Chapter 223: Speaking of a Bountiful Year in the Scent of Rice Flowers

Ying only then realized he had held her too tightly, making her uncomfortable; he slowly released her, squatted beside her, his eyes full of bright sparkle.

In those clear eyes reflected only Nan Qinghuan's image.

Warm affection.

Nan Qinghuan noticed the man becoming increasingly clingy; her voice softened involuntarily as she asked again, "What's wrong?"

Ying said nothing, simply gazing at her quietly; beside them lay the rice fields, the couple sitting on the embankment.

Under the setting sun, Ying's skin deepened with a wheat‑colored hue, looking very healthy.

"Ying?"

She sensed he had been watching her all along, "Am I dirty?"

She had been working in the fields and was very dirty; only then did Ying come to his senses, seeing her feet covered in filthy mud. He frowned slightly, "Don't move, I'll take you to wash."

She stayed still, allowing him to carry her; after he brought her to the riverbank, he found a clean stone slab, set her down, and then examined the mud on her feet.

"I'll wash you clean."

He stepped into the river to wash Nan Qinghuan's feet, but she grabbed his shoulder, looked around, noting how clear the water was, crystal‑clear to the bottom, feeling pleasant.

She thought… a bath!

Covered in mud and sweat, a bath would feel so good; in this Ancient Land era there was no pollution, the river clean as spring water.

"Ying, I want…"

Ying had intended to wash her feet, but hearing her stammer, he lifted his gaze in surprise, seeming to misunderstand; suddenly agitated, he grabbed her skirt, "Qinghuan, do you want to stay here?"

"Don't get the wrong idea, I just want a bath…"

"A bath?"

Ying, however, thought the place nice; since she wanted a bath, he replied, "Ah, I'm scared."

She knew what he intended; although no one was around, it would still make her shy.

Ying's breathing quickened, desire flashing in his eyes; they hadn't played in water for a long time.

"Don't be afraid, with me here no one dares to come."

Nan Qinghuan looked around, rested her hand on his broad shoulder, "Let's go back, A Mu is waiting for us to eat."

Ying didn't want to return; he didn't want to eat. He wanted… He leaned slightly forward, whispering into her ear, "I told A Mu we'll return later, Qinghuan, considering how hard I've been working, I…"

Nan Qinghuan couldn't resist his soft‑yet‑persistent cajoling, and agreed… the water's splash went 'pa‑pa', golden wind and jade dew met, surpassing countless things of the human world.

It was like rain striking Plantain leaves, like a gentle breeze; she, like a sailing boat, followed only his steps.

Together with him she entered the nine heavens to seize the moon, entered the great sea to catch the slippery.

Doing happy things with a lover.

The scorching sky, body soaking in water, felt very comfortable… the setting sun set and rose again.

Time passes like a White Horse galloping past.

The scorching summer finally was ending, and in these months the Tribe had undergone earth‑shaking changes.

On the Ancient Land two new Tulou rose from the ground: one built by Ying and Ashu, the other by the Wolf Tribe, which became, after the Ying Tribe, another tribe living in a Tulou.

When the news spread, other Tribes on the Ancient Land all began to envy greatly.

Some came seeking fame to see the Tulou, others to ask for experience; indeed, the Wolf Tribe befriended many people from smaller Tribes, who, seeing the Wolf Tribe's recent changes, were truly envious.

They all expressed a desire to ally with the Wolf Tribe, hoping the Wolf Tribe's people would help them build Tulou, plant corn, and live comfortable lives.

But those things of the Wolf Tribe were nothing; the most impressive was the Ying Tribe. After months of renovation, the Ying Tribe's Tulou, where Ashu and his people lived, was completed, built very tall, though still a bit different from the one they lived in, being constructed not far from their Tulou.

So any matter now had support.

The Ying Tribe's changes were also huge; within the tribe they cleared land for fields, raised wild boars, and members who once had nothing when houses were divided now gradually possessed their own property.

Private ownership arose within the Tribe.

A wild boar, a plot of land, the things in the field—all private.

Theft was not allowed.

Theft had to be dealt with according to Tribe Rules; now that members each had their own land, they cultivated peacefully, and no one would commit such acts.

