Chapter 66: Splashing Water

While they were talking, Shen Li finished hitching the mule cart.

Zhou Qing placed seven or eight empty baskets on the cart, along with a half-full basket of snacks.

Other people might bring snacks like peanuts, sunflower seeds, and bottled water.

But Zhou Qing’s snacks included spicy beef tripe, mala spicy beef slices, and roasted chicken legs.

These were leftovers that Shen Li had packed from Fushun Restaurant yesterday.

Zhou Ping decided to be the bigger person and forgive his father for kicking him for no reason.

After all, the world of adults is tough. Everyone has their own pressures.

He just let it slide as a way for his father to vent.

Zhou Ping was, after all, a considerate and well-behaved little cutie.

Holding a bowl of pig slop in one hand and his father’s rice bowl in the other, he carefully poured the slop into the stone trough.

By the time he finished, Zhou Qing and Shen Li were done with their preparations, and the group hopped on the cart and set off.

Zhao stayed home to pickle some vegetables, while Zhou Huailin stayed behind to help.

Zhou Huaishan said that the exams had exhausted him, so he wanted to rest for a couple of days on the kang, recuperating and gathering his strength to continue his efforts.

Shen Li and Zhou Qing took Zhou Yao and Zhou Ping straight to the river.

The autumn river water was already chilly, so Zhou Qing and Zhou Yao couldn’t go directly into the water.

They squatted by the riverbank, with their hands dipped in the cold water.

The river was crystal clear, with the pebbles at the bottom clearly visible. The surface of the river shimmered brightly under the sunlight, sparkling and flashing.

From time to time, small fish swam swiftly past their hands. In that moment, Zhou Qing felt refreshed and at ease.

It seemed like the whole world had calmed down.

Ever since they cut ties with the Zhou family, her days had been peaceful and happy.

"What are you thinking about?"

Shen Li, rolling up his trousers and preparing to step into the river, stood beside Zhou Qing and looked down at her.

Hearing his voice, Zhou Qing looked up at Shen Li.

The autumn sunlight shone on her face, as if a layer of light had been gilded onto her cheeks.

Though her skin wasn’t fair, delicate, or smooth, and her hair was a bit dry, Shen Li found it hard to look away.

He wanted to reach down and ruffle her hair, to smooth the stray strands by her ear.

But he couldn’t.

"I’m just thinking how amazing it is that you trained my father to be the top scholar." Zhou Qing smiled, her eyes narrowing into crescents, and there was a playful dimple at the corner of her mouth, making people want to poke it.

Shen Li felt a bit anxious. "Is there any reward for that?"

"What kind of reward do you want?"

"Come with me to Qingquan Temple in the county sometime to burn incense."

Afraid that his eyes would reveal too much emotion and scare Zhou Qing away, Shen Li tried hard to appear calm.

He didn’t look into Zhou Qing’s eyes, focusing instead on the river.

But his heart was pounding.

"They say the vegetarian noodles at Qingquan Temple are delicious but hard to get—they only serve the first thirty visitors."

When Zhou Qing heard Shen Li’s suggestion to burn incense with him, she was suspicious for a moment.

But when she heard the part about the noodles, she burst out laughing.

The desires of a foodie are always so simple.

"Alright, no problem. I’ll go with you tomorrow!"

Tsk tsk.

Vegetarian noodles!

She wanted to try them too!

Zhou Ping saw Shen Li and Zhou Qing talking and laughing together. True to his role as the best little brother in Qingyang Village, he scooped up a ladle of water and splashed it toward Shen Li.

"Watch out, Senior Brother!"

However...

The water splashed out, but it ended up heading straight for Zhou Qing!

"Watch out!"

"Oh no!"

"Sis!"

Shen Li, alarmed, tried to shield Zhou Qing, but it was too late.

Splash!

Zhou Qing, who had been daydreaming about delicious noodles, was suddenly drenched.

Was it because I wasn't standing high enough?!

Why?!

Zhou Yao immediately ran over. "Sis!"

