The next morning, Miao He woke up with no one beside him. He glanced around the room and listened attentively for a while for any movement, as he didn’t hear any sounds, he then assumed that Yang Dalang had already left the house. Yang Dalang was scheduled to go to the town yesterday to sell prey, but Miao kept him from doing so because the ger had re-injured his previously injured foot.
Immediately, Miao He’s eyes lit up. Regardless of the cold weather, he quickly threw off the quilt and jumped off the bed. Then he saw two pancakes on the table and a small plate of fried shredded pork with mustard.
Although the table of food was the first thing Miao He saw as he walked through, he had no intention of eating right now because he was dying to check his soil and dig it right away!
Stepping on his shoes, Miao He leaned his hand on the frame of the backyard door as his other hand fumbled his left foot. He applied a decent amount of ointment, prescribed by Uncle Lin, on his injured foot, bundled it up into a ball with bandages, and his movements were not sloppy. Only when he stepped into the backyard did he hear the courtyard door open. Miao He halted, but Yang Dalang’s face darkened as soon as he noticed the ger’s presence.
“What are you doing?”
“I-I need to wash, and I’d like to boil some water,” Miao He uttered.
Yang Dalang frowned, strode over, and just like yesterday, he lifted Miao He easily in a bridal carry. Miao He heard him ask, “Did you forget Uncle Lin’s advice already?”
“It’s not that serious. I only twisted my left foot.”
“So was the fall yesterday a fake?”
Miao He shut up immediately and didn’t dare to fight any longer. If Yang Dalang discovered that his foot was fine, he would be suspicious about yesterday’s accident. Thinking of this, Miao He froze. And let Yang Dalang carry him to the table, dutifully cooperating as if he indeed had severe injuries.
Yang Dalang pushed the plate of pancakes and fried meat from the table closer to Miao He, “Eat first.” Then he turned and walked away.
Miao He saw him returning to the house. After a few glances, he discovered that the person had actually boiled water. With such a busy schedule, Miao He was not a person to not have a conscience. He looked at the hard pancakes on the table. He picked them up and ate them with a bite of meat every now and then. Miao He believed that this meat must be a rare dish. He didn’t dare to eat it all, so he only took two small pieces to eat with cakes.
Until Yang Dalang came in with hot water and noticed Miao He ate only a little, he frowned, “No appetite?”
“Huh? Nothing.”
“That pie?” Yang Dalang looked at the pie in his hand. There were only two small bites.
“It’s a bit hard, I’ll just soak it in water before I eat.”
Only then did Yang Dalang turn his head, and as soon as he held the hot water on the table again, Miao He took the opportunity to grab his sleeve.
“Wait, are you going to go to town today?”
“Yes,” Yang Dalang said, looking down at the hand that was holding him.
Miao He had a slight gleam on his small face. “Can I buy some vegetables if I have enough money? No more than one or two kinds.”
“You don’t need to work.” Yang Dalang frowned once more.
Miao He hastily explained, “Isn’t what I’m going to do just for the money? I’ll be bored at home as soon as you go out hunting. It’s fine to grow things as they come up, and there’s plenty of room in the backyard. I believe it is appropriate. Planting vegetables can be exchanged for rice. Besides, I’ve been chowing down on hard pancakes recently. And I can share some for my auntie, right?”
His vegetable planting strategy falls short of Yang Dalang’s level and the latter was a tough nut to crack. Miao He gave Yang Dalang a nervous look.
“If I want rice, I’ll just buy it,” Yang Dalang said, shaking his head.
Miao He was a little anxious, “I’d like to grow vegetables too. I’m really very good at growing vegetables! My mother-in-law said that the vegetables I grow are fresher than those grown by others. It’s a hit within our family, and I enjoy it as well. I’ll go to the stream and dig by myself if you don’t want to buy it! And don’t expect me to stay still and not escape!”
“You can’t go around with that injury, don’t you remember?”
“So, please buy it,” Miao said. In a hurry, he forgot about the original host’s character, as his soft temper erupted.
Unexpectedly, Miao He’s eyes were devoid of any resistance or evasion. Yang Dalang paused slightly, and his little ger in front of him continued to stare at him, his eyes softened. Yang Dalang considered it for a moment before asking, “What do you want?”
This sentence indicated that the vegetable planting matter would continue! Miao He couldn’t help but offer a smile from the bottom of his heart at Yang Dalang.
The curvy brows, the cheeky smile, and the happy little ger were true to what others had described: this smile looked like the best in the village.
