After becoming a widow, I became the apple of a rough man's eye.

Afraid of the dark?

That's such an excuse that even a ghost wouldn't believe it.

Lin Qingqing's eyes widened, and she desperately tried to shrink back, as if pressing herself against the wall. But the bed was only so big, and Jiang He squeezed in as if he had no bones, using both his hands and feet.

Like a young wolf cub that had just been weaned and was not yet tamed, he forcefully wrapped his legs around Lin Qingqing's kicking legs and buried his head in the crook of her neck without saying a word.

"My sister smells so good."

Jiang He took a deep breath, his nose brushing against Lin Qingqing's delicate neck, sending shivers down her spine. The touch was warm and moist, carrying an aggressiveness that didn't belong to a boy.

Lin Qingqing froze, too afraid to move. This wasn't her brother who was afraid of the dark; he was clearly a weasel that had broken into the village to steal chickens.

"Get out!"

A loud shout was followed by a loud crash as something was knocked over in the main room.

The next second, the rickety wooden door of the east room was kicked open.

"Bang!"

The door slammed against the wall, and dust fell down in clumps.

Qin Lie stood at the door with a dark expression, holding the kerosene lamp he hadn't yet put down. The dim light shone in, illuminating the two figures entangled together on the bed.

Jiang He was lying on top of Lin Qingqing, his arms still wrapped around her waist, oblivious to the danger. Lin Qingqing huddled in the corner, her clothes disheveled, tears welling in her eyes, looking like a white rabbit pinned down by a wild beast.

Qin Lie's temple throbbed violently twice.

He strode over, slammed the lamp he was holding onto the bedside table, and reached out to grab Jiang He by the back of the collar.

"Get down here!"

Qin Lie, a seasoned hunter, possessed a strength so great he could crush bones. Jiang He was so tightly bound that his eyes rolled back in his head, and he had no choice but to release Lin Qingqing, being lifted to the ground like a captured chick.

"Big brother, what are you doing!" Jiang He bristled as soon as he landed. "I just wanted my sister to sleep with me for a while! I didn't do anything else!"

"Didn't do anything else?" Qin Lie sneered. "If you did anything else, I'll break your legs."

The commotion here was so great that both Nishiya and Li Dongye, who had just returned, were alerted.

Xiao Yong, wearing only a jacket and carrying a door latch, rushed out shouting, "What's going on? A thief broke in? Who's the fool who dares to steal from the wolf's den?"

Li Dongye leaned against the door frame, twirling his car keys in his hand. His captivating eyes swept around the room before finally settling on the still-shaken Lin Qingqing, his gaze darkening.

"Oh, Fifth Brother, you've been caught red-handed stealing a kiss?"

The small east room was instantly filled with four grown men. The concentration of male hormones in the air surged, mixed with the smells of sweat, cigarettes, and a lingering scent of jealousy.

Lin Qingqing huddled in the corner of the bed, clutching the blanket, her face flushed red, wishing she could disappear into the ground.

Qin Lie glanced at his troublesome younger brothers, and finally fixed his gaze on Jiang He.

"All of you, go to the main room."

……

On the eight-immortal table in the main room, the kerosene lamp cast long shadows of five people, which stretched out on the wall like claws.

Qin Lie sat in the main seat, toying with the hunting knife in his hand. The blade flashed between his fingers, its cold light gleaming.

"Now that everyone's here, let's establish some rules."

Qin Lie slammed the knife on the table with a crisp "clang," making the skin of the other three men tighten.

"Lin Qingqing is my cousin, she's family, not someone you can use to amuse yourselves." Qin Lie's voice was steady and carried an undeniable authority. "From today onwards, no one is allowed to enter the east room after dark. If anyone dares to climb through the window or pick the lock in the middle of the night again, don't blame me for disregarding our brotherly bond."

Jiang He pursed his lips and muttered under his breath, "What cousin? It's a lie..."

Qin Lie glanced at Jiang He, and Jiang He immediately shut up.

"besides."

Qin Lie paused, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Yong's muscular physique, Li Dongye's stylish jacket, and Gu Qiangying's clean hands.

"We don't support idlers or ungrateful wretches in our family. Since Qingqing calls us brothers, we should act like them."

"From now on, whoever does more work and brings more money home will be qualified to have Qingqing cook for him and mend his clothes."

These words evoked various thoughts among the people in the room.

Xiao Yong's eyes lit up, and he threw the door latch on the ground: "Big brother, you said it yourself! When it comes to strength, I, Xiao Lao Er, have never been inferior to anyone!"

Li Dongye chuckled, pulled out a stack of ten-yuan notes from his pocket—the freight payment he'd just received—and swung them around playfully: "Second Brother, these days, strength alone isn't enough; you need this too."

Gu Qiangying pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting the light, and a gentle smile appeared on his lips: "Brother is right, health is the foundation of everything. My cousin is frail and needs to be taken good care of. I'm a doctor, so I know what I'm doing."

Jiang He looked at this person, then at that person, her cheeks puffed out in anger: "You're bullying me! I don't even have a job yet!"

"If you don't have a job, go earn work points or gather firewood," Qin Lie declared decisively. "Meeting adjourned."

……

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Lin Qingqing was awakened by the commotion in the courtyard.

"Hey! Ha!"

The dull sound of chopping wood, accompanied by rough work chants, shook the paper windows.

Lin Qingqing rubbed her eyes and pushed open the door, startled.

