Chapter 154: A Lively Afternoon

Zhang Chaomei was walking toward Han Li's house at this moment. Her father, Zhang Dagang, had said that the snow made a perfect excuse to invite Han Li over for a drink and a meal so they could get acquainted first, which would make it easier for everyone to stay in close contact throughout the long winter.

Meanwhile, the Yun sisters were soaking and expanding mushrooms. They planned to make pork and mushroom-filled dumplings for lunch and then stew a wild rabbit to change things up.

"Is the educated youth Han at home?"

Hearing someone speaking outside the courtyard gate abruptly, Yun Yingying worried that it might wake Han Li up, so she opened the door directly and walked out.

"Ah, Accountant little Zhang, come inside and sit down. Han Li caught a chill outside yesterday when it was raining and snowing, and he just sweated it out and went to sleep. If you have something urgent, I'll wake him up right now."

Upon hearing Yun Yingying's words, Zhang Chaomei immediately stopped the foot she was about to step through the gate. It didn't make much sense to go inside now; since Han Li was unwell, how could he possibly go to her house for a drink? Besides, it wouldn't be appropriate for her to go in empty-handed while he was feeling under the weather, so she said,

"How is Comrade Han doing now? Should we go to the health clinic to see a doctor?"

"He just has a slight cold. We had him drink some ginger water this morning to sweat it out, and then he went to sleep."

"That's good then. I don't have anything pressing here. Since Comrade Han is feeling unwell, I'll come back a little later."

"Aren't you coming in to sit for a while?"

"No, I remember my uncle has a folk remedy for treating chills. I'll go check it out, and if it suits Comrade Han's symptoms, I'll copy down a portion and bring it over."

"Hehe, Accountant little Zhang, thank you so much."

"Why are you being so polite? Who knows if it will even be useful yet."

Just as Yun Yingying watched Zhang Chaomei leave and was about to head back inside, Jiang Xiaoli came out from the educated youths' courtyard.

"Was Accountant Zhang Chaomei here looking for Han Li?"

"Yes, how did you know?"

"What's hard to guess about that? Everyone knows her family wants to invite Han Li for a drink. Now that it's snowing, it's the perfect day for drinking. It would be strange if she didn't come over. It seems Zhang Chaomei is a grateful person; she's much better than her father Zhang Dagang. But how come I didn't see Han Li show his face?"

"Han Li isn't feeling well. He just sweated it out and went to sleep."

"He caught a chill just like that? You must be extra careful since it's your first year here. The weather will only get colder. Don't be stingy with the firewood when you're at home; otherwise, once you fall sick yourselves, it will be too late to say anything. The money spent on medicine could pay for half a winter's worth of firewood. Well, once Han Li wakes up, I'll come over to check on him."

After exchanging polite pleasantries for a moment, the two of them began to feel the cold. Once they parted ways, Jiang Xiaoli muttered to herself inwardly,

"Han Li's physique is like an untamed bull—he always knocks people so limp and weak all over without even trying. Who would have thought he'd catch a chill too? Could it be over at Yun Yingying's place? But it doesn't look like it either. Whatever, I'll find a chance later to ask him myself and find out."

When Jiang Xiaoli returned to her shared brick-bed platform, Qi Ruying and Yuan Hongying, the two younger girls who supported her, were sitting on the platform boredly flipping through newspapers.

"Sister Jiang, what's going on outside?"

"Nothing much. The village's newly appointed Accountant Zhang Chaomei wanted to invite Han Li for a drink, but Han Li caught a chill so she couldn't."

"Sister Jiang, since it's a snowy day and we're idle anyway, why don't you tell us again about the things we need to pay attention to in the village?"

Jiang Xiaoli was also feeling bored, so she sat down and began chatting casually with the two younger girls.

Yun Yingying's conversation with Zhang Chaomei and Jiang Xiaoli by the courtyard gate happened to be overheard by Qi Zhaodi, who went straight inside the room to tell He Mi.

Hearing that Han Li might be sick, He Mi couldn't sit still at home. She tidied up her things and brought Qi Zhaodi over.

At that moment, the two Yun sisters were in the outer kitchen washing and trimming mushrooms. He Mi and the others didn't speak and pushed the door open directly.

"You're starting to wash mushrooms this early?"

"Sister He, you're here."

"There's nothing to do while it's snowing, so we thought we'd come over and play some cards with you. By the way, when I heard you calling out at the door this morning, I guessed Han Li must be back. Where is he? He didn't go out again in this snow, did he?"

"He didn't go out. He's sleeping inside the room."

"Sleeping at this hour? Han Li isn't sick, is he?"

"Not really. He just didn't get much rest last night, so I'm letting him sleep a bit longer during the day."

As she spoke, He Mi rolled up her sleeves and started helping Yun Yingying wash the vegetables. Qi Zhaodi poked the stove opening and added some firewood to make the fire burn brighter.

The mushrooms were washed in no time. He Mi wiped her hands, followed Yun Yingying inside for a quick look around, and then took Qi Zhaodi back home.

Han Li was sleeping extremely soundly at this point and was completely unaware of what was happening outside.

It wasn't until Yun Jingjin dropped the dumplings into the pot that Yun Yingying came over and shook Han Li to wake him up. Han Li opened his eyes dazedly and said,

"Mn, how long have I slept? What time is it now?"

"It's just a little past 12. Sister and I made pork and mushroom-filled dumplings and stewed a rabbit. Get up quickly and eat."

Han Li gave a yawn and said, "I feel like I could sleep a bit longer."

"Be a good boy, get up and wash your face and you'll be fine. If you keep sleeping, you won't be able to sleep tonight."

Prodded and urged by Yun Yingying, Han Li climbed out of the warm covers. After washing his face, he instantly snapped awake.

I have to say, apart from her culinary mastery with mutton being somewhat lacking, the elder sister-in-law's cooking skills were genuinely impressive in every other aspect.

As he ate, Han Li kept giving her a thumbs-up, which kept a continuous smile on Yun Jingjin's face.

After finishing the meal, the three of them sat on the warm brick bed, holding their enamel mugs, sipping tea, and chatting.

They were talking about the happenings in the village over the past couple of days, including Jiang Xiaoli wanting to ask Han Li for help hauling grain to the commune's grain station, and Zhang Chaomei coming over specially to say her father was inviting Han Li for a meal.

Han Li had a bit of interest in helping Jiang Xiaoli haul grain, but he had zero interest in going to Zhang Dagang's house for dinner.

Before he could ponder it further, Yun Yingying, with an excited look on her face, began urging him to recount his hunting adventures over the past two days.

Han Li naturally picked the parts he could talk about, doing his best to satisfy his fiancée's curiosity.

Just as they were chatting merrily, Yang Xiuying's voice drifted in from outside.

No sooner had Yang Xiuying and Hao Hongmin sat down than Zhang Jiangjun, Jiang Xiaoli, and He Mi all arrived.

These people had all come to watch the excitement, wanting to see why the usually robust Han Li had actually fallen ill.

In an instant, Han Li's house was transformed into a salon gathering. They wreaked havoc on the pine nuts and chestnuts Han Li had roasted.

However, a house full of people laughing and talking was genuinely wonderful; otherwise, being stuck in the same environment for too long could genuinely drive a person crazy.

As evening approached, everyone left one after another. Han Li and the two sisters made do with the leftover food from the morning.

Following the routine, Han Li escorted the Yun sisters home, taking the opportunity along the way to let the dogs relieve themselves of their daily backlog.

As soon as Han Li returned home, the dogs immediately started baring their teeth toward the interior of the house upon stepping through the threshold.