Chapter 60: Fu Chen’an’s Return ( 2 )

Chapter 60: Fu Chen’an’s Return ( 2 ) Since Yao Zhi’s water tasted different from the well water, she peeled several layers of cabbage and chopped them before she added them to the boiling water. With the additional cabbage, the water tasted refreshing with a hint of sweetness.

When she was done boiling the water, she poured it into a medium-sized water vat and said, "Everyone, I put the water here. Remember to drink to avoid getting heatstroke."

Hearing this, Yang Dalang nodded and replied with gratitude, "Thank you, Sister Yao Zhi."

After being warned by his father, Yang Sanlang did not dare to stare at her directly anymore. He had thought it through that, as a married woman, her reputation would be stained if she had a close relationship with another man besides her husband.

Fearing that he would put her in trouble, he could only glance at her from a distance. If no one was around, he would take a longer look at her. But that was all.

While Yang Sanlang was feeling conflicted, Yao Zhi noticed him looking dazed. Thinking that he was getting heatstroke, she added a drop of spiritual spring water into the water vat before she sent a bowl to him.

"Brother Sanlang, you have been working under the sun for too long. You should drink some water," she said as she handed him the water.

Yang Sanlang was pulled out of his thoughts by her words. He lowered his gaze and saw several pieces of cabbage in the bowl.

At this time, it was hard to buy vegetables. So even if there were only several pieces, he was feeling happy because of her care. He accepted the bowl and said softly, "Thank you, Sister Yao Zhi."

Not understanding the emotions in his eyes, Yao Zhi waited for him to finish the water before she went to the kitchen.

Although she said that she would prepare a meal for them, she only made two baskets of steamed buns and stir-fried some vegetables with several slices of meat. Since the cost was low, she made another portion for them.

When she was done cooking, the sun had slanted to the west. She packed the food into a bamboo basket and handed it to Yang Dalang.

Seeing the food, Yang Dalang asked, "Sister Yao Zhi, we already ate lunch. Why did you give so many steamed buns to us again?"

"Brother Dalang, all of you worked so hard today. These are just some buns and stir-fried vegetables. Please do not refuse it."

Yang Dalang hesitated to accept the food. But before he could refuse, Yang Erlang already accepted it and said, "Thank you, Sister Yao Zhi. With our current progress, we will be able to finish the wall tomorrow."

Yao Zhi was happy to hear this and nodded. "Then I will prepare some braised pork for tomorrow’s lunch."

The moment they heard this, everyone was happy, except Yang Sanlang. He looked at her deeply before he averted his gaze.

At this moment, his heart was beating so fast. With how good she was to him and his brothers, he could not help but think that his feelings were not one-sided.

After they left, Yao Zhi locked the gate and went to boil some water for bathing. Although it was summer, taking a cold bath was not good for a woman’s health.

When the water was ready, she added two drops of spiritual water and several drops of peppermint essential oil into the bathtub before she soaked for an hour.

Thanks to the essential oil, she was feeling refreshed when she took a sniff of her skin. With a great mood, she threw the water away and went to sleep.

With the sound of cicadas, another day had passed.

As promised, early in the morning before dawn, Yang Dalang arrived at Yao Zhi’s house with his brothers and cousins.

At this moment, Yao Zhi was in the kitchen. When she heard their voices, she went to the front yard and opened the gate.

Seeing them, she smiled and said, "Brothers, you are here. Come in."

Smelling the scent of food in the air, one of Yang Dalang’s cousins asked, "Sister-in-law, what is this smell? It is so fragrant!"

Hearing this, Yao Zhi chuckled and replied, "I am boiling some bone soup. For today’s lunch, I plan to make bone soup noodles. It tastes amazing when paired with sauteed mushrooms and braised pork."

When they heard this, they could not help but salivate. After swallowing, Yang Erlang asked, "Sister Yao Zhi, where did you get the mushrooms?"

"I heard the price of mushrooms has increased again. It must cost you a lot of money," Yang Sanlang said.

Yao Zhi waved her hands and said, "When I went to the mountain foothills to pick firewood, I found a basket of mushrooms. It wasn’t much, but it was delicious."

Everyone was taken aback by her words. After a moment of hesitation, Yang Sanlang still said, "Sister Yao Zhi, the mountain is dangerous. If you need firewood, just let me know. My brothers and I can get some for you when we go to the mountain foothill."

Yang Dalang nodded at his third brother’s words. They were adult men and much stronger than her. It would be safer for them to go than to let her, a weak woman, go.

Although she was happy with their words, Yao Zhi still refused. "Thank you, but there is no need to bother you all. In a few days, my husband will return. By then, I will ask him to get more firewood for me."

After she said this, the light in Yang Sanlang’s eyes dimmed. With his gaze lowered, no one noticed the changes in his mood.

When they were done with the brief conversation, the Yang brothers started to work while Yao Zhi went to water her vegetable gardens after she extinguished the fire in the stove.

At nine o’clock in the morning, the White Tiger Army finally arrived at the military barracks.