At that moment, two men were lounging outside, seemingly lost in their own worlds. Xiao Ling Ling was sprawled on a recliner, a piece of furniture his brother had insisted he use, while Xiao Sheng occupied a stool, his elbows resting on the table and his palms cradling his face. An air of boredom surrounded them as they both drifted into their thoughts.
Yize happened upon this scene, a mixture of amusement and worry washing over her.
"Sheng Er?" she called out, hoping to capture his attention.
"My wife? Have you finished your work?" Xiao Sheng replied absentmindedly, concern flickering in his eyes as he noticed her damp shirt. He remembered seeing her like this earlier that morning, and it hadn't changed since.
Without hesitation, he stood up, took hold of her arms, and gently pulled her inside the house, worry evident in his demeanor. "My wife, let me help you change your clothes."
Xiao Ling Ling, feeling an unusual sense of idleness for the first time, followed them inside and settled in the living room as they retreated to their room.
"My wife, which one would you prefer to wear?" Xiao Sheng inquired.
"Anything you like," she responded casually.
"Very well, then. I'll choose this one." Sheng Er selected a blue dress from her wardrobe.
Yize sat on the edge of the bed, awaiting Xiao Sheng as he began the task of undressing her. She observed him closely, noting the meticulous care with which he wiped her body, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. "Sheng Er, why are you so shy? You've seen my body so many times," she teased, a playful glint in her eyes.
"My wife, what are you talking about?" he replied, a hint of nervousness in his voice. He felt a twinge of anxiety at the thought of his brother overhearing Yize's bold words. Why was she teasing him like this?
"Isn't it true?" Yize pulled him into her embrace, drawing him closer.
"My wife," he murmured, pouting slightly as if to express his complaint. "You smell of sweat."
"Are you disdainful of me now?" she retorted, a hint of dissatisfaction creeping into her tone.
"Of course not," Xiao Sheng replied quickly, eager to avoid provoking her anger.
"Then we can just wash together," she suggested playfully, her fingers gliding from his lips to his chest, causing him to inhale sharply with apprehension.
"My wife, that's not appropriate," he protested, trying to maintain a sense of reason.
"What's inappropriate about it?" She leaned in, her breath warm against his ear as she continued her playful advance, leaving him visibly flustered and rendering his gaze unfocused, a darkness blossoming in Yize's expression.
In the stillness of the room, Yize pulled her hands away from him, struggling to hold back from ravaging her husband.
With a clear mind, she shook her head and asked, "Alright, Sheng Er, what are you daydreaming about?"
Xiao Sheng's face flushed a deep red, a mix of embarrassment and affection. His wife had a knack for teasing him, and he quickly draped a piece of clothing over her to prevent further teasing. Feeling the urge to escape, he turned to leave, but Yize gently grasped his hand.
"My wife, I want to accompany my brother," he said, biting his lips, the nerves evident in his voice.
"Wait a minute, I have something to give to you," Yize said, urging him to sit on the bed.
"Eh? What is it?" he asked with curiosity as Yize turned toward the drawer and retrieved a paper bag.
"Isn't that what you brought yesterday?" Xiao Sheng remarked, recognizing the thing she pulled from the drawer.
"Hmm," she replied with a hum.
"What is— Ouch!" Yize playfully flicked his forehead. "What are you so curious about?"
Without expecting a response, she reached into the paper bag and pulled out a new hairpin, delicately placing it in his hair.
"Hahaha, my wife, I'm just curious," he pouted, rubbing his forehead with his palm as he stepped out of the room. Yize found herself amused by his adorable nature.
Xiao Ling Ling stood up upon seeing his brother and frowned at the aggrieved look on his face. "What happened to you?" he inquired.
"It's nothing. Look, do I look good with this hairpin?" he asked, gesturing to the hairpin his wife had just placed in his hair.
"Beautiful," Xiao Ling Ling replied without thinking.
"Hehehe, of course it should be beautiful. This is, after all, a gift from my wife."
Ling Ling observed that the hairpin appeared to be quite expensive. He smiled at his brother, silently acknowledging the truth in his words. He realized he could no longer reprimand him; it would be futile, as his brother would never listen, no matter how often he tried. So instead, he decided to let him have his way.
