You Rong left, and Lin Qinghe stood awkwardly outside the door, not knowing what to do.
Mainly, she couldn't figure out what attitude You Mu had. It seemed inappropriate to barge into the house, but doing nothing also felt wrong.
Lin Qinghe walked around the yard and decided she couldn't just wait. At least she could help with some chores.
Seeing that the water缸 in the kitchen was almost empty, Lin Qinghe decided to fetch water with a wooden bucket to fill it.
Carrying the wooden bucket, Lin Qinghe walked out, not knowing where to get water. Coincidentally, an old woman passed by with a basket. She quickly smiled and walked up to ask, "Auntie, are you just back from the fields?"
The old woman looked her up and down. "That's right. I'm going back to bring some food to my husband. You Niangzi, you are… going to fetch water?"
Seeing that the other person recognized her, Lin Qinghe immediately breathed a sigh of relief. "Yes, but I don't know where to draw water in our village. Could you please tell me?"
"That's easy. Walk a little ahead, there's a stream. We usually wash clothes and draw water from there," the old woman said enthusiastically. "Let's go. My home is nearby, I'll take you there."
"Okay, thank you, Auntie!"
Thanks to the old woman's guidance, Lin Qinghe arrived at the stream.
There were three to five women washing clothes by the stream. Seeing Lin Qinghe approach, they started whispering to each other.
Although they called it whispering, the sound was not small, and Lin Qinghe, who was drawing water, could hear them clearly.
"It's her… the woman You's son married over two months ago. Not only did she run off with the money that night, but she came back once later, and within two days, she stole the money You Niang was going to use for medicine and ran off."
"No way, that woman, like a little slut, why did she come back?"
"I heard she returned yesterday. She fainted right outside You's yard. You Rong was kind enough to take her in. But I met You Rong at the village chief's house yesterday. I heard he asked the village chief to help write a letter of divorce."
"They divorced? Then why is this woman still lingering at You Rong's house?"
"She definitely has bad intentions, thinking of stealing You Rong's money again. Poor You Rong… what a hard life. No father since childhood, and a sickly mother. He finally married a wife, but she's such a flighty and dishonest woman…"
"That's why when you get married, you can't marry someone too beautiful. Look at her… like a vixen. Only rich old men can afford to keep someone like that…"
Lin Qinghe silently sighed in her heart. Truly, good deeds never get out, but bad deeds spread far and wide.
However, she didn't take it to heart and pretended not to hear. After drawing the water, she carried two full buckets and walked back.
The water缸 in the kitchen was not small. Lin Qinghe made five trips to fill it.
Lin Qinghe squeezed her sore shoulders.
The original body hadn't done much hard work. She was very delicate. After just filling a water缸, her shoulders were sore. The skin on them must have been red or broken.
After tidying up the kitchen, Lin Qinghe stood outside the yard, thinking about what else she could do. She heard the sound of a ceramic bowl breaking from inside, accompanied by You Mu's violent coughing.
Lin Qinghe's heart tightened. Ignoring You Rong's warning, she hurried into the house and into You Mu's room.
You Mu was bent over, sitting by the bed, covering her chest and coughing violently, almost unable to catch her breath. A broken teacup lay at her feet.
Lin Qinghe quickly poured another cup of water and handed it over. "Mother, drink some water quickly…"
You Mu looked up and saw Lin Qinghe. Her expression was complicated, but she couldn't worry about anything else. She took the water from Lin Qinghe's hand and drank a few sips, trying to soothe the dryness and discomfort in her throat.
After You Mu drank the water, Lin Qinghe kept patting her back to help her breathe.
After a while, You Mu's coughing subsided. Her face still looked very pale.
Lin Qinghe asked worriedly, "Mother, are you feeling better? Do you want more water? Should I pour you some more?"
You Mu shook her head and said weakly, "...I'm much better now, no need. You Rong told you to leave, you… you haven't left?"
"Uh…" Lin Qinghe was very embarrassed. "Mother, I know I've done many wrong things before, but I've come back this time! I truly want to live with You Rong! I also know that no matter what I say now, you won't believe me. Please give me some time, and I will definitely prove it to you!"
"This…" You Mu frowned, looking at Lin Qinghe with a hesitant expression.
Setting aside Lin Qinghe's character, she was exceptionally beautiful. Among the dozens of households in the village, no other young wife was as pretty as her. That's why You Mu had been very fond of Lin Qinghe when she first agreed to the marriage.
Seeing You Mu's wavering, Lin Qinghe said even more sincerely, "Mother, believe me, I have truly changed this time. I will live well with You Rong in the future and take good care of you together."
You Mu was ultimately softer-hearted than You Rong. She sighed, "It's no use if I agree. You Rong has always been his own man. I can't persuade him once he's made up his mind."
Lin Qinghe could tell that You Mu at least didn't object to her staying.
You Mu was especially important to You Rong. If You Mu didn't object, it was a significant step forward for Lin Qinghe.
Lin Qinghe smiled slightly and said, "Mother, don't worry, I will make You Rong change his mind and agree to let me stay."
You Mu frowned and sighed, not saying anything.
A mother knows her son best. She understood You Rong, and changing his mind would not be easy.
"Mother… then you rest. I just filled the water缸 in the kitchen. Do you have any clothes to wash in your room? I'll wash them for you. The sun is good now, perfect for drying things."
"You even filled the water缸?" You Mu was a little surprised.
After all, Lin Qinghe looked thin and weak, as if she couldn't lift anything or carry anything.
Lin Qinghe nodded. "Yes, You Rong has gone to do odd jobs, right? He must be tired when he gets back. I can handle these small chores at home, so I don't have to trouble him!"
As Lin Qinghe spoke, she caught a medicinal smell on the bedding from You Mu's long-term medication, which was not very pleasant.
She said directly, "Mother, I'll take your quilt to wash it, and your clothes in the room, I'll wash them all together."
"This… Qinghe, it's not necessary. Mother will wash them herself in a couple of days when I feel better."
Lin Qinghe smiled. "It's nothing. You Rong's bedding also needs washing, so I'll wash them all together. It'll save you the trouble."
Lin Qinghe picked up the bedding and clothes that needed to be washed. "Mother, I'm going to wash the clothes and quilts. You rest well first."
Watching Lin Qinghe's retreating back, You Mu sat by the bed with a troubled expression.
She also hoped that everything Lin Qinghe had said was true, that she had truly repented and was willing to live well with You Rong.