Chapter 32 The Thirty-Second Reunion

The days are endless, and another new year has arrived.

Since the beginning of summer this year, Jiang Linzhi has been living on the mountain. A child carrying a wriggling fish jumped up in front of Jiang Linzhi and said with a smile, "Sister Jiang, did you not have breakfast today? Here, my brother caught it."

Such a large fish is a rare sight in this mountain village. Jiang Linzhi took the fish and said, "I'll have your brother deliver it next time. Also," Jiang Linzhi threw the cleaned fish into the pot to fry, "I don't eat breakfast, so you can take this fish back later."

"There's no reason to return what I gave you, I'm leaving!" Remembering her brother's words, and fearing she wouldn't accept the gift, the child ran back as she went. She thought to herself that this older sister would be nice as her sister-in-law; she was pretty. But she was just too sloppy—she didn't sweep the fallen leaves in the yard, and she didn't comb her hair. Tsk, not cut out for housework, but barely passable.

Jiang Linzhi said slowly, "I'm married."

Sure enough, the child ran back, mouth agape, and exclaimed, "You have a husband! You really have a husband! Where is he?"

“My husband is in the army, he’s going to fight a war,” Jiang Linzhi said, mimicking a child’s tone.

The child asked all sorts of questions, and Jiang Linzhi would ramble on and on about other things.

After he finished speaking, the fish was fried. Jiang Linzhi wrapped it in oil paper and said, "It's very hot, take it home slowly."

This time, the child didn't refuse and left with the fish in his arms.

The room was filled with books that were half a person's height, some lying open, some with folded corners. There were also many different kinds of drawings on the table. Jiang Linzhi closed the door and started looking through them again.

A short while later, the child started knocking on the door again, shouting. Jiang Linzhi, feeling annoyed, went over and forced a smile, asking, "What is it?"

The child looked reluctant as he handed the freshly fried fish back, saying, "My brother said he didn't mean anything by it. We're all from the same village, it's normal to share some food."

This is really never-ending. Jiang Linzhi put away the fish, went to the kitchen and picked up a whole preserved rabbit as a return gift, saying, "Thank you."

The child's complexion improved considerably, and he hopped away, carrying the rabbit.

Who says children are the most innocent? Children are simple-minded; they laugh when they get something and complain when they don't. Judging from his behavior, he certainly doesn't understand why adults have to give up their appetites for the sake of saving face.

I had barely sat down and hadn't even read a single page when there was another knock on the door.

Jiang Linzhi was truly annoyed this time. She had no time to play these petty family dramas with these people. She pushed open the door and said irritably, "What now?!"

The young man outside the door, as upright as a pine tree and as tall as a bamboo, struck what he thought was his most handsome pose. But the shout brought him back to reality. He paused for a moment, then burst out laughing: "Looks like there are a lot of admirers knocking on the door, making my young lady quite annoyed."

Jiang Linzhi never expected it to be Lu Huantang. She straightened her hair, which she hadn't combed in a long time, and excitedly threw herself at him, saying, "Weren't you still at the border? Aren't you busy after your promotion? Aren't you going to stop networking? What are you doing here? Who told you I was here?"

One question after another came rushing at her. Lu Huantang had rushed over day and night. Even though he was exhausted, he hooked his arm around her leg to prevent her from falling and patiently answered her questions one by one.

Lu Huantang really did travel for three days before returning to the capital. He had intended to give Jiang Linzhi a mirror, but only saw Qi Lingjun. The two men looked at each other, and finally Qi Lingjun revealed Jiang Linzhi's whereabouts. Lu Huantang then traveled for another day before arriving.

Upon arriving, he checked his surroundings and found no traps. He then called out to Chen using the coded signal, but there was no response.

Lu Huantang frowned, his anger and worry rising together. However, thinking that it wouldn't be good to have an unpleasant encounter at the beginning, he calmed himself down with heavy breathing before knocking on the door to see her.

After answering Jiang Linzhi's question, Lu Huantang asked, "Where's Chen?"

Jiang Linzhi said, "He'd probably get bored staying in this desolate wilderness for a month, so I'm letting him go to the border to visit his family."

His anger rekindled, and Lu Huantang recalled the wary looks the villagers had given him, saying, "It's not safe."

Jiang Linzhi said nonchalantly, "Don't worry, I'm quite adept at dealing with them. I won't let you get married before you're even married..."

Before he could finish speaking, Lu Huantang was still holding Jiang Linzhi, pressing her against the soft door and sealing her mouth with a kiss, silencing her who would say anything.

The kiss came quickly, yet it was tender and lingering. Lu Huantang gently kissed Jiang Linzhi's red lips, then took a step back and looked at her.

Sure enough, although Jiang Linzhi looked a little confused, he took the opportunity to continue, "Widower..."

It was both infuriating and endearing. Lu Huantang kissed her again, this time prying open her pearly teeth, like a fish stranded in shallow water, leaping to another shallow area to snatch that little bit of water. Just when Jiang Linzhi's fish had lost the strength to resist, allowing the intruder to do as he pleased, the intruder suddenly left.

Lu Huantang carried Jiang Linzhi to the bed, leaning over to look at her hair spread out on the sheets. Her eyes were slightly red, her cherry lips glistening with tears, and she gave him a defiant, pouty look before continuing to say something that would ruin the atmosphere, "You'd better not regret this..."

