"You have to wear it these days." Zhong Mingwei put it on Ah Chou himself without saying anything. The kang was heated in the room. Although it was warm, Ah Chou went to the outer hall from time to time to get things, and it was still quite cold. Besides, Ah Chou was afraid of the cold these days.
"It's hard to walk after putting them on." Ah Chou complained. He tied his belt, jumped out of bed, and took out socks for Zhong Mingwei to wear. He rubbed Zhong Mingwei's knees and asked, "How was your day? Or should you stay in bed and lie down for another day?"
A few days ago, Zhong Mingwei's knees were not very comfortable, and he stayed in bed for two days without getting out of bed. Ah Chou was very anxious. Fortunately, there was an ointment sent by the palace at home, which was much more effective than the ointment in Ningguta. Zhong Mingwei applied it for a few days. He felt much better.
"It's okay. Much better. If I don't get up, I'll be crippled." Zhong Mingwei said. He used to lie in bed for several months without feeling anything, but later he could get out of bed. He couldn't lie in bed anymore. Ah Chou helped him walk around the yard or the house every day. These days, he suddenly lay down. He felt uncomfortable all over.
"That's fine, but don't force yourself," Ah Chou helped Zhong Mingwei put on his shoes and socks, and said, "You are not allowed to stay out of bed for too long. You have to go back to bed and rest after eating."
"There's nothing to do in bed, so you might as well walk around the house." Zhong Mingwei was a little unhappy, and sat in front of the stove without the support of Achou.
"That won't work. I'll massage your legs after breakfast. Don't get too tired," Ah Chou said, as he brought water in from the outer hall and scooped it into the pot. "If you're bored, just read a book. We have some at home."
"Why are you reading in broad daylight?" Zhong Mingwei said uncomfortably as he skillfully lit the fire and put it into the stove.
"Everyone reads in broad daylight, right? You are different. You have to read at night." Ah Chou couldn't help but complain to Zhong Mingwei when he mentioned reading. He glanced at the kang and was immediately puzzled. "Didn't I put all the books on the kang for you? How come they are gone?"
"I put them away. They are everywhere and are getting in the way." Zhong Mingwei really didn't want to talk to Ah Chou about the twelve books, so he urged Ah Chou, "Didn't you say we were going to make Laba porridge? Go wash the beans."
"Oh." At that moment, Ah Chou was busy going to the outer hall to wash the beans.
…
After the porridge was cooked, the two sat on the kang and ate breakfast.
It’s not like Achou had never cooked porridge before, but it was never as rich in ingredients as Eight Treasure Porridge. There were so many kinds of beans in it that even though Zhong Mingwei had been doing housework for several months, there were still several kinds that he didn’t recognize.
"What kind of bean is this?" Zhong Mingwei asked Achou while staring at a large red bean in the spoon.
"This is kidney bean," Ah Chou swallowed the large kidney bean from Zhong Mingwei's spoon, smiling, "Don't you like eating sticky bean buns? The filling inside is kidney bean."
"It's true." Zhong Mingwei scooped another spoonful and ate it. He finally tasted the flavor. While savoring the sweetness of the kidney beans, he smiled and said, "It seems like I haven't eaten sticky bean buns for a long time."
"Why don't you just say you want to eat it? Look at your hypocritical behavior," Ah Chou pinched Zhong Mingwei's nose and said with some embarrassment, "I just don't know how to make sticky bean buns, but Grandma Chen does. How about after dinner, I'll bring some food down the mountain and ask her to make some sticky bean buns for us?"
"No, no, no, I just said it casually," Zhong Mingwei said hurriedly, while digging a spoonful of Laba porridge to drink, he also reminded Ah Chou, "The snow is so thick, don't run down the mountain for no reason, the ground is slippery."
"I know. You're nagging again." Ah Chou muttered as she picked up some pickles with chopsticks and ate them while looking at the man opposite her who was drinking porridge with his head down. Ah Chou felt warm in her heart. The New Year was almost over. This was her first Spring Festival with Zhong Mingwei, so she had to prepare a gift for Zhong Mingwei. She did buy a gift for Zhong Mingwei at the market two days ago, but she was too embarrassed to take it out as she felt that Zhong Mingwei would not like it.
"Why are you looking at me?" Zhong Mingwei looked up and met Ah Chou's staring eyes.
"You look good." Ah Chou said with a smile.
"Nonsense, you have a scruffy beard and haven't washed your face yet, how can you look good?" Zhong Mingwei laughed dumbly, while wiping his chin. His beard was a bit long, and the stubble scratched his hand. "Girl, give me a beard cut later."
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