The image of the mountain god originated from the imagination of believers, much like in Bai Xian Town.
Everyone believed that the white serpent in the flood was the incarnation of the mountain god, hence the giant serpent statue in the mountain god's temple.
"Are you saying that because you want to be friends with me?" Ning Wei asked with some curiosity.
"Heh." The mountain god let out a cold laugh, as if mocking Ning Wei's overestimation of herself, or perhaps thinking she thought too highly of herself.
What kind of person could be friends with a mountain god? Certainly not an ordinary person.
Ning Wei felt mocked, and she became unhappy.
She stopped speaking, and the mountain god resumed its silent stare at her.
Ning Wei did not want to waste fresh blood every night. She was contemplating something else.
Both sides remained in a silent standoff, each with their own thoughts.
It wasn't until Ning Wei heard a rooster crow that the darkness receded, and she abruptly opened her eyes and sat up.
She was back in her familiar room, her teammates still fast asleep.
The wall was white. Ning Wei directly picked off the parts stained with blood with her finger. In such a hidden spot, no one would ever discover it.
She gently pushed open the window, and a large rooster flew onto the fence, its head held high, diligently trying to wake everyone up.
Outside, the clatter of pots and bowls could be heard. Aunt Meng was preparing to make steamed buns.
Ning Wei tiptoed out and startled the rooster. The rooster jumped back into the coop, quietly searching for insects on the ground.
"Aunt Meng, I'll help you," Ning Wei rolled up her sleeves and joined the dough-kneading team.
Just then, another set of footsteps approached. Tilting her head, Ning Wei saw Li Ye standing at the kitchen doorway.
After two days of staying at the Meng family's house, their interactions had not escaped Aunt Meng's eyes.
She simply handed the task of kneading dough to the two young people, even though they seemed somewhat unreliable.
Aunt Meng explained the important points, and Li Ye listened very attentively.
The kitchen was a bit dark, so the two of them carried the basin of dough out to the courtyard.
Two hands kneaded and shaped the dough in the basin. A smile that Ning Wei herself didn't notice played on her lips.
Li Ye's eyes overflowed with a gentleness like water, so captivating that anyone would be immersed in it.
Aunt Meng prepared the filling and lit the stove, then walked outside and asked, "Is the dough ready?"
"It's ready," Li Ye replied, speaking to others for the first time in a while. Aunt Meng was quite surprised.
The rest was left to Aunt Meng. Everyone else had slept soundly. Ning Wei and Li Ye, just like yesterday afternoon, had one lying on a lounge chair, sleeping, and the other reading quietly beside them.
Smoke curled from the kitchen, and a gentle breeze blew through the courtyard.
Whether it was Li Ye's presence or the fact that it was already daylight, Ning Wei slept very well, and the mountain god did not reappear to cause trouble.
After Aunt Meng steamed the buns, she stood at the doorway, quietly watching the pair in the courtyard.
Having lived for so many years, she had never seen anyone as well-matched as these two.
However, she wondered if there was some misunderstanding between them; she always felt a barrier between them.
It seemed as though they both had feelings for each other.
Just as Aunt Meng was lost in her thoughts, Li Ye suddenly leaned over and placed a kiss on Ning Wei's cheek.
Aunt Meng inwardly exclaimed, "Wow!" but unfortunately, only she witnessed this scene.
After the kiss, Li Ye sat back down and continued reading as if nothing had happened.
Aunt Meng sighed inwardly. The world of young people was too complicated; she, an old woman, could no longer keep up with their pace.
It was like her own son and daughter; they disdained the ways of this town and were unwilling to return.
But this was their root!
Accompanied by the aroma of steamed buns, everyone began to wake up.
Ning Wei was sleeping soundly. When everyone moved tables and chairs, she only frowned and did not open her eyes.
It wasn't until everyone was about to eat that Li Ye gently called her awake.
Tang Tang was already eating a steamed bun. As she bit into it, she said to Ning Wei, "We all slept together last night. Why are you so sleepy this morning after making buns? It's like you didn't sleep at all."
Hearing Tang Tang's words, Li Ye's gaze fell on Ning Wei with a hint of confusion.
Ning Wei met Li Ye's gaze and felt inexplicably guilty.
She quickly retorted to Tang Tang, "Who told you to sleep like pigs and not wake up? Do you think these buns are easy to make?"
Tang Tang pleaded, "I definitely won't let you do the cooking at noon. You, old lady, just wait to be served."
Ning Wei snorted, "That's more like it."
Li Ye retracted his gaze, picked up a bun for Ning Wei. The bun was steaming hot. Tang Tang and the others blew on theirs as they ate.
Li Ye thought for a moment, then slightly opened his mouth and blew on Ning Wei's bun twice. Feeling that the outer skin was no longer scalding, he handed it to Ning Wei, reminding her, "Be careful, the filling inside is hot."
Everyone silently endured the display of affection and ate their buns faster.
After the meal, Uncle Meng gave a few more instructions before heading to the Wang family's house with Aunt Meng.
The group, bored in the courtyard, decided to play mahjong.
Having some money on them, Song Zhi suggested playing with chips.
Mei Nan was about to remind everyone that gambling was wrong, but Zhu Yilian and the others looked eager to play.
Ning Wei and Li Ye did not participate in these activities. One continued to sleep, while the other guarded her side.
Li Ye was like a loyal guard, silently protecting his little princess.
As for Ning Wei, she was sleeping so soundly that even the sound of Tang Tang playing mahjong did not wake her.
Tang Tang felt that something was amiss and whispered to the others, "Ning Wei actually wakes up startled every morning. She sits up abruptly."
"Why are you only telling us now?" Zhu Yilian asked her with dissatisfaction.
Ning Wei was the backbone of the team. If something happened to her, no one would know what to do.
Tang Tang looked innocent, "I thought she was just having nightmares. But seeing how deeply she's sleeping now, I realized something is wrong."
Everyone looked at Li Ye with concern. Li Ye glanced at the sleeping Ning Wei and then said to them, "She is just sleeping normally right now. Don't say these things in front of her."
Everyone understood Li Ye's meaning. Since Ning Wei herself did not bring it up, she must have her reasons.
Mei Nan sighed, "If anything really happens, don't you two bear it alone. We are always a team. If there's something, speak up. Although we are not as capable as you, there's a saying: Three cobblers with their wits combined equal the wisdom of Zhuge Liang."
Li Ye nodded slightly, took off his jacket and draped it over Ning Wei, then resumed reading.
After this incident, everyone lost the inclination to play mahjong.
Life in the town was very simple. After waking up and eating breakfast, they would rest for a while before preparing lunch. Tang Tang and the others were no exception.
Although Aunt Meng and Uncle Meng were not there, fresh vegetables, eggs, and meat were all placed in the kitchen, for them to prepare as they pleased.