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

Xiao Yong was idly counting the spider webs on the roof when he saw Gu Qiangying come in, and he reflexively shrank his legs.

"Third brother, is it time to change the dressing again?" Xiao Yong asked warily.

Gu Qiangying placed the medicine box on the table, slowly opened it, and took out tweezers and gauze. "The wound hasn't scabbed over yet, so it's prone to infection. The weather's been humid these past few days; if it gets infected, your leg will have to be amputated."

"Don't try to scare me." Although Xiao Yong was stubborn, he still obediently stretched out his leg.

Gu Qiangying removed the gauze, and the wound still looked gruesome, with the skin and flesh rolled back and some redness and swelling around it.

"Qingqing, bring the lamp closer."

Lin Qingqing brought the kerosene lamp closer.

Gu Qiangying held the tweezers very gently, but the cold metallic touch still made Xiao Yong's muscles tense.

"Relax a bit." Gu Qiangying patted Xiao Yong's thigh with the handle of the tweezers; the muscle was as hard as iron. "How can I apply medicine when it's so tense?"

"Ouch!" Xiao Yong gritted his teeth. "Poke me gently!"

Gu Qiangying pushed up his glasses, his eyes narrowing slightly behind the lenses, a half-smile playing on his lips. "It hurts already? Last night, I heard the commotion next door. Your brother was making a fuss for so long, but Qingqing didn't complain at all. How come someone as big as you can't even handle this little bit of pain?"

The moment those words were spoken, the air in the room instantly became hot and stuffy.

Lin Qingqing's hand wobbled, and she almost dropped the lamp. Her face instantly turned bright red, and she wished she could sew Gu Qiangying's mouth shut.

Xiao Yong was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening. His face turned bright red, and his eyes darted between Lin Qingqing and Gu Qiangying. "Third brother! What nonsense are you spouting! Qingqing is... she is..."

He stammered "that" for a long time without being able to explain it clearly. His chest heaved even more, and his eyes kept glancing at Lin Qingqing. His mind was filled with the suppressed, fragmented sounds from last night.

"What is it?" Gu Qiangying applied the gauze soaked in ointment to his wound, applying a little pressure.

"Ouch—!" Xiao Yong gasped in pain. "Gu Laosan, you're taking revenge on me!"

"It promotes blood circulation and removes blood stasis," Gu Qiangying said calmly, but his gaze, through his glasses, landed meaningfully on Lin Qingqing. "Qingqing, don't you think so?"

Lin Qingqing lowered her head, not daring to reply.

Just then, a loud, shrill voice came from the courtyard gate, breaking the awkward atmosphere.

"Oh dear, why is the front door still closed? Is anyone home?"

That voice was so distinctive; you couldn't find another one like it in the whole village except for Wang Dazui.

Lin Qingqing breathed a sigh of relief and quickly put the lamp down. "I'll go take a look."

She fled the house as if she were escaping.

At the gate of the courtyard, Wang Dazui, carrying a bamboo basket, was peeking inside with his triangular eyes darting around, as if he wanted to count every single blade of grass in the yard.

Upon seeing Lin Qingqing emerge, Wang Dazui's face immediately broke into a wide smile, his wrinkles so deep they could trap flies.

"Oh, Qingqing, your auntie's come to see you." Wang Dazui lifted the basket higher. "I heard that Xiao's second son almost didn't make it back? That's why I brought some eggs over to help him recover."

Lin Qingqing glanced at the basket.

There were indeed a few eggs inside, but they were pitifully small, covered in chicken droppings and grass clippings, and two of them even had cracked shells.

"Auntie, you're really well-informed." Lin Qingqing didn't open the door, but stood on the waist-high fence, a faint smile on her face. "We only got home last night, and you already knew this morning?"

"Hey, there's no such thing as a secret that stays hidden forever in this village."

Wang Dazui wasn't embarrassed at all. He put the basket on the fence and said, "Besides, last night you were making such a racket with all those big and small vehicles. The whole village's dogs were barking all night. Your aunt was just worried about you. And you know, Lin Qingqing, ever since she entered the Qin family, haven't these guys been causing you any trouble? I think her fate is a bit too strong."

The implication is that she's a jinx, a curse that brings misfortune to husbands.

The window of the west room was suddenly pushed open, and Xiao Yong's furious voice rang out: "Wang Dazui! What nonsense are you spouting!"

Wang Dazui was startled and shrank back, but when he saw that Xiao Yong hadn't come out, he became bolder again.

"Oh dear, listen to your temper. Auntie is just trying to be kind, why can't she tell the truth?"

Wang Dazui pursed his lips and glanced towards the west room. "Second brother, your leg is broken, you'd better save your energy. You might end up a cripple, that would be a different story."

The smile on Lin Qingqing's face faded.

She reached into the basket, took out an egg covered in chicken droppings, and looked at it.

"Auntie, these eggs look quite unique."

Lin Qingqing's voice was soft, but it carried a hint of coldness. "It's so small. I bet it was your barren hen that held back for days before finally squeezing it out. Just like you, it looks full, but it's all bad stuff. It was a lot of effort."