Miao He quickly added, “You don’t need to buy more vegetable seeds. Don’t we still owe Uncle Lin for the consultation? If we can’t earn that amount of money, we can go back outside and dig vegetables together.” Because he was afraid, he stayed in the yard and didn’t dare to run around for a few days. When I was misunderstood and wanted to flee, I had to explain myself in a hazy manner.
Yang Dalang nodded, finally agreed, and then, with Miao He’s urging eyes, he took his basket and walked out.
However, when the door closed, Miao He quickly turned around and dashed to the backyard.
A cloud of energy was hovering quietly over the spot where the soil had dissolved the day before. Miao He recognized it without looking; the only thing that puzzled him was that he could feel it. Immediately, he dragged a heavy shovel from the shed on the left and couldn’t wait to shovel it toward the energy!
It was a shame, but things were exactly as he had predicted; even if a large hole was dug, the energy of the soil remained in place. Moreover, the sensation appeared to be stronger and more stable than it had been in the flowerpot.
Miao He unknowingly dug deeper, increasing the amount of sweat forming on his brow. Disappointed, he had no choice but to stop. He returned to the house, took a glass of water, and drank it. He had to have the energy to fill the holes back up with soil; otherwise, if left like that and was found out by Yang Dalang once he came back, he would be mad! And he might not be allowed to grow vegetables anymore.
After this dispirited phase, Miao He’s body’s vitality was almost exhausted. Then he gobbled up the pancakes and the plate of shredded pork’s leftovers from the morning. He had two meals a day for the past few days, that was, two hard cakes given to him by Aunt Yang, one for each meal. He wasn’t really used to it, so he waited until noon to eat half of the morning portion. Miao He returned to bed with a backache after eating, took a nap, and snored.
As dusk fell, the room began to reverberate with movement, and he jolted awake from his dark and sweet dream.
When he awoke, oil lamps were already lit on the hall table, and several dishes had been placed for food. Aside from the usual hard pancakes and a stack of pickled melons, there was a fat white bun, and a small basin of bone-in meat stewed in soup. The aroma of the broth successfully awoke him.
Yang Dalang finally put down the bowls and chopsticks. And it wasn’t until he got to the bedside that he noticed his sleepy little ger yawning and said, “Come and eat.”
Miao He responded by sitting up and enduring the discomfort and the soreness of his body. Yang Dalang walked over and carried him to the table. Miao He, this time, didn’t struggle, and after a nap, the fatigue that had built up in his body seemed to burst out, leaving him sorer than before he went to bed.
Yang Dalang naturally pushed the fat white buns in front of Miao He, while he bit into the hard cake.
Miao He stared blankly at the aromatic white and soft steamed buns in front of him, his mind clearer now. Regardless of his lack of rural experience, he was well aware that this bun must be refined and costly.
“How come there are buns?”
“I bought them.”
Miao He hesitated, “Don’t you need more money to pay for it?”
“I’ve had enough.”
“Oh, I see.”
Miao He lowered his head and gazed at the soft baozi, his heart suddenly trembled.
Miao He flipped through the memory of the original owner. The thing that deeply impressed the original host the most, in the more than a month since he married, was not Yang Dalang, but the fact that there was meat on the table from time to time.
The served food would be inferior to that of a middle-class residence. On the other hand, because he was abandoned by his lover and was forced by his family to marry a stranger, the former Miao He had a deep-rooted emotional injury. Any actions made by Yang Dalang would only receive the original host’s dodge and resistance, as well as fear.
Despite his cold demeanor, Yang Dalang genuinely cared for his husband.
Not to mention that after marrying Yang Dalang, he was not required to work, instead, he was well-fed and clothed. Even though Miao He owed him silver, Yang Dalang did not say anything and sought medical treatment for his foot injury from yesterday. The buns in front of him reminded him of how the pancakes were hard in the morning and how the fat white buns were on the table right now. According to the original owner, he should decline such goodwill.
Based on the original host’s memory and the two days of being with Dalang, he felt that Yang Dalang was not a bad person. And the only reason he maintained the original attitude was to protect himself. But was it solely for this purpose, to extrapolate a good intention or a future friendship?
The original body has long since kicked the bucket— so how long does he, the one who was now the new owner of this body, intend to learn the temperament of the original host?
Miao He remained silent, struggling in his heart.
Yang Dalang sat on one side, the light in his eyes following the quietness and slightly chilling actions. He was not a talkative person; he did not express what was on his mind; instead, he hung his eyes down and continued to eat cake.
After some time, the little ger finally moved.
