Reborn in 72, I hunt to support my family and spoil my younger sister rotten.

Li Xiangyang remained silent for a moment, looking at Li Xiaoyun's face, which appeared exceptionally delicate in the dim moonlight.

Beneath her willow-leaf eyebrows, a pair of clear almond-shaped eyes were intently gazing at him, their expression a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.

At that moment, Li Xiangyang suddenly understood many things.

Fate is something that can't be explained or understood.

Like this avalanche, although dangerous, it gave the two people an opportunity to get to know each other better.

"Xiaoyun," he said softly, "after we get out, do you want to go to the market?"

Li Xiaoyun paused for a moment, then smiled broadly: "Okay."

“Hmm,” Li Xiangyang nodded, “Aren’t you from the city? You probably haven’t been to a rural market before. Our markets here are very lively, with vendors selling sugar paintings and monkey shows…”

"Really? I've never seen a monkey show before!" Li Xiaoyun's eyes lit up. "Hey, Li Xiangyang, why are you suddenly being so nice to me? Are you planning to pursue me?"

Li Xiangyang looked at her earnestly: "Yes, Li Xiaoyun, give me a chance. I think some things don't need to be overcomplicated. You're right, feelings can be cultivated slowly."

Li Xiaoyun's eyes reddened slightly: "Why do you always say things that make people..."

Before he could finish speaking, a faint sound came from outside.

"Shh!" Li Xiangyang pricked up his ears alertly. "It sounds like something's moving."

The two held their breath and listened intently to the sounds outside. Soon, a meowing sound came from outside.

"It's Xuanmao! The black leopard cat that insisted on coming home with me when I went into the mountains before, her name is Little Princess!" Li Xiangyang exclaimed in surprise. "It actually came looking for me! We're saved!"

At this moment, Li Xiangyang remembered what his mother had said: black cats are amulets that ward off evil spirits and bring good luck.

He had previously dismissed the idea, but at this moment, he was beginning to believe it. He felt genuinely grateful to this wondrous creature.

“We need to hurry,” Li Xiangyang said to Li Xiaoyun. “With it outside, we can find our way.”

The black leopard cat kept meowing, as if guiding them in the right direction.

Li Xiangyang carefully discerned the source of the sound and began clearing the snow with a machete.

“You rest, I’ll take care of it,” he said softly to Li Xiaoyun.

Li Xiaoyun shook her head: "I'll help too. If we work together, it'll be faster."

The two worked together, slowly digging a passage to the outside world.

Whenever they stopped to rest, the black leopard cat would meow, as if urging them to continue.

“This cat,” Li Xiaoyun wiped the sweat from her forehead, “is almost like it can understand human speech.”

“That’s right,” Li Xiangyang laughed. “I used to think my mother’s stories about the black cat were just superstition, but now it seems that the cat really does have a spirit.”

With their efforts, the snow was gradually cleared to create a passage.

The cold air rushed in from outside, bringing a sense of freedom.

As the last shovelful of snow was cleared, the morning sun shone in perfectly.

The black leopard cat crouched at the entrance of the cave, its golden pupils gleaming with intelligence, its tail swaying gently.

"Little princess, thank you so much," Li Xiangyang said sincerely, "you're my savior."

The black leopard cat seemed to understand him, meowed softly, and turned to walk down the mountain.

Li Xiangyang and Li Xiaoyun followed behind, watching the cat's elegant figure, their hearts filled with gratitude.

This night's experience not only saved them from disaster, but also brought the two of them closer together.

“I’ve heard,” Li Xiaoyun suddenly spoke, “that black cats can not only ward off evil spirits, but also protect one’s marriage.”

Li Xiangyang paused for a moment, then smiled at her mischievous smile: "Then we'd better thank it properly."

Under the sunlight, the snow reflected a crystalline light, casting a warm blush on the faces of the two young people.

The way down the mountain was muddy and difficult to traverse. Before a steep slope, Li Xiangyang naturally extended his hand: "Be careful."

Li Xiaoyun placed her hand on it.

After descending the slope, Li Xiangyang tried to let go, but Li Xiaoyun gripped him even tighter: "This mountain path is difficult to walk on, you have to hold me."

Li Xiangyang smiled and let her have her way.

