Upon arriving at their destination, Qiu Xiaodong was dumbfounded!
He thought he had found a truly remarkable master, only to discover a simple farmhouse. Though it fell far short of his expectations, at least it offered shelter, which was better than what he had before!
Clearly, he had completely forgotten that the pawnshop had refused to accept the waist token. When he asked the shopkeeper about its purpose, the man had merely warned him that failure to return it would lead to serious trouble.
Lost in thought, Fan Zehao called out to him, "Stop dawdling and get the things from the carriage into the house!"
The first thing he did upon returning home was to light the stove. The kang, unheated for two days, would be frigid, making the house even colder.
While the two men busied themselves, Zhao Jiaqi was also occupied in the kitchen, preparing something warm to eat that would help them feel more comfortable.
Before long, white smoke billowed from the kitchen chimney, and a fragrant aroma wafted out, drawing both men in!
"Wife, what delicious thing are you cooking?" Fan Zehao asked as he entered the kitchen.
Qiu Xiaodong, meanwhile, leaned against the doorframe, grinning as he peered inside. The scent of the delicious meal prepared by Mrs. Fan made him involuntarily inhale deeply through his nose.
"I'm simmering some lean meat congee and making some pickles!"
Fan Zehao greatly enjoyed such simple food; it was truly down-to-earth. With a chuckle, he set down the dining table and began serving bowls to his wife and arranging the pickles. Their coordination was remarkably seamless!
Qiu Xiaodong watched with envy. If he could one day marry a virtuous wife, he would willingly toil himself to death!
With the food all prepared, Zhao Jiaqi noticed him still leaning against the doorframe, staring blankly. She smiled, "Come in and eat, and close the kitchen door on your way!"
This way, the warmth from cooking wouldn't escape the kitchen.
The three of them sat around a small round table. The lean meat congee had a slight savory taste, so it wasn't bland even without the pickles.
For the first time in many years, Qiu Xiaodong savored a home-cooked meal, alternating spoonfuls of congee with pickles, eating with great relish!
Seeing him like this, Fan Zehao was reminded of his own youth, around fifteen or sixteen. Back then, his mother would often save the best portions for him, always saying that a growing boy could eat them out of house and home.
The thought brought a pang of sadness. He wouldn't be able to return home for the New Year this year.
"Xiaodong, you'll sleep here tonight. Someone will come to pick you up tomorrow. For now, we part ways temporarily. If you pass the test, our connection will continue; if not, our destiny will be thus shallow!"
Qiu Xiaodong's eating paused. Tears welled in his eyes, but he held them back, continuing to eat with determination. "I understand. People like us, without other skills, learn quickly and have sharp minds. I believe our destiny will be very deep!"
His words seemed directed as much at himself as at the couple. His spirit was strong, but it remained to be seen if he could sustain it.
With only one heated kang for sleeping, Qiu Xiaodong volunteered to stay in the kitchen. For him, it was far better than a drafty, dilapidated temple, and the stove in the kitchen was still warm, not cold!
Zhao Jiaqi looked at him, realizing he was only a few years older than her own son, yet he had endured so much hardship. Her heart ached. If her son were to encounter such difficulties out in the world, would anyone offer him help?
Perhaps... they would.
The night passed quickly. As soon as they lay down, it felt like dawn had arrived.
Early the next morning, the Chief Executive arrived to pick up the boy. Upon seeing Qiu Xiaodong's intelligence and his defiant spirit, his chin held high, the Chief Executive found the lad quite to his liking.
"Master, leave this boy to me. I will surely train him into a sharp sword for you!"
Fan Zehao's demands were not particularly high. He waved his hand, "This child has many flaws. You must be patient. If he is a piece of jade, then carve him well; if he is rotten wood, find an inconspicuous place to keep him!"
Qiu Xiaodong understood Fan Zehao's words. He immediately stated with conviction, "I will definitely return, to be the Madam's personal bodyguard!"
The Chief Executive, upon hearing he aimed to be the King's Consort's bodyguard, chuckled. The foolish boy didn't realize their King was extremely possessive. A bodyguard for the Madam... He lightly struck Qiu Xiaodong on the back of the head.
"Stop fantasizing. The Madam's personal guards are all women. You might as well aim to be a stable hand!"
Qiu Xiaodong paid no heed to their words. Regardless, the Madam had promised him, and he was determined to fulfill it.
As the Chief Executive led his men away, Qiu Xiaodong felt a pang of reluctance to leave the small courtyard, even though he had only stayed for one night!
He looked back, searching for the Madam. Not seeing her, he was grasped by the collar by the Chief Executive and placed on horseback. In an instant, they vanished beyond the courtyard gate.
Leaving the village, they rode against the wind, the cold causing Qiu Xiaodong to shiver.
"Big brother, are the Master and Madam very powerful? The pawnshop owner said I would lose my head for stealing their item, but I didn't!"
The Chief Executive truly felt a pang of worry for the child in his arms. "You stole the King's token. If that shopkeeper had harbored any ill intentions, you'd be awaiting execution in prison right now!"
"Ah? The King? Is he the God of War from the inner city?" Qiu Xiaodong asked in surprise, looking back at the man behind him.
Shouldn't the King and Queen reside in the royal palace? Why would they be living in a village? Were they perhaps experiencing rural life?
The Chief Executive smiled at him but said nothing, instead urging his horse onward towards his camp.
When Zhao Jiaqi woke up, the sun was already high in the sky. Fortunately, Fan Zehao was home chopping firewood, deterring visitors who might have come for a chat.
However, Fan Zehao did invite some people to come in the afternoon.
After having their morning meal, he made sure the house's heated walls and kang were thoroughly warm. When three aunties arrived, upon entering the house, they felt it was even warmer than a sweltering summer day.
Zhao Jiaqi smiled warmly and invited them onto the kang. "Knowing that aunties would be coming in the afternoon and fearing you'd catch a chill, I made sure to burn extra firewood."
Liu Qinshi had never been treated with such respect before. Her face beamed with a smile so wide it was almost uncontainable. "It's just you and your husband being considerate!"
"Considerate? It's just a matter of going up the mountain to gather more firewood. There's plenty on the mountain, and diligence is enough. Otherwise, it's truly too cold to not have warmth in winter!"
Meng Sunshi nodded in agreement. "That's true. This year's winter is particularly cold. We really need to stay warm!"
As they spoke, Zhao Jiaqi brought out the fabric and cotton, laying them on the kang. She spoke with a hint of nervousness, "My sewing skills aren't strong, I can only make a few things, and my handiwork isn't great, so I'll have to trouble aunties to help!"
Liu Qinshi's eyes immediately fell upon the crimson silk fabric. The color was so festive, especially for New Year's attire, truly a beautiful sight!
She rubbed her hands together, as if afraid of soiling the fine material. Then, she gently touched it, secretly marveling that this young wife had found such a good husband.