Snow Niang's anger now overshadowed her fear of dogs. She grabbed a branch and struck the large yellow dog that was bothering the black dog.
Both dogs let out pained yelps. After Snow Niang had beaten them for a while, the yellow dog finally broke free from the black dog and limped away.
Xiao Shan watched, dumbfounded.
"Snow, Snow Niang, you... they were..."
Snow Niang's anger did not subside. She said coldly, "I know, they were mating!"
"You know? Then why..."
"But he didn't want to," Snow Niang said, her dark eyes fixed on him.
Xiao Shan felt a chill down his spine. Was she really talking about dogs?
"Uh, how do you know? Have you seen it?"
"I've seen humans mate, it's much the same as dogs."
Xiao Shan: "..."
Snow Niang threw down the branch and ran into the house to get a steamed bun. She ran back out and threw it to the black dog.
"Eat until you're full, and don't let other dogs bully you!"
The little black dog whimpered, picked up the bun, and began to eat ravenously.
Xiao Shan hesitated, "You've seen humans... that...?"
Snow Niang's dark eyes looked at him again, "Weren't you trying to mate with me last night?"
Xiao Shan's heart pounded, his face turning the color of liver. "Snow Niang, we are husband and wife. How can we use such words? We are married. Even if we were to... be intimate, it would be natural."
Snow Niang fell silent. Only when both parties are willing is it called intimacy. Unilateral force is no different from mating like beasts, isn't it?
"Yes, I admit it. I broke my promise. I clearly said I wouldn't touch you if you were unwilling, but last night I went back on my word. By military law, I deserve to be executed. You can beat me!"
Xiao Shan found a stick as thick as his wrist and handed it to Snow Niang. "Hit me hard!"
A wry smile touched Snow Niang's lips. "Xiao Shan, we are not husband and wife. You just bought me. According to the rules, a purchased woman is at best a bed-warming servant. I am not a proper daughter of a family. You can bully me if you want, or sell me if you wish. No one can say anything."
"That woman eaten by the vicious dogs was sold by her man, simply because the man owed gambling debts. The woman was beautiful, so she was forced to mate with a group of men. In the end, she bled profusely and had only a breath left. The veterinarian said she wouldn't live, so they gave her to the vicious dogs as a reward."
Snow Niang's body trembled like falling leaves.
"Only a pile of bones was left. I don't even know why they let me go. Perhaps it was because those vicious dogs were already full..."
"Snow Niang, stop, please stop."
He didn't know. He was a scoundrel! He really wanted to stab himself!
"I didn't want to recall it before because I was too scared. But now I'm much better. I can face it and shatter those nightmares."
"Snow Niang..."
Snow Niang looked at Xiao Shan seriously, her expression resolute. "There is nothing more terrifying than that. Even if you want to sell me, I am not afraid. Consider it as being in an abyss, never having left."
"I will not sell you!" Xiao Shan grabbed her shoulders, his eyes bloodshot. "You are my life!"
Snow Niang chuckled lightly. "Then your life is truly worthless, only worth half a tael of silver."
"Snow Niang, it's okay if you don't believe me. If you feel it's unfair that I bought you, then tomorrow I will sell myself. You buy me back and make me your slave, how about that?"
"Who would dare buy someone like you?" Snow Niang pouted, but the ice wall she had built in her heart began to melt.
She had no right to resent him. After all, she had failed to fulfill her duties. Perhaps he had been too good to her all along, and a single instance of coercion was too much for her to bear.
She was starting to become weak.
How easy it was to rebuild her armor. His few words had softened her, making it impossible to maintain her impenetrable facade.
Xiao Shan turned and went into the bedroom, coming out with his quilt.
Snow Niang looked at him, puzzled.
"From today onwards, I will sleep in the杂房 (zá fáng - utility room). You don't have to be afraid anymore."
Snow Niang's lips parted slightly. "If you leave, and there are still rats..."
"I will sprinkle insect repellent for you every day, and nothing will disturb you."
Xiao Shan entered the utility room. The small bed they had discarded before was inside. He spread out the quilt and came out.
"Snow Niang, I will wait for you to accept me. But one thing: don't leave."
His eyes met Snow Niang's directly, as if waiting for her promise.
"I..."
"You still want to leave?"
Seeing her hesitation, Xiao Shan's eyes widened, his breathing becoming unsteady.
"No, it's not that." Snow Niang hesitated not because she wanted to leave, but because she felt she still had something to do. Her memory was lacking, and she couldn't be sure of anything, fearing she might disappoint him later.
"I, I promise you. But if I need to leave for something in the future, you must not stop me, or, you, you can follow me."
By saying this, she had essentially acknowledged their relationship.
Xiao Shan, having received her promise, felt his anxiety from the previous day subside. He had truly poured all his effort into this woman, feeling more exhausted than fighting a war.
Yet, he was tired but content.
It was as if he were poisoned, retreating and compromising time and again, becoming unlike himself, yet also finding his lost happy self.
"Does your neck still hurt?"
He didn't realize until he went mad that he had a biting fetish?
At that moment, he only saw a delicious feast before him, something he had to swallow quickly before someone else snatched it away. His vision was clouded, and he had injured the delicate flower.
Snow Niang covered her neck and glared at Xiao Shan resentfully. "The general is so mighty. I thought it was that man-eating vicious dog at first."
Xiao Shan's hand trembled again.
He mumbled, "Then you ran out for so long yesterday and didn't come back. I came back several times looking for you..."
"I can't go out? Am I just a caged bird in this fence yard?"
"Of course not!" Xiao Shan retorted loudly.
"If not, then why are you rambling!"
"Then, don't be too late. Where exactly did you go yesterday?"
"It's none of your business!"
Xiao Shan's chest felt tight. Fine, she had just been wronged, and he didn't dare provoke her.
He hadn't had time to tidy the yard yesterday, and several logs were still lying haphazardly in the courtyard.
He was the most orderly person, and now that he had cleared the air with Snow Niang, he felt in the mood to work. He picked up a thick log, grunted, and hoisted it onto his shoulder, striding powerfully to the edge of the yard and stacking it.
Snow Niang sat on the stool, a slight smile curving her lips. "You look like a bear."
Xiao Shan, who was bending over, stiffened. His hands, resting on the log, remained still for a long time.
"What, you've run out of strength?"
"Exhausting the pond to catch fish. You'll be weak later. This won't do."
Xiao Shan's face darkened. The woman's voice was light and melodious, like a yellow oriole, but her words were not right. She was clearly mocking him.
Xiao Shan stretched out his long arms, picked up two thick logs at once, and stepped firmly, his feet pounding the ground.
He placed the logs on top and turned back. The person on the stool was nowhere to be seen.