Little Fairy

Zhao Dongchuan heard this and chuckled, saying, “It just feels comfortable this way!”

Sun Shaoan also got up from the bench at this time.

“Brother Zhao, your hairstyle paired with your build makes you look very energetic!”

“Hehe, alright, Brother Shaoan, let’s go back!” With that, the two each paid two mao for the haircut and left the barbershop.

After getting their hair cut, there was nothing else to do, so Zhao Dongchuan and Sun Shaoan didn’t linger on Shigejie Street and rode their bicycles directly towards Shuangshui Village.

This time, Sun Shaoan asked to ride, wanting to give Zhao Dongchuan a break.

He understood that Sun Shaoan didn't want him to suffer, as riding with a man weighing over a hundred jin was quite tiring.

Taking turns riding would make it easier, and Zhao Dongchuan had no objections.

So on the way back, Zhao Dongchuan sat on the back seat, while Sun Shaoan held the handlebars and pedaled hard.

The two chatted intermittently along the way, and time passed quickly. It felt like no time at all before they arrived at Shuangshui Village.

“Brother Shaoan, I’ll take the bike back first. Later, I’ll come over and help you decorate your new house!” Zhao Dongchuan said, taking the bicycle from Sun Shaoan.

“No rush, you should rest more at home!”

“It’s fine, I’m just idle anyway. I’ll come over in a bit!”

Zhao Dongchuan pushed his bicycle into his own yard and parked it in a corner.

He then took out the items from his bag and sorted them.

Firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, tea—not a single one could be missing.

There was still a good amount of firewood left in the yard, all of which Sun Lanxiang had brought earlier as tuition for her brother’s tutoring.

“Oh, right, there’s also a pile of old clothes and dishes that need washing!” Zhao Dongchuan looked at his storage space.

He took out two large wooden basins from his space, one for clothes and one for dishes. Then, he took a bucket and went back and forth to the nearby well several times, filling the kitchen’s watercylinder before stopping.

“It would be great if I had a washing machine, and a dishwasher too, so I wouldn’t have to do it myself. Or maybe find a wife?” Zhao Dongchuan mused to himself while scrubbing clothes on the washboard.

Images of Tian Xiaoxia, Tian Runye, He Xiulian, Li Yuer, and Liu Yifei flashed through his mind—these women’s images appeared in his heart like a fleeting glimpse.

Aside from these rare and virtuous women from the “protagonist group,” Li Yuer from Pengcheng and Liu Yifei from the provincial capital were also quite good.

“What am I thinking about?”

“I’m a decent person… Who among decent people falls in love?!”

“Women only slow down my sword draw!!!”

…………

After constantly reassuring himself, Zhao Dongchuan slowly suppressed the restlessness in his heart.

He was still young and impetuous. He patted his already pale face, trying to clear his head.

He had too many secrets, and for now, it was not suitable to find a wife!!!

And this was a special time; there was nowhere to go for entertainment, so he could only diligently do his work. (Forgive him, he was still a hot-blooded youth, and this body hadn't experienced intimacy yet. Who wouldn't have some urges?!)

He would see later! When things opened up, many things could be explained away. For now, it was too conspicuous!

He muttered softly.

………………

After much effort, Zhao Dongchuan finally cleaned all the clothes and dishes. He took out hangers from his space, hung the clothes in the yard, kept some dishes, and put the rest back into his space. The work was finally done.

Zhao Dongchuan stretched, moved his stiff body, tidied things up, rested for a while, had some tea, and then walked towards Sun Shaoan’s cave dwelling.

Sun Shaoan was holding rice paper, dipping it in paste, and carefully sticking it along the window edges.

Jin Bo and Shaoping were helping by stirring the paste evenly, dipping the rice paper in paste, and then handing it to Sun Shaoan.

While Sun Shaoan was pasting, he saw Zhao Dongchuan arrive and greeted him with a smile, “Little Zhao, you’re here!”

“Brother Shaoan, I’m here to help!”

Zhao Dongchuan then joined the team pasting window paper, greatly speeding up the process.

“Brother Zhao!”

“Brother Zhao!” Jin Xiu and Lanxiang came out of the house and greeted Zhao Dongchuan busily.

“Is the kang all pasted?” Shaoan asked with a smile when he saw them come out.

Jin Xiu raised the pictorial in her hand and smiled, saying, “We’ve already pasted it with newspapers, and there’s still half a copy of ‘People’s Pictorial’ left!”

Inside the inner room, the wall connected to the kang was already covered with pictorials, making the wall colorful and vibrant, looking somewhat cluttered yet incredibly harmonious.

With the new recruits, the windows were also quickly pasted.

It was almost dark, and after finishing their work, the group prepared to leave.

Sun Shaoan grabbed Jin Bo and Jin Xiu, the siblings.

“Come, let’s eat at my house. Today we’re having pork stew, and there’s plenty of offal and such!”

Jin Bo and Jin Xiu exchanged glances and both said, “Brother Shaoan, you don’t have to do this. My parents specifically told me to go home for dinner!”

The two were firm in their refusal, adamantly refusing to stay, and eventually broke free and ran home.

“These two children are truly too sensible!” Sun Shaoan rubbed his freshly shaved head, shook his head, and chuckled.

Zhao Dongchuan also prepared to go back. He had already eaten one meal at Shaoan’s house and couldn’t eat there again; no one was wealthy!

“Little Zhao, are you leaving too!” Shaoan noticed Zhao Dongchuan’s movement and asked.

“I was making dinner in the pot before I came! We don’t need to be so polite!” Zhao Dongchuan said, then strode home.

Sun Shaoan stood still for a long time, feeling the help everyone had given him, and couldn't help but be deeply moved.

He walked into the house, looking at the “magnificent” and “radiant” room, and couldn’t help but feel a surge of happiness. This would be his new home from now on.

It would be his future little family!

………………

Zhao Dongchuan returned to his own cave dwelling, lit a fire in the kitchen, took out the purchased vegetables and pork from his space, and then took out some system rice mixed with ordinary rice to cook.

Washing vegetables, cutting vegetables, lighting the fire, pouring oil, adding vegetables…

Under his swift operations, a plate of fragrant braised pork was served!

Zhao Dongchuan also stir-fried a vegetable and made an egg drop soup.

Two dishes and one soup, done!

At this time, the rice steaming in another pot was almost ready.

Soon, the food was on the table. Zhao Dongchuan sat on the kang, took out a bottle of yellow wine from his space, and placed it in the hot water he had prepared nearby to warm it up.

He began to eat, picking up a piece of braised pork and putting it into his mouth. The fatty meat melted in his mouth, while the lean meat had a chewiness, with distinct layers!

As the saying goes, a carefree life is like a minor deity!!!

At this moment, Zhao Dongchuan felt incredibly happy. This bite of braised pork made him feel a sense of home. In his original world, one of his favorite foods was braised pork.

But later, his weight skyrocketed, and his parents strictly forbade it…

Thinking of these things, Zhao Dongchuan felt another wave of sadness…