Er Gou, life in the countryside is so carefree!

The thugs ran away.

The courtyard fell silent.

Chen Ergou flicked his wrist and chuckled.

"Pah! You two cowards, you haven't had enough yet!"

He was overjoyed, never expecting the Dragon King's inheritance to be so effective, beating people up like chickens.

He walked to the doorway and looked at his sister-in-law, who was still hiding behind the door, trembling.

Zhang Qiaofen's face was deathly pale, tears streaming down her face, her body trembling like a leaf in the wind.

Chen Ergou leaned over, squatted down, and reached out to pinch her cheek.

"Sister-in-law, don't be afraid, I've chased them all away."

"Those two are no match for me. Even if you brought ten more, they wouldn't be enough to take me down."

Zhang Qiaofen slowly raised her head, saw that it was Er Gou, and burst into tears. She slid down the door frame and sat on the ground.

Chen Ergou quickly stepped forward and picked her up in his arms.

"The ground is cold, why are you sitting here?"

With a strong pull, he scooped Zhang Qiaofen up in his arms.

Zhang Qiaofen exclaimed in surprise and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Ergou... put me down..."

"Don't move, I'll carry you inside."

Chen Ergou carried her into the house and placed her on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), but his hand didn't retract, and he casually touched her waist.

Mmm, so soft.

Zhang Qiaofen blushed and tried to push him away, but she didn't have the strength.

"Ergou... thank goodness you came back... thank goodness..."

She cried, tears streaming down her face, her body trembling.

"If it weren't for you... my sister-in-law would have..."

Chen Ergou plopped down next to her, put his arm around her shoulder, and said in a carefree manner:

"What are you saying, sister-in-law! With me here, who can touch you?"

"If anyone dares to come again, I'll break their legs!"

As he spoke, his hands were restless, gently patting her back and enjoying the soft touch.

Zhang Qiaofen cried for a long time before slowly stopping, but she was still sobbing.

Chen Ergou released her and got up to scoop a ladle of cold water from the water vat in the outer room.

"Here, sister-in-law, have some water to calm your nerves."

Zhang Qiaofen took the water ladle, her hands still trembling, and took a small sip, the water dripping down her chin.

Chen Ergou reacted quickly and used the back of his hand to wipe it off for her.

His finger "accidentally" brushed against her lips.

Soft and wet.

Zhang Qiaofen blushed even more and lowered her head.

"Ergou... how were you so amazing just now?"

"Those two...were carrying knives..."

Chen Ergou scratched his head, chuckled, and started boasting:

"Sister-in-law, you don't know, I recently received the true teachings of a master!"

"That old Taoist priest on the back mountain, see him? He looks like a hermit! He taught me a few amazing skills!"

"Don't even mention knives, even if they have guns, I can still take them down!"

Zhang Qiaofen was skeptical, but Er Gou really seemed like a different person tonight, fierce and ruthless.

She sighed and lowered her head.

"It's all my fault, sister-in-law... I've dragged you down..."

"Your heartless brother... he left and never contacted me again..."

"Still owing so much debt... and bringing this kind of trouble upon myself..."

As she spoke, tears began to fall again.

Chen Ergou grabbed her shoulder and whispered in her ear:

"Sister-in-law, stop mentioning my brother, it's a downer!"

"It's his business if he ran away, but you're with me... I mean, I'll protect you from now on!"

"Leave the debt to me!"

Zhang Qiaofen raised her head and looked at him:

"That three thousand dollars... is no small sum."

"We wouldn't have the money to pay for that..."

"Sister-in-law, don't worry about the money."

Chen Ergou patted his chest.

"I have plenty of ways!"

"What can you, a kid who's only a teenager, do?"

Zhang Qiaofen took it as him comforting himself.

"We can't just steal or rob."

"Hehe, just you wait and see."

Chen Ergou smiled mysteriously.

"Anyway, I can handle it. I'll make sure you live a good life, eating and drinking the finest things!"

Zhang Qiaofen looked at his confident profile; the moonlight shone through the window, outlining his strong features.

Before she knew it, her little brother, who used to follow her around begging for candy, had really grown up.

It has become... a little bad, but also reassuring.

She felt a warmth in her heart, but also a pang of sadness.

"Ergou..."

She called out softly.

"Um?"

Chen Ergou turned his head and looked at her with a grin.

Zhang Qiaofen looked into his bright eyes, but swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

She originally wanted to ask if the thug had really said those outrageous things his brother had said.

But I didn't ask.

What good will it do to find out the truth?

It will only make you more heartbroken.

She shifted her body, getting closer to Er Gou, almost touching him.

"Ergou, don't go back tonight..."

"Just sleep in your room, sister-in-law... set up a plank in the outer room."

"I...I'm scared to be alone..."

After what just happened, she really didn't dare to be alone.

Chen Ergou's eyes lit up, and a wicked smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Alright! I wouldn't dare disobey my sister-in-law's orders!"

"Don't worry, I'll be watching over you. No demons or monsters will dare to come!"

Zhang Qiaofen was slightly relieved.

She stood up.

"I'll find you a blanket."

She walked to the old wooden cabinet in the corner, opened the cabinet door, and took out a thin quilt that was washed white but very clean.

When she handed it to Chen Ergou, her fingers "accidentally" touched Chen Ergou's hand.

They separated as if they had been electrocuted.

Zhang Qiaofen's face flushed, and she quickly turned around.

"Sister-in-law, you should go to sleep. It's almost dawn."

Chen Ergou took the blanket and said with a grin.

Zhang Qiaofen hummed in agreement, slowly walked back into the inner room, and closed the door.

Chen Ergou set up a makeshift bed in the outer room using two long benches, laid out a quilt, and lay down.

The room was very quiet.

He could hear his sister-in-law turning over in the inner room after she lay down.

There were also faint, suppressed sobs.

Chen Ergou knew his sister-in-law was suffering, but he didn't know how to comfort her.

He turned over and began to ponder the contents of "The Dragon King's Secret".

Fish farming? Farming? Or medicine?

Which one makes money faster?

We need to get the money quickly, pay off the debt, and let my sister-in-law live a good life.

Then... hehe.

As he pondered these thoughts, he drifted off to sleep.

The inner room.

Zhang Qiaofen lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), staring at the ceiling with her eyes open, tears streaming down her face.

She hasn't enjoyed any happiness in the years since she married into the Chen family.

The husband abandoned his family and left, leaving behind a mess.

If it weren't for her brother-in-law Er Gou's constant help, she really didn't know how she would have survived.

Thinking of Er Gou made her even more confused.

Tonight, Er Gou stood in her way like a mountain.

Those solid fists, those fierce eyes, and that sly, grinning face...

He was completely different from the thin boy she remembered.

It makes your heart race.

She quickly shook her head, banishing the absurd thought.

He was her brother-in-law.

How could she...

But just now, when he held her, those strong arms, that burning heat...

And then there was that indecent gesture he made when he patted her back…

Zhang Qiaofen buried her face in the quilt, feeling her whole body heat up.

The sound of Chen Ergou snoring evenly came from outside.

As she listened to the voice, she gradually calmed down.

At least tonight, she is safe.

He's out there keeping watch.

The moonlight slowly moved across the window.

It's almost dawn.

a new day.

There are still many troubles waiting for him.

There were also many inexplicable feelings that quietly grew in her heart.