Yu Ning helped Xue Yan carry out the dishes. By the time she had arranged the bowls and chopsticks and stepped out to call everyone, the last trace of sunset glow on the distant mountain peaks had completely vanished, covered by a pitch-black sky. A half-moon hung overhead, surrounded by dense clusters of stars.
Mingshan City had a drastic day-night temperature difference. During the day, it reached thirty-six or seven degrees, but at night it dropped to only around seventeen to twenty degrees.
She stood in the doorway when a gust of cool wind blew past.
It lifted the hem of her floral skirt, and fine goosebumps broke out across her fair arms. She shrank back slightly, shouted "Time to eat" toward the two people repairing the car not far away, then turned and went inside.
She had no intention of wasting her breath calling out a second time.
Xue Yan was warm and hospitable. The dishes were plentiful, and there was alcohol as well.
But since one of them had to repair the car later and the other had to drive, the alcohol was set aside. Yu Ning simply poured a cup for herself.
It was rice wine locally brewed in Jinan Town, carrying a clear, sweet glutinous rice fragrance and a unique, subtle sourness from fermentation, yet it remained gentle and mellow.
Not bad.
After Yu Ning took her first sip, there was a second, then a third... until she had finished the entire cup.
Chen Bin smiled. "Sis, your alcohol tolerance doesn't look half bad."
"You flatter me. It's barely passable." Yu Ning smiled, rarely being modest for once.
"Speaking of alcohol, Sis, if you get the chance, you should try the Zangchun glutinous rice brew and fruit brew that Brother Chuan makes himself. Those are absolutely top-tier; the flavor is beyond words."
Yu Ning looked at the man beside her in surprise. "You know how to brew alcohol?"
"Mn."
"Then I really must try it."
Chen Chuan said blandly, "You're a guest at the homestay. I'll give you a cheaper price."
"Sure. Then Boss Chen, what kind of discount does our relationship warrant?"
"Two percent off."
To hell with a measly two percent off!
Stingy to death.
Yu Ning cursed inwardly, but her expression remained perfectly composed. She pursed her lips. "Then forget it. I'll work hard and strive to get a homestay proprietress's discount in the future."
The dinner table suddenly went quiet. Chen Bin seized the moment to speak up. "Sis, are you... confessing to my Brother Chuan?"
"Confessing? Does it sound like that to you?"
Chen Bin nodded.
Yu Ning thought for a moment, then laughed carelessly. Her bright, fox-like eyes were full of teasing. "If it sounds like it, then so be it. Boss Chen, do you accept?"
When it came to spouting nonsense and being shameless, Chen Chuan truly wasn't her match.
He admitted defeat.
He frowned slightly, meeting her gaze, and replied without much emotion, "I don't accept."
Yu Ning clicked her tongue upon hearing this and sighed, "Your heart is truly made of iron. Quick, pour me another cup so I can suppress the sorrow in my heart."
Chen Chuan: "..."
He had never seen a woman so dramatic and thick-skinned.
After the meal, Chen Chuan and Chen Bin went to tinker with the car again, while Yu Ning helped Xue Yan clear the table. When it came time to wash the dishes, Xue Yan chased her out of the kitchen again.
Helpless, she had no choice but to continue playing with the little one.
They had played for less than half an hour when a phone on the table suddenly rang. She looked up and remembered that this was Chen Chuan's phone, which he had left there charging using Chen Bin's charger.
She told the little one to play by himself for a moment, walked over to the table, and saw the caller ID displayed the contact name "Mom."
After hesitating for two seconds, she unplugged the charging cable and took the phone outside.
The evening breeze was cool. She rubbed her arms and quickly walked up to Chen Chuan. "Your phone."
Chen Chuan instinctively glanced at her first, then at the phone screen. He wanted to press answer, but his hands were covered in black grease, leaving him momentarily at a loss.
Yu Ning found this somewhat amusing. Timing it to the last few seconds before the ringtone ended, she tapped answer for him and pressed the phone against his ear.
Chen Chuan spoke to the person on the phone in the local dialect of Jidong Town, chattering away. Yu Ning didn't understand a single word.
He was too tall, completely inconsiderate of how tiring it was for her to hold up the phone.
