Chapter 25: From an Empty Home to a Stocked Storehouse

"Wait."

Lu Qingshan slowly loosened his arms that had been tightly hugging his wife and daughter.

But his large hand still gently rested on Lin Yue'e's slightly trembling shoulder, conveying silent comfort and strength.

He turned around and strode toward the eaves.

There, the processed Roe Deer hung, leaving a faint scent of blood that spread the unique aroma of the mountains.

Lu Qingshan moved deftly, his hand raised and the knife fell, removing two especially plump front legs.

He then cut a large piece of meat with skin and bone from the rib rack.

The hunters in the mountains are honest; they never skimp on meat and always give the best cuts.

He grabbed the grass rope he carried, carefully tied the meat tightly, then turned and handed it to Liu Fugui.

"Monkey, take it."

His voice was steady.

"Take it home and make stew meat soup for your younger brother and sister, good for restoring the body."

Liu Fugui stared at the heavy, freshly oily meat piece, his eyes widening to the point of bulging, his Adam's apple rolling uncontrollably, and his mouth almost spewed saliva on the spot.

His cheeks flushed bright red, his hands flailed anxiously, as if burned by something scalding.

"No, no, no! Brother Lu Qingshan! This… this is too much! Too valuable! I can't accept! I…"

"If I tell you to take it, you take it!" Lu Qingshan's tone left no room for doubt, exuding a big‑brother authority, and he shoved the meat straight into his chest.

"From now on, work solidly with me, and there will be enough meat!"

"Hurry back, it's getting late, don't let your younger brother and sister go hungry at home."

"Ah! Ah! Thank you, Brother Lu Qingshan! Thank you, Brother Lu Qingshan!"

Liu Fugui clutched the heavy hope in his arms, feeling as if he were holding a red‑hot branding iron, scorching his heart to a tremor.

He felt as if he were dreaming; everything seemed unreal.

His excitement made him somewhat incoherent, and he bowed to Lu Qingshan and Lin Yue'e several times, each bow nearly ninety degrees.

Then, taking three steps while looking back, he cradled the meat as if it were a priceless treasure, turned, and ran away swiftly.

Zhao Tiezhu chuckled innocently, grinning at Lu Qingshan, and said, "Brother Lu Qingshan, I'll come find you tomorrow morning."

"Alright, go back." Lu Qingshan nodded.

After seeing the two off, the creaking, dilapidated courtyard gate was shut again.

In the courtyard, only Lu Qingshan and his wife and daughter remained.

The cold wind blew, stirring a few scattered dead leaves on the ground, producing a rustling sound.

Lin Yue'e still had wet tear tracks on her face, and Lu Qingshan's unequivocal arrangement and heavy promise left her a little stunned.

She stood still, momentarily forgetting the deep‑seated Fear and the heart‑rending anger she had just felt.

She simply stared blankly at the husband before her, both familiar and utterly strange, her gaze tangled like a knot.

Lu Qingshan stepped before her, looking at her swollen, red eyes and pale, haggard cheeks; guilt surged in his heart, as if something had yanked him hard.

He carefully, with a hint of hesitation, gently took her icy, piercing cold hand.

The hand instinctively flinched, bearing a conditioned reflex of Fear formed over long years.

But this time, it ultimately did not pull away.

Then, Lu Qingshan bent down and gently lifted Xiao Xue, who was still naively looking at him with her clear, big eyes.

The little girl seemed still a bit scared, her body slightly stiff.

But in her father's warm, solid embrace, after a hesitation, her delicate little arms still wrapped around his neck.

Her small head, shyly, rested on his broad shoulder.

Lu Qingshan's heart, in that instant, softened to mush, almost melting into water.

He spoke in a gentler voice than ever before to Lin Yue'e: "Let's go inside first; it's too cold outside."

"Let me show you something good."

With one arm cradling his tiny daughter and the other holding his still somewhat awkward wife, he led them into the low, shabby west room.

When Lin Yue'e's gaze fell upon the pile on the floor that was almost a small mountain, she was utterly stunned!

Her breath caught sharply, eyes bulging, and she instinctively covered her mouth, hardly daring to believe what she saw!

