Quick Transmigration: Leisure

"It's you?"

Xia Youmi was about to transplant a newly discovered plant into her basket when she heard a somewhat familiar gruff voice behind her.

It was the blacksmith I hadn't seen in a long time.

Two years ago, after that snowy night, Xia Youmi also inquired about the other party's situation.

I learned that the blacksmith had been living in the neighboring village for fifteen years, supporting his disabled younger brother, and was very skilled at forging iron.

He doesn't usually have any contact with relatives, has a short temper, but isn't a bad person at heart.

If someone is having some difficulties, they're not in a hurry for money; they're willing to work first.

The person who spread the message was a gossip.

It also comes with some extra romantic tales from the past.

Over the years, it wasn't that no one was willing to help him raise his younger brother; there were young women and pretty widows, but the blacksmith refused them all.

Some people are saying that the younger brother might be a fake, while the lover is real.

Because the younger brother kept it hidden like a treasure, rarely letting anyone see it.

There's clearly something wrong here, but it doesn't match the timing of Xia Youmi's parents' or Teacher Gu's accident.

"Comrade Xia, what a coincidence." The blacksmith's expression of surprise was stiff and awkward, which, reflected on his increasingly tired face, didn't carry much weight.

"What a coincidence." Xia Youmi was filled with embarrassment.

The other person was clearly not out for a stroll; his neat attire was hidden under a dusty straw hat, and there was a bulge at his waist that resembled the shape of some kind of weapon.

She won't.

Did you stumble upon something strange?

Thinking this, Xia Youmi lightly piled the earthen pot into the basket on her back. This place had been marked every year so she could come back again later.

The blacksmith was nervous; he hadn't expected to actually run into Comrade Xia. He remembered his repeated assurances to his boss that those people had nothing to do with her.

Cold sweat.

I just received the message; he was still on his way when he ran into the other person.

This puts them in a dilemma: should they go back and report the news or pretend they didn't notice anything?

Xia Youmi kept her head down, avoiding eye contact.

In fact, she clearly saw the blacksmith's expression and inner turmoil in her mind. She subtly shifted into a defensive stance, ready to react immediately should he show any malice.

Fortunately, the blacksmith's face showed more impatience. She estimated the direction and chose another path, with an excuse readily available.

"You're busy, I'll be going now."

"Okay, sure." The blacksmith was stunned for a moment, but seeing Xia Youmi walking in the opposite direction from his destination, he couldn't help but ask, "Comrade Xia, aren't you going home?"

"I'll pick up the baby on the way."

After saying that, Xia Youmi smiled faintly, as if she had arranged some kind of surprise.

If the other person has been observing you.

They must all know that she rarely goes to school and never picks people up after school.

However, the blacksmith was heading in the same direction as her home, and since he was currently filled with surprise and rejection, it was naturally best for them not to travel together.

So, with only one rarely used path left, these were the only excuses she could think of.

Seeing that it was still early, according to Tao Pu's usual practice, he would usually stay in the hall to have a private lesson with Li Xing.

She won't come up empty-handed.

Xia Youmi didn't wait for the blacksmith to test her further before nimbly heading down the mountain.

Jingle Bell--

A large and a small child were sitting on a bicycle.

The younger one was sitting sideways on the front bar, turning his head to chat with the man behind him.

"Hahaha."

When they got to the part, they both burst out laughing.

Those squinting, smiling faces looked like they were carved from the same mold.

They are similar in both spirit and form.

This is Xia Youmi's feeling as she squatted by the path.

Just as she was about to head to school, Niannian reminded her that someone was coming from ahead—it was Tao Pu and Li Xing.

She waited there for a minute, trying to compose herself.

Unexpectedly, the system's screen displayed such a harmonious scene.

If Tao Pu and Zou Fangyin didn't look more alike, and if Tao Lao Er didn't also have some resemblance, she would really think that this was her real father.

"Yomi-neechan!"

Tao Pu was the first to discover Xia Youmi tidying up her basket.

His call was clear and cheerful, a stark contrast to his usual reserved demeanor.

"Hey! Little Pu."

"Teacher Li!" Xia Youmi exclaimed in surprise, waiting for them to explain the reason themselves.

"Comrade Xia, good afternoon." Li Xing was as generous as ever. He adjusted his glasses and explained to Xia Youmi, "Xiao Pu injured his leg, so I took him home."

"Have you gone for a checkup?" Xia Youmi wanted to reach out and take a look.

"The teacher took me there, it's okay." Tao Pu withdrew her leg, her face full of shyness.

It seems this injury isn't exactly something to be proud of.

Little did she know that Tao Pu had single-handedly taken on three opponents of different ages, injuring them all. If Li Xing hadn't already educated those older students, pointing out their mistake and warning them that reporting it to the police would result in their arrest, Xia Youmi would definitely have been besieged by the other students' parents the next day.

In addition, Tao Pu's method was quite sophisticated; most people wouldn't notice the seriousness of the injury and would just think that they were just older students who had bullied him and were throwing a tantrum out of guilt.

"You got the short end of the stick?" Xia Youmi retorted.

"No, no." Tao Pu seemed somewhat relieved, but he was also embarrassed to explain. He looked to Li Xing for help.

Teacher Li sighed helplessly.

"You didn't suffer any loss. Everyone else was seriously injured. Xiao Pu, you fell because you weren't paying attention to your footing after you won the fight."

"..."

Xia Youmi's eyes were filled with speechlessness, but she still pointed out, "Next time, pay attention to your posture. Don't say you fell down and make yourself look bad."

After saying this, under the equally enlightened gazes of the two men, he picked up his basket and prepared to go back.

"Comrade Xia, let me carry it, it's on my way anyway." Li Xing steadied the cart and was about to take the basket from Li Xing. Xia Youmi didn't stand on ceremony, took out the most fragile bowl, held it, and put the basket on Li Xing's back.

Li Xing steadied himself and got back on his bicycle.

Tao Pu waved to Xia Youmi with a smile, signaling them to walk ahead. At that moment, he felt warm and happy.

The car and the people are not far apart and can always see each other.

But it wasn't close enough to see their expressions clearly.

......

When Xia Youmi stepped into the house, Tao Pu was already sitting on a stool and starting a fire.

Li Xing was admiring the flowers and plants in the courtyard when he saw her enter, and he seemed quite excited.

"Comrade Xia, your garden is quite extraordinary. It is well-arranged and aesthetically pleasing. Although there are many plants, they are not messy, and there are no incompatible plants."

That's a perfect compliment. If you didn't have some knowledge of botany, you would never have noticed the thought behind it.

At most, I would assume it was just a matter of being attentive.

"Teacher Li, you flatter me. It's just a hobby I've had since I was a child," Xia Youmi said modestly and politely.

"Please stay for a simple meal. Thank you for your patronage of our shop."

"Haha, I feel a connection with this kid, so I won't stand on ceremony." Li Xing agreed quickly.

Xia Youmi seemed rather dull, as if she was just being polite.

"Okay! Do you have any dietary restrictions? Do you eat spicy food?"

"I eat spicy food, I have a local palate."

"Okay." Xia Youmi casually picked a few incredibly spicy chili peppers from the yard.

This variety finally has someone who can consume it.

Neither she nor Tao Pu were used to the food.

Snapped--

With Xia Youmi's deft slap of the cleaver, a pungent, spicy aroma filled the entire courtyard.

Li Xing coughed until his cheeks turned red.

Upon closer inspection, it became clear that the two of them, one big and one small, had already stuffed cotton balls into their noses.

Oh no, I'm already sweating before I've even eaten.