After paying respects to their ancestors, having a meal, and finalizing the acquisition agreement, Xiao Cheng, Bai Lu, Xiao Wei, and others returned to Xinzhen, Chengli, and Nanshi, accompanied by the Xiao family members in the mountains.

Li Hongying and her aunts helped Bailu collect more than ten kilograms of snails and also gave her a lot of vegetables and fruits as a gift.

They also took out half of the old man and woman's medicinal wine from a small bottle and gave it to Bailu and Xiaocheng to take back.

Those clansmen whose trees were laden with fruit also picked many different kinds of fruit for Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu.

They gave us plenty of eggs, including double-yolk eggs.

Everything was crammed into the driver's seat, with bamboo baskets and sacks piled up to the brim, leaving Xiao Wei almost nowhere to sit.

What a poor child.

Of course, other members of the Xiao family who were developing their careers elsewhere also received a lot of vegetables and fruits as gifts from their relatives in the mountains.

A procession of brick trucks and buses, carrying nearly two hundred members of the Xiao family, returned to their hometown to pay respects to their ancestors, leaving amidst laughter and joy.

By the time we got back to town, night had just fallen.

The Xiao family members got off the car one after another and went home. Xiao Cheng left a brick truck to drive to sweep the private grave tomorrow, while the rest of them drove back to the brick factory with Xiao Dazhuang and returned it to the factory owner.

The lights were on in the courtyard corridor as Bai Lu and Xiao Wei sorted through the things they had brought back from the countryside.

Following Bai Lu's instructions, Xiao Wei dragged a large basin to the well and pumped water, pouring all the snails into it.

Bai Lu said that the snails she just picked up from the river had a lot of mud inside them. She said that they would purge the mud by keeping them in clean water for a day or two, and then they would taste better when stir-fried.

Bai Lu put all the eggs in an enamel basin and placed it on the bottom shelf of the cupboard, to save for later.

Vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, romaine lettuce, and radishes should be stored separately in a well-ventilated area of ​​the kitchen to prevent them from rotting when pressed together.

The large bundles of bok choy tied with straw seedlings should be placed in a cool, shaded place and untied tomorrow morning. If they are untied too early and left to wilt overnight in the wind, the leaves will become brittle and withered.

Fruits such as jujubes and oranges were all placed in the large fruit basket on the eight-immortal table, and whoever wanted to eat whatever they liked could take it.

Everything is finally sorted out.

Bai Lu dragged her tired feet to the kitchen, preparing to lift a bucket to pump water, fill it into a large pot, and boil it for a bath.

When they arrived at the kitchen door, they saw Xiao Wei carrying a small bucket of water, standing on a small stool, pouring water into a large pot, while firewood was already burning in the stove hole under the stove.

The bright red flames made the kitchen exceptionally bright.

Moreover, Xiao Wei had clearly filled the last half-bucket of water, and after filling it, he covered it with the lid of the pot next to him.

"That's amazing!"

Bai Lu smiled and gave the little guy a thumbs up as he stepped off the stool: "You sweet little darling."

Xiao Wei, with a small face that bore a striking resemblance to Xiao Cheng's indifferent expression, opened his mouth.

"Alright, alright, I know. It's your older brother's order again. He's the one who gave you instructions, right?" Bai Lu smiled and gave the little guy a pat on the head as a reward.

Having said what he wanted to say, Xiao Wei was speechless. He made a small sound, then closed his mouth again.

Bai Lu gently nudged his little shoulder: "Alright, go inside and get some fruit to eat. The aunties all say the jujubes are very sweet, crisp, and delicious. I'll call you when the water is hot."

"The water tank is empty." Xiao Wei refused to eat the fruit and walked out without hesitation, carrying the bucket.

The bucket handle was pulled the next second, and Bailu said, "I'll fill it in a bit."

Xiao Wei glanced at her feet: "I'll pour it in."

"I'll fill it up," Bailu insisted.

"I'll drink it." Xiao Wei wouldn't let go.

The bucket handle was being pulled in a tug-of-war style.

