Xiao Shan stopped, following Xue Niang's pace. It was almost driving him mad, her dainty steps making him feel like a woman.
"Why did you follow me? The road isn't easy, and it's so dark here."
Because the well was in the center of the village, they had to pass through a narrow alley. As evening approached, it looked particularly gloomy.
"Xiao Shan!" Xue Niang called out, her voice trembling, and grabbed his arm. "What is that?"
With soft warmth pressing against him, Xiao Shan took a deep breath of her fragrance. Women were more fragrant than rough men, especially Xue Niang, who carried a unique scent.
One breath and his spirits lifted.
The soft touch against his arm allowed him to clearly feel the curve... Wait? Had it grown much larger?
"Ah!" Xue Niang let out a soft cry and buried her head in Xiao Shan's arm.
A dark shape gradually approached. Xiao Shan finally looked over and saw it was a woman, carrying a large bundle of firewood on her back. Bent and hunched, her form was unclear against the backlight.
"Oh my, it's the Xiao family couple! You two have such a loving relationship, no wonder everyone envies you."
When the woman spoke, Xiao Shan grunted in acknowledgment, though he didn't recognize her.
Hearing the voice, Xue Niang looked up and saw the situation. The monstrous shape was just a pile of firewood. The woman's voice sounded familiar, like one she'd heard while washing clothes by the river.
Xue Niang released Xiao Shan.
The woman moved aside, and they skirted around the firewood.
There were one or two other people drawing water by the well. Xiao Shan put down his carrying pole and waited nearby.
The two people who had been talking stopped as soon as they saw Xiao Shan. After drawing their water, they left.
Just then, someone emerged from another alley. Though their face was unclear, their figure indicated a woman, and a well-proportioned one at that.
Xue Niang retreated, moving behind the large locust tree by the well. Xiao Shan glanced over and chuckled softly.
The woman slowly approached, and Xue Niang could now see who it was.
It was the Chen Dong's wife that Xu Da Niang had mentioned, the one with the flower. She was petite, with a good facial structure, and indeed looked better than the other women in the village.
She carried only one bucket. Upon arriving, she first glanced around, then looked at Xiao Shan.
At that moment, Xiao Shan stood with his legs spread at the well opening, pulling the rope to draw water.
"Hunter Xiao, thank you for your help yesterday."
Her voice was as soft as a whisper, easily scattered by the wind. From Xue Niang's angle, she could see the woman's face. Her eyes were fixed on Xiao Shan's back, holding an indescribable emotion, perhaps... longing?
Xu Da Niang was right.
A surge of anger welled up in Xue Niang's heart.
Xiao Shan turned his head for a casual glance, a flicker of confusion in his eyes, but he paid no mind. He quickly filled both buckets and moved away from the well opening.
Chen Dong's wife, not hearing a response, assumed her voice was too soft for Xiao Shan to hear. She took two more steps closer and was about to speak again when she heard Xiao Shan say, "Let's go!"
"Xiao—" Chen Dong's wife cried out in a hurry, her voice rising. Just as she uttered the first syllable, someone emerged from behind the large tree, startling her so much that she dropped her bucket, which nearly rolled into the well.
Flustered, she raised her eyes to look and saw a graceful woman whose clear, beautiful eyes swept over her before turning away.
It was Xiao Shan's delicate wife.
As Chen Dong's wife breathed a sigh of relief, she also felt a pang of resentment: Following a man drawing water, what a sight!
"Why are you hiding behind the tree? Are you trying to scare me?" Xiao Shan asked with amusement.
Seeing him still able to laugh, Xue Niang felt a rush of indignation. Attracting attention and neglecting his marital duties, did he want to be like Liu De Mao and keep several women?
"Bitch!"
"What did you say?" Xiao Shan hadn't heard clearly, or rather, he thought he misheard.
Xue Niang never swore.
"I said you're a big bitch!"
???????
Xiao Shan's footing faltered, nearly sloshing the water out of the bucket.
"Hmph! No wonder you like to draw water in the dark. Why not in the morning? Are you afraid of being seen during the day? If I hadn't come out from behind the tree just now, I think she would have clung to you!"
Xiao Shan thought for a moment and understood.
"Xue Niang! Don't talk nonsense! You'll cause trouble!" he said sternly.
"She brought it upon herself. If she's not afraid, why should you worry?" Xue Niang turned away angrily and started to run, unwilling to walk with him any longer.
"Slow down! The road isn't even!" Xiao Shan called from behind, quickening his pace.
They returned home, one after the other. Xue Niang ran into the kitchen and began tending the fire with a sulk.
Xiao Shan carried the water into the kitchen. Seeing her sitting by the stove with a stern face, smoke already rising from the pot, he quickly dumped the rabbit meat in.
"Your temper, how can you not take half a word? Did you speak improperly! In remote places, reputation is even more important. This village has had cases of people driven to death by rumors. How can you just spout nonsense?"
Xue Niang pointed at herself in disbelief. "I'm spouting nonsense? You help her draw water every day, do you think I don't know?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? I don't even know who she is!"
Xiao Shan's voice unintentionally rose. He was truly baffled. And that woman just now, saying thank you, when had he ever helped her?
Ha! So he was denying it!
"Xue Niang, you've always been kind and inexperienced, you probably don't know—"
"Why should I be kind!" Xue Niang suddenly seemed provoked. She threw down the firewood and stood up, anger in her eyes, and a pain that was hard to discern.
Xiao Shan looked at her in astonishment.
"They all call me kind, righteous, compassionate to all beings! Why, why demand this of me? I am also human, not a god! In the end, who showed compassion to me? I was still sent away like merchandise! I hate it! I hate all of you!"
Xue Niang seemed possessed, lost in some hallucination, as if controlled by something, her demeanor completely changed. She trembled, and the firelight reflected in her eyes, turning them red.
After her roar, she seemed to lose all her strength, cradling her head and slumping down softly.
Xiao Shan, still trying to process her inexplicable words, rushed to catch her. "Xue Niang, don't worry, don't think about it."
"Xiao Shan, my head hurts so much, it hurts!"
"Clear your mind, don't think! You are Xue Niang, Xiao family's Xue Niang, your home is at the foot of Qingyun Mountain in Bozi Village, the wife of a hunter."
"Xiao Shan, Xiao Shan, I don't want to remember, they'll lock me up, in a gilded cage, put me on a pedestal, no, no, they'll abandon me, they abandoned me..."
"It's fake! Xue Niang! Look at me, I am your man! The strongest man in the world! No one will dare bully you!" Xiao Shan cupped her face, making her look at him clearly.
Xue Niang's gaze began to focus. The anger, fear, and sorrow within gradually disappeared.
...
"Xiao Shan, did you just scold me?"