On the hillside not far from Li Zhichen, there was an old woman digging wild taros. Seeing Li Zhichen's good looks, she took a fancy to the girl at once.
Although the mountain was not very large, the roads were extremely rugged and the terrain was perilous.
Most of the people who came up the mountain at this time of the year were poor folks who came to cut firewood or gather herbs.
This girl looked no more than sixteen or seventeen years old. She wondered which family was so heartless as to let such a delicate daughter come up the mountain to work in the cold!
Thinking of this, a look of concern flashed in the old woman's eyes. "Girl, are you here to gather mountain produce too?"
Seeing the bamboo basket beside the old woman on the verge of tipping over, Li Zhichen walked over to steady it and replied calmly,
"I'm here to cut firewood."
The old woman was taken aback. She stared at Li Zhichen's slender frame for a moment with a complex look on her face and hesitated, "... Can you cut firewood?"
"No." Li Zhichen answered without hesitation. She casually placed the bamboo basket on the ground and took out a pre - sharpened long - handled axe from it. "That's exactly why I need to learn. Once I learn, I'll be able to do it."
The old woman couldn't help but smile when she heard Li Zhichen make cutting firewood sound as simple as eating or drinking.
This girl was still too young. Her thoughts were rather naive. How could felling and splitting wood be that easy?
Cutting firewood not only required physical strength but also years of accumulated experience and skills. Usually, after just a few swings of the axe, one would be out of breath.
Moreover, even if one managed to cut down the trees, carrying these solid logs down the mountain was no easy task.
Furthermore, cutting firewood in the mountains was quite different from doing it on flat ground, especially on these cliffs. One slightest misstep and one could fall, which was extremely dangerous.
Even seasoned farmers found such hard work a bit strenuous. How could a young girl like Li Zhichen handle it?
The old woman wanted to say something else, but saw Li Zhichen walking away with the axe in hand. In the end, she just shook her head with a sigh.
Li Zhichen's eyes scanned the crowd constantly and finally landed on a dark - skinned man.
Although the man was not very old, he was extremely dexterous when felling trees. With one swing of the axe, he chopped off a cluster of branches, looking as if he had done it thousands of times.
Li Zhichen was overjoyed. She thought to herself that here was a perfect model to learn from!
She stopped about three or four meters away from the man and stared intently at him chopping trees, her dark eyes not blinking.
Her gaze fell on the man's elbows, upper arms and knees from time to time as she constantly studied how he exerted force.
Li Zhichen noticed that the position and angle of the man's every axe swing were very particular.
He usually started cutting from a proper height on the tree, never too high or too low.
When he swung the axe, he would usually make a cut at a slanting downward angle first, and then another cut at a slanting upward angle, always aiming at the same point to form a notch. After a few swings, the tree would naturally fall.
Li Zhichen's eyes sparkled. She was learning seriously, not knowing that her actions were interpreted differently in others' eyes.
The man noticed someone staring at him all the time. He turned his head with an unfriendly look on his face, only to find that it was a charming young girl!
His face instantly flushed red like a fiery cloud. He stared blankly at Li Zhichen, not knowing what to do.
Li Zhichen frowned slightly when she saw the man stop. When she looked up, she met the man's dazed gaze.
Li Zhichen thought to herself that something was wrong. Had her secret learning been discovered?
Li Zhichen calmly nodded at the man and then shifted her gaze, as if two strangers had just greeted each other after accidentally making eye contact.
The man was stunned and felt a bit confused.
Could it be... that he had just had an illusion?
The man hesitantly turned around. But as soon as he started cutting firewood again, that burning gaze fell on him once more, making him feel as if there were thorns on his back.
The man:......
He was right. This girl had indeed been staring at him!
For a moment, the man's mind was filled with all sorts of thoughts. Uncontrollably, some amorous ideas popped up in his mind.
Was this girl really here to cut firewood? Why hadn't she made a move for so long?
There were so many places on the mountain. Why did she stand right behind him?
Could it be that she had taken a fancy to him?!
Thinking of this, his old face blushed. He chopped firewood even more vigorously and deliberately straightened his back to show off his strong figure.
But he waited for a long time and Li Zhichen didn't come to talk to him. The man got a bit anxious. Assuming that Li Zhichen was just shy, he mustered up his courage and walked over to her, asking attentively,
"Let me help you cut. You're so thin and small. When will you finish?"
These words reached the ears of a woman nearby. She immediately curled her lips.
She had been working beside this man for so long and he had never offered to help her. But as soon as Li Zhichen came, he rushed to curry favor with her!
This woman must be using her youth to act coquettishly and seduce men into doing work for her! How disgusting!
Thinking of this, the woman glanced at Li Zhichen sideways. This girl was so frail that a gust of wind could blow her down. How could she be as hard - working as herself? But so many men just liked this type!
So she said in a sarcastic tone, "Some people are really acting like a vixen. I don't know if they're here to cut trees or to flirt!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the man's face instantly darkened. But Li Zhichen waved her hand and said,
"No need. I can do it myself."
She had learned enough just now and it was time to put it into practice.
The man wanted to say something else, but saw Li Zhichen walking towards a short tree as thick as a bowl with the axe in hand.
Her slender wrist could be easily grasped by one hand. Now, with the heavy long - handled axe weighing it down, it seemed as if it would break at any moment, which made people feel worried.
The woman sneered. "Just putting on a show."
She called on the people around her to stop their farm work and watch Li Zhichen, eager to see her make a fool of herself!
Li Zhichen ignored the gazes around her. She tightly grasped the back end of the axe handle with both hands, and a hint of determination flashed in her eyes.
Aim, exert force, and swing the axe fiercely!
The axe stirred up a cold wind. With one swing, the short tree shook violently, and a deep notch was cut into the trunk, but it still didn't fall.
Li Zhichen was neither hasty nor impatient. She swung the axe again!
With a loud "boom", the tree fell straight down, startling a flock of mountain birds in the forest!
The man who wanted to help was instantly stunned on the spot. Infinite confusion flashed in his big eyes.
This girl... cut down a tree with just two swings of the axe? Two swings??
This was a tree as thick as a bowl!!
Even adult men couldn't do it. How on earth did she manage to do it?!