Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
The weeding process in the paddy field was quickened with the addition of Li Chunmei. As Liu Duo sat on the slope, she had witnessed Li Chunmei move from her field to their field.
She could not, however, overhear the conversation between Li Chunmei and Ye Mo due to the distance.
She had no objection to extra help. If Ye Mo were the only one weeding, it would take forever.
Li Chunmei smiled like a blossoming flower as she spoke to Ye Mo, while indifference still hung coolly on his face, and he only responded every now and then.
Liu Duo was pleased with this! Surely, she did have have a good impression of Ye Mo, but he was one of her husbands after all. She could not stand other women.
“Third brother Mo, I’m finished with mine, let me help you out,” Li Wazi shouted as he walked, carrying his shoes.
Ye Mo looked up and nodded. He knew Li Wazi would come to help him. They grew up together and were the best of friends. Li Wazi would help him work when he was free and vice versa.
Li Wazi came and saw Liu Duo sitting there, but he did not protest, because his wife was just the same. Other than cooking and cleaning, he did not let her get involved with farm work.
He walked into the paddy field and saw Li Chunmei there too. He greeted her, saying, “Chunmei, you’re here to help Mo too, I see. How diligent.”
“Aren’t you the same, brother Lee? We’re all neighbours, so it’s natural to help one another.” Who did not enjoy some good praise? She smiled proudly.
She added, “Mo’s working alone without a decent helper. It would take longer to plant his rice, which would reduce his harvest too. I’ve finished weeding my field anyway, and I’ve got nothing to do, so I came to help.”
Li Wazi acknowledged that ‘decent helper’ referred to Liu Duo. He looked at Liu Duo and back to Ye Mo, saying nothing.
Mo has no comments on this, so who are you to complain? Li Wazi thought to himself.
Another helping hand, and a good one, would naturally speed things up even more. After Li Wazi joined them, Li Chunmei could not speak to Ye Mo alone, and this made her unhappy. Her smile had largely diminished.
As though he had just thought of something, Li Wazi came to Ye Mo’s side and whispered, “Mo, didn’t you say you want to teach your wife a lesson? How did it go?”
At the mention of that, colour drained from Ye Mo’s face, as he felt awkward. He feigned confusion and retorted, “What do you mean? Nothing happened.”
He dodged the question and stepped aside.
Li Wazi followed up and reminded him kindly, “Didn’t you say you want her to know her place? What happened next? Did you… did you guys ‘do that’?”
He nudged Ye Mo with his elbow. Ye Mo glared at the mischievous look on his face.
He was reminded of the utter failure that came after his gallant words that day, and the terrible beating that followed. Yet this so-called bad company had the nerve to remind him!
He knew what he was saying, as he shyly admitted, “No! Shut up and get weeding.”
Li Chunmei saw the two speaking in low voices. She had no clue what was going on. She came up and asked, “Third brother Mo, brother Li, what is it?”
“Nothing,” Li Wazi faked a laugh. Of course he couldn’t share stories like this with an unmarried woman. And he wouldn’t even if she were married.
Right then, Liu Duo strolled slowly to the side of the field and asked Ye Mo, “Where’s the outhouse here?”
Around those parts, there was nothing but forest and fields, so she had to ask.