She poked his waist with her finger; it was hard as a rock.
"Bend down. My arms are tired from holding this up."
Hearing this, Chen Chuan obediently bent down. After the person on the other end finished speaking, he replied with a brief sentence, then straightened up. "You can hang up."
Yu Ning tapped to end the call, then her fingers pulled open his pants pocket.
Chen Chuan was startled, retreated two steps, and furrowed his brows. "What are you doing?"
"Putting away the phone." Yu Ning's brows and eyes held a smile. "Don't you only have these two pockets on your pants? Are you shy?"
Saying this, she stepped forward, pulled open his pants pocket again, stuffed the phone inside, and said with a smile, "Boss Chen, remember—even if a beauty sits in your lap, remain unflustered."
Then, she turned around gracefully and went back inside.
Chen Bin slid out from under the car, imitating Yu Ning's tone from just now. "Brother Chuan, remember—even if a beauty sits in your lap, remain unflustered! This sister is openly flirting with you. My god, you're done for. From what I can see, she's playing a high-level game. Brother Chuan, be careful you don't fall for her."
Chen Chuan moved his gaze away from his pants pocket and glanced at him blandly. "Less nonsense, hurry up and change it."
"You're so tough with me. Just now in front of Sister Yu Ning, how come you..."
Before Chen Bin could finish muttering, seeing Chen Chuan make a move as if to come hit him, he immediately pushed off the ground and slid back under the car.
By the time the car was fixed, it was almost ten o'clock.
Yu Ning had already chatted through several rounds with Xue Yan inside. Chen Chuan washed his hands and called out, "Let's go."
She stood up and smiled at the young couple. "Thank you for your hospitality today."
Chen Bin laughed. "Psh, what are you being polite for? Sis, have fun in Jidong Town too. When you have time, come visit Jinan Town again. There are a few pretty good scenic spots here."
"Sure, then we have plenty of time ahead. Let's meet again another day." Yu Ning grabbed her bag and waved her hand in an unrestrained manner.
Hearing her ruffian-like words, Chen Chuan turned back to look at her again, greeted Chen Bin and his wife, then headed straight for the driver's seat of the truck.
At this hour, the town was already completely silent. Only a few small taverns and barbecue food stalls still had noise coming from them.
The truck gradually drove further away, soon entering the mountain road.
The streetlights on the mountain road were far apart and not very bright. The vehicle's speed wasn't very fast either—very steady.
At this moment, Yu Ning didn't feel sleepy, just tired. After chatting with Xue Yan for several hours, she didn't want to say a single word right now.
Inside the car was also uncharacteristically quiet.
At eight minutes past eleven, the vehicle finally entered Jidong Town.
Compared to Jinan Town, this town was somewhat smaller and not heavily commercialized.
The truck wound this way and that, finally stopping outside a simple, pristine courtyard. On the white wall was printed the stylized characters "Yichuan Fengyue."
Yu Ning got out of the car. Through the low wooden door, she looked over the three-story building before her. It appeared to have been renovated, painted white, and on the second-floor wall were also the words "Yichuan Fengyue."
The courtyard wasn't large, but it was very clean and tidy. On the lawn to the right was a wooden platform bed, and on it were a low table and four cushions.
The walls on the left were covered in clusters of pink Chinese roses. Scattered petals lay at the base of the walls, and a faint fruity fragrance permeated the air.
The entrance was paved with irregular bluestone slabs that extended all the way to the glass door of the building.
Compared to those refined and elegant homestays, this one appeared more full of life, vivid and vibrant.
Yu Ning was very satisfied. She turned back to look at the man who was helping her move her suitcase. "Did you design this courtyard?"
Chen Chuan closed the car door. "Not really designed. Just messing around. You can push the door and go straight in."
The low wooden door wasn't locked. Yu Ning pushed it lightly and entered.
"Woof!"
Suddenly, a black shadow came whizzing over with a "swoosh." Caught off guard, Yu Ning retreated repeatedly in fright. "What is this thing, Chen Chuan!"
Before her voice faded, someone supported her lower back. From above her head came a low, authoritative voice. "Tank, still. Sit!"