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

Standing at the entrance of the main room, Li's mother looked at the two people under the moonlight, a gratified smile appearing on her lips.

She coughed lightly, and the two separated as if waking from a dream. Li Xiaoyun lowered her head, her cheeks flushed, while Li Xiangyang scratched his head embarrassedly.

“Come inside and talk,” Li’s mother said, “it’s cold outside.”

Inside the main room, the stove was burning brightly.

“Xiangyang,” Li’s mother said, sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) as she brewed tea for her son, “I want to discuss something with you.”

“Mother, please speak.” Li Xiangyang took the teacup and gently blew on it.

“We’ve saved up some money at home,” Li’s mother said carefully, “I’m thinking you should go to the old Party Secretary and apply for a separate household registration and to build a house. The young couple needs some private space after they get married.”

Li's mother's gaze softened. "Besides, Xiaoyun has been helping out at our house these past few days, and some people in the village are already gossiping about her."

"Who dares to gossip!" Li Xiangyang frowned.

"Silly child," Li's mother sighed softly, "that's how it is in our village; the wedding still needs to be arranged as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiaoyun blushed even more, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

Li Xiaohua was carefully working on a wood carving when she heard about building a house. Her eyes lit up, and she jumped to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed): "Brother, building a house is great! It would be even better if we could get the land across the street."

"Across the hall?" Li Xiangyang was taken aback.

"Yes!" Li Xiaohua nodded. "I heard from the villagers that Uncle Zhou and his family across the street went to the city and said they're never coming back. Their house on that plot of land should be returned to the village."

“This child,” Li’s mother also became interested, “is right. If we could have that piece of land, it would be convenient for us to travel back and forth since we live nearby.”

“Okay,” Li Xiangyang said thoughtfully, “I’ll go ask the old Party Secretary tomorrow.”

"Alright, it's getting late," Li's mother said, glancing at the night outside the window. "Xiangyang, take Xiaoyun back to the educated youth settlement."

“Let me go back by myself…” Li Xiaoyun tried to refuse.

“It’s so late, how can I let you walk alone?” Li’s mother interrupted. “Xiangyang, hurry up. Come back as soon as you’re done. What kind of behavior is it to stay together all the time? Before marriage, the man and woman should avoid suspicion.”

Li Xiangyang nodded, got up and took the mink coat from the corner of the room.

Li Xiaoyun wanted to refuse, but seeing Li Xiangyang's insistence, she let him put it on her.

The coat still carried a faint scent of sandalwood, and the soft fur collar accentuated her delicate skin.

Under the moonlight, the mink coat made Li Xiaoyun's skin look even more like porcelain.

She raised her head slightly, a shy smile on her lips, and her eyes sparkled with a radiance that captivated Li Xiangyang.

"Go quickly." Li's mother's voice pulled the two back to reality.

The moon hangs high in the sky, its silvery light bathing the path.

Li Xiangyang and Li Xiaoyun walked side by side, the snow under their feet making a soft "crunching" sound.

Li Xiaoyun, wrapped in a mink coat, would steal glances at Li Xiangyang beside her from time to time.

Whenever their eyes met, she would quickly lower her head, her long eyelashes trembling slightly in the moonlight.

"Are you cold?" Li Xiangyang asked softly.

"I'm not cold," Li Xiaoyun shook her head, stroking the fur collar of her mink coat. "This coat is really warm."

After walking for a while, Li Xiaoyun suddenly stopped, looked up at Li Xiangyang, and asked, "Xiangyang, what do you think our future will be like?"

Li Xiangyang paused for a moment, then laughed, "Of course it'll be better than now. We'll have our own house, grow some vegetables in the yard, and raise a few chickens. You can teach in the village, and I'll go hunting in the mountains. In our spare time, we can even take Mom and Xiaohua to the county town..."

As he spoke, Li Xiangyang's voice gradually lowered.

He saw that Li Xiaoyun's eyes were red.

"What's wrong?" he asked with concern.

“It’s nothing,” Li Xiaoyun wiped her eyes, “I’m just so happy. You know, when I first came to the countryside, I always felt like a leaf floating on the water, not knowing where the wind would blow me. Now, hearing you say this, I suddenly feel like I finally have a place to belong.”

Li Xiangyang felt a warmth in his heart and gently took Li Xiaoyun's hand: "Xiaoyun, I'm not good at sweet talk. Just tell me directly, do you want to stay here or go back to the city in the future? I'll listen to you."

Li Xiaoyun looked up, her eyes shining. "Thank you for considering my situation. Perhaps I would have chosen to go back to the city before. But now, I want to stay here. I want to be a teacher. Teaching and nurturing students here, watching each graduating class grow and succeed—I think that would be a very happy thing."

She paused, a blush rising to her cheeks. "And...and I also can't bear to leave the people here."

At that moment, Li Xiangyang felt that the girl in front of him was breathtakingly beautiful.

As they approached the vicinity of the educated youth settlement, Li Xiaoyun stopped. "You should go back now; it's too far to take you any further."

"Then you can go in. I'll keep an eye on you."

Just as Li Xiaoyun was about to turn around, she seemed to remember something and asked, "Xiangyang, what do you think we need to prepare if we're going to have a banquet?"

"Oh, that?" Li Xiangyang laughed. "Don't worry about it, I've already planned it. When spring comes, I'll take Daqiang and the others up the mountain to hunt some wild boars, and catch some pheasants and rabbits. Our village has never seen such a grand feast before!"

“But…” Li Xiaoyun hesitated, unable to finish her sentence.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm afraid it's too dangerous for you to go into the mountains."

"Don't worry, with the black cat with me, nothing will happen. Besides," Li Xiangyang winked, "I still need to get some fur for you and make you some nice clothes."

Li Xiaoyun blushed and lightly slapped him: "You're so sweet-talking."

Under the moonlight, her smile was bright and captivating.

"Let's go inside quickly," Li Xiangyang urged. "It's cold outside."

"It's alright, I'm not cold. You go first, I'll watch you go back before I go in."

……

"Oh my goodness, whose young couple is this?"

"Exactly, exactly! It's so late at night, are you reluctant to part ways?"

"Why don't we just stay?"

Although it was already late, there were still many people at the educated youth settlement who hadn't gone to sleep yet. Seeing the two of them so affectionate, someone immediately came out and teased them.

Hearing what everyone said, Li Xiaoyun blushed as red as a ripe apple and walked inside with her head down.

"Xiaoyun, don't run away, let's talk. Your mink coat is so beautiful! Is it a betrothal gift from Li Xiangyang?"

"This dowry is quite extravagant; Xiangyang's partner is truly lucky!"

Some people started jeering from behind.

"Stop fooling around..." Li Xiaoyun pushed away the girls' hands and shyly hid inside the house.

"Alright, alright, let them in," Zhang Li said with a smile, helping Li Xiaoyun out of the awkward situation. "It's cold outside."

"Xiangyang, you should go back now," Li Xiaoyun said to Li Xiangyang as she turned around.

"Wait, comrades, we can't let Li Xiangyang get away! We have to make him explain himself today. When exactly is he planning to invite us to his wedding?"

Li Dabao stopped Li Xiangyang, and the other educated youths also gathered around.

Li Xiangyang waved his hand with a smile: "No, no. It's cold outside, let Xiaoyun go in first. As for the wedding banquet, it'll be soon, it'll be a big celebration, everyone can have a good time."

"Talk is cheap!" Ma Xiuying said, hands on her hips. "We need to show some real skills."

"That's right, you're not leaving here today without a pledge of loyalty!"