"Blackie".
Ruan Qiushui patted Heizi's head, dodging the dog's head that wanted to lick her hand.
"Sister-in-law, you're finally back."
"Sister-in-law, why did you buy so much stuff? It's so heavy! Let me go with you next time, and I'll carry it back for you."
Gu Xiaoxiao was chopping firewood in the yard when she saw Ruan Qiushui return, so she quickly went over to help her carry the basket.
"Xiaoxiao, have you had dinner yet?"
Seeing Gu Xiaoxiao put the basket into the kitchen, Ruan Qiushui followed her in.
Not yet.
Gu Xiaoxiao shook her head.
She was worried about her sister-in-law and couldn't even concentrate on cooking.
"So what did you have for lunch?"
Ruan Qiushui noticed that everything in the kitchen was in its usual place and hadn't been moved.
"I ate lunch at home."
Gu Xiaoxiao felt embarrassed to take advantage of Ruan Qiushui, so she didn't eat the food there.
"Isn't it too much trouble to go back? From now on, you can eat here. Make whatever you want to eat. I'm your third sister-in-law, we don't need to be so formal, you know?"
Ruan Qiushui knew that this child was shy.
She's just a little girl, she doesn't even eat as much as Hei Zi, it's not like she can't afford to support her.
"No need, Third Sister-in-law. The family has prepared all the food for me. I can just eat when I get back. It's no trouble at all."
Gu Xiaoxiao shook her head.
Her third sister-in-law had been good enough to her; one shouldn't be greedy.
The family had long since divided its assets, and the grain in Third Sister-in-law's family didn't come from thin air.
"Are you disobeying your third sister-in-law?"
"Ouch, I'm so angry, my stomach hurts so much."
Ruan Qiushui immediately clutched her stomach and cried out in pain.
"Third sister-in-law, I'll listen, I'll listen, okay?"
Helpless, Gu Xiaoxiao quickly spoke up.
Even though she knew her third sister-in-law was acting, she couldn't ignore it.
"That's more like it."
Ruan Qiushui put down her hand and turned around to look for ingredients to prepare a meal.
"Could you help your third sister-in-law wash the vegetables?"
Ruan Qiushui took a bunch of green vegetables and sent Gu Xiaoxiao away.
By now, Ruan Qiushui had finished digesting the pastries in her stomach. Extremely hungry, she wanted to fill her stomach quickly, so she could only eat noodles.
Ruan Qiushui chopped some shredded meat and pickled cabbage, stir-fried them together and set them aside. Then she boiled water, cooked noodles, and put seasoning in a bowl.
After Gu Xiaoxiao washed the vegetables, cooked them, and added meat sauce, a bowl of fragrant pickled cabbage and shredded pork noodles was ready.
"Third sister-in-law, the noodles you cooked are absolutely delicious."
Gu Xiaoxiao ate her noodles and sighed contentedly.
Her cooking skills were only slightly better than her eldest sister-in-law's. If she weren't afraid of wasting precious food, she would have stopped her third sister-in-law from cooking long ago and cooked for her herself.
"As long as it tastes good."
Ruan Qiushui was finally satisfied after eating three ounces of noodles.
"Third Sister-in-law, put the dishes down, I'll clean up."
Seeing Ruan Qiushui clearing away the dishes, Gu Xiaoxiao quickly stepped forward.
"Alright then."
Ruan Qiushui didn't compete for the task of washing dishes; she didn't like washing dishes, but Gu Xiaoxiao was willing to do it, which was fine.
"Third Sister-in-law, would you like me to boil some more hot water for your bath?"
Gu Xiaoxiao asked while washing the dishes.
"No."
Ruan Qiushui shook her head and went back to her bedroom.
I've been sitting in the car all day, and my back is really sore. I'd better lie down and rest for a while.
…
The next morning, Ruan Qiushui woke up to the sound of Heizi barking wildly.
"Let go of Heizi, what do you want to do?"
Gu Xiaoxiao called out anxiously from outside.
