Chapter 108 - Part Two As dawn broke, red candles...
Having lived in the village for some time, Fan Liniang and Meng Yun had become acquainted with most of the women there. They would occasionally meet up to wash clothes by the river or gather firewood in the mountains.
For example, when Uncle Shi's aunt saw Fan Liniang and the others come in, she quickly called them over.
Lin Jialang greeted the uncles and aunts politely. Since the adults in his family passed away, Lin Jialang had changed at a young age. He had become much more sensible and mature, and was somewhat like a little adult.
Lin Chunhe saw that Lin Jialang had arrived, but Meng Yue, Xiao Dujuan, and Lin Jiarong were not there. She took a moment to look for Lin Chuntao.
"Sister, Jialang, Madam Fan, and Madam Meng are here."
She just said it casually, as if it didn't mean anything. Lin Chuntao nodded upon hearing this, her brows furrowing slightly, and then said, "Go and call Meng Yue and Xiao Dujuan over for dinner."
Lin Chunhe nodded, then hesitated for a moment before asking, "Should Miaomiao and the others call out?"
"No need, they can come if they want, and it's fine if they don't," Lin Chuntao said. Lin Chunhe replied, "Then I'll go."
When Fan Niangzi and the others came to the banquet, they could have brought Xiao Mengyue with them, but they brought Lin Jialang instead.
Lin Chuntao understood what they meant. They were there because of Shuangzi Village, where Lin Jialang had settled. Whether it was Fan Liniang or Meng Yun, they couldn't avoid the relationship between Lin Jialang and them. So, they didn't expect to be very close, but they hoped that the relationship could be eased.
Lin Chuntao wouldn't invite Lin Jialang and his sister over for dinner for no reason, but this is a banquet, and he's come to give gifts. Those three little ones won't bankrupt her. Besides, Meng Yue and Xiao Dujuan don't understand any grudges or grievances. It's not worth arguing with such children.
Lin Chunhe came over and told her that she probably had similar thoughts to her.
Before arriving at the Lin family's old house, Fan Liniang and the others cooked millet porridge for the three people who were at home. When Lin Chunhe arrived at the door, the three of them were carrying bowls out of the house, ready to eat.
Upon suddenly spotting Lin Chunhe, Xiao Dujuan exclaimed in surprise, "Third Sister!"
Hearing Xiao Dujuan call out, Lin Jiarong called out as well, but his fingers tightened around the bowl, and his eyes darted around, revealing his unease. Lin Chunhe seemed not to notice: "Jiarong, lock the door. My older sister asked me to call you over for dinner."
Lin Jiarong said, "Third Sister, we won't go. Auntie has already cooked for us. We'll eat at home."
"Put away what's cooked and eat it tomorrow morning. We're still busy at home, so hurry up and pack up, lock the door, and leave."
Lin Chunhe's tone wasn't particularly gentle or polite. After she finished speaking, Lin Jiarong fell silent for a moment. Lin Chunhe looked at Meng Yue and Xiao Dujuan and waved to them, "Xiao Dujuan, Yue'er, let's go first and let your brother pack up."
The two of them were very close to Lin Duo'er and also somewhat close to Lin Chunhe. Hearing her words, they were tempted but then looked at Lin Jiarong. Lin Jiarong was indecisive. He only remembered what Lin Jialang had told him: what his parents owed was what they owed, and they owed Lin Chunhe and the others. So, if his cousins were unhappy and scolded them, they should just listen.
But apart from that one visit, the older sisters never scolded them.
As my brother said, if you scold them, they'll listen, but if you call them to eat, will they actually go?
Lin Chunhe frowned slightly as she looked at Lin Jiarong, who was in a daze, and said in a deep voice, "What are you thinking about? Hurry up and pack your things and let's go."
Lin Jiarong snapped back to reality and responded.
Xiao Dujuan and Meng Yue had already reached Lin Chunhe's side. Lin Jiarong also put the earthenware pot into the house, locked the door, and followed Lin Chunhe away.
The Lin family, who were standing nearby, overheard Lin Chunhe's words. Today, Lin Chunhe and her family were moving into their new house and holding a banquet. Everyone in the village had gone to the banquet. They asked Lin Miaomiao, but Lin Miaomiao wasn't going.
Lin Jiarong and Xiao Dujuan didn't go either, but Lin Chunhe came to call them, and the Lin family secretly hoped that if Lin Chunhe called them, Lin Jiarong and Xiao Dujuan would definitely come to call them.
But after waiting at the gate for a while, Lin Chunhe still hadn't come. When he opened the gate, he saw that Lin Jiarong had already locked it and left with Lin Chunhe and the others.
Watching the departing figures, Lin Jiacai finally realized that Lin Chunhe had only come to call Lin Jiarong and the others, and did not intend to call the three siblings.
