She didn't think she had that much strength, and Xiao Shan always washed clothes for her like this, never using a washboard.
"Xiao Shan taught me this way."
Xue Niang said righteously. Seeing the expressions of these aunties, it was as if she was being incredibly wasteful. It wasn't like she was using their family's resources. Her clothes weren't dirty; a single wash with soap would suffice. Xiao Shan's clothes were large and covered in dust. Half of it washed off with just water, so it only needed an extra wash with soap.
Xiao Shan had bought a pile of them at the market last time! They wouldn't all be used up even after the summer.
Aunt Gui Xiang spoke again, "That's because men are careless. You're a woman; you need to learn to be thrifty. Don't make your stitches so large. When you have children in the future, there will be many places to spend money!"
Xue Niang felt that this aunt was probably well-intentioned and didn't want to argue with her. Children were still a distant prospect, and she was thinking too far ahead.
"Xue Niang, are you pregnant?" Da Niu asked softly, something coming to mind.
"Ah? No."
"Oh, you're not? I thought you were, seeing how Brother Xiao treats you!"
So she wasn't pregnant! She had heard that spirits and humans couldn't have children.
Chen Dong's wife glanced at Xue Niang again.
Xue Niang finished washing the clothes and wrung them out roughly. Her shoe sole got a bit of mud on it, so she cupped water with her hand to rinse it.
Her shoes were very delicate, embroidered with a sprig of peonies, the emerald green branches extending all the way to the back.
Xu Da Niu had seen them before; Chen Dong's wife had worn the same kind when she first got married, just in a different color.
They looked like they had very soft soles, and must have been comfortable to wear. She glanced at her own worn-out cloth shoes, where her toes peeked out, and then at Chen Dong's wife's feet. She was also wearing cloth shoes that were neither new nor old. Hadn't those once beautiful embroidered shoes long since worn out?
She wondered if, in another two years, Xue Niang would also become a withered peony flower in Bozi Village, just like Chen Dong's wife.
"Woof woof—"
Dog barks came from behind. Xu Da Niu turned her head and only saw a burly man striding towards them.
The man walked ahead, the dog trotting beside him. His build was tall and strong, his shoulders broad, and his legs like iron pillars, exuding an imposing aura.
Even after seeing him several times, Xu Da Niu still felt a tremor of apprehension.
Xue Niang stood up, swaying slightly from squatting for so long.
The next moment, she was being supported.
Xu Da Niu felt that in the blink of an eye, Xiao Shan, who had been more than ten meters away, was already by her side.
"I told you not to come, but you didn't listen. Are a few old clothes worth running all the way here to wash!"
Xiao Shan's voice was deep and resonant, tinged with impatience, like a booming bell ringing in Xue Niang's ears, making them buzz.
"So noisy!" Xue Niang frowned and snapped at him.
Xiao Shan shut his mouth and stopped talking. He bent down and picked up the basin. Feeling something was amiss, he looked down, then put the basin back down. He picked up the clothes inside and wrung them out again, one by one.
A lot more water "whooshed" down.
Xue Niang's face flushed slightly.
After wringing them out, Xiao Shan picked up the basin again. "Let's go back. I caught some fish in the mountains; we'll stew them when we get back."
"Clang—"
The basin fell into the water. Chen Dong's wife scrambled to retrieve it, her head bowed so low it was almost buried between her legs.
Then, the women washing clothes coughed in unison and continued their work.
Xiao Shan paid them no mind. He looked at Xue Niang's hands. "They're all wrinkled from soaking. Let's go home, I'll rub some oil on them."
Xiao Hu trotted happily alongside them, weaving back and forth.
When they arrived, he had circled Xiao Shan. Now, he started circling Xue Niang, nearly tripping her.
"Xiao Hu, get away! If you keep this up, I won't feed you!" Xiao Shan kicked Xiao Hu.
Xue Niang stopped walking and looked down at her shoes.
They had been dirtied by the dog. A distinct paw print was imprinted on the pink peony.
"Look at you, causing trouble! Be careful your mistress kicks you out again, run along now!"
Xiao Shan scolded Xiao Hu while putting down the wooden basin. He then crouched down in front of Xue Niang and patted the surface of her shoes with his hand.
Such a strong and imposing man, crouching before her, only to clean her shoes.
Xue Niang's mouth fell open in astonishment. A strong emotion filled her heart. His palms were large, and the shoe surface was small. In just a few strokes, he brushed away the dust.
"There, clean now."
Xue Niang suddenly withdrew her hand. She had almost, on impulse, wanted to pat Xiao Shan's head.
Xiao Shan, completely unaware, stood up with the wooden basin and looked at the dog running away.
A smile flickered across his rugged face. "He sure runs fast!"
"Silly dog!" Xue Niang chided him.
Xiao Shan agreed, "Yes, a silly dog, daring to provoke you. Doesn't he know you're the master of his destiny?"
As the two of them gradually walked away, the people on the riverbank stood as if petrified.
Even though Xu Da Niu had seen how Xiao Shan treated Xue Niang before, the scene today still shocked her into disbelief.
How could a man, a brave and unyielding fellow at that, crouch before a woman like a servant, wiping her shoes for her?
It was impossible, and it was wrong.
Xue Niang must have some sort of sorcery, cast a spell on Xiao Shan to bewitch him.
Aunt Gui Xiang was uncharacteristically speechless. "This, this is truly wonderful!"
This was the fierce man who had beaten the Tian family to death, yet before a woman, he became like this?
Wang Shuzhen, who used to think her own son-in-law was quite good, felt her old face flush. From now on, she wouldn't dare speak of her own son-in-law again. He only talked the talk, never walked the walk, and his sweet words only managed to fool her foolish daughter. If he were even half as good as this hunter, it would be fine.
"Hmph, like a servant, embarrassing men."
Chen Dong's wife picked up her basin and walked away with a sway of her hips.
"Isn't a man who can't have children even more embarrassing?" Aunt Gui Xiang muttered.
"Gui Xiang? What are you saying? Who can't have children?" a nearby woman asked.
"Who else could it be?" Liu Gui Xiang nodded towards Chen Dong's wife's retreating back.
"No way? Chen Dong's mother said it was this daughter-in-law's problem, saying she had a cold constitution and it was difficult for her to conceive."
"Would that old hag admit there was something wrong with her son? Chen Dong looks strong, but in reality..." Aunt Gui Xiang stopped speaking.
But everyone understood the implication of her words and sighed knowingly.
Xiao Shan caught a lot of fish this time and kept them in the water缸 in the yard, so he could just scoop one out when he wanted to eat.
Xue Niang sat in the cool shade under the eaves, watching Xiao Shan scale the fish in the yard.
"Xiao Shan, does it feel demeaning to use the hand that wields a bow to kill fish?"
She remembered how easily he had drawn the bow that day, the arrow piercing the thick wood with such spirit. She could easily imagine his imposing presence and heroic demeanor on the battlefield.
Now, he used these hands to wash clothes, cook, and build houses. Did he harbor any resentment or regret in his heart?
"I'm making fish soup for my wife; how could I dare to feel demeaning? I've lived this long and finally found someone!"
Xiao Shan glanced at her, his tiger-like eyes filled with teasing, not serious at all.
Xue Niang's face heated up. She glared at him and let out a soft, chiding hum, "Others say I'm wasteful!"
"You are a bit wasteful."
Xue Niang pursed her lips. "Then go find someone who isn't wasteful, and I'll leave."
"That won't do. You've already spent so much of my money. Wouldn't I be at a loss?"