The kang (heated brick bed) for left-behind women

"Don't cry, don't cry."

Lin Dachun wiped away Li Ruoxue's tears, feeling very sorry for her.

Li Ruoxue then recounted her experience to Lin Dachun.

"Damn it. I know that bastard, Wang the opportunist. He always brags about being a big boss, but actually, he just uses this trick to fool young girls. He's ruined a lot of girls in town with this method."

Lin Dachun died of anger.

"I should have gone, not you. Those beasts outside only know how to bully women."

"So you were...?" Lin Dachun looked Li Ruoxue up and down, trying to find some signs of being bullied on her.

Li Ruoxue's clothes were missing a button.

"No, it's alright now. I escaped back. It was terrifying. That man, he..." Li Ruoxue didn't want to recall the horror of what had just happened.

"It's good that you're alright." Lin Dachun patted Li Ruoxue's head reassuringly, showing her great affection.

As Li Ruoxue spoke, she took out the money and said, "Luckily he paid me, but it's a pity. He said he could give me any more goods next time, but now it's all ruined."

"It's alright, there are plenty of people who need the goods. We don't need him; he's a shrewd businessman too," Lin Dachun reminded him.

Fortunately, Li Ruoxue was unharmed this time; otherwise, Lin Dachun would definitely have gone to town and killed Wang Touji.

"Let's cook dinner, it's alright." Lin Dachun still doted on her.

As night deepened, the last lights in the village went out, leaving only the sound of the wind whistling through the thatched roofs.

Inside, the kerosene lamp had long been extinguished, and the darkness was so thick it was impenetrable.

The cold air seeped in through the cracks in the doors and windows, and even with the kang (heated brick bed) burning, the air was so chilly that one dared not breathe deeply.

Lin Dachun and Li Ruoxue slept on the same kang (heated brick bed).

This is a very common scene in the rural northwest of the Loess Plateau: a large kang (heated brick bed) often houses the entire family.

The kang (heated brick bed) was very large.

Lin Dachun lay curled up on his side against the wall at the end of the kang (a heated brick bed), like a dried, hard stone.

He was covered with that thick but no longer warm old cotton quilt, trying his best not to make a sound.

Li Ruoxue slept on the kang (heated brick bed), which was close to the stove and the warmest spot.

She lay on her side, facing outwards, with her back to the end of the kang (a heated brick bed), her body tense, wrapped tightly in her quilt.

"Ruoxue, are you cold?"

In the darkness, Lin Dachun asked with concern.

After all, it's the dead of winter now, and it's snowing heavily outside, a world of ice and snow.

The temperature outside is below -10 degrees Celsius at night.

"The kang (heated brick bed) is very warm," Li Ruoxue replied.

"In the middle of the night, once the fire in the kang (heated brick bed) is gone, it might not be as warm anymore," Lin Dachun replied.

"Um."

"Girls are all afraid of the cold. If you feel cold, move over a little. It's warmer here." Lin Dachun was worried that Li Ruoxue would catch a cold.

"Okay, I understand." Li Ruoxue nodded.

Sure enough, it got cold in the middle of the night, and the kang (heated brick bed) wasn't as warm anymore.

The next morning.

When Lin Dachun woke up, he found Li Ruoxue sleeping next to his kang (a heated brick bed).

Li Ruoxue also woke up.

The two of them faced each other, so close they could barely move, and both felt a little embarrassed.

But Li Ruoxue's face was stunningly beautiful, like a rare beauty.

After getting up, Lin Dachun suddenly remembered an old incident.

Last winter, when his elderly mother was seriously ill and the family was really struggling to make ends meet, he reluctantly borrowed two yuan from Widow Su at the east end of the village.

Widow Su's husband died young, and she was raising a young child on her own. Life was tough, but she still managed to scrape together some money for him.

This debt has been dragging on, like a stone weighing on my heart.

"I have to pay back the debt," Lin Dachun muttered to himself, then turned and walked toward the east end of the village.

The gate to Widow Su's courtyard was ajar. As soon as Lin Dachun reached the door, he heard a woman's tearful curses and a man's rude taunts coming from inside.

"Old black dog! Get out! Get out!" It was Widow Su's voice, filled with terror and anger.

"Hehe, Su girl, don't get so angry... It's just two yuan. You sleep with me, and the debt will be settled. Otherwise, how will you pay me back?" A hoarse voice chuckled. It was none other than Old Black Dog, the idle, petty thief from the village.

Lin Dachun's anger flared up instantly!

This old black dog dared to do such a despicable thing as bullying orphans and widows in the village!

He pushed open the half-closed courtyard gate with a loud bang.

Inside the cave dwelling, Widow Su was cornered by the old black dog. Her hair was disheveled, her clothes were rumpled, and tears streamed down her face.

The old black dog was about to grab her arm with its dirty hand.

Both of them were startled by the sudden commotion and turned around at the same time.

When the old black dog saw it was Lin Dachun, he was taken aback at first, then curled his lip and said nonchalantly, "Oh, Lin Laonian? What are you doing here? What, you want a piece of the pie too?"

Lin Dachun's face turned ashen. Without saying a word, he rushed forward and grabbed the old black dog's dirty wrist that was reaching for Widow Su, his fingers tightening like iron clamps.

"Ouch! That hurts! It hurts like hell!"

The old black dog felt like his wrist bones were about to shatter, and he barked and howled, "Lin Dachun! Let go of me, you son of a bitch! It's none of your business!"

Lin Dachun's eyes were like two icicles, fixed on the old black dog's lewd face. He squeezed out a voice through gritted teeth: "What kind of person bullies women! Get lost!"

He applied even more force and shoved the old black dog backward.

The old black dog, in pain, was pushed several steps back and fell hard on its bottom in the snow. It was cold and in pain, and it cried out in pain.

Knowing he was no match for Lin Dachun, who was strong and had worked the land for years, he still retorted defiantly, "Fine! Fine, Lin Dachun! You just wait and see! Humph, your Lin family isn't any better! We'll see!"

After uttering this harsh remark, the old black dog scrambled out of the yard and disappeared into the alleyway.

Lin Dachun then turned around and looked at Widow Su, who was huddled in the corner, still trembling.

Widow Su, still shaken, straightened her tattered clothes, tears still streaming down her face, and whispered, "Brother Dachun... thank you..."