Chen Xiaobei did not stand on ceremony with Carpenter Zhang this time. Smiling, he said to Qiao'er, "Quickly thank Uncle Zhang."
Upon hearing this, Carpenter Zhang repeatedly waved his hands, "No, no, that's not necessary."
Chen Qiao'er, however, bowed respectfully to him, "Thank you, Uncle."
"Uncle Zhang, if you have something to say, just say it."
Carpenter Zhang chuckled, "Today, Xiaowen came to find me. He's willing to learn my craft. Don't worry, I will teach him well."
Chen Xiaobei naturally understood that by saying Chen Xiaowen would learn carpentry from him, he was urging Chen Xiaobei to quickly find him a second apprentice.
"Don't worry, I will find another apprentice for you soon. You just go back and wait for my good news."
"Good, good," Carpenter Zhang stood up and looked at Chen Qiao'er again.
"If you finish the fruit, come find me, and I'll go into the mountains to pick more for you."
Watching Carpenter Zhang leave, Cui Hongyu frowned and said with a smile to Chen Xiaobei, "Husband, this Carpenter Zhang wants to curry favor by picking a few wild fruits. Tomorrow, let's go pick them ourselves."
Chen Xiaobei pondered for a moment and nodded. If, as Cui Hongyu said, they were everywhere on the mountain, then what were they waiting for? They should organize the villagers to go up the mountain to pick apples and earn a little money.
"Okay, then we'll go up the mountain tomorrow."
Hearing that she could go up the mountain, Cui Hongyu was very excited. But Chen Qiao'er next to her pouted, "Brother, I want to go up the mountain too."
Chen Xiaobei shook his head and smiled, "Qiao'er, wait for us at Brother Dachun's tomorrow. When you grow up, brother will take you into the mountains, okay?"
Chen Qiao'er wanted to say more, but Cui Hongyu squatted down, looked at her, and said word for word earnestly, "Be good, Qiao'er. We'll bring you apples when we come back."
Upon hearing that there would be apples, Chen Qiao'er smiled again.
"Sister-in-law, you can't lie. Brother, you can't lie either."
After receiving their promise, Chen Qiao'er finally stopped complaining.
The next morning, Chen Xiaobei and Cui Hongyu were busy.
Since they were going to pick apples, carrying a bag would not be suitable. Chen Xiaobei first borrowed two baskets.
Cui Hongyu then cooked a pot of porridge and sliced some pork to add to it. If she had added a century egg, it would have been a delicacy.
While eating, the two discussed where to enter the mountain. According to Cui Hongyu's memory, they should follow the gully between the two villages upwards.
Having confirmed the route, they left Chen Qiao'er at Dachun's place and instructed his second aunt that if they didn't return by noon, she shouldn't forget to feed their chickens and dogs.
Second Aunt Xiumei agreed with a smile, "Don't worry, Xiaobei. Qiao'er and the household matters are all on me. I guarantee nothing will go wrong."
Chen Xiaobei knew that under the current circumstances, he was absolutely relieved to leave Chen Qiao'er at Dachun's place. Moreover, the network of the village defense team had already been initially established. If any strangers entered the village, they would be discovered and warned in advance.
With no worries behind them, they could stay on the mountain for a while longer.
Following the gully between the two villages all the way up, this path was completely different from the one Chen Xiaobei usually took into the mountains, so they saw two entirely different landscapes.
After walking about four or five li, the terrain remained flat, which was different from the terrain behind their village. Walking four or five li up the mountain behind their village, the path would become steep and straight.
After walking another two li, there was a fork in the road ahead.
Cui Hongyu pointed to the path leading upwards and said, "My father said that if you go straight up from here, it leads to the area above the Mountain God Temple, but I haven't walked it before."
Chen Xiaobei believed this, because from behind the village to the Mountain God Temple, there were no major forks in the road, so this path leading up the mountain was quite likely.
Cui Hongyu walked towards the other direction of the fork, "Go another three or four li forward, and you'll reach the apple orchard I mentioned."
The two walked for another two li. By the side of the road ahead were two large trees, and under the trees were some rocks, forming a natural place to cool off.
Chen Xiaobei called out to Cui Hongyu to sit down and handed her the water skin, "Have some water, let's rest for a while before we continue."
Cui Hongyu put down her basket and took the water skin from Chen Xiaobei. She raised her head and drank several large gulps.
Chen Xiaobei watched Cui Hongyu from the side.
Her face flushed red from the heat, her perfect eyes and nose. Her slightly parted lips, everything was as perfect as a sculpture.
Chen Xiaobei was completely mesmerized.
Cui Hongyu drank a few sips of water and seemed to sense something was wrong. She turned to look at Chen Xiaobei and met his burning gaze.
Their eyes met, and the air instantly became somewhat stagnant.
Chen Xiaobei suddenly reached out and pulled Cui Hongyu into his arms.
The next moment, four lips tightly pressed together.
In the wilderness, with only the sounds of birds and insects around, there was no need to worry about being seen.
The two, in the river of love, galloped freely.
Chen Xiaobei suddenly felt a surge of heat and began to unbutton Cui Hongyu's clothes. Cui Hongyu held him back tightly, "Husband, this really won't do."
Chen Xiaobei was somewhat rough, and with a pull, he unfastened the button at her neck.
The fire began to burn fiercely; how could they control themselves?
Cui Hongyu, shy and overwhelmed, could only point to the nearby bushes and say, "Husband, let's, let's go there."
Chen Xiaobei scooped Cui Hongyu up horizontally and rushed into the nearby bushes in a few steps.
As soon as they entered the bushes, several birds startled and flew up not far away.
Cui Hongyu let out a soft cry in fright and tightly held onto Chen Xiaobei's neck.
This sudden movement still brought a hint of calmness to Chen Xiaobei.
Seeing that he had stopped, Cui Hongyu felt a little conflicted. She wished her man would be a little more aggressive and have a heavenly union with her.
But she also felt that this was truly against womanly virtues.
Chen Xiaobei hesitated for a moment, but then he looked down at Cui Hongyu, who had closed her eyes and was motionless. Chen Xiaobei instantly understood.
He understood, he understood, so they would continue.
Chen Xiaobei took off his jacket and spread it on the grass.
At this moment, Cui Hongyu surprisingly took off her outer garment herself, revealing a bright red chest wrap.
Chen Xiaobei's heart trembled. He felt his hands begin to shake slightly.
He gritted his teeth and made up his mind. No matter if it passed or not, he would go for it.
Mountain ridges like twin kingfishers, grass rolling like a pair of mandarin ducks. Her graceful posture could not be contained, her tender sighs shook the heavens.
Enough said, the rest is for everyone to imagine.
...
Half an hour later, Chen Xiaobei, still lingering, reluctantly put on his clothes.
"Husband, why don't we rest for a while before we go?" Cui Hongyu's eyes were full of tenderness, and her words were full of concern.
Chen Xiaobei smiled dismissively, "It's fine, it's fine. Let's hurry and pick apples."
"If we return late, I'm afraid Qiao'er will worry."
Cui Hongyu blushed coyly, "Knowing that if you return late, Qiao'er will worry, why did you..."