To borrow the machinery from the small repair workshop, Liu Weiguo had no choice but to go home and ask Liu Daniu. Liu Daniu was familiar with Xu Wenli, the head of the workshop, and could easily arrange the borrowing with just a word. Sitting there, smoking a cigarette, he pondered, "Did Qi Fang really say that to you?"
"Would I lie to you? What would I gain from that?"
Liu Daniu didn’t press further. After dinner that evening, he went out and returned to tell Liu Weiguo, "Take Qi Fang there tomorrow morning."
Not only did he arrange it, but the next day, he also strolled over himself to see how Qi Fang planned to fix that small clock.
Xu Wenli led them inside but couldn’t resist whispering his usual concerns, "Can he really do it? This isn’t a place for youngsters to fool around. If that old clock of yours keeps breaking, just replace it."
"Let him try. Besides, you’ll be keeping an eye on it, won’t you? That clock’s been passed down in my family—I can’t just toss it aside."
"You think I’d dare let them touch it without supervision? What if something goes wrong?" Xu Wenli felt his old friend was just creating trouble for him. "Let me be clear—even if he knows how to use the equipment, ours is just basic. It can’t handle anything too precise. Why do you think we send the tractors to the town’s repair shop instead of fixing them here ourselves?"
Sending them to the town shop meant dealing with engine adjustments and waiting in line, which could take days.
"Let him try," Liu Daniu repeated. "Qi Fang wouldn’t have asked if he wasn’t confident. Otherwise, would I have brought him here?" Seeing Xu Wenli’s skeptical expression, he added quietly, "I heard he used to work at the town’s repair shop before coming to our forestry station."
"If he was at the town shop, how come I don’t recognize him?" Xu Wenli doubted.
"Supposedly, he was only there for a couple of months before being reassigned. Don’t know if it’s true, but you can see for yourself."
Xu Wenli didn’t dare leave them unsupervised. He quickly followed them to fetch protective gear.
Just as he was about to explain how to put it on to Liu Weiguo, Qi Fang had already taken the gear and fastened it himself—smoothly and naturally, as if he’d done it many times before.
Xu Wenli gave him a second glance but still helped Liu Weiguo suit up, repeating the safety instructions twice before powering up the workshop.
Normally, the workshop didn’t supply electricity for machinery unless it was a simple repair job. Only the lights were kept on at night.
With his protective mask secured, Qi Fang headed straight for the grinding machine. Xu Wenli and Liu Weiguo hurried after him, while Liu Daniu, lacking protective gear, waited outside the workshop.
With nothing else to do, he lit his pipe—an old-fashioned copper-bowled, wooden-stemmed one.
Among the older generation in the Northeast, even women smoked pipes, though theirs were longer, while men’s were shorter. Liu Daniu only switched to cigarettes when he was out logging for convenience.
Despite his confident words to Xu Wenli, he wasn’t entirely sure himself. He just trusted that Qi Fang wouldn’t make empty promises.
After leisurely smoking two pipefuls, the noise inside finally stopped.
Soon, Xu Wenli emerged, still in his protective suit but with the mask and gloves removed, examining two small parts under the light.
Liu Daniu tapped his pipe against the wall and hurried over. "Did he manage it?"
"Take a look—are they the same?" Xu Wenli handed him the parts.
Liu Daniu squinted at them under the light. "They seem close, but—" He held up the one in his right hand. "This one’s got a flaw."
Xu Wenli gave him a look. "That’s the worn-out one from your clock."
Liu Daniu froze, stunned. "This is mine?" He inspected it again carefully.
"I took it out myself—how could I mix them up?" Xu Wenli retrieved the part and went back inside.
When they came out again, all three had removed their gear. Qi Fang was telling Liu Weiguo, "I’ll install it for you later. Test it out—if it works, it should last a few years."
Liu Weiguo nodded eagerly, carefully wrapping the part in paper before tucking it into his pocket. "You’re full of surprises! Who knew you could grind parts like this? Never would’ve guessed."
Xu Wenli was equally impressed. "Your hands are steady as a rock. I didn’t think our shoddy equipment could produce anything that precise." His attitude had clearly shifted since earlier.
