1940s: I supported my wife and sister-in-law by hunting.

Chen Gaoshan didn't mention the incident of being pushed anymore. He said that he had gone down in his place, which was the truth, and it was only right that Chen Gaoshan reciprocate his kindness.

He stepped forward and patted Xiao Kouzi on the shoulder.

But to be fair, Xiao Kouzi is actually quite perceptive.

At least there's some kind of indication. It's much better to just pretend you don't know anything and act like we're the ones who are eager to please you, that it's your right.

"Don't do things secretly anymore. I know what you're thinking. You're still a decent man."

He paused, then casually asked, "It's not like I've taken a fancy to that girl; I can't do that."

"Hey sister, are you looking for someone yet?"

When Xiao Kouzi heard him respond, she quickly looked up.

"Brother Shanzi, once I've paid off the money for Mother's coffin and my sister has gotten married, my life will be yours. My sister hasn't even been married yet. My family is too poor, and all the men who come to our door are either old widowers or missing limbs. I can't let my sister go looking for trouble."

Seeing Xiao Kouzi's red eyes and stubborn expression, as if she were entrusting her life to him, Chen Gaoshan immediately interrupted.

"Here we go again. How many lives do you have? Besides, are these my lives? I could tell you to go and bang your head against a wall right now, would you do it?"

"We're all from the same village, we'll run into each other all the time, don't be so formal. Don't send any food to my house anymore, I'm a grown man, I don't need a few bites. Look at you two, you're as skinny as monkeys, you don't have a ounce of meat on you, save it for yourselves to grow up, taking good care of your sister is the important thing."

After saying that, he glanced down at the still lively toad in the cloth bag and added another sentence.

"But I'll take this toad today, thanks, Little Button."

Zhou Shuanghong, who was standing to the side, kept clutching the hem of her clothes and secretly looked up at the man who had saved her brother.

She doesn't go out much; besides working in the fields, she cooks for her brother.

Although they lived in the same village, he had never spoken a word to Shanzi. He had only heard villagers mention that Shanzi was tough, ruthless, and capable.

But when I actually saw him, I realized that he was really tall, with broad shoulders, and his face wasn't as fierce as I had imagined.

My heart was racing for no reason, my face was burning red, I quickly lowered my head, my hands gripping the seam of my pants tightly, so nervous that I didn't even dare to breathe.

Hearing this, Xiao Kouzi's eyes reddened even more, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Ever since his mother passed away, he and his sister have been relying on each other for survival. Apart from his sister feeling sorry for him, no outsider has ever said anything to show concern for him.

My heart was pounding, so all I could do was nod vigorously.

"Brother Shanzi, I understand. Spring plowing will be done in a while, and I'll come to your house to help with the planting. I'll bring my own food, so you don't need to provide meals."

"become."

Chen Gaoshan didn't stand on ceremony with him. At least in his eyes, Xiao Kouzi was a down-to-earth kid. He still needed someone in the village who could run errands and relay messages for him, and he thought Xiao Kouzi was a good candidate.

"Come help me when you're done with your work in the fields. You don't need to bring any food. You can also invite your sister along; she can help cook and do some housework in the kitchen, so you two won't have to cook for yourselves."

"Hey!" Xiao Kouzi kept these words in mind and vowed to work hard to repay Brother Shanzi's kindness.

Chen Gaoshan looked down and lifted the cloth bag, estimating it to weigh about forty pounds. When it was hung on his waistband, it almost made his pants fall off.

He untied the bag, tied the opening with a thin hemp rope, put it into the basket on his back, picked up the wire fishing net, and turned to walk home.

However, instead of going directly back to his own yard, he deliberately took a detour to the house of Widow Liu at the west end of the village.

Just as they reached the road outside Widow Liu's courtyard, they saw a slender figure carrying two buckets of water slowly walking forward. Who else could it be but Liu Chuncao?

He hurried to meet her. Fortunately, Liu Chuncao's house was in a remote area, and there weren't many people around.

Without saying a word, Chen Gaoshan shoved the fishing net in his hand into Liu Chuncao's hand, then took the carrying pole from her shoulder and hoisted it onto his own.

The two buckets of water seemed quite heavy to Liu Chuncao, but in his hands they were as light as playing with water, requiring no effort at all.

Liu Chuncao followed behind him, her lips pursed, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up, her eyes full of tenderness.

Since following Chen Gaoshan, her life has completely changed. She no longer has to go hungry, and there is often meat in the pot.

The bag, which had been emptied by not only hunger but also the fruit from Da Ya Guo, began to swell up again.

I felt more secure and at ease, and I had never felt so at ease before.

There has to be a man in the house; life is completely different without one.

"Take it easy, don't strain yourself, or you'll hurt your back."

Liu Chuncao had told him before that her mother-in-law already knew about their relationship.

Now that Chen Gaoshan has come again, he no longer needs to hide like before; he can freely go in and out of the house and do his work.

He went directly into the outer room of Widow Liu's house and poured the water from the bucket into the vat.

Liu Chuncao followed behind and immediately closed and locked the courtyard gate.

Inside the house, Grandma Liu was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) holding her one-year-old daughter.

Daya is very well-behaved. She is just learning to walk, but she stays quietly in her grandmother's arms and doesn't make a fuss at all.

Upon seeing Chen Gaoshan enter, the little guy immediately opened his round, bright eyes, smiled, and stretched out his chubby little hands, babbling incoherently.

"Ah~ Ah! Ah~"

Looking at the soft little girl, Chen Gaoshan subconsciously picked her up.

"Darling, don't rush, I'll hug you after I wash my hands."

Although Grandma Chuncao was hard of hearing, she still heard the voices and gently patted Daya's hand as she held her.

"Is Shanzi here?"

"Auntie, it's me! I just went to the river at the edge of the village and caught some frogs. I'm bringing some over for you. I'll have Sister Chuncao stew them for you later. They're really delicious."

Grandma Chuncao nodded.

"Good, good, Shanzi, we are really grateful to you for taking care of us. Otherwise, the three of us would not know how we would have survived."

"Auntie, please don't say that. We're all from the same village. There's no such thing as losing more or less. This is what I should do. Don't be so formal with me."

As he spoke, he put down the basket on his back, turned around and walked to the outer room, picked up the cloth bag containing the frogs, and walked towards the stove.

Liu Chuncao quickly followed behind, busy trying to help him.

Chen Gaoshan untied the hemp rope binding the bag and gave special instructions to Liu Chuncao beside him.

"When I pour it into the basin, be quick, and immediately put the lid on so it doesn't escape."

He poured about ten pounds of frogs into the Liu family's pot. They had recovered and were hopping around in the basin, enough for them to eat their fill for two meals.

Chen Gaoshan straightened up.

Liu Chuncao had been waiting with a basin of water, and he washed his hands and face with the basin.

He then took the cotton towel she offered and dried himself off.

Liu Chuncao stood aside, watching him.

"Why are you here again? Didn't you just come three days ago?"

Chen Gaoshan paused in wiping his face and turned to look at her.

"What, you don't want me to come? If I don't come, who's going to bring you frogs to eat?"

"No, that's not what I meant."

Chen Gaoshan immediately pulled Widow Liu into his arms in the outer room and kissed her on the lips.

"Waaaaah~~"

Widow Liu's legs trembled from his passionate kiss, and she clung to his neck.

"How could you be so mean? You deliberately let my mother-in-law hear you, didn't you?"

He looked at Widow Liu's lips, reddened by his kisses, and at the two dimples that appeared when she smiled, and gave her another kiss.

"She can't hear, so what's there to be afraid of? I didn't go up to her and mess with her."

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