“They were already approaching Yongwang Lane. Nan Feng was on guard for any pedestrians emerging from the alley, so she didn’t digest Yegor’s words thoroughly.
It was not until they turned into the alley that Yegor’s gentle voice reached her ears, “Sometimes, I just miss you so much.”
Nan Feng’s face flushed.
At this moment, Nan Quanyou, who was in the cart, seemed to stir.
Nan Feng and Yegor paused, but Nan Quanyou seemed to be still dreaming. After mumbling a few indistinguishable words, he fell silent again.
Nan Feng and Yegor glanced at each other. At first, they felt slightly embarrassed, but then they both found the situation rather amusing, and they ended up laughing together.
Yegor kept pushing the cart. As the alley was too narrow for them to walk side by side, Nan Feng followed him from behind. After a while, she whispered, “Me too.”
Yegor, who was up ahead, paused momentarily. He must have heard her.
…
Upon reaching the courtyard, Yegor helped to carry Nan Quanyou into the house. Nan Quanyou was still asleep, not having woken up.
Nan Feng thought this might be for the best, as there was no need to disturb him. As long as he was asleep, he wouldn’t feel the pain.
After leaving Nan Quanyou’s room, Nan Feng asked Yegor, “Have you eaten lunch? If not, stay here and eat. I’ll cook for you.”
But Yegor insisted, “You must be exhausted after such a busy morning. Let’s eat together, and then I’ll make some porridge for Uncle Nan. When he wakes up, he might want something like porridge or other liquid food.”
“Alright… I’ll go get some dried fish and vegetables to prepare the meal.”
“Sounds good,” Yegor replied, continuing to chop the firewood.
Perhaps hindered by his clothes, Yegor went inside to remove the upper part of his outer robe.
Underneath, he only wore a thin white shirt. Once again, Nan Feng caught a glimpse of Yegor’s defined muscles. Her face turned red, and as she was about to look more closely, he tied the sleeves of his outer robe around his waist, and she could no longer see. She had to concentrate on washing the rice and preparing her dried fish and vegetables.
After chopping the firewood, Yegor came over to help Nan Feng wash the rice, put it in the pot, and light the fire.
His movements were skilled; the firewood that Nan Feng had failed to light the day before ignited at once under his touch.
Once the fire was lit, he began to cut the vegetables. His knife work was fast and efficient. In no time, the dried fish and vegetables were cut into bits.
Huh…why are they in bits?
Well, diced can actually be quite tasty, Nan Feng thought.
Although Nan Feng was usually efficient, she found herself only able to assist Yegor. By the time she figured out how to dice the fish, Yegor had already started stir-frying the vegetables at another stove.
Since it was just past noon, several women from other households in the courtyard came out to see what was going on. Seeing the tall Yegor cooking in his official uniform, they all looked on curiously.
But they didn’t dare to interrupt, noting Yegor’s stern demeanor, as he seemed like a man who did not like to be interrupted.
While stoking the fire and chatting with Yegor, Nan Feng asked, “Don��t you have to go to the Yamen later?”
Yegor replied, “I specifically arranged to take turns resting with my colleagues.”
“That’s good, it’s good to have a break.”
“The County Magistrate will be in the Yamen for some time, so rotating shifts is not a problem. It’s relatively safer within than outside,” Yegor explained.
Nan Feng nodded, then asked: “How long can you rest?”
“About one or two hours,” Yegor tasted the food, and thinking it was cooked, he ladled it out of the pot.
Nan Feng thought to herself, if it’s just one or two hours, wouldn’t he have to leave straight after lunch?
She felt that dating someone who worked in the Yamen was akin to being in a relationship with a military spouse.