“Here, take it. What a waste if I don’t use it.”
Zhou Ye met Su Xiaoqi’s slightly fierce gaze and quickly took the clothes.
“I’ll wash them until they smell nice.”
From the corner of his eye, he noticed her slightly red earlobe.
He suddenly remembered what she had said before—if he couldn’t hold back, then he shouldn’t.
The smile on his face simply couldn’t be suppressed.
Su Xiaoqi didn’t understand why he suddenly looked so happy, almost like a dog wagging its tail.
“Why are you happier than Xu Yong’an, who’s getting married the day after tomorrow?”
Zhou Ye only gave a silly grin, took the clothes and towel, and went outside.
Outside, Zhou Zheng was also carrying a towel and clothes.
“Going to the river to bathe?”
“Alright, let’s go together.”
The relationship between Zhou Ye and Zhou Zheng was neither particularly close nor distant.
Since childhood, Zhou Zheng had always revolved around Yang Huaihua, trying to earn even a single word of praise from her.
He had worked hard just to be a “good son.”
Zhou Ye, on the other hand, had grown up roaming the mountains and rivers alone, like wild grass—able to survive anywhere.
On the road, Zhou Ye turned to Zhou Zheng.
“What are your plans?”
“Brother, what do you mean?”
“You’re one year older than Xu Yongguo, and his daughter is already five.
Don’t count on Mom to find you a wife. She’ll probably keep you until you’re thirty and casually match you with some widow.
That way she saves on bride price, and she can even use your marriage as an excuse to sell Xiao Cao.”
Zhou Ye had already seen through Yang Huaihua and Xu Youtian’s schemes.
Zhou Zheng clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white.
“Where would I live after getting married?”
Right now, Zhou Zheng lived in a storage room beside the kitchen.
“Zheng, you’ve got two options.
First, go to the Zhou Brigade and find the old secretary and clan elder. Let them bring you back in Father’s name.
No matter what things are like over there, the brigade will still give you a piece of land to build a house.
Second, after I leave with Xiaoqi, I probably won’t come back. You can live in our room.”
Before Zhou Ye’s marriage, that room had been shared by the two brothers.
“You’re not coming back?”
“No. I’ll send you five yuan every two months so you can buy Mom some food.”
Now that he had a family, Zhou Ye no longer planned to send twelve yuan every month like before.
Zhou Zheng felt a wave of bitterness.
“Then which option do you think I should choose?”
“If it were me, I’d go back to the Zhou Brigade. You’ll always be an outsider here.”
After a pause, Zhou Ye added,
“Of course, you decide for yourself.”
“But going back won’t be easy either.”
“If you go back, I’ll lend you money to build a house.”
By now, they had reached the river.
Many villagers were bathing in the water.
In summer, men and children usually just dove straight into the river. If lucky, they might even catch a fish to improve the meal.
The two brothers stripped down to their underclothes and jumped in.
Xu Lao Liu was splashing around but hadn’t caught a single fish.
Frustrated, he shouted,
“With Xu Youtian’s family eating meat, I can’t even catch a fish!”
Xu Lao San popped his head out of the water.
“They eat meat because they’ve got Zhou Ye on their side.”
“What’s wrong with our Zhou family?” Xu Zheng snapped.
Zhou Zheng had often fought with these people as a child and always came out bruised.
Later, Zhou Ye beat them so badly that none of them dared touch Zhou Zheng again.
After half an hour of splashing in the river,
Zhou Ye caught a large silver carp from the reeds and threaded it through a reed stalk.
“Zheng, time to go home.”
“Alright.”
Xu Lao Liu laughed and teased,
“Zhou Zheng, your brother’s going home to hug his wife. Why are you rushing back?”
Xu Lao San added,
“Your mother is busy finding wives for everyone in the Xu family, but treats her own sons like oxen.”
Zhou Zheng splashed water at them in anger.
They got out of the river.
