Reborn in 78, I made my fortune by working in the mountains, supporting three families on my own.

In 1978, there was no natural gas in the countryside, and no one even used gas cylinders. Every household used wood-burning stoves.

Firewood is a highly sought-after source of fuel.

Unlike the 21st century, where dead trees and branches are everywhere.

Not to mention withered branches, even the leaves on the trees along the roadside have to be stripped clean.

Therefore, many people go to the mountains and forests to find some tree branches that are about to dry, drag them home, and pile them up in open spaces to dry.

Most of the villagers are simple and honest. If someone occupies a piece of open space and piles up firewood, everyone will tacitly agree and will not casually dredge up other people's firewood.

There are exceptions to everything.

People like Lai Mazi, who are good-for-nothings, don't follow any rules.

These days, stealing firewood isn't uncommon.

As Zhao Lei walked, he thought to himself that he should hunt more game in the future to exchange for money and buy coal briquettes to burn, so that the women wouldn't have to work themselves to death chopping firewood.

After walking for about ten minutes, we arrived at Dashiba.

Looking into the distance, busy figures could be seen everywhere on Shibanpo.

There were elderly people, women, and also young girls and boys.

Some were chopping firewood, some were splitting firewood, and some were piling the firewood into piles and loading them into baskets to take home.

Click... Click...

The sounds of chopping wood rose and fell, mingling with the voices of people talking.

As Zhao Lei approached, he immediately spotted Qin Yuchan.

There was no way around it; it was just too eye-catching.

Qin Yuchan was bending over, swinging a machete to chop a thick tree branch.

She was wearing a floral print shirt today, which was soaked with sweat and clung tightly to her body.

A full and rounded figure...

Very eye-catching.

Zhao Lei's Adam's apple bobbed.

Full-figured, hot, with curves in all the right places.

The floral shirt was stained even darker with sweat, tightly accentuating her curves.

Especially the way she bent over to chop wood, with her big butt sticking out, and when she exerted force, that area would become taut and round, trembling with the chopping motion.

His body was covered in sweat, which glistened in the sunlight. His wisps of hair were wet and clung to his face, which was also flushed.

Zhao Lei stared wide-eyed.

One couldn't resist.

Zhao Lei tiptoed over.

Several elderly woodcutters nearby saw him and were about to greet him when Zhao Lei quickly put his finger to his lips and shushed him.

The elderly people understood, smiled, shook their heads, and continued with their work.

Qin Yuchan was so focused on chopping that she didn't notice anyone behind her.

She swung her machete and chopped down with a snap, the branch splitting open, and her plump body trembled violently.

Zhao Lei walked up behind her, looked at her pert buttocks, and, as if possessed, reached out his hand...

"Snapped!"

He slapped it.

It has a bouncy texture and a strong vibration!

Qin Yuchan was startled and jumped up abruptly!

"Which bastard wants to die?!"

With a loud shout, he turned around, machete in hand, ready to chop!

His demeanor was fierce and menacing, like a tigress descending from the mountain.

Zhao Lei quickly jumped back, shouting, "No, no, no! It's me! It's me!"

Qin Yuchan held the machete in mid-air before she could see that it was her man.

She was stunned for a moment, then her face turned red with anger, and she kicked him, yelling, "Are you trying to kill me?! You scared the hell out of me!"

Zhao Lei laughed and dodged, saying, "I couldn't help it, I couldn't help it, you're too attractive."

"What the hell are you talking about!"

Qin Yuchan stuck the wood-chopping knife into the log, patted her chest to catch her breath, and said, "I thought it was some clueless scoundrel!"

At this moment, Qin Yuchan's chest was heaving violently, and her floral shirt was almost bursting at the seams.

If there hadn't been people around, Zhao Lei would have wanted to disappear into the woods.

Qin Yuchan noticed Zhao Lei's gaze and slapped him on the shoulder: "What are you looking at! Don't you want your eyes anymore?"

"Can't you even look at your own wife?" Zhao Lei said with a grin.

"Who's your wife? Let's get a divorce!"

Even if we divorce, she'll still be my wife.

Qin Yuchan rolled her eyes at him, bent down and continued chopping wood: "Don't get in the way, go away."

"By the way, where did you go wandering around so early in the morning? I didn't see you when I got up."

"He didn't wander around; he went hunting."

"Hunting?" Qin Yuchan scoffed. "You? Hunting?"

Zhao Lei wasn't annoyed: "Really, if you don't believe me, go home and see, there are two pheasants hanging on the kitchen beam."

Qin Yuchan paused, turning to look at him suspiciously: "Really?"

"Why would I lie to you? I went up the mountain myself to hunt them, one arrow for one kill. Isn't that awesome?"

Qin Yuchan snorted: "You're just bragging. Hunting? Every time you've come back empty-handed, you've just taken a few bird eggs and that's it. You still have the nerve to call it hunting."

"That was before! I'm different now."

As Zhao Lei spoke, he snatched the wood-chopping knife from Qin Yuchan's hand and took over the work of chopping wood.

"What's the difference? It's still just two legs and a mouth."

Qin Yuchan was surprised to see Zhao Lei volunteering for work. "He made all the right promises in front of my older brother yesterday, and today he's running off up the mountain doing nothing. What if he runs into a bear? What am I supposed to do... what are the kids supposed to do?"

Halfway through her sentence, Qin Yuchan suddenly changed her mind.

Zhao Lei understood, and felt a warmth in his heart.

His wife, with her sharp tongue but kind heart, is just like his father-in-law.

They're sharp-tongued, yet secretly supportive.

Why do I find your insults so pleasant to listen to?

Zhao Lei couldn't help but wonder if he had some kind of masochistic complex, which was why he couldn't get angry at Qin Yuchan's beatings and scoldings.

Zhao Lei pulled over the basket and filled it with the chopped firewood.

"Your man is incredibly lucky. I'll be fine. He went into the woods and caught six pheasants. He sold two to the supply and marketing cooperative, gave two to his brother-in-law, and we still have two left at home. I'll make chicken soup for you and the kids tonight to help them recover."

"real?"

"If it's not steamed, then it must be boiled?"

"You're not lying to me?"

"I'd be a dog if I lied to you, woof woof woof!!"

Qin Yuchan chuckled, then forcibly suppressed it: "Get lost, stop with your glib talk."

Zhao Lei stood up, rolled up his sleeves, and said, "You take a break, I'll do it..."

"Did the sun rise in the west? You actually know how to get some work done now?"

"I'm your man, if I don't do it, who will? I'll chop the firewood first, then can I do it tonight?"

Zhao Lei snatched the machete, took over Qin Yuchan's place, and started hacking away.

Qin Yuchan belatedly realized what was happening and kicked him, yelling, "You heartless bastard, you're up to this, aren't you! No wonder you're being so attentive!"

Zhao Lei wasn't angry. He patted the footprints on his butt and continued chopping wood with all his might.

snort!

No objection means agreement!

I don't believe you don't want to?

I'll shut you up tonight, then you'll dare to talk back to me!

Qin Yuchan stood to the side, her gaze wandering as she watched her husband work.

He seems to be really different this time?

No, don't let him fool you again!

My brother is the captain of the militia. He has a homemade hunting rifle but often comes back empty-handed when he goes hunting in the mountains. Sanshi doesn't have a gun either. Where can he hunt six pheasants?

They said they gave my brother two; I'll ask them tomorrow to find out if it's true...

If you're lying to me....