Chapter 15: Reflections

“Put the pots, bowls, and pans, along with that new iron pot, over by the earthen stove in the kitchen, on the old cutting board next to it.”

“The bottles and jars of oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar should also go in the kitchen, right next to the stove, so they’re easy to reach when cooking.”

“As for that hammer and the small tools like nails, find a clean corner on the wall to store them for now. When I have time, I’ll get some wooden planks to build a simple tool rack to hang them on.”

“Then the hoe, kitchen knife, cleaver, and saw can just lean against the wall behind the door for now.”

Without hesitation, the two set to work immediately, bustling about with great energy.

Zhou Yichen gathered the tools, while Jiang Xiaoman nimbly sorted the smaller items, classifying and arranging them one by one.

You hand me one thing, and I put it neatly in place.

He moved this, she wiped that.

Inside and outside the house, their busy forms moved about, occasionally accompanied by light conversation and laughter.

The setting sun’s last rays filtered through the worn but freshly cleaned window frames, casting a soft, warm golden glow over the simple adobe house and everything inside it.

Before long, they had everything they’d bought put in its proper place, arranged tidily and orderly.

Zhou Yichen straightened up, rubbing his slightly sore waist, and looked around.

What had once been an empty, cold room was now completely transformed.

The pots and pans gleamed on the earthen stove, the bottles of seasonings lined up neatly on the cutting board, and even the tools temporarily piled in the corner no longer seemed out of place.

Jiang Xiaoman clapped her hands in satisfaction, her adorable, doll-like face breaking into a bright smile as she took in the refreshed scene before her.

“Yichen, Yichen, look! Doesn’t this room finally feel a bit like home now?”

Zhou Yichen looked at the house, now full of signs of life thanks to their efforts, and a gentle smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Yes, it finally looked like a home.

A place truly his own, a shelter from the wind and rain, where he could work in peace—his first foothold in this unfamiliar 1970s.

“Gurgle—”

Just then, an untimely sound interrupted the moment’s warmth.

Jiang Xiaoman shyly covered her belly, her cheeks flushed even deeper beneath her red scarf.

“Ah, after working so hard all day, my stomach’s totally empty!”

She stuck out her tongue playfully, her voice tinged with innocence.

Hearing this, Zhou Yichen burst into laughter.

“True, we got so caught up tidying that we forgot all about food. Let’s boil some water first to warm ourselves.”

“Alrighty!”

Jiang Xiaoman responded with enthusiasm, darting into the kitchen to get started.

Soon, the fire in the stove blazed a bright orange, crackling softly and filling the room with the comforting scent of wood smoke.

Steam soon rose in wisps from the pot’s edge, carrying the unique warmth of the firewood and wafting gently into the cool evening air.

Jiang Xiaoman carefully scooped a ladle of boiling water from the pot with a gourd dipper she’d just bought at the supply and marketing cooperative, pouring it into an enamel mug Zhou Yichen had brought from home.

“Yichen, the water’s ready! Be careful, it’s hot!”

Supporting the bottom with one hand and holding the handle with the other, she took small steps out of the kitchen, wary of spilling the scalding liquid.

Zhou Yichen hurried forward to take the mug, feeling its warmth in his hands.

He blew softly on the rising steam, then cautiously took a small sip.

The scalding water slid down his throat, sending a rush of warmth through his limbs, banishing the fatigue from their labor and the chill of the evening.

“Ah—comfortable!”

He exhaled deeply, feeling fully alive again.

Jiang Xiaoman watched his satisfied expression and couldn’t help but smile, her dimples faintly visible.

Curious, she looked around the modest but now well-formed room, her gaze settling on the large earthen kang bed against the wall.

“Yichen, your kang is really big!”

She exclaimed as she hurried over, running her small hand along its edge.

“Huh? It’s still quite warm too!”

Jiang Xiaoman’s eyes lit up as if she’d discovered some incredible treasure.

Without hesitation, she plopped down, swiftly kicking off her muddy cotton shoes, crossing her legs, and lying comfortably in the center of the kang, eyes half-closed.

“Ah—this kang is so warm!”

Like a contented kitten finding its cozy spot, she nuzzled the smooth surface and sighed with contentment.

“Sleeping here at night must be so comfortable!”

Zhou Yichen watched her carefree, blissful enjoyment and couldn’t help but smile wryly.

“Of course.”

He explained with a laugh, “This kang is connected to the stove. As long as the fire’s burning in the kitchen stove, the heat travels through the flue inside and warms the kang. So this side stays cozy.”

“Even in the freezing winter, as long as the stove fire keeps going, the house won’t get cold.”

“Wow! That’s amazing!”

Jiang Xiaoman still lying on the kang, tilted her little head as she looked at him, her big round eyes filled with wonder and envy.

“We don’t have anything like that in the city! In winter, we have to rely on coal stoves, which fill the air with smoke and make us afraid of carbon monoxide poisoning!”

Zhou Yichen watched her happily sprawled on the warm kang, reluctant to get up, and felt a sudden stir in his heart—a thought flashed through his mind.

If Xiaoman was willing, he could tidy up the empty east room next door and have someone help build a similar heated kang there...

But the thought flickered only briefly before he crushed it himself.

He shook his head subtly.

What are you thinking?

This is the 1970s—not so open and free as later years.

Even though they are both innocent, a young man and woman living in the same yard—even if in separate rooms—would surely invite gossip.

Although the Yangyang Brigade seemed simple and honest, gossip could be lethal.

If that happened, forget about focusing on their work; even their normal lives as educated youth would be affected.

This was not a matter to think about or even mention.

Though they couldn’t live together to avoid trouble, they could still share meals, right?

Zhou Yichen’s mind clicked away with this plan.

The educated youth camp was not far, just over a hundred meters away, only a few steps.

Cooking together would be convenient and allow them to look out for each other.

Of course, Zhou Yichen wasn’t just thinking of doing a good deed like Lei Feng, purely to look after Jiang Xiaoman.

He had his own little agenda.

If they teamed up, the cooking duties could fall to her.

Though his childhood friend was usually carefree and tomboyish, she had learned authentic cooking skills from Aunt Chen since childhood—the food was quite good.

Most importantly, Zhou Yichen, in this life and the last, was inherently lazy!

He would avoid cooking whenever possible, preferring to use his time leveling up skills.

With that in mind, Zhou Yichen cleared his throat and looked at Jiang Xiaoman, still lying on the kang, humming softly and savoring the warmth.

“Xiaoman, can I talk to you about something?”