When he went to collect his clothes, he saw Zhou Ye coming over from the other side, carrying a seven-to-eight-jin silver carp.
Zhou Zheng quickly wrapped the fish in his clothes.
He hurriedly dressed, carefully picking up the soap Zhou Ye had brought.
They rushed home together.
Xu Lao Liu noticed and quickly splashed water at the others to block their view.
“You little Liu, why are you splashing water?”
“Because I feel like it.”
By the time they reacted, Zhou Ye and Zhou Zheng had already left.
On the way, Zhou Zheng glanced back.
“Brother, Lao Liu definitely saw it.”
“He saw it, so what? Just send him a bowl of fish tomorrow.”
Zhou Ye didn’t care. Xu Lao Liu had been his childhood follower.
After a few steps, Zhou Zheng spoke again.
“I’ve decided. I’ll go to the Zhou Brigade in a few days.”
Zhou Ye nodded in approval.
“Don’t go empty-handed. Ask your sister-in-law for some money and buy gifts.”
Zhou Zheng immediately caught the key point.
“You gave all your money to your wife?”
“Of course. What’s the point of a man keeping private money? Having your wife give you pocket money feels much better.”
Zhou Ye looked quite proud.
Zhou Zheng felt something shift inside him too—he suddenly wanted to get married.
Back home, Zhou Ye handed the fish to Zhou Zheng to handle.
He quickly washed himself with well water.
Cold water poured over him, washing away the heat, followed by repeated scrubbing with fragrant soap.
Under the moonlight, Zhou Zheng cleaned the fish while breathing in the scent of soap.
“Brother, did you use an entire bar of soap?”
“Smells good?”
“Yeah.”
Zhou Ye was satisfied.
After rinsing again, he went into the room.
Su Xiaoqi was already asleep.
The oil lamp on the table was about to go out. He added a little kerosene and adjusted the wick before coming back.
He changed into underclothes and climbed into bed.
Su Xiaoqi’s face, small and calm in sleep, looked peaceful.
Her black hair scattered across the pillow and along her pale neck.
Her chest rose and fell softly with her breathing.
Zhou Ye felt something inside him break through restraint.
Thoughts he shouldn’t have had surfaced.
Just imagining it made his body tense.
He leaned down and kissed her earlobe… then her cheek… then her lips.
Gently, cautiously.
Would she be frightened?
He hesitated.
At that moment, Su Xiaoqi stirred.
Feeling a shadow over her face, she woke up.
Their eyes met.
“Are you trying to scare me to death in the middle of the night?”
Zhou Ye lay beside her, secretly hooking her little finger.
“Do I smell nice?”
Su Xiaoqi hadn’t expected such a direct question.
Her face warmed slightly.
She leaned closer and sniffed near his throat.
“Very nice. A light floral scent.”
Her breath brushed his Adam’s apple, making him swallow instinctively.
“No fish smell?”
Her curiosity rose.
“You caught a fish?”
“A seven-to-eight-jin silver carp. I splashed water deliberately to hide the noise.”
He pulled her into his arms.
Foreheads touching.
“Xiaoqi… I don’t want to hold back anymore.”
Su Xiaoqi turned her face slightly.
“You bad guy.”
Zhou Ye cupped her face gently.
“We’re husband and wife.”
His hand slid into her hair, holding her neck with care.
“Don’t be afraid. I’ll take care of your feelings.”
Then he kissed her again—deep and firm, carrying a possessive warmth that left no room for refusal.
Su Xiaoqi tried to take control, responding to him clumsily but earnestly.
His grip tightened around her waist, pulling her closer so there was no space left between them.
She could feel his change clearly now.
Her heart raced.
Her ears turned red.
She even bit his shoulder lightly in nervous excitement.
A soft sound escaped him.
Zhou Ye, usually calm and clean-featured, now had reddened eyes and a fragile, misty look—almost pleading.
In that moment, Su Xiaoqi realized something:
She might be a little wicked too.