Magic Space: Struggling to Survive in the Apocalypse

Chapter 346: Farm Daily Life 18

By the third month of the heavy snows that had sealed off the mountains, the farm was almost completely isolated from the outside world. No one could get in, and no one could get out.

Life on the farm was relatively peaceful. After the second crop of winter wheat was sown, everyone found themselves with time on their hands.

Taylor Vance and Zion Lowell had even fashioned a mahjong set, while Nathan Xavier and Drako had made a deck of playing cards.

As for Evelyn Ford, when she wasn’t exercising in the training room, she was holed up in her cabin, entering her personal space to harvest rice and wheat.

The cold weather made her feel lazy. Of all the face masks she had stockpiled in her space over the years, she had used fewer than five boxes.

She still had a lot of yarn left, so in her spare time, Evelyn would knit sweaters by the fireplace, not participating in the others’ games.

Wyatt Vaughn said she was a woman in her twenties with the disposition of someone in their eighties.

’The mountains are snowed in. What else is there to do besides stay cooped up at home?’

Wyatt Vaughn had been troubled by something lately. When she came to find Evelyn, Evelyn was just putting the finishing touches on the sweater she was knitting for Ronan Kendrick.

"Evelyn, there’s something I want to talk about, but I’m not sure if I should."

Evelyn glanced at Ronan Kendrick. Though clearly displeased, he picked up Mina and retreated to the bedroom, leaving the two women space to speak in private.

"Go ahead. What’s wrong?"

Wyatt Vaughn seemed to find it difficult to broach the subject. "I want to set Joelle Finch up with my brother, but the age gap is just too large."

Evelyn thought she must have misheard. "Your brother is interested in Joelle?"

Wyatt Vaughn shook her head. "I have no idea. He’s always buzzing about, so busy you can never pin him down. But I’ve caught Joelle sneaking glances at my brother several times. The thing is, my brother is thirty years old. With such a big age difference, I feel like it would be unfair to Joelle, but at the same time, I can’t help but think they’d be a good match."

Evelyn chuckled, at a loss for words.

"Joelle is eighteen, which is definitely young, but if she likes Miles Vaughn, I don’t think age is a problem. Still, for something like this, you should probably sound them both out before you decide anything, just so you don’t go to all this trouble for nothing."

Wyatt Vaughn looked a little sheepish. "I just don’t know how to bring it up with Joelle. She’s so young, I’m worried I’ll scare her if I say something."

Evelyn understood.

"How about this: I’ll help you out and ask Joelle, and you can go ask your brother. Sound good?"

Wyatt Vaughn’s eyes lit up. "Okay! If it works out between them, I’ll finally be able to rest easy. My brother is all alone, and it’s honestly a bit sad. He’s a good person, really, and he’s never even been in a relationship. It’s just... he’s so old. I feel like he’s not good enough for Joelle."

"In this world, a person’s character is more important than anything else. Besides, thirty is still very young."

Hearing Evelyn say this gave Wyatt Vaughn a sudden boost of confidence.

"Evelyn, my brother’s happiness is in your hands! I’m counting on you!"

Evelyn didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. But since she had agreed to help, she didn’t waste any time. She found Joelle and asked her point-blank.

"Joelle, what do you think of Miles Vaughn?"

Joelle’s face instantly turned bright red, and she stammered for a long moment without managing to say a word.

The moment Evelyn saw her reaction, she understood.

"Here’s the thing: Wyatt Vaughn wants to set the two of you up. If you’re open to it, I can tell you what I know about Miles Vaughn. His character, at least, is beyond reproach."

Joelle’s face grew even redder.

"Would Mr. Vaughn agree? I’m afraid he wouldn’t be interested in me."

Wyatt Vaughn was worried Miles wasn’t good enough for Joelle, while Joelle was worried she wasn’t good enough for Miles.

’Can’t you two have a little more confidence in yourselves?’