Wang Dazui was stunned, his expression instantly changing. "You little widow, how dare you talk like that? I was just trying to be kind and bring you something..."

"Kindness?"

Lin Qingqing tossed the eggs back into the basket with a crisp "crack"—the sound of eggshells breaking. "We can't accept this kindness. My husband has a bad temper, especially when it comes to people cursing me."

My second brother's leg is injured, but he still has his hands and his brothers. Auntie, are you sure you want to discuss our fates here with us?

Wang Dazui looked at Lin Qingqing's ambiguous smile. She was clearly a gentle and weak person, but at this moment she exuded a kind of intimidating aura.

She subconsciously took a step back, feeling a little uneasy as she thought of Qin Lie's devilish face and Jiang He, that little madman.

"You don't appreciate kindness! I... I still have to go work in the fields, I can't be bothered arguing with you!"

Wang Dazui snatched the basket and slunk away, muttering curses under his breath, but his steps were quick.

Lin Qingqing watched her retreating figure, snorted coldly, and turned back into the house.

As soon as she entered the main room, she saw Li Dongye leaning against the door frame, giving her a thumbs up.

"Well done, Qingqing, your tongue is getting sharper and sharper. Those last few sentences were insults without using any swear words, it was really satisfying to hear."

Lin Qingqing ignored his teasing and went straight into the west room.

Xiao Yong was looking out the window when he saw her come in. His dark face was full of satisfaction and a little embarrassed.

"Qingqing, you were right to scold her just now." Xiao Yong scratched his head. "I'm just not good with words. If I could move, I would definitely go out and slap her twice."

Lin Qingqing walked to the table and picked up the medicinal soup that Gu Qiangying had just brewed.

That was a bowl that Gu Qiangying had brought from the kitchen while they were arguing. It was dark and steaming with a bitter taste.

"Drink your medicine." Lin Qingqing handed her the bowl.

Xiao Yong's face scrunched up as soon as he smelled it. "Can I not drink it? Third Brother's medicine must have been mixed with Coptis chinensis. It's terribly bitter."

"Good medicine tastes bitter." Gu Qiangying was packing her medicine kit. "If you don't drink it, I'll give you an injection. It's your choice."

Xiao Yong shuddered slightly. "Then I'll drink it."

He picked up the bowl, and like a warrior cutting off his own arm, tilted his head back and gulped it down in one go.

"Cough cough cough..." The medicine was too bitter, making him cough and his tongue go numb. "Water! Water!"

Lin Qingqing was prepared; she took out a White Rabbit milk candy from her pocket. It was one that Li Dongye had brought back from the city and had been saving for her.

She unwrapped the candy, and the white milk candy emitted a fragrant aroma.

Open your mouth.

Xiao Yong opened his mouth subconsciously.

Lin Qingqing picked up the candy with her fingertips and held it to his lips.

Xiao Yong stared at the slender, white fingertips so close to his face, and at the tempting milk candy. His Adam's apple bobbed violently. The medicine was too bitter, but he felt a burning sensation in his heart, even worse than the medicine.

With a candy in his mouth, the sweetness exploded in his mouth, suppressing the bitterness of the Chinese medicine and igniting the fire in his eyes.

He was breathing heavily, his voice hoarse: "Sweet."

Gu Qiangying paused as she pushed up her glasses, and her gaze behind the lenses instantly turned cold.

Just then, the light at the doorway suddenly dimmed.

Qin Lie returned at some point, carrying a rusty hammer. His gaze swept over the empty medicine bowl, Xiao Yong's abnormally red face, and Lin Qingqing's hands, which were wiping behind her back.

"Big brother..." The candy in Xiao Yong's mouth suddenly didn't taste sweet anymore, and it even felt a little hard on his teeth.

Qin Lie stepped in. "There are a few leaks in the roof. It's been raining these past few days."

"Third brother, take Qingqing to the backyard to dry the herbs." Qin Lie's voice was cold and firm, brooking no argument. "I'll watch over Second brother here."

Gu Qiangying glanced at Qin Lie, then at Xiao Yong who was shrinking back, a playful smile playing on her lips. She picked up her medicine box and said, "Alright. Qingqing, let's go. Don't get in the way of your brother."

Lin Qingqing lowered her head, not daring to look Qin Lie in the eye, and hurriedly followed Gu Qiangying out.

When only the two of them were left in the room, Qin Lie pulled up a chair and sat down imposingly beside Xiao Yong's bed.

He took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled one out, put it in his mouth, and lit a match.

The flames illuminated his cold, stern face.

"Is it sweet?" Qin Lie exhaled a smoke ring, looking at Xiao Yong through the smoke.

Xiao Yong swallowed hard, feeling as if the candy was a burning hot charcoal, making his throat ache.

"Big...Big brother, I..."

"Go work as a blacksmith once you're healed." Qin Lie flicked his cigarette ash. "I see you have plenty of energy. Swing that hammer a thousand times, and you should be able to extinguish this fire."

Xiao Yong wore a bitter expression and dared not utter a single word in rebuttal.