Xiao Shan and Xue Niang returned home. As they passed Granny Hua's house, his gaze flickered and lingered for a moment.
Seeing this, Xue Niang expressed her concern, "Granny Hua hasn't come out for quite some time. Is something wrong? Should we go in and check on her?"
Could she be sick from missing her son?
Xiao Shan took out a packet of pastries. "You go home, I'll go take a look."
If he hadn't misheard last night, there had been someone at Granny Hua's house, a man.
Not long after Xue Niang returned home, Xiao Shan came back, saying Granny Hua was fine, just that it was cold and she didn't want to go out.
Xue Niang was relieved. She took out a pile of purchased fabric and started to measure, planning to get the dimensions before finding Sister Xiu Lan.
Xiao Shan was stripped bare and stood on the ground for her to measure him.
As they were measuring, the two of them ended up rolling onto the heated brick bed.
"Linglong said you should be more restrained. If you keep this up, when will I be able to have a child?" Xue Niang pouted her slightly swollen lips, her eyes like autumn water, shimmering with a lazy contentment after being well-fed and satisfied.
"You want a child so badly? Haven't you noticed we've been window shopping for a long time today?"
After strolling for so long, she wasn't so tired that she collapsed and fell asleep upon returning. This indicated her body had largely recovered.
Xue Niang thought about it and realized it was true. Does this mean they could have a child soon?
Her eyes looked at Xiao Shan expectantly, "Then why didn't you just..."
"Just what? Not sow the seeds for you?"
Their skin touched, and Xiao Shan's hot breath fanned her ear. The seductive aura, coupled with his crude words, made Xue Niang tremble uncontrollably. She immediately felt a mix of shame and anger and raised her hand to pinch his ear.
After so many times, Xue Niang had long since figured out his weakness. This man feared nothing, but he was most afraid of people grabbing his ears.
As expected, Xiao Shan went limp.
"Indecent behavior in broad daylight! You're getting bolder and bolder. If you misbehave again, I'll castrate you!"
Hearing these娇娇 (jiao jiao - delicate/endearing) threatening words, Xiao Shan not only wasn't scared but became even more excited. Why was it that the more she scolded, the more he desired it?
Was he the legendary "jian pi zi" (jian pi zi - a term implying someone who enjoys punishment or is easily provoked)?
The "jian pi zi" Xiao Shan, with his ear being held, obediently lay on the brick bed. However, the scene below was terrifying. Xue Niang was startled and naturally sensed something unusual.
"Don't you ever get enough?"
She quickly let go, rolled over in the blanket, and wrapped herself up tightly.
Xiao Shan's entire body was exposed. He looked down and saw this magnificent spectacle. If anyone said he was inadequate, then who in this world could be adequate?
"How do you plan to castrate me?" His gaze was scorching and frightening. He reached out and peeled back the tender bud, asking, "With your hand?"
What use is holding it with my hand? Who would care to hold it? She struggled with all her might, "With a knife..."
"What knife?"
Xue Niang was about to cry. How would she know what kind of knife? A pair of scissors or a kitchen knife?
"Then I'll have to find a safe place to hide."
His body sank, and he indeed hid, not revealing an inch. Xue Niang bit his shoulder.
This fierce man was too hateful!
Where did he learn all these vulgar words?
...
In the kitchen, Wang Xiu Lan was teaching Xue Niang how to roll dough wrappers. Today was Winter Solstice, and they were supposed to eat dumplings. Xue Niang bought the rolling pin specifically to learn how to make dumplings. Xiao Shan couldn't make this kind of pastry.
When he returned, he would surely praise her for being capable.
Xue Niang happily watched the dumplings arranged on the board. Xiao Shan loved meat, so she had prepared pork and scallion filling, as well as chive and egg filling.
"These are so big, Xiao Shan can eat 100 of them!"
Xue Niang counted; there were already 80.
Wang Xiu Lan smiled when she saw Xue Niang's small face covered in flour.
