Xu Daniu, carrying a basin of clothes to wash, passed by and overheard their conversation.
She had heard about what happened a few days ago and hadn't dared to approach them. Now, it seemed Xiao Shan was truly alright.
This man was truly formidable, killing those who bullied others without consequence. He was skilled in martial arts and understood the law. It must be wonderful to have such a man protecting you.
Yutou arrived with a bucket of mung bean soup.
"Brother Zhuzi, where is Brother Xiao?"
"He said he was going for a walk on the mountain and would be back soon."
"Oh, Sister Xue went to the river to wash clothes. I'll have to tell him when he gets back. He doesn't let Sister Xue go to the river."
"Hahaha—" Liu Zhuzi and the other two burst into laughter.
Brother Xiao's doting on his wife was truly unparalleled in the village, no, in the entire Donglin County. What kind of woman didn't wash clothes and cook?
He was clearly a man of unyielding spirit, standing tall and proud, yet he could wash and cook for a woman. It didn't make him seem weak, but rather more admirable.
"In all my years, I've only admired Brother Xiao. A true man!"
Xu Daniu carried her overflowing basin of clothes. This was just one of her many chores for the day, and considered light. The rest included gathering pig feed, digging for wild vegetables, feeding chickens, working in the fields, and even collecting firewood from the mountain when they ran out of fuel. It was endless.
After a tiring day, she would lie down to sleep, not even daring to dream, for fear of not being able to get up the next day.
Even so, no one said a good word to her.
The most she heard were "money-losing goods," "lazy slut," and "just eats without doing anything."
She remembered one time she went to the mountain to collect firewood. She had gone farther and returned late, with wolf howls accompanying her all the way. She cried all the way back.
When she returned, the whole family was gathered around the table eating, as if no one had even noticed she was missing.
She shouldn't think about it; the more she thought, the sadder she became. Xu Daniu thought of Xue Niang's appearance and also lifted her head high.
On the riverbank, she indeed saw Xue Niang's figure. Even from just a back view, she could recognize her instantly: the bright peach-colored clothes, the elegant lines, and the smooth hair tied with a simple colored string, resting obediently on her back.
There was no one beside her, and everyone dared not approach, yet they kept stealing glances at her from the corner of their eyes.
Xu Daniu also spotted Chen Dong's wife, who was also quietly observing Xue Niang.
As the village beauty, Chen Dong's wife had always been a bit proud. She remembered when she first married into the village, she had once called out "Sister-in-law" on the road.
Chen Dong's wife glanced at her but didn't respond. From then on, she never called out to her again.
However, after almost two years of marriage, Chen Dong's wife showed no signs of pregnancy, and her initial pride had faded. Her mother-in-law was not a good-tempered woman, and she likely faced some hardship at home. The woman herself seemed to have lost her former vitality.
Especially when compared to Xue Niang, she seemed to have faded into obscurity, just like the other village women.
A sense of satisfaction welled up in Xu Daniu's heart. She quickened her pace and walked up to Xue Niang.
"Xue Niang, are you also here to wash clothes? Last time I wanted to come with you, Brother Xiao said you were frail and told me not to disturb you, so I haven't dared to come until now."
Xu Daniu's tone was very familiar, as if they were old friends who hadn't seen each other in a long time.
Xue Niang glanced at her. It was this dark girl again. She seemed to have gotten even darker.
"Yes, he just thinks too much." Xue Niang didn't know what else to say. She felt she wasn't that close to Xu Daniu and was somewhat surprised she dared to approach her.
Those other women all kept their distance from her!
Xu Daniu heard that clear, unhurried voice again, as if it dispelled some of the summer heat.
The others naturally heard it too. Those who were chatting stopped, their ears perked up.
"Xue Niang, what do you usually do at home?"
"Well, nothing much, feeding chickens, feeding dogs."
All very easy tasks, barely even considered work, Xu Daniu thought.
With the experience from last time, Xue Niang only brought two of Xiao Shan's clothes and two of her own.
Xu Daniu was surprised to find that Xue Niang washed clothes without a washboard. She had brought quite a bit of soapwort, rubbing it onto the clothes little by little, then scrubbing them with her hands.
Good heavens, how much soapwort would that take?
"Xue Niang, did you forget your washboard? Do you want to use mine?" Xu Daniu genuinely thought Xue Niang didn't know how, as Xiao Shan rarely let her do laundry.
Xue Niang wasn't particularly fond of Daniu. She had had some sort of connection with Xiao Shan, which made her feel a bit awkward. However, seeing that Daniu seemed to have given up on that idea and was even overly enthusiastic towards her for some reason.
Xiao Shan had said that the villagers were actually very simple, mostly rough in speech but not bad at heart.
"No, thank you. I think washing with soapwort cleans better."
But, but that's such a waste!
Xiao Shan's clothes were so large; how much soapwort would that use?
"Daniu, where did you pick those mushrooms that day? I'd like to go pick some too, they were very delicious."
Xue Niang looked up and asked. The sunlight fell on her face, casting shadows from her butterfly-wing-like eyelashes. If one ignored the dark markings on her left cheek, her entire face was as exquisite as fine porcelain from a ceramic shop.
Xu Daniu's mouth hung open in a "ah?" of surprise, not having reacted.
Xue Niang found her expression rather amusing and couldn't help but smile, "Mushrooms."
"Oh, mushrooms." Xu Daniu felt a bit foolish. She was also a woman; why had she been so mesmerized by another woman just now? Could she be a spirit?
It was said that when spirits transformed into human form, if they were disturbed in any way, they couldn't achieve perfection. For example, an animal might retain a tail or some patches of fur wouldn't shed completely.
"There are plenty in the forest. I'll take you with me if I have time." Xu Daniu replied absentmindedly, her gaze secretly drifting to Xue Niang's backside, then to her rolled-up sleeves.
Finally, her eyes moved to her left cheek.
Could the thing on Xue Niang's left cheek be something left behind during her transformation?
Xiao Shan was a hunter, the only one in the village brave enough to venture deep into the mountains. Perhaps Xue Niang was brought back from the mountains by him, not bought at all.
What kind of spirit could she be?
The markings on her face resembled spiderwebs, or perhaps vines. Was she a tree spirit or a spider spirit?
"Hey, Xiao's wife, you can't waste soapwort like that. This stuff isn't cheap. How much will you use in a year washing like this?"
It was Aunt Gui Xiang who spoke, a notorious gossip in the village. However, this time, she seemed to be speaking on behalf of everyone, and after she finished, several women nodded in agreement.
Even Chen Dong's wife wore an expression of "This woman truly doesn't know any better."
Xue Niang looked at the soapwort in her hand. Xiao Shan used this to wash clothes, didn't he? She hadn't picked the wrong one.
There were two kinds at home: one that smelled fragrant and she used for bathing, and this dark, unremarkable one. She glanced at the one in Daniu's hand.
For so many clothes, she only took one piece of soapwort, rubbed a little on, and then relied entirely on the washboard.
It was quite strenuous.