Chapter 106: With the Bathhouse Built, a Beauty Should Surely Arrive

As Han Li finished speaking, Yun Yingying’s voice rang out.

"A bath? Does that mean the state-run bathhouse is finally open?"

"That’s right, today is their first day of business, and I just happened to stumble upon it."

"Sisters, why don't we ask for leave tomorrow and go take a bath too?"

Hao Hongmin and Yang Xiuying were a bit confused as to why Yun Yingying was so excited; they usually boiled water at home for baths. No matter how bold Yun Yingying was, she wouldn't discuss the details of the bathhouse in front of Han Li, so she waved her hand and said, "I’ll tell you more later. For now, tell me, are we going to ask for leave or not?"

He Mi was clearly tempted, but she hesitated and said, "It’s hard to get time off these days. Besides, it’s better to wait until after the autumn harvest. The harvest is different from weeding and catching bugs all day; that’s when it’s truly dirty and exhausting. By the end of the day, you feel like you’ve been pulled right out of the dirt. Especially when it comes to the winnowing—that feeling..."

Yun Jingjing added, "It’s not much longer now anyway, so let’s just wait until after the harvest to go to the bathhouse together."

The group chattered away, their voices drowning out Qi Zhaodi’s attempts to express her gratitude. Han Li had a fleeting thought about mentioning that his own bathroom was almost finished and they could come to his place to bathe, but the idea vanished as quickly as it came. It wasn't the right time to invite them. It would be best to let them discover it themselves and ask to use it.

After the meal, Qi Zhaodi took the initiative to clear the bowls and chopsticks for washing. As everyone was leaving, Yun Jingjing noticed that He Mi had actually taken Han Li’s dining bowl with her. She nudged her sister and shot her a look, but Yun Yingying didn't seem to notice at all.

Once the two sisters had latched the door and returned to their room, Yun Jingjing sighed and asked, "What exactly are you thinking? Didn't you see that He Mi was the one who delivered Han Li’s dinner tonight?"

Yun Yingying replied, "It’s no big deal, is it? Han Li saved He Mi’s life when he killed that wolf. What’s wrong with her bringing him a meal?"

Yun Jingjing looked at her usually clever sister, wondering why she was being so obtuse. "Didn’t you say you wanted to be with Han Li? Have you two made anything clear? Has he agreed to anything?"

"We're so exhausted every day that I don't have the heart for that," Yun Yingying said. "It won't be too late to talk about it when things settle down after the harvest."

"After the harvest? By then, Han Li will already be with He Mi."

Yun Yingying fell silent.

***

After they left, Han Li fed his dogs and reinforced their training. This was the trouble with keeping living creatures—no matter how much you want to rest, they must be cared for. Once that was done, Han Li made his bed and pulled out his Barefoot Doctor’s Manual to read.

Meanwhile, Shanghe Village was anything but peaceful. Accountant Zhang and Wei Chunlan were currently surrounded by a crowd. The villagers, showing no concern for their flashlight batteries, kept the beams darting across the pair. Those holding torches were practically pressing them into their faces, and some even took the opportunity to pinch Wei Chunlan. She covered her mouth, not daring to cry out loud, and the crowd only dispersed when Captain Liang and Village Chief Zhao arrived.

Liang Wu’s wife was strutting about like a triumphant hero, spitting as she recounted her own "heroic" efforts. Accountant Zhang looked utterly desperate, pleading repeatedly with the two leaders. In this era, the law was not entirely comprehensive; while he might not go to prison for such an affair, his position as accountant was certainly gone. If he were dragged to the threshing floor for the whole village to see, his family would never be able to hold their heads high again for generations.

"Uncle Zhao, Captain Liang, I was just possessed by a demon. I have no face to say anything now, but for the sake of my young children, please, show mercy and let me off this once."

Wei Chunlan, true to the woman who dared to take such a step, had calmed down. She forcibly snatched her clothes from those nearby, dressed herself, and then rattled off a series of statements to the crowd. Captain Liang and Village Chief Zhao frowned as they listened, while Zhang Dagang stared at Wei Chunlan with eyes full of fire. If he hadn't been held back, he surely would have beaten her senseless.

The next day, everyone went to work as usual, though the three big shots of Shanghe Village were absent—it was said they had gone to the commune for a meeting. As for Wei Chunlan’s absence, aside from those in her dormitory, no one even bothered to ask.

After finishing work that day, Han Li immediately began perfecting his bathroom. First, he finished the structure, building the second layer of the walls and filling the gap with earth to maximize heat insulation. Once the earth was packed, he sealed the roof. With that, the exterior work was complete. Connecting it to his main house was simple enough using his decomposition ability. To ensure airtightness and heat retention, he divided the bathroom into two small rooms.

The outer room served as a storage area for miscellaneous items and chopped firewood, while the inner room was the bath itself. The walls, floor, and ceiling of the inner room were lined with smooth, corrosion-resistant wood. The tub—or rather, a massive wooden vat—was raised well above the floor level. It featured two wooden steps for entry, designed to make draining the water easier.

In this cold part of the Northeast, neither direct outdoor drainage nor a sewage pit was practical, as everything would freeze, potentially freezing his backyard and house together. Han Li chose to drain the water indoors; after bathing, he would use the height difference to pour the water into a bucket and carry it out.

The large wooden vat had two holes. The bottom one was the drain. The other was for steam, as there was a charcoal stove next to the vat. It was made of sheet metal, and to prevent accidental burns, Han Li had surrounded it with stones. The stove was designed so that a pot could be placed on top. Once the water boiled, the steam would travel through a tube—fashioned with great effort to act like a condenser—and into the vat, allowing him to soak for longer.

The stove also had a matching heavy metal lid. Han Li intended to use it for a sauna; he would place stones on the lid, and once the metal and stones were hot, he would pour a basin of water over them, instantly raising both the steam and the room temperature. To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, he connected a metal chimney to the side of the stove to vent outside.

As Han Li worked feverishly, Village Chief Zhao and the others returned from the commune.