Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

Liu Xingmo looked out of the window of the woodshed.

A woman stands in the dimly lit corridor.

She wore a pomegranate red soft satin dress with a neckline that was just right, revealing a small patch of her fair and delicate neck.

Her red embroidered shoes, adorned with silver bells, jingled as she stepped on the stone slabs, their sound mingling with the cinnabar mole at the corner of her eye, dazzling all who beheld them.

It was Liu San Niang, but for some reason, she had lost her snake tail.

Liu Xingmo, holding his rice bowl, greeted her, "Third Sister Liu, how have you been?"

Liu San Niang noticed the young man in the window and her eyes widened: "Liu Xingmo! What are you doing down in the mine?"

"What else could I be doing? Mining, of course. But you, instead of running your lucky charm shop, why are you crawling into this dark, gloomy place?"

"It's all your fault!" Liu Sanniang said, her teeth grinding together. "I got into trouble with the court and had to sell my ancestral property to buy my freedom before I was released!"

"It's clearly Manager Ma who dragged you down, what does it have to do with me?" Liu Xingmo casually picked up a grain of rice from the bowl, put it in his mouth, tasted it, and then slowly said, "You should thank me for leading you onto the right path, otherwise, you wouldn't even have had the chance to redeem yourself. Isn't that right?"

"You... Humph!" Liu San Niang could understand the logic in her mind, but her stomach refused to accept it. "I'm almost starving! And I have to work as a waitress during the New Year... Waaah, why is my life so miserable!"

After saying that, she acted swiftly, as fast as lightning, and snatched Liu Xingmo's rice bowl.

Then, she reached out and grabbed a grain of rice, stuffing it into her mouth, while two lines of clear tears dripped from the corners of her eyes as she ate.

Liu Xingmo couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Su Mali then leaned closer to the window: "You're Liu San Niang?"

"That's right... what are you doing?" Liu San Niang ate her rice fiercely, her face devoid of any charm or gentleness.

"Remember to wash the dishes clean for me and bring them back." Su Mali's voice was indifferent and cold.

"Ha! I know." Liu San Niang stamped her foot.

She finished eating the last grain of rice, gripped the bowl, and leaped over Bao Hei's massive body before pushing open the door to the next room.

A little while later, she returned and placed the cleaned dishes on the windowsill: "Thank you for the treat, my dear neighbor."

"Which room are you staying in?" Liu Xingmo asked.

"Oh dear, what's going on?" Liu San Niang resumed her affected tone, "Our great writer actually has time to pry into the private affairs of a young widow like me?"

"East room or west room?" Liu Xingmo insisted.

"The east room. My windows aren't very secure, it makes me a little scared." Liu Sanniang fidgeted. "Why are you asking about this? Does your wife know? Oh dear... that's right, your wife is right next to you, hehehe..."

Liu Xingmo spat out a mouthful of saliva: "Damn it! My wife and I live in the west room. I don't even know if the stone slab walls are good soundproofing... Forget it, let's just switch with the woodshed."

"Hey! Afraid that I'll find out you're not a good man and go around telling other people?" Liu San Niang raised her delicate fingers and lightly covered her red lips. "Don't worry, I'll keep your secret and won't let anyone know. You, Liu Xingmo, are a coward."

Liu Xingmo picked up his rice bowl and closed the window.

Liu San Niang runs a restaurant in Luohua Lane and deals with all sorts of strange and wicked people; she's quite shrewish.

It's best to leave this kind of person alone.

Liu Xingmo then went to the pot to serve rice.

Sumali snatched the bowl from her husband's hand, replaced it with a new one, filled it with rice, and handed it back to him.

Liu Xingmo chuckled mischievously, "Hehehe, Mary, you can be jealous now?"

"Used tableware is unsanitary and may contain bacteria. It needs to be disinfected with a special solution," Su Mali replied calmly.

After dinner, the couple took their clothes and went to the public bathhouse in the mine pit to enjoy a relaxing soak in the hot springs.

Feeling refreshed, I returned to my new home and went to bed.

the next day.

The clear sound of bells echoed through the vast mine.

It was still pitch black outside, but the tranquility of the night gradually gave way to the noise of daytime.

Liu Xingmo and Su Mali got up.

There are many things to do today.

Liu Xingmo needs to continue moving and also needs to buy food.

Sumari is going to study the ore samples; this was a task we agreed on yesterday.

Liu Xingmo dressed Bao Hei neatly, then drove it to pull the two carts and head out.

This mine has been in operation for over a thousand years. The main area has long been hollowed out and a small mountain town has been built in its place. In fact, this place was the original West Town, but the number of residents outside the mountain has increased year by year, and it has taken over its place.

The old turtle was pulling two vehicles backwards, slowly making its way down the winding, downhill road.

One stone house after another was built unevenly against the rock walls on both sides of the mine pit, layer upon layer.

Firelight illuminated the house, and the aroma of food wafted from the doors and windows.

A hot spring river flows through the bottom of the mine, passing by countless homes lit up with lights. Bubbles rise from the surface of the river from time to time, and the warm steam makes one feel as if they have arrived in spring.

Liu Xingmo arrived at the main road at the bottom of the pit and walked towards the light in the distance.

A glaring white dot grew larger and larger in the field of vision. Accompanied by a bone-chilling wind, it spread out into a vast, silvery-white world.

Liu Xingmo shuddered and climbed into the car.

Baohei, this young old turtle, knows the way home; the rest is up to it.

We wandered along the road, and when we passed through the Xizhen market, we bought a lot of food.

Dried fruit to feed rhinoceros beetles, crickets to feed scorpions, and dried fish to feed turtles.

These things filled a truck and were buried in the snow, to be dug out and used when needed.

Just pile them up in front of Uncle Si's house. Even a scoundrel with dirty hands wouldn't stoop to touching the constable's things.

We walked to a pear tree.

Liu Xingmo got out of the car and walked up the spiral walkway along the tree trunk until he arrived at a spacious treehouse.

He knocked on the door and called out, "Fourth Aunt? Are you there?"

A woman with graying hair opened the door: "Oh, isn't this Xiao Mo? Come in and sit down, it's cold outside!"

"No need to trouble you! I have a lot of work to do today. I want to take advantage of the winter to go down into the mine and earn some extra money. No one's home, could you please keep an eye on things for me?"

"Yeah, I just wanted to mention something to your uncle."

"I still have some animal feed here, I left it under the tree, is that alright?"

"Just leave it to your aunt!"

"Okay then."

"Xiao Mo, you're so hardworking, but you should be careful not to overwork yourself. Why don't you bring your wife over for dinner after the New Year?"

"Okay, then you can try Mary's cooking. I guarantee you'll love it."

"Then I'll be waiting!" The woman chuckled, then clapped her hands as if thinking of something good. "By the way, when are you two planning to have a big, healthy boy? That way, my brother's family will have an heir."

Here comes the topic that elders love to talk about.