077. The Objective, Preparations (Weekend Extra Chapter)

"Alright, very well!" Mother Gao replied with a smile. Although it was their first meeting, she had a very good impression of the young woman before her—certainly better than the girl they had previously discussed. With that thought, Mother Gao decided she would have a proper talk with her younger son later and tacitly agreed to his suggestion.

Gao Shen softly instructed Jing Qingxin, "I'll walk my mother out. I'll be back soon. You tidy up and lock the door."

"Alright. Take care of yourself," Jing Qingxin replied, giving a gentle blink.

"Don't worry, I know what to do. I'm off," Gao Shen said, a faint smile playing on his lips. He understood her look perfectly: she simply wanted him to avoid crowds and be cautious given his current condition. After all, he was still recovering and couldn't be expected to be completely well just yet.

After seeing Mother Gao off, Jing Qingxin closed the courtyard gate and returned to the kitchen to wash the bowls and pans. Hot water was warming in the stove, and as she thought of their journey into the mountains the next day, her heart leapt with anticipation.

She quickly realized they would probably spend the whole day in the mountains and would need to bring some provisions. With that, Jing Qingxin slipped into the "Flowing Light Brocade," rummaging through supplies to see what food would be best to prepare.

Gao Shen led Mother Gao along the smaller paths, trying to avoid the main road. It was dinner time, so they didn't encounter many people along the way. In his mind, he and Jing Qingxin were still the subject of much gossip, so avoiding unnecessary attention was best. Otherwise, he'd have to feign a more complete recovery, limping along as if still injured.

But who could really tell if he was well or not? In fact, making a brief appearance in front of the villagers might not be a bad idea—it would give them something to talk about and perhaps stop the endless gossip. With that thought, Gao Shen felt more at ease and decided it was a good plan.

Mother Gao, walking behind her son, pondered how best to broach the topic she had in mind. After a moment of consideration, she hurried to catch up and walked alongside him.

"Shen, I really like that Jing girl. Knowing you can live together brings me peace of mind, and I'm happy for you both," she began, expressing her approval and affection first.

Gao Shen slowed his pace, his expression unreadable. He merely responded with a quiet, "Mm."

Seeing her son's reticence, Mother Gao hesitated, unsure how to continue. As they neared the Second Production Team's area, she sighed softly and said, "Shen, there's something I feel I should mention."

Gao Shen raised an eyebrow slightly. "What is it?"

"It's… it's about Ji Qing…" Mother Gao hesitated, her words stumbling.

Gao Shen cut her off with a hint of impatience, "What is there to say? She has nothing to do with me."

"But your father…" Mother Gao knew well what her son thought, but the stubborn old man at home was another matter entirely.

"His thoughts are his own. Besides, didn't he already send me out to fend for myself? Why should he care what I do? When Qingxin and I set a wedding date, you'll be notified. We're nearly home, so I'll leave you here," Gao Shen replied, his tone cold and detached.

He handed the grass carp he was carrying to his mother, told her to take care of herself, then turned and quickly walked toward the First Production Team.

Mother Gao watched her son's retreating figure, fish in hand, and sighed deeply. So be it. She doubted the old man at home could ever win against her son's stubbornness—in that, father and son were indeed alike.

With his mind made up, Gao Shen no longer bothered to hide on his way back. When he reached a more populated area, he slowed his pace and feigned a limp, moving with deliberate effort.

"Isn't that the soldier from our production team?" a woman standing by her gate remarked to her neighbor, surprised to spot Gao Shen.

"It looks like him. Has his leg healed? I thought they said he was crippled?" her neighbor replied, equally curious.

The first woman whispered, "Didn't they say that girl from the city knows medicine and can heal injuries? Maybe it's true?"

"Who would've thought? She looks so young, yet she's so capable! He was bedridden before, and now he's walking around—quite impressive," the neighbor exclaimed in admiration.

Gao Shen paid no mind to their gossip. As long as he achieved his goal—making an appearance so people would see him and know—he was satisfied. Once out of sight, he picked up his pace, hurrying back with a sense of urgency. The thought of Jing Qingxin alone at home, perhaps frightened or unsettled, made his heart race.

He jogged back, pushed at the courtyard gate—which was bolted from the inside—and, worried she might already be resting, refrained from knocking. Instead, he stepped back, took a running leap, and nimbly vaulted over the mud wall, landing softly within the courtyard.

His movements were swift and silent, so much so that Jing Qingxin, busy in the kitchen, didn’t hear a thing as she flipped egg pancakes with both hands.

Gao Shen took a few steps and was soon greeted by the aroma of cooking. Seeing the light from the kitchen, he made his way there.

"What are you making?" he called out from the doorway.

"You startled me! How did you get in?" Jing Qingxin exclaimed, surprised, instinctively raising her spatula in a defensive posture. But recognizing his voice, her alarm faded—otherwise, she might not have been able to stop herself from swinging the spatula at him.

"I thought you might be resting, so I climbed over the wall," Gao Shen replied with a suppressed laugh at her adorably fierce reaction. Still, her reflexes were impressive.

"Next time, don't sneak up on me. I can't promise I won't react instinctively," Jing Qingxin huffed, brandishing the spatula to make her point.

"Alright, I won't do it again," Gao Shen promised, smiling.

"We're heading into the mountains tomorrow, right? We won't make it back by noon, so I wanted to prepare something for our lunch," Jing Qingxin explained, placing the final pancake into the bowl.

"Is there anything I can help with?" Gao Shen offered. In truth, once in the mountains, food wouldn't be a problem—catching a wild chicken or rabbit meant they could roast it on the spot, just as he had done with his comrades before.

"No, I've nearly finished," Jing Qingxin replied, gesturing to the bowl on the stove.

Supplies in the "Flowing Light Brocade" were limited—mostly grains and dried goods. Fortunately, she had bought eggs, or she would have had nothing to make except plain rice.

In total, Jing Qingxin made six egg pancakes, using eight eggs mixed with pure white flour—a hearty portion. As for what else to prepare, she was at a loss; the ingredients were just too limited.

She stored the pancakes in the "Flowing Light Brocade," keeping them fresh so that when they ate them the next day, they'd taste just as good as they did now.

——— End of Chapter ———

Extra update! Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend.

Remember to vote and leave a message for Qingqing.

This book is first published on Xiaoxiang Academy. Please do not repost!