Chapter 62: Unexpectedly, He Was a Joker

Lin Xiaodou paused for a moment, raised her eyebrows, and said,
"You haven't even seen what I look like, yet you agreed so readily. Aren't you afraid I might be ugly?"
Zhou Qinglang gently shook his head. "I've never cared about appearances."
Lin Xiaodou laughed. "Well, I really am ugly. There's a big scar on my face—won't you mind?"
Zhou Qinglang shook his head again. "No, I won't."
Lin Xiaodou was a little curious. "Why? We've only met twice, haven't we?"
"Because the soup you make is delicious. It's the best soup I've ever tasted in my life."
As he spoke, Zhou Qinglang's expression was exceptionally gentle.
It was as if his eyes were filled with a starry sky, shining with a dazzling smile.
Lin Xiaodou was momentarily dazed.
This man was blind, yet his eyes were so beautiful.
If he weren't blind, and looked at her with these lovely eyes, would it be even more captivating?
Ah, what nonsense is she thinking!
How could she be so attracted to a blind man!
Indeed, beauty in front of her made her lose her senses.
Lin Xiaodou turned her gaze away, a faint blush coloring the tips of her ears.
Her voice was awkward: "It's just a bowl of scallion and egg soup."
"Though the soup is simple, it has extraordinary meaning for me,"
Zhou Qinglang said, the corners of his lips curving slightly and his voice gentle.
"Comrade Lin, you cook well, are kind-hearted, and saved my life.
I truly have nothing else to offer but myself in gratitude."
His words were half-serious, half-playful, a way to test the girl before him.
"Ahem!" Lin Xiaodou was terribly embarrassed. "I was only joking, you don't have to take it seriously."
Zhou Qinglang looked a bit forlorn. "Are you rejecting me because I'm blind?"
"No, I really was just joking," Lin Xiaodou hurried to explain.
"Yesterday, cooking was just incidental, and today saving you was a coincidence.
Besides, your little monkey already gave me some gold and jewels as compensation.
We're even now, neither owes the other, and you don't need to repay me."
The little golden monkey seemed silly and cute, but turned out to be quite clever.
It truly understood what she meant yesterday about exchanging favors.
So today, when it came seeking help, it brought a handful of gold and jewels.
Among them were not only a small gold ingot, but two gold necklaces and two jade bracelets.
These items were valuable enough to trade for fever medicine and antiviral serum with plenty to spare.
Hearing this, Zhou Qinglang was slightly taken aback.

He had not expected the monkey to take treasures from the cellar on its own to bring to her.
Those things were unclaimed, but he had never thought to keep them for himself.
He’d intended to report them when the authorities eventually sent someone to look for him.
But now…
"Do you like those things?" he asked.
Lin Xiaodou nodded. "Of course! What girl doesn't like bright and shiny things?"
Zhou Qinglang took her words to heart. "I see."
Lin Xiaodou suggested, "Your leg injury is still quite serious and needs rest. I think it would be best if you found a household in the village to stay with."
She had just surveyed the cave carefully.
It was crude and empty, with nothing inside.
It was hard to imagine this man living with the monkey in such a place for half a month.
Lin Xiaodou did not offer to let him stay with her.
After all, in these times, a man and woman living together would easily invite gossip.
Zhou Qinglang shook his head. "No, my work is confidential. I can't interact with too many people."
"Alright," Lin Xiaodou thought of his job, likely related to treasure hunting, and understood.
Lin Xiaodou said, "Then how about this: every noon and evening I'll cook extra food, and you can have your monkey come fetch it."
Zhou Qinglang replied, "How can I impose on you even more? You've already helped me so much..."
Lin Xiaodou's almond-shaped eyes flashed. "You can trade your things, anything valuable will do."
Zhou Qinglang hesitated. "I don't have anything else on me, would gold and jewels count?"
Lin Xiaodou said, "Of course! I just told you I like them."
Zhou Qinglang agreed, "Alright, every morning I'll have the monkey bring you something nice, in exchange for a day's meals."
Lin Xiaodou grinned, "Deal!"
That was exactly her intention.
Didn't expect him to catch on so quickly—how wonderful!
Hearing her laughter, Zhou Qinglang smiled.
She was so easily pleased.
Such a simple girl.

Just then, a bubbling sound came from nearby.
"Oh no! The soup is about to overflow!"
Lin Xiaodou hurried to the fire to tend to the clay pot.
Zhou Qinglang asked, "You cooked soup in the cave?"
Lin Xiaodou replied, "Yes, after I bandaged you up and saw you still unconscious,
I fetched the pot and made some soup, planning it for our dinner."

"Thank you, that's very thoughtful,"
Zhou Qinglang smiled. "No wonder I smelled something good earlier. What did you make?"
Lin Xiaodou said, "Snake meat soup—a nourishing dish, good for your recovery."
Zhou Qinglang’s mouth twitched. "Don’t tell me it’s..."
"Exactly! The black snake that bit you—I killed it.
It dared to ambush you, now it’s turned into soup. Consider it revenge."
Zhou Qinglang: ...
"Ahem... Thank you, then."
This girl was truly bold, and her skills impressive.
Was provoking her a mistake?
Zhou Qinglang was wondering if he should retreat when
his mouth was suddenly stuffed with a piece of snake meat.
"Eat up! It’s delicious!"
The girl’s urging voice rang out.
He instinctively took a couple bites.
The rich, savory flavor burst across his tongue.
Zhou Qinglang’s mind felt like it exploded!
Delicious! So delicious!
In that moment, Zhou Qinglang forgot everything else, just lowered his head and ate hungrily.
A bite of meat, a sip of soup, savoring every mouthful and losing himself in it.
As for retreating? Sorry, that’s a matter for another day.
Seeing how much he enjoyed it, Lin Xiaodou smiled and asked,
"Which tastes better, this snake soup or the scallion egg soup?"
"They’re both delicious. Scallion egg soup is the best in the world, snake soup is second."
Zhou Qinglang said, and then, a little embarrassed, added,
"But I prefer snake soup, because it has meat..."
O(∩_∩)O ha ha~
Lin Xiaodou burst out laughing.
This fellow, with his noble and elegant demeanor, turned out to be quite the joker.
Rather adorable, really~