The pile of miscellaneous wood that had once filled the yard like a small mountain had now been mostly chopped down. Xiao Yong, shirtless and covered in sweat, his bronze muscles gleaming in the morning light, held the heavy axe in his hand as light as a toy, sending wood chips flying with each swing.

Seeing Lin Qingqing come out, Xiao Yong grinned, revealing a set of big white teeth, and deliberately bulged his biceps high.

"Cousin, you're awake? Are you hungry? Your second brother will start a fire for you! Look at this firewood, enough to last half a month!"

Before Lin Qingqing could speak, two piercing horn blares suddenly came from the courtyard gate.

“Ding Di—”

A dusty Jiefang brand truck arrogantly pulled up in front of the courtyard. Li Dongye jumped out of the driver's seat, his hair slicked back and shiny, a leather bag tucked under his arm.

Good morning, cousin.

Li Dongye whistled and turned around to take two large bags of things out of the truck bed.

"The Dacron floral fabric that just arrived in the city, I think the color suits you. And these White Rabbit milk candies, the supply and marketing cooperative was out of stock, I used my connections to get two jin."

He shoved the things into Lin Qingqing's arms, casually patted the back of her hand, and grinned with a roguish grin: "It's sweet, want to try some?"

Lin Qingqing was holding that huge pile of things, completely at a loss. What... what is this all about?

"What are you all showing off for?"

A cool, clear voice came from behind.

Gu Qiangying, wearing a gleaming white shirt and carrying a stethoscope, slowly walked out of the main room. The morning light shone on his gold-rimmed glasses, making him look both refined and roguish.

He walked straight up to Lin Qingqing.

"Cousin, you don't look well."

Gu Qiangying frowned slightly, stretched out her slender finger, and tapped Lin Qingqing's eye from a distance. "Didn't you sleep well last night? Your eyes are a little dark."

Lin Qingqing subconsciously touched her face: "Ah? I... I was woken up..."

"Not only did you not sleep well, but I also see that you have a bit of anemia. Come sit down, let me listen to your heart and lungs."

He sat down on the stone bench in the courtyard and patted the spot next to him.

Xiao Yong and Li Dongye stopped what they were doing at the same time, their eyes fixed on Gu Qiangying.

That third brother is the most cunning!

Lin Qingqing didn't know anything about medicine, but she thought he meant well, so she obediently went over and sat down.

Gu Qiangying hung up the stethoscope's earpiece, saying, "Your clothes are too thick; I can't hear clearly."

Lin Qingqing blushed, hesitated for a moment, and then unbuttoned the top button of her shirt.

Gu Qiangying's eyes darkened.

The cold stethoscope was pressed against the skin.

"Hiss—" Lin Qingqing shivered from the cold and shrank back.

"Don't move."

Gu Qiangying placed his other hand on her back, seemingly a gentleman, but in reality, he was encircling her entirely in his arms.

"Inhale...exhale..."

His voice was deep, with a strange rhythm.

My heart is beating a little fast.

Gu Qiangying raised his eyelids, looked at her watery peach blossom eyes through his glasses, and smiled.

"What's there to be nervous about?"

"...I didn't."

"Your heart rate is over 120," Gu Qiangying interrupted her in a low voice. "This heartbeat doesn't sound like you're not nervous."

"Third brother."

A furious shout shattered the idyllic scene.

Qin Lie stood at the kitchen door, his face as black as the bottom of a pot.

"If you're going to see a doctor, why are you standing so close? Are you listening to my heartbeat or something else?"

Gu Qiangying paused, then slowly put away the stethoscope: "Brother, what you're saying is true. Doctors have the heart of parents. I was just worried that my cousin's health might be affected."

"It's nothing serious, just a little weak. I'll get some medicine to help me recover."

Lin Qingqing felt as if she had been granted a pardon and stood up as if fleeing: "I...I'll go cook!"

Just as she was about to run to the kitchen, she suddenly heard the sound of high heels stepping on the muddy ground at the gate of the yard.

"Wow, the Qin family compound is really lively this early in the morning!"

Before you see them, you hear their voices. A cheap scent of face cream mixed with a pungent perfume wafts in on the wind.

Everyone turned around.

A woman wearing a bright red polyester shirt and with big, wavy hair swayed into the room. Her face was covered in thick powder, her lips were as red as if she had just eaten a dead child, and she was carrying a large bowl covered with a white gauze.

Sun Erniang, the pretty widow at the east end of the village.

Sun Erniang swept her dark eyeliner around her eyes.

"Brother Qin~~"

That cry was so powerful and dramatic that it nearly made Xiao Yong smash his axe into his foot.

"I heard you have a distant cousin visiting? As your neighbor, I don't have much to offer, but I made some dumplings and brought them over for everyone to try."

As Sun Erniang spoke, she wiggled her hips and tried to get close to Qin Lie, but her eyes were still secretly glancing at Lin Qingqing standing next to her.

With just one glance, Sun Erniang's jealousy exploded.

How come that little vixen is so fair-skinned? Her waist is so thin, it looks like it could snap in two with a pinch! No wonder all those men are like they've lost their souls.

"This must be my cousin?" Sun Erniang walked over with a forced smile, the strong scent of her perfume making Lin Qingqing want to sneeze. "She's really...beautiful. Why haven't I heard Brother Qin mention her before?"

Lin Qingqing took a step back and timidly greeted, "Hello, sister-in-law."