The next day, Mo Jinchen woke up early and smiled down at his wife. She was still sleeping because he devoured her all night. He kissed her brow and got up to wash himself and start breakfast. He had to go to the fields today and he wanted to leave breakfast for her when she woke up. He finished washing, then walked to the kitchen to make breakfast. He made glass noodles and chives with a fried egg. Then made steamed buns with white flour and shredded pork filling. He set the food in a steamer basket and on low heated coals to keep it warm. He ate a few buns and a bowl of noodles then set minced meat down for Snowball. He grabbed his military jacket and walked out of his new home. The mountain house was perfect for them. It was far enough away from the village that Lin Yue can live here in peace with no nosy neighbors begging for food.
As he left the house and entered the courtyard, he checked on the plants, bushes and trees for growth. He then fed the koi in the pond and checked the vegetable garden. Snowball was running around the bushes with enthusiasm. Jinchen chuckled at the little fox. He closed and latched the gate before heading to the fields to work.
Lin Yue woke up late with pain in her waist. Jinchen had already left to work. She slowly got up and washed up then changed the bed so she could wash them. She went into the kitchen, she found the steamer basket with her breakfast inside. A note was pinned to the wall.
[Don't cook, I'll be back this evening to cook our dinner. The yard chores are done already. Leave the laundry for me. Jinchen.]
Lin Yue smiled and sat down at the cherry wood table to eat. She then went into her new workshop and set up a large embroidery frame with a blue satin fabric. She took out her needle and thread and began to embroider a beautiful black dragon on the fabric. The afternoon sun was warm on her back as she worked diligently on the design.
Jinchen returned from the fields with a basket of vegetables, he placed them in the kitchen before going to look for his wife. He found her working on a large embroidery piece in her workshop. "Yue'er, come out. I'll make dinner and we can talk." She set aside her needle and looked up to smile at Jinchen. "Brother Jinchen, I was inspired. I'm making a heavy blanket for our bed this winter." She stood up and went to his side. Jinchen held her hand and led her to the kitchen, he sat her at the table then started chopping the vegetables. "We still haven't found the man who tried to kill you, don't leave the house. I have a key to the gate so I will lock it each day and at night when we sleep. If you need anything from town, let me or Feng Dai know and we will go with you. Don't go anywhere by yourself."
"Yes, Husband. Is there any way you or Sister Dai can bring me glass jars? I noticed the chickens are laying too many eggs for us to eat and I know how to pickle eggs and peppers for storage. They would make a good snack on a hot day as well." Jinchen nodded. 'Give me a list of what you need and I will send Feng Dai to the market for you." Lin Yue pulled out a sheet of paper and a pen. She wrote down the ingredients for pickled eggs and a condiment called Chow-Chow. She then wrote down the number sixty for how many jars she needed and specific pot she would need to pressurize the jars. "Bring back as much of the ingredients as you can. I can pickle most vegetables and fruits. I can also make delicious snacks out of leftover meat as well."
Jinchen smiled and put the list in his pocket to take to Feng Dai when he goes out to work again after dinner. "Mother will be here later to help you with the chores. I already fed the horses and the koi. The chickens need feeding and the eggs collected. The garden needs watering and the fruit bushes and trees need checked. Mother will guide you on this so when they finally leave for the base again, you will know what needs done." Lin Yue smiled and nodded. She planned to check on the yard this afternoon and Snowball.