Qin Lie wasn’t gone for long.
When he returned, he was carrying several steamed buns wrapped in oiled paper, the bundle plump and warm.
His bronze-colored hand held them out to her.
Arui hesitated, too nervous to accept.
White flour was a luxury.
Ordinary families only ate it during the New Year or major festivals. No one could afford to make it their daily food.
Besides, her heart was too full of worries to have much appetite.
“Lie… Brother Lie… where will you sleep tonight?”
She had heard Qin Feng address him that way, so after a moment’s thought, she copied it.
The man looked up at her, his dark eyes deep and unreadable.
Arui stiffened.
Her long lashes fluttered uneasily as she whispered, “I noticed… there’s only one bed in the house…”
Although they had already shared an intimate secret, she was still, by name, his younger brother’s widow.
There was no proper reason for them to sleep in the same bed.
She twisted the hem of her clothes until the fabric nearly tore beneath her fingers.
Qin Lie glanced toward the inner room.
The quilt he had spread out earlier had already been folded neatly and placed at the foot of the bed.
Her small bundle had been set beside the cabinet near the door, ready to be picked up at any moment.
He withdrew his gaze, his expression darkening slightly.
“I’ll sleep in the main room.”
If he pushed two benches together, they would be enough for him.
He had already planned on sleeping there the moment he brought her home.
“I… I see…”
Hearing that, Arui quietly let out the breath she had been holding.
The knot in her chest finally loosened.
But then another thought occurred to her.
“This is your home… Perhaps you should take the bed, and I’ll sleep in the main room.”
There was no reason for the owner of the house to inconvenience himself because of her.
Besides…
Qin Lie was built like an ox.
She couldn’t imagine that tiny main room being spacious enough for someone of his size.
He ignored her suggestion entirely.
Without another word, he firmly pressed the bundle of steamed buns into her hands.
His presence was as cold as ever.
Yet his palm was burning hot.
The instant his fingers brushed hers, heat rushed through Arui’s entire body.
Just like that night…
When those large hands had traveled over her skin…
Her cheeks instantly flushed crimson.
Her hands trembled so badly she nearly dropped the buns.
Fortunately, Qin Lie steadied them before they could fall.
“Eat.”
His brows knitted together.
He had intended to scold her for refusing food, but seeing the tears almost welling in her eyes, he swallowed the words instead.
Arui wasn’t one of the soldiers under his command.
He knew just how delicate she was.
She seemed so soft that even the slightest touch might leave a mark.
He didn’t know whether other women were the same.
But the young woman before him clearly couldn’t bear a harsh word.
“I’m… I’m not hungry.”
Lowering her head, Arui carefully placed the buns back onto the oiled paper.
White flour was far too precious.
The last time she had eaten any had been during the New Year.
Her younger brother had left half a steamed bun unfinished, and their mother had quietly given the leftovers to her.
Several months had passed since then.
She still remembered how sweet it had tasted.
Even plain white-flour buns had been so delicious.
How wonderful must these meat-filled buns be?
But they weren’t meant for her.
Her father had always said that women didn’t perform heavy labor.
The family’s white flour and meat should always go to the men first.
Qin Lie was so tall.
So broad.
He surely needed far more food than she did.
She couldn’t possibly eat what belonged to him.
Unfortunately…
Her stomach had been empty for nearly two days.
The tempting aroma finally overwhelmed her.
A loud growl escaped from her belly.
Mortified, she pinched her fingertips together, wishing she could disappear.
Qin Lie didn’t laugh.
If anything, he only felt she was far too timid.
She was already so thin and frail.
He couldn’t help wondering whether she’d survive if she continued like this.
His face hardened.
The scar on his right cheek looked even more intimidating.
“I said eat.”
His voice turned stern.
Arui shivered.
Not daring to disobey him, she obediently reached out with trembling hands and picked up one bun.
It was filled with pork and scallions.
The filling was generous.
The moment she bit into it, rich juices and tender pork spilled across her tongue.
At first, she ate in tiny, careful bites.
But hunger soon won.
The bun was nearly the size of a grown man’s fist.
She finished it in only a few mouthfuls.
Qin Lie picked up one for himself.
Then he pushed the remaining four toward her.
“Finish them.”
Her lips parted as though to protest.
The moment she met his steady gaze, she quietly nodded instead.
By the time she finished all five buns, her stomach felt as though it might burst.
She had actually eaten enough meat to be full.
Back at the Zhou household…
She would never have dared dream of such a thing.
Rubbing her stomach, she accidentally let out a tiny burp.
Fortunately, Qin Lie had already picked up his bow and arrows and gone back outside.
Perhaps he hadn’t heard it.
