Wrapped Up Like a Chicken Roll
When it comes to making money, everyone is all in. Selling vegetables is like working for yourself—every penny earned goes straight into your own pocket. So the villagers all put their best foot forward, each showing off their unique skills. The clever ones spent the night brainstorming ways to boost their business.
Take, for example, the young wives whose pickled cabbage and radish are especially tasty. When they sell vegetables, they bring along a few samples. If a customer buys their produce, they’ll throw in a little side dish. After all, when you’re doing business, a small favor here and there is the key to winning repeat customers.
Even though these side dishes aren’t worth much, their unique flavors and refreshing taste have won over the folks in Greenfield City. They find these country pickles novel and delicious, so not only do they order vegetables for the next day, but they also place extra orders for pickled treats.
So this family not only sells vegetables, but also manages to promote their own pickles, raking in extra income on the side.
Some of the women are skilled with needlework. While selling vegetables, they also offer extra shoe soles, handkerchiefs, and other handmade goods—another way to earn a little more.
As for the men, those with strength and smarts head up the mountain to chop wood and make charcoal ahead of time. When selling vegetables, they haul a batch of charcoal along too, and by the end of the day, it’s all sold out!
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the villagers of Clearwater Village finished a day’s work, their baskets now empty as they strolled home in high spirits. The road was lined with familiar faces, each wearing an unprecedented smile, chatting about their business and already plotting how many pounds of vegetables to bring tomorrow—and how to sell even more. Lucky, unable to hide his excitement, kept glancing at Lily with an affectionate gaze, while Lily, a little flustered by his attention, shot him a warning look to behave himself.
That night, after dinner, Lily Evans finished her bath and came out drying her hair. Even though the heated floor kept the room warm, her damp hair still sent a chill through her.
On the bed, Lucky had already burrowed under the covers, wrapping himself up like a silkworm cocoon. When he saw Lily Evans come in, he poked out his head, his smile pure and innocent: "Wifey, I’ve warmed up the bed! Come in quick, don’t catch a chill!"
"Coming!" Lily Evans kicked off her shoes and climbed onto the bed. She hadn’t even settled in when Lucky stretched out his long arms, and with a startled yelp, Lily fell right into his embrace. Then, with a twist of the blanket, the two of them were wrapped up together—like a chicken roll.
"Hey—where are your clothes?" Lily Evans asked as she slipped under the covers, her hand brushing against Lucky’s bare skin.
"My clothes? Oh, they got wet when I was bathing, so I just left them off to the side." Lucky grinned at Lily, nodding toward the edge of the bed. Lily couldn’t help but think of Cynthia Wu’s teasing words—wasn’t she the one who said Lily had endless patience for her silly husband? At moments like this, Lily wondered if Cynthia was right, and if she really did have a bottomless well of patience for Lucky.
Sure enough, Lucky’s clothes—inside and out—were piled up on the side.
Lily Evans couldn’t help but twitch her lips. His clothes were soaked through, no kidding!
Lucky’s body was burning hot, and with only a thin layer of clothing between them, Lily Evans felt like she might catch fire herself. Her cheeks flushed bright red, and she squirmed, trying to crawl out of the covers.
But the moment she moved, rubbing against Lucky, she instantly sensed something wasn’t right!
Lily Evans froze, her face burning hotter. She glared at Lucky, her voice low and warning: "Lucky, what are you up to?"
Lucky blinked innocently, his eyes wide and clear, looking completely clueless. "Wifey, what’s wrong? Did I do something bad?"
Lily Evans couldn’t help but laugh, her anger fading. She pinched Lucky’s cheek, exasperated: "You silly goose, you’re burning up!"
Lucky giggled, hugging Lily Evans even tighter. "Wifey, you’re so soft and warm. I like it!"
Lily Evans couldn’t resist his charm. She nestled into his arms, letting the warmth spread between them. Wrapped up together, they looked just like a pair of chicken rolls—snug, cozy, and inseparable.
Lily swallowed hard, Cynthia Wu’s words echoing in her mind: "Lily, can you really bear to keep Lucky waiting like this?" Outside, the cold wind howled, but inside, her heart fluttered with warmth and laughter.