Her hands were so tender they looked like they could be squeezed for water, did she do no chores at home?
Her embroidered shoes were clean, unlike hers, which were worn and old, her trousers and shoes covered in mud.
She quite liked talking to her, her voice was soft and gentle, unhurried, unlike the villagers, who sounded rustic and no matter how they tried to lower their voices, they couldn't achieve that tone.
But she also felt awkward, walking beside the woman, she felt like an ugly duckling no matter how much she held her head high and chest out, feeling uncomfortable all over.
Despite the frightening patterns on Xue Niang's face, she walked with her head held high, her back as straight as a poplar.
In contrast, due to years of labor, she always kept her head down, her shoulders hunched. Though only 18, her back was already slightly stooped.
"That dilapidated hut is Yutou's place, you can go over there. I still have work to do, I'm heading back now."
"Thank you."
"N-no need to thank me."
Xu Daniu walked away with her head down. Whatever was in the large basket on her back felt heavy, making her back arch. From behind, only her lower body was visible.
Xue Niang withdrew her gaze and walked towards a dilapidated thatched hut ahead.
The hut had no yard, perhaps it once did, but the fence had rotted into the ground, leaving only faint traces.
The hut should have originally been two rooms, but one side had already collapsed, leaving only the main room.
She thought her family's place was poor, but she didn't expect Yutou's living situation couldn't even be called a home. Could it shelter them from the rain?
"Yutou—Yutou!"
Xue Niang called out twice, but there was no response from the hut. The door was closed, and she wasn't sure if he was home. She walked a few steps forward and pushed the door.
Unexpectedly, the door seemed to cling to her and fell towards her.
Fortunately, it was made of straw. Xue Niang pushed it open, getting covered in straw debris.
"Yutou?"
The room was dark, and she couldn't hear any voices. It seemed he wasn't home.
"Woman, what are you doing?"
From behind, Yutou's voice came, with his usual rogue tone, but this time, it was mixed with shock.
She, what was she doing here? The door had fallen, did she want to get in?
Yutou was holding a fish the size of his palm, his hair was wet, and apart from his tattered clothes, everything else was washed clean.
As expected, he was a handsome youth.
Xue Niang stepped forward and examined him, "Mmm, you're clean today, how good-looking."
Yutou was a little annoyed, his pointed ears turning red, "You're a married woman, why are you running to me? If the villagers see, they'll gossip. Even if your husband treats you well, you can't act like this."
"What gossip?" Xue Niang looked him up and down again, "You should be like this from now on, clean, buy some new clothes, and comb your hair."
"Why are you meddling? What exactly are you here for!"
Yutou glanced around. His place wasn't on the main road, and few people came here. This woman didn't even know to be discreet. Everyone avoided him, and it was one thing for her to mingle with him normally, but now she had come to his home.
No matter how broad-minded her husband was, or how well he treated her, he wouldn't tolerate this.
Xue Niang also looked around with him, then took out silver and held it in front of him, "Quick, take it."
Yutou was startled by her approach, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. He jumped back, looking at her in fear.
Xue Niang frowned, still holding the silver, her gaze deepening, "Are you afraid of my face?"
"Damn it, you scared me to death! What's so scary about your ghastly face? I'm afraid of... what's wrong with you, woman? If someone sees you, your husband will divorce you, don't you know! I'm really impressed, why are you so idiotic!"
Xue Niang looked at him for a long time before she suddenly understood, and couldn't help but laugh and cry.
"You're just a child, what's wrong with me looking for you? Would anyone think there's anything between us?"
This brat, was he thinking too much? To put it crudely, he hadn't even grown all his hair yet!
"I'm 14!" Yutou glared, feeling insulted. "I said I don't want the silver, hurry up and leave, don't come here again."
"I really can't tell, I thought you were only around twelve."
"Twelve is still a man!" Yutou was about to go crazy, did this woman not understand?
He was doing this for her own good!
A couple of years ago, a young wife in the village spoke a few words too many with a fourteen-year-old peddler, and the village spread rumors. The young wife was locked up by her mother-in-law and beaten several times, and later, she ran to the mountains and hanged herself!
He had already decided not to look for her anymore. She was different from him. He thought they were in the same boat, but it turned out her husband treated her quite well. She should just live her life properly, why bother with him.
Who knew this woman would even find him here.
"Alright, alright! Little man, take the silver and buy some clothes, dress up nicely, and find a wife someday."
Xue Niang teased him, took his hand, and stuffed the silver into it. "My family is building a new house. If it's finished, you can move into our old house. I'm afraid this house of yours will collapse if there's a strong wind."
No one was here to hear him if he called for help.
Yutou's eyes widened in shock. What was this woman talking about?
Who did she think she was? She was just bought, how could she say such big words?
Xue Niang had already left.
Only then did Yutou look at the silver in his hand.
My God!
How much was this? One tael? A whole silver ingot! Did she sell the pearls for so much money?
Why, why did she give it all to him? Was this woman really foolish?
Xiao Shan came out of the village chief's house and saw two or three villagers whispering to each other as he walked down the road.
Xiao Shan looked ahead and saw a graceful figure disappearing around the corner.
If it wasn't Xue Niang, who else could it be? No one in the village walked with such graceful steps.
Seeing Xiao Shan, the villagers' gossiping faces froze, and they dispersed sheepishly.
Xue Niang, with a cold expression, looked at the chattering woman in front of her. Her face was like this, and she was scared and cried herself. What did it have to do with her? Was she being reasonable?
And this child, no one else was scared to tears, only he cried, wiping his snot with his dirty hands, so filthy!
"If you're ugly, you shouldn't come out and scare people. Why are you wandering around? My son was scared today, and he'll definitely have a fever tonight. What do you plan to do about it!"
The woman's eyes darted towards the silver hairpin on Xue Niang's head. She patted her son's back with a hand as big as a fan, "Son, let's go home and eat. Follow Mama's voice! Don't get lost!"
Xue Niang watched her frantically pat her son, and the child cried even louder.
There were also a few children standing by, silent and terrified, perhaps scared by Xue Niang's face, or perhaps by the woman's wailing.
Xue Niang tried to walk around her, but the woman grabbed her trousers and pulled her back.
"If you don't give me an explanation, you're not leaving. Even if your husband was a bandit, I'm not afraid. A fortune teller said my son will be an official in the future. What if you scared him silly? You won't leave without paying a few taels of silver today!"
A few taels of silver, was she crazy?