Chapter 35: Chapter 35

C35 – A Carefree Life

After spending two days with Sun’s father, Zhao Yuegu escorted Xia Guo and Xu Qing out of the village. Currently, he was the only one in the village who wasn’t elderly or infirm, and thus the only one capable of helping them leave. Sun Ying, however, was kept behind by her father.

“Why are you getting in my car? You’re Brother Lin’s driver,” Sun’s father questioned.

“I’m heading home!”

“Home? You need to be dedicated to your job. Get back to work,” he insisted, shooing her away with a wave of his hand.

Sun Ying stood there, utterly bewildered. Was she really not allowed to go home?

“Don’t worry, I’ll talk to your mom tonight. She won’t be anxious about you,” Sun’s father reassured her before driving off, leaving Sun Ying alone, her hair tousled by the wind.

“What kind of person is he?” Zhao Yuegu mused, finding the father-daughter duo quite amusing.

Sun Ying, with a look of inner turmoil, turned to Zhao Yuegu. “Boss, it looks like you’re my only option now.”

“If you don’t mind the village’s rustic charm, then come with me.”

“Mind? Not at all. Let’s get going.” Sun Ying was quick to act, and she also grasped her father’s intentions. Yet, she couldn’t help but think…

She was still just a driver. Advancing further in her career seemed like a daunting challenge.

On the return trip, Zhao Yuegu checked on the construction progress and was genuinely impressed. The pace was remarkably swift, and the intersection was already stacked with heaps of raw materials.

“Everbreach Construction Company really lives up to its reputation as a major firm,” Zhao Yuegu thought to himself. However, he estimated that completing the construction would take at least another two months.

“Let’s head back,” he said.

The vehicle, Wu Lu Si, tore through the muddy terrain, splashing water and eliciting a series of startled screams from Sun Ying.

“Take it easy!” she pleaded.

Zhao Yuegu just laughed, pressing the accelerator even deeper, enjoying the thrill as the car soared and then thudded back to earth. The joy of off-roading was undeniable, and he even considered preserving this road as a challenge for other enthusiasts—a perfect blend of farming and fun.

Thanks to their speedy journey, they made it home before nightfall, where they found Ma Yabei imparting knowledge to Xueman.

To be precise, she was engrossed in a story.

Xueman was captivated, hanging on every word.

“Can you cook?” Zhao Yuegu inquired of Sun Ying.

“Of course, just watch me, boss,” Sun Ying replied confidently before darting into the kitchen.

Back at home, she had honed her culinary skills—a surefire way to win a man’s heart is through his stomach, after all! But her confidence quickly waned.

“Where’s the gas stove?”

“We don’t have one, but there’s plenty of firewood.”

Sun Ying was on the verge of tears at the sight of the stacked logs. How on earth was she supposed to light this?

Luckily, Xueman stepped in and saved the day.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yuegu ventured to the backyard, admiring the spotless house that Sun’s father had tidied.

“He’s got the makings of an entrepreneur, alright. Even dusting is done to perfection.”

“The furniture’s been waxed and maintained so well, it barely looks used.”

Zhao Yuegu was deeply impressed. The beauty of wooden furniture is its longevity, provided it’s cared for properly. Its value, though, is immeasurable.

“A clean appearance is nothing without preservation; these pieces must be well-kept.”

He resolved to remind Xueman not to use them as firewood in the future.

The reason the furniture was still in one piece? Simple: when it comes to firewood, the damaged pieces go first.

After some thought, Zhao Yuegu began dismantling part of the house.

“This rosewood is quality work, but it’s heavy.”

“For me, that’s not an issue.”

Ma Yabei watched in awe as he hoisted the massive wooden pillar with ease, bustling about as he planned the restoration of the dilapidated house.

Ma Yabei attempted to lift the pillar herself, her face turning beet red with the effort.

“This is incredibly heavy! How can you lift it so effortlessly?”

“Us country folks are naturally strong,” he said with a hint of pride.

“This isn’t just about being strong; it would take at least four people to lift this!”

“Shh, let’s keep that between us, okay? No need to spread it around,” he whispered conspiratorially.

Ma Yabei’s cheeks flushed with the secrecy of it all.

What kind of secret was that?

“Do you need a hand with anything?”

“If you could pass me the tools, that would be great.”

“Saw or axe?”

“Pencil,” he requested, his focus returning to the task at hand.

Ma Yabei quickly jogged over and handed the pencil to Zhao Yuegu.

It must be said, after watching Ma Yabei’s brisk run, Zhao Yuegu found himself wanting to see more of it.

Her slightly plump figure was truly appealing.

Especially in those tight clothes that seemed on the verge of bursting—it energized Zhao Yuegu.

With a ruler and pencil in hand, he marked the wood.

Carpentry was second nature to Zhao Yuegu.

The village’s seasoned carpenters had imparted their finest techniques to him, after all.

Ancient building restoration posed no challenge for him.

Moreover…

This was his own home.

Ma Yabei continued to hand over tools and occasionally steadied things for him.

She always sensed a peculiar rhythm to Zhao Yuegu’s work; his every motion was imbued with an exceptional grace.

Whenever their palms touched, she felt a jolt, as if electric, coursing through her fingers.

Her body would turn to butter.

But Zhao Yuegu was relentless in his pace.

Before dusk, the house was more than halfway restored.

“Such efficiency.”

“It’s relatively straightforward.”

“You can’t even tell it’s been repaired.”

“The proof is in the work.”

Zhao Yuegu allowed himself a moment of pride, casually rinsing his hands in the water tank before draping them over Ma Yabei’s shoulders.

“Come on, it’s time for dinner.”

In the days that followed, Zhao Yuegu was a whirlwind of activity.

The grandest pavilion in the courtyard had been fully restored.

It was, after all, the scale of a top scholar’s former abode, with the central room alone boasting an eight-meter ceiling height.

Inside, the sense of space was extraordinary.

And then there were the connecting galleries on either side, although they still required some attention.

But there was no need to rush.

“Once the main hall is finished, I can move in.”

Observing the daily transformations of the courtyard, Zhao Yuegu’s sense of achievement swelled.

His rapport with Ma Yabei had grown, their interactions increasingly intimate, to the point where Sun Ying couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy.

Sun Ying even likened herself to a maid in the household—though certainly not one with special privileges!

The atmosphere was charged.

“I may not be the goddess Yabei, but I’m still a beauty. Why won’t he spare me a glance?”

“Ugh…”

Sun Ying was feeling quite weary.

Yet, her bond with Xueman was growing stronger by the day.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yuegu had finished a month-long renovation; the middle courtyard’s construction was now entirely complete.

The ramshackle structures in both the front and rear courtyards had been reduced to mere foundations.

“Once the road is fully paved, I’ll plan to fully restore the entire courtyard.”

“The time to harvest the rapeseed flowers is upon us.”

Zhao Yuegu felt a sense of anticipation stirring within him.

Just then, the system, which had been quiet for quite some time, suddenly issued a new mission alert.