Qin Mian looked back and saw Lei Tie stared at him tightly where his eyes kept Qin Mian motionless and he had a bowl in his right hand. The bowl was filled with sweet potato millet rice and there was a pair of chopsticks. The so-called sweet potato millet rice was exactly rice steamed with sweet potato and millet. Most of their recent staple foods were sweet potatoes, millet, rice and steamed bun. On top of the rice was a heap of fried vegetables and to his surprise, there was even a fried egg.

Its impossible for Du Shi to kindly give him an egg to eat. Mostly, it was Lei Tie who gave up his share of fried egg. Qin Mian very much wanted to overturn this speculation.

He moved his wrist as he gave an explanation: Where can I go when Im empty handed and hungry? I was just exercising and ran over carelessly. Except for the part of Lei Tie insisting on refusing to harmoniously divorce, Lei Tie gave him a good impression, so his tone was very mild.

Lei Tie released his hand and handed him the rice bowl before leading him to the old locust tree on the side of the road. There was a flat stone under the tree. The villagers often chat here in their spare time.

Qin Mian sat down on the stone and ate only the egg, the rest he couldnt. Not to say sweet potato and millet rice, anyone couldnt even stand eating chicken, duck, fish and meat for ten days to half a month in a row.

I cant eat this anymore. Qin Mian held the bowl with both hands, looked at the sunset in the west and sighed, I want to eat white rice; want to eat chicken, duck, fish; want to eat barbecue, steak; want to drink beer

Lei Tie watched him for a while before he took the bowl and ate quietly.

Qin Mian was shocked. You havent eaten?

En. Lei Tie answered.

Oh. Qin Mian leaned on the locust tree and continued to ponder the possibility of making Du Shi divide up family property and live apart. He didnt care about the others, but he must find a way for Du Shi to let him and Lei Tie to move out.

He could try to find out Lei Ties opinion on dividing up family property and living apart.

I want to ask you something.

Lei Tie took a look at him, nodded and continued to eat.

Where will we live in the future? Theres a pigsty across Qin Mian asked very vaguely.

Lei Tie paused and without looking up, said, After the autumn harvest, we move out.

The unexpected happiness made Qin Mian stand up excitedly. Are you serious? He originally had two vague ideas: either let Lei Tie pretend to be ill but also seriously ill to cut off Du Shis idea of treating Lei Tie as a labor force; or use Du Shis superstition belief and her concern for Lei Xiangzhi, a scholar, to make Du Shi drive him and Lei Tie out. Never had he thought that Lei Tie was neither stupid nor nave, but had other plans for a long time.

At the thought of leaving Leis house, Qin Mian couldnt restrain his good mood. He even smiled at Lei Tie and sat down again before he said in a much lighter voice, Can we move out earlier? I know that the reason why you want to move out after the autumn harvest is to help the family get through the busy season, but even if we are living separately, we can also help with the farm works. What do you say?

Lei Tie looked at him before suddenly came out with a sentence; his voice was still stuffy, but the tone was firm and incomparable, I will not divorce.

Qin Mian was surprised. How sensitive was this guy? He avoided Lei Ties eyes and said with a dry smile: I didnt mention the matter of divorce ah. Im talking about dividing up family property and living apart. People who are often angry grow old quickly. I dont like mother. Isnt unfilial to keep living together and make her angry?

I wont do the laundry.

Qin Mian promptly said: I will!

I wont cook.

I will! Qin Mian was afraid that he could not be persuaded to split up as soon as possible.

Lei Tie nodded.

The little man in Qin Mians mind excitedly jumped up high. He urged: Eat quickly.

Lei Tie still ate neither in hurry nor slow. Qin Mian watched him anxiously, itching to help him eat.

Lei Tie touched his head. No hurry.

Qin Mian didnt have time to protest his action and said directly: Its urgent!

Only then Lei Tie slightly sped up. When he finished the last bit of the meal, they went home together.

The sunset glow gradually disappeared, leaving only faint residual light. The whole village was shrouded in dim. A few houses had already lighted their oil lamps. When the lights swayed with the wind, the shadows of the courtyard walls also swayed with it.

When Zhao Shi saw Lei Tie go to the kitchen with dishes and chopsticks, she raised her eyebrows with a smile as she measured Qin Mian and said in a sour tone: Im really envious of eldest sister-in-law. Not only had big brother given eldest sister-in-law a meal, he even helped eldest sister-in-law with the empty bowl. Make people envious oh!

Du Shis in the room immediately followed with a sentence, Eldests family [wife], dont you hurry to wash the dishes? Is the oil lamp free, ah?

Qin Mian didnt feel hurt or itch[1] because hes going to separate and live apart from them soon and didnt want to bring forth side issues. He went into the kitchen and could only wash the dishes by the dim moonlight. There was no detergent in the ancient era. If one wanted to clean the oil stains on the dishes, one could only use hot water. Because there were two woks on the kitchen stoves hollowed spaces, the outermost wok was used to cook rice and fry vegetables while the innermost wok was used to boil water at the same time. Qin Mian opened the lid of the innermost wok and found that there was no hot water. He did not know who used it, so he had to boil it again.

Lei Tie sat down in front of the stove and helped to light the fire.

When they finished washing the dishes, the main house was dark and it was already quiet.

They went back to the thatch cottage after washing up under the moonlight.

Note:

[1] lit. doesnt hurt, doesnt tickle (idiom); fig. not getting to any matter of substance; superficial