Ye Lan lay by Xu Qi’s side, eyes open, watching her, his body nestled in her embrace. Neither of them spoke.

It wasn’t until the sun was high up in the sky that Xu Qi stretched lazily and opened her eyes.

“Um, Ah Lan.”

She leaned closer to hug Ye Lan, and the two of them embraced affectionately.

Ye Lan whispered softly in Xu Qi’s ear, “It’s time to make breakfast. Should wife get up? I’ll go make breakfast for wife.”

He could see his own reflection in her watery eyes.

“Um, no need to get up. Are you hungry? I’ll go find something for you to eat.”

Ye Lan leaned on Xu Qi, stopping her from getting up.

“I’m not hungry. Wife, rest a while longer. What would you like to eat for lunch later?”

The sun was already high up outside, so if they had breakfast now, they might not be hungry for lunch.

“There’s a pork elbow outside! I left it yesterday, let’s have it today!”

 

“Pork elbow?”

He had seen the cook in their previous residence make pork elbow, but he hadn’t seen wife eat it here yet.

“Can you make it?”

Xu Qi was worried that Ye Lan wouldn’t know how to make it. If he couldn’t, she would have to ask Uncle Man from next door for help. But after all, the dishes made by her husband would be more delicious.

Ye Lan wouldn’t let wife down.

He smiled, “I can, I’ll go make it for wife now.”

Ye Lan put on his clothes and Xu Qi also got up.

“I’ll be out for a while, you start making it, I’ll come back later to light the fire for you.”

Ye Lan obediently agreed, but he didn’t ask where Xu Qi was going. In the end, it was Xu Qi who walked to the door and then turned back to ask him, “You don’t care where I’m going?”

Ye Lan was stunned, and after a while, he hurriedly said, “Wife has her own things to do. I’ll just take care of the house and wait for wife to come back.”

“Hmph, why is it that when I saw Aunt Hu go out last time, Uncle Man always asked her where she was going? But you never ask?”

Do others usually ask?

Ye Lan was even more surprised and stopped in his tracks.

If others ask, he really shouldn’t neglect to ask. Others have it, his wife should have it too!

“Then where does wife want to go? I’ll wait for you at home.”

Ye Lan raised his head, a hint of a smile in his watery eyes.

Xu Qi’s breath hitched, dazzled by that smile.

It wasn’t until a while later that she regained her senses, smiling as she reported her itinerary to her husband.

“I’ll go to the neighboring Zhou family village first, then to Xu Zhi’s house, and I’ll be back soon. You wait for me at home!”

 

“Yes, understood.”

Ye Lan pursed his lips and smiled at Xu Qi. Xu Qi gently touched his hanging long hair, thinking that she should tie it up next time, otherwise, wouldn’t the hairpin she bought be wasted?

Thinking like this, she left home.

She first went to the neighboring Zhou family village. When Aunt Zhou saw her, she quickly went inside to get the silver.

“I originally wanted to send it to your house, but who knew you were still sleeping. I had to trouble you to come over.”

Xu Qi shook her head and thanked Aunt Zhou.

Aunt Zhou said hurriedly, “Oh, there’s nothing to thank me for. I also got your payment. If there’s such a job again next time, you can come and call me.”

Because of this, Xu Qi’s eyes lit up.

She seemed to think of something in her mind, so she smiled and agreed.

Next, she went to Xu Zhi’s house to get the medicine.

Xu Zhi’s mother was still not at home, unfortunately, the one who opened the door was Xu Qiu.

Xu Qiu stood at the door blocking it, but her eyebrows were gentle.

“Sister Xu, are you here to see Zhi’er?”

Xu Qi replied, “Um, where is Zhi’er?”

 

“Zhi’er is playing inside. Shall I call her for you?”

“That would be great.”

Xu Qi felt a bit awkward standing at the door until Xu Zhi came out.

“Hey, why are you here so late? Here, this is the medicine you wanted.”

 

“Um, thank you.”

“Hey, what relationship do we have? There’s nothing to thank me for.”

Xu Zhi refused Xu Qi’s thanks, sent her away, and turned her head to see her brother peeking out from inside, staring out eagerly.

“Brother, you still have feelings for her.”

Xu Zhi was startled.

She was afraid that Xu Qiu was still obsessed and didn’t understand. Why hang oneself on the same tree?

When Xu Qiu heard her ask like this, he seemed a bit lost and lowered his head. After a long time, he slowly said, “How can it be? I know in my heart that she has no intention towards me, so how can I be so shameless as to cling to her?”

The last sentence sounded more like a sigh.

If it were possible, even if he had to be shameless, he wouldn’t mind. But lately, it seemed that there was no chance at all, so there was no need to humiliate himself.

Xu Qi didn’t know what Xu Qiu was thinking. She just headed home, but instead of going straight in, she went to the back to check on the piglets.

There were quite a few big pigs and several piglets, all healthy and plump. Xu Qi thought about expanding the pigpen when she had time so she could raise more pigs.

As she was contemplating, Xu Qi turned back, but halfway there, she unexpectedly saw a figure at the usual spot where everyone did laundry?

She glanced uncertainly and suddenly realized that there was indeed someone bathing there! It seemed like he was just coming out of the water, about to take his clothes.

Xu Qi: …

Xu Qi quickly averted her gaze, wondering how someone could be bathing outside on such a cold day! Wouldn’t they freeze to death?

Just the thought made her feel cold, so she hurriedly tightened her clothes and walked back.

“Hey, miss.”

