Chapter 57: Quiet Night Together (Please Collect)

  The night grew darker and darker, and the moon gradually lit up. A small oil lamp was placed on a table in front of the window, flickering with dim light.

  Tonight, like last night, Huang Li and Zhen Niang were alone in the room again, but it was very different. Last night, Huang Li had injuries on his body, and he had just gone through a fierce battle, the anesthetic effect had not completely disappeared, as soon as he entered the house and fell on the bed, he fell into a daze, which also reduced Zhen Niang's embarrassment. Tonight, Huang Li's spirit has recovered, and the moment their eyes met, it made Zhen Niang feel that she couldn't put her hands or feet anywhere, she could only pretend to be busy, from time to time stealing glances at Huang Li.

  Taking advantage of the quiet night, at this time, Huang Li was squatting on the ground, sorting out the goods taken from Kawasaki Shangshe. A few scrolls of calligraphy and painting, which seemed to be very valuable; a few pieces of gold and jade art, with extremely fine workmanship; a few gold bars, three stacks of paper currency... There was also an official document bag, all containing Japanese documents.

  He put some items in the iron trunk's compartment, while others made him frown. After thinking for a moment, he looked up and asked Zhen Niang: "Is there a place to hide things in the house? I think your money won't be stored in a bank, right?"

  Zhen Niang smiled slightly, and Huang Li's straightforward words not only didn't make her feel disgusted, but instead gave her a sense of closeness, which eased her tense emotions. She got up and led Huang Li to the outer room, using force to move the water vat in the corner of the wall.

  "Is there a hole underneath?" Huang Li came forward to help, moving the water tank and sweeping away the dust, only to discover that it was a wooden board underneath.

  Zhen Niang used a poker to pry open the wooden board, underneath was a shallow hole, only more than 20 centimeters deep, and her hand could touch the bottom as soon as it went in. The ocean was wrapped neatly and lay in the hole.

  "Hehe, you've only been here for a few days and you've already set up such a secret hideout, you're really clever." Huang Li praised while stretching out his hand to test the size.

  Two people crouched in front of the cave, very close to each other. Zhen Niang felt the warmth of Huang Li's breath on her ear and her face turned red again. Fortunately, the oil lamp was dim, so it wasn't too noticeable.

  The almanac hid the calligraphy and painting, antiques in the cave, then covered it with a wooden board, swept some dust on top, moved the water tank back to its original place, and finally straightened up and let out a sigh of relief.

  "Are these things expensive?" asked Zhen Niang cautiously.

  "Ah, yes. Huang Li nodded and said: 'It's just too valuable, so I don't dare let people see it easily, otherwise disaster will strike.'"

  Zhen Niang blinked her eyes, nodded solemnly and said: "Don't worry, Brother Huang, I won't let others see it."

  "It'll be easier once I rent a house tomorrow." Huang Li comforted kindly: "When the time comes, I'll take my things away and won't implicate you anymore."

  "I'm not afraid." Zhen Niang shook her head gently, her tone quite firm.

  Huang Li smiled, took the oil lamp and walked back to the inner room with Zhen Niang. He picked up a stack of paper money that he had set aside and handed it to Zhen Niang, saying: "Take this money and keep it safe, so you won't have to go fetch water from the well all the time."

  "I don't want it." Zhen Niang withdrew her hand and refused, saying: "You keep it for yourself, you're alone and there are many places to spend money!"

  "Take it." Huang Li pulled over Zhen Niang's hand and slapped the money into her palm, "I'm used to being extravagant, no matter how much money I have, I'll just waste it all away. Rather than letting me squander it, it's better to give it to you and Niu Niu, so you two can live a good life, and I can leave with peace of mind."

  Still have to go, Zhen Niang felt a sense of loss in her heart, and under the daze, she let Huang Li grab her hand, forgetting to pull it back.

  "Look at your hands." Huang Li lightly tapped the tip of Zhen Niang's fingers, her tone filled with sympathy and heartache. "Doing some sewing and washing, you can earn a few dollars, but being pricked by needles until they're all bloody. And those socks and pants are really too smelly, making people dizzy."

  Zhen Niang's face turned red, and she said somewhat embarrassedly: "I didn't earn much, just barely enough for me and Niu Niu to live on. I couldn't find any other work, this was still brought by He Shu's son from the cart company."

  Huang Li also felt a bit helpless about this. Without mentioning what Zhen Niang would do, just talking about his current ability, apart from giving some money, he really couldn't help much.

  "Take your time, unfortunately I don't have the ability to do that, I'll find you a long-term and more dignified job." Huang Lixiang let go of his hand and said apologetically.

  Zhen Niang shook her head vigorously and comforted him, saying: "Huang Dage, this has nothing to do with you. After all, I'm just a country bumpkin who doesn't know anything. It's already not bad like this now - it's all thanks to your help..."

  Huang Li looked up at the kind-hearted woman, and the ancient saying "watching a beauty under the lamp" came to mind. Of course, it wasn't under the spotlight, but rather in the dim light that was not too harsh. Zhen Niang's face took on a hazy beauty in this lighting, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly in the faint glow, two faint dimples on her cheeks, a delicate and straight nose bridge, and her moist lips moving lightly. Huang Li's heart skipped a beat as he gazed at Zhen Niang, feeling an unusual sensation... was it purely physiological or emotional? He couldn't quite tell, but he wanted to hold Zhen Niang in his arms, yet restrained himself. She was the wife of his benefactor, and her husband had been gone for not too long, Huang Li still having psychological barriers towards such thoughts and actions.

  …………

  This is a very large courtyard, with a majestic black lacquered gate, on which there are big red lacquered couplets: "Loyalty and kindness pass down through the generations, poetry and books continue for centuries". Upon entering the gate facing south, one climbs high steps to enter a spacious courtyard, within which there are two more layers of courtyards. In front is the Buddhist hall, while in the back courtyard are the living quarters, which are the owner's own residence. The courtyard has corridors connecting the buildings, as well as jujube trees, pear trees and crabapple trees, with dense shade covering the ground, making it very quiet and secluded.

  Out of the yard to the north, turn into a large courtyard, as soon as you enter the gate, there is a small and elegant courtyard with two small houses in the south and north, very unique. Inside the small courtyard, there are also two lilac trees. The one rented by Huang Li is this quiet and secluded small courtyard.

  Outside the small courtyard is a residential area, with about ten or so households standing at their doors. Huang Li was very satisfied with renting this small courtyard, because although it was a large mansion, it was divided into small courtyards, and outside the small courtyard there were still about ten or so residential houses, coming and going like bees entering a beehive. Living here was both secluded and extremely convenient. Of course, the rent had to be more expensive, but for him, this wasn't a problem.