The little princess led the way, glancing back at them every now and then, her golden eyes seemingly filled with a hint of pride.

Before we even reached the foot of the mountain, we heard someone shouting, "Towards the sun! Towards the sun!"

It's my mother's voice.

“Mom, I’m here!” Li Xiangyang quickly replied.

Following the sound, they saw Li's mother and Li Xiaohua running towards them. Seeing Li Xiangyang unharmed, Li's mother burst into tears: "My child, why didn't you come home all night? I was so worried!"

Li Xiaohua's eyes were also red: "Brother, you weren't in danger, were you?"

"No, of course not," Li Xiangyang quickly reassured her. "Mother, don't worry, I just chatted with Xiaoyun late on the mountain and lost track of time."

He instinctively tried to let go of Li Xiaoyun's hand, but found that she was gripping it even tighter.

Only then did Li's mother notice the two young people holding hands, and her eyes lit up: "Oh, this is...!"

Li Xiaohua was even more direct: "Hello, sister-in-law!"

This sweet greeting made Li Xiaoyun blush instantly to the roots of her neck.

"Go away, go away, what sister-in-law?" Li Xiangyang pretended to scold his sister, but couldn't help smiling. "Xiaoyun and I just..."

"I just started dating someone." Li Xiaoyun chimed in, speaking frankly, "Auntie, Xiangyang and I talked a lot last night, and we really clicked."

Li's mother beamed from ear to ear: "Good, good, good! Xiaoyun, don't look down on our family's poor conditions..."

“Auntie, please don’t say that,” Li Xiaoyun said earnestly. “In my eyes, Xiangyang is the best.”

These words made Li Xiangyang feel incredibly embarrassed: "Um, Mom, let's not talk about this anymore, let's go home first. Xiaoyun must be hungry, please cook her a nice meal."

"Now you know how to cherish your wife? You know how to cherish her, yet you naughty boy still made her freeze up on the mountain with you late at night."

Li's mother chuckled and scolded, then turned to Li Xiaoyun, her expression softening, "Xiaoyun, Auntie sees your hands are all red from the cold. I'll make you some ginger tea to warm you up later."

Throughout the journey, Li's mother's eyes never left Li Xiaoyun; she liked her very much no matter how she looked at her.

Indeed, that was the case, and Li's mother was very satisfied.

Li Xiaoyun has a sharp tongue, but in her mother's eyes, that's not a flaw.

In rural areas, if you're not good with words, you'll often suffer losses.

If you're looking for a daughter-in-law, you should look for someone like Li Xiaoyun.

"Xiaoyun, you have no idea how much I like you. Your little mouth is like it's been poisoned, just like mine. You're definitely someone who lives a high-class life."

"For us country folk, whether life is hard or not sometimes depends on how well we eat."

"You have no idea, if I hadn't been a bit sharp-tongued back then, after Xiangyang's father passed away, those relatives would have divided up all the family's assets long ago."

Li Xiaoyun listened attentively, nodding repeatedly.

"Look at her, what a sensible girl."

Seeing that Li Xiaoyun really listened, Li's mother liked her even more.

"Xiaoyun, when you get home later, Auntie will stew some fish for you. Even though conditions are poor in the countryside, at least we can have a hot meal."

“Mother,” Li Xiangyang said with a smile, “you’ve already started making arrangements before you even stepped inside.”

"What do you know?" Li's mother rolled her eyes at her son. "Look at Xiaoyun, so fair and clean-cut. Does she think she can withstand the wind like you? What if she gets frostbite? Luckily, your second aunt brought me some eggs yesterday. I'll steam some egg custard for Xiaoyun later. City girls need to be pampered."

As the mother chatted and made arrangements, the group walked home, laughing and talking.

Li Xiaohua skipped and hopped along behind, occasionally stealing a glance at her brother and Li Xiaoyun holding hands, her little face full of smiles.

Li Xiaoyun knew that Li Xiangyang kept quiet about the avalanche because he didn't want his family to worry.

This thoughtfulness made her feel even more certain that she hadn't misjudged him.

Of course, she preferred Li's mother.

Look at that, so what if you have a sharp tongue?

These are qualities that elders believe are essential for a good life.