It was… cotton? Snow‑white, piled as high as a small hill, weighing dozens of kilograms! Next to it were several bolts of brand‑new fabric, thick gray‑blue and soft cotton‑white, neatly stacked. Beside that, a heavy sack of rice, its mouth open, revealing plump grains. There was also a bucket of golden kerosene, a few spools of white thread, and even a set of brand‑new enamel pots, bowls, plates, and chopsticks and spoons, gleaming with a lustrous sheen…

It filled the floor, almost occupying half the room!

Is… is this the whole Supply and Marketing Cooperative moved back here?!

The massive impact made her forget to breathe for a moment, her heart pounding wildly!

"Is… did you buy all this?"

Her voice trembled incoherently, fingers shaking as she pointed at the abundant supplies that still looked lavish under the dim light.

"Hmm." Lu Qingshan lightly nodded.

Seeing her speech‑less shock, an indescribable sense of satisfaction rose in his heart.

"Lucky break: a few days ago I dug up a decent Old Mountain Ginseng in the mountains and sold it for a good sum."

He tried to keep his tone flat.

"Thinking of everything lacking at home, I bought it all back."

"Yue E, now this winter will be enough."

"We can make a few thick cotton jackets and pants for you two, and two warm new quilts as well."

Lin Yue'e extended her hand, trembling, and gently brushed the soft, fluffy new cotton that seemed to still emit a sunlit scent.

The touch was so warm and dry, she could even imagine how warm a coat or quilt made from it would be.

She touched the thick, stiff, freshly laundered denim again, feeling its sturdy, wear‑resistant texture at the fingertips.

Tears slid down silently again.

This time, it wasn't from fear, nor from grievance.

But it was the excitement that had been suppressed for far too long, an unbelievable happiness striking her long‑numb heart.

It's been years……

She had always dreamed of tearing a piece of new cloth for her child to make a decent garment, but the family's money had been taken by that bastard for gambling, so she could only alter her own old clothes over and over, the whole family patching patches upon patches.

She had always dreamed of having a thick, warm quilt so her daughter could sleep soundly on cold winter nights, instead of now, when mother and daughter shiver under thin, stiff old blankets……

Who would have thought, all of this actually came true!

Just like a dream!

Xiao Xue was also drawn to all these colorful things before her.

She didn't know cotton cloth, but with a child's keen eyes she instantly saw the colorful candy wrappers peeking out of the plump oil‑paper bundle beside her.

She pointed with her little hand and called out in a childish voice, "Sugar… sugar…"

Lu Qingshan laughed heartily, tore open the oil‑paper packet, and revealed the assorted fruit candies inside.

He took out two, placing one into Xiao Xue's small mouth that had opened in surprise.

The other, he carefully and gently, with a hint of awkward tenderness, brought to Lin Yue'e's lips.

"Try it, it's sweet."

Xiao Xue immediately beamed, her little mouth happily smacking, she mumbled, "Sweet… so sweet…"

Lin Yue'e gazed at her husband's face, showing a tenderness she had never seen before, then at her daughter's happy, satisfied little face, and her heart gave a sudden jolt.

She hesitated a moment, then slightly opened her dry lips and closed them around the candy.

A rich fruit sweetness instantly melted on her tongue.

That sweetness slid down her throat, spreading throughout, until it sweetened every limb and reached the softest, driest place in her heart.

"Daddy, Mommy, eat candy! Sweet sweet!"

Xiao Xue, leaning against her father's leg.

At this moment she had peeled another two candies.

She held up the two candies in her hand, her speech indistinct.

In a childish voice, one in each hand.

She tiptoed, stretching to reach the mouths of Lu Qingshan and Lin Yue'e.

Lu Qingshan and Lin Yue'e exchanged a smile, their eyes reflecting a hint of shyness and boundless affection.

They simultaneously bent down.

They opened their mouths.

They received the sweetness their daughter offered.

That small candy, yet brimming with weighty hope.

The candy slowly melted in the mouth, a delicate sweetness.

Like a spring breeze, it brushed over the heartland, straight to the softest part of the soul.

"Truly sweet."

On Lin Yue'e's face, at last appeared an extremely faint yet utterly genuine smile.

The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, and the edges of her eyes and brows were suffused with warmth.

"Our Xiao Xue is so well‑behaved!" Lu Qingshan rubbed his daughter's soft little head, his voice tinged with a sob he himself hadn't noticed.

The three of them smiled at each other.

In this shabby, dilapidated west room, although the walls were still bare, it seemed as if a sunshine called "hope" had instantly illuminated it completely.