Just as the battle was about to be decided, a long, slender hand with distinct knuckles reached in, using unparalleled strength to freeze the bucket in place and lift it away.

Bai Lu and Xiao Wei were stunned for half a second before looking up at the same time.

Only the man's tall and imposing figure remained at the doorway, his long, powerful legs striding confidently, accompanied by the sound of steady footsteps.

A cool breeze drifted gently through the night.

Without saying a word, Xiao Wei went back to his room to do his homework. As he passed the octagonal table, he casually picked up a large green date.

Bai Lu sat in front of the stove, tending the fire.

After burning for a while, he suddenly remembered something, got up, went to the corner, opened a burlap sack, took out three pretty sweet potatoes, and threw them into the stove.

Xiao Cheng brought water back to fill the water tank. He glanced at it but said nothing. After filling the tank, he went out again.

It wasn't long after the water tank was filled.

A rich, caramelized aroma, accompanied by a girl's excited little voice, wafted from the kitchen—

"Acheng, Xiaowei, come out for a late-night snack! We have delicious roasted sweet potatoes!"

Xiao Wei walked out of the room and saw Xiao Cheng holding a freshly peeled orange and heading straight to the kitchen.

He followed them, completely bewildered.

On the small square wooden table in the kitchen, there was a round winnowing basket with three slightly charred, fragrant roasted sweet potatoes on it. The sweet potatoes had a reddish-purple skin that was a little blackish.

Bai Lu sat on a stool by the table, smiling and waving to them: "Come and try some, these are sweet potatoes grown by Uncle Fu's family. Auntie said they are especially sweet and delicious."

Xiao Cheng glanced at her, put the orange on the table, sat down, picked up a roasted sweet potato, and peeled it.

Xiao Wei also took one, sat down, and peeled it.

Bai Lu also held a roasted sweet potato in her hand, but her eyes were fixed on the peeled orange in front of her, and her eyes twitched slightly.

Oranges with roasted sweet potatoes—what a horrible combination!

To avoid having to eat the "devilish meal" alone, Bai Lu thoughtfully broke the orange into three pieces.

Xiao Cheng, Xiao Wei, and she each received one.

We share the poison and the hardship.

"Is it tasty?"

Bai Lu blew on the hot roasted sweet potato in her hand and asked Xiao Cheng and Xiao Wei, who had already started eating.

Xiao Wei thought it was delicious, soft and sweet, better than roasted chestnuts. He had seen roasted sweet potatoes sold on the street, and they looked similar to those roasted during the White Dew season, but he had never eaten them.

I imagined roasted sweet potatoes would taste... not as good as the ones in my hand, not as sweet.

But since his older brother hadn't commented, he didn't dare to say anything more.

However, the next second, the man who was leisurely eating his roasted sweet potato gave a two-word evaluation.

"good."

Xiao Wei immediately nodded: "Delicious, very delicious! I've never had such delicious roasted sweet potatoes before!"

Hearing that her skills had been recognized, Bai Lu was very happy and satisfied: "Then we'll eat roasted sweet potatoes every day from now on."

Xiao Cheng: "..."

Xiao Wei: "..."

Eat it every day...

It'll be so sweet it'll kill you...

After having a late-night snack and taking a shower, Bailu lay on the bed to digest her food. Yes, that's right, she was digesting her food while lying down.

My feet still hurt a bit, and my stomach feels a little bloated. I don't want to walk anymore. I'll just lie down and let my mind work through my digestion.

One step, two steps, three steps, four steps, five steps...

As I kept chanting, I got sleepier and sleepier. I closed my eyes and then tried to keep them open, continuing to brainwash myself and aid digestion.

The dream finally disappeared after a while.

Bai Lu fell asleep, perhaps because she had walked more today than usual and was so tired that she quickly fell into a deep sleep.

They were so close that she didn't even react when the man returned to his room.

Her feet, dangling off the bed, were being rubbed by rough palms covered in medicinal wine until her ankles felt slightly warm. Her eyes remained closed, and her breathing was still very even.

I slept soundly and peacefully.

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