Chapter 8 The Scent of Life

Chapter 8 The Scent of Home

The sounds of chopping firewood and mincing chicken feed in the kitchen were loud enough to mask their whispers, so Lin Shu wasn't worried about being overheard.

Lin Xiaopu kept stealing glances at Lin Shu, her cheeks flushed. Hearing this, she nodded and explained, "Village Head Grandpa didn't let the refugees into the village. He was afraid they'd get desperate and try to steal our food. Most of them moved on to seek help from the county magistrate, but some were about to collapse. In the end, Big Brother A Ye stayed behind and asked Father for a bag of coarse rice to give to the refugees."

Lin Shu tried hard to recall any memory of a disaster from the original host's mind, but all she could remember were matters of love and romance—nothing about these important public affairs.

Though these were peaceful times, natural disasters and human misfortunes were unavoidable. It wasn't unusual for one or two calamities to strike somewhere.

"What kind of disaster hit their area? Didn't the court send relief?" Lin Shu asked.

Through their conversation, Lin Shu had already noticed that Lin Xiaopu wasn't an ignorant child. On the contrary, she was quite clever and spoke clearly and logically.

Lin Xiaopu replied, "Big Brother A Ye said it was a locust plague."

Lin Shu understood immediately. No wonder things were so dire. With other disasters, people could survive by eating tree bark and wild grass while waiting for the court to send aid, even if it took half a year. But when locusts swarmed, they devoured everything—leaving nothing, not even wild grass or bark, to eat.

Actually, back when she'd asked Zhou Ye for water on the cart, Lin Shu had already guessed who he was.

The original host was a vicious supporting character who didn't meet her end until near the finale of the book. But Zhou Ye only ever appeared in other people's accounts—he wasn't even a minor character. The female lead's story began with her rebirth on her way back to the marquis’ estate. Zhou Ye, the country fiancé, only served to make the male lead jealous for a few chapters, acting as a catalyst for the main couple’s relationship—a mere tool.

She never expected that the rural farmer mentioned by others in the book would turn out to be so rugged and robust.

In these peaceful times of the Great Yan Dynasty, conflicts were rare except for occasional border skirmishes with foreign tribes. The comfortable lifestyle had made the capital’s residents prioritize scholarly pursuits over martial ones. The capital’s young ladies mostly favored refined, polite scholars with fair complexions—even military officers were expected to look clean and fair to be popular.

Someone like Zhou Ye, to put it bluntly, was dark and brawny. More elegantly put, he was powerfully built and exceptionally strong—exactly the type of rough man that refined young ladies would avoid.

But Lin Shu, having come from the apocalypse, preferred men like Zhou Ye.

The darker and stronger, the better. Anyone too pale or too thin seemed unreliable to her.

However, liking this type didn't mean Lin Shu intended to pursue men—especially not one entangled with the female lead of the book.

Chasing men was nowhere near as satisfying as hoarding supplies. Her hoarding instincts were already stirring restlessly. Tomorrow, she'd explore the back hills!

He Guixiang returned with polished rice, took out the small stove for brewing medicine, and scooped a handful of polished rice to cook porridge. Seizing the moment, she went behind the house to pick some fresh vegetables.

Seeing how busy she was, Lin Shu grabbed Lin Xiaopu’s hand and dashed over. "Mother, Xiao Pu and I will help!"

He Guixiang chuckled. "Sit, both of you. It's just cooking—no need for help."

"No, you have to give me something to do, or I'll feel awkward just sitting around," Lin Shu said in a coaxing tone.

He Guixiang hesitated. "Then, could you go to the field and pick some wild onions for me?"

"Sure thing! I'll take Xiao Pu with me!"

"Ah, ah… be careful!" He Guixiang could only wave as the two girls hurried off hand in hand.

Lin Xiaopu looked at Lin Shu with shining eyes. "Sis, you're amazing! Mother never lets me help with anything."

"Picking a few wild onions is hardly work. With your weak constitution, you should actually move around more."

"Really? The doctor said I need plenty of rest, so Father and Mother never let me do anything."

"Not even walking around the village?"

Lin Xiaopu lowered her head, her mood sinking. "I can do that, but the other children don't like playing with me. They say I'm a sickly kid and that bad luck follows me." Gradually, she'd stopped going out.

Lin Shu fumed, planting her hands on her hips. "Nonsense! If I ever hear anyone say that about you, I won't let them off! You're so adorable—you'll definitely find playmates. And even if you don't, I'll be your playmate."

Lin Xiaopu gazed at her with bright, sparkling eyes, then nodded firmly.

"Sis, let's go over there—there are more wild onions there!"

"Okay, whatever you say."

Lin Shu looked around. The fields were lush and green, and the evening sky was painted with brilliant red hues—truly beautiful. From distant farmsteads, she could hear the clucking of chickens and ducks and the laughter of families—a scene brimming with the warmth of everyday life.

Among the many villages under Jingxi Town, Sweetwater Village was relatively flat, though it still had its share of slopes and ridges. Each household had built on the flattest available land, encircling their homes with bamboo fences.

Lin Dashan had been unhappy with how the family property division was handled, so he'd specifically asked the village head for a plot at the village’s edge. While it was far from Uncle Lin’s household at the village entrance, it was also quite distant from other households.

But Lin Shu thought the location was perfect.

The road narrowed toward the village’s end, adding extra distance to trips to town. It was also far from the main river where laundry was done and the stream where water was fetched. But it was peaceful, and the house stood right at the foot of the back hills, making it incredibly convenient for gathering firewood. Another mountain spring flowed behind the house—while other villagers drank from the stream formed by the spring, they enjoyed water from the source, the sweetest and purest.

Wild onions grew abundantly along the fields and paths. The sisters gathered two large handfuls, stopping only when they couldn't carry any more.

By the time they returned, the aroma of food already wafted from the yard. Lin Xiaopu sniffed the air and said cheerfully, "Sis, there's pork lard in today's dishes! I can smell it! It's so fragrant!"

Lin Shu took a deep breath too. "It really is!"

Pork was a luxury. He Guixiang only bought it during festivals, and she hoarded the rendered pork lard, using it only when guests visited. But now that her daughter was back, it was a celebration greater than any other.

The vegetables were freshly picked from behind the house, and the dried radish strips had been sun-dried by He Guixiang not long ago—now at its most flavorful. The stir-fried greens were glossy and vibrant. The soaked radish, chopped and fried with pork lard, was crispy and delicious.

When the sisters returned with the wild onions, He Guixiang used the two eggs brought back from the village head’s house in the pan. The golden eggs fried with wild onions released an aroma that carried far and wide.

"Wash your hands and come eat!" He Guixiang called out, her eyes crinkling with joy.

Zhou Ye brought a small half-bucket of clean water to the yard. Lin Xiaopu automatically crouched down and held out her hands, turning to urge Lin Shu, "Sis, come wash your hands too."

Zhou Ye glanced at Lin Shu but quickly averted his eyes.

Lin Shu: …

He couldn't even stand looking at her for an extra second. Who was he trying to stay faithful to?

Author's Note: