Lin Qinghe shrunk her neck, looking pitiful, "I... I told you yesterday I wouldn't leave, and I've truly returned to stay with you and live a life together."
"You think anyone would believe your words anymore!" You Rong said with a stern face, "I've already given you the divorce papers, now get out!"
"I..." Lin Qinghe knew that no matter what she said to You Rong now, he wouldn't listen, so she decided to play dumb. "Have you eaten dinner? There's still sweet potato in the kitchen, shall I bring it to you?"
You Rong's brow furrowed tighter and tighter, so much so that a fly could be crushed between them.
The atmosphere in the room became tense. Seeing this, Mother You came out to mediate, "Qinghe, You Rong will eat dinner at his employer's house before returning. He told me this morning not to save him any, I forgot to tell you."
Lin Qinghe: "Then... there's still water boiling in the kitchen, I'll go check the fire!"
Lin Qinghe put down the clothes she was mending and got up to leave. She had to avoid You Rong as much as possible right now, otherwise, he would simply kick her out.
As soon as Lin Qinghe left, Mother You, with a hint of reprimand in her tone, pulled You Rong aside and said, "You Rong, why are you speaking to Qinghe like that as soon as you get back? She's a weak woman, at this hour of the night, if you drive her away, where can she go?"
You Rong said, "Mother, where she goes is none of our business. Have you forgotten what she's done? We can never be fooled by her again. Who knows what she's secretly planning by coming back this time, we must be on guard!"
"You Rong." Mother You hesitated for a moment, then said, "I think Qinghe is truly different this time. Perhaps she has genuinely returned to live with you. Today, while you were away, she washed and dried all your and my dirty clothes and quilts, cleaned the house inside and out, and filled the water缸 in the kitchen. Even the empty ground outside the courtyard, she said she wanted to plant some vegetables and scallions for us to eat later, so she turned the soil and planted them herself."
You Rong's expression was surprised, "Are you saying... she really did all this at home today?"
"Of course, it's true, I saw it with my own eyes." Mother You said, "I think Qinghe has changed. Don't be too harsh on her. If she truly repents, and you live a good life together, and have a child or two, I, as a mother, will be able to die with no regrets."
"Mother! Don't say such ominous things. I will take good care of you, and you have a long time before your hundredth year."
Mother You smiled kindly, "I know my own health. Sigh... In short, listen to your mother, don't be too fierce with Qinghe."
You Rong lowered his eyes, his dark complexion showing no emotion. After a long silence, he said in a deep voice, "Mother, I know what I'm doing."
Mother is kind and easily believes Lin Qinghe, but he will no longer trust her easily.
You Rong returned to his room and looked at the clean quilt spread on the bed. His dirty clothes had been washed and neatly folded, and there wasn't a speck of dust on the table and chairs in the room.
All of this made You Rong feel a sense of unreality.
When a man gets married and has a wife, this is how their home should be, right?
You Rong's rugged face showed a thoughtful expression. Lin Qinghe shuffled to the door of the room and saw him looking at something. She instinctively explained, "I simply tidied up the room and took your worn clothes and quilt to wash them. I didn't move anything of yours carelessly!"
You Rong said nothing, it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.
Lin Qinghe had to brace herself and continue, "There's hot water in the pot in the kitchen, do you want to wash up? I'll bring the water into the room for you."
You Rong finally reacted and said, "No need, I can just wash up outside in the courtyard."
Lin Qinghe was greatly shocked by this.
Uh...
Washing up naked in the courtyard, what's the difference from streaking?
However, on second thought, there was no one around, and if they didn't light the oil lamp, it would be pitch black. Who would see him? You Rong, finding it troublesome, would just wash up by splashing water in the courtyard, and consider it done.
Lin Qinghe said with darting eyes, "Then... you go wash up, I'll go to Mother's room to see if your clothes have been mended."
Lin Qinghe scurried into Mother You's room, listening to You Rong's footsteps moving outside. Soon after, she heard the sound of water being poured in the courtyard, and her mind involuntarily pictured the scene.
In this world, You Rong's skin was tanned dark from years of hard labor and farming, but his body was very strong. Even through the coarse cloth clothes, one could see how developed his abdominal and chest muscles were beneath the fabric...
"Qinghe, what are you thinking about? Why is your face red? Did you catch a cold outside last night and are you sick?"
A warm hand fell on her forehead. Lin Qinghe snapped out of her thoughts, her cheeks turning even redder. She stammered, "No... no, Mother, I was just thinking about something and got a little lost in thought."
Mother You believed her and didn't ask any further questions. Lin Qinghe breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help but scold herself for her lascivious thoughts just now.
After You Rong finished washing up outside in the courtyard and put on his clean clothes, he stood in the courtyard looking at the plot of land where Lin Qinghe had planted vegetables, pondering something.
After a long while, he returned to the house, put away the two hundred coins he earned from working today, and then walked towards Mother You's room. Su Dan Novel Network
As soon as You Rong entered, Lin Qinghe, seeing him, became nervous, her hands subtly clenching.
Would he, like yesterday, just throw her out the door?
You Rong cast a cold glance at Lin Qinghe, then withdrew his gaze. He went forward and patted the back of Mother You, who was coughing, "Mother, how are you feeling at home today? Are you any better?"
Mother You smiled, "Don't worry, I feel much better after drinking the medicine you brought back."
"Well, that's good. It's getting late, you should rest early."
"Okay, and you have to work with Uncle Wang tomorrow, so you should rest early too."
You Rong nodded, helped Mother You to bed, and pulled the quilt up to tuck her in.
You Rong walked a few steps, then looked back at Lin Qinghe, who was still in Mother You's room, and said in a deep voice, "Turn off the oil lamp, Mother needs to rest."
Lin Qinghe replied with a "good," a wry smile forming in her heart.
She was still wondering if she should squeeze in with Mother You for the night, but You Rong's intention was clear: he wanted her to leave quickly.
Lin Qinghe blew out the oil lamp and followed behind You Rong to the front room.
This house only had two rooms. She had no hope for the room Mother You occupied, and looking at You Rong's cold back, the room he occupied was out of the question!
Lin Qinghe sighed inwardly.
It seemed her fate was still to sleep on a pile of straw in the kitchen tonight.
Lin Qinghe resigned herself to her fate, turned around dejectedly, and decided to lay down more straw tonight to sleep more comfortably.
You Rong's peripheral vision caught sight of Lin Qinghe walking out. He stopped and suddenly blurted out, "It's so late, where do you think you're going?"
Lin Qinghe froze and turned back to look at You Rong with a bewildered expression.
Just as she was about to ask, You Rong entered the room first.
Lin Qinghe was stunned.
What did You Rong mean just now? Was he asking her to stay? Asking her to come in and share his room?
Or did she misunderstand, and he was just asking casually?