The chicken soup in the antimony pot bubbled lightly, making a gentle gurgling sound.

Zheng Zhilan scooped out the rice that had been boiled to semi-doneness from the large pot, filtered it through a colander, and then put it into a wooden steamer to steam—a whole steamer full.

Zhou Li felt lucky that he and the others only came by occasionally; otherwise, Miss Zheng would have to plant at least twice as much rice. But if that were the case, perhaps they could let Huai Xu do the farming, as he was also adept at it.

After draining the rice, Zheng Zhilan silently served Zhou Li a bowl of rice soup.

Zhou Li, without speaking, took the rice soup and drank a mouthful, feeling the warmth flow down his throat and into his stomach.

"We'll be off to Chunming in a few days," he said.

"Mhm," Zheng Zhilan nodded.

"We probably won't return until the summer vacation." Zhou Li held the bowl with both hands, feeling its warmth. "But the summer vacation is coming soon. I'll bring Huai Xu with me to help you with harvesting corn and threshing grain when summer arrives."

"Alright."

Zheng Zhilan poked the rice with her chopsticks. She tilted her head slightly, as if listening, and said, "The rain outside has lessened."

"It has."

"This rain won't last much longer."

"How do you know?"

"Xiao Ai."

"HEY!"

Their phones chirped almost at the same time.

Zheng Zhilan was somewhat flustered. As she fumbled for her phone, she said, "I was just telling you it was Xiao Ai."

Xiao Ai: "Tell you what?"

Zhou Li pursed his lips into a smile and continued, "A few months back, I encountered a business deal from a family of Heavenly Masters, much like Yin Le's family. You remember Yin Le, right?"

"I remember, your classmate."

"He's not from my school."

"Oh." Zheng Zhilan felt a little embarrassed. "Anyway, we had a meal together once."

"That's right," Zhou Li agreed, looking down as he added kindling to the stove. "The client's surname is Jiang. I reckon that if I weren't in Yan City, he would have eventually found his way to you. Anyway, I got a lot of books from him. They're all about Heavenly Masters and are more detailed, accurate, and concise than the records at the elder of the observatory's place. They also include many spells. Do you want to take a look?"

"Golden Thread is enough for me to learn for a lifetime."

"I knew you'd say that."

"Most Heavenly Masters learn only one or two spells; I don't have the energy for more than that."

"I learned from the Jiang Family that there were six ancient families of Heavenly Masters, like the Jiang and Yin Families, and they seemed to carry some very important tasks," Zhou Li said casually, "but I didn't ask for details."

"Demons are always looking for ways to survive, and humans are always looking for ways to exterminate demons," Zheng Zhilan said softly.

"Is that so…"

The sound of rain outside was indeed getting softer.

Zhou Li heard chickens crowing.

With the noise of the rain reduced, he could also hear Brother Nan teasing the dogs and Huai Xu and Tuanzi quarreling.

Before long, Tuanzi rushed into the kitchen, clutching Zhou Li's leg and beginning to complain, "Zhou Li, Huai Xu is bullying Lord Dumpling!"

Zhou Li picked her up and asked with curiosity, "How is he bullying you?"

"He coaxed the dog to bite Lord Dumpling!"

"That's mean!"

"He also spanked the dog's bottom while Lord Dumpling was behind it and framed Lord Dumpling!"

"That's too mean!"

Zhou Li was filled with righteous indignation, but that was as far as it went.

At most, he would say, "Then I'll bake some small sweet potatoes for Lord Dumpling and not give any to Huai Xu, how about that?"

"Good~~"

"Make him sick with jealousy!"

"Make him sick with jealousy!" Tuanzi repeated angrily.

"Lord Dumpling getting angry is too scary."

"This place is so warm." Tuanzi stared unblinkingly at the fire in the stove. "Lord Dumpling wants to warm up by the fire."

"It will burn off Lord Dumpling's whiskers."

"Oh~~"

Zhou Li continued to whisper childish things to her. Holding a soft and warm Lord Dumpling, with the fire burning, gave him a sense of serenity and satisfaction he had never experienced before.

Zheng Zhilan didn't speak either, just glanced at them now and then, quietly listening to their conversation.

When it was time to start stir-frying, she focused on cooking.

It was nearly seven o'clock.

The rain outside had completely stopped. With the clouds dispersing, the sky was actually brighter than before, almost giving the illusion of morning.

The sound of a cuckoo echoed through the mountains.

When Zhou Li went outside with the rice, Brother Nan was feeding the chickens with a basin of corn.

