Although the trip back had exhausted Li Long, he felt his urges stirring after washing with hot water. Gu Xiaoxia gave him no chance, though, hurrying off to the kitchen to cook for him.
Not long after Li Long came out in fresh clothes, Gu Xiaoxia brought over a bowl of noodles.
"I didn't eat much this evening either. We had some dried noodles, so I added an egg and some greens from our yard. You'll have to make do."
"Sure." Li Long smiled as he took the bowl and began slurping down the noodles.
"There's more in the pot when you finish," Gu Xiaoxia said, seeing how fast he was eating. "Slow down."
Li Long smiled, then lowered his head and kept taking big mouthfuls.
To be honest, the flavor was nothing special, but on a rainy day like this, before he had fully warmed up, a bowl of hot noodle soup was sheer comfort.
After two bowls, Li Long felt full. Gu Xiaoxia went to clear away the dishes while he went outside, carried down the fritillaria from the tractor, and spread it out to dry in the eastern side rooms.
There was so much fritillaria that Li Long needed three rooms to spread it all out. Old Ma's side rooms had originally held plenty of junk. Li Long gathered some into one room and simply threw the rest away. The original owner might have kept those things for their sentimental value, but to Li Long, they were just worn-out objects taking up space.
Better to clear them out.
Once he had spread out the fritillaria, Li Long removed the foam cushion from the tractor seat and brought it indoors. A wipe would dry it off and save him from getting a wet backside the next time he