Soon, Ma San was no longer a pure man.
On the other side, within the spatial realm, Bai Sheng recounted Liu Shi's heroic deeds to Lu Ye.
She wanted to know how her man would view the matter. If he dared to say anything that would make her explode, she would definitely teach him a good lesson! She would thoroughly recondition his worldview and relentlessly pua him!
Lu Ye, having just finished bathing, lay beside Bai Sheng, stroking her hair as he said, "Sister Liu hasn't harmed anyone. She's simply pursuing the life she desires. We have no right to dictate other people's lives."
Mm, Bai Sheng was very satisfied with this answer. She turned her body, her gaze burning into Lu Ye, her voice laced with a hint of seduction, "Brother Ye, you are absolutely right. Therefore, I am going to give you a big reward."
Brother Ye? Lu Ye's blood instantly surged!
He couldn't stand it! He couldn't stand it! Bai Sheng calling him that could shatter all his willpower!
Lu Ye’s body stiffened, yet he couldn’t help but tremble, for he saw someone boldly and rebelliously acting out on him.
He was so excited, he loved it!
During Bai Sheng's pregnancy these past few months, Lu Ye had not touched her even once. Every day, he would push himself to exhaustion with training, work, and teaching the children martial arts. If he didn't tire himself out completely, he wouldn't have been able to endure those ten long months.
Bai Sheng saw her man's struggles. What Lu Ye said tonight proved that her man was truly on the same wavelength as her, their worldviews and values aligning perfectly. Thus, feeling happy, Bai Sheng bestowed upon him some special rewards.
After months of hardship, Lu Ye finally had a deep, sound sleep.
In the following days, the people of Hongshu Slope gradually noticed something amiss with Liu Shi and Ma San.
What was amiss?
It was that the two deliberately kept their distance, deliberately spoke to each other curtly, deliberately picked at each other's flaws, yet their eyes would meet frequently, sometimes with a sticky, lingering gaze.
Everyone found it somewhat strange, very different from how it was before. However, they couldn't quite pinpoint what was different.
Tian Guihua nudged Zhao Dazhuang beside her, "Zhuang, don't you think Sister Liu has been looking particularly radiant these past few days?"
Zhao Dazhuang glanced cursorily at Liu Shi, "Didn't notice." Why would he bother looking at other women? Ever since his wife passed away during childbirth, he hadn't had the slightest inclination to look at other women.
Tian Guihua continued, "What about Ma San? Don't you think he's also a bit... what's that word? Energetic and spirited?"
As for men, he could certainly take a good look. Zhao Dazhuang carefully observed Ma San and found that this fellow, who knows when, had tied up his messy hair smoothly and neatly, shaved his beard clean, stood with his back as straight as if he were ten months pregnant, and walked with a swagger. He truly seemed a bit energetic and spirited.
Tian Guihua's gossip fire was still burning, so she pulled Zhao Dazhuang along to continue their discussion.
Normally, Yang Shi disliked gossiping, and Granny Zhong had her own gossipy old friends. Liu Shi would sometimes gossip with her, but this time the subject of gossip was Liu Shi herself. Naturally, Tian Guihua roped in Zhao Dazhuang, who was the easiest to talk to.
Zhao Dazhuang had raised Tie Zhu from infancy with his own hands and had lived with his elderly mother, Granny Zhong, for a long time. He had unknowingly cultivated a host of womanly qualities: kindness, patience, and excessive worry. Thus, he became Tian Guihua's second favorite gossip partner.
Yang Shi, being naturally astute, had long seen that a very significant change had occurred between Liu Shi and Ma San. However, she had always disliked prying into others' private affairs. Furthermore, she was now surrounded by the joy of pregnancy, her thoughts completely occupied by herself.
Hu Daniu was entirely focused on his wife. Although he sensed that Ma San had been a bit strange lately, he didn't delve deeper.
Yang Ming was extremely busy every day with planting trees, training, and patrolling, leaving him no time to pay attention to the gossip around him. Regarding Ma San's change, he only commented, "Brother Ma, you're becoming more handsome!" and never looked at Ma San again.
Granny Zhong had endless topics to discuss with her old gossipy friends, Granny Wu and Madam Ji. Apart from eating and sleeping, they chatted all the time. Granny Zhong liked to talk, Granny Wu liked to listen, and Madam Ji liked to comment. The three of them chattered away, and they were certainly not lonely.
Regarding the strangeness of Ma San and Liu Shi, the elderly gossip group also gossiped but did not inquire. Granny Wu said that young people would handle their own affairs, and they, the elders, did not need to get involved unless their presence was required.
Granny Zhong had always admired Granny Wu and naturally obeyed her. Madam Ji felt that Granny Wu's words were very reasonable and did not wish to overstep her bounds.
However, the children could not control their mouths.
At dinner, Lu Yun glanced at Liu Shi, then at Ma San, scratched his head, and asked directly, "Brother Ma, why have you been staring at Sister Liu so much lately? You're not focused at all when we practice wrestling. I don't want to spar with an opponent who's going easy on me."
As soon as these words were spoken, the adults instantly quieted down, their ears perked up instantly, except for Bai Sheng and Lu Ye, who knew the real inside story.
Tian Dou sniffed and said, "Brother Ma, did you see Sister Liu changed into a new floral dress, so you're... envious of her?" "Envious" was a word he had just learned, and he hadn't expected to use it so soon.
Tian Ya disagreed, tilting her small face seriously, "Brother Ma is a man, he can't wear floral clothes. He definitely isn't envious."
"Then what is it?" Lu Yu looked up from his rice bowl.
"What is it?" Tie Zhu also looked up from his rice bowl.
Facing everyone's expectant gazes, Ma San's old face turned red to the roots of his neck. Just as he was about to feign anger and scold the mischievous monkeys, he heard Liu Shi say, "Miss Luhua, Zhaodi, please take the children back to their rooms and close the door."
"Sister Liu, why do we have to go back to our rooms?" Lu Yun asked, confused.
Lu Ye said sternly, "How many questions are there? Go back to your rooms when told. Do you want to run twenty laps?"
"No, no, we don't want to run!"
With a rustle, Lu Hua and Qian Zhaodi led the children back to the main hall, reluctantly closing the door.
Liu Shi surveyed everyone, thinking scornfully: Hmph, hypocrites. They said they weren't interested in other people's business, but look at those ears, they're sticking out so far they could stab someone to death.
Because of her ex-husband Zhou Ligen, she had already lost all her dignity. As for her and Ma San's affair, apart from being a bit embarrassing, there was nothing shameful about it. Liu Shi had come to terms with it.
She raised her head and declared openly to everyone, "I have some news to tell you. I really want to have a baby, so I plan to borrow something from Ma San. Ma San doesn't have to take responsibility for me! If I get pregnant, I'll set Ma San free. He can still marry and have children in the future. Neither I nor my child will bother him. You must also keep this a secret for us!"