Qi Fang remained indifferent. "The tools here are decent enough."
"Just basic stuff, and most of it’s hand-me-downs from other places," Xu Wenli admitted. As a repairman himself, he knew better than anyone. "When Old Liu said you might’ve come from the town’s repair shop, I didn’t believe it. With skills like yours, why’d you end up logging here? What a waste."
Qi Fang didn’t answer. He checked his watch. "Yan Xue needs to visit Master Jia. I should get going."
Since he’d been helping the Lius, neither father nor son wanted to delay him further and urged him to leave. Unable to press further, Xu Wenli could only sigh to Liu Daniu about the missed opportunity.
The next afternoon, Liu Weiguo returned with good news. "It’s working perfectly—not a minute slow all day."
"So he managed to make the gear?" Yan Xue asked, smiling at his relieved expression.
She hadn’t joined them at the workshop yesterday. After accidentally stepping on a landmine with her questions last time, she’d refrained from prying when Qi Fang returned.
Unlike Qi Fang, who kept things to himself, Liu Weiguo spilled everything. "You should’ve seen him—he handled those machines like they were his own wife, fixed it in no time."
Yan Xue, Qi Fang’s actual wife: "…"
Qi Fang, glancing at Liu Weiguo: "…"
But with one always smiling and the other perpetually expressionless, Liu Weiguo didn’t notice. "Finally, after driving me crazy all year."
"No more trips to the county town," Yan Xue remarked.
"Exactly," Liu Weiguo agreed, pleased to have such a good listener. He even shared the rumor he’d heard.
Yan Xue glanced back at Qi Fang. "Did he really work at the town’s repair shop?"
Qi Fang stayed silent, but Liu Weiguo chirped up. "Doubt it. Who’d leave town for a forestry station? Even if he did, he’d have gone to the repair shop, not logging. He’s been in the logging team for over two years—probably just picked up some skills somewhere, right?"
The "right" was directed at Qi Fang, who neither confirmed nor denied it.
Taking that as agreement, Liu Weiguo asked, "You ever think about transferring to the repair shop? Beats logging any day."
"They’ve got enough hands," Qi Fang finally said.
Liu Weiguo conceded. "Too bad. Hey, you’re almost at three years’ seniority, right? My dad said he’s thinking of recommending you for sawyer training this year. There’s an opening—Li Shuwu’s spot’s still empty, and Dad’s been filling in. His arms ache every night."
"Close enough," Qi Fang replied, still indifferent.
Liu Weiguo was used to it and moved on. "Yu Yongzhi’s always got it out for you. You think Director Yu might block your nomination?"
Even though the director was only second-in-command, with Secretary Lang above him, if Director Yu really wanted to cause trouble, Secretary Lang—who barely knew Qi Fang—might not intervene on his behalf.
"Should we ask someone for help?" Liu Weiguo lowered his voice.
"We'll see when the time comes," Qi Fang replied with his usual indifference, then turned the question back on him, "Have you packed all your things?"
Tomorrow was the eighth day of the lunar new year, and they would be heading back up the mountain to continue logging, staying there until the snow melted around March or April.
Liu Weiguo nodded. "Packed ages ago. My mom helped me." Then, remembering something, he asked Yan Xue, "Do you still have those roller skate blueprints?"
"I do," Yan Xue said, immediately pulling open the drawer of her writing desk.
Liu Weiguo hurried over. "Mind lending them to me? You have no idea—my two younger siblings are going crazy, especially Wei Bin. He’s been throwing tantrums at night, demanding a pair. And Chuncai guards hers like a treasure, won’t even let anyone touch it, let alone take it apart to figure out how it’s made."
"Take them. They were drawn for Chuncai anyway," Yan Xue said, handing him the papers. "But this isn’t the exact same one used for hers, so there might be some differences."
Liu Weiguo folded them and tucked them into his pocket. "Thanks. Qi Fang’s leaving tomorrow—I’m sure you two have a lot to talk about. I won’t stick around as a third wheel." He winked at Qi Fang.
