I opened it and looked forward to the New Year, forgetting that it was already winter this morning.

The cold wind that had been blowing for several days finally stopped.

Fu Xiao took Old Man Mu's arm and said with a smile, "Don't send me off. It's too cold outside. I'm going to the northwest to accompany my dad. When my third brother's wedding is over, my dad will be almost done with his work, and I'll go back to Beijing with him."

Mr. Mu said: "Let's not talk about that unlucky thing. It's OK if you come back. It doesn't matter whether he comes back or not..."

"Look at what you're saying," Fu Xiao pushed him onto the sofa, "I've already told my second and third brothers that they'll be staying here tonight, so you won't be lonely. I'm leaving, don't see me off."

Fu Xiao walked out of the living room, but didn't leave. He stood at the door and glanced inside. Seeing that he had no intention of getting up, he nodded with satisfaction, "Hey, that's right. Don't go out to see me off. It's so cold in the morning..."

Mr. Mu laughed and waved at her, "Let's go, you are being sentimental, I don't want to see you off, I want to go back upstairs and take a nap."

Shen Xingzhou was already waiting at the door. When he saw her coming out, he took the backpack from her and asked, “Have you told Grandpa?”

"Um,"

After getting in the car, she asked, "Can we arrive in the evening if we leave now?"

"Depending on the road conditions..."

He then added: "We should be cautious."

"Okay," Fu Xiao gave the order, "Let's go..."

After Shen Xingzhou started the car, he took out a bag from the side and handed it to her, “I don’t have time to buy breakfast, there are egg cakes and boiled eggs in it,”

"Hmm," she picked up a piece of egg cake and took a bite, then passed it to Shen Xingzhou who was driving, "Ah..."

He glanced at her with a smile and opened his mouth in cooperation.

"It hasn't rained or snowed in the past few days, so the road should be easy to travel on."

The road condition was indeed good, and the two stopped by the roadside at noon to have a simple lunch in the sun.

We continued driving forward without stopping in the afternoon.

Just when passing the last county road, we were blocked by a broken bridge in front.

Shen Xingzhou got out of the car and took a look, then returned to the car again, “I can’t leave, I have to take a detour….”

Fu Xiao looked in the direction ahead. After crossing the bridge, he would reach the northwest in at most two hours' drive.

"Which way to go?"

Shen Xingzhou, who had already turned around, held her hand and said in a negotiating tone, “It’s a long detour, let’s find a place to stay tonight and travel tomorrow, okay?”

Fu Xiao nodded, "I'll listen to you, but I'm hungry and want to eat..."

Shen Xingzhou stepped on the accelerator a little harder, “Wait another ten minutes.”

Ten minutes later, the car stopped in front of the county's state-owned restaurant. I went in and ordered two vegetarian noodles and a dish of braised pork.

While waiting for the meal, Shen Xingzhou went to ask the people here about the situation of the broken bridge over there.

After the meal was ready, he came over with the noodles.

Fu Xiao asked: "What's going on?"

"They couldn't explain what caused the collapse, so we had to take a detour."

"No one is repairing it?"

Shen Xingzhou smiled: “Looking at the marks, it should have just collapsed. It should not have been too late to eat noodles…”

After dinner, the two got back in the car and passed by a guesthouse. Seeing that the car had not stopped, Fu Xiao looked at him and asked, "Aren't you staying at the guesthouse?"

"Well, I have a house here,"

"But I haven't lived here for a while, and I still have to clean..."

Shen Xingzhou smiled and stretched out his hand to pinch her face, “Don’t worry, you don’t have to clean it. There is a kang in that house, so it won’t be cold when you sleep at night.”

Fu Xiao glanced at the location of the guesthouse and asked, "Is there no kang in the guesthouse?"

"There are no single rooms, only a large bunk bed. Are you used to sleeping on it?"

She shook her head, "That can't be done."

The house was actually near the police station, and the courtyard wall was made of stones.

The kitchen and warehouse are made of adobe and have not been repaired for a long time, so they are leaking everywhere. Only the master bedroom is made of bricks and looks to be in good condition.

Shen Xingzhou couldn’t help but frown when he looked at the house, and walked into the master bedroom to take a look.

He returned to the yard, looked at her, and said in a gentle tone, "Can you sit in the car for half an hour?"

Fu Xiao shook his head and said, "Let me help you."

"No, just clean the master bedroom, it will be quick, be obedient and stay outside..."

She sat on a stone pier in the yard, watching him carry basins of water into the room, and then come out squatting with basins of dirty water.

Just when she was bored and lowered her head to smack the ant nest, Shen Xingzhou's voice came from the bedroom, "Xiaoxiao, it's packed..."

Fu Xiao walked into the bedroom and touched it casually, and found it was indeed clean.

Moreover, the pit and windows of this bedroom were also intact. Shen Xingzhou spread the mat on the kang and looked back at her, "Xiaoxiao, please bring the bedding over. I'll go to the kitchen to heat the kang..."

"Yeah, go ahead,"

Fu Xiao took out a set of very thick bedding from the space and spread it underneath, and then took out a cotton quilt weighing about eight kilograms.

After making the bed, she went to the kitchen.

Shen Xingzhou, who was making a fire, pointed to the basin next to him and said, "Soak your feet..."

"oh..."

After soaking for a few minutes, she stretched out her hands to Shen Xingzhou, "Carry me back."

Shen Xingzhou squatted down beside her, took her feet out of the basin, and wiped them with his sweater. Fu Xiao blinked, "Don't you think it's dirty?"

He chuckled: "My sweater is probably not as clean as your feet. Whoever complains is dirty."

Fu Xiao paused, then smiled proudly, "That's true."

He hooked her calf and lifted her up, carrying her back to the bedroom bed. "Feel the bed and see if it's warm."

Fu Xiao reached out and felt the bed, "It's hot."

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It’s even more exciting later!