Liu Duo could tell he was shy when his face got red, so she stopped teasing him and handed him the towel. “Alright, you do it. I’ll soak the towel in water and wring it dry for you.”
She looked at him, grinning, as she enjoyed the close-up, alluring, live demonstration of an unusually handsome man cleaning himself!
Ye Ling, despite having become extremely bashful at this point, calmly wiped away his sweat.
When Ye Ling had finished wiping every part of his body, Liu Duo wrung the towel one final time and hung it up to dry, before lying down next to him.
They stayed there, side by side, and chatted until exhaustion lured them to sleep.
Daybreak announced the start of a new, busy day.
“Come on, let’s all discuss our schedule,” Ye Liu said to everyone present.
The four brothers were early risers and had gathered to wash up by the well.
Ye Mo ungraciously responded, “Arrange it however you want. I have no opinion on that matter. Up to you!”
They won’t accept my ideas anyway, so why would I bother sharing them? Ye Mo thought, starting the day with a long face.
Ye Liu chuckled, “Alright. Mo, you’ll walk to the capital while the three us and Little Duo take the carriage! It’s decided, then.”
Er…
Ye Mo’s jaw twitched like crazy. Do you have to be so harsh, Liu? I’m your brother!
Ye Ling flew to his defense. Apparently, his defensive mode did not work as frequently now. Not quite satisfied with the way Ye Mo was treated, he slightly put the blame on Ye Liu. “Liu, stop joking.”
“But I’m not. Didn’t Mo say it himself? We can arrange it however we want because he has no opinion on the matter,” Ye Liu gloated. “Moreover, walking is good for the body, so he should take it as physical training!”
If he really walked to the capital, it would take him at least a couple of months, by which time at least ten pairs of shoes would have been worn out and his feet would be full of blisters!
The reply left Ye Ling speechless. How could Liu take Mo’s casual statement seriously?
Ye Yang pretended he did not see nor hear his brothers having fun amongst themselves. He finished washing up and began to sweep the yard.
“Ling, let’s go make breakfast.” Ye Mo had other things to do than bicker with Ye Liu. He would not win anyway.
Ye Ling could tell Liu was just joking around, but it just was not right to provoke Mo like that.
He sighed silently and followed Mo into the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
Having no one else to quarrel with, Ye Liu picked up a broom and approached Ye Yang. “Yang, don’t go to the fields so early. After Aunt Li and her family comes over, you, Ling, and Little Duo can inform them about our trip to the capital.”
“Alright.” Ye Yang gave a one-word reply without looking up, focusing on the task at hand.
“Mo, Li Wazi and I still have to go about purchasing the tomatoes. We’ll be telling the folks we won’t be buying their crops after today. We also have to head into town and inform the restaurant owner, and on the way ask Liu Duo’s mom to come and take care of the house.”
“Alright.”
Ye Liu pinched his nose in regard to the short replies. Yang, can you at least give a better response? Brushing me off with ‘alright’?
He gently brushed his elbow against Ye Yang. “Yang, I’ve been living with you for so many years now, can you be a little more responsive? You’re not like that with Little Duo, and that’s making me jealous. Come on, humor me. I won’t be done with you so easily!”