She turned to glare at Zhou Ping. "Are you crazy? Why did you bring a ladle when we came to catch fish?"

Zhou Ping looked pitiful, his eyes twitching. "I didn’t mean to splash Big Sis."

Shen Li

So you meant to splash me?

I just took you in yesterday!

Shen Li, unable to decide whether to laugh or cry, quickly took off his outer robe and handed it to Zhou Qing. "Hurry and change out of those wet clothes. You don’t want to catch a cold."

Zhou Qing wanted to refuse, but the cold from the water made her shiver, so she accepted it without hesitation.

"Thanks. I’ll light a fire, and with the sun shining, my clothes should dry in no time."

Zhou Qing accepted it readily, and Shen Li felt as if his spirits were soaring.

She didn’t treat him as an outsider!

Zhou Ping looked at Zhou Qing with puppy-dog eyes, full of guilt. "Big Sis, I’m sorry."

He quickly climbed out of the river. "I’ll light the fire. I’m really good at it."

Not waiting for Zhou Qing’s response, Zhou Ping ran off to gather dry wood, either to prove himself or for some other reason.

Zhou Yao stayed with Zhou Qing as she changed into dry clothes behind the mule cart.

Although her undergarments were still a bit wet, the dry outer layer made her feel much better.

By the time Zhou Qing finished changing and came back out, Shen Li had already caught half a basket of fish.

"So fast?"

Zhou Qing and Zhou Yao stared wide-eyed at the half-basket of lively fish, looking at Shen Li with admiration.

Shen Li stood in the water, looking at Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing was wearing his robe, with her hair hanging down wet, staring at him with wide, admiring eyes.

So beautiful.

Afraid of losing his composure, Shen Li didn’t dare look at her for too long. He just glanced at her briefly before bending down to catch more fish.

But he couldn’t get Zhou Qing’s image out of his mind.

Like a lotus rising from the water, her beauty was simply captivating.

Not wanting to be tormented by these thoughts, Shen Li frantically concentrated on catching fish.

Zhou Ping had already lit a fire and, eager to make amends, volunteered to hold Zhou Qing’s clothes by the fire to dry them.

His eyes were fixed on Shen Li.

Amazing!

I really want to catch fish too!

One fish!

Another fish!

How is this catching fish? It’s more like using some secret martial art to summon them into his hands.

Zhou Yao smacked him on the head. "Watch the fire! The clothes are about to catch fire."

Zhou Qing sat by the fire, eating spicy beef slices, while slyly watching Shen Li.

She used to just think he was skinny. Now she realized that he was the kind of guy who looked slim in clothes but was surprisingly muscular underneath.

With that physique, he would definitely outshine all the young idols if he wore a suit!

In terms of looks, body, and knowledge, he’s definitely top-tier material.

And he’s gentle too.

Tsk tsk.

Whoever gets to marry him in the future will be one lucky girl.

As Shen Li caught fish, he could clearly feel a pair of eyes watching him.

His heart pounded in panic, but he tried his best to keep his movements smooth and graceful.

Not far away, several shadows were crouched in a line on a hillside, their eyes twitching as they watched the scene.

"Doesn’t Boss’s fish-catching move look like a dog digging for food?"

"No, it looks more like a silly dog digging for food!"

"Hahaha..."

By the fire.

Zhou Qing rested her chin on her hand, watching Shen Li.

What a good-looking young man, with a great appearance, a wealthy family, and skills in hunting and studying, yet how does he catch fish like...

like a zombie in heat?

Just as Zhou Qing was sighing, a terrible scream suddenly rang out from a distance.

"Help!"

"Daughter, save me!"

"Apprentice, save me!"

The cries were so pitiful that everyone turned to look.

They saw Zhou Huaishan running madly toward them.

His speed was like a 100-meter sprint.

Chasing him was a big goose, its neck stretched out and wings flapping, not giving up.

Zhou Qing

A goose?

As someone who had been attacked by a goose as a child and still harbored a deep fear, Zhou Qing instinctively jumped up and ran.