Chapter 8

Li Xuewu saw his sister staring at his eating posture in surprise and made a face at Li Xue.

Li Xue, seeing her second brother’s teasing, smiled faintly and lowered her head to continue solving her problems.

Liu Yin had just picked up the shoe sole she was mending when she saw Li Xuewu eating rapidly; she hurried to pour him a cup of water.

“Why eat so fast? Be careful you choke.”

“Mom, I’m used to it—back then, meals had time limits, and I got used to it; I can’t change now.”

“Chew slowly when you eat, or you’ll get stomach problems. Once we’re home, take your time to fix it. Besides, this eating style is uncouth—what if you ever visit your future in-laws? You’ll scare them.”

Hearing Liu Yin’s teasing, Li Xuewu wasn’t bothered, but Li Xue couldn’t help letting out a soft “chirp” of laughter.

Zhao Yafang also couldn’t help laughing.

As Li Xuewu listened to Liu Yin speak, he finished three corn cakes and a bowl of porridge, rose with his bowl, and went to the washbasin to rinse it; after wiping his hands, he saw Da Lao rising to leave and asked quickly, “Where’s Da Lao going?”

Da Lao tightened her cotton-padded jacket. “To feed the horse.”

Li Xuewu went back inside, put on his military greatcoat, and followed her out.

Between Li’s house and the second gate stood a shed, where a tall, chestnut-colored horse kept nodding its head and tugging at its rope.

The Li family also had a cart parked outside the back room’s wall, its canopy covered with felt cloth.

Ye Ye pointed to the hay pile by the wall and told Li Xuewu to chop a basketful with the cleaver, then hacked off a piece from a soybean cake, soaked it in hot water, and mixed it into the hay; Da Lao sprinkled in some coarse salt.

When Li Xuewu dumped the basket of feed into the trough, the big horse finally lowered its head to eat.

Seeing Li Xuewu seemed fond of the horse, Da Lao instructed him to watch until the horse finished eating, then remove the trough and bring two buckets of water for it to drink.

Da Lao turned and went back inside.

Li Xuewu stroked the top of the big chestnut horse’s head; the horse impatiently shook it off, but Li Xuewu didn’t mind—he kept teasing it until the horse stopped resisting.

His former self had known how to ride and care for horses; as a child, during summer and winter breaks at Da Lao’s, he’d helped tend them.

He’d liked this horse—its frame was large, its stature tall, clearly a fine steed; unfortunately, this era could only use it as a draft horse.

As Li Xuewu was playing with the horse, a fat man in a blue cotton-padded jacket walked into the courtyard, hands behind his back, swaying with each step, radiating an air of self-importance.

“Second Uncle, off work already?”

Seeing him, Li Xuewu greeted him out of habit, and at once a flood of new memories surged into his mind, making him frown.

Second Uncle nodded at Li Xuewu; in the dim light, he probably didn’t recognize who had spoken, but he didn’t stop—passed through the moon gate and headed toward the back courtyard of the Sihe Academy.

The central courtyard of this Sihe Academy was the largest and housed the most residents, clearly the liveliest.

Water boiled, meals cooked, adults called out, children shouted—a chaotic bustle.

In Li Xuewu’s front courtyard lived only his family and Third Uncle’s; Yan Jie and his wife lived in the side room by the third gate, while the other side room housed two more families—one facing the gate corridor, the other facing the central courtyard, likely for easier water access.

Li Xuewu carried a white iron bucket toward the central courtyard to fetch water for the horse, frowning as he processed the new memories about the neighbors, when suddenly he saw a graceful figure.

A Sword Alone Reigns

She wore a blue cotton jacket with tiny floral prints, her sleeves rolled high to reveal two pale, lotus-like arms, vigorously scrubbing clothes with a “swish-swish” sound.

“Damn, isn’t that Qin Guafu?”

Watching Qin Huaiju laboring in winter to wash clothes, her beauty was undeniable, her figure substantial—no wonder He Yuzhu later volunteered to donate blood.

Just then, as if sensing Li Xuewu’s gaze, Qin Huaiju looked up.

Must admit—aside from her character—this pretty widow was truly beautiful!

Without makeup, she outshone every internet celebrity of the future; her figure was exceptional, especially those peach-blossom eyes.

The large basin before her, mixed with hot water, steamed with white vapor; through the mist, her glances were endlessly alluring.

“You’re Xuewu, right? Much sturdier than a few years ago.”

Damn, why is the pretty widow saying I’m sturdy?

Qin Huaiju smiled, paused her work, and said warmly, “I heard you got assigned to the steel rolling mill—we’ll be colleagues now. If you need help, just tell Sister Qin, don’t be shy.”

“Thank you, Sister Qin.”

Li Xuewu’s lips twitched; he politely nodded and hurried two steps to the water tap, turning it on to release tap water.

(Must explain—modern readers’ minds wander too much.)

He was new here and didn’t want to immediately clash with a high-level tea-sipping widow like Qin Huaiju. Wait! Wait a while—I’ll cultivate first, then come back to subdue this demon.

Li Xuewu avoided Qin Huaiju, but Qin Huaiju didn’t let him off.

“You got assigned to the factory security office, right? Great job—easy, no hard labor. What position exactly?”

Holy shit! She’s checking my job? Is she gonna check my salary next? Am I being set up as He Yuzhu 2.0?

Seeing the bucket full, Li Xuewu turned off the tap, grabbed the bucket, and turned to leave, replying, “Don’t know yet.”

“Hey, kid, why rush off?”

Watching Li Xuewu’s back, Qin Huaiju gave him a playful glare, then her eyes darted, as if thinking of something, and she smiled sweetly, lips pursed.

Li Xuewu carried the bucket inside, lifted the pot lid, and poured the water in; the stove still had embers, perfect for warming it—later he’d pour it out to feed the horse.

Li Xuewu stood by the window, watching the courtyard lights, the faded red door, the dilapidated lintel, and the noisy voices within.

Li Xuewu suddenly smiled.

He Yuzhu, Xu Damao, the three uncles front, middle, and back, and that unruly Jia Dongxu.

In this era without phones or internet, a courtyard that occasionally erupted into chaos—life ahead would surely be wildly entertaining.

Feeling the water’s warmth, he scooped it into the bucket with a ladle, lifted the bucket, and pulled back the curtain to step outside.

As Li Xuewu placed the bucket beside the horse’s mouth and straightened up, he saw Da Yeye walking out with his hands behind his back.

Li Xuewu turned his head and greeted him.

“Going out, Da Yeye?”

Yi Zhonghai had already spotted this second boy of the Li family; years ago, he’d had several run-ins with the police station over him; now, his appearance and aura had changed.

“Ah, Xuewu’s back. Drop by sometime—your Da Yima told me to take out the trash.”

Seeing the bucket empty, Li Xuewu bent to pick it up and headed inside, replying, “Sure thing, I’ll come by when I’ve got time.”

He didn’t even look at Yi Zhonghai as he went inside.

Da Yeye had just exchanged a few words with Li Xuewu, trying to gather some information, when a half-grown boy carrying a soy sauce bottle burst into the courtyard—it was Yan Jiekuang, Third Uncle’s third son.

“Hey, Da Yeye, going out? Watch your step, don’t fall!”

Yan Jiekuang shouted and dashed off like smoke.

Yan Jie shouted once and bolted away like a streak of smoke.