"Isn't that how it is? It's just that I'm willing to use firewood. I'm pregnant, after all. Brother Nanxun was worried I'd catch a cold, so he burned extra firewood. We don't usually keep the stove lit, but we were thinking of having mutton hotpot today, so we lit it." Lin Qing explained with a smile.
"You're probably living the most comfortable life in the whole brigade," Lu Xianghong shook her head and continued. Having lived here for so many years, she knew exactly how the people in the brigade spent their winters; there really wasn't anyone as particular as Lin Qing.
However, Lu Xianghong, though envious, was not jealous. Everyone had their own life to live. In this life, she no longer needed to marry the person who would make her regret it for the rest of her life. She was content, and she was living a good life.
She first came into contact with Lin Qing because she was not among the educated youth who went to the countryside in her previous life. She was curious about Lin Qing and wanted to use Lin Qing to prove that she could change her destiny.
Now she truly considers Lin Qing her friend, a friend who had helped her, and Lu Xianghong silently keeps this gratitude in her heart.
She had previously gone to the black market with everyone to resell goods, and in less than two months, she had already earned several hundred yuan, an amount he had never dared to imagine before. She was genuinely grateful to Lin Qing and Gu Nanxun.
If she can earn a few hundred yuan every year and save it up for 10 years, she can buy a house in a big city.
Lu Xianghong imagined her happy future life and couldn't help but smile. Chen Bin, who was standing next to her, stared at Lu Xianghong's smile for a moment, then blushed and quickly looked away.
Lin Qing didn't reply. She gestured for everyone to sit on the kang (a heated brick bed). Then she got up and took some peanuts and melon seeds from the kang cabinet, placing them alongside the fruit on the kang table.
Gu Nanxun picked up the meat that Chen Bin and the others had brought and took it into the kitchen, instructing Zhao Xi to put some more meat into the pot.
Zhao Xi nodded with a smile. When she saw the group of people coming over, she had already cut some more meat and put it into the pot. Fortunately, the mutton had only been stewing for a short time, so it was still in time to add some more.
After putting the meat in the pan, Zhao Xi brought some tea to Lin Qing and the others, and then went back to the kitchen to continue her work.
"Don't we need to go to the kitchen to help?" Lu Xianghong asked Lin Qing as she watched Zhao Xi leave.
"No need, we're almost done. We just need to add a little more. Xixi will be done soon, and besides, my third brother is helping in the kitchen."
Before the four of them arrived, Lin Qing and the others had prepared a lot of side dishes. In fact, the four of them couldn't finish them all, but now that the four of them had arrived, they didn't need to add much more and it would be enough.
After hearing Lin Qing's words, Lu Xianghong felt relieved. She felt bad if they chatted while Zhao Xi was busy all by herself.
"Don't worry! How could I bear to bully Xixi! I already called her, but Xixi just prefers the kitchen," Lin Qing said with a smile.
"You just said your third brother was in the kitchen too?" Xu Fengjiao suddenly asked Lin Qing with a gossipy look on her face.
Lin Qing smiled and said, "Yes! He's helping Xixi in the kitchen."
Xu Fengjiao winked at Lin Qing, "What, does your third brother like Xixi?"
Lin Qing patted Xu Fengjiao's arm, "All you do is gossip, why don't you just ask my third brother!"
"That would be so embarrassing! What if your third brother doesn't have that kind of interest? How awkward would that be!" Xu Fengjiao said with a smile, shaking her head.
"I don't know either. I haven't asked my third brother. But whether my third brother likes Xixi or not, it depends on Xixi in the end."
In fact, Lin Qing also felt that her third brother definitely had some feelings for Xi Xi, but Lin Qing didn't intend to interfere. Whether the two of them could get together was up to them.
As everyone was chatting happily, Lin Yunfeng carried in a table and placed it next to the stove. "Come and serve the dishes, the mutton is ready."
After saying that, he quickly left the room and ran towards the kitchen.
As soon as Lin Yunfeng entered the kitchen, he saw Zhao Xi carrying a pot of mutton, intending to walk outside. "Give it to me quickly, go get the others, this is hot." After saying that, he took the pot of mutton from Zhao Xi, carried it into the living room, and placed it on the stove.
After finishing the mutton hot pot, Lin Yunfeng picked up another pot of mutton, carefully placed it in his basket, then added some cleaned vegetables and steamed buns. He then carried the basket to the cowshed.
When Lin Yunfeng returned from delivering the hotpot to the cowshed, everyone was sitting nearby waiting for him. The mutton on the fire was bubbling away. Lin Yunfeng smiled, sat down next to Zhao Xi, picked up his bowl, and started eating with everyone.
The mutton hotpot meal lasted a long time, from 7 pm to 11 pm. Chen Bin and his friends finished off the two bottles of liquor they brought. Lin Qing then brought out two more bottles, which they also drank. Lin Yunfeng and Wang Haoran were completely drunk.
Gu Nanxun escorted Lin Yunfeng back to his room, while Chen Bin, along with Wang Haoran, Lu Xianghong, and Xu Fengjiao, went home together.
"Xi Xi, you should go back and rest first! It's getting late, we'll clean up tomorrow." After everyone left, Lin Qing looked at the messy room and said to Zhao Xi.
"The room smells of alcohol. I'd better clean it up, otherwise you won't be able to sleep tonight."
Zhao Xi shook her head and quickly took the items outside. She planned to take them outside first and then unpack them later.
After tidying up, Zhao Xi smelled the room and frowned. "The smell of alcohol is still very strong. How are you going to sleep tonight? Why don't you tidy up the room next to Yunfeng's and make do with it for the night?"
"Okay, don't worry! My door is closed tightly, so the smell isn't too strong. I'll open the living room window a crack, and the smell will dissipate quickly. Go back to sleep as soon as possible!" Lin Qing said, pushing Zhao Xi out the door.
"Okay, then you must call me if anything happens tonight." Zhao Xi said worriedly as she followed Lin Qing's lead towards the door.
"Okay, don't worry, I'll definitely call you if anything happens," Lin Qing replied with a smile.
After Zhao Xi left, Gu Nanxun and Lin Qing returned to the space.
"Brother Nanxun, are you ready?" Lin Qing rubbed her hands together and asked Gu Nanxun with a serious expression.
"Ready, little fairy, let's begin!" Gu Nanxun nodded in agreement with a serious expression.
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