At dinner time, there was a big bowl of radish stew with venison. Venison doesn't have much fat—mostly lean meat—so Bailee added some soybean oil to help bring out the flavor. He topped it off with chopped cilantro, making it smell amazing.
There was also a plate of stir-fried sunflower greens and a large pot of chicken soup with ginseng, sweet turnips, and red dates.
Julie sat at the table, drawn in by the delicious aroma of the soup. Her appetite was stirred, but she didn't drink the soup right away, worried that it might fill her up too much and leave no room for the meal.
She picked up a piece of venison with her chopsticks. It didn't have the gamey or muddy taste she expected. Maybe because it had been stewed for a long time, it was tender and had a nice flavor—kind of like beef. Julie really liked it and ended up eating several pieces. The radish was also good—soft and slightly sweet. After eating some radish, she picked up some chicken and ate a full bowl of rice soaked in soup before putting her chopsticks down.
Julie stood up, ready to leave the table, when she noticed Haven watching her.
At first, she didn't understand why, but then she saw the expectation in his eyes and suddenly remembered the date. It dawned on her.
But… thinking about how proper he was off the bed, and how bold he was in it, and considering that her back wasn't fully healed yet—maybe she should wait a couple more days?
Julie awkwardly touched her nose, her eyes drifting, "Haven, I… I haven't been feeling too well lately. I think I might be coming down with something and don't want to pass it to you. Let's wait a few days. You should go to bed early tonight. Don't wait for me." She quickly walked away and returned to her room.
Haven had noticed the brief awkwardness on her face.
He felt a bit confused and even a little hurt.
Had he upset her? Done something wrong?
Why was everything fine with his older brother, but not with him?
Was he really that scary?
On the outside, he remained calm.
Haven wasn't the type to show his emotions or burden others.
He was more the kind of person who would hide his wounds, heal in silence, and bear the sadness alone.
Bailee tried to comfort him with a few words, wondering if Julie had caught a chill after going up the mountain.
Lorrie didn't think much about it and kept eating, happily gnawing on a chicken leg.
It wasn't his turn yet for another couple of weeks anyway.
That night, Haven lay in bed, tossing and turning.
Without Julie by his side, the blankets felt cold, and his heart felt heavy and confused.
Had he done something to make her dislike him?
Maybe she didn't like it when he took the initiative?
His back itched a little, and feeling annoyed, he scratched too hard.
"Ow." He had scratched too roughly. It didn't break the skin, but it left red marks. The itch was gone, but now it stung.
Suddenly a thought hit him. He wasn't sure if he was right, but he remembered the time he spent making his nail polish and felt a bit unwilling to let it go.
Meanwhile, Bailee brought a bowl of ginger tea and knocked on Julie's door.
She was surprised—it was late.
She opened the door and saw Bailee dressed in gray, draped in a long robe, holding a bowl in his hands.
Bailee smiled gently, "Julie, the mountain air is damp and cold. I was worried about you, so I made some ginger tea. It's good to take precautions." He handed the bowl to her.
Julie accepted the bowl—he meant well.
She drank it all in one go without stopping.
It was a bit hot but bearable. The weather was getting colder, and the tea cooled quickly.
After drinking it, she felt the spicy taste of ginger in her mouth and a warmth in her stomach. Her back began to sweat slightly.
She thanked Bailee.
He didn't stay long and took the empty bowl back to the kitchen.
After he left, Julie closed the door and returned to her bed, sitting cross-legged with her eyes closed to rest.
…
The next day, around 9 AM
Julie took the bowl of rice Haven handed her and happened to notice his hand.
The nail polish was still there. His nails were neatly trimmed to the edges—clean and well-shaped.
Julie had planned to wait a few more days, but seeing that he had trimmed his nails, she decided to go ahead as usual.
She ate the venison on the table without showing any change in her expression. Today, it wasn't stewed with radish but stir-fried instead—with soybean oil, chili, and ginger.
Bailee had handled the meat well again. There was no gamey or raw smell—it tasted great.
Julie finished dinner, put on her new thick clothes, grabbed a hoe, and went out to the field. The grain and vegetables she planted will be ready to harvest next month.
After pulling weeds, watering, and fertilizing a few acres, it was already past the hour of the Rooster (around early evening).
By the time Julie returned home, Bailee had already made dinner.
Tonight there was no venison. Instead, there was braised pork, cilantro salad, and tomato scrambled eggs. Bailee thought that after eating venison twice, they could use a change of pace. He knew his wife loved meat, so he cooked his specialty—braised pork.
Julie really liked his braised pork. It tasted different from what she had eaten before. Previously she only had salty flavors and had never tried sweet and savory together. Bailee's pork was rich but not greasy, with alternating fat and lean pieces, a salty-savory taste, and a touch of sweetness. Julie wondered if he had added sugar.
At first bite, it felt odd and unfamiliar. But after a few bites, she thought it tasted special. The sweetness was mild and within what she could accept. When she ate too much pork, she picked some cilantro salad to balance the flavor. She ate about one and a half bowls of rice, then put down her chopsticks.
She stood up and went to the back garden. First she checked the vegetable patch. If it was damp and weed-free, she knew Mr. Leng had already tended it. Seeing the soil moist and no weeds, she confirmed he had done his work.
Next she checked the chicken coop. The chicks had grown but were not old enough to lay eggs—still at least a month away. Nearby was the rabbit hutch. Maybe because Lorrie fed them so well, the rabbits had grown plump. They no longer moved as quickly as when first bought, looking a bit silly, with long strong legs.
Julie thought of spicy rabbit heads and how fatty the meat was now. Last time she went to the back hill, she didn't see any wild rabbits. Thinking rabbits multiply fast, maybe next month there would be new little ones. So she wasn't worried.
She remembered Mr. Leng had already fed the little black dog some feed, so she didn't feed it again. She just patted its head, spent a little time with it, then returned indoors.
By the hour of the Pig (late at night), Haven assumed his wife wouldn't come, so he made no preparations. He lay on his side, eyes dull, staring at a spot lost in thought.
When Julie knocked, Haven was confused but wasn't sure it was her. When he opened the door and saw her, a smile unconsciously appeared on his face, his eyes full of joy.
Julie walked in. It started gently and ended wildly. The details can only be imagined… During the middle, Haven accidentally saw the scratch marks on his wife's back hadn't fully healed and felt a pang of guilt.
Julie thought it curious. Tonight she was well behaved—no sharp claws. She was satisfied. After twice, her body hadn't fully calmed but she had no more desire.
Haven's eyelids were heavy, but he didn't want to sleep. He held Julie without speaking, but his hands grew restless. At first she ignored him and pretended to sleep. Then… Haven's hand moved to… Julie pressed it down.
Since she wasn't tired… they continued. Haven finally fell into a deep sleep from exhaustion. Before sleeping, the corners of his mouth lifted. Though tired, he didn't regret his teasing.
Julie got up after the hour of the Rabbit (just before dawn), put on her clothes, and left.