Whether they had a lot to say or a lot to do, any adult could read between the lines.
But no sooner had Liu Weiguo left than another visitor arrived.
This time, it was a group of teenagers, around Chuncai’s age, knocking on the door and asking, "Is this Yan Xue’s place?"
Yan Xue had only been at the lumberyard for a little over two weeks, so it was surprising that someone would come looking for her instead of Qi Fang. She was curious.
Turns out, they were also after the blueprints. The kids shuffled awkwardly. "We saw Liu Chuncai skating this morning. She said you made them for her."
"Yeah, sis, who did you get to make them? Master Jia? Never heard he could do something like this."
The moment roller skates were mentioned, the kids erupted into excited chatter, accidentally revealing two cracking adolescent voices in the mix.
Yan Xue thought for a second and recalled the group that had teased Chuncai on the fishing trip.
After years of being laughed at, Chuncai must’ve finally seized her moment to show off once she learned how to skate. And compared to regular ice skates, which only worked in winter, roller skates were far more appealing—especially since it was already late February, and the river would thaw soon.
Yan Xue smiled. "I did have someone make them, and yes, I have the blueprints."
"Can we take a look?" The kids’ faces lit up with urgency. "We’ll just borrow them and return them once we’re done."
"Sorry, but Chuncai’s brother just took them," Yan Xue said, shrugging.
Watching their faces fall, she added, "If you need them, you can ask Chuncai. They were drawn for her in the first place."
They’d been the ones teasing Chuncai, not her. Whether or not to lend them out was Chuncai’s call.
Defeated, the kids shuffled out, muttering and nudging each other.
They were just mischievous, not truly mean. Yan Xue figured they’d probably apologize when asking Chuncai for the blueprints.
She closed the door and turned around to find Qi Fang leaning against the inner doorway, watching her.
The man was absurdly tall—Yan Xue often had to tilt her head up just to meet his eyes. And those eyes, with their naturally alluring shape, always seemed to carry a hint of tenderness when he looked at someone.
Yan Xue liked to think she’d built up some immunity, but she still paused before asking, "What is it?"
"Nothing," Qi Fang said, his gaze shifting away.
Again with this. Always observing, always withholding words. How was anyone supposed to know what he was thinking?
Good thing Yan Xue wasn’t the type to pry, or she’d have lost her patience long ago.
Her usual smile turned a little stiff. She was about to say something when yet another voice called from outside, "Does Yan Xue live here?"
This one lacked the politeness of the kids—there was an edge to it, like the speaker had an axe to grind.
Yan Xue turned and saw Yu Cuiyun, Liang Qimao’s wife, whom she’d met once before. Behind her was a boy of nine or ten, his face streaked with tears.
As they approached, Yu Cuiyun kept scolding her son over her shoulder, "Aren’t you ashamed, crying like this at your age?"
Now Yan Xue’s smile was truly forced. She had a feeling this was a parent coming to demand answers.
Even if neither she nor Qi Fang would ever bully a child, the tension between their families was no secret. The whole scene screamed angry parent dragging kid over to confront someone.
Yan Xue didn’t even bother opening the door, waiting for them to step inside. The moment Yu Cuiyun entered, she demanded, "You’re Yan Xue? Do you have those…"
She faltered, and the boy behind her piped up, "R-roller skates."
"Right, roller skates. My son saw someone wearing them and wants a pair. Can we borrow the blueprints?"
Just sent off the ones who’d apologize, now here come the ones who won’t.
Qi Fang—tall, striking, impossible to miss—was standing right there, yet Yu Cuiyun acted like he wasn’t, speaking as if she had every right to demand the blueprints.
Yan Xue stayed by the door. "Bad timing, I’m afraid. They’ve already been lent out."
(Technically, Qi Fang still had another copy, but since he was the one who drew them, she wasn’t about to volunteer them—even if she could.)
Before Yu Cuiyun could react, her son wailed, "I want roller skates! I need them!"
"Enough!" Yu Cuiyun snapped, then turned back to Yan Xue, her tone sharper. "We live just behind this house. It’s not like we’d lose them."
