Chapter 8 Bro, who is this woman?

Zhao Wenchang reached the kitchen door, kicked it open, and slammed the light switch on with his other hand.

Under the dim light, a small, thin figure stood with his back to them, tiptoeing as he rummaged through a cupboard, startled by the sudden turn of events.

It's Zhao Ping'an.

He also carried a small cloth bag on his back, which was bulging with contents.

Is this... a sign that someone is running away from home?

Zhao Wenchang's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

Zhao Pingan turned around, saw them, and his eyes immediately reddened.

"What are you going to do!" Zhao Wenchang asked seriously.

Zhao Pingan choked up as he said, "I...I won't cause you any more trouble."

After saying that, he grabbed his small cloth bag, buried his head, and was about to rush out.

Without thinking, Jiang Wanqiu grabbed his arm.

The child's arms were as thin as sticks.

"Who said you're a nuisance?"

She crouched down, trying to make her voice sound gentler.

"Why are you leaving? Do you think I'm going to kick you out? Do I look that heartless?"

Zhao Ping'an looked up at her, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Alright, stop fooling around." Jiang Wanqiu pulled him into the house. "Go back and get some sleep."

Seeing that Zhao Ping'an was pulled away by his parents-in-law who had rushed over after hearing the commotion, the two of them returned to the house.

Jiang Wanqiu sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), still feeling a little scared. Her two fair legs dangled in the air as she talked to Zhao Wenchang.

Zhao Wenchang's gaze swept over them unintentionally, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

Those legs, so white and straight, made him dizzy in the dim light.

"Zhao Ping'an has been incredibly stubborn since he was little, just like his father. I'll have a good talk with him tomorrow."

The next day, Zhao Wenchang took Zhao Ping'an out to work.

By lunchtime, Zhao Wenchang still hadn't returned.

With nothing to do at home, Jiang Wanqiu offered, "Auntie, I'll go look for him."

She followed the path pointed out by the villagers and walked towards the back of the mountain.

She had just rounded a cornfield when she spotted that familiar, tall figure in the distance.

Zhao Wenchang was carrying someone on his back as he steadily walked down the mountain path.

Jiang Wanqiu was about to call out to him, but when she saw the person on his back, her voice caught in her throat.

It was a young woman, barefoot, wearing a bright floral shirt.

The woman was lying on Zhao Wenchang's broad back, her head turned to the side, talking to him and laughing uncontrollably.

Jiang Wanqiu raised an eyebrow and, without stopping, went straight to meet him.

She stopped in front of Zhao Wenchang, looked up at him, and said in a clear and soft voice, "Why are you so busy? Your uncle and aunt asked me to call you home for dinner."

Zhao Wenchang looked at Jiang Wanqiu, who had suddenly appeared, with some surprise: "Why are you here?"

The woman on his back seemed a little unhappy.

She affectionately hugged Zhao Wenchang's neck, pressing half of her body against him, tilting her head, and her eyes unceremoniously sized up Jiang Wanqiu.

"Brother Wenchang, who is this person? I've never seen him before when I'm with you."

Jiang Wanqiu seemed oblivious to the hint of hostility and explained with a smile, "It's his wife."

The woman's smug smile froze instantly.

Zhao Wenchang explained from the side, "This is Zhao Hui. She twisted her ankle while harvesting grain in the field and can't stand up. I'm taking her to the clinic."

“I see,” Jiang Wanqiu nodded, her face full of concern. “Then I’ll go with you. I can lend a hand.”

Her gaze fell on Zhao Hui's bare feet: "Did you sprain both ankles and not be able to stand up?"

Zhao Wenchang said, "No, I just sprained one ankle."

"That makes things easier."

Jiang Wanqiu's smile deepened. She looked at Zhao Hui and said gently, "Comrade Zhao Hui, you should get down. It's not good if a grown man like Wenchang carries you in broad daylight and the villagers see it and gossip. If you have one leg, I can help you, and no one will be able to say anything."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wenchang immediately tried to put the woman down: "Wanqiu is right, Zhao Hui, get down and let her help you."

This woman's excessive enthusiasm towards him had long made him feel uncomfortable.

As he spoke, he turned to the side, about to put the person down.

Zhao Hui was extremely unwilling, her face long, and she slowly slid off Zhao Wenchang's back.

The moment her feet touched the ground, she suddenly screamed "Ouch!" and her body went limp, about to fall into Zhao Wenchang's arms.

Just as she was about to press against the man's firm chest, a hand suddenly reached out from the side and firmly supported her arm.

Zhao Hui was taken aback.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Wanqiu, who looked a head shorter than her and as thin as a bean sprout, was so strong!

Jiang Wanqiu looked at her with a smile: "Comrade Zhao Hui, are you alright? Come on, walk slowly, let me help you."

Zhao Hui was supported by her, a flash of anger passing through her eyes, but she could only limp along, being half-supported, towards the village clinic.

Inside the clinic, the village doctor in a white coat held Zhao Hui's ankle, examining it for a long time: "It doesn't look red or swollen. Which ankle did you sprain?"

Zhao Hui pointed to her right foot with a hint of annoyance.

The village doctor pressed on the bone again and clicked his tongue: "Nothing serious, the bone is fine. I guess you just strained a tendon. I'll get you a bottle of safflower oil, just rub it on when you get home."

The village doctor turned to rummage through the medicine cabinet. Zhao Hui leaned back in her chair, moved closer to Jiang Wanqiu, and spoke with a sincere expression.

"Sister-in-law, just now... just now Brother Wenchang carried me on his back, he didn't mean anything by it, please don't misunderstand."

Jiang Wanqiu nodded readily, "Yes, I understand."

Seeing how easygoing she was, Zhao Hui grew bolder, her words becoming more sarcastic: "It's good that you understand! The main thing is, we northern women are generally more forthright and easygoing, unlike you southerners who are more meticulous and prone to overthinking. Wenchang and I grew up together, like brothers, we're used to joking around! I'll have to ask him to take me home later. My home is far from here, I can't walk back by myself. You shouldn't mind, sister-in-law, right?"

"Why would I overthink it?" Jiang Wanqiu said calmly. "You're so strong and lucky, and you have such a big face. If you didn't say anything, I would really think you and Wenchang are buddies."

Zhao Hui's face turned red and white as she listened. Just as she was about to retort, the curtain of the clinic was suddenly flung open with a "whoosh," and a woman rushed in, crying and shouting loud enough to lift the roof off.

"Dr. Wang! If you can't cure my husband's illness, I... I'll divorce him!"

Immediately after, a dark-skinned, thin man rushed in, his face full of anxiety, bowing and scraping as he tried to pull the woman away.

"Stop talking nonsense! Come home with me right now!"

As Zhao Hui was speaking, her expression changed drastically the moment she saw the two people, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Sister-in-law? Brother? What brings you here!"