Chapter 152: The Waiting Beauty

After packing everything away, Han Li went over to where he had hidden the rope and quickly climbed back up.

Once he reached the top of the valley, he neatly coiled the rope away. Han Li cast a slightly regretful glance back at the valley, thinking to himself that when he came back next time, he must thoroughly explore this blessed spot of supreme geomancy.

The good fortune that Han Li had enjoyed upon entering the mountains this time had apparently been entirely used up by his two successful hunts, for on his way back, a sporadic sleet began to fall.

At this moment, the only things he had on him were a few snakeskin bags. He simply draped them over his shoulders and tied them securely with grass vines.

Han Li muttered a quiet curse under his breath and then quickened his pace, running back.

The sleet grew heavier and heavier. Han Li wiped the rainwater from his face; the snakeskin bags draped over him offered a truly limited amount of protection. Most of his clothes were already soaked through, and when he touched the edges of his garments now, there were even signs that they were beginning to freeze.

"What a ghost of a weather."

Han Li cursed out loud this time, yet all he could do was lower his head and keep running back.

Otherwise, if it grew dark later and he lost the sparrows to guide him, the time it would take him to return would be vastly prolonged.

Meanwhile, back in Upper River Village, the villagers who hadn't lit their brick kangs yet all began to fire them up.

In other places, it might be said that every autumn rain brought another chill, with the weather growing cold bit by bit.

But in this land, a single autumn rain could cause an immediate freeze, capable of startling you awake from your kang in the middle of the night with the cold.

Back at Han Li's house, the Yun sisters watched as the sleet began to fall from the sky.

Yun Yingying said with worry, "Han Li said he would be coming back today, but why on earth did the heavens have to start this weather right now?"

Yun Jingjin replied, "Han Li is probably on his way back right now. According to the villagers, this is the time to get the kangs lit. Besides, by the time Han Li gets back, he'll likely be soaked through. We should light the charcoal stove in the bathroom, and as soon as dinner is ready, make sure to boil a large pot of hot water so he can take a hot bath the moment he returns to drive away the cold. We must not let him fall ill because of this."

"Sister, I'll stay here and help get Han Li's kang burning, and you go back and light the kang in our own house. Later on, we'll take out some of the mutton that Sister He Mi helped us store last time and stew a pot of soup with radishes to help Han Li warm up."

The two Yun sisters split up to take action, first making sure the kangs in both houses were burning brightly before anything else.

No sooner had Yun Jingjin returned home to light her kang than He Mi and Qi Zhaodi arrived, holding umbrellas.

"It's started raining outside, has Han Li still not returned?"

"Sister He, I'm getting worried right now too. How could it suddenly start sleeting like this out of nowhere?"

"It's fine, Han Li is probably already on his way back. When we wrapped dumplings last time, I noticed Han Li didn't have much ginger left at home, so I brought a piece over from my place. Later, when Han Li gets back, brew him a bowl of ginger tea to ward off the chill."

"Thank you, Sister He. It really does look like we were running low on ginger at home."

"What are you thanking me for? Isn't it only right that we look out for each other? You go ahead and get busy, we're heading back to light our kang as well."

Just as Yun Yingying had seen He Mi off, Hao Hongmin and Yang Xiuying arrived in each other's company.

Yang Xiuying remarked, "It's still Han Li's house that's the nicest. The ground is paved with stones, and it's not the least bit dirty inside. Every time it rains, I get terribly envious, but when it's not raining, it completely slips my mind—and even if I occasionally thought of it, I wouldn't have the strength to do it."

Yang Xiuying's opening remarks immediately left Yun Yingying and Hao Hongmin suppressing smiles. To be so lazy and yet speak of it with such fresh and refined detachment was quite a talent.

After Hao Hongmin finished laughing, she asked, "Hasn't Han Li returned yet?"

"He said he'd be back today, so he should be almost here by now."

Yang Xiuying paid no mind to the worry shining in Yun Yingying's eyes, saying with her usual boisterous manner, "Han Li's words have always been as good as gold. If he said he's coming back today, there's no mistake about it. I just wonder how his harvest turned out this time?"

