Shen Xiaoyan found her demeanor amusing and reached out to pull her up from the kang bed. Standing beside her, she compared their sizes and said, "We're about the same height. If you don't mind, I can get you a set of my clothes. You can wash up and change into them?"
Upon hearing this, Yue Qingxin's eyes instantly lit up. "I can wash up?"
"Naturally."
Shen Xiaoyan and Yue Qingxin went to the kitchen together. They lit the fires in both stoves and filled four pots with water. Once it boiled, it would be enough for Yue Qingxin to have a good bath.
Since it was just boiling water, the fires could be very strong. In just fifteen minutes, the water was boiling.
After extinguishing the fires, Shen Xiaoyan brought over wooden tubs and scooped the boiling water from the pots into them. She filled two tubs first, and the rest would be dealt with after Yue Qingxin finished her bath.
The moment Shen Xiaoyan looked up, she saw Yue Qingxin standing there with a frown. She asked strangely, "Sister, what's wrong?"
Yue Qingxin hesitated, saying, "I wish I hadn't let Ah Han go. How can I lift such heavy wooden tubs?"
So that was what was bothering her. Shen Xiaoyan's lips curved upwards, and she said to Yue Qingxin, "But I'm here."
Yue Qingxin said with a wry smile, "What good is I being here..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Yue Qingxin saw Shen Xiaoyan lift a wooden tub with one hand, raising an eyebrow at her.
"How about that?"
Yue Qingxin was stunned at first, then excited, nodding incessantly at Shen Xiaoyan. "You're so strong! Xiaoyan, how do you have so much strength?"
Shen Xiaoyan tilted her chin up proudly and said, "I have natural divine strength."
Carrying the hot water all the way to the west room of the main house, she poured it into the bathing tub. Shen Xiaoyan then went to fetch cold water.
After adjusting the water temperature in the bathing tub, Shen Xiaoyan said to Yue Qingxin, "Sister, it's ready. You wait here for a moment, I'll go get you some clothes."
Without waiting for Yue Qingxin's reaction, she turned and ran towards the east annex.
Not long after, Shen Xiaoyan returned, holding clothes and a bath towel.
"These clothes are new. I haven't worn them since they were made, so don't worry, Sister. This bath towel is also new," Shen Xiaoyan said as she placed the items on the kang bed.
"Take your time washing, Sister. I'll be outside. If you need more water, just call me."
Yue Qingxin was deeply touched but didn't know what to say.
Someone she had met for less than a day could be so kind to her, it truly moved her.
Shen Xiaoyan didn't want Yue Qingxin to say any words of gratitude, as that would seem too distant. After all, they were likely to spend a very long time together.
So, Shen Xiaoyan smiled at Yue Qingxin, then walked out, closing the door behind her.
While Yue Qingxin was bathing inside, Shen Xiaoyan sat on the kang bed outside, carefully observing the room.
When the house was built, the overall design of the rooms was the same. However, the two rooms in the east annex had undergone small changes or additions since they lived there, making them quite different from this room.
Now that Yue Qingxin and her family were to live here, they would have to furnish it themselves. Shen Xiaoyan had a feeling that although Sima Han had agreed to stay, he would not live in the main house with them. He would likely choose the west annex. As Shen Xiaoyan sat there, lost in thought, time passed quickly. Before long, she heard Yue Qingxin's hesitant voice from inside, "Xiaoyan, could you bring me some more water?"
"Alright."
Shen Xiaoyan agreed and went to the kitchen with a wooden tub.
Since the fire had already been extinguished, the water in the pots had gradually cooled. Shen Xiaoyan tested it with her hand; the temperature was just right, so she didn't even need to add cold water.
Shen Xiaoyan made two trips, emptying all the water from the pots. It was just enough for Yue Qingxin to bathe again.
By the time Yue Qingxin finished bathing and came out, it was half an hour later.
The moment Yue Qingxin emerged, she saw Shen Xiaoyan sitting on the kang bed, lost in thought. A smile flickered across her face, and she said to Shen Xiaoyan, "Xiaoyan, thank you."