"So, are you interested in Miles? He’s thirty, you know."

Joelle nodded. "He only looks like he’s in his early twenties. He’s very young."

’Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.’

’She’s looking at him through some thick rose-colored glasses. Miles is a mess all day, scruffy and unshaven. To see past all that and think he looks like he’s in his early twenties... If that isn’t true love, what is?’

"I get it. Alright, why don’t you head back for now? I’m going to go talk to Wyatt."

Joelle was nervous. "Are you going to tell Mr. Vaughn?"

"What else?"

"I’m worried it’ll make him feel awkward." Joelle’s face flushed an even deeper shade of red.

Just then, Wyatt Vaughn came running over. Seeing the broad smile on her face, Evelyn knew things had worked out.

Wyatt rushed up to them. "I asked my brother! He said he thinks Joelle is a great person, but that she’s too young."

"Mr. Vaughn is very young. Thirty isn’t old at all," Joelle blurted out, her neck and ears flushing red.

Wyatt laughed. "Haha, that’s wonderful! Since you’re both interested, how about this: you two can start spending some time getting to know each other. If it doesn’t work out, that’s totally fine, no need to feel awkward. My brother even tried to set me up with Mr. Graham once, and Mr. Graham and I still get along great."

Joelle nodded. "I understand."

Evelyn smiled. "If you two feel you’re a good match, we can pick a date and hold a simple wedding. We could all use a good celebration and a wedding toast."

"That would be too much. There’s no need," Joelle said.

"It’s about having a proper ceremony. It’s a must," Evelyn insisted.

With the matter settled, Evelyn returned to her cabin. Over the following days, after spending some time together, both Miles Vaughn and Joelle Finch felt they could take their relationship further. However, Miles thought they should wait two years, as Joelle was still a few months shy of her nineteenth birthday.

"Miles, you’ll be an old man in two years," Quincy, his brother-in-law, couldn’t resist jibing.

"Come on, Joelle’s almost nineteen, she’s an adult. If you keep dragging your feet, when are we ever going to get that wedding toast?"

"Miles is just shy. He’s this old and has never even had a girlfriend. Give him some time to get his head on straight."

"HAHAHAHA..."

As the resident hothead, Miles Vaughn feared nothing and no one. He never imagined a day would come when he’d be the butt of everyone’s jokes.

He’d always thought he was thick-skinned, but in that moment, he actually felt himself blushing.

’After all, he was an old man of thirty.’

Miles asked, a little embarrassed, "Mr. Vance, are there any auspicious days coming up soon?"

"There are. Tomorrow is one."

"See? Heaven itself is blessing you! Tomorrow is a lucky day. So, Miles, what’s it going to be? Are you getting married or not? I even have a piece of red cloth I can use to make a big red flower for the occasion tomorrow."

Miles glanced at Joelle, and they both nodded.

Everyone immediately broke into cheers and jeers again.

"Miss Ford, should we prepare a wedding feast?"

"Of course we are! This is the farm’s first big celebration, so we have to do it right. Miles, are you living by yourself or with someone else?"

Miles nodded. "I live alone."

"Good. Quincy, you can help him clean the place up."

Quincy hadn’t expected the cleaning duty to fall to him. He was about to ask for a different task, but Evelyn’s next words sealed his fate.

"You’re Miles’s brother-in-law, so you’re the most suitable person for the job. Wyatt, you come over tomorrow and help them pick out a new set of clothes."

"Evelyn, thank you," Wyatt said.

"Don’t mention it. I’m just happy that Miles has found someone to be happy with."

After arranging everything, Evelyn returned to the cabin to find Ronan Kendrick sulking.

"What’s wrong? You’ve seemed down all day."

Ronan Kendrick gave her a woeful look. "Evelyn, when are you going to marry me?"

Evelyn was taking a sip of water, and upon hearing his question, she sprayed it everywhere.

As luck would have it, it all went right in Ronan Kendrick’s face.