After lunch, Liu Duo went upstairs for a nap. The brothers took a break after their meal, then went out to harvest some more.
The sun was up in the sky, but the weather seemed a bit gloomy. They worried that it might rain and make harvesting more difficult. The paddy would be ruined by the rainwater and left to spoil in the field, thus reducing the harvest.
Liu Ran wanted to help but they only had four sickles, so he stayed home with his books.
“Sis, are you going to the paddy field?” Liu Ran asked his sister when she came downstairs after waking up from her nap.
Liu Duo rubbed her eyes, barely awake. “Yes, I’m going. I have to bring some fruit and cool water over to them, and keep them company.”
Liu Ran grinned from ear to ear when he heard that. “Sis, can I tag along? I did my revision in the morning, and I finished my homework.”
Liu Duo took some fruit and went to wash them by the well.
Liu Duo could tell from the way he spoke that he really wanted to go, so she nodded. “Alright, you can come with me.”
Upon receiving permission, Liu Ran put on a satisfied smile as he helped Liu Duo wash the fruit.
They placed the fruit in a basket and, after Liu Duo shut the front door, off they headed to the location of their paddy field.
When they were halfway there, they came across Ye Yang carrying a large bundle of rice. “Yang? Yang, I’ve locked the front door, why have you started transporting the rice so fast?”
“It’s going to rain soon,” he said, looking up at the sky.
They were worried it would rain for real, and by then the rice that they had harvested would become worse for the wear.
Liu Duo passed the keys to Liu Ran, “Ran Er, you go back and open the door. When that’s done, come over with Brother Yang.”
“Sure.” Liu Ran took the keys and doubled back.
Liu Duo pressed on towards the paddy field.
When she arrived, Ye Liu and Ye Mo had tied up the harvested rice in several bundles, ready for transport. “Come get some fruit. You can continue with work later.”
Again, with the kettle in hand, she poured them some water to wash their hands before consuming the fruits.
“Wow, this fruit is sweet and quite juicy.” Ye Liu took a bite and smirked at Liu Duo.
Ye Mo cast a glance at Ye Liu before turning to look at Liu Duo. He agreed with his brother. The fruit was indeed tasty.
Liu Duo noticed the smirk on his face. Of course she recognized the hidden meaning behind his words!
Without question, she rolled her eyes at him. Gosh, was he always filled with sexual thoughts?
She grabbed onto Ye Ling’s hand. “Ling, let’s go rest there. I can see you’ve been sweating profusely.”
“Sure thing.” Ye Ling followed her to sit on the slope.
The other two carried the bundled rice on their backs and walked home.
Over in the next paddy field, Li Chunmei looked up to find Liu Duo and Ye Ling talking and laughing. Then, she went back to work.
She thought, you’re just a shared wife. How could you live such a good life? You’re the reason my marriage was called off, and I have to find someone else…
As she kept on thinking, Li Chunmei’s eyes glimmered. She believed that Liu Duo’s arrival was the reason her relationship with Ye Mo had failed!
Liu Duo had hurt someone else, and yet there she was having fun without a care in the world! The way Li Chunmei looked at Liu Duo turned bitter.
