Lin Zhen escorted her back to the educated youth courtyard but didn’t leave. Now that he was officially Song Wei’s boyfriend, his status was different, and he wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to hang around.
He also wanted to take a good look at that “pretty boy” surnamed Luo. Last time, he hadn’t seen his face clearly.
“Song Zhiqing, you’re back,” someone greeted her.
The weather was freezing, and apart from checking on the cabbage and radish fields, there wasn’t much farm work being done. Cabbage and radishes were hardy against the cold, and while snow had already fallen, it wasn’t yet time to harvest them.
The first snowfall was often followed by a brief period of warmer weather, during which the radishes and cabbages could be harvested. After that, winter truly set in.
At this time, the snow wasn’t deep, and many families were rushing to the mountains to chop firewood before it got colder. The educated youth courtyard faced a similar situation, except for Gao Le and Zhao Su, who seemed more carefree—they were busy building snowmen.
Song Wei was already used to their antics, but Lin Zhen glanced at them a few times with curiosity.
Gao Le and Zhao Su also looked at him, grinning broadly.
“Hello, big brother! What brings you to the educated youth courtyard?”
They even enthusiastically brought over a bench for him to sit on.
Both of them had heard the story of him beating up his uncle and didn’t see any problem with it. After all, Lin Zhen’s relatives were infamous for their disgraceful behavior.
Lin Zhen shook his head. “No need. I just came to escort Song Zhiqing back.”
As Lin Zhen followed Song Wei inside, Gao Le and Zhao Su exchanged knowing glances.
“Why do I feel like their relationship isn’t the same as before?”
“You think they’re dating now?”
Curious, the two gave up on their snowman project and trotted off to investigate.
Inside one of the rooms, Luo Yecheng stood behind a window, his expression dark and brooding as he watched Lin Zhen and Song Wei return together.
“A cripple… Song Wei’s standards are really slipping. She’s stooping lower and lower!”
He was the type who couldn’t bear to see others happy when his own life was in shambles.
Since his fallout with Jiang Xiaowan and the exposure of his simultaneous dalliances with several women, Luo Yecheng’s reputation had plummeted. People in the village openly gossiped about him wherever he went.
Discontent with his situation, Luo Yecheng blamed everyone else for his troubles, refusing to acknowledge any fault of his own.
All he wanted was a better life, and those women had thrown themselves at him—how was that his fault?
Bitter and resentful, he believed that the world had turned against him and that no one truly understood him.
Forced to marry Wang Xiaohua, whom he considered unattractive, Luo Yecheng was at his wit’s end.
If Song Wei could see him now, she’d be stunned.
The once-meticulous Luo Yecheng, who always maintained a clean and polished appearance, now looked like a shadow of his former self. His face was sallow, dark circles hung under his eyes, and an unkempt beard covered his chin. He appeared gaunt and haggard, with a sinister expression.
But none of this mattered to Song Wei anymore.
She had brought back a string of pig offal, which Gao Le and Zhao Su eyed with disdain.
“This stuff isn’t good at all, Sister Song. Are you running out of food? I’ve got some cured meat; I can give you some.”
The two young men had a knack for making casual jokes.
“No need. I just like eating this,” Song Wei replied.
However, cooking wasn’t her forte, and with Li Juan absent, her eyes landed on Lin Zhen.
She didn’t even need to speak before Lin Zhen rolled up his sleeves and volunteered.
“I’ll handle it.”
Lin Zhen was eager to find excuses to stay longer.
Meanwhile, Gao Le and Zhao Su chimed in, “Sister and Brother Lin, can we join you for a meal? We’ve been eating plain noodles for days, and they’re terrible.”
“Yeah, and we’re not even good at making them,” Zhao Su added.
Lin Zhen waved them off. “Don’t ask me.”
He found the two a bit immature but harmless. Seeing no reason to refuse, he let Song Wei decide.
“Sure,” she said, “but bring your own food. And you’ll need to help out—no freeloading.”
Gao Le and Zhao Su eagerly agreed and ran back to grab supplies: a bowl of flour, a slab of cured meat, a sausage, and even a few eggs.
Both young men were generous when sharing food and were soon helping Lin Zhen prepare. They set up in the courtyard kitchen, with Gao Le bringing over a small iron pan for making flatbreads.
Song Wei noted to herself that she still didn’t own an iron pan and made a mental note to check the supply store or the black market for one.
While the men cooked, Heidan stayed in the main room to watch over the wolf pups and the rabbits. Song Wei took charge of the fire.
By now, Gao Le and Zhao Su had become decent at washing vegetables and cutting meat, leaving Lin Zhen to focus on the main dishes. His injured leg meant he had to sit while cooking, so they brought over a low stool for him.
As the pig offal cooked, its strong initial smell dissipated, replaced by a rich aroma as Lin Zhen added seasonings to mask any gaminess.
The smell was so enticing that Gao Le couldn’t believe it. “This is pig offal? How does it smell so good?”
Coming from a family that avoided offal due to its perceived dirtiness, Gao Le and Zhao Su were hesitant yet tempted.
Lin Zhen plated the dish, and Song Wei eagerly sampled it.
“Delicious!” she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up.
Lin Zhen then prepared a large dish of stir-fried shredded potatoes with cured meat, served alongside freshly baked flatbreads. The bread was crisp on the outside and soft inside, perfect for stuffing with the savory filling.
With these hearty dishes, plus a pot of boiled sweet potatoes, the group sat down to eat.
Gao Le and Zhao Su were so focused on their food that they barely lifted their heads, continuously praising the flavors. Their enthusiasm was infectious, filling the courtyard with laughter and conversation.
The tantalizing aroma wafted through the air, sparking hunger in nearby neighbors. One by one, families returned home to cook, and soon the village was alive with the scent of dinner, smoke curling into the twilight sky.
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