"Are you afraid of Fengzi?" Mu Shuangshuang teased him.
"Yes!" Lu Yuanfeng nodded.
"Fool, don’t you believe me?" Mu Shuangshuang asked.
"No, it’s not that I don’t believe you, Shuangshuang, it’s that I don’t believe in myself!" Lu Yuanfeng said.
Lu Yuanfeng knew deep down that from the moment he and Shuangshuang started doing business together, her path would become increasingly smooth.
She would meet more and more people and be recognized by many.
She’s good-looking, even without dressing up, she carries a unique glow, standing out in a crowd, impossible to be ignored.
In contrast, he himself is just a rough guy, never been to school, and it was Shuangshuang who taught him to write his name.
The only thing he knew how to do was hunt in the mountains.
And going to war, but that’s something other men can also do.
Lu Yuanfeng had a trace of fear deep inside, he was truly afraid that one day Shuangshuang would go further and further, while he remained the poor mountain boy unable to move forward.
"You fool! Do you know where on earth I could find a man like you? Even with a lantern, it’s unlikely to find you.
Not a hint of male chauvinism, yet so caring! You traveled all these days just to come back to see me sooner!
Tell me, if I miss out on you, what will I do in the future?"
Mu Shuangshuang extended her hand, took Lu Yuanfeng’s hand, and placed it in her palm. She sincerely spoke, "Fengzi, you have to believe in yourself! In this world, no one holds a more special place in my heart than you!
If I, Mu Shuangshuang, am to marry in this lifetime, I’ve chosen you, unless I don’t marry at all!"
Loving someone is such an arduous task.
She isn’t that foolish to let go.
No matter how great the difficulty, even if it stood before her, she wouldn’t give up!
After hearing Mu Shuangshuang’s words, a warm flow slowly passed through Lu Yuanfeng’s heart.
All his exhaustion vanished in that moment.
He was at peace, relieved!
Shuangshuang loved him deeply, and he must strive harder to be worthy of her.
"Shuangshuang, thank you, thank you for giving me so much confidence!" Lu Yuanfeng’s eyes glowed with excitement, gazing at Mu Shuangshuang with a satisfied and doting expression.
"Fool, confidence doesn’t come from others, it comes from yourself! I can only support you from behind!" Mu Shuangshuang corrected Lu Yuanfeng.
Actually, everything he achieved today was due to his hard work.
She hardly contributed much.
"I don’t care, everything about me is given by Shuangshuang! Every part of me belongs to you!" Lu Yuanfeng rarely acted spoiled.
It’s a rare sight for a grown man.
Mu Shuangshuang burst into laughter, interrupting the moment, "Hurry up and rest! Tomorrow, I want you to take me to many places, don’t end up with no energy!"
"Okay, I’ll sleep now!" Lu Yuanfeng said, starting to soak his feet.
Tasks like taking off shoes and socks, he did himself, not wanting Mu Shuangshuang to touch them.
For fear of dirtying her hands!
Even though it’s common among other women to do these things, he refused.
After soaking his feet, Lu Yuanfeng went to rest.
Mu Shuangshuang went to the next room to rest. Before sleeping, she left a small gap in Lu Yuanfeng’s window.
Afraid he might feel stifled at night.
Sleeping on Shuangshuang’s bed, Lu Yuanfeng smelled the scent of grass on the blankets and quickly fell asleep.
...
...
On the next day, early morning, at dawn, Lu Yuanfeng woke up.
First, because of his habits from the military.
Secondly, he was eager to see Shuangshuang.
He had so much to say, wanted to hear her voice, wanted to see her.
However, he woke too early, Mu Shuangshuang wasn’t up yet.
Lu Yuanfeng carried a hoe and started to weed in the yard, waiting for daylight.
The yard of a farmer’s home was muddy ground, not paved with bluestone slabs.
Hence, weeds grew easily.
Ordinarily, Mu Dashan was very busy, unable to care for it much.
Therefore, new weeds sprouted in the yard, a bunch at a time.
Mu Dashan and Yu Si Niang got up and heard noises in the yard, then went out to see.
At first glance, they saw Lu Yuanfeng.
"Oh my, Shuangshuang’s father, what did I see? Isn’t this Fengzi?" Yu Si Niang exclaimed in surprise.
Mu Dashan also had a surprised look, rubbing his eyelids forcefully, as if dreaming.
Lu Yuanfeng saw them and spoke up, "Uncle Dashan, Aunt Si, I’m back!"
"Good lad, you’re finally back!" Mu Dashan excitedly rushed forward, extending his hand to pat Lu Yuanfeng’s shoulder.
Yu Si Niang was equally excited, "It’s great you’re back, Shuangshuang’s been missing you! I’ll go call her, if she knows you’ve returned, she’ll be ecstatic!"
"No, Aunt, don’t go! Shuangshuang knows I’m back, let her sleep a while longer!" Lu Yuanfeng intervened.
"Alright, don’t start working as soon as you return, take care to rest, you look thinner!
Shuangshuang’s father, take Fengzi inside, I’ll cook breakfast! How about porridge and meat buns?" Yu Si Niang directed her words to Lu Yuanfeng.
Lu Yuanfeng replied, "Anything is fine, as long as Aunt makes it, I love it!"
"This kid, his mouth is like coated with honey, Aunt’s going to get busy!"
Yu Si Niang went to cook breakfast, Mu Dashan pulled Lu Yuanfeng inside to rest.
Lu Yuanfeng refused.
"Uncle, I’m really fine, moving around makes my body feel better! Plus, I’m all sweaty, want to bath before I meet you!" Lu Yuanfeng said, blushing with embarrassment.
"A bath? I’ll let your Aunt Si boil water for you! We have several new outfits for you at home, let me fetch them!"
Mu Dashan and Yu Si Niang had long treated Lu Yuanfeng and Yuanbao like their sons.
When the family made clothes, Yu Si Niang would prepare a set for Lu Yuanfeng.
For winter, spring, and early summer, over time, there were seven or eight sets accumulated.
Lu Yuanfeng didn’t want Mu Dashan to work hard. He was about to refuse, but Mu Dashan went straight into the kitchen.
Not giving Lu Yuanfeng a chance to talk.
In the kitchen, Yu Si Niang was boiling water in a large pot, while Mu Dashan fetched clothes for Lu Yuanfeng.
The couple was delighted by Lu Yuanfeng’s return, busy and cheerful, not feeling troubled.
The water was ready, clothes were prepared, and Mu Dashan led Lu Yuanfeng to the ’bathroom’, specially built by Shuangshuang for bathing.
It was grand, allowing for a bath in a bathtub or a wooden bucket, very convenient.
After bathing and washing his hair, changing into fresh clothes.
Having done all that, Lu Yuanfeng finally felt alive again.
Feeling so comfortable, being home.
He emerged from the bathroom, walked toward the yard, and met Mu Shuangshuang who just woke up.
"Why did you get up so early?" Mu Shuangshuang asked.
She went straight to his room as soon as she got up to find him, but he had been up long ago.
Even the blanket was cold, indicating he had been up for quite a while!