The Spirited Daughter-in-law and the Mountain Man

“Second brother, you should go.”

Xiao Yishan had learned a lesson, “Third brother, you’re right, honest people suffer. I carried that load of water just now, now it’s your turn.” Both he and his third brother were industrious, it didn’t matter who did more work at home as long as someone was free. If he could get his third brother away, he could spend some time alone with his wife.

Xiao Yuchuan also saw through his second brother’s calculations, somewhat regretting speaking out. But since his second brother had spoken, and to avoid his wife thinking he was lazy, he picked up the empty water bucket and left the house reluctantly.

The stove fire burned in the kitchen, popping and crackling. No one spoke, and it was very quiet.

Xiao Yishan wanted to talk more to his wife when they were alone, but he didn’t know what to say. He wanted to be close to her, to hold her tightly and cling to her like his third brother did. He had thought about it countless times, but his body just didn’t dare to make a move, “Yue’er….”

Su Qingyue nodded lightly, seeing Xiao Yishan hesitating, his passionate gaze. She was afraid he would confess his feelings for her, so she said, “I’ll go get some firewood.”

Xiao Yishan glanced at the pile of firewood next to the stove. It was enough for breakfast, his wife just wanted to avoid being alone with him.

He felt dejected in his heart.

He went out the door and instructed, “Yue’er, I am going to Aunt Zhang’s home to buy two taels of vegetables.”

Seeing that her back was to him, he thought she was still deaf. He walked over and tugged at her sleeve. When he saw she was looking at him, he repeated his statement.

She knew the second brother thought she couldn’t hear, and she didn’t want to hide it anymore, “Second brother, my ears are fine now.”

He was taken aback, not understanding, or rather, he was afraid of misunderstanding her. Was she saying she could hear now?

Seeing him in a daze, she thought he didn’t hear clearly and repeated, “Second brother, I am no longer deaf.”

“Yue’er, you’re not deaf anymore?” He looked surprised, yet delighted.

“Yes.” She nodded.

He was so happy that he hugged her tightly, “That’s great, Yue’er, you can hear now! It’s fantastic, it’s fantastic!”

The audio thrills in his deep and mature male voice was so strong that Su Qingyue found it difficult to breathe.

The second brother is a mature and stable man. She was surprised to find that he was so happy that she was no longer deaf. It showed that he really cared about her.

Xiao Qinghe in the secondary bedroom heard what his wife had said. Her ears were cured, and he was delighted for her. But seeing the second brother holding her, his heart felt a little sour.

He also wanted to hold his wife, to tell her how happy he was for her, but…he couldn’t even walk up to her.

Su Qingyue noticed the gaze from Xiao Qinghe through the open window of the secondary bedroom.

There was joy in his peaceful eyes.

She could feel that he was genuinely pleased, presumably because he had heard that she was no longer deaf. But his loneliness…

Why?

She looked at him carefully. His eyes were already as calm as water, as if there was never any loneliness—could she have seen it wrongly?

Having been seen by her fourth brother while she was being held by the second brother, she felt quite embarrassed, “Second brother, can you let me go first?”

Xiao Yishan saw her somewhat reddening face and realized he had held her too tightly, “Yue’er, I’m sorry, I exerted too much force…”.

“It’s nothing.” She said in a detached manner. “I know that the second brother is just happy for me.”

“Yue’er, how did you suddenly recover from deafness?” He asked, then thought his words might not be appropriate, “What I mean to say is….”