In the village, people’s land was situated close to each other, creating vast fields. Although all were covered by pure white snow, each family knew their boundaries clearly.
Ji Xinhe, pushing her bamboo hat upwards, quickly spotted Wang Po’s two-acre cabbage field: "It’s right there. Let’s hurry up and pick a basketful to bring back for emergencies."
"Okay." Mu Houchu carried the basket backpack and followed Ji Xinhe to the field.
Time was tight, so they moved quickly. Mu Houchu picked a full basket of Chinese cabbage in just a few minutes. He looked like a privileged young master, but was surprisingly skilled in fieldwork.
However, Ji Xinhe didn’t have the energy to be curious anymore. There were too many strange things about this man, and she had gradually gotten used to them.
"All right! Let’s go back!" Ji Xinhe sighed with relief. After a busy period, she felt warm all over.
Mu Houchu easily picked up the basket full of Chinese cabbage in one hand: "Let’s go."
On this side of the field, especially in the depths of the bushes, the deepest area could swallow half of a leg. Troublesome holes and slopes surrounded the field, and it was hard to see the uneven ground beneath the heavy snow.
Mu Houchu was fine since he possessed lightness skill, but the uneven road gave Ji Xinhe some difficulty. If it weren’t for her weakened body, she would have easily walked through this kind of road. After picking a few cabbages, she was already sweating. Walking on the uneven path required her to be cautious at all times.
At first, Mu Houchu slowed down to let her walk slowly without rushing. But when he saw her struggling even at a slower pace, he silently offered his help.
Suddenly, Ji Xinhe stepped into a hole and cried out. She was about to fall.
Mu Houchu quickly caught her, scowling: "If you can’t walk anymore, just say so. If you hurt yourself, you’ll be the one suffering."
Ji Xinhe was taken aback. She had only nearly tripped, but now it sounded like she didn’t take care of herself.
Feeling irritated, she said: "What’s the use of telling you if I can’t walk? Are you going to carry me back?"
Mu Houchu simply squatted down in front of her: "Get on."
Ji Xinhe was startled and quickly said: "I, I was just joking."
Mu Houchu looked at her impatiently: "Hurry up. If we wait for you to walk back, it’ll be dark."
Ji Xinhe: "······"
Does he look down on me?
Ji Xinhe pouted, but eventually obediently climbed onto his back. Mu Houchu carried her and walked steadily on the uneven snow-covered ground.
Ji Xinhe clung to his neck, her chin resting on his strong shoulder. Unlike when she walked by herself, she now felt much more relaxed and secure.
She had to admit that he was indeed a strong man who could make her feel safe.
"Actually, my weakness is only temporary. Once I recover, I won’t be challenged by such a small path," Ji Xinhe said.
She didn’t know whether she was trying to defend herself or prove herself.
Mu Houchu couldn’t help but smirk: "Oh."
Oh?
Is he mocking her?
Ji Xinhe continued: "I’m serious! If it weren’t for my weak body holding me back, I wouldn’t be this fragile!"
She was never weak, okay?!
Mu Houchu laughed: "Oh."
Ji Xinhe turned away angrily, no longer wanting to engage with him.
"When we get back, change your socks, soak your feet, or you won’t even know when you catch a cold. I’ll make you some ginger soup to warm you up," Mu Houchu said as he carried her and walked.
Only then did Ji Xinhe notice that her shoes were wet. She hadn’t realized earlier when stepping on the snow, but now that the snow had melted, cold water soaked her socks and shoes, making her feet icy.
How did he notice even that?
Ji Xinhe didn’t know what to say for a moment, and a strange warmth rose in her heart. In the snow-covered world, that warmth was particularly heartwarming.
Ji Xinhe leaned on his back and whispered, "Okay."
Mu Houchu added: "You shouldn’t have come out in this heavy snow. Your body is so weak, yet you don’t know how to stay put. You always act tough." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
Ji Xinhe immediately became dissatisfied: "My body wasn’t always weak!"
Who knew that after crossing over, she would end up with such a feeble body?
Mu Houchu raised an eyebrow: "Oh? You’re so thin that the wind could blow you away. You hardly have any flesh on you. Now that you’re lying on my back, you’re poking me. Is that not weak?"
Ji Xinhe, grinding her teeth, said: "Who’s poking you!"
Mu Houchu smirked: "You should gain some weight. It’s not comfortable being that skinny."
"You old pervert!" Who wants him to touch her?!
Mu Houchu chuckled, but his pace unconsciously became slower. He cherished this rare opportunity for her to let him get close. He wished the road home would last a lifetime.
Ji Xinhe saw him walking slower and asked: "Are you tired? If so, I can walk."
Mu Houchu, showing no intention of letting her down, spoke seriously: "I’m not tired. The snow-covered ground isn’t easy to walk on. Let’s just go slowly and carefully."
Actually, with his cultivation, he could have used his lightness skill to fly home in a flash.
Ji Xinhe didn’t know his true abilities, so she didn’t suspect anything and obediently lay on his back.
Outside, the heavy snow continued to fall. Each household was warming themselves inside; nobody was out walking. The peaceful village was covered in white snow. He carried her through the snowy countryside, leaving footprints on the path home.
——
By evening, everyone had finally finished their tasks for the day. Ji Xinhe, in high spirits, decided to discuss the big business she had agreed on with the Gu family with Ji Dong.
As she excitedly prepared to speak to Ji Dong about it, he said seriously: "Is it about your marriage to Mu Chu?"
"Uh?" Ji Xinhe was dumbfounded.
Ji Dong took a deep breath and said: "If you truly like him, we should clarify his background before settling the marriage. But why did you hide this from your big brother?"
"I didn’t mean to hide it from you..." Ji Xinhe hurriedly said.
Ji Dong sighed: "Our mother died young, leaving no elder to care for us. As your big brother, I haven’t been attentive enough. I don’t understand the thoughts of a young woman. I don’t blame you. Since you genuinely like him, and he seems to treat you well, I can help you inquire about this marriage."
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