Chapter 6: Eye Contact

“No, it’s not.”

Yan Funing picked up a small bundle and moved her feet.

Inside the bundle were her clothes; there was no other luggage.

The two of them entered the house, one after the other.

The house had not been lived in for a long time. Even with slow steps, a significant amount of dust was kicked up, and the particles illuminated by the light drifted in the air.

Yan Funing had intended to ask him why he hadn't told his family that she was the one who had broken off their engagement, but seeing so much dust in the room, she could only shut her mouth and start tidying up.

Having just moved to the countryside, although there wasn't much luggage, organizing it still took quite a bit of time.

——

Midday.

Wan Niang blamed herself: “It’s all my fault for being useless.”

They had come out from the Fu residence without any rice or flour; they would have to go hungry.

“I brought some steamed buns when we left. We can just eat a little for lunch.” Fu Ciyi took out a cloth bag and placed it on the table. “In the afternoon, I’ll go into the mountains to gather firewood.”

And pick up some wild game while I'm at it.

As he spoke, he first gave a steamed bun to his mother.

Fu Beimo was quick; he grabbed one in each hand and began munching away.

Fu Nanyao took a steamed bun and placed it in Yan Funing’s hand: “Sister-in-law, eat quickly.”

Yan Funing: “Thank you!”

The weather was cold, and the buns had long since frozen hard.

Fu Beimo could only manage a few bites before he couldn't eat anymore, clamoring to go gather firewood.

Wan Niang said, “Might as well just eat the breakfast. Skipping one meal is fine, it’s just hard on my daughter-in-law.”

Even though her daughter-in-law wasn't a biological daughter of the Yan family, she had been pampered since childhood; marrying her eldest son meant she would have to endure hardships. Just thinking about it made Wan Niang's heart ache.

Yan Funing ate in small bites, not knowing how to respond, so she simply said, “I’m not hungry.”

It was said that the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was a perennial problem since ancient times, but her nominal mother-in-law was truly kind, speaking gently and possessing a gentle appearance.

After a brief pause, Yan Funing added, “I’ll go gather firewood too.”

Fearing that certain someone wouldn't take her along, she lifted her eyes to look at him.

Fu Ciyi had not expected her to meet his gaze like this.

He stood there, looking down at her as they locked eyes.

From this angle, he could easily take in her entire expression.

Her eyelashes were thick and long, and her watery eyes stared at him without blinking, looking much like a little fox begging for affection...

Innocent yet cunning.

Could it be that this woman did everything with an ulterior motive, and now that she had nowhere else to go, she had started playing the victim in front of him?

But what surprised him was how clear and clean her eyes were.

“Just let the brothers go.”

Wan Niang’s words caused the two people whose eyes had been locked to withdraw their gazes, each returning to munching on their cold buns.

Yan Funing lowered her eyes and said, “More people means more wood can be gathered. It's cold now, so the wood burns quickly.”

Only then did Wan Niang agree to let her go.

Before leaving, Fu Ciyi took several strips of cloth and tied them together, preparing them to bind the firewood. Yan Funing found a wicker basket in the woodshed and slung it over her back.

The two of them called Fu Beimo to join them as they headed into the mountains.

Because of the cold weather, there was almost no large firewood to be found on the hills near the village.

The three of them had no choice but to head deeper into the mountains.

Fu Ciyi was tall with long legs; he walked in the lead, silent the whole way.

Fu Beimo walked beside Yan Funing, kicking dry twigs on the ground as he walked, grumbling incessantly: "...Sister-in-law, have you ever watched ants fight?"

Yan Funing shook her head: "No."

"Ant fighting is really interesting. Next time, I'll take you to watch."

"Okay."

Fu Beimo said happily, "Big brother and big sister never agree to watch with me. Sister-in-law is the best."

The footsteps of the walking Fu Ciyi paused imperceptibly. *Sister-in-law is the best?*

It was merely an act.

He wanted to see just how long she could keep up the performance.

Because wild beasts likely inhabited the deep mountains, there were few traces of humans.

There was plenty of firewood on the ground, and before long, the three of them had gathered quite a lot.

They piled the wood together and tied them into bundles.

