"That's not right. You're being overly nice for no reason. Come on, what do you want this time?"
Although Ye Zhinan said so, her actions were quite honest. She snatched the spoon and started eating.
Qin Yihuai slightly squinted his eyes, his gaze filled with tenderness.
"I'm here to ask about irrigation methods."
"Didn't I copy the Agricultural Encyclopedia for you?"
"Copy?"
Ye Zhinan paused for a moment and quickly corrected herself. "Just read the book!"
"I've read it, but I still think you have more good ideas. I'd like to come and ask for your advice."
Ye Zhinan stopped what she was doing and stared at him from head to toe, making Qin Yihuai feel uncomfortable all over.
"What's wrong?"
"You've noticed it too?"
A hint of mockery flashed across Ye Zhinan's eyes.
Qin Yihuai had no idea what she meant.
Could it be...?
"Ah, I mean, have you also noticed that I'm smart?"
Ye Zhinan stuffed a mouthful of shaved ice into her mouth discontentedly.
A total straight man. Confirmed.
Qin Yihuai: ...
"Your shaved ice is really good. Tell me how to make it, and I'll give you some pointers."
"Sure, it's a deal!"
Qin Yihuai watched as she finished an entire large bowl of shaved ice.
It was common to drink hot tea on a cold day, but eating ice was quite a novelty.
He stared at Ye Zhinan from head to toe, which caught her attention.
"Where did you get the ice? It's quite delicious!"
A faint smile played on Qin Yihuai's deep eyes. "Chiseled from the riverbank."
Upon hearing this, Ye Zhinan's face darkened.
The river in the village was used for both washing clothes and taking baths. Just a few days ago, she even saw an old man soaking his feet in it, saying it was good for strengthening the body in winter.
Seeing her face getting uglier and uglier, Qin Yihuai quickly changed his words. "It's the clear spring water from the mountain. Don't worry!"
Ye Zhinan shot him a glare. "I didn't expect Inspector Qin to be so good at joking!"
Qin Yihuai's pupils constricted slightly.
He didn't know when he had changed.
"If you like it, I'll get some more for you tomorrow night."
The words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop them. Qin Yihuai was stunned for a moment, and then he tried his best to hide his nervousness.
Ye Zhinan didn't seem to notice his uneasiness. She nodded happily. "It's a deal. By the way, we can try building an ice cellar."
Once she made up her mind, she started taking action.
Early the next morning, it was still dark.
Ye Yingfeng got up very early every day to do morning exercises. As soon as he stepped out of the house, he heard a rustling sound from the backyard.
Thinking that someone was coming to cause trouble again, he grabbed a stick and rushed over.
He saw a pile of straw standing next to the duck coop, and there was something moving beside it.
He tiptoed over. Just as he was about to swing the stick, Ye Zhinan popped out from behind the haystack. "Brother, what are you doing?"
"What are you doing here? And what's with all this straw?"
Ye Yingfeng looked at his sister with straw all over her head, looking so silly, and couldn't help laughing.
"I'm going to store ice. Hurry up and help me get some straw mats."
With that, Ye Zhinan stuffed some straw into his hand. Ye Yingfeng had to put aside his martial arts practice and was drafted into helping.
After the straw mats were made and laid in the cellar, Qin Yihuai had already pushed a large cart of ice blocks to the Ye family.
They worked together to move the ice blocks into the cellar, stacking them layer by layer. Then they covered the top with straw mats, added a thick layer of loess, and finally sealed the cellar.
"It's a success! We'll have shaved ice to eat in the summer."
Ye Zhinan clapped her hands excitedly. Suddenly, she seemed to remember something. "By the way, we can make some jam and pour it on top. It'll be so delicious!"
Ye Yingfeng and Qin Yihuai looked at each other, both wondering if there was anything in this little woman's head besides food.
"If we fill the cellar with ice blocks, where will we store the vegetables?"
Ye Yingfeng couldn't help asking. "Didn't you build the cellar to store vegetables?"
"Why store vegetables in winter? Isn't it better to eat fresh ones every day? You really don't know how to enjoy life."
Ye Zhinan pouted, her eyes full of disdain.
Ye Yingfeng thought she was right, but at the same time, he felt something was off. He thought for a long time but couldn't come up with a conclusion, so he had to go back to practice martial arts.
Ye Zhinan ate Qin Yihuai's shaved ice, so she was going to think about ways to increase production for him. Even if he didn't say anything, she would still do it.
They had dug canals during the snowfall. If they could directly divert the water from the river to the fields, it would be even more convenient.
Ye Zhinan told Qin Yihuai all her ideas without reservation. He was very efficient and immediately gathered the constables. According to the location of each household's fields, he drew a specific direction for the canals.
Ye Zhinan clapped her hands in praise.
"Inspector Qin is really amazing. You catch on so quickly."
Qin Yihuai's deep eyes became even more tender. Chen Zhenhai felt uncomfortable all over just looking at them.
"It's all thanks to Miss Ye's guidance. Otherwise, our boss wouldn't have such a clear mind. So Miss Ye, if you need anything, just say the word. I, Xiaohai, will do my best and go through fire and water for you..."
Ye Zhinan was a bit dazed and thought it was strange.
What was wrong with these people?
The villagers were also very surprised. Since the farming methods had been improved, farming had become much easier. Because the farming time had been shortened, they had more free time.
Qin Yihuai attributed all these changes to Ye Zhinan. Those who used to gossip gradually stopped.
Ye Zhinan finally had some peace and quiet. When people were idle, they always found something to do.
After finishing the farm work, she walked along the route of the canals and unknowingly reached the foot of the mountain.
"Since I'm here, I might as well go and dig some wild vegetables."
Ye Zhinan searched and dug as she walked. The small basket she carried with her was soon filled.
Just as she was about to take a break, she saw a person standing under a big tree not far away, staring straight at her.
Wei Shishi! She was really a persistent nuisance!
She was just about to turn around and leave when she was called out.
"Why are you out stealing food again?"
After saying that, Wei Shishi burst into giggles, her whole body shaking.
"If you can't talk properly, just shut up!"
Ye Zhinan glared at her angrily.
"Oh, are you getting angry because I hit the nail on the head? I was wondering why your family always has enough to eat. So you've been foraging."
With that, Wei Shishi knocked the basket out of her hand. All the wild vegetables in the basket fell out and were scattered on the ground, looking extremely eye - catching.
Looking at the mess on the ground, Ye Zhinan slapped her across the face.
Smack!
"Why do you keep hitting people?"
Wei Shishi covered her swollen face and shouted loudly.
At this time, some villagers passed by. They all stopped, and some of them even scolded Ye Zhinan without knowing the whole story.
"Don't you have any manners, little girl? How can you hit people casually?"
"Exactly. A girl shouldn't be so aggressive. Otherwise, no one will want to marry you."
Some people were really worried, while others were bossy, as if they were standing up for Wei Shishi.
Ye Zhinan stood aside and watched coldly.
So that's how it was. She had used the same old trick as soon as she saw people coming.
"Is there anything else you can do besides pretending to be weak? Can't you come up with something new?"
Ye Zhinan took a step closer, picking up a branch as she walked and constantly patting her palm with it.
Once, twice, and then again!