Lifting his slender fingers, pinching the snowy-white fat baozi.
Then, the little ger split the bun in half and passed half of it.
“What nerve do I have to eat if you don’t eat?” The little ger stated.
Yang Dalang’s face was calm, but he was actually taken aback. After a while, he steadily took half of the bun.
Miao He smiled at the person before taking a bite of the bun, his facial expression relaxed.
He realized it at this point.
Even if he had just been transmigrated to this world, a world that did not belong to him, he still wanted to follow his heart.
Pretending to be someone else was not something he excelled at. Constantly feeling guilty, tense, and embarrassed. He wasn’t interested in any of it.
Even if it raises doubts or makes it more difficult for me to keep my secrets.
He still wanted to solve it his own way, rather than stepping on the goodwill of others, just to keep himself protected.
If Miao He’s poisonous-tongued friend was here, he might have a new curse for him: stupid and soft-hearted!
After reaching a consensus with his own resolve, Miao He regained his energy. “Can you buy vegetable seeds?”
“I can.”
“Of what kind?”
“I’ll bring it to you later. First, eat.”
“En, wow,” Miao He exclaimed while nodding.
“There’s rice as well.” Yang Dalang added.
Miao He awkwardly suggested, “The rice goes well with the vegetables I grow. You’ll find out in the future.”
Yang Dalang nodded and moved the rib soup closer to Miao He. The latter then insisted on dividing the meat before eating from the bowl.
At this time, the orange oil lamp plate shook because of their movement. The room’s warm tones highlighted the strange silence between the two.
After the meal, Miao He rushed over to see the vegetable seeds Yang Dalang had brought back. To his surprise, Dalang actually brought back a large variety of vegetables.
Cucumbers, locust beans, bitter gourd, small and white cabbage, small rapeseed, lettuce, pumpkin, radish, and purple long eggplant were all common vegetables, so it was not surprising they were included. The most shocking part was the Chaotian peppers, onions, peanuts, potatoes, and tomatoes. Miao He didn’t know which period this strange world was after seeing these forms. Of course, condiments including green onion, ginger, garlic, and coriander were available as well. He learned that it was willingly added by the boss seller.
Adding it up, it would take more than half a month to go through each round for each vegetable.
Just think of a way, for now, to hide it from Yang Dalang.
The next morning, Miao He woke up with no one beside him. He glanced around the room and listened attentively for a while for any movement, as he didn’t hear any sounds, he then assumed that Yang Dalang had already left the house. Yang Dalang was scheduled to go to the town yesterday to sell prey, but Miao kept him from doing so because the ger had re-injured his previously injured foot.
Immediately, Miao He’s eyes lit up. Regardless of the cold weather, he quickly threw off the quilt and jumped off the bed. Then he saw two pancakes on the table and a small plate of fried shredded pork with mustard.
Although the table of food was the first thing Miao He saw as he walked through, he had no intention of eating right now because he was dying to check his soil and dig it right away!
Stepping on his shoes, Miao He leaned his hand on the frame of the backyard door as his other hand fumbled his left foot. He applied a decent amount of ointment, prescribed by Uncle Lin, on his injured foot, bundled it up into a ball with bandages, and his movements were not sloppy. Only when he stepped into the backyard did he hear the courtyard door open. Miao He halted, but Yang Dalang’s face darkened as soon as he noticed the ger’s presence.
“What are you doing?”
“I-I need to wash, and I’d like to boil some water,” Miao He uttered.
Yang Dalang frowned, strode over, and just like yesterday, he lifted Miao He easily in a bridal carry. Miao He heard him ask, “Did you forget Uncle Lin’s advice already?”
“It’s not that serious. I only twisted my left foot.”
“So was the fall yesterday a fake?”
Miao He shut up immediately and didn’t dare to fight any longer. If Yang Dalang discovered that his foot was fine, he would be suspicious about yesterday’s accident. Thinking of this, Miao He froze. And let Yang Dalang carry him to the table, dutifully cooperating as if he indeed had severe injuries.
Yang Dalang pushed the plate of pancakes and fried meat from the table closer to Miao He, “Eat first.” Then he turned and walked away.
Miao He saw him returning to the house. After a few glances, he discovered that the person had actually boiled water. With such a busy schedule, Miao He was not a person to not have a conscience. He looked at the hard pancakes on the table. He picked them up and ate them with a bite of meat every now and then. Miao He believed that this meat must be a rare dish. He didn’t dare to eat it all, so he only took two small pieces to eat with cakes.
