Volume 1: Gathering Winds of Splendor Chapter 6: Village Life

  The next morning, Zheng Xiang was sleeping soundly with his quilt in his arms.

  Several rooster crows and several gentle calls failed to wake her from her deep sleep.

  The sun rose gradually from the horizon, emitting a light that was not yet scorching hot. The sunlight sprinkled sparsely on An Xin's face.

  The peaceful little face scrunched up in sleep, the delicate willow eyebrows almost twisted together, and the eyes that were uncomfortable from being dazzled by the sunlight reluctantly opened. Alas, the sunlight was too dazzling, so after opening her eyes a few times to no avail, she had to close them again, wait for a moment to adapt, and then slowly open them.

  "It's so comfortable sleeping with mom." She sat up calmly, stretched her waist and muttered to herself. Her mother's body was soft and had a pleasant fragrance, which made her sleep particularly soundly all night. She found that as long as she slept with her mother every time, she would have a good dream for the whole night.

  "You lazy worm, get up!" An Su-su lifted the curtain of the bedroom and said. She heard some movement in the room, and sure enough, An Xin, that lazy ghost, was getting up. Last night she went to bed so early, why did she sleep in so late today, sleeping for several hours.

  Ran his hand through his fluffy hair, smiled awkwardly and muttered, "Mom, hug."

  "Stop being a baby, get up quickly." Ansu felt both angry and amused at her daughter's actions. "You're already 10 years old, you still want mommy to carry you, aren't you ashamed?"

  Relieved, she puckered up her mouth, and with a flicker of her lively eyes, she said mysteriously, "Mother, come here."

  An Su looked at An Xin with some suspicion, walked over and asked, "What's wrong, you. Ah, An Xin, come down quickly." Before she finished speaking, An Xin pounced on An Su like a starving tiger.

  She subconsciously wrapped her arms around An Xin, helplessly looking at her daughter's delicate little face that was close to hers, "You, always so mischievous."

  An Xin's long legs tightly wrapped around An Su Su's slender waist, her arms even more tightly embracing her neck, smiling slyly and playfully, "Mommy, An Xin loves you so much." After saying that, An Xin pressed her face against An Su Su's white neck, breathing in the unique scent of her mother. In a soft, low voice, An Xin murmured, "Mommy, no matter what, I will always be by your side." As she spoke, she tightened her arms around An Su Su's neck even more.

  Ansu didn't hear Anxin's murmurs, but felt her daughter's dependence on her. The corners of Ansu's eyes were slightly moist, and it was good that Anxin had been by her side all these years; otherwise, she really wouldn't have known how to get through these days.

  "Alright, hurry up and get down. You're so old, aren't you afraid of being laughed at?" Ansu Su collected her emotions, smiled and said, gently placing An Xin on the bed to sit down, and slightly tidying up her disheveled hair. "Hurry up and get up, lunch is ready, aren't you hungry yet?"

  "Yes, Mother," An said with a serious expression, her small face tense.

  An Su smiled and pursed her lips as she walked out of the bedroom.

  Calmly and quickly, she dressed herself and did her hair in the simplest of double buns using a wooden comb, securing her black locks with a ribbon and without any adornments.

  In ancient times, dressing and styling one's hair was the most troublesome task. Even with two lifetimes of experience, using her hand to hold a gun suddenly having to style her own hair was truly frustrating for a long time. Later on, she secretly observed her mother's techniques for nearly a year before barely learning how to do the simplest hairstyle.

  After finishing washing and dressing, she ate her meal hastily and took advantage of her mother's busy moment to slip away quickly.

  Every day at home, her mother's family either asked her to read books or taught her embroidery. She had no interest in these things at all, and it was better to go out for a walk. If she stayed in the room for too long, she might get moldy.

  "Run quickly, Anjia's little witch is coming out." The few kids in front saw Anxin swaying and walking over from a distance, instantly dropping the slingshot in their hands and scattering with a shout.

  Relieved, she rolled her eyes. What a bunch of naughty kids! Do they think she has nothing better to do? The more they tease her, the more fed up she gets.

  "Aw, I didn't eat enough for breakfast. I really don't like congee." An Xin rubbed her belly and muttered to herself, wondering why she never liked congee. Every time her mother made it, she would lose her appetite and could only manage a few mouthfuls before giving up.

  Walking carefree on the dry muddy path, looking around, suddenly a hen walked leisurely from under An Xin's feet. An Xin's eyes lit up and he gazed at the hen with deep meaning, it was truly charming when it walked, and would definitely be even more beautiful when roasted.

  With a peaceful gaze, I watch the chicken strolling back and forth in the courtyard. With a calm hand, I'll try out my unique skill on you. You sacrificed yourself to satiate my five internal organs; that's also a great merit.

  As soon as he moved, An Xin had already grabbed hold of this plump big hen.

  "No seasonings won't do, I don't like eating plain boiled chicken." Anxious, he chopped down with his cleaver and knocked out the struggling hen. He thought to himself, might as well go next door to Old Lady Wang's place to borrow some seasonings. If he went back home to get them, he'd definitely be scolded by his mother until his face turned pale."

  Anxin carefully tied the hen with a silk ribbon in her arms, turned it upside down and walked into Wang Danni's house, which was closest to her. She stuck her head out of the kitchen window to observe the situation inside. Ah ha, no one was there. Heaven helped me too. Anxin quietly climbed onto the windowsill and took two small ceramic jars containing seasonings from a wooden table next to the window.

  Mission accomplished, Anxin jumped out of the window with ease, grabbed the chicken and pottery jar and quickly left the scene, heading to the small riverbank from yesterday for a barbecue.

  "No firewood, how to roast." Anxin looked at the thing in his hand and frowned, turned his head to see a fence used to surround the chicken coop, nodded wisely, clamped the hen under his armpit, held the pottery jar with one hand, and quickly pulled out a few small wooden boards from the fence with the other hand.

  All the way without anyone, walked safely to the riverbank, put down things, everything was ready, only missing fire.