Back to 1984: I built a chicken farm on a barren mountain.

"Brother, I'll buy four more large vats," Chen Wenfeng said to the young man selling the vats.

The young man selling the jars knew this was a big customer; he had bought six jars in one go last time, and now he wanted four more.

However, because of the snow that had fallen a few days prior, although the snow on most roads had melted, Heihuyu was, after all, a true mountain village, and the village paths still had snow. Therefore, he didn't bring any large tanks, let alone four, in his vehicle this time. He simply told the truth:

"I didn't bring a large jar this time. If you're not in a hurry, I can deliver it to you tomorrow. Should I go up the mountain again?"

"Yes, let's go up the mountain again. I remember you said last time you had extra-large vats?"

"There are even bigger tanks than the last one, and the walls are thicker too..."

"Then I'll take the extra-large one, for four people. Just bring it over tomorrow, and I'll settle the bill for you then."

......

Chen Shouyi took a rare nap at noon; he had caught a bit of a cold.

In the morning, he came out to sweep the yard wearing his clothes on. Wang Guizhi told him to wear more clothes, but he didn't take it seriously.

After he finished sweeping the yard and had breakfast, he felt weak and sore all over, as if he were drunk.

As Wang Guizhi tucked the blanket over him, she scolded him:

"Look, the windowpanes are starting to frost over, and your breath is white in the morning. It's getting colder every day, and you won't listen when I tell you to be careful!"

"hey-hey......"

Chen Shouyi wasn't angry as Wang Guizhi scolded him. He was now sweating a little and felt much better. He said:

"Honey, I'm a little hungry. Did you have any leftovers from lunch?"

"Yes, I saved some for you. I told you to eat some at noon, that it would give you energy, but you wouldn't listen and insisted on sweating it out. Eating won't stop you from sweating it out..."

Although Wang Guizhi complained about Chen Shouyi, she still went to heat up her lunch, and it was ready in no time.

After eating, Chen Shouyi felt even better.

It is said that when people are well-fed and warm, they think of lustful desires. After eating and drinking his fill, he sweated and felt much more relaxed.

Chen Wenshui and Chen Xiaofang were still in school. Looking at his wife, he suddenly had an idea and said:

"I still want to sleep a little longer, why don't you come up and lie down for a while too?"

Wang Guizhi rolled her eyes at him and was about to get up to close the door when Chen Youwei's voice came from outside:

"Shouyi, Shouyi, is Shouyi at home?"

Wang Guizhi blushed instantly, like a little girl who had done something wrong. She quickly composed herself and went out to welcome Chen Youwei in.

"Village chief, come in quickly, Shouyi is home!"

Chen Youwei entered the room and found Chen Shouyi on the kang (a heated brick bed).

At this moment, Chen Shouyi had already gotten up, was sitting cross-legged with a quilt draped over him, and there were chopsticks and a bowl on the kang table next to him.

"Did you just have lunch?"

"No, we ate a long time ago. Shouyi caught a chill this morning and slept for a while with his head covered. We just gave him some to eat."

Hearing Wang Guizhi's words and seeing Chen Shouyi's flushed face, Chen Youwei figured the problem wasn't serious and said:

"Today, Wenfeng and I were discussing something at the village committee. He originally wanted to go home and call you guys to have dinner on the mountain, but I volunteered to come..."

Chen Shouyi: My son invited me to dinner and sent the village chief. That's quite a show.

"Village chief, we won't go. It's cold now, and I'm afraid I'll catch a cold," Chen Shouyi said.

Chen Youwei said with some regret:

"Wenfeng said they're cooking a big pot of stew on the mountain today, and I've even prepared some of my family's best wine. It would be a shame if you didn't go. Guizhi, are you coming?"

"I'm not going either, village chief..."

With each regretful remark, Chen Youwei left Chen Shouyi's home.

Wang Guizhi: How about we eat communal dishes too?

Chen Shouyi: Then we need to go buy some meat.

Wang Guizhi: What meat are you buying? You forgot? Lai Zi brought over a lot yesterday; Wen Feng asked him to come. You've forgotten everything because of your fever.

Chen Shouyi: Yes, yes, yes, my brain, why don't you come up and fix it for me?

Wang Guizhi: Get out...

......

On Jiming Mountain, Niu Da lit the bonfire outside.

Inside the house, Old Sun kept the stove fire burning brightly, making the room warm and inviting.

Chen Youwei arrived very early.

Unexpectedly, Accountant Wang also arrived.

Accountant Wang had originally agreed not to come, but when he went home and told Li Cuie that Chen Wenfeng had invited him to dinner on the mountain, Li Cuie kept asking him to come over.

Seeing how supportive his wife was of his work, and knowing that he also had some new developments to discuss with the village chief and Chen Wenfeng that afternoon, Accountant Wang came along as well.

Zhou Zhiming heard that the food on the mountain had been improved (in fact, the food on Jiming Mountain has always been very good, but he just wanted to join in the fun when he heard that the village chief and the others were coming), so he also came.

Chen Wenfeng asked Zhou Zhiming to turn on all the lights on the mountain.

When all twenty-odd lights were turned on, Jiming Mountain emitted a warm, golden light from its foot upwards and outwards.

With the moon shining brightly and the stars few, the yellow of the lamplight and the white of the moonlight blend together, creating a unique and beautiful scene.

This was Accountant Wang's first time here, and also his first time being in the mountains at night.

Where the lights of Jiming Mountain cannot reach, there is an endless expanse of black, like a deep old well. Looking at it for too long will send chills down your spine.

Accountant Wang is actually a very sensitive person. He is good at learning and observing. He has had doubts about Li Cuie, and even doubted her many times.

Occasionally, when rumors reached him, he would stop them from spreading.

He was very frustrated. After all, his appearance, character, and reputation were all top-notch in Chenjiazhuang, but he felt like a failure in front of Li Cuie.

But Li Cuie's eyes had given him strength during his most despondent time, though perhaps Li Cuie herself didn't even remember it.

Accountant Wang eventually listened to Li Cuie's advice, went up the mountain for dinner, and said that he wouldn't go home if it got late and would spend the night on the mountain.

He clearly saw a light in Li Cuie's eyes.

He was giving Li Cuie one last chance, and also giving himself one last chance.

"Uncle Wang, what are you standing here for? The food is ready, and Uncle Youwei is making a fuss about drinking!"

Chen Wenfeng's voice pulled Accountant Wang back from his chaotic thoughts, and he laughed somewhat awkwardly:

"I came here to see the scenery."

After saying that, he hurriedly went inside.

Chen Wenfeng stood where Accountant Wang had just been, looking in the direction Wang had been looking. It was pitch black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. What a terrible view. He was probably preoccupied.

Compared to the cold and darkness outside, the house was warm and bright.

Everyone took off their shoes and climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed), sitting cross-legged around the black kang table.

The room was filled with the aroma of food, cigarettes, liquor, and the smell of roasted cotton shoes (I don't know who put the cotton shoes by the stove).

The food was delicious, and the liquor was strong.

After dinner, Zhou Zhiming, Lao Suntou, Niu Da, and Niu Er went to the west room to play cards.

The remaining people are Chen Wenfeng, Chen Youwei, and Accountant Wang.

Chen Youwei, abandoning his earlier jovial demeanor at dinner, addressed Accountant Wang:

"Xiao Wang, tell Wen Feng what happened this afternoon!"