The tide was rising, and the two fish chased each other fiercely in the raging waves, inseparable. Lu Huantang was not a celibate person to begin with; when passion took hold, he was like a tiger hunting, without any restraint.

Suddenly, Jiang Linzhi touched the gauze on Lu Huantang's body. She pushed away Lu Huantang's head, which was burying its face in her neck, and said, "Wait...wait..."

Lu Huantang stopped, panting heavily, his eyes filled with intense emotion and slight confusion.

Jiang Linzhi couldn't bear to refuse because of that look in his eyes, but she still said, "Your injury."

Lu Huantang smiled and kissed Jiang Linzhi. Instantly, her voice trembled and the hairpin fell off, her shoulders covered in fragrant sweat. Lu Huantang did not make any further moves. He kissed Jiang Linzhi until she was soft and weak, then pulled the quilt over her and stopped.

Jiang Linzhi was dissatisfied. She hadn't been with a man for several months, so she hooked her arm around Lu Huantang's neck and laughed, "I haven't taken a shower for several days."

Her intentions were obvious. Lu Huantang hadn't expected her to be so bold. He carried her and followed her lead to the backyard. The hot spring, which was as long and wide as a person, was something Lu Huantang hadn't anticipated. She placed Jiang Linzhi by the hot spring, found the perfume and other items, and then prepared to leave.

Jiang Linzhi called out to Lu Huantang, "Come together, or do you want to bathe in my bathwater?"

“It’s not impossible.” Lu Huantang smiled calmly, not taking the bait at all, and continued walking out.

Jiang Linzhi removed the hairpin without any hurry, silently counting in his mind: one breath, two breaths, three breaths...

At the seventh breath, the man returned, gritting his teeth, and said, "What are those things with red ribbons tied to them on the table?"

"These are gifts from the men in the village. If they weren't trying to find wives, they certainly wouldn't spend their spare money on this kind of red cloth. If they can't find wives, in our dialect it's called losing money..."

The man had already closed the door and jumped into the water; men need a little stimulation, after all.

Jiang Linzhi couldn't remember when she finished washing up. When she woke up groggily, she noticed that the room was much tidier, and the gifts on the table were gone.

Lu Huantang noticed her gaze and said, "I went out and greeted the villagers, thanking them for taking care of you. They've spent half a month's salary on you. Your husband is broke and needs a sugar daddy."

Declaring sovereignty with such righteous indignation, Jiang Linzhi stretched, then changed position and continued sleeping.

A man chuckled softly behind her ear, tickling her earlobe: "Sleep for another incense stick at most, then get up to eat, otherwise you won't be able to sleep tonight."

Jiang Linzhi murmured, "If you don't want to sleep, then don't."

Finally drawn in by the aroma of the food, Jiang Linzhi, who usually prefers milder flavors, now adds numbing and spicy ingredients to his cooking. He ate to his heart's content, but afterwards, he couldn't escape Lu Huantang's question: "What are you looking for here? Can I help you?"

After tidying up her mountain of books, it would be strange if Lu Huantang didn't find something. Jiang Linzhi retorted, "Don't you need to go back to the military camp? How can you have such a long leave?"

"Avoiding me?" Lu Huantang propped his head up, squinting at her like a fox.

Jiang Linzhi remained calm, crunching on his fried pigeon, and said, "You squandered all the gold from the last mine, I dare not let you squander any more of my fortune."

"I really dug this hole for myself," Lu Huantang coughed awkwardly, ladled a bowl of fish soup for Jiang Linzhi, and explained, "That was to rescue you."

As long as Jiang Jinyi is alive, Jiang Linzhi will never have a good time. No matter how much Jiang Jinyi has, he will take it if Jiang Jinyi needs it. Even if he doesn't need it, as long as it's useful, Jiang Linzhi will never get it.

This situation is not a solution. Lu Huantang said, "I have now been promoted to the rank of third-grade deputy general. Although I am not yet at the level to rival him, it is still possible to negotiate with him to withdraw those assassination attempts."

Jiang Linzhi suddenly patted Lu Huantang's face, his expression inscrutable, and said, "Tsk tsk tsk, not easy."

These words made Lu Huantang's skin crawl. "Wha...what's wrong?"

Jiang Linzhi smiled and said, "You finally admit that Jiang Jinyi sent people to kill me. That's really not easy."

The past is too painful to recall, and Lu Huantang no longer hides it; now he only wants her to be safe and sound.

“Jiang Linzhi,” Lu Huantang said seriously, “I’m serious.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Linzhi also became serious, "Why do you think so many people have tried to assassinate me but never succeeded?"

"Of course, it's because Miss is so resourceful and has already taken precautions."

Jiang Linzhi shook his head, walked around to Lu Huantang's side, and whispered, "Pinky promise."

She actually believed such a naive method of keeping secret.

But Lu Huantang didn't believe her, yet he still went along with her actions, affectionately making a pinky promise and laughing, "What if I tell everyone? Will I really become a puppy?"

"Okay, I'll tie you up with a rope and put you in my dark room," Jiang Linzhi said smugly.

Jiang Linzhi said mysteriously in a low voice, "Getting back to the point, this is also thanks to your young lady's skill. Your young lady has a deal with the Regent."

His breath tickled his ear, and Lu Huantang silently clenched his fist, waiting for Jiang Linzhi to reveal one secret after another.

“Those who were really meant to kill me were stopped by the Regent long ago. It was those who were second-rate and looked down on by him who were let in to cause me trouble.”