Chapter 719: Don't You Dare Push Yourself

Fu Yan Cheng followed the dirt road through the village, running three laps around Liu Chuxue's house before returning to the Liu family home.

The moment he stepped into the courtyard, he found everyone already up, the yard filled with the smell of scallion pancakes.

Liu Mother watched him enter the yard: "Yan Cheng, hurry and wash your hands, it's almost time to eat."

Having said that, she smiled and called to her niece: "Dujuan, don't be so stiff. From now on, your aunt's home is your home."

One look at her niece's face told her the girl hadn't rested well the night before.

Dujuan was clever too: "Auntie, don't worry. I was just too excited, I didn't fall asleep until very late last night."

Only after hearing her say that did Liu Mother set her mind at ease.

The reason she had gotten up so early—was it any different from her niece's? Thinking that at last there was news of her elder brother, she was afraid it might all be a dream. Although her elder brother was gone, with her niece here, she was a woman with family of her own.

Dujuan took a deep breath: "Auntie, the pancakes you made smell really good."

Thinking of how, when she was with her adoptive mother, such fine food had never been her share, she couldn't help feeling a sting in her nose.

Before Liu Mother could say anything, she threw her arms around her: "Auntie, it's so wonderful to have found you."

As she spoke, she even rested her head on Liu Mother's shoulder.

The moment Chunxiao walked into the kitchen and saw this scene, she was thoroughly displeased: "Mom, when can we eat? I'm starving."

Liu Mother, with her back to Chunxiao, didn't see the expression on her face: "Carry the shredded radish over, we can eat right away."

Seeing Dujuan still leaning against her mother, Chunxiao said: "Cousin, come and lend a hand too."

Dujuan, hearing this, felt her cousin hadn't treated her as an outsider, and was naturally pleased: "Alright."

Perhaps people in good spirits find joy in everything—the scallion pancakes this morning were truly delicious.

Once everyone was seated, Liu Chuxue took a bite and said: "Mom, these pancakes this morning are really good."

Liu Mother smiled and helped herself to a piece: "If they're good, eat more."

Only Chunxiao piped up: "If you put this much oil in the pancakes on a normal day, they'd taste just as good."

Everyone naturally understood what she meant.

Dujuan glanced at the pancakes in the basin, then at her cousin sitting across from her, and felt a warm glow inside.

She thought: Auntie must have added more oil so I could eat well. From now on, I must treat Auntie with the utmost devotion.

Liu Chuxue, however, shot Chunxiao a glare, warning her not to say any more of that nonsense, or else don't blame her for setting her straight.

Chunxiao naturally read her second sister's warning clearly. In a place where no one else could see, she rolled her eyes at Dujuan, but in the end, fearing her second sister would set her straight, she caused no more trouble.

The interplay between the two sisters naturally did not escape Fu Yan Cheng's eyes. He glanced at Chunxiao, thinking this little sister-in-law was becoming less and less likeable.

After the meal, Chunxiao slung her satchel over her shoulder and headed out.

Dujuan was kept at home to keep Liu Mother company in conversation.

Liu Chuxue changed into a set of patched clothes, and together with Liu Father and Fu Yan Cheng, pushed a handcart toward the back mountain.

Once the handcart reached the foot of the mountain it could go no further, so they found a place to hide it. The three of them took up carrying poles, rope, a hatchet, and a back basket and headed up the mountain.

Liu Father turned to look at Fu Yan Cheng: "Don't you dare push yourself."

Fu Yan Cheng nodded: "I know my limits."

Half-grown children from the outer village often came here to gather firewood. The three chatted as they made their way toward the inner perimeter.

After they had walked a good stretch, Liu Chuxue released her spiritual sense and swept the area in a circle, subtly guiding them toward the direction she wanted to go.

Fu Yan Cheng, sharp-eyed, spotted a dead tree: "Xue'er, there's a dead tree ahead."

When villagers came up the mountain to chop firewood, they could hack at brambles, they could chop the branching limbs off large trees, but they couldn't fell an entire tree for firewood—unless it was a dead tree.