When Yize heard Xiao Sheng's compliment, a smile spread across her face. She approached Ling Ling and presented him with a pack of dresses she had purchased. "Here, this is yours."
"Huh?" Ling Ling found himself momentarily frozen, struggling to grasp the situation at hand. His face contorted into an unusual expression, a mix of confusion and anxiety, as if fear or overthinking was consuming his thoughts.
"Brother, take it," Xiao Sheng interjected, noticing his brother's daze. He snatched the package from Yize and placed it into Ling Ling's hands with an enthusiastic flourish. "My wife, I thank you on my brother's behalf," he declared cheerfully, as if the gesture had been directed to him.
Yize shook her head at the sight, amused by Xiao Sheng's boldness. Clearly, he had lost any fear of her, which was, in some ways, exactly how she preferred it.
"Yize!"
Her brow furrowed as she recognized the call. Who could it be this time?
"Yize! Are you there?" A familiar female voice echoed, stirring her curiosity.
"Sheng Er, you two stay here, alright?" she cautioned, determined to keep an eye out for anyone like Laohu who might linger around her husband under the guise of seeking her attention.
Yize opened the door of the fence and was surprised to see a familiar face. "What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Ah, Yize, I came to give you this. It's my way of thanking you for your help the other day," Dong Dong replied, handing her a bag filled with eggs.
Yize was aware of how costly eggs could be, and seeing Dong Dong so casually offer her so many made her hesitate. She gently declined, her voice full of concern. "I remember you mentioning that your husband is expecting. You should keep these for him."
"No, we have plenty this time. Our roosters have been very productive this week," Dong Dong insisted, placing the eggs in Yize's hands. "You have a husband at home too. Just think of it as a wedding gift from me, since I didn't have anything to give you on that day."
Yize wanted to decline once more, but seeing Dong Dong's determination made her relent. "Alright. I'd like to give you something in return," she said thoughtfully, realizing that since she couldn't refuse the gift, she might as well offer something back.
"No. No. No. It's fine. I'm fine. I'm just here to deliver these eggs to you," Dong Dong insisted, her resolve clear.
"No, this is not for you. It's for your husband," Yize replied, her tone steady and wise. Dong Dong opened her mouth to protest again, but before she could speak, Yize continued, "This is my goodwill. May your husband have an easy labor, and may he give birth to a daughter."
Those words, filled with hope and tradition, made it hard for Dong Dong to refuse. Yize understood well how deeply rooted such beliefs were in this world and how much women cherished the thought of having a daughter.
With a nod, Yize retreated into the kitchen, determined to continue her goodwill gesture. She poured milk into bamboo tubes and carefully wrapped three slices of cake. When she finished, she noticed that the two men were no longer in the living room. Stepping outside, she approached Dong Dong and offered her the carefully prepared items.
Dong Dong was about to check the package when Yize intervened, cautioning her not to open it. "Don't open it. It's for your husband."
"Okay. Thank you, Yize," Dong Dong replied, her understanding clear as she turned to head back home. Yize watched as Dong Dong grew smaller in the distance.
As she did, memories flooded Yize's mind. Dong Dong had been the only true friend of her predecessor, the one person who would truly care for her if anything were to happen in the past. This thought left Yize with a favorable impression of the woman.
After Yize warned the two men and received Dong Dong's arrival, Xiao Sheng promptly ushered Ling Ling into his room. He eagerly examined the thing his wife had given to his brother.
"Wow. It's beautiful," Sheng Er exclaimed, captivated by the stunning dresses in his hands. A warm smile spread across his face as he reminisced about the first gift he had received from Yize. In his excitement, he urged his brother to try one on. "Quick! Quick! Try it."
Ling Ling, still in a state of shock, barely registered what his brother was saying. He blinked in confusion, glancing between his brother and the new dress before him. "Brother, hurry up. Try it!" Only then did he snap out of his daze.
"Sheng Er, what are you doing?"
"Huh?" Sheng Er's brow furrowed in confusion. He had simply thought of encouraging his brother to give it a try. What else could the intention be?
"Why did you even accept it?" The sharpness in his brother's voice caught him off guard, leaving him puzzled about what had triggered such frustration.