Once four stacks of firewood were formed, Fu Ciyi spoke in a cool voice: "Wait for me here. I'll be back shortly."

Fu Beimo: "Oh."

Yan Funing: "Okay."

Once Fu Ciyi's figure disappeared from sight, Yan Funing walked toward the other side.

Fu Beimo followed her footsteps, thinking she wanted to gather more wood, so he spoke up: "Sister-in-law's basket is too small; it can't hold much firewood."

Yan Funing patted the dust off her hands: "The basket isn't for firewood."

"Then what is it for?" Fu Beimo caught up.

"Picking mushrooms." Yan Funing stopped walking and looked around. "Let's see if there's any dead wood nearby. If we're lucky..."

Before she could finish her sentence, she saw a fallen dead tree covered in wild oyster mushrooms.

Yan Funing ran over quickly, picking them one by one and placing them into the basket on her back.

Fu Beimo imitated her, picking them carefully and placing them into her basket as well.

Soon, the basket was full.

Fu Beimo muttered, "It can't hold any more."

"It's alright. We'll leave a few small ones and come back to pick them next time."

By the time the two returned to the woodpile, Fu Ciyi had not yet returned.

Yan Funing took off the basket and massaged her aching shoulders. This body was truly delicate; just carrying a basket of oyster mushrooms had made her shoulders sore.

Fu Beimo picked up a dry branch and was scratching at the ground when he suddenly shouted, "Sister-in-law, come look! There are ants!"

Yan Funing moved her arms, walked over to his side, smoothed her skirt, and crouched down as well.

There were indeed a few ants on the ground.

"They aren't fighting."

Fu Beimo said solemnly, "Right, they like group fights."

Yan Funing said in surprise, "Your powers of observation are quite impressive."

Ants live a communal life; ants from different colonies often clash, leading to heated battles, much like two armies charging into battle.

For this innocent youth to observe such a thing was indeed impressive.

Being praised for the first time, Fu Beimo showed a bit of boyishness; he scratched his head and smiled shyly.

Others would only call him a little idiot, but only Sister-in-law was different—she would praise him!

When Fu Ciyi returned, he saw the two of them crouching, heads bowed, looking at the ground.

Hearing footsteps, the two on the ground looked up simultaneously.

Yan Funing saw that certain someone was carrying a wild chicken in his hand, and he looked clean and refreshed, showing none of the disarray one might expect from catching a wild chicken.

Wasn't this man a frail scholar? Could he actually catch wild chickens?

On second thought, in the books, he had tied her up and held a blade to her face; a character like that was likely not frail at all.

Fu Beimo waved happily at his brother: "Brother, come look at the ants."

Fu Ciyi simply said, "Twilight is falling. Let's head down the mountain."

Fu Beimo stuck out his tongue and, while his brother's back was turned, made a face at him.

The expression was both ridiculous and innocent, causing Yan Funing to giggle.

Hearing the sound, Fu Ciyi turned his head, his eyes darkening slightly.

Yan Funing stopped laughing and put on her basket, while Fu Beimo obediently went to shoulder the wood.

Fu Ciyi tied the wild chicken to the firewood, shouldered two heavy bundles, and led the way down the mountain.

When they were almost home, they saw the courtyard filled with people.

A woman was shouting, "Everyone, please judge this! Is someone who occupies another person's courtyard a robber?"

Fu Nanyao's small face was flushed with anger: "What do you mean occupy? This is our courtyard!"

The woman stood with her hands on her hips and shouted at the top of her lungs, "This is my courtyard! My parents are planning to use this courtyard to find a live-in son-in-law for me. Everyone in the village knows!"

***

Winter also has wild oyster mushrooms~

Science Fact: Depending on the climate, oyster mushrooms can grow in autumn, winter, and spring.

Those planted in late October can be harvested in about two months, coinciding with the peak season during the Spring Festival.

Those planted in late November require more than two months, nearly three months, before the mushrooms emerge.

——

This text is about wild oyster mushrooms. Some cuties might ask: could they have been cultivated in ancient times?

Answer: There was artificial cultivation during the Sui and Tang dynasties, and there are also records in the Western Jin and Northern Wei dynasties. Please believe in the wisdom of our ancestors~

(End of Chapter)