"Are you not resting? You look so haggard."
With all the disturbances gone, the small courtyard finally fell quiet. Xiao Shan carried Xue Niang to the bed. "I'll stay with you. Why don't you sleep for a while?"
Xue Niang closed her eyes, nestled in Xiao Shan's embrace. His broad, strong shoulders shielded her securely. Listening to his powerful heartbeat, she felt as if the storm had ceased and peace had settled upon the world.
Only now did she have to admit that she depended on him, more than she had ever realized.
"Xiao Shan, I've killed someone."
Killed someone?
"When? Was it the human traffickers?"
"No, it was from my past memories. I only remember bits and pieces. I don't know who it was, but he wore a brocade robe and a jade crown, with a fierce face. I stabbed him in the chest with a knife."
The man died with his eyes wide open, unwilling to accept his fate, cursing, "You'll be joining me soon."
Xiao Shan's hand flinched.
"Good riddance. Evil people don't deserve to live."
His voice was cold, yet it carried a comforting power.
*Xiao Shan, you're so good.*
Xue Niang relaxed her shoulders and fell into a deep sleep.
Liu Donghuai returned home, holding his book with a worried expression. Liu Demao lived in the village's only house with blue bricks and tiled roofs. The main hall was exceptionally spacious.
At this moment, Wang Cuilan sat at the eight-immortal table, her face grim, as if she had been waiting for him.
"Where have you been?"
"Mother?" Liu Donghuai hesitated.
Wang Cuilan had already stood up, her gaze sharp as she scrutinized him.
"I went to the woods by the river to study."
"Donghuai, you never lie to your mother!" Wang Cuilan said with disappointment. "Tell me again, where did you just go?"
Liu Donghuai lowered his head. "I, I heard something happened at Hunter Xiao's place, so I went to see."
"Were you going to see that murderer, or that ugly woman?" Wang Cuilan's voice suddenly rose. Her usually serene face lost its composure. "When Tian Luhua told me, I didn't believe her. My son is refined and elegant; even the teacher praises him as a promising scholar. How could he be involved with a lowly slave? But what have you done? As soon as you heard about her family's trouble, you rushed over, not even hearing me call you from behind!"
"Mother, how can you speak like that?" Liu Donghuai couldn't believe it.
His mother was always polite and gentle, never speaking ill of others. How could she say such hurtful things now?
His words further fueled Wang Cuilan's anger.
Even now, he dared to defend that woman?
Did he even know his own status!
"You unfilial son! You're going to anger me to death! I wouldn't be this angry even if you were involved with the poorest family in the village! That woman is a bought slave, unclean and dirty, no better than a prostitute! If you get involved with her, your future will be ruined!"
"Mother! Please don't talk about others like that!"
Liu Donghuai couldn't listen anymore. How could his mother be so malicious, spewing such slander with her own lips? If people heard this, how would they live?
Didn't she know how important reputation was to a woman?
"I know you're doing this for my own good, but you can't ruin someone else!"
"You, you, you! Fine, I finally understand. It's all true! You're truly bewitched by that ugly woman. Are you blind? Which woman isn't better than her? She's a vixen, a cheap slut!"
She would not let that ugly woman harm her son!
Her son was already infatuated, even daring to glare at her. She needed to discuss this with her husband.
Wang Cuilan was disappointed, and Liu Donghuai was even more so. For the first time, he realized that his mother was not as kind as he had always thought.
She was merely good at pretending.
"The teacher once taught: 'A child should value their words and not speak ill of others.' Mother, you truly disappoint me."
You're not insulting others, you're insulting your own son!
Liu Donghuai threw down the book in his hand, ignoring Wang Cuilan's extremely displeased expression. Without eating, he went into his room.
This was the first time her son had been so disobedient and spoken to her like that. Wang Cuilan felt a sharp pain in her heart.
A lowly slut, a murderer, she would not let these rats from the gutter ruin her son.
They shouldn't even be living in Bozi Village!
Xiao Shan returned to Bozi Village unharmed. After the village chief's announcement, the villagers soon learned of his safe return.
Tian Luhua was also carried back, but she had become delirious. Liu Suotou directly locked her out of the house, refusing to let her in.
It was only after the village chief reprimanded him and invoked the magistrate's judgment that he allowed her back inside.
However, she had received thirty strokes of the cane. Liu Suotou refused to get her a doctor, causing her wounds to fester. Her own son was too scared to go near her.
She died a few days later.
The neighbors reported that when she died, the entire courtyard reeked, and Tian Luhua's mouth had been stuffed with cotton.
She had been starved to death.
Xiao Shan stayed home with Xue Niang for only two days before she urged him to go build their house.
Why the rush to build a house? Summer was still two months away! He wanted to let her recover properly. For the past two days, he had stewed pork rib and astragalus soup twice, and he felt Xue Niang's complexion had improved.
If she continued to recover, she might even gain a little weight.
Xue Niang threw the bones into the yard. Xiao Hu let out a "meow" and began to eat them with relish.
Although she was still a little unsettled by Xiao Hu's fierce appearance, she had grown accustomed to it. She understood that it wasn't the dog that ate people, but the world that devoured them.
Evil people were more wicked than dogs.
"Hurry up and go! Why are you still standing here?"
"What else can I do but watch my wife?"
Xue Niang glared at him playfully, her cheeks blushing like apples hanging on a tree in autumn.
Xiao Shan clicked his tongue. "This astragalus soup really works wonders. I need to buy a few more portions and let you drink it for longer."
"No more, it's a waste of money. My body is already much better."
"Not yet, you still need to recover properly, otherwise..." Xiao Shan averted his gaze, not finishing his sentence.
Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to endure.
"Hurry and go! I want to move into the new house soon!" Xue Niang nudged him.
Her soft, fair hand rested on his back. Xiao Shan's heart fluttered. He took two steps as if cooperating, then swiftly turned back, grasping Xue Niang's hands.
"Give me a kiss before you go."
He leaned in, one arm around Xue Niang's waist, the other cupping the back of her head. He lowered his head, she was forced to tilt hers back, and their lips met.
"Mmm... no... outside." Xue Niang shook her head. His sturdy body blocked her view, but as she tilted her head back, she could still see the verdant mountains and forests.
They were outside, and even if no one came by, she felt ashamed.
A few birds chirped overhead as they flew past, and she felt as if they were mocking her.
Xiao Shan didn't let go. A fire burned in his chest, a scorching heat that pushed her towards the bedroom door. He kicked it open, his right hand sliding from her waist to her thigh. With a strong lift, he scooped her up, carried her over the threshold, and into the bedroom.
With a flick of his foot, the door was closed. He spun around, and Xue Niang was pressed against the door.