Until Yang Dalang came in with hot water and noticed Miao He ate only a little, he frowned, “No appetite?”
“Huh? Nothing.”
“That pie?” Yang Dalang looked at the pie in his hand. There were only two small bites.
“It’s a bit hard, I’ll just soak it in water before I eat.”
Only then did Yang Dalang turn his head, and as soon as he held the hot water on the table again, Miao He took the opportunity to grab his sleeve.
“Wait, are you going to go to town today?”
“Yes,” Yang Dalang said, looking down at the hand that was holding him.
Miao He had a slight gleam on his small face. “Can I buy some vegetables if I have enough money? No more than one or two kinds.”
“You don’t need to work.” Yang Dalang frowned once more.
Miao He hastily explained, “Isn’t what I’m going to do just for the money? I’ll be bored at home as soon as you go out hunting. It’s fine to grow things as they come up, and there’s plenty of room in the backyard. I believe it is appropriate. Planting vegetables can be exchanged for rice. Besides, I’ve been chowing down on hard pancakes recently. And I can share some for my auntie, right?”
His vegetable planting strategy falls short of Yang Dalang’s level and the latter was a tough nut to crack. Miao He gave Yang Dalang a nervous look.
“If I want rice, I’ll just buy it,” Yang Dalang said, shaking his head.
Miao He was a little anxious, “I’d like to grow vegetables too. I’m really very good at growing vegetables! My mother-in-law said that the vegetables I grow are fresher than those grown by others. It’s a hit within our family, and I enjoy it as well. I’ll go to the stream and dig by myself if you don’t want to buy it! And don’t expect me to stay still and not escape!”
“You can’t go around with that injury, don’t you remember?”
“So, please buy it,” Miao said. In a hurry, he forgot about the original host’s character, as his soft temper erupted.
Unexpectedly, Miao He’s eyes were devoid of any resistance or evasion. Yang Dalang paused slightly, and his little ger in front of him continued to stare at him, his eyes softened. Yang Dalang considered it for a moment before asking, “What do you want?”
This sentence indicated that the vegetable planting matter would continue! Miao He couldn’t help but offer a smile from the bottom of his heart at Yang Dalang.
The curvy brows, the cheeky smile, and the happy little ger were true to what others had described: this smile looked like the best in the village.
Miao He quickly added, “You don’t need to buy more vegetable seeds. Don’t we still owe Uncle Lin for the consultation? If we can’t earn that amount of money, we can go back outside and dig vegetables together.” Because he was afraid, he stayed in the yard and didn’t dare to run around for a few days. When I was misunderstood and wanted to flee, I had to explain myself in a hazy manner.
Yang Dalang nodded, finally agreed, and then, with Miao He’s urging eyes, he took his basket and walked out.
However, when the door closed, Miao He quickly turned around and dashed to the backyard.
A cloud of energy was hovering quietly over the spot where the soil had dissolved the day before. Miao He recognized it without looking; the only thing that puzzled him was that he could feel it. Immediately, he dragged a heavy shovel from the shed on the left and couldn’t wait to shovel it toward the energy!
It was a shame, but things were exactly as he had predicted; even if a large hole was dug, the energy of the soil remained in place. Moreover, the sensation appeared to be stronger and more stable than it had been in the flowerpot.
Miao He unknowingly dug deeper, increasing the amount of sweat forming on his brow. Disappointed, he had no choice but to stop. He returned to the house, took a glass of water, and drank it. He had to have the energy to fill the holes back up with soil; otherwise, if left like that and was found out by Yang Dalang once he came back, he would be mad! And he might not be allowed to grow vegetables anymore.
After this dispirited phase, Miao He’s body’s vitality was almost exhausted. Then he gobbled up the pancakes and the plate of shredded pork’s leftovers from the morning. He had two meals a day for the past few days, that was, two hard cakes given to him by Aunt Yang, one for each meal. He wasn’t really used to it, so he waited until noon to eat half of the morning portion. Miao He returned to bed with a backache after eating, took a nap, and snored.
As dusk fell, the room began to reverberate with movement, and he jolted awake from his dark and sweet dream.
When he awoke, oil lamps were already lit on the hall table, and several dishes had been placed for food. Aside from the usual hard pancakes and a stack of pickled melons, there was a fat white bun, and a small basin of bone-in meat stewed in soup. The aroma of the broth successfully awoke him.
Yang Dalang finally put down the bowls and chopsticks. And it wasn’t until he got to the bedside that he noticed his sleepy little ger yawning and said, “Come and eat.”