Xue Niang was beautiful. When she smiled, her eyes seemed to hold starlight. Such a beauty, if one didn't interact with her, might think she was aloof and proud, disliking to socialize.
But upon interacting with her, one would realize she was the simplest of people. Treat her well, and she would treat you well; she was pure and kind.
"You've mentioned Xiao Shan dozens of times since I got here. You two are truly inseparable."
"Ah? Have I?" Xue Niang thought about it. She was usually with Xiao Shan, so who else would she mention?
"How is Xiao Shan's conditioning coming along? You two should hurry up and have a child. At Xiao Shan's age, in other families, children would be seven or eight years old."
"Uh, his body is quite good." Xue Niang felt guilty again.
"Don't try to hide it. There's a saying, isn't there? Something about 'what to avoid' and 'what to take for medicine.' You might not feel it now, but over time, I fear there might be friction between husband and wife. Like that Chen family couple; according to your Aunt Gui Xiang, they argue every day at home!"
Xiao Shan was really very good, getting better and better.
She really did want to castrate him now.
"I don't know what happened. Both Chen Dong and Xiao Shan are tall and strong men, so how could they have this problem? I heard that it's because when they were young, they didn't understand the consequences and indulged in self-gratification too much, which can lead to... cough, cough, that's what your Aunt Gui Xiang said."
"What is self-gratification?" Xue Niang asked curiously.
Wang Xiu Lan was taken aback. Looking at Xue Niang's clear, bright eyes, she couldn't help but sigh. Where on earth did Xiao Shan find this wife!
"It's... " She leaned close to Xue Niang's ear and whispered an explanation.
Xue Niang's face turned red.
She shouldn't have asked. It would have been better to pretend to understand.
She didn't expect Sister Xiu Lan, who looked so proper, to be so bold.
Then, according to Sister Xiu Lan, men didn't necessarily need women? Or should she let Xiao Shan amuse himself later and not bother her so much?
She had made many extra dumplings and insisted that Wang Xiu Lan take some back. Meat was so scarce, and Wang Xiu Lan couldn't refuse, so she took a plate.
Xue Niang counted again; there were 180 left. She could probably eat a dozen or so. Xiao Shan, counting 100, and Granny Hua definitely wouldn't be able to make them all herself. When they were cooked, she would send some to her, and leave 30 for Yu Tou.
With this distribution, not much would be left.
Estimating that Xiao Shan would be back soon, Xue Niang went outside to wait.
After a while, Yu Tou arrived, carrying a crossbow and draped with heaps of prey.
"Sister Xue, Brother Xiao asked me to bring these things back. He has something to discuss at the village chief's house and will be back late."
"Ah? What's going on again?"
"I don't know. Brother Xiao didn't say. He also called Brother Zhu Zi and about ten other men."
"Then don't leave. Come in and make dumplings with me, and help me with the fire."
"Ah?" Yu Tou scratched his head. "Brother Xiao isn't home, and it's a man and a woman alone..."
Xue Niang slapped him. "You just don't consider yourself a man, that's all!"
As she raised her arm high to slap him, Xue Niang suddenly realized that Yu Tou had grown a lot taller again. He was already much taller than her and was truly becoming a little man.
He was also more robust than before. Coupled with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, he was naturally spirited, like a little calf.
"Women are truly unreasonable." Yu Tou, with his head hanging low, followed her into the kitchen to tend the fire.
"You go up the mountain hunting so often, tell me, have you ever encountered danger?"
"...No."
Hearing his hesitation, Xue Niang acted as if she was about to hit his head again. "Tell me the truth."
"I dare not. I'm afraid Brother Xiao will scold me."
"Then I'll scold you right now!"
"Hey, hey, as a woman, don't be so physical." Yu Tou was truly afraid of her. "I've told you, you can pretend you don't know! Just once, Little Fourth Brother was disobedient and chased a wolf, almost attracting a wolf pack. Fortunately, Brother Xiao arrived in time, otherwise, he would have implicated everyone. However, he was beaten by Brother Xiao, so he probably won't dare to do it again."