"You've finished bathing, Sister? Your hair isn't dry yet, is it? Come here, let me dry it for you." Shen Xiaoyan turned and saw Yue Qingxin wrapped in a bath towel, immediately guessing that her hair must not be dry.
Yue Qingxin didn't stand on ceremony. She walked over a few steps and sat beside Shen Xiaoyan.
Shen Xiaoyan untied the bath towel from Yue Qingxin's body, picked up the dry towel that had been prepared earlier, and began to gently dry Yue Qingxin's hair.
After her hair was dry, Shen Xiaoyan then took Yue Qingxin to the east annex.
She had Yue Qingxin sit in front of the dressing table. Shen Xiaoyan picked up a comb and smoothed her hair, eventually styling it into a simple bun, inserting two silver hairpins, and adding a silk flower she had made herself.
Yue Qingxin looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes filled with surprise. This styling, though very simple, was truly beautiful, especially the silk flower, which was made with astonishing realism.
After finishing, Yue Qingxin insisted on washing her own clothes. Shen Xiaoyan took her to the east courtyard. By the well in the east courtyard, there was a dedicated area for washing clothes, making it very convenient to get water. There were also racks nearby for drying clothes.
Watching Yue Qingxin wash clothes, Shen Xiaoyan knew she must have washed clothes before. On impulse, Shen Xiaoyan asked, "Sister, can you do embroidery?"
Yue Qingxin looked up and smiled happily, "Yes, I can."
Shen Xiaoyan said, "That's wonderful! Can you make me some handkerchiefs in the future?"
Yue Qingxin looked surprised, "You can't do embroidery?"
Shen Xiaoyan nodded. "Yes, I can't."
Yue Qingxin was speechless. She had never met someone who could admit they couldn't embroider so righteously. Shen Xiaoyan was the first.
"Shall I teach you?" Yue Qingxin asked.
"No, no, no," Shen Xiaoyan quickly waved her hands. She had no desire to learn embroidery.
Seeing that Yue Qingxin still wanted to speak, Shen Xiaoyan's eyes darted around, remembering an expression Yue Qingxin had made earlier. She then said, "Sister, how about I teach you martial arts? It's not only good for your health but also gives you the ability to protect yourself."
Yue Qingxin was immediately captivated by Shen Xiaoyan's topic, completely forgetting her intention to persuade Shen Xiaoyan to learn embroidery. She nodded incessantly, "Okay, it's a deal. But you can't let Ah Han know."
Shen Xiaoyan gave her a knowing look and promised, "Don't worry, Sister, I absolutely won't say a word. You can give him a surprise then, how about it?"
Yue Qingxin's face flushed, and she whispered, "As long as it's not a shock, I don't want any surprises."
Shen Xiaoyan heard what she said but pretended not to have heard clearly, asking, "Sister, what did you say?"
Yue Qingxin quickly lowered her head and continued washing clothes. "Nothing, nothing. I'll definitely learn well from Xiaoyan."
...
Zheng Wei took the crossbow and went out of the courtyard with Sima Han.
"First, come with me to the cave to get some things," Sima Han said.
"Alright." Zheng Wei agreed and followed Sima Han towards the stone bridge.
After crossing the bridge, they walked another 300 meters in the direction of Baiyun Peak and saw a not-too-high mountain. At the base of the mountain, there was a cave.
Entering the cave, the interior was clearly visible. There was nothing inside except for some dry grass piled against the inner stone wall, covered by a piece of cloth.
Sima Han walked to the dry grass and fumbled around inside for a while before finally taking out a long sword.
The sword's scabbard was black, with no patterns on it. It looked like a piece of scrap metal, not worth a second glance.
However, Zheng Wei knew that Sima Han was very fond of this sword. In his previous life, he had never been without it.
Sima Han caressed the scabbard affectionately and then said to Zheng Wei, "Let's go."
The two of them headed directly towards Baiyun Peak. Their pace was not fast, and they occasionally exchanged a few words. The pheasants and rabbits in the forest were all startled by their conversation and scattered in all directions.