Her voice was naturally pleasant.
Now.
It was gentle, soft, and lively.
Lu Baiyang’s throat moved slightly as he frowned and said, “Go to sleep quickly.”
Nan Qingqing lay down.
Just as Lu Baiyang shifted his leg slightly.
Nan Qingqing suddenly turned to look at him.
Lu Baiyang reacted swiftly, immediately stopping his movement and silently watching Nan Qingqing.
Nan Qingqing clasped her hands together, pressing them beneath her cheeks.
Her round face squeezed out little fleshy mounds, making her look very much like a child.
After all, she was only nineteen—still a child’s age.
Lu Baiyang asked as calmly as possible, “What’s wrong now?”
Nan Qingqing said, “You told me to call you Third Brother, and I did, but then you ignored me and didn’t respond.”
Lu Baiyang: “I heard you.”
Nan Qingqing said, “But if you don’t answer, I don’t know whether you heard me or not.”
Lu Baiyang said in a steady tone, “Next time I’ll respond.”
Nan Qingqing chuckled and rolled over.
Lu Baiyang blew out the candle and said, “You should sleep.”
Nan Qingqing sighed and said, “The neighboring town already has electricity. When will our town get it?”
Lu Baiyang stood up.
Walking out as he spoke, “By the end of this year, the electrical grid will cover the plains region.”
Nan Qingqing made an acknowledging sound.
Just as Lu Baiyang reached the door.
His hands pressed against the door, about to push it open.
From behind.
A crisp voice called out, “Third Brother!”
Even more vibrant than before.
Listening carefully.
It carried a faint excitement, as if she knew she was testing him and was anticipating his reaction.
Lu Baiyang helplessly curled the corner of his lips, “Here.”
Nan Qingqing giggled and turned over to sleep.
She knew that, like last night, Lu Baiyang wouldn’t share the bed with her.
Since this was Lu Baiyang’s choice.
Nan Qingqing didn’t ask unnecessary questions.
Some things.
Remaining unasked maintains peaceful days.
Asking and breaking that thin layer only brings awkwardness to both sides.
Awkwardness doesn’t disappear through negative reinforcement.
Unless both parties are equally thick-skinned.
But Nan Qingqing felt her skin wasn’t that thick, and Lu Baiyang’s didn’t seem particularly thick either.
Lu Baiyang walked to the kitchen.
He took off his shirt.
Lifted a bucket of cold water and poured it over his head from above.
Instantly.
The chill seemed to seep into his body through every pore.
Lu Baiyang lowered his gaze.
He muttered under his breath, “Traitor.Lu Baiyang spent another night sleeping on the table.
The next day.
At daybreak.
Nan Qingqing woke up early, summoned by Lu’s mother to tend the fire.
Nan Qingqing went to the kitchen.
Xiaoyue smiled at Nan Qingqing and said, “Third Aunt, I’ll handle the fire. You should go rest.”
Nan Qingqing squatted on the ground.
Stuffing a few pieces of wood into the stove.
She chatted with Xiaoyue while squatting.
Nan Qingqing suddenly remembered Xiaoyue’s first husband from her previous life.
She said, “Xiaoyue, do you trust me?”
Xiaoyue nodded instinctively, “Third Aunt, I trust you.”
Xiaoyue was just clumsy with words.
But she deeply admired Nan Qingqing in her heart.
On the wedding day, when her cousin wronged Nan Qingqing, if something like that happened to her, she felt she could only cry and return to her parents’ home.
But Third Aunt wasn’t that weak.
Not only did Third Aunt marry Third Uncle, but she also made Nan Honghong and Cousin kowtow to her together.
Lu Xiaoyue had never seen such an impressive girl.
Here, “impressive” was a compliment.
Nan Qingqing said softly, “There’s a young man named Wang Chang in the neighboring village. He looks decent enough, but he’s been having illicit affairs with many women outside. Do you know what ‘illicit affair’ means?”
Lu Xiaoyue nodded, her face reddening as she said, “It’s like Cousin and Cousin-in-law.”
Nan Qingqing patted her thigh and said, “Exactly. And he even had an affair with a married woman, resulting in a child, making another man raise his kid.”
“He also carries a filthy disease, which he’s spread to many women. Those infected women don’t dare get too close to others in summer because their bodies emit a rotten egg smell.”
Hearing this.
Lu Xiaoyue frowned, feeling somewhat disgusted.
She cautiously asked, “Third Aunt, why are you telling me this? Is there something you want me to understand?”
Just as Nan Qingqing was about to speak.
Lu’s mother loudly announced, “The water’s boiling, turn down the fire.”
Lu Xiaoyue quickly pulled two logs from under the pot and stuck them into the ashes.
Instantly.
The fire went out.
Meeting Lu Xiaoyue’s inquisitive gaze, Nan Qingqing continued, “His family wants to find him an unlucky wife and has taken a liking to several unmarried girls in our village. I’m worried they might set their sights on you, so I’m telling you in advance.”
Lu Xiaoyue immediately became terrified.
Nan Qingqing said gently, “Don’t worry. If someone tries to arrange a matchmaking meeting for you, just pretend to be sick. If that doesn’t work, say your Third Uncle won’t allow you to marry—that he wants to find you an officer in the military.”
Lu Xiaoyue nodded, her eyes reddening.
Nan Qingqing smiled at her and said, “This is a new society now. Even the great leader says everyone can be their own master. They wouldn’t dare force a marriage.”
Lu Xiaoyue said sincerely, “Third Aunt, thank you.”
The pot bubbled noisily, and the fire crackled.
Lu’s mother craned her neck but couldn’t hear what they were saying.
She couldn’t help feeling displeased.
Deliberately, she threw the ladle heavily into the pot and said, “Chatter, chatter, all day gossiping about this and that, like a busybody! Watch out or your tongue might get pulled out at midnight.”
Nan Qingqing replied cheerfully, “Being a busybody doesn’t matter, as long as I’m not the one being gossiped about.”
This remark struck a nerve with Lu’s mother.
Her old face flushed red with stifled anger.
But since it was her son and daughter-in-law involved, she couldn’t utter a word in defense.
Lu’s mother mentally added another major demerit to Nan Honghong’s record.
What a shameless vixen.
If she had known Nan Honghong was like this, she would have preferred Nan Qingqing to be the one who performed the wedding ceremony with Jianguo yesterday.
After the meal.
The village head asked Lu Baiyang to come over.
Nan Qingqing moved a small stool to the yard to sunbathe, with Lu Xiaoyue making shoe insoles beside her.
Suddenly.
Lu Jianguo stormed in from outside, his face dark with anger.
He casually kicked over a winnowing basket on the ground.
Lu’s mother asked, “What’s gotten into you now?”
Lu Jianjun followed him in, somewhat gleefully adding, “People outside are asking about Cousin’s incident yesterday. Everyone’s laughing at him.”
Lu’s mother: “…”
Lu Jianguo returned to his room.
Slammed the door shut.
Refused to come out again.
Nan Qingqing sneered—playing the innocent after acting shamelessly.
Go ahead and stay holed up forever if you’re so capable.
And Lu Jianguo was indeed that capable.
Whenever trouble arose, he would hide away, turtling up in his room.
Always hoping others would solve all his problems for him.
This time around,
Nan Qingqing was determined to see who would still step in to help him swallow his bitter fruit.
As it turned out,
someone actually did.
And this someone was no stranger.