Chen Dong’s wife finished speaking and glanced at Xue Niang, but she couldn’t discern anything.
Chen Dong chimed in, “That’s right, mine are all strung with red string.”
He recalled seeing the money Xiao Shan had given to Da Shuanzi and the others; it was indeed tied with red string.
*Hmph*, let’s see what she says this time?
Strung with red string? Such a coincidence?
The money in her home was strung with red string. Xiao Shan just piled it up, not even knowing how much money there was. She was the one who counted it and strung it, though not 100 *wen* at a time, but 200 *wen* per string.
Unfortunately, the money bag that Yu Tou was clutching no longer contained the tael of silver she had given him.
Yu Tou looked at Xue Niang, no trace of panic in his eyes.
Xue Niang chuckled, “I forgot, I gave Yu Tou a whole piece of silver, not loose change. Yu Tou must have exchanged some of it. You say yours are tied with red string, so let’s open the money bag and see if it’s yours.”
Yu Tou complied readily, upending the money bag. It was a whole string of copper coins, not divided into small strings, nor tied with red string, but strung together with a strip of cloth.
“I bought two sets of clothes, and the change was strung together for me by the shop owner with a scrap of cloth. If you don’t believe me, you can ask the owner of Miaomiao Clothing Shop.”
Chen Dong’s face turned ashen with anger, and Chen Dong’s wife gritted her teeth in resentment.
The village chief admonished, “Alright, the matter is clear. Yu Tou, you must not climb over other people’s walls again. Guard your money well and don’t be so reckless.”
“Understood, Uncle Village Chief.”
“So Yu Tou just took a beating for nothing?” Xue Niang asked with dissatisfaction.
“What else! He didn’t follow the rules. Alright, that’s it!” The village chief spoke with his hands behind his back.
“Heh!” Chen Dong stared sinisterly at Xue Niang, “Madam Xiao, you’d best keep a close eye on your man, don’t let him go out and cause trouble.”
Chen Dong’s wife shivered.
Yu Tou, enraged, raised his fist again, but Xue Niang pulled him down.
“Let’s go!”
Wang Xiulan, along with Xue Niang, dragged Yu Tou away from Chen Dong’s doorstep, each holding one of his arms.
“Hey, hey, hey! Little Brother Yu Tou! Sister-in-law Xiao!” Xiao Si ran up, his eyes shining brightly, “Where did you find those clams, did they really have pearls inside?”
“Why don’t you go and try to find some yourself and see!” Yu Tou snapped back at him impatiently.
Xue Niang patted the back of his head, “Why are you always acting like you’ve swallowed gunpowder? Can’t you speak properly?”
Yu Tou became obedient.
Wang Xiulan breathed a sigh of relief. The matter was resolved. Xue Niang was very clever. It was just that she had noticed Chen Dong’s gaze was not quite right.
She didn’t know why, but Chen Dong had become sinister, completely different from before. Could it be that the rumors had changed his temperament?
“Xue Niang, in the future, avoid Chen Dong when you see him. I think he’s holding a grudge against you.”
Yu Tou bristled again, “How dare he! He’s a spineless coward, only daring to bully women. Just now, he was bullying his own wife, and she was crying out in pain. I couldn’t even bear to watch. He’s not worthy of being a man!”
Wang Xiulan: “……”
Xue Niang: “……”
Xiao Si: “……”
“Xiao Shan!”
Xue Niang let out a cry of joyful surprise, then ran towards the figure ahead like a swallow returning to its nest.
Seeing him return safely, joy filled her chest. She didn’t think much of it and naturally ran towards him.
Xiao Shan, facing her unprecedented enthusiasm, felt a surge of unexpected joy and instinctively opened his arms to welcome her.
They embraced tightly, like lovers reunited after a long separation.
“Oh dear!” Wang Xiulan covered her eyes.
Yu Tou turned away, his face flushed red.
Xiao Si covered his eyes with two fingers, then peeked through them, “Oh dear, oh dear, I’m going to get styes, styes……”
The stubble that had just appeared on Xiao Shan’s face pricked Xue Niang’s face, and his gaze was so hot it seemed to melt her.
Xue Niang had only intended to run over, but she was unexpectedly swept into a full embrace. Hearing the sounds behind them, she flusteredly pushed Xiao Shan away.
Xiao Shan’s embrace was empty, and he looked at the people behind him with displeasure. He pulled Xue Niang, saying, “Let’s go home.”
“Brother Xiao Shan is a model for us to learn from,” Xiao Si sighed with emotion.
“Children shouldn’t learn from adult matters,” Wang Xiulan said, her old face feeling uncomfortable. From now on, she would keep her distance from this couple; her heart couldn’t take it.
“Auntie Xiulan, did Uncle Liang hug you outside when he was young?” Xiao Si asked curiously.
“You little rascal!” Wang Xiulan said angrily, hitting Xiao Si, “What nonsense are you asking! Go home quickly! And Yu Tou, keep whatever you saw to yourselves. You don’t have Xiao Shan’s ability to protect his wife, so don’t imitate him. If you act recklessly, you’ll harm your wives! Do you understand?”
“Understood.”
“Understood.”
Xiao Si grinned and responded with Yu Tou.
Xiao Shan had already dragged all the prey home before coming out to look for Xue Niang. The two walked home hand in hand. From afar, they saw Granny Hua standing by the road at the village entrance, leaning on her cane and gazing into the distance, as if waiting for someone.
“Who is Granny Hua waiting for? Doesn’t she have any other relatives?”
“Who knows!” Xiao Shan wasn’t particularly concerned with anything else, only glancing at the woman in front of him.
She seemed to be walking a bit uncomfortably, likely still very tired.
“Xue Niang, I found a good place on the mountain. I’ll take you there another day, you’ll definitely like it.”
“Take me up the mountain?” Tiny glints of sunlight flickered in Xue Niang’s eyes, “Isn’t it the Flower Valley?”
“No. You’ll know when the time comes.” Xiao Shan kept her in suspense, refusing to tell her.
The washed clothes in the courtyard had not yet been hung out. Xiao Shan wrung out the water, a hint of a smile in his eyes, gentle and doting.
“Which wife is so capable, washing so many clothes when she’s not feeling well? Should she be praised or punished?”
Xue Niang ignored him, looking at the pile of prey in amazement. They were all stacked high on a raft, with a large spotted leopard at the bottom, and about ten or so of various sizes.
“Impressive, aren’t I?” Xiao Shan came up behind her, his tone not without pride.
“Very impressive!”
He had hunted so much without a single injury, which showed his high level of skill. Xue Niang felt a little more at ease. Perhaps, he was truly destined to be strong?
“Where is it impressive?”
“Impressive everywhere!” Xue Niang replied gleefully, turning to hug his neck, her eyes filled with proud admiration, “You are the most impressive person I have ever met.”
Xiao Shan gripped her slender waist and lifted her up, holding her hips with both hands. Xue Niang spread her legs and clung to his waist.
This posture was somewhat embarrassing, like holding a child. Xue Niang buried her face in the crook of his neck, hearing his joyful laughter.
“Xue Niang, I am truly happy.”
He was truly happy. He had been like a frozen fish, suffocating in a cold world. Then, a pool of warm water appeared, slowly melting the ice.
Now, he swam freely in that warm water, extremely happy.
Xue Niang was that warm water.
The warm water that brought him back to life.
A fish cannot leave the water; to leave is to die.