Before Ahri could react, she saw the person take her clothes, put them in the bucket, and take them away.

Is he going to wash it?

At this moment, Xue Erniu walked up to Ali, waved his hand, and asked, "Do you need help?"

Ah Li shook her head and went back to her room.

After returning to the house, Ali also found two dark-colored cloths on the kang (a heated brick bed), a bowl of wood ash, and a basket of needles and thread next to it.

Is this what they prepared for her?

Ah Li looked back and found that Xue Erniu was not following, but there were figures moving around in the kitchen.

Ali sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), sewed two menstrual bags for himself, poured in wood ash, and placed two sheets of straw paper underneath.

Just then, there was the sound of an oxcart being driven into the yard. Xue Xiaoniu had bought a lot of things, including women's dresses and mirrors.

He carried the things into the kitchen first, and seeing that only Xue Erniu was there, he asked, "Where is she?"

"Inside the house."

Xue Erniu looked at Xue Xiaoniu. This person also got along well with that person, but that person didn't seem to like him touching her.

On the stove, Xue Erniu steamed rice, and the dishes were waiting for Xue Daniu to come back and cook them.

Xue Xiaoniu carried the things back into the house.

As soon as he entered the room, he saw Ah Li tidying up her sewing basket, but he didn't see her sewing anything.

Xue Xiaoniu didn't shout, but instead walked up to Ali while carrying the things.

Ali was startled by the large package in front of her and looked up at Xue Xiaoniu.

Xue Xiaoniu then noticed that the dirt on Ah Li's face had been washed clean again, and this time it wasn't smeared with black.

"That's more like it."

Xue Xiaoniu also asked Ali to open the package and take a look before he went outside.

Xue Erniu was about to put the books away when Xue Xiaoniu walked up to him and asked, "How did her clothes become Xue Daniu's?"

Xue Erniu coughed lightly. He couldn't say that the woman was menstruating, so he just said, "Ask Xue Daniu later."

For some reason, Xue Xiaoniu was a little angry. What exactly did Xue Daniu do?

After the rice was cooked, Xue Daniu returned with Ali's clothes and took them out to hang them to dry in the yard.

Xue Xiaoniu stood in the yard looking at Xue Daniu with a displeased expression. Not only did he give her his own clothes to wear, but he also washed her clothes.

Ali saw Xue Daniu return and had just set out the bowls and chopsticks.

Xue Xiaoniu rushed up to Xue Daniu and demanded, "Did you bully her?!"

After seeing him change clothes again and looking exhausted, Xue Xiaoniu couldn't help but suspect that Xue Daniu was taking advantage of him.

Xue Daniu glanced at Xue Xiaoniu, then looked at Ali who couldn't hear, and said, "She's not feeling well. You're too young to understand, so don't ask questions."

Xue Xiaoniu jumped up and down, "I'm small, Xue Daniu, explain yourself clearly!"

Xue Erniu sat calmly at the table, eating his meal.

Ignoring Xue Xiaoniu's tantrums, Xue Daniu came in and started eating.

Xue Daniu then looked at Ali and asked Xue Erniu, "Did you let her touch cold water?"

"No, I washed the vegetables, she cooked them."

The dishes were the same as yesterday. Xue Daniu didn't say anything, but looked at Ali instead and found that the man's face was a little pale, but his spirits were fine.

Xue Xiaoniu sat next to Ali and angrily put a piece of meat on Ali's plate. Ali looked at Xue Xiaoniu.

Xue Xiaoniu hummed, not looking at Ali.

Ali looked away, lowered her head, and ate all the meat that Xue Xiaoniu had picked up.

That night, both Xue Daniu and Xue Erniu were in the house.

When Ah Li returned from the restroom, she found the three of them sitting there, none of them resting.

The light from the oil lamp was not very bright, and their expressions were not very clear.

Ali took off his shoes, climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed), and pulled the quilt over himself to lie down.

Xue Xiaoniu glanced at Xue Daniu and Xue Erniu, then lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Xue Xiaoniu, get down."

Xue Daniu spoke up.

Xue Xiaoniu didn't answer; instead, he started snoring.

Xue Erniu tried to persuade him, "He's just a kid who hasn't even grown up yet. The more you call him, the more energetic he gets. Go to sleep."

Someone blew out the light, and Ah Li didn't dare to move. She slept against the wall.

In the days that followed, the four of them lived under the same roof.

Xue Xiaoniu even gave Ali a name: Xiaocao (Little Grass).

Ali felt that the name was chosen very casually, but Xue Xiaoniu pointed to the cow in the cowshed and gestured: "Cow, I am Xue Xiaoniu, my eldest brother is Xue Daniu, my second brother is Xue Erniu, and you are Xiaocao, the cow eats grass."

Ali blushed and threw the hay at Xue Xiaoniu.

Xue Xiaoniu didn't stand still and let Ah Li throw at him; instead, he dodged.

He also knew about the days when Ah Li was unwell, and he knew what it was all about.

Xue Xiaoniu also said, "When the time comes, whose baby will you have first?"

Seeing Xue Xiaoniu speaking so seriously, Ah Li shook her head. She could sense that the three of them were no ordinary people.

Xue Daniu didn't let Ali go out either; the three of them carried the water back from the water tank.

Ah Li wasn't asked to do anything in the fields either.

When Xue Xiaoniu saw Ah Li shake her head, he became anxious, "You are the shared wife of the three of us brothers. If you don't give birth to our children, who will you give birth to for?"

Ah Li had gotten to know them quite well over this period of time, and she didn't want to talk to Xue Xiaoniu anymore.

Xue Xiaoniu wanted to continue asking questions, but two women walked in from outside the courtyard at that moment.

Ah Li saw who was coming, nudged Xue Xiaoniu, and pointed behind him.

Xue Xiaoniu stopped playing around with Ali and turned around. Seeing that they were acquaintances, he called out to them one by one, "Miss Qingruo, and Miss Chunhua, what brings you here?"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!