Chapter 1188 The Returnee's Notes 262
As soon as the instant noodle lid was opened, the warm, misty steam filled the room. Ouyang Lin not only found it delicious, but also interesting.
"I thought that at my age, I wouldn't have the same fun I had with instant noodles as a child, but today, nestled on this warm kang (heated brick bed) and watching the snow falling outside the window, I'm actually enjoying a unique kind of leisure."
Brewing tea around a stove is elegant, but instant noodles around a stove are also quite good.
Then Ouyang Lin handed over a packet of instant noodles, which contained crumbled noodles sprinkled with seasoning. "I think this is the best way to eat them!"
"Indeed, it's quite good."
Xie Ning closed the page on his phone, feeling somewhat troubled. He had thought that narrowing the search scope would allow him to find some useful information, but while there were many records, most of them were modern or contemporary, with very few related to ancient wars.
Since we haven't been able to gain a deeper understanding, we can only take it one step at a time.
Ouyang Lin opened a drink for Xie Ning and then asked, "Are you going home for winter break this year?"
Xie Ning hasn't been home much in the past two years, but he has sent back quite a few things.
"I can't go back. Professor Wang only gave me half a month's leave."
After all, she was going to join the core team, which meant she would have even more work to do, especially since it was a critical time for tackling the problem. The fact that she was able to take a two-week vacation was a testament to Professor Wang's leniency.
Thinking of Xie Li, who was alone at home, Xie Ning paused, "I'll go back for the Chinese New Year."
Although Xie Li always said it was up to her whether she came back or not, Xie Ning knew that the old lady was still lonely.
Old Wang still has so many children, but Xie Li only has a cat. And Xie Ning doesn't know if it's just his imagination, but Xie Li always seems to look incredibly old.
In fact, she had asked about this matter. After all, people like them, such as Master Wang and Ouyang Lin's master, could maintain their health well through cultivation, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they had white hair and youthful faces.
Xie Li, however, was the opposite.
She asked that day, but received no answer.
Xie Li only told her to practice magic diligently whenever she had free time, so that she could grow stronger faster.
Xie Ning didn't understand, so she asked what level of strength was considered powerful.
"Surpass me." That's what Xie Li said at the time.
Xie Ning let out a breath. Last time she sparred with Xie Li, she suffered a crushing defeat. Regardless of his experience in magic and exorcising ghosts, Xie Li was extremely powerful in terms of martial arts alone.
Every step she took, every movement she made, contained some kind of pattern. Xie Ning could break it down and learn from it, but it was very difficult for her to apply it herself.
Hearing Xie Ning say she would go back, Ouyang Lin leaned closer and said, "Why don't you come to our Ouyang family for the New Year this year? My master is always alone, all lonely. It would be more lively with more people during the New Year."
Xie Ning looked at Ouyang Lin suspiciously, "Isn't your junior sister always by your master's side to fulfill her filial duties?"
Ouyang Lin choked, "Don't even mention it. Everyone else is a sweet and caring girl, but my junior sister is a leaky one."
Just last week, while I was abroad, I was quite adept at catching ghosts, but I almost wrecked someone's house.
Shaking her head, Ouyang Lin quickly shook off that memory and continued, "Besides, the two old people know each other and are friends, so chatting can make them feel better."
Considering that Xie Li doesn't travel far, Ouyang Lin said, "Wang Younian and I have discussed it, and we'll spend the New Year at their Taoist temple."
It's secluded there, and also more spacious.
Actually, she also had her own selfish motives. Perhaps because she had been practicing Taoism since childhood, her living environment was simpler, and she didn't like the atmosphere of the main family so much, where everyone spoke in circles.
Xie Ning hesitated for a moment, "Let me ask Grandma."
Xie Li didn't have any particular feelings when she received Xie Ning's message late at night. She was used to being alone, and it wasn't as bitter as Xie Ning thought. Loneliness was not an issue for her.
The first lesson she learned from childhood was to endure loneliness and get used to the monotony. However, Xie Ning integrated into the world, yet she also had her own composure, so she didn't specifically ask Xie Ning to do so.
Meow~
Black Egg was carrying a small pillow in its mouth, gesturing for Xie Li to go back to its room to sleep. It was also wearing a bright red fur-trimmed outfit.
Xie Ning didn't forget it when she sent things home.
Now it has many more clothes, although Black Egg doesn't really like them that much because they restrict its ability to catch mice and birds. But Xie Li took one look and wanted to change them for it, saying they were more pleasing to the eye.
Black Egg didn't care about any of that; even though he was wearing little clothes, he still rolled around in the mud.
Xie Li stretched out his foot and nudged the kitten's belly. "You can go with her next year."
Black Egg tilted its head, seemingly understanding, and meowed a few more times, appearing unwilling, its tail rubbing against Xie Li's trouser leg.
Xie Li sighed and picked it up. "I don't know if I can survive... but no matter what, I am human, and human instinct is to survive."
Next year I'll be going to find my own way to make a living, and I won't be able to take care of you, my little one.
Aunt Fang said there was a way to break the curse, and she had to try.
Although the black egg is intelligent, it still cannot understand complicated words. It just felt that Xie Li's eyes had become more lively, so it happily wagged its tail.
The winter scenery in the south resembles the beauty of spring; the light frost has not yet killed the lush grass.
Winter nights in the North are quiet; some say it's a season for remembrance.
Crystal-clear water droplets silently slid down the glass window, condensing into delicate, fine lines as the temperature gradually dropped.
Intertwined and entwined, they resemble ice patterns of various colors.
Yesterday the sky was gray and gloomy, but today the room is bathed in a bluish light, and the snowflakes seem to shimmer in the sunlight.
Even with her eyes closed, the light was still blinding, so Xie Ning silently burrowed her head under the covers.
Ouyang Lin sat up abruptly, her throat itchy and dry. She quickly got up and drank a cup of tea that was still warm.
Seeing Xie Ning still curled up in bed, and then seeing Yuan Ming in the yard, he climbed up and poked Xie Ning, "Get up quickly."
Yesterday, Xie Ning took out her computer again and stayed up all night. She said there was a data error, and the other side was in a hurry. There was no other way, so Xie Ning had to stay up all night to work on it.
Ouyang Lin didn't know much about Xie Ning's line of work, but she felt that Xie Ning was very hardworking. She hadn't had it so hard when she was in school, and even her junior sister had it easy back then.
"Okay, I'll get up." Xie Ning's voice was muffled and hoarse; the weather here was too dry.
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