CHAPTER 187: CHAPTER 187: LIKE A FAMILY (SECOND UPDATE)

By the time Lu Yuanfeng finished building the stove, it was already nearing dusk.

He had worked through the afternoon, but fortunately, the stove he built for Shuangshuang’s house was quite impressive. The clay bricks were stacked perfectly with no protrusions on the exterior, and the surface of the stove was as smooth as if it had been sliced with a knife.

However, since the stove had just been built and the clay hadn’t dried yet, it couldn’t be used immediately. It would take a couple of days for the clay to dry and the stove to become solid.

Even when it was heated with a big flame, there would be no issues.

By this time, Mu Shuangshuang had already prepared dinner, and Yu Si Niang had just returned home—everything was timely, neither more nor less.

Just like Lu Yuanfeng’s mood, neither excessive nor lacking.

In this warm and simple environment, with the aroma of food filling the air, Lu Yuanfeng found himself not wanting to leave for a moment.

He loved this kind of life, earning a living, while "she" stayed home, handling the three meals, while he took care of all the other tasks.

Lu Yuanfeng even pictured such a scene in his mind, but for him, it was too luxurious to even know if that day would ever come.

"What are you thinking about? Not even drinking your water?" Mu Shuangshuang stretched out a hand, fingers spread, and waved it in front of Lu Yuanfeng.

Just as before, whenever she came in, Lu Yuanfeng never noticed until she made a loud sound.

Lu Yuanfeng snapped out of it, only to see Shuangshuang holding a ladle of clean water with a pure smile on her face.

Her smile was sweet, her eyes bright, even the stars in the night sky couldn’t compare to the sparkle in her eyes.

Lu Yuanfeng felt enchanted, his mind filled with thoughts of Shuangshuang, just like a moth drawn to the flame, knowing it could be lethal but unable to resist approaching the light.

Lu Yuanfeng took the ladle of water from Mu Shuangshuang’s hand and gulped it down in a single breath.

This water, so sweet!

After drinking the water, Mu Shuangshuang asked, "Guess what I made for dinner tonight, and where I made it."

As Mu Shuangshuang spoke, her eyes were full of mischief. Lu Yuanfeng knew she must have done something thrilling again, yet he merely shook his head.

"I don’t know!"

"Haha, I made it at your house, then brought it over with Yuanbao and Little Zhi using washbasins and buckets." Of course, it wasn’t all tossed together; they were separated by bowls.

"Tonight we’re having spicy beef, along with pan-fried winter melon. Yuanbao picked the winter melon for me; he said it’s the only vegetable in your house, along with two wild vegetables I gathered from the mountain, and also some chilled wood ear mushrooms."

Having picked wood ear mushrooms for so long, finally getting to eat them was a treat.

A stream of words flowed from Mu Shuangshuang’s mouth, and Lu Yuanfeng found himself listening intently.

"Alright, go wash your hands; let’s start dinner right away."

It was still early, no need to eat inside; Mu Shuangshuang had set up food in the yard, which was just right for the Old Mu Family to have dinner without anyone causing trouble.

Plates of food were set on the table, and the anticipated exclamations came from Yu Si Niang and Mu Dashan.

"Shuangshuang, where did these things come from?"

The mere thought of beef was beyond Yu Si Niang’s imagination.

Much less to mention all these dishes.

"The beef and pork are from the town, the winter melon is from Fengzi’s house, and the wild vegetables and wood ear mushrooms are from the mountains.

Mom and Dad, let’s talk less and eat more.

Oh, Dad, beef can be stimulating food; you’re still ill, better eat less."

Mu Shuangshuang didn’t forget to remind Mu Dashan that beef can be stimulating. Of course, it was impossible for Mu Dashan not to eat. At times when there’s nothing else, filling the stomach is paramount, disregarding anything else.

"Okay, Fengzi, Yuanbao, you two are guests, you must eat more." Mu Dashan accepted Mu Shuangshuang’s words and turned to encourage the two guests to eat more.

The spicy beef dish had a tantalizing aroma that made everyone present nearly drool.

Upon closer inspection, there were bamboo skewers sticking into the beef.

"These..." Yu Si Niang stared at the bamboo skewers.

"I placed these bamboo skewers intentionally as a feature of the spicy beef, or you can call it beef skewers."

"Aunt Si, these skewers were threaded by me, Little Zhi, and Xiao Han."

The naturally sociable Little Yuanbao didn’t forget to mention what he had accomplished, looking for praise.

"Haha, Yuanbao is so capable, little smarty." Mu Shuangshuang couldn’t help but poke fun at Yuanbao.

Truth be told, Yuanbao’s nature was the most outgoing of the three children.

He could easily bond with everyone in a short time, unlike Xiao Han and Little Zhi.

Xiao Han had a reserved nature, barely expressing anything.

Little Zhi was pure, with many questions, but she mainly expressed them to Mu Shuangshuang; faced with more people, she was shy and often preferred hiding away from those unfamiliar.

Mu Shuangshuang unconsciously guided Little Zhi and Xiao Han each time because she believed that open and cheerful personality would always be better.

"Shuangshuang, you’ve worked hard, eat more." Yu Si Niang didn’t forget to remind her daughter, without Shuangshuang, who knows what fate the family would have.

Just after Yu Si Niang finished speaking, several beef skewers were added to Mu Shuangshuang’s bowl, and upon looking up, she found Lu Yuanfeng still helping her with the dishes.

Mu Shuangshuang had arranged the table, placing the meat dishes in front of Yu Si Niang and Mu Dashan. To grab them, she’d have to stand up, but Lu Yuanfeng, with his long arms, could easily reach any dish on the table.

"Thank you, make sure you eat too!" Mu Shuangshuang didn’t act coy and continued eating generously after giving Lu Yuanfeng a thank you.

Lu Yuanfeng’s hand slightly trembled while he was serving the food, but soon he calmed down.

Having finished dinner, it was still early, with strands of red glow still hanging in the sky, from a distance looking like a beautiful landscape painting.

Mu Shuangshuang brought out the washed watermelon from the house, soaked in cold water for the afternoon, it was already chilled.

Beautiful scenery, a pretty lady, accompanied by a slice of watermelon was truly a delightful experience.

Several little ones had waited all afternoon just to eat watermelon, and now that it was finally brought out, their eyes couldn’t look away.

The watermelon, sliced open by Mu Shuangshuang’s kitchen knife, released fresh juices, exuding its unique fragrance. As a dessert after dinner, it was eaten until only two pieces remained.

The last two pieces, one was reserved for Zhao Yun’s house, as they had been kind over the period, and the remaining piece was for the Old Mu Family’s fourth household.

Yu Si Niang mentioned how Mu Dajiang had a heatstroke while working in the afternoon and nearly collapsed in the field. If not for her scraping treatment seen by the Old Mu Family before, Mu Dajiang might not have survived.

Alas, she had to visit her fourth uncle, remembering how her father nearly died of heatstroke and Aunt Si gave up the family’s only coin.