"Look at her, this new bride knows how to take care of people," the plump woman clicked her tongue and said with a smile.

Another thin, middle-aged woman, her eyes also smiling, pointed ahead and said, "Qin Huai should be just ahead. Just keep walking along this road and you'll see it."

"Okay, thank you." Qiao Qiqi immediately walked forward quickly.

The three men looked at her slender figure from behind, their eyes filled with envy.

The plump woman who had spoken earlier couldn't help but click her tongue again: "Look at her, they're both women, but she's got looks and a great figure. The key is that she's lucky. Before marriage, she was pampered by her parents, and after marriage, she's pampered by her husband. She doesn't have to work in the fields. She's the first in the whole village, isn't she?"

The skinny woman laughed and said, "You're envious? Even if you are, you don't have that kind of luck! Qin Huai is capable. He can earn 10 work points a day and can even hunt in the mountains. It's a piece of cake for him to support a beautiful wife. Besides, Wang Guihua is also capable. She's no less capable than a man. If Qiao Qiqi marries into a family like that, she can just sit back and enjoy a life of luxury."

Another middle-aged woman, who had been silent until now, listened to their conversation and suddenly said quietly, "If you ask me, she's definitely not going to the fields so she can get pregnant at home. Qin Huai is so hot-blooded; the two of them just got married, and they're still up until the wee hours every night..."

Qiao Qiqi had no idea that the others were talking about her behind her back.

She kept walking forward, but instead of seeing Qin Huai, she saw Wang Guihua pulling weeds.

As soon as Wang Guihua saw her, she rushed over and said, "It's so hot outside. Why aren't you at home? What are you doing in the fields? You're not even wearing a hat, and your face is all sunburned."

As she spoke, Wang Guihua quickly took off her hat and put it on Qiao Qiqi's head.

Seeing her nervousness, Sister-in-law Sun, who was working with her, immediately said sourly, "Wang Guihua, I forgot to wear a hat today too. I asked you to lend it to me for a while, but you wouldn't give it to me. But you're so quick to give it to your daughter-in-law. Aren't you being too biased?"

"Nonsense, this hat was originally bought for me by my daughter-in-law. Besides, she's my daughter-in-law. If I don't care about her, why would I care about you?"

Qiao Qiqi listened to their conversation and smiled.

She quickly opened the thermos and poured out a capful of water. "Mom, have some water."

Wang Guihua was thirsty, so she took the cap and took a big gulp. She was immediately surprised, "Is this soda? It's so sweet and sour, it tastes so good!"

Qiao Qiqi explained with a smile, "It's not soda. This is something I made with sugar, vinegar, and baking soda. If you like it, I'll bring it to you every day from now on."

Wang Guihua quickly finished the capful of water and immediately said, "No need, I'll just go home to drink it at noon. Don't go to the fields in the middle of the day anymore, or Qin Huai will be heartbroken if you get sunburned."

Qiao Qiqi was shy, and her face immediately turned red.

"Mother, don't talk nonsense."

Wang Guihua looked at her with a mocking expression, "What nonsense am I talking about? Isn't this water meant for Qin Huai?"

"I'm not talking to you anymore."

Seeing that Wang Guihua was getting carried away with flirting with her, Qiao Qiqi immediately snatched the bottle cap back, stuffed the hat and a cucumber into Wang Guihua's hand, and then turned and left.

Wang Guihua's voice came from behind: "After you finish delivering the water, hurry back. Don't stay out in the sun for too long, or you'll get heatstroke."

"I understand, Mother."

After watching Qiao Qiqi leave, Wang Guihua took a bite of cucumber and took the opportunity to sit down and rest for a while.

Looking at her, Sister-in-law Sun suddenly said, "You're just destined to be a workaholic. Why do you work so hard? Qin Huai is married now, why don't you just let him work with you? Even if she doesn't do well, she can still earn five work points, and you won't have to work so hard."

Upon hearing this, Wang Guihua immediately became displeased. "I'm happy to spoil my daughter-in-law! I won't let her work in the fields! It's not like she's eating your rice! It's none of your business!"

"How can you not appreciate kindness?" Sister-in-law Sun said, turning her mouth down as she walked away, seeing that she had only offered Wang Guihua advice for her own good and was being mocked instead.

In her heart, however, she scoffed: "This is just the novelty of being newly married, isn't it? I don't believe Wang Guihua can keep his daughter-in-law from working in the fields forever! We'll see."

Qiao Qiqi walked a little further and finally saw Zhang Qing working in the field.

Seeing that Qin Huai was nowhere to be seen, she walked over and asked, "Where is Qin Huai?"

Zhang Qing looked up and was stunned to see that Qiao Qiqi had actually gotten out of bed.

Realizing what had happened, he pointed to the foot of the mountain and said, "Brother Qin went to the foot of the mountain. I don't know what he's doing. He's been gone for half a day."

"I'll go take a look." Qiao Qiqi gave Zhang Qing a cucumber and walked in the direction he pointed.

Upon arriving at the foot of the mountain, they did not see Qin Huai.

Just as I was wondering, I suddenly heard a rustling sound coming from the bushes above.

Curious, she walked over and soon spotted a figure darting in and out of the bushes. Seeing Qin Huai bent over, seemingly picking something, Qiao Qiqi cautiously approached, intending to give him a scare.

As soon as they got close, Qin Huai suddenly turned around, startling Qiao Qiqi.

She instinctively took a step back, but didn't notice the tree branch under her feet and almost fell.

At the critical moment, Qin Huai quickly reached out and grabbed her waist, pulling her back forcefully, and Qiao Qiqi fell into the man's arms.

The two of them instinctively stiffened for a moment.

The next second, Qin Huai quickly let go of her hand, took two steps back, and asked awkwardly, "Why are you here?"

Qiao Qiqi didn't answer him, but looked down at his clenched hand. "What are you picking?"

Qin Huai stretched out his hand and opened it, revealing small black fruits in his palm, each about the size of a pine nut.

Qiao Qiqi had never seen this before. She picked one up and asked in confusion, "What is this?"

Qin Huai explained, "This is called a stinky plum. It's a kind of wild fruit that tastes sweet with a slight astringency."

As he finished speaking, Qiao Qiqi popped one into her mouth. Sure enough, the taste was just as Qin Huai had described—sweet with a hint of bitterness, and quite delicious.

She grabbed a few more from Qin Huai's palm, popping them into her mouth as she asked teasingly, "Are you slacking off and doing nothing but this?"

A look of surprise crossed Qin Huai's face, and he stammered, "I...I finished my work this morning, this is...this is for you."

Qiao Qiqi looked up.

Seeing the man's slightly reddened earlobes, she smiled and handed him the thermos. "Here, I made you a small drink. Try it and see if you like it."

Qin Huai was thirsty, so he immediately unscrewed the kettle lid, poured out a capful, and gulped it down.

Then, to my surprise, I discovered that the water was not only sweet and sour, but also incredibly cool, refreshing and delicious. It was so refreshing to drink.

He asked in confusion, "How was this done?"

After Qiao Qiqi finished eating the rotten plum, she noticed some dry leaves on his head, so she naturally reached out and took them off, explaining how to cook them in the process.

"If you like it, I'll bring it to you again tomorrow."

Qin Huai's response was the same as Wang Guihua's: he immediately said he would drink it when he got back at noon, "Didn't you bring me an apple? I just ate it a little while ago, so I'm not thirsty."