Disappointment and resentment welled up in my heart.
Lin Chunhe called the people over, just as the previous group finished eating. Fan Liniang and the others were about to sit down to eat when they saw the three people Lin Chunhe had called over. Lin Jialang and Fan Liniang were both stunned.
With so many people around, Fan Liniang smiled at Lin Chunhe and then called Meng Yue and Xiao Dujuan to sit down and eat.
This kind of banquet is very quick; everyone has almost finished eating before the sun has even set.
In the countryside, people usually gather together to chat after dinner.
Qin Suyun, Zhang Qingqing, and Chai Xingyu arrived a little late after they finished their work.
It just so happened that I ate with Lin Chuntao and the others.
Chai Xingyu and Zhang Qingqing were both familiar with Lin Chuntao and Pei Ying, but Qin Suyun was only familiar with Lin Chuntao and did not know Pei Ying.
After they sat down, Lin Chuntao introduced them to each other.
"This is Qin Suyun, a good friend of mine whom I met instantly," Lin Chuntao said to Pei Ying. When Pei Ying heard the name Qin Suyun, his heart skipped a beat, but he was usually quite indifferent, so no one could tell that he was acting strangely. He looked at Qin Suyun and nodded slightly. "Pei Ying, Chuntao's husband."
Pei Ying spoke up herself, skipping Lin Chuntao's introduction. Qin Suyun, who was originally all smiles, froze on her face after hearing Pei Ying's name. A hint of panic flashed in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it, pretending nothing had happened, and nodded with a smile.
By the time the last two tables finished eating, the sun had already set.
My uncle and aunt were going back home, and my two aunts, Lin Chuntao, wanted them to stay overnight, but they both said they were very busy at home and would go to my uncle's house tonight and go back early tomorrow morning.
They insisted, and Lin Chuntao didn't force them; she could only see them off.
Qin Suyun and Chai Xingyu had to return to the county town. The roads were difficult to travel at night, so Lin Chuntao didn't keep them any longer and agreed to meet again another day.
The villagers had mostly dispersed; those who had eaten at the feast that night had all enjoyed themselves and returned home in high spirits, praising the meat and vegetables on the noodles.
Lin Changzong gave the accounting book to Lin Chuntao, and Lin Chuntao and her sisters sorted and put away the items.
Aunt Guizhi and Chen Dongniang also helped with the cleaning and finishing up, and they left only after everything was done.
Lin Chuntao said, "Grandma, Aunt, don't cook at home tomorrow, eat here with me."
Madam Sun laughed and said, "You silly child, you can't eat for several days straight. You've all been busy all day, so you should rest early."
The food was delicious today; every table finished everything that was served, and there were hardly any leftovers. If we come back for dinner tomorrow, Lin Chuntao will have to cook fresh food again.
But it's customary to treat those who helped with the work to another meal, so Lin Chuntao ignored their refusal and said with a smile, "I'll cook a meal for you tomorrow, Auntie and Grandma, please come over early."
They were also carrying tables and chairs, so it wasn't convenient for them to stand and chat. As they walked, they kept calling out to Lin Chuntao not to do it.
After the guests left, the entire courtyard became quiet.
Perhaps this is the meaning of a housewarming party: although the people have left, the warmth and liveliness remain; it's quiet, yet not desolate.
Lin Chuntao stood in the courtyard, looked up at the sky, breathed a long sigh of relief, and said to Lin Chunxing and the others, "The moving mission is successfully completed. Everyone, wash up and go back to your rooms to sleep."
Upon hearing her words, Lin Chunhe and the others couldn't wait to fetch water to wash up.
At first, they looked forward to moving to their new home, but as they watched the new house being built little by little, their mood calmed down considerably.
But after moving in, seeing the bed and bedding in my room stirred up waves of excitement in my heart again.
They moved in early this morning and haven't even had a chance to lie down and roll around yet. Today is the longest day they've ever had, with so many things to do and it's still not dark.
The new house has a double stove, one side for a large iron pot and the other side for a smaller one for stir-frying.
Lin Chunxing washed the pot and boiled the water early in the morning, just waiting to take a bath after she finished her work.
Boiled water is very hot; scooping half a bucket can make a whole bucket of warm water.
After the younger sisters finished scooping water, there was still a lot left. Pei Ying asked Lin Chuntao, "Are you going to wash up now?"
Lin Chuntao nodded, looked up at Pei Ying and said, "Could you help me dilute some water and carry it inside?"
The new house was spacious and private. Lin Chuntao took a long, refreshing shower, climbed onto the bed, and rolled around in the blankets.
It's been so long since I've had this soft bed!!!
At this moment, Lin Chunxing and the others were even more excited than Lin Chuntao. The three sisters' rooms were next to each other, and now they had a big bed. No one would fight over the blankets when they rolled around. After a while, they felt a little bored.
