Lan Yan came out with water but didn't see Jun Yelan. "Strange, where is he?" She placed the water on a small stool, then hung the prepared wild chicken below the well to keep it fresh.
Three were too few. She would combine them with tomorrow's to deliver.
She then started preparing dinner. Seeing Jun Yelan still hadn't returned, she murmured, "Should I go look for him? What if something happened?"
Lan Chao said, "Sister, don't worry. Jun Yelan isn't that kind of person. He must have gone to the back mountain. Eat first; he'll come back on his own later."
In the past, when Lan Yan refused to eat at the same table as Jun Yelan, he would always eat later.
Seeing this, Lan Yan could only eat with Lan Chao first, leaving a portion on the stove before returning to her room. She took out the cloth from last time and started making clothes for her elder brother, hoping to lift his spirits.
Jun Yelan, on the other hand, had indeed returned from the back mountain after chopping bamboo, all of which he dragged to the corner of the courtyard. He came to the kitchen and looked at the covered food bowls, a strange feeling welling up inside him.
It hadn't been like this before. He lifted the lid, saw the meat inside, and began to eat with lowered eyes.
After finishing, he walked towards his room. Seeing the light still on inside, he pushed open the door and saw Lan Yan sitting by the bed, sewing the clothes in her hands. He froze, finding the scene surprisingly beautiful.
"You're back." Lan Yan looked up and saw traces of abrasion on Jun Yelan's hands. She exclaimed, "Where's the medicine I gave you last time? Where did you put it?"
Jun Yelan pointed to the cabinet.
Lan Yan took out the medicine bottle, tugged at Jun Yelan's sleeve to have him sit down, and gently applied the medicine to his palm.
Jun Yelan watched Lan Yan's focused expression, filled with confusion. As she touched his wound, he couldn't help but let out a muffled groan.
"Does it hurt? Let me blow on it." Lan Yan lowered her head, cupped Jun Yelan's palm in her hands, and blew a gentle breath. "Look at these beautiful hands, all broken. What a shame."
The warm breath on his palm made Jun Yelan's body stiffen. He looked at Lan Yan's furrowed brow and her lips, which continued to blow air, and felt lost for a moment.
He had never been treated this way before. Not even his mother had treated him like this. His mother had always been immersed in sorrow, often staying alone and paying little attention to him.
Sometimes he would secretly open the window and look at the people below. They always had someone with them, and they were all smiling. He never understood that feeling, but now, he seemed to have a glimpse of it.
Seeing that it was enough, Lan Yan continued to apply medicine to Jun Yelan, instructing, "Don't do any more work with your hands for now." Seeing Jun Yelan still lost in thought, she raised her hand and waved it in front of his eyes, only for him to grab her wrist.
Now it was her turn to be stunned. Why did Jun Yelan hold her so often!
Jun Yelan also realized the impropriety and shifted his gaze, heading to the floor to prepare the bedding.
Lan Yan also lay down on the bed. Just as she was about to fall asleep, she faintly heard a "Thank you" from below. A slight smile curved her lips, and she responded, "You're welcome."
She fell asleep.
Jun Yelan, however, couldn't sleep at all, his heart stirring with an emotion more than usual.
The next morning, Lan Yan and Jun Yelan continued to process the game and took it to the town's restaurant to sell.
The manager's eyes lit up when he saw Lan Yan. "Madam Lan, that recipe you gave us last time was wonderful! Many customers love it. Our stir-fried pork is now a signature dish."
Lan Yan smiled and handed over the marinated wild chicken. "Manager, these wild chickens can just be roasted over a fire."
The manager had smelled the aroma from a distance and eagerly took them. "Madam Lan, I'll give these to the chef right away. Please wait a moment." With a smile, he went into the kitchen and then produced copper coins.
"This is for the last recipe, and this is for the wild chickens."
Lan Yan felt the weighty copper coins in her palm, her eyes crinkling with joy. She quickly pocketed the money. "Then, Manager, we'll be leaving. Wishing you prosperous business."
"Alright, Madam Lan. If you have any more recipes in the future, bring them over, and I'll give you the best price. And these wild chickens, I'm confident they'll sell well. Please bring more next time."
The manager's eyes were almost slits as he smiled, reluctantly watching Lan Yan leave.
This made Lan Yan even happier. She said to Jun Yelan, "We can go buy things now."
"Mm." Jun Yelan watched Lan Yan's cheerful retreating figure, a slight upward curve appearing on his lips before it quickly vanished, unseen by Lan Yan.
Lan Yan arrived at the market and spotted a chicken cage. She immediately asked for fifty chickens. The wild chickens were too few, but they could raise poultry. Processing them and sending them to the restaurant would also bring in money.
Jun Yelan took the cage and let Lan Yan continue browsing with her hands free.
Next, Lan Yan bought some bowls and chopsticks, as well as some small pastries. Seeing that Jun Yelan's hands were already full, she said, "Let's go back now. We'll come again next time."
Jun Yelan looked at the heavy items in his hands, "..."
Upon returning, Lan Yan began to organize the purchased items.
Jun Yelan busied himself building a chicken coop in the courtyard, as the chicks had nowhere to stay. He had dragged back a lot of bamboo the previous night, and today he just needed to process it.
Just then, a sneaky figure appeared at the courtyard entrance – Li Erya, who had left the day before. Her eyes immediately fell on Jun Yelan. He was indeed different from the village men, possessing a refined air and a touch of arrogance.
Her cheeks flushed. Then, she noticed the new chicks in the courtyard, a considerable number of them. These hadn't been there before. Could Lan Yan have bought them!
Where did this Lan Yan get the money to buy so many? Did she steal or rob them!
As Lan Yan emerged from the kitchen, she saw Li Erya at the courtyard entrance, utterly exasperated. "Li Erya, what are you doing, lurking around? Are you trying to steal something!"
"What is there to steal in your house?" Li Erya retorted. The Lan family had been destitute before, poorer than their own family.
Lan Yan found it amusing. "I see you staring intently at the chickens in my yard. Don't tell me you've taken a fancy to them! Let me tell you, if even one of my chickens goes missing, I'll hold you solely responsible."
She decided not to mention anything else; attracting too much attention was never good.
Li Erya immediately felt Lan Yan was being unreasonable. What did the chickens' disappearance have to do with her! "Lan Yan, didn't you obtain these chickens through some unsavory means? With your character, how could you possibly have money!"
"Oh, Li Erya, if you don't have it yourself, don't slander others." Lan Yan put her hands on her hips, a hint of anger in her voice. She glanced at a broom in the corner, her eyes narrowing. This would be perfect.
Li Erya, about to retort in anger, was interrupted.
The interruption came from Jun Yelan, who stared coldly at Li Erya and said each word distinctly, "Lan Yan bought these chicks at the market. Everyone there can testify to it. Moreover, her abilities are not to be underestimated."
Lan Yan's lips curved. She hadn't expected Jun Yelan to speak up for her, and he had said it so perfectly!