Zheng Zhilan's chickens and ducks were free-range. Most of the time, they were left to find their own food—bugs in the fields, grass, leaves, and small fish and shrimps from the brook were all part of their diet. Although they grew slowly this way, it was less hassle, and they tasted better.

But if the weather was bad and the chickens and ducks couldn't forage, they would need to be fed grain.

"CLUCK, CLUCK, CLUCK…"

Brother Nan grabbed a handful of corn and threw it on the ground. Watching the flock of chickens rush to compete for food, she grinned.

She grabbed another handful and threw it to the other side.

The flock of chickens quickly turned and ran over.

Brother Nan laughed even more cheerily.

Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Zheng Zhilan's Rottweiler lying under the eaves, dozing off, its tail thumping against the ground—it seemed rather content... A light bulb went off in her head!

Brother Nan walked over nonchalantly, carrying the basin of corn, scattering bits of corn on the ground as she went.

A proud rooster was lured over. It followed the corn trail left by Brother Nan, pecking its way to the Rottweiler. Then, a few kernels fell onto the Rottweiler.

The rooster, without a second thought—

"SWOOSH!"

"AWOOO…"

"CLUCK CLUCK CLUCK!"

For a moment, Zheng Zhilan's doorstep was a scene of utter chaos, with chickens flying and dogs jumping, while Brother Nan covered her mouth, laughing so hard she could barely stand straight.

Suddenly, she sensed something.

She whipped her head around—

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing, I didn't see anything," Zhou Li said, averting his gaze. "Dinner's ready."

"Oh!"

Brother Nan simply poured the entire basin of corn onto the ground, letting the chickens scramble frantically for it.

Zhou Li: …

The meal was sumptuous: a pot of country chicken soup that was delicious beyond belief, several home-cooked dishes, and a plate of stir-fried wild mushrooms that could be considered a forest delicacy in this era.

An entire steamer of rice was polished off.

「Evening.」

The Evil God quieted down as well, sprawling on the mountain peak, its immense figure shrouded in mist.

Brother Nan picked a flower from the edge of the courtyard. She toyed with it while chatting with Zheng Zhilan. Outside, the chirping of insects was clamorous; just by their calls, she could distinguish marsh frogs, common frogs, and toads, as well as cicadas and mole crickets.

Their voices echoed through the night sky.

Because of Zheng Zhilan's gentleness and quiet demeanor, Brother Nan also lowered her voice, speaking in a rare soft and delicate manner.

Meanwhile, Zhou Li, Huai Xu, and Tuanzi had already gone upstairs to their room.

He covered himself with a thin blanket. Tuanzi nestled against his chest, making a small bulge under the blanket, silent and still. If only she wouldn't start frantically parkouring once he fell asleep, it would be perfect.

"The hero's name was Darla Bunbah Spandibebit Dobiruon."

"Dada doo doo doo...on..."

"Right."

As Zhou Li told Tuanzi the story of the hero slaying the dragon and marrying the princess, he opened his phone to check the messages in the chat group. At night, the internet speed in the small mountain village had finally improved a little.

Reading through them, he couldn't help but blush.

Baozi had even sent him a private message.

Baozi: Cousin, are you returning to school?

Zhou Li: Yeah, you?

Baozi: Yes.

Zhou Li: You're so lazy, yet you're going back to school? I heard you can't leave once you're on campus. Isn't it better to lie in bed at home and sleep?

Baozi: Living expenses, Huabei.

Zhou Li: I see.

Baozi: Come to Chunming early; I'll take you guys out to have fun.

Zhou Li: ?

Baozi: There's an ice cream place near my house that's super delicious. I'll take you and Brother Nan there.

Zhou Li: Has your face slimmed down any?

Baozi: ??

Zhou Li: Ice cream can make you gain weight easily.

Baozi: ...

Zhou Li suddenly received a group message from an online course group with students from two classes in it.

Baozi: My parents are asking when you're coming to Chunming, and to bring Brother Nan over to our house for a meal.

Chen Yang: Wow!!

Zhong Xin: Official announcement! Can't hide it any longer, huh?!

Qian Qian: I'm not even slightly surprised.

Mianmian: Sweets! Give us sweets! Sweets!

Baozi: Sorry, sent to the wrong chat.

Zhou Li then received a private message from Baozi—

Baozi: My parents are asking when you're coming to Chunming, and to bring Brother Nan over to our house for a meal.

Zhou Li: Actually, you could have retracted it.

A minute passed.

No reply.

Two minutes passed.

Baozi: Can't retract it now.

Baozi: Sorry, cousin.

Baozi: As an apology, I'll take you both out for ice cream.

He also sent an emoji of a 90-degree bow.