"Xiaoxiao, what happened?"
Ruan Qiushui quickly got up, dressed, and went outside.
"Second Brother?"
Ruan Qiushui looked at the young man in front of Gu Xiaoxiao. Wasn't he his second brother, Ruan Qi'an, who was serving in the army?
"Little sister, it's me."
"Now you can let me in, right?"
Ruan Qi'an waved to Ruan Qiushui and looked at Gu Xiaoxiao, who only reached his chest.
"Hey, come here."
"I'm sorry, I misunderstood."
Gu Xiaoxiao quickly stepped aside to let Ruan Qi'an in.
"Woof woof woof".
Hei Zi retreated to Ruan Qiushui's side, ready to attack at any moment.
"I will forgive you because of your loyalty to the Lord."
At the door, Hei Zi, seeing that Ruan Qi'an was unfamiliar, pounced on him.
If he hadn't reacted quickly, grabbing the dog's muzzle and subduing it, he would have been bitten long ago.
“Hei Zi, this is my second brother, not an enemy.”
Ruan Qiushui patted Hei Zi's head and quickly invited Ruan Qi'an into the house to sit down.
His second brother was carrying a big bundle on his back, so it would be easier to take it off.
"Third Sister-in-law, I'll go make you some tea."
Knowing that the two had something to say, Gu Xiaoxiao quickly ran to the kitchen to wait.
"Second Brother, what brings you here?"
Ruan Qiushui asked curiously.
She hadn't received any news from her second brother for a long time and thought he was still on a mission.
"And you're the one who said that? You actually found someone here without saying a word, and even got married?"
Thinking of that brat he had never met, Ruan Qi'an was furious.
After sending his allowance to his younger sister while he was in the army, he went out to do a mission.
To my surprise, I received several letters as soon as I got back.
With each letter he reads, his anger level rises by one stage, until it reaches its peak.
Even more surprisingly, her parents agreed and she even attended her younger sister's wedding.
What right does that brat have? He, as the older brother, was the first to disagree.
He was going to take his younger sister away; they could get a divorce after marriage. So he quickly took leave and came here.
"Where is that brat?"
Before taking his little sister away, Ruan Qi'an decided to beat up that bastard first.
"Second brother, he is your brother-in-law."
He has a name and surname, why call him "brat"?
"We've only been married a short time, and you're already protecting me? I'm your closest second brother."
Very well, my little sister actually defended that scoundrel in front of him. It seems he needs to go all out.
"Second brother, my dear second brother, of course you are my closest brother."
She's obviously jealous. What should I do? I'll just have to appease her first.
Unexpectedly, this second brother, whom I just met, is a fiercely protective brother.
"That's more like it."
Ruan Qi'an decided to calm down first and took out all the things he had brought for Ruan Qiushui.
"Second brother, have you spent all your secret stash of money? Are you still going to get married?"
Ruan Qiushui looked at the ever-growing pile of things on the table and couldn't help but facepalm.
Grains, fruits, canned goods, milk powder, clothing, shoes, military overcoats.
To get all these things, it will cost at least four or five hundred.
"Spending money on my little sister is worthwhile."
He was worried that his younger sister would suffer in the countryside, so he prepared everything he needed.
"There's more here."
Ruan Qi'an took out an envelope containing the money he had saved over the past two years.
"Second brother, what are you doing? I can't take it."
Ruan Qiushui didn't need to look to know that it contained money; judging by the thickness, there was quite a lot.
That was her second brother's dowry for his wife; she couldn't accept it.
"Take it if I give it to you."
Ruan Qi'an insisted on handing it to Ruan Qiushui.
This was the money he left for his younger sister to protect herself.
"I don't want it. If you force it on me again, I'll cry."
Ruan Qiushui made a move as if she was about to cry.
"Alright, alright, then your second brother can hold it for you for now, okay?"
Ruan Qi'an fears nothing but Ruan Qiushui's tears; once she cries, he's helpless.
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