually became lively as everyone started clearing the snow in front of their own doors.
After busying for a morning, Lin Xin stewed a pot of lamb at noon, also stir-fried pork wrapped in dough and sweet-and-sour pork loin. Anyway, they were all a group of meat-eaters who could devour no matter how much she made. But just as they started eating, the courtyard gate was knocked on.
The few who had just picked up their bowls looked at each other. No one wanted to go open the door. In the end, Zhou Qi stuffed a piece of twice-cooked pork into his mouth, chewed it as he ran out.
The courtyard gate was opened, and Lin Feng stood outside with an embarrassed smile on his face.
“Lin Clan Leader? What’s the matter?” Zhou Qi swallowed the meat in his mouth and asked. He had only opened the door to half a person’s width, his tall frame still blocking the doorway, clearly with no intention of inviting the visitor in.
Lin Feng was somewhat unhappy, but thinking that he had come with a request, he forcibly suppressed his displeasure. With a smile on his face, he asked, “Is Xin Yatou at your home? I have something with her. Can you ask her to come out?”
“Looking for Miss Lin? What’s the matter?” Zhou Qi instinctively felt it wasn’t anything good and casually asked.
Lin Feng choked, thinking in his heart, what business is it of yours!
Zhou Qi realized it at this point, his face turning awkward. He tossed out, “Wait here, I’ll call her for you,” and went back to the kitchen.
“Who came?” Seeing him enter, Gao Yong stuffed meat into his mouth and asked when he had a moment.
“Lin Clan Leader came, looking for Miss Lin.” Zhou Qi looked at Lin Xin and added, “Probably nothing good. You’d better be mentally prepared.”
Lin Xin nodded and patted the head of Lin Nan, who was tugging at the corner of her clothes. “I’ll go out and see.”
When she reached the door, Lin Feng was hesitating whether to enter the courtyard himself. Seeing this, she asked, “Uncle Feng, are you looking for me?”
Seeing her appear, Lin Feng put on some airs as clan leader. “Xin Yatou, I’ll be straightforward with you. Last night’s heavy snow collapsed several houses in the village. The people are still alive but have no place to live. I see you’re staying here with Nan Nan anyway, so why not let those people stay at your home first? When spring comes, they can build houses and move out.”
“Heh,” Lin Xin sneered, “Clan Leader, this idea probably wasn’t yours, right?”
Under her piercing gaze, Lin Feng was a bit embarrassed. “It was Duo Yatou from your third uncle’s family who said it. I actually didn’t want to agree, but you understand the villagers’ situation. There’s really no other way, so you see…”
“Uncle Feng, don’t mention this again. I don’t need to tell you what the villagers are like. They sound good now, but what if they refuse to leave later? My house is newly built—what if they dirty it? Worse, what if they deliberately damage my house? Who will handle it then? You, Uncle Feng?”
“This… it wouldn’t go that far! We’re all from the same village…” Lin Feng couldn’t continue the rest himself. Besides Old Zhao’s family at the village head, the others whose houses were collapsed by the snow were all lazy good-for-nothings. He really couldn’t guarantee that the situation Lin Xin described wouldn’t happen.
“Uncle Feng, go back and tell Lin Duo that if she thinks her life is too good, she can keep coming to provoke me. If I let her off again, then I won’t be surnamed Lin.”
Startled by the fierceness in Lin Xin’s eyes, Lin Feng’s previously muddled mind cleared up. He couldn’t help mentally slapping himself. Where was Duo Yatou giving him advice to settle the villagers? She was clearly making him come disgust Lin Xin. This girl was truly a bad seed, incorrigible!
“Alright, today, just pretend Uncle never came. I’ll definitely pass on the message.” Lin Feng wiped his face and left after speaking.
Lin Xin stared at his back with a face full of coldness.
“What’s wrong?” Mo Ziyuan saw she hadn’t come back in and came out to check, just in time to see her coldly looking outside the door, so he asked.
“Nothing, just someone starting to get restless and wanting to cause trouble again.” Lin Xin briefly told him what had just happened.
“Truly detestable to the extreme!”
Hearing the disgust in Mo Ziyuan’s tone, Lin Xin tilted her head and smiled at him. “Don’t get angry over such people. Sooner or later, I’ll deal with her.”
“I’ll help you then.”
“Alright,” Lin Xin laughed out loud, “Then I’ll bring along a big man like you to find trouble with a young lady. What do you think?”
Mo Ziyuan looked at her laughing like a little fox, feeling an inexplicable itch in his heart. He couldn’t help but reach out and gently touch her face, then quickly withdrew his hand as if electrocuted once he realized it.
Lin Xin: “…” Such little courage?
“Ahem, it’s pretty cold out. If nothing’s wrong, hurry back in!” After speaking, Mo Ziyuan walked toward the kitchen first, his steps slightly hurried.
Lin Xin laughed heartily behind him. Men in ancient times were quite pure. It was just touching a face! Was it necessary to flee in panic!
She turned to close the courtyard gate properly and followed toward the kitchen. She hadn’t finished her meal yet!