"Of course, I accepted it because it was given to you. Why shouldn't I?" Sheng Er replied gently, trying to understand what he had done to provoke his brother's anger.
Ling Ling gazed at him, a sense of hopelessness enveloping him. "Brother, I've tried to remind you countless times, but you never listen. Now, you've even accepted that woman's things."
In that moment, he recalled his earlier resolve to let his brother act as he pleased. Yet, the thought of his brother not considering the implications of his actions disturbed him deeply.
The memory of his younger self accepting a gift from a woman lingered vividly in his mind, a reminder of a moment that had nearly cost him dearly and had cast a long shadow over his heart.
"Ling Ling, I'm sorry." His words carried a tone of regret, filled with confusion as he struggled to grasp the depth of his brother's reaction. "Is it that you don't like it?"
"It's not a matter of liking or disliking," Ling Ling answered with remarkable patience. "I simply don't want to accept it."
"Why?" Sheng Er's bewilderment grew. What did it mean not to accept it? Could it be that the issue stemmed from him being the one who accepted it? "I only accepted it. It's not like I'm going to take it from you."
"Brother, don't you understand?" Ling Ling snapped, his voice edged with impatience as a flush of frustration crept across his face. What was wrong with his brother? Why couldn't he see the point?
His brother's inability to understand left him feeling exasperated.
Xiao Sheng, noticing the genuine anger radiating from his brother, felt a wave of dejection wash over him. Although he couldn't quite comprehend the cause of Ling Ling's anger, he offered softly, "If you don't want it that much, I'll return it to her."
"Don't concern yourself with that," Ling Ling said, as if the matter was already settled.
"I'll return it right now," he insisted. Given his brother's tone, it seemed wise to return the item to his wife before his anger grew even more. In a flurry, he stood up, only to be halted by Ling Ling's next words.
"Sheng Er, I believe you're honest about Yize. I want to trust your words, but have you considered how long her affection will last?" Ling Ling's statement struck deep, leaving a mark on his heart.
"I'm not trying to convince you, but I know my wife is sincere." Though uncertainty gripped him, he clung to the belief that Yize's promises were genuine.
"Brother, I don't wish for you to be hurt, but we know how women can be. Have you forgotten her flaws? What kind of woman is she really?"
"My wife has changed. She promised to cherish me forever," Sheng Er defended himself, though his pale face belied his confidence. He wrestled with the fear of what his future might hold if she ever chose to abandon him.
"Promise?" he chuckled, curiosity piquing as he pondered what Yize had done to his brother. In just a week, Xiao Sheng had changed drastically, becoming someone he hardly recognized.
"Brother, why are you being so mean to me?" Xiao Sheng was perplexed, struggling to understand his brother's aversion to his wife.
"I acknowledge that she is unique, but you must realize that women are not capable of truly loving," Ling Ling replied, his words devoid of sympathy. He was unbothered by the potential for villainy that came with such callousness.
"That's not true. My wife treats me well. She takes care of me so much that I hardly have to do anything," Xiao Sheng said through gritted teeth, fighting to keep his composure.
"Then let me ask you this. How long have you been together?" Ling Ling pressed, delivering a stark dose of reality. "You know that mother used to be like her, but look what happened to our father now."
Father?
After a deep moment of reflection, his body fell to the floor, and with it, his beliefs crumbled into dust. They had spent only a little more than a week together. The realization struck him hard, leaving his face even paler; how could he have been so naive as to believe that her words would hold true until the end?
Xiao Sheng felt a painful tightening in his chest. Memories rushed through his mind, from the moment he first met his wife to the present moment.
Indeed, while his wife's goodness was unmatched, he recalled how his mother had once been equally kind to his father, only to change completely. She had turned cold, breaking his father's heart time and again. The thought of experiencing such heartbreak himself was agonizing, and he felt the tears spill silently down his pale cheeks as a heart-wrenching sob escaped his lips.
Ling Ling, witnessing his brother's pain, felt a pang of guilt for causing his tears. He longed to comfort him, to wipe away the sorrow, but his brother turned away, stepping out of the room instead. Ling Ling retracted his outstretched arm, clenched his fist tightly, and turned to the side, weeping quietly. It did not matter if Sheng Er came to despise him, as long as he could prevent the mistakes of their father from repeating.