Lin Duo'er ran out of her room, first went to find Lin Chunhe, then went to find Lin Chunxing, and made a fuss for a while before being forced to return to her room.
As darkness fell, the three sisters, their bodies weary and wrapped in cotton wool, quickly drifted off to sleep.
After washing up, Pei Ying took a red candle and went into the room.
Lin Chuntao was still awake when she saw Pei Ying come in, so she sat up.
"Is the latch in place?" Lin Chuntao asked.
Pei Ying nodded. "I've checked everything, and it's installed."
As he spoke, he lit two red candles and placed them on a cabinet in the corner, then hung two lampshades above them, casting a hazy, yellowish glow over the entire room.
Pei Ying walked over, and Lin Chuntao moved a little further in, watching as Pei Ying slowly took off his clothes and sat down.
"Are you tired?" Pei Ying asked.
Lin Chuntao: "It's okay, my arms and waist are a little sore."
Pei Ying said, "Lie down, I'll give you a massage."
Lin Chuntao didn't think much of it, turned over and lay face down. Pei Ying massaged her shoulders, neck and back, and rubbed her arms. After that, she immediately felt much more relaxed.
Lin Chuntao rolled over and lay down, stretched her neck and head, and smiled, "Much better."
Pei Ying hummed in response, her voice somewhat muffled.
Lin Chuntao sensed that Pei Ying seemed a little uncomfortable. She smiled and pursed her lips. She and Pei Ying were husband and wife. Due to limited circumstances, they didn't know each other well and had been dragging it out. Now that she knew him and had even touched his abs, she was ready for this.
Pei Ying's heart had been pounding ever since he entered the room, and his hands trembled slightly when he lit the red candles; he seemed to be too nervous.
While Lin Chuntao said she was tired, I gave her a massage. I wanted to ease her down and start naturally, but it seemed like it ended as soon as I finished.
Lying down made things even more awkward. He turned to look at Lin Chuntao and saw her smiling with her lips pursed. When he turned his head, she also turned around, looking at him with her big, wet eyes, and asked in a low voice, "Aren't you coming?"
Pei Ying: "!!..."
His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he felt his heart pounding in his chest. He stammered, "You've been busy all day, I...I..."
Lin Chuntao leaned over and cut him off, teasingly saying, "I'm tired, so you do it."
Pei Ying understood what she meant, and deepened the kiss by holding the back of her head. In an instant, he rolled over with her in his arms, turning them upside down.
In the dim candlelight, Lin Chuntao was dizzy from his kisses, her eyes filled with passion and wet with tears. She took out two porcelain bottles from under her pillow and handed them to Pei Ying.
"There's something in the blue bottle. Take one out and bring it with you."
Pei Ying took it and quickly opened the porcelain bottle, taking one out. He had never seen this before, but it looked very similar to sheep intestines. He had heard that nobles used sheep intestines for contraception. He had even gone to the doctor to get some medicine, which he had already taken. He didn't expect Lin Chuntao to prepare this herself.
After he quickly put it on, Lin Chuntao whispered, "Put some of the stuff in that bottle on me."
Pei Ying poured some out; it was like water and oil at the same time, slippery and greasy. He didn't know what it was, but that didn't matter.
Lin Chuntao knew this would happen tonight. As a human, she naturally had needs. A consensual relationship is all about making oneself feel good. So, while Pei Ying was taking a shower, she quickly redeemed these two items from the system.
She had made thorough preparations, but she overlooked Pei Ying himself. In the depths of her emotions, he imprisoned her like an impenetrable wall, impossible to push away or stop her cries...
At first, Lin Chuntao was worried that people would hear the noise, but as the night deepened and darkness enveloped the area, Lin Chuntao let him be.
They stayed up until late at night, both of them covered in sweat. Pei Ying was warming water on the stove, and he quickly went to fetch it. The two of them washed up before going to sleep.
Lin Chuntao was exhausted and sleepy at the moment, and let Pei Ying hold her as she fell into a deep sleep.
Pei Ying was still not satisfied. He had thought about this and looked forward to it, but he never thought it would be so chilling. He couldn't sleep at the moment, his mind was filled with Lin Chuntao's voice just now, and just thinking about it made him aroused again.
Lin Chuntao was exhausted after a long day and fell into a deep sleep in no time. Pei Ying suppressed his thoughts, kissed Lin Chuntao's forehead, and then they both fell asleep.
As dawn broke, the red candle burned out. Lin Chuntao heard the rooster crow and instinctively prepared to get out of bed. Just as she turned over, a large hand grabbed her and pulled her away. Wherever the fingertips touched, it felt like she was being electrocuted. In no time, Lin Chuntao's breathing became erratic.