Within the Ying Tribe, the rice‑flower village proclaimed a bountiful year.

In fields thick with Tengteng Grass, robust corn leaves swayed in the wind, making the fields a splendid sight.

The endless golden Rice spread under the sunlight; a breeze brought the scent of rice blossoms.

The rice ears were plump and attractive, the stalks thick and tall—over a person's height; these were Super Rice cultivated with Growth Water she obtained from the surroundings.

She hadn't expected the Ancient Land's black soil to be so suitable for rice; she merely experimented, yet it brought her great joy.

Youchao Xuan stood beside her, watching the scene, full of envy.

"It's so beautiful, this is the Divine Realm of my dreams, Goddess, I didn't choose the wrong person; I know you can change everything here, making everyone live happy lives."

Youchao Xuan and she stood on the embankment, watching the festive bounty; now the Tribe's food was plentiful and the population thriving, and in his eyes all this was thanks to Nan Qinghuan.

Nan Qinghuan, however, dared not claim credit; she felt her arrival had broken the Tribe's millennia‑long peace, and these achievements were not hers.

It was the Tribe's, and if they were unwilling to change, she alone could not alter anything.

"No, I dare not take credit; these are the result of the Tribe's hard work, of course with your help too. Without you our Tulou couldn't have been built. Youchao Xuan, thank you for following me. Rest assured, I won't disappoint you, nor will I disappoint your people."

Indeed, she promised Youchao Xuan to find a chance to return with him, to help solve a problem troubling the Tribe; Youchao Xuan had helped them so much without ever asking anything, and now she would return the favor.

However, she hadn't decided how to tell Ying, because she needed to go to Youchao Xuan to do that task, and Ying would not allow her to leave him.

That was indeed a troublesome matter.

Just as she was about to speak, Axi's cheerful voice came from behind, "Qinghuan, Youchao Xuan, they're here, the bonfire is lit, come quickly!"

These days the Ying Tribe's population was even more flourishing; in the past few months the women of the Tribe had given birth to over a dozen children, which delighted Ying greatly, but he noticed Nan Qinghuan's belly still showed no sign, and he kept urging her at night to bear a child.

He felt it was his own lack of effort; even Ayuan, two years younger than him, already had offspring, so his greatest task now was to make a child at night.

The bonfire evening became even more grand because of the crowd; when Nan Qinghuan and Youchao Xuan arrived, the long Wooden Table was laden with wild fruits and fine wine, and the Tribe's master carpenter had gradually supplied the furniture the members needed.

The tribe members already know that meals should be eaten at the table; the ground is dirty.

But learning to use chopsticks is still a long way off; they grew up grasping food with their hands, so picking up chopsticks is slow for them.

Nevertheless, they are all striving to adapt to chopsticks.

The blazing Bonfire burns, signifying that new hope and a new life are about to begin.

The tribe members, dressed in Hemp Robe skirts, dance and sway by the Bonfire, each face blooming with a happy smile.

The intoxicating scent of wine and the fragrant aroma of roasted wild boar make people linger endlessly.

"Qinghuan, come here."

Ying today wore a Hemp Robe and Hemp trousers, looking very spirited; his long hair was washed clean and twisted up with a wooden hairpin, his beard shaved, giving him the look of a mountain man.

He knows Nan Qinghuan and Youchao Xuan went together to the field, but this time he didn't eat sour vinegar, because he knows the Tribe's present state owes much to Youchao Xuan's effort, and he only respects Nan Qinghuan as a Goddess, without any romantic feelings.

This puts him at ease, yet he is still displeased that they have been together for so long; Qinghuan should be with him.

Nan Qinghuan saw him from afar, hurried forward and walked to his side; Ying reached out, caught her waist and let her sit in his arms, as if he wanted to hang her on his belt.

Not far away, Yao also arrived; he wore a Hemp Robe that made him look taller, and the vermilion mole on his face was as deep as fresh blood.

Seeing Ying holding Nan Qinghuan, a fleeting hint of loss passed through Yao's eyes; Yao stepped forward briskly and greeted the married couple.

"Ying, Spirit Woman."