Lin Xiaoxiao returned to the room to find Zhou Huai'an absent. She had no idea where he had gone. Even after finishing her washing up, he still hadn't returned — which, frankly, spared them the awkwardness of going to bed at the same time.

Though night fell early, there was nothing else to do.The day had been simply too eventful. Lying in bed, Lin Xiaoxiao mused about how to slowly win over that blockhead Zhou Huai'an, and also pondered her plans after returning. Before long, she drifted into a deep sleep.

She didn't know when Zhou Huai'an came back, or when he finally lay down. All she felt was that in the deep of the night, it was wonderfully warm — as if she were being wrapped in sunlight.

When she woke in the morning, the space beside her was empty again, the bedding neatly folded.It left Lin Xiaoxiao dazed for a moment. Had he not come back at all? Or had he already left early?

She rose lazily and went to wash up. The courtyard was also quiet — not a soul in sight, neither the adults nor the children. Only the little calico cat, frightened by Zhou Jianhua the day before, was curled under the windowsill basking in the sun.

After finishing her washing, Lin Xiaoxiao still didn't hear any movement. Where was everyone?she wondered.

Just as she was lost in thought, Niu Chunying entered carrying a large piece of meat — at least five or six pounds. The moment she saw Lin Xiaoxiao, her face broke into a wide smile."You're up! There are still sweet potatoes in the pot. Have some to tide you over. We're having dumplings at noon."

Lin Xiaoxiao glanced around. "Where's Zhou Huai'an?"

"He took Jianhua and his two brothers into the mountains early this morning," Niu Chunying said cheerfully. "Come, come inside."

Lin Xiaoxiao pursed her lips. So that wooden man had left her here all alone. She followed Niu Chunying into the kitchen.

"Zhou Huai'an gave me the money for this meat," Niu Chunying said with a smile. "I went early and got the best piece of pork belly. Look how thick the fat is!"

Lin Xiaoxiao was surprised. She had assumed Zhou Mancang had sent Niu Chunying to buy it.

After putting the meat away and washing her hands, Niu Chunying fetched the sweet potatoes for Lin Xiaoxiao. "Zhou Huai'an said we're having guests at noon," she added quietly. "Probably to discuss the family division."

Lin Xiaoxiao was taken aback. Weren't they supposed to wait until after the busy period? Why bring it up so suddenly?

Niu Chunying sounded a little envious — though she could only envy. After all, Zhou Huai'an had the capability and the confidence to demand the family division.

Just as Lin Xiaoxiao finished her sweet potato, noise arose in the courtyard.

Zhou Huai'an returned with the three children. One was carrying a wild rabbit, another held a pheasant, and even the youngest clutched a string of more than ten sparrows.

As soon as they entered the yard, they began shouting, "Mom, Mom, look how much Second Uncle caught!"

Lin Xiaoxiao went out to see. Amazed at the haul, she asked Zhou Huai'an, "You got all these?"

Zhou Huai'an nodded. "Mn."

Lin Xiaoxiao clicked her tongue in admiration, giving him a thumbs-up. Her eyes sparkled. "You're amazing! A real sharpshooter. I'm so proud of you."

Zhou Huai'an seemed uncomfortable with her overly intimate praise. "The weather is warm. The animals are out foraging."

Lin Xiaoxiao loved seeing him shy. Her smile widened. "No, no, it's all you. No wonder so many girls like you."

She held back the last part — including me — so as not to scare him off.

Zhou Huai'an instantly grew more serious. "Don't talk nonsense. I'll go clean these. The village secretary and Third Grandpa are coming for lunch."

Lin Xiaoxiao was immediately intrigued. "Let me help."

She absolutely loved skinning small animals.

Zhou Huai'an didn't refuse. While he handled the rabbit and pheasant, Lin Xiaoxiao went back to the room to fetch her surgical blade.

She deftly skinned the rabbit and the pheasant, removing each pelt cleanly and entirely.When it came to the sparrows, she simply twisted off the heads, made a light cut with the blade at the neck, and cleanly separated each bird.

The three Zhou brothers watched in astonishment. They had seen many people skin rabbits and prepare sparrows, but none as neatly and efficiently as Lin Xiaoxiao. There was hardly any blood, and the area remained clean.

Zhou Huai'an watched her skillful movements silently. So now she wasn't even pretending anymore.

They worked busily in the courtyard.

Inside, Wang Fenglan hid in Zhou Xiaoli's room, looking deeply worried. Early that morning, Zhou Huai'an had gone out and returned shortly after, announcing that they would be hosting guests at noon — Third Grandpa, the village secretary, and several other elders. He must have checked around and found everyone available.

There would be no room for negotiation regarding the family division.

Zhou Xiaoli lay on the kang, listening to the commotion outside. Seeing Wang Fenglan' anxious expression, she said, "Second Brother wanting to divide the family — it must be that Lin Xiaoxiao's doing. Now he listens to everything she says. Ever since she came back, everything's gone wrong. I got hurt, and even Caixia tried to kill herself."

Wang Fenglan glared. "Don't talk nonsense. Luo Caixia's suicide has nothing to do with Lin Xiaoxiao."

It wasn't that she had suddenly become clear-headed; she simply didn't want Luo Caixia's matter entangled further. She was desperate to cut ties with Luo Caixia now, so that Zhou Chang'an's assault on her would not come to light.

In her heart, however, she sneered: Luo Caixia once looked down on her third son. And now? She had ended up with nothing. After all this drama, who would ever want to marry her?

Niu Chunying busily chopped the meat filling. Zhou Huai'an set up a stove in the yard to stew the meat.

Chen Qiaolan returned with her two children, let them play in the courtyard, and unusually took the initiative to help Niu Chunying in the kitchen.

With nothing else to do, Lin Xiaoxiao stood watching Zhou Huai'an work, her hands behind her back. "Did Brother and the others go to work again?"

"No. Eldest Brother took people to town to get seeds. The canal digging is finished."

Lin Xiaoxiao nodded. So there was no work; everyone was idle. Yet Wang Fenglan and Zhou Mancang remained silent, and Zhou Chang'an was nowhere to be seen.

Zhou Mancang was a mysterious presence — coughing badly as if on the verge of death one moment, yet staying completely silent the next, holed up in his room like a corpse.

After satisfying her curiosity, Lin Xiaoxiao watched as Zhou Huai'an skillfully stir-fried and stewed the meat. He clearly knew what he was doing. "How are you so good at cooking?"

Zhou Huai'an answered matter-of-factly: "When I first joined the army, I spent over a year in the kitchen."

Lin Xiaoxiao nodded with satisfaction, hands still behind her back. "Good. From now on, whenever you're home, you're in charge of cooking."

Without realizing, she had flirted with him again. Zhou Huai'an's hand holding the spatula paused slightly before he replied lightly, "Mn."

Pleased, Lin Xiaoxiao smiled, her eyes curving. Teasing Zhou Huai'an made her feel that even in these simple, harsh times, life could still be interesting.

Soon, the rich aroma of stewed meat wafted through the air, spreading throughout the neighborhood. Even passersby outside the gate couldn't help but sniff.

It didn't take long before the entire village knew: Zhou Huai'an of the Zhou family was dividing the household.

Standing under the sunlight, Lin Xiaoxiao squinted at the occasional pedestrians peeking into the yard as they passed. Suddenly, she felt that labeling Zhou Huai'an as a simple, honest man might have been a mistake.

After all, stewing meat in the courtyard like this — was that really something a truly honest man would scheme to do?