Otherwise, she would have wanted the ground to swallow her whole.
The Qin Family owned no farmland.
Ever since returning home, Qin Lie had supported himself entirely by hunting.
As soon as he left, the tension in Arui’s body finally melted away.
He looked so fierce.
Even though he had given her food and shelter, she still couldn’t help fearing him.
She sat quietly on one of the benches, staring into space as she thought about her future.
Without farmland, she had no source of income.
She couldn’t simply live off Qin Lie forever.
Besides, sooner or later, he would marry.
He was five years older than Qin Song.
At twenty-three, most men already had children of their own.
Had the war not stolen so many years of his life, Qin Lie would likely have a bustling family by now.
She couldn’t become another burden he had to carry.
The thought left her troubled.
She did know embroidery.
Unfortunately, every piece she finished had always been sold by her mother or elder sister.
Her mother often complained that her embroidery wasn’t good enough to fetch a decent price.
Still…
It was the only skill she possessed.
She had to try.
The problem was that she didn’t even own a needle or thread anymore.
The more she thought about it, the heavier her heart became.
Feeling too embarrassed to continue sitting around doing nothing, she remembered seeing Qin Lie’s dirty clothes while cleaning earlier that morning.
After a moment’s hesitation, she took them out and washed them.
Since he wasn’t home, she quietly changed out of her wedding dress as well.
After kneeling through the entire previous night, both knees had swollen badly.
Her skin was naturally fair.
Now, dark blue and purple bruises covered both kneecaps, startling to look at.
Drawing in a sharp breath, Arui closed her eyes.
If she couldn’t see them…
Perhaps they wouldn’t hurt as much.
The two outfits her mother had packed for her were both made from rough homespun cloth.
Every brush against her bruises sent piercing pain shooting through her legs.
Still…
She was used to enduring pain in silence.
Clenching her teeth, she bore it without a single complaint.
…
Qin Lie returned just before sunset.
Several wild chickens and rabbits hung from his hands.
His hunting skills were exceptional.
While other hunters sometimes spent days without catching anything, he returned with a full haul every time.
He pushed open the rickety wooden gate.
The moment he noticed clothes drying in the courtyard, he stopped in his tracks.
From next door, Aunt Wang came walking over behind him.
Clapping her hands together, she laughed.
“A house really does feel different once there’s a woman in it. Someone finally knows how to take care of things.”
Normally, Qin Lie simply tossed his washed clothes over the drying pole in a wrinkled heap.
He had never bothered hanging them neatly like this.
Looking toward Arui, who was standing at the entrance to the main room, Aunt Wang smiled sympathetically.
Everyone in Qinghe Town knew Qin Song had married yesterday.
This was her first time seeing the bride.
The young woman was beautiful, gentle, and as fresh as spring water.
What a pity her fate had been so cruel.
Her own parents had pushed her into a pit of misery.
Aunt Wang shook her head with a sigh.
Being a widow…
That was enough to ruin a woman’s entire life.
Qin Lie set down his game and washed his hands at the water jar.
Turning back, he asked,
“Buying meat again, Aunt Wang?”
Whenever Qin Lie returned with game, villagers often came to buy from him.
His prices were two copper coins cheaper per jin than the butcher’s shop in town, and the meat was much fresher.
Business was always good.
Aunt Wang’s family had four able-bodied workers.
Every now and then, they would buy meat to improve their meals.
Speaking of business, Aunt Wang stopped studying Arui and crouched beside the pile of game.
After examining everything carefully, she finally chose a wild chicken.
“I’ll take this one.”
Qin Lie lifted it by the wings, weighed it briefly in his hand, tied its legs with a straw rope, and handed it over.
“Thirty copper coins will do.”
“Deal.”
Aunt Wang paid without hesitation.
The butcher charged at least ten copper coins per jin for ordinary chicken.
This was a wild mountain pheasant.
She had secretly estimated its weight earlier.
It had to be close to four jin.
Qin Lie was simply too honest.
Thrilled with her bargain, Aunt Wang beamed.
Before leaving, she turned toward Arui with a cheerful smile.
“Qin Song’s wife, come visit when you’re free! My daughter Cui Zhu is about your age. You two can keep each other company.”
“…All right.”
Arui nodded shyly.
When she had still been living at the Zhou household, every day had been spent working.
No one had ever invited her to visit or simply spend time together.
Aunt Wang’s warm friendliness eased some of the anxiety that had followed Arui since arriving in her new home.
For the first time that day, a faint smile curved her lips.
Out of the corner of his eye, Qin Lie caught sight of it.
For some inexplicable reason…
His mouth suddenly felt a little dry.