A voice called from behind, but Xu Qi pretended not to hear and walked faster.

Until the man caught up to her, blocking her way, and asked with a hint of coquettishness, “Miss, why didn’t you stop?”

Xu Qi had no choice but to stop, and when she looked closely, she realized that the person was still wet, as if he had just bathed in the water.

She couldn’t believe someone was bathing in the water, let alone a man?

Isn’t society very strict with men? Why would he dare to do this?

Xu Qi was puzzled, but she couldn’t say it directly, so she could only ask him with a friendly smile, “I don’t know why you called me miss. What can I do for you, young man?”

Xu Qi’s straightforwardness made the man a bit shy, “I, I came from a distant place and wanted to find my relatives. Unfortunately, I was robbed of all my money by some people. When I met you today, I felt like we were old friends. Miss, could you please let me stay for a few days? I’ll leave once I find my relatives, I won’t trouble you, miss.”

 

The man in white looked at Xu Qi with some expectation, shy and joyful at the same time.

Xu Qi was speechless.

She didn’t know what expression to make. Did the man see her as such a kind person, willing to pick up a man randomly from outside?

As for looking for relatives…

Xu Qi looked at Lin Yu up and down. His clothes were a bit wet, and although they looked clean and white, there were some stains on the corners, indicating that they weren’t washed properly. He didn’t seem like someone looking for relatives, but rather like a beggar.

“Well… it might not be convenient at my home with my husband.”

Xu Qi refused him with a stiff face, hoping he would understand.

However, Lin Yu obviously didn’t understand. The previous mistress also said the same to him. She just wanted him to know her identity, but there was nothing wrong with it, just a little more submissive.

If Ye Lan was so stupid, he wouldn’t have been able to please anyone in the past. How could he deserve to be treated kindly? It’s better to let him take over and win this woman’s heart. In the future, when he’s favored, he can also feed Ye Lan a few bites of food so he won’t starve. Lin Yu felt quite pleased with himself.

“Sister, what are you talking about? Even if there’s a husband, can’t I be friends with him?” He changed his address, sounding more intimate.

“Or is it that your husband doesn’t want it?”

As he said this, Lin Yu’s face showed some grievance.

Xu Qi’s expression changed. If this were her place, she would probably vomit in front of him.

“Well, that’s not…”

 

“Wife?”

Someone called her from behind, the gentle and pleasant voice, unmistakably her husband’s.

Xu Qi immediately put on a smile and turned around, “Ah Lan!”

Unexpectedly, when she turned around, Lin Yu was exposed, and Ye Lan’s face changed instantly.

His hand suddenly lost strength, and the clothes he was holding fell to the ground.

Xu Qi was a little confused and hurried over to support Ye Lan.

“Ah Lan, what’s wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell? Why are your hands so cold? Have you caught a cold?”

Faced with wife’s series of concerns, Ye Lan didn’t say a word, his eyes hollow, staring at the person in front of him.

It seemed like the person was smiling again, laughing at his loss, his complete defeat.

 

“Oh, brother, you’re here too!”

Lin Yu did smile, but it was only for a moment. He then looked delighted and rushed to Ye Lan’s side.

This startled Xu Qi, who quickly hugged Ye Lan tightly, protecting him, “What do you want to do?”

 

She looked at Lin Yu with a hint of vigilance, then turned to Ye Lan, becoming more careful, as if afraid of making him unhappy. She asked softly, “Ah Lan, do you know him?”

 

Know him? If, if she could not know him, wouldn’t it be better?

Following her heart, Ye Lan shook his head.

Xu Qi immediately turned cold, hugging Ye Lan tighter, and looked at Lin Yu with a glaring displeasure.

“Ah Lan said he doesn’t know you, so you must have mistaken him.”

Lin Yu saw the woman wanting to take Ye Lan away and became anxious, shouting, “Brother Ye Lan, I’m Lin Yu. Have you forgotten about me? When you were sold by the mistress, I did plead for you. But the mistress said you didn’t follow the rules of a husband, always eating inside and out, so they didn’t allow me to plead for you again. Brother Ye Lan, don’t be mad at me.”

He went to Xu Qi’s side and said, “Mistress, Brother Ye Lan, you’ve forgotten about me. When you were sold, I did plead for you, but the mistress said you didn’t follow the rules of a husband, always eating inside and out, so they didn’t allow me to plead for you again. Brother Ye Lan, please don’t be mad at me.”

As he spoke, Ye Lan’s face became even more ugly, his lips, once beautiful and colorful, now pale and dry, tight.

“Wife.”

Unconsciously, he called out, squeezing Xu Qi’s hand tightly.

Xu Qi became even more angry and directly scolded, “If you were really good to him, he wouldn’t end up like this. I don’t care if you pleaded for him or not. I saved him from the slave market, healed and raised him. After all the trouble, I finally made him forget about you and be happy. What are you doing here to make him sad again?”

“I even let you, but a man with no face wouldn’t ask a woman to adopt him. You want to climb into bed and still talk so nicely. Get out of here, don’t think I won’t hit men.”

After saying this, Xu Qi ignored Lin Yu’s stunned look, picked up Ye Lan, and quickly left, taking the few clothes Ye Lan intended to wash with her.

In just a short time, Lin Yu came back to his senses and his face turned red with anger.

How could there be a woman who wouldn’t give a handsome man a chance?

Is she even a woman?!

She talks so noble, but wouldn’t she cheat on her husband? Just wait.

A gust of wind blew, and Lin Yu shrank into a ball, trembling, and left.