Miao He responded by sitting up and enduring the discomfort and the soreness of his body. Yang Dalang walked over and carried him to the table. Miao He, this time, didn’t struggle, and after a nap, the fatigue that had built up in his body seemed to burst out, leaving him sorer than before he went to bed.
Yang Dalang naturally pushed the fat white buns in front of Miao He, while he bit into the hard cake.
Miao He stared blankly at the aromatic white and soft steamed buns in front of him, his mind clearer now. Regardless of his lack of rural experience, he was well aware that this bun must be refined and costly.
“How come there are buns?”
“I bought them.”
Miao He hesitated, “Don’t you need more money to pay for it?”
“I’ve had enough.”
“Oh, I see.”
Miao He lowered his head and gazed at the soft baozi, his heart suddenly trembled.
Miao He flipped through the memory of the original owner. The thing that deeply impressed the original host the most, in the more than a month since he married, was not Yang Dalang, but the fact that there was meat on the table from time to time.
The served food would be inferior to that of a middle-class residence. On the other hand, because he was abandoned by his lover and was forced by his family to marry a stranger, the former Miao He had a deep-rooted emotional injury. Any actions made by Yang Dalang would only receive the original host’s dodge and resistance, as well as fear.
Despite his cold demeanor, Yang Dalang genuinely cared for his husband.
Not to mention that after marrying Yang Dalang, he was not required to work, instead, he was well-fed and clothed. Even though Miao He owed him silver, Yang Dalang did not say anything and sought medical treatment for his foot injury from yesterday. The buns in front of him reminded him of how the pancakes were hard in the morning and how the fat white buns were on the table right now. According to the original owner, he should decline such goodwill.
Based on the original host’s memory and the two days of being with Dalang, he felt that Yang Dalang was not a bad person. And the only reason he maintained the original attitude was to protect himself. But was it solely for this purpose, to extrapolate a good intention or a future friendship?
The original body has long since kicked the bucket— so how long does he, the one who was now the new owner of this body, intend to learn the temperament of the original host?
Miao He remained silent, struggling in his heart.
Yang Dalang sat on one side, the light in his eyes following the quietness and slightly chilling actions. He was not a talkative person; he did not express what was on his mind; instead, he hung his eyes down and continued to eat cake.
After some time, the little ger finally moved.
Lifting his slender fingers, pinching the snowy-white fat baozi.
Then, the little ger split the bun in half and passed half of it.
“What nerve do I have to eat if you don’t eat?” The little ger stated.
Yang Dalang’s face was calm, but he was actually taken aback. After a while, he steadily took half of the bun.
Miao He smiled at the person before taking a bite of the bun, his facial expression relaxed.
He realized it at this point.
Even if he had just been transmigrated to this world, a world that did not belong to him, he still wanted to follow his heart.
Pretending to be someone else was not something he excelled at. Constantly feeling guilty, tense, and embarrassed. He wasn’t interested in any of it.
Even if it raises doubts or makes it more difficult for me to keep my secrets.
He still wanted to solve it his own way, rather than stepping on the goodwill of others, just to keep himself protected.
If Miao He’s poisonous-tongued friend was here, he might have a new curse for him: stupid and soft-hearted!
After reaching a consensus with his own resolve, Miao He regained his energy. “Can you buy vegetable seeds?”
“I can.”
“Of what kind?”
“I’ll bring it to you later. First, eat.”
“En, wow,” Miao He exclaimed while nodding.
“There’s rice as well.” Yang Dalang added.
Miao He awkwardly suggested, “The rice goes well with the vegetables I grow. You’ll find out in the future.”
Yang Dalang nodded and moved the rib soup closer to Miao He. The latter then insisted on dividing the meat before eating from the bowl.
At this time, the orange oil lamp plate shook because of their movement. The room’s warm tones highlighted the strange silence between the two.
After the meal, Miao He rushed over to see the vegetable seeds Yang Dalang had brought back. To his surprise, Dalang actually brought back a large variety of vegetables.
Cucumbers, locust beans, bitter gourd, small and white cabbage, small rapeseed, lettuce, pumpkin, radish, and purple long eggplant were all common vegetables, so it was not surprising they were included. The most shocking part was the Chaotian peppers, onions, peanuts, potatoes, and tomatoes. Miao He didn’t know which period this strange world was after seeing these forms. Of course, condiments including green onion, ginger, garlic, and coriander were available as well. He learned that it was willingly added by the boss seller.
Adding it up, it would take more than half a month to go through each round for each vegetable.
Just think of a way, for now, to hide it from Yang Dalang.
