The old village head's funeral was very simple. Li Feilong and the current village head chose a spot halfway up the mountain and planted a pagoda tree nearby.
"This is a perfect place to overlook the village. With the old village head's blessing, we're bound to have good weather and live happily ever after."
The villagers in the stockade didn't have much affection for the old village head, but they knelt on the ground and paid their respects in a proper manner.
Apart from sighs, there was more fear.
Ye Zhinan stumbled back into her room, looking deathly pale with no color on her lips.
It seemed that she was scared.
Qin Yihuai knocked on the door and came in. He was holding a bowl of plain congee and gently placed it in front of her.
"Have something to eat. Don't exhaust yourself."
Ye Zhinan just glanced at it, then numbly picked up the bowl but flinched because it was too hot.
Seeing her absent - minded look, Qin Yihuai felt as if his heart was being clutched, and it ached badly.
"They're going to visit the ancient temple tomorrow. Why don't you go and relax?"
Ye Zhinan let out a long sigh, looked up at him with dull eyes, showing none of her former spirit.
She lowered her eyelids, stared blankly for a while, and then slowly replied.
"Okay."
She just sighed at the unpredictability of life and hated herself for not taking the old village head's pulse.
But as a doctor, she knew clearly that the old village head was at the end of his life. No matter how hard she tried, it would be in vain.
The old village head was already on the verge of death. It was so difficult to snatch someone from the clutches of death.
But she just couldn't accept it.
"Finish the congee. I'll come and pick you up tomorrow."
Qin Yihuai turned around and left. Before leaving, he took a look into the room and still felt worried.
He pretended to leave the yard but took a long detour and secretly came back.
He sat at the back wall, looking up at the moon, but his heart was in the room.
He heard Ye Zhinan's soft sobs, her countless sighs, and her long, drawn - out breaths.
It was not until Ye Zhinan fell asleep completely that he stood up, rubbed his sore and numb legs, looked up at the faint dawn in the sky, and helplessly curled the corner of his mouth.
He was really bewitched.
When Chen Zhenhai got up in the morning, Qin Yihuai was already dressed neatly and having breakfast in the yard.
"Boss, you didn't stay up all night, did you?"
Qin Yihuai paused for a moment and then firmly shook his head, but the dark circles under his eyes gave him away.
"No. I came back late last night. I just rested my head on the pillow for a while, and that was enough to relieve my fatigue."
Chen Zhenhai saw that he looked normal and didn't suspect anything. He sat down and ate several steamed buns.
"I think we should put the matter of splitting the village on the agenda as soon as possible. If we keep living like this, there might be conflicts."
Qin Yihuai nodded. "I was just thinking the same thing."
The villagers in the village had always received favors from the stockade and were grateful to them, so they were more tolerant.
But after all, their living habits were very different, and they had never adjusted to each other. There would surely be many problems in the future.
It was better to separate early.
For now, he couldn't worry about this. He stuffed the last steamed bun into his mouth, took an oil - paper umbrella with him, and rushed out.
When Qin Yihuai arrived, Ye Zhinan was already awake.
She was sitting blankly in the yard, looking up at the falling leaves fluttering from the tree.
Her eyes were no longer as empty as yesterday, but sadness was still evident.
"Let's go. They're waiting at the village entrance."
Ye Zhinan's eyes were still swollen and red, and her voice was muffled. She still dragged her feet forward.
The air on the mountain was fresh. Even though the weather was gloomy, it made people feel refreshed.
Ye Zhinan started gasping for breath after walking a few steps and was gradually left behind by the group.
"You go first. I'll walk slowly along this path. I won't get lost."
She tried hard to force a smile. Qin Yihuai just ignored her words and still slowly followed behind her.
The two walked in silence until they reached the top of the mountain.
The ancient temple was over a hundred years old. It was said to be very spiritual. Every Qixi Festival, many lovers came here to pray for their marriage.
"I heard there's a sacred tree here. It's very spiritual. As long as you hang a red silk on it, lovers will eventually get married."
A young unmarried girl blushed.
Hearing this, Ye Zhinan looked over and saw the silk - covered silk tree. A feeling of joy welled up in her heart.
Life was just like this, with years passing by and things constantly changing.
When a star fell, a brighter one would rise, carrying the light of the past and embracing a better future.
"Are you feeling better?"
Seeing the glimmer of light gradually appearing in Ye Zhinan's eyes, Qin Yihuai couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
It seemed that the girl who dared to love and hate was back.
Ye Zhinan smiled at him. This time, it was not a forced smile but a genuine one.
"Madam, come and have your fortune told. I'm the most accurate at fortune - telling about marriage. It's free if it's inaccurate."
As she walked deeper into the ancient temple, she was stopped on the way by a man in ragged clothes, who looked like a swindler.
"To be honest, I'm here to become a nun in the ancient temple. Maybe the next time we meet, I'll be bald."
In a better mood, she was in the mood to joke.
Seeing the man standing there awkwardly, she let out a soft laugh and pulled Qin Yihuai further away.
Before they had walked a few steps, they saw an old monk with a smile on his lips, looking at them.
The old monk seemed to know Qin Yihuai. He put his hands together and bowed to him.
Qin Yihuai politely responded. There was a familiar yet distant feeling between them that was indescribable.
"Madam has a sharp tongue and is unrestrained. You will surely achieve great things in the future."
Ye Zhinan forced a few smiles. The old monk's tone was so circuitous that she couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or complimentary.
Qin Yihuai leaned over and whispered in her ear.
"He's praising you. Just thank him."
Ye Zhinan then realized and bowed. The smile on her face became wider.
"I'm not talented. I made some thoughtless remarks in this pure land of Buddhism. Please don't take offense."
The old monk shook his head, rolling the Buddhist beads in his hand, and smiled kindly.
His eyes lingered on the two of them for a moment, then he strode forward.
Ye Zhinan was confused. She turned to look at Qin Yihuai, as if seeking an answer.
"He's just like this. He refuses to reveal the divine mystery. He's used to being detached from the world."
Ye Zhinan also thought the old monk was strange. He seemed to be far away from the worldly troubles, but in fact, his words had hidden meanings. He still had some attachments in his heart.
She felt something flash by her feet. Looking closely, she found it was a rabbit.
Her attention was completely attracted by the rabbit, and she had no time to worry about the old monk.
"Do you like it?"
Qin Yihuai stood with his hands behind his back, looking at Ye Zhinan who was squatting on the ground, holding the rabbit in her arms. His heart was filled with joy too.
Ye Zhinan nodded vigorously, stroking the rabbit's fur and smiling like a child.
"I used to have a rabbit at home, but my mother thought it was too noisy and it bit her precious flowers and plants, so she gave it away. I cried for a long time because of that."
She sniffed, as if she had returned to the past.
"Since then, I've liked rabbits especially. I guess it's a kind of compensatory liking."
Seeing her happy look, Qin Yihuai secretly remembered what she said in his heart.