Like a sudden storm, it stirred up huge waves and swept away the flowers in the garden.
After being tossed and turned by him, Lin Chuntao woke up around noon.
Looking at the bright window, she suddenly woke up. Pei Ying was no longer in bed. She touched the mattress, but it was cold. Had she been up for a while?
Are we going to call Aunt Guizhi and the others back for lunch today?
Pei Ying is doomed, yet he doesn't even call out to her.
Lin Chuntao got up quickly, muttering to herself. She pushed open the door and saw the bright sunlight shining into the yard. She squinted and looked at the smoke coming out of the kitchen chimney. Just as she was about to go over, she saw Lin Chunhe come out of the house.
"Sister, you're awake."
Lin Chuntao asked, "Are you cooking?"
Lin Chunhe nodded, and Lin Chuntao said, "Why didn't you call me? We're supposed to invite Grandma and the others over for dinner today."
Lin Chunhe said, "Your brother-in-law said you couldn't sleep because you were not used to the new house and went to bed very late last night. He said you should get more sleep."
“We’ve washed the vegetables and steamed the rice. We’ll have time. My second sister even called my great-grandmother and Aunt Guizhi and told them not to cook and to come over for a meal. They agreed.”
Lin Chuntao breathed a sigh of relief after Lin Chunhe finished speaking.
Seeing Lin Chuntao like this, Lin Chunhe said, "Sister, is your blanket uncomfortable? We don't even know when we fell asleep last night."
"It's so great to sleep in a big bed all by myself!"
Hearing Lin Chunhe's words, Lin Chuntao yawned and then walked into the kitchen.
Inside the kitchen, Pei Ying was cutting meat when she looked up and saw Lin Chuntao come in. "Get up."
Looking at the man's radiant appearance, Lin Chuntao thought he didn't seem like someone who had been up all night. She smiled and thought, "This is what it means to be young and useful."
"Um."
Lin Chuntao glanced at the meat slices in the basin and saw that she had cut enough. She then took a pot and started stir-frying the vegetables.
The dishes were almost cooked when Aunt Guizhi and the others arrived, and everyone happily ate lunch.
I'm taking a break today; nothing to do this afternoon.
Lin Duo'er and the others ran out to play, Lin Chunhe and Lin Chunxing went to the fields, and Lin Chuntao prepared to take a nap.
But before the afternoon nap even started, Qin Suyun arrived, leaving her all alone.
Qin Suyun came to visit her, and Lin Chuntao was so happy that she was no longer sleepy. She invited Qin Suyun to come in and sit down.
Pei Ying went to make tea and came over, then sat down next to Lin Chuntao.
Qin Suyun glanced around the courtyard and saw that Lin Chunxing and the others were not there. She had wanted to talk to Lin Chuntao about it yesterday, but Lin Chuntao was busy yesterday, and it was also a joyous occasion, so she simply held back.
Thinking it over today still wouldn't work, she rushed over by car.
Qin Suyun glanced at Pei Ying. He must have recognized her too, which was why he was hostile. Thinking of the plot in the book, Qin Suyun forced herself to say, "Chuntao, I have something I need to talk to you about alone."
Lin Chuntao turned to Pei Ying and nudged him, saying, "We sisters are having a little chat. You go ahead with your work."
Hearing Lin Chuntao's words, Pei Ying looked at Qin Suyun: "Mrs. Qin, it would be more appropriate for me to be present when you are about to talk to my wife about this, wouldn't it?"
Qin Suyun lost her composure yesterday, and Lin Chuntao suspected that Pei Ying was a named character in the book, but that wasn't important, and she didn't pay much attention to it.
Hearing Pei Ying's words today, Lin Chuntao suddenly realized that they knew each other.
"Do you know each other?" Lin Chuntao asked.
"We don't know her!" Pei Ying and Qin Suyun both looked at her and said in unison.
Lin Chuntao: ? ? ?
Qin Suyun frowned; she couldn't talk about the book with Lin Chuntao in front of Pei Ying.
Pei Ying frowned, a feeling that his peaceful life was about to be disrupted lingered in his heart, which he disliked very much. But looking at Lin Chuntao's eyes, he still explained to Lin Chuntao first: "If I'm not mistaken, this Lady Qin is the wife of my younger brother, Pei Jing."
Seeing the confusion on Lin Chuntao's face, Pei Ying continued, "I've never met Madam Qin before, I've only heard her name, so I wasn't sure last night and didn't tell you."
Lin Chuntao remembered Pei Ying saying that when he returned home after many years away, his parents had a son they preferred, which is why he came to Yizhou in a fit of anger.
"They came looking for you?" Lin Chuntao asked. Pei Ying sneered, "That's impossible."
Qin Suyun said, "We were forcibly relocated here by the government, and we didn't know you were here before we came."
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