Hao Hongmin was already somewhat accustomed to her roommate's current way of speaking, and upon hearing this, she could only offer an awkward smile.

The three of them chatted for a while, and after Yun Jingjin returned, the other two finally went back to their own home.

***

Han Li had suffered terribly along this journey. Before he even set foot on the outer fringes of the deep mountains, the sparrows had already gone on strike because darkness had fallen.

By this time, the sleet in the sky had turned into moderate snow, leaving Han Li with no choice but to gather them into his back basket, and then unleash his spiritual perception to run back by memory alone.

When Han Li caught sight of the familiar scenery, he couldn't help but let out a long breath of relief. He thought to himself that once he got home this time, he must rest properly for a good while. If it were purely snow, it would be fine, but this sleet was simply too miserable to endure. If the heavens brought down sleet like this again, nothing would induce him to come out.

However, Han Li hadn't forgotten his main objective. Considering that he basically wouldn't encounter anyone at this hour when he returned home, many things could now be brought out and given a legitimate explanation in front of the Yun sisters. Moreover, once it snowed, the temperature would plummet drastically, making these meats much easier to preserve.

His back basket was filled with all the rabbits, but this meat was far from enough, yet he couldn't possibly carry back much more relying on his own strength alone.

After pondering for a moment, Han Li took some timber from his spatial dimension and assembled a sort of hand-drawn sled for himself—something resembling a stretcher, fitted with two inconspicuous little wooden wheels at the very back to reduce friction against the ground.

Following that, Han Li began piling things onto it. He took out two wild mountain goats; eating them when the weather was cold was just right. Mutton soup, stewed mutton, mutton dumplings, or even hot pot—mutton was an indispensable ingredient, and the goatskins could be used to make winter jackets or other items.

As for the wild boars, he took out one of the slightly smaller ones. Whether for their own consumption or to trade with others for goods, pork was the true hard currency.

After thinking it over, Han Li also took out six wild wolves. Wolf meat possessed properties that nourished the five internal organs, warmed the intestines and stomach, invigorated yang and replenished marrow, treated consumptive diseases, and dispelled lingering chills. Whether for personal consumption or to send to family, it was an absolute top-tier treasure.

Furthermore, wolf pelts would have great utility later on; whether made into garments or mattress pads, they were exceptional. If he brought out too few, there wouldn't even be enough to divide among the three of them.

This sled-like contraption was already packed to the brim. Han Li put his strength into his hands and arms, pulled it along, and headed straight for his home.

Along the entire way, he truly didn't see a single soul. Compared to such sudden snowfall and temperature drops, everyone else was undoubtedly hiding indoors to keep warm, which allowed Han Li to successfully drag the sled all the way back to his courtyard gate without a hitch.

Just as Han Li entered the alley gate and hadn't yet had time to bolt it, Yun Yingying came running over. Her small hands grabbed at his clothes, which had already frozen stiff, and she looked at him with tear-filled eyes without saying a word. That little expression of hers was both adorable and pitiful.

Han Li was soaked through from head to toe and wasn't in a convenient state to hold her, so he gently tapped the tip of her nose and said, "Don't you trust my skills? Although it's a bit late, can't this still be considered coming home on time? Besides, it's still snowing right now—what would you have done if you ran out here and caught a cold? If you have anything to say, let's talk about it inside the house."

At that moment, Yun Jingjin's voice came from the doorway, "Yingying has been worrying about you for two whole days. But for now, hurry up and get inside."

Yun Yingying came to her senses as well, and quickly pulled Han Li toward the house.

"You must be frozen through. I've already boiled hot water for you; hurry up and take off this stiff clothing of yours, and take a hot bath first to drive away the chill—that's what's most important."

Your sister is still right here, and you want me to take off my clothes? And take a bath?

* * *

Special thanks to:
Youfang Daoren Yousifang for the 500 points tip.
Xiaose Neiwai for the 100 points tip.
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(End of this chapter)