The implication was clear: Yan Xue was being petty, withholding them on purpose.
Yan Xue had dealt with worse in her past life. Her smile didn’t waver. "They really are gone. Some others just came by asking too."
She softened her voice, playing along. "Maybe check back in a few days? Since we’re neighbors, it’s not far." But she carefully avoided mentioning who had them now.
Yu Cuiyun took the bait, not pressing further. "Fine." She didn’t sound happy about it.
The moment she turned to leave, her son started up again. "I WANT THEM NOW!"
"Will you stop?" Yu Cuiyun yanked his arm.
"I don’t care! Everyone else has them! Make her draw another one!"
Yu Cuiyun shot Yan Xue a look, but before she could speak, Qi Fang called from inside, "Where’s my blue pants?"
Yan Xue seized the out. "Hold on," she said apologetically to Yu Cuiyun. "He’s heading up the mountain tomorrow—we’re still packing." Then she hurried inside.
Left with no choice, Yu Cuiyun dragged her still-sobbing son away. "A few more days won’t kill you."
Once they were a distance off, she muttered, "Don’t you think she looks familiar? Those eyes… I swear I’ve seen them somewhere."
In truth, Qi Fang didn’t actually need Yan Xue to find him pants—he had already packed everything himself. He had only used it as an excuse to help Yan Xue slip away.
Yan Xue knew this too. She didn’t even bother opening any drawers when she entered the room, simply patting her chest with a bright smile. "Good thing you reacted quickly."
It was more her quick thinking than his. The moment he spoke, she had already known what to say…
Qi Fang glanced at her lightly. "Let’s cook," he said before turning to the kitchen to light the stove.
Yan Xue checked the time and realized it really was about time to start. She followed him out, rolling up her sleeves to prepare the meal. She even thawed a piece of wild boar meat left over from before the New Year, stir-frying a large bowl of meat sauce and storing it in a glass jar. "Take this up the mountain with you. If the food there isn’t good, eat this." She also packed a jar of dried chili peppers made during the holidays.
These had been fried in oil rendered from wild boar fat, mixed with peanuts and sunflower seeds. They weren’t suitable for spreading on flatbread, but when mixed into rice, they filled every bite with rich flavor.
Next were the vinegar-pickled radishes. "These are quick-pickled, so they spoil easily. Share them with your coworkers and finish them first."
She had claimed she wouldn’t interfere, yet she ended up preparing a whole assortment of things, using up all the glass jars in the house.
Qi Fang watched her bustling around but remained mostly silent. For him, this was an unfamiliar experience.
His mother had passed away early, and he had grown up with his reclusive grandfather. Though his grandfather cared for him, he was a man of typical scholarly habits and never paid much attention to such domestic details.
Later, when he found a mentor, his mentor’s wife had taken care of his daily needs, treating him like her own child. But unfortunately…
Qi Fang lowered his gaze, his whole demeanor exuding that familiar weariness, which made Yan Xue pause when she turned and saw him.
Glancing at the neatly packed bag Qi Fang had prepared for himself, then at the items she had added, Yan Xue chuckled and picked them up again. "Never mind. It’s not convenient to carry all this up the mountain."
"It’s fine." A hand with distinct knuckles reached over and took the items from her, swiftly stuffing them into the bag.
The man lifted the bag to test its weight, finding it manageable, then set it down and looked at her. "Do you often do this kind of thing?"
In his memory, Yan Xue had always been a delicate, pampered girl. When he first saw her doing chores and cooking, he had been surprised.
Yan Xue smiled. "More or less. I got used to taking care of my little brother."
In truth, it was from her past life, taking care of her father. With no woman in the house and her father’s mobility issues, she had learned to handle everything on her own from a young age.
Her smile was bright and lovely, but instead of reminding Qi Fang of a carefully cultivated greenhouse flower, she now seemed more like a wildflower stubbornly growing through roadside weeds.
Thriving in desolation, facing the sun—fragile-looking, as if a single touch could break her, yet more tenacious than anything else.
What had brought about such a change in her?
Had something happened to the Yan family? Or was it because of her younger brother?
