As soon as Su Muyun finished speaking, Fu Qingqing and Yi Yao followed his instructions and awkwardly took up horse stance.
The afterglow of the setting sun dyed everything in the yard a warm yellow.
Fu Zhewei came up from the edge of the field carrying a hoe. The loose hair on his forehead was soaked with sweat and stuck to his smooth forehead.
As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he saw the scene inside.
Lin Jianxue sat leisurely on the newly acquired small stool, holding a handful of roasted pumpkin seeds in her hand, and was slowly eating them, but her eyes were fixed on something not far away with interest.
The two little girls, Fu Qingqing and Yi Yao, were squatting with their legs wide open. Beads of sweat the size of beans hung on their foreheads, sliding down their cheeks and soaking their clothes.
"Master...how many more minutes are left?" Fu Qingqing's voice was filled with tears, and her little face was flushed red.
Yi Yao bit her lower lip tightly, her frail body seemed to be on the verge of collapse, and she was only holding on with willpower.
Both of their legs were trembling slightly, and they were about to sit down on the ground.
Su Muyun acted as if he didn't hear anything. He put his hands behind his back and paced around the two of them, occasionally pointing his finger:
"Stand up straight!"
"Open your knees a little wider!"
"I told you not to move!"
His handsome, pale face was now covered with a layer of frost, and his tone was stern, without a trace of warmth.
Fu Qingqing and Yi Yao felt frightened by his gaze and could only grit their teeth and persevere, not even daring to breathe.
Fu Zhewei put down the hoe on his shoulder, leaned it against the wall, walked silently to the well, scooped up a bucket of clear well water, and carefully washed his hands and the sweat on his face.
At this time, Dong Yulan came out of the simple kitchen with a bowl of green wild vegetable soup and a gentle smile on her face.
"Is Zha Wei coming?"
"Dinner is ready, come and eat first."
The aroma of food wafts from the kitchen. Although simple, it whets one's appetite.
Fu Zhawei responded, dried his hands, and walked into the kitchen on his own initiative to help bring the food that had already been laid out to the small square table in the yard.
A bowl of light wild vegetable soup, a plate of fragrant fried pickles, and a bowl of golden and tender egg custard.
It was not a sumptuous meal, but in those days of food and clothing shortages, it was a rare opportunity to have such a meal.
Fu Zhawei placed the last dish on the table, then walked to Su Muyun and spoke in a low voice:
"Su Muyun."
"How about we stay here for the next day?"
"My mom has already prepared the meal, let's eat first."
Su Muyun's gaze swept across Fu Qingqing and Yi Yao's trembling legs, paused, then turned to Fu Zhewei and nodded slightly.
He said calmly to the two little girls who were about to collapse, "Let's eat."
“Ouch!”
Fu Qingqing and Yi Yao felt as if they had been pardoned. They cried out in surprise for a moment, then their legs went limp and they hurriedly put down their sore and stiff hands.
Fu Qingqing collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath: "Oh my god... I'm so tired..."
Yi Yao also held her knees, her face was pale, and sweat was still dripping down her forehead.
She never thought that this simple horse stance could make a person so tired.
Fu Qingqing breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Yi Yao standing there motionless, she reached out to pull her: "Yi Yao, come and eat!"
Yi Yao hesitated and whispered to Fu Qingqing, "Sister Qingqing, I... I can't help you at all, so I won't eat your food for free..."
Upon hearing this, Fu Qingqing put her arm around her shoulders and led her to the dining table without saying a word.
"What nonsense are you talking about!"
"My mom knew you wanted to practice boxing with me, so she already prepared your meal!"
"Besides, it's almost dark. It would be safer for you to go home with Master after dinner."
Dong Yulan also came over and gently touched Yi Yao's little head, saying in a warm tone:
"Yeah, Yaoyao, don't be so formal."
"Stay for dinner, and then go out with your brother Mu Yun."
Yi Yao raised her head and looked at Dong Yulan's kind and gentle eyes, and her eyes suddenly turned red.
She seemed to remember her mother who passed away early. When her mother was alive, she always touched her hair so gently.
The little girl lowered her head and said softly, "Thank you...Thank you, Aunt Dong."
*
As the night deepened, a crescent moon quietly climbed up the willow branches.
In the yard, Dong Yulan, Lin Jianxue and Fu Zhewei sent Su Muyun and Yi Yao to the door.
"Be careful on the road." Lin Jianxue warned.
Su Muyun still had that cold and distant look on his face. He just said "hmm" softly and disappeared into the hazy night with Yi Yao.
Yi Yao was sensible. She bowed to everyone and said in a weak voice, "Thank you, Aunt Dong, thank you, Sister Qingqing, thank you, Sister Lin, and thank you, Brother Fu."
After seeing the two off, the gate closed again.
Dong Yulan carried the dishes into the simple kitchen, and soon the sound of washing dishes could be heard.
Fu Qingqing slumped on the small stool like a puddle of mud, legs stretched out, humming:
"Ouch, my legs... my waist... Sister Xiaoxue, I feel like I'm about to fall apart."
As she spoke, she looked at Lin Jianxue pitifully.
Lin Jianxue had a faint smile on her lips. She walked behind her, stretched out her slender fingers, and gently massaged her sore shoulders.
"It's like this the first time you practice, you'll get used to it." Her voice was gentle.
"Really?" Fu Qingqing tilted her head, her tone full of doubt, "I feel like I won't be able to get out of bed tomorrow."
"Su Muyun will come tomorrow." Lin Jianxue reminded her.
Fu Qingqing wailed and buried her face in Lin Jianxue's waist: "Sister Xiaoxue, you are so cruel to me!"
Just then—
“Dongdongdong——”
There was a sudden knock on the gate.
The sound was particularly clear in the silent night.
Fu Qingqing immediately stopped acting coquettishly and raised her head vigilantly.
Fu Zhewei's movements were even faster. He almost immediately stood up from the shadow under the eaves, looked towards the courtyard gate with deep eyes, and asked in a deep voice:
"who?"
A slightly honest voice came from outside the door:
"Excuse me, is this the Fu family?"
"The furniture you ordered has been delivered to you."
Fu Zhawei took a few steps forward and pulled open the wooden bolt on the courtyard gate.
With a "creak", the gate opened.
There were two people standing outside the door. They were Carpenter Wang and his son Wang Defu whom I had met during the day.
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