Er Gou, life in the countryside is so carefree!

Chen Ergou returned to his thatched hut at the end of his village, his heart bubbling with joy.

He was savoring the exhilarating feeling of beating up Li Dazhuang, and thinking about Widow Wang's soft waist and the reward she mentioned that was "better than meat." His mouth was practically watering.

"This woman, she really knows how to flirt!" He paced back and forth in the room, feeling as if time was passing exceptionally slowly.

Finally, as the sun began to set and darkness fell, Chen Ergou quickly washed his face, changed into a relatively clean undershirt, and ran off to Widow Wang's house.

When he arrived at the courtyard gate, he saw that the gate was ajar. He sneakily pushed it open a crack, and a delicious aroma of food wafted into his nose.

A kerosene lamp was lit in the main room, and Widow Wang was putting the last dish on the table.

Scrambled eggs, stir-fried cured pork with pickled vegetables, cucumber salad, and a bowl of white rice porridge.

This food is considered top-notch in Xiushui Village.

"You're here? Come in and have a seat, we've been waiting for you."

When Widow Wang saw him, her face lit up with a smile.

She had clearly dressed up carefully; her hair was neatly combed, and she had changed into a floral short-sleeved shirt with a low neckline.

Chen Ergou swallowed hard and plopped down.

"Sister Cuihua, this is such a lavish meal! It's even better than what I ate during Chinese New Year!"

"You promised a reward, how could I possibly treat you unfairly?"

Widow Wang served him a full bowl of porridge, staring intently at him. "Eat up, you must be hungry after a long day."

Chen Ergou was indeed hungry, and he began to wolf down his food.

Widow Wang kept putting food on his plate, watching him eat with a smile in her eyes.

"Eat slowly, no one will take it from you," Widow Wang said softly.

"Ergou, today... I really owe you a lot."

With his mouth full of food, Chen Ergou mumbled, "Sister, don't keep thanking me like that, it's too formal!"

Widow Wang put down her chopsticks and leaned closer: "Er Gou, tell me the truth, what was that skill you displayed today? I've watched you grow up, and I've never seen you this capable before."

Chen Ergou was prepared and knew he couldn't reveal the matter of the "Dragon King's Secret".

He swallowed the food in his mouth and began to make things up:

"Sister, didn't I tell you? My ancestors were imperial physicians, and they passed down some methods for strengthening the body. I didn't understand them before, but I almost drowned in the river a while ago. Maybe I choked on the water and it cleared my head. Suddenly, I understood some of the things our ancestors taught us."

Widow Wang was skeptical, but didn't ask any further questions; she simply sighed:

"It seems our ancestors were truly blessing you. With this skill, no one in the village will dare to bully you anymore."

"That's right!" Chen Ergou proudly raised his chin.

"From now on, I'll protect my sister. Let's see who dares to cause trouble then!"

These words warmed Widow Wang's heart, and she liked Chen Ergou more and more as she looked at his confident demeanor.

After dinner, Chen Ergou insisted on washing the dishes, and Widow Wang didn't stop him, but just stayed by his side and chatted with him.

After they finished getting ready, the moon had already risen, and the two went out into the courtyard to enjoy the cool air.

The night breeze was very pleasant.

Widow Wang moved closer to Chen Ergou, her arm touching his.

"Ergou, what do you think of me?"

Chen Ergou's heart skipped a beat; he knew the real topic was coming.

He chuckled and said, "Sis, you...you're great, capable, and you have a good figure too."

As he spoke, his eyes glanced at her chest.

Widow Wang playfully smacked him: "You're never serious! I'm asking you a serious question!"

"I'm just saying something serious!" Chen Ergou pretended to be stupid.

"My sister is the best to me, I know that in my heart."

"So...do you want to always be good to me?"

Widow Wang's voice was even lower, almost as if she were breathing into his ear.

Chen Ergou could feel the warmth emanating from her body, and his heart was pounding.

But then he thought again, he had just had a miraculous encounter, and he couldn't let himself be tied down so soon.

He pretended not to understand and looked up at the sky: "Sis, the moon is so round tonight, tomorrow will definitely be another sunny day."

Widow Wang felt a little disappointed when he changed the subject, but she was also unwilling to give up.

She sighed softly, "Ergou, do you think I'm not good enough for you because I'm a widow?"

"No! Absolutely not!" Chen Ergou quickly denied.

"Sis, don't overthink it. I just... I just think things are fine as they are."

"Which one is better?" Widow Wang asked, secretly placing one hand on his thigh and gently stroking it.

Chen Ergou felt a shiver run through him, but he still tried to remain calm: "It's just... it would be nice to be able to come and help you with chores, chat with you, and eat your cooking..."

Seeing that he was still pretending to be stupid, Widow Wang was both angry and amused, and increased the pressure on his hand: "You little rascal, trying to play dumb with me, huh?"