For once, Qi Fang felt a flicker of curiosity, but he quickly suppressed it. Yan Xue had already moved on, as if that fleeting smile had been nothing more than his imagination.
Though they were now husband and wife, an invisible line had been drawn between them. Both were careful not to cross it, maintaining an unspoken understanding.
Even at night, when they shared the same quilt, there was always distance between them. They even gave each other space when undressing—Yan Xue would wash up first, slipping under the covers while Qi Fang took his turn. He would return, turn off the light, and undress in the dark.
But tonight was different.
When Qi Fang returned from washing up, Yan Xue wasn’t already in bed. Instead, she sat sideways with the quilt draped over her shoulders, waiting for him.
The young woman had undone her braids, her wavy hair cascading down like a waterfall. A few strands had slipped beneath the quilt’s edge, faintly obscuring her fair skin and the snug camisole buttoned just below her collarbone.
Qi Fang halted mid-step, stopping half a meter from the bed.
Yan Xue had actually wanted to discuss something with him, but when she saw his reaction, she narrowed her eyes slightly.
Liu Weiguo probably wouldn’t believe it, but even after all these days of marriage, she had never seen what lay beneath Qi Fang’s shirt.
The man slept in a full set of buttoned-up pajamas, revealing only a sliver of his collarbone. Sometimes she wondered if he was more afraid of her making a move than she was of him.
Was it really necessary?
She wasn’t some ravenous beast who would force herself on an unwilling man…
Yan Xue held his gaze deliberately without speaking.
Though she didn’t have the seductive charm of peach-blossom eyes, hers were still large and bright, impossible to ignore.
And while the thick cotton quilt was warm, it didn’t cling to her body. The way she held it left gaps, failing to cover everything. Yan Xue might have been petite, almost childlike in stature, but her figure was anything but childish—her waist was slender, and the snug camisole accentuated her curves.
Qi Fang instinctively averted his eyes. "What is it?"
"Nothing." Yan Xue smiled, tossing his own words from earlier back at him.
This time, the man’s gaze returned. He looked at her briefly before walking to the other side of the bed, climbing in as usual and turning off the light.
Just as he pulled his sweater over his head, her voice came from the darkness, laced with implication. "You’re heading up the mountain tomorrow."
Qi Fang paused, then finished removing the sweater, draping it over his arm before turning toward her. "What exactly are you trying to say?"
He didn’t believe she had any… ulterior intentions. Every night, he had pretended to fall asleep immediately after getting into bed, and every night, she had secretly sighed in relief.
Sure enough, Yan Xue had a practical matter to discuss. "Aren’t family members of lumberyard workers allowed to join the temporary labor team? I wanted to ask if you know what I need to prepare or who to register with if I want to go."
The next morning, Yan Xue rose early as usual, only to find Qi Fang already up, washed, and standing by the desk, ready to soak some biscuits for breakfast before leaving.
"I’ll make something. The staples are ready—just need to whip up some cornmeal porridge."
Yan Xue got out of bed and quickly prepared the meal. Qi Fang ate the hot breakfast, then set off under the gradually brightening sky to the assembly point.
Liu Weiguo arrived a little later, yawning as he walked, clearly struggling to wake up. But he immediately noticed something different about Qi Fang. "Why does your bag look bigger than usual?"
Qi Fang didn’t answer, but Liu Weiguo was certain. "It is bigger. Looks even fuller than mine. Did your wife pack it for you?"
His curiosity got the better of him. "Married life really changes a man, huh? What’d your wife pack for you?"
Qi Fang remained silent, simply shifting the bag to his other shoulder.
If his wife hadn’t packed him something good, Liu Weiguo would eat his words—literally.
Before he could press further, the diesel engine for the mountain transport arrived. The workers surged forward, hauling luggage and bags, and Liu Weiguo had no choice but to drop the subject for now.
Amid the blaring whistle, another vigorous logging season officially began.
Meanwhile, Yan Xue wasn’t idle either. After breakfast and tidying up, she estimated the right time and headed to the home of the temporary labor team’s captain.
