"What a good child." Xia Lan's words made Aunt Liu even happier than if she were praising herself.
"Oh, by the way, let me tell you! Stone's mother got a beating from her husband last night, she screamed so hard." Aunt Liu whispered to Xia Lan, unable to suppress a smile.
"Really?" Xia Lan's eyes widened in surprise, and she asked with schadenfreude.
"Didn't she just give us that 200 yuan dowry yesterday? I don't know who told Stone's dad about it, but they started fighting after dinner last night, and he hasn't dared to leave the house today," Aunt Liu said cheerfully.
"She deserves it, for bullying people." Xia Lan sniffed and snorted. "She was so mean to Shi Tou, she got what she deserved."
"That's right. Poor Shitou was when he was little. He was abused by her for so many years. In the dead of winter, he had to carry his quilt to the river to wash it. Do you know how cold the river water is in winter? She actually made him wash it there. The quilt was wet, cold and heavy. Even an adult would have difficulty lifting it, let alone Shitou, who was only ten years old at the time." Aunt Liu nodded heavily, still feeling scared when she thought about it.
"If I hadn't been passing by and pulled him back, he would have almost fallen into the river."
"How heartless!" Xia Lan said angrily. "She's a bad person too. She conspired with my uncle. She tricked Shi Tou into spending money to get engaged. My uncle married me off without even asking me. They're all the same kind of wicked people."
"Xia, may I ask you a question, please?" Aunt Liu asked Xia Lan cautiously.
“Auntie, go ahead and ask!” Xia Lan nodded.
"Are you really willing to stay and live with Shitou? Your aunt is a woman too. I know you were deceived by your uncle. You definitely don't want to get married..." Aunt Liu said, looking at Xia Lan. Xia Lan already understood what Aunt Liu wanted to find out and shook her head to interrupt her.
"You don't want to stay?" Aunt Liu thought Xia Lan's shaking of her head meant she was unwilling.
“I’m willing to stay,” Xia Lan said earnestly. “What I meant by shaking my head was that perhaps Qin Yu isn’t the husband I envisioned, but he helped me when I needed him most and even saved my life. It would be a lie to say I’m not grateful to him.”
“But girl, you can’t marry out of gratitude. What will you do in the future?” Aunt Liu said disapprovingly. “Since you haven’t slept together yet, if you’re unwilling, I can talk to Shi Tou for you. That way, it won’t delay the two of you.”
“Yesterday he asked me if I wanted to stay. He said he would protect me and not let me suffer. Maybe I don’t like him yet, but I think if he continues to be so good to me and protect me, it’s only a matter of time before I fall in love with him,” Xia Lan said earnestly to Aunt Liu.
"After all, what woman doesn't want a husband who protects and pampers her? Don't you think so, Auntie?" Xia Lan smiled.
She had thought about this for a long time, and she had to admit that Qin Yu's series of actions made her feel a sense of security like never before.
When she was most helpless and lonely, no one stood up to help her, but he appeared like a hero, saving her life, helping her reclaim her parents' inheritance, and taking meticulous care of her.
It would be a lie to say I wasn't tempted, but to say I'm in love is a stretch.
She was willing to give him the opportunity, it just depended on whether he could continue to treat her as well as she expected.
When a man treats a woman so well, he's either after her body or her heart.
She also wanted to know whether he was after her as a person or her heart.
"Are you really sure?" Aunt Liu looked at Xia Lan with a meaningful gaze.
Xia Lan smiled brightly. "Auntie, it's no use telling me. He has to like me too! If he doesn't like me, all my thinking here is pointless, isn't it?"
“If he sees another pretty girl and falls for her, then naturally I can’t become his wife,” Xia Lan explained.
"Judging from the way he looks at you, I would never believe he doesn't like you," Aunt Liu said firmly, waving her hand.
How could a woman not understand the look in a man's eyes?
If Shi Tou didn't like her, why would he save people and ask the village chief to help her get her family property back? She would never believe it if you beat her to death that he didn't like Xia Lan.
Who has nothing better to do than get themselves into trouble?
Her husband told her yesterday when he came back that if Shi Tou hadn't scared the people of Xiahe Village by smashing the door so hard yesterday, the two villages would definitely have fought today.
"I'm relieved to know you're happy! It's not that I don't want you two to be together, but for a couple to be together, it's all about fate. You've lost your home and are all alone now. If it weren't for Shi Tou protecting you, how miserable would you be? With Shi Tou taking care of you, at least you're safe." Aunt Liu didn't dare to be too obvious, afraid of scaring Xia Lan.
Xia Lan understood what Aunt Liu meant. She knew how dangerous it was for a single young woman to live alone in this day and age.
"Thank you, Auntie, I understand." Xia Lan nodded with a smile.
"Oh dear! It's so late, I should go back and cook. Otherwise, the men will come home from the fields without a meal. You should go back and rest!" Aunt Liu looked at the sky and hurried home, turning back to say to Xia Lan as she ran.
Xia Lan watched Aunt Liu run home, then looked up at the sky, surprised to find that they had been chatting for so long.
Qin Yu should be back soon. Xia Lan thought for a moment, then went to the back of the yard to pick some vegetables. She planned to wash them first so that she could cook as soon as Qin Yu returned.
When Qin Yu returned home, he didn't find Xia Lan in the yard and assumed she was resting. When he returned to his room, he found no trace of Xia Lan on the bed either.
My heart clenched. Had she left?
The light in Qin Yu's eyes dimmed, and he sat dejectedly in the courtyard.
"Qin Yu, you're back!!" Xia Lan came out after washing the vegetables and saw Qin Yu sitting in the yard. She called out with a smile.
"You didn't leave?" Qin Yu's eyes lit up when he heard Xia Lan's words, and he immediately rushed over.
"Didn't I promise you I'd stay? Besides, where would I go?" Xia Lan saw the light in Qin Yu's eyes and explained with a light laugh.
Then, remembering Qin Yu's words, she lowered her head sadly, her whole being exuding pitifulness, and said heartbrokenly, "Or are you trying to get rid of me?"
"No, no," Qin Yu hurriedly explained. "I'm so glad you're willing to stay. I mean... I'll treat you well!"
In his desperation, Qin Yu finally shouted at the top of his lungs!
"Hehe, that's good! Go wash your face quickly, I've already washed the vegetables, just waiting for you to cook!" Xia Lan said with a smile.
"What would you like to eat?" Qin Yu asked Xia Lan, his eyes shining.
"I'm fine with anything as long as it tastes good," Xia Lan said with a flattering smile.
"Okay." Qin Yu washed his face in the water tank and hurried to the kitchen to cook.
Xia Lan sat in front of the stove and helped him tend the fire.
Neither of them could quite describe their feelings, but they just felt happy...
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