Bai Xue Lian bit her lip, a mist quickly gathering in her eyes. "Madam, it's not that I won't wash, but in this bitter cold, you're asking me to use cold water..."
"This garment is made of fine brocade. It will wrinkle if scalded by hot water. Are you trying to ruin my clothes?" Li Shan's wife said with a cold face. "I never thought you had such wicked intentions!"
"No, Madam, I'll wash it. I'll wash it." Bai Xue Lian looked wronged.
Li Shan entered and saw her delicate appearance, feeling an inexplicable pang of tenderness. "Rui Xue, it's so cold, and Lian'er is a young lady with delicate skin. Using cold water is a bit too much. You're not wearing these clothes now anyway, why not wait until the weather warms up?"
"What do you mean, Li Shan?" Lin Rui Xue's eyes widened. "It's freezing, and she's a servant with delicate skin? That's hilarious! Years ago, when times were tough, and we couldn't go into the mountains to gather firewood in the snow, and we had to ration firewood, didn't I wash your clothes with cold water then? Why didn't you pity me then?"
Li Shan looked embarrassed. "That's not what I meant, Rui Xue. Don't be angry. I just think our lives are better now. Let's not be so petty about some things. Besides, although Lian'er is nominally a servant, in reality..."
Lin Rui Xue interrupted Li Shan. "In reality, what? In reality, she's an ancestor to be revered? I spit! If she's a servant, she should have the awareness of a servant. In my eyes, she's just a servant and should serve me. If she's unwilling, she can leave. I promise I won't stop her. Is she trying to stay here by scheming, thinking I'm a fool?"
Bai Xue Lian hugged the clothes tightly. "Shan Zi ge, don't argue with Madam. She's pregnant, you need to be more considerate of her. Washing clothes is nothing, I'll go out and wash them now."
After speaking, she ran out with the clothes.
Li Shan stamped his foot, wanting to chase after her, but seeing Lin Rui Xue's displeased expression, he held back.
"Rui Xue, Lian'er is so pitiful, why must you be so harsh with her?" Li Shan patiently tried to persuade Lin Rui Xue.
"She is pitiful, but there are many more pitiful than her. Why haven't you shown such kindness? When we went out before, we often encountered beggars, but when did you ever bring one back?" Lin Rui Xue said sarcastically.
"Why are you so unreasonable now?" Li Shan was a little angry. "You torment her like this, and she's still thinking about your pregnancy. Can't you show her some kindness?"
Lin Rui Xue looked at the familiar man before her. They had gone through so many years together, enduring hardships and exhaustion. She never expected that with just a little money, he would become like a different person. Although he looked so familiar, the strangeness that welled up from the bottom of her heart made Lin Rui Xue very scared.
"Alright, I'm tired and want to rest." Lin Rui Xue waved her hand. Before today, she had been muddled, always making excuses for Li Shan. Today, Zhen Zhen's visit had enlightened her. Yes, some people can share poverty, but not prosperity.
Seeing her unhappy expression, Li Shan softened his tone. "Rui Xue, don't overthink it. I have no other intentions towards Lian'er. I just think she's pitiful..."
Lin Rui Xue didn't argue with him and turned to lie down on her side.
Li Shan sat there for a while, then finally couldn't help but go out.
After the man left, Lin Rui Xue pushed herself up with her arms and looked at the furnishings in the room. They had all been added this winter, little by little. Besides these, they had also saved nearly two hundred taels of silver, which belonged to her and her son. She would hold onto it carefully.
As for that Bai Xue Lian, she would patiently watch and see what she intended to do.
Zhen Zhen was right. This girl was scheming. Just now, those two sentences had already swayed Li Shan's heart towards her.
The young girl, wronged and pitifully asking Li Shan to be considerate of her pregnancy, truly appeared generous, thoughtful, and sensible. Do men like this kind of act?
Li Shan went to the courtyard and saw Bai Xue Lian squatting pitifully, washing clothes. Her originally fair hands were red and swollen from the cold. Li Shan felt a wave of heartache.
"Alright, stop washing. Hurry back to your room and warm up. Be careful not to freeze your hands, it would be ugly if you get chilblains."
A flicker of panic crossed Bai Xue Lian's face. Li Shan saw it and found it amusing. It was the expression of a young girl who was vain and afraid of chilblains, delicate and charming, making her lovable.
"But Madam said..."
"I'll wash them for you."
Bai Xue Lian shook her head like a rattle. "Shan Zi ge, you're a man, how can you do these women's chores? I'm not cold, I'll finish washing soon. After washing, I'll rub them hard with snow, and I won't get chilblains. My mother told me this when I was little, and it really works~"
Li Shan remembered how Lin Rui Xue liked to pull him along when she cooked, saying it was fun for them to cook together. For him, a grown man, to do such things... He then looked at the girl before him. She was clearly freezing but still said such things.
"I'm not washing clothes, I'm helping you," Li Shan said, seemingly willing. "Are you disobedient? If you're disobedient, I'll get angry."
Bai Xue Lian looked conflicted, then finally nodded. "Then I'll stay here with you, and we'll go inside together after you finish washing."
His hands plunged into the icy water, and it was indeed bone-chillingly cold. Li Shan harbored deep resentment towards Lin Rui Xue. This was clearly tormenting someone, it was too much.
After the clothes were washed, Bai Xue Lian scooped up a ball of snow and put it into Li Shan's hand. "Shan Zi ge, just rub your hands to warm them up."
Then, she also scooped up a small ball of snow and rubbed her hands very seriously.
"Let's go, let's go inside." Li Shan pulled her into the room without further ado. "Are you getting used to living here?"
"Yes, Shan Zi ge and Madam are both good people. We have food and shelter, and we don't get beaten or scolded. It's so good." Bai Xue Lian had a mischievous smile on her face. "I feel very lucky to have met Shan Zi ge."
The pure gratitude on her delicate face deeply touched Li Shan. "Don't worry, Lian'er, I will protect you from now on."
Bai Xue Lian shyly lowered her head, her large eyes filled with pride. When she looked up, the pride was gone, replaced by admiration and deep affection.
Looking at the person before him, Li Shan felt a heat spread through his body, his heart beating exceptionally fast, as if it would burst out of his chest. He felt like a foolish young man, seeing the girl he loved, wanting to confess his feelings but fearing he would scare her away. That kind of inner turmoil made him restless.
"Dad, what are you doing?" Li Hu walked in with surprise. He had noticed something was wrong from the doorway. His dad was staring intently at that delicate flower, which was quite awkward.