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

Jiang He was still gutting the fish he hadn't finished gutting that morning, and was preparing to remove the weeds after finishing the fish. When he heard the noise and came out, the fish-gutting knife in his hand was still dripping water, and red blood droplets fell from the tip of the knife onto the yellow soil, quickly spreading into dark circles.

But he had a smile on his lips, which looked rather eerie.

Lin Qingqing felt a chill run down her spine.

"Don't be afraid." Jiang He hid the knife behind his back and wiped his hands on his apron. "I was just kidding. Murder is against the law, and my brother would beat me to death if he found out."

He strode over, saying, "That Lai Laoyao and Li Ergou are no good either."

"That bastard Li Ergou has been loitering around the village entrance for days, looking shifty and sneaky. He's definitely after my sister."

Just mentioning Li Ergou made Lin Qingqing's stomach churn.

I never expected this person to be so persistent, daring to come looking for me again.

"What does he want to do?" Lin Qingqing bit her lower lip.

"What else can we do? Either we want people or we want money." Jiang He pointed to the key on the table. "My brother has entrusted you with all the family's wealth. In a while, many people in the village will definitely know about this."

Lin Qingqing subconsciously clenched the key in her hand.

"Sister, let's play a game." Jiang He moved even closer, his nose almost brushing against her cheek. "Instead of constantly guarding against them, let them fight like dogs."

Looking at the excessively beautiful face in front of her, Lin Qingqing nodded as if possessed.

"I'll listen to you."

Jiang He's smile deepened, revealing a small, pointed canine tooth. "Sister is so good."

……

As night fell, the mountain breeze carried a chill.

Qin Lie and Xiao Yong hadn't returned yet; they said they'd spotted wild boar tracks in the mountains and had to keep watch overnight. This gave Jiang He an excellent opportunity.

He pulled out a bottle of strong liquor from the bottom of the cabinet; it was something Xiao Yong had hidden away, something he usually couldn't bear to drink.

Jiang He unceremoniously added some ingredients—herbs he had collected on the mountain for his third brother. They had no other use but could make people feverish, dizzy, and see a sow as Diao Chan.

"Sister, give me your old coat that you don't wear anymore."

Lin Qingqing found a faded floral shirt and handed it to him.

Jiang He took it, crumpled it up, stuffed it into his arms, and turned to leave.

"Where are you going?" Lin Qingqing tugged at his sleeve.

"Go deliver the gift." Jiang He turned around, his gaze falling on her hand clutching the hem of her clothes. His eyes softened. "Stay home and lock the door. Don't open it for anyone who knocks. I'll be back in a bit."

Jiang He stepped out the door, his movements nimble, and he quickly blended into the night.

The dilapidated mill at the west end of the village was Lai Laoyao's hideout.

This old bachelor is incredibly lazy, and his house is a complete mess, like a pigsty.

Right now, he was sitting cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed), drinking alone with a few peanuts, his mind filled with the things his neighbors had said during the day.

That young wife of the Li family is really attractive.

It is said that the Li family treated her badly, forcing the young wife to run away to the Qin family.

If I could get my hands on it...

"Knock knock".

Someone knocked on the window twice.

Lai Laoyao was startled. He put on his clothes, got off the kang (a heated brick bed), and opened the window. There was no one outside. On the windowsill was a wine jar and a woman's clothes.

He picked up the clothes and smelled them. There was a faint fragrance, not the smell of cosmetics, but the kind of girlish fragrance that made one's heart itch.

"Who is it?" Lai Laoyao peeked out, but it was pitch black and there wasn't a soul in sight.

He picked up the wine jar and shook it; it was full.

The aroma of wine wafts out as you uncork it.