By the time Li Long got up the next morning, it was already broad daylight. His body clock had actually stirred him awake once, but he had opened his eyes for a look and gone back to sleep. Since he did not need to get up, he slept soundly after that, not even noticing Gu Xiaoxia getting up to cook.
Yesterday's cycling, along with the danger and excitement along the way, had left him tired in both body and mind, so he had simply given himself a good rest.
When he got up, the room was warm. He knew Gu Xiaoxia had added coal to the stove.
A quiet life like this was actually quite nice. Only he still had to keep running around to save money. At that moment, he rather envied those villagers who could now enjoy a wife, children, and a warm kang. They might not have as much money as he did, but at least they were happy for now.
Then again, perhaps not. As a fairly famous female writer from Northern Xinjiang would say years later, people always needed something to worry about. If they were not worrying about one thing, they would worry about another. That was the gist of it.
There were not many people who could truly find lasting happiness in contentment.
Or rather, there were very few.
He got up, rubbed his face, dressed, went outside to use the toilet, then came into the kitchen and saw the breakfast Gu Xiaoxia had prepared.
Rice porridge, leavened flatbread, stir-fried pickled vegetables, and chili oil.
Li Long washed up and ate. After eating, he tidied the kitchen and resumed his running around.
Bundling himself up from head to toe, he rode his bicycle back.
As far as Li Long was concerned, he had