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

Lin Dachun protected Li Ruoxue, returning to the cave dwelling in silence and with vigilance.

The courtyard gate was tightly closed behind me, and the bolt was fastened.

Once inside, he had Li Ruoxue sit on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), then went to the stove and scooped up a ladle of cold water, gulping down most of it before he could suppress the lingering fear and anger in his heart.

"Ruoxue," Lin Dachun's voice was slow and deep, as if afraid of disturbing her, "everything's alright now, we're home. Tell me the truth..."

He paused, seemingly finding it difficult to speak, but his eyes were fixed on her reaction. "That old beast... besides trying to pounce on you, did he... touch you anywhere? Did he... say any filthy things? Don't be afraid, tell me."

"No, he didn't touch me, he just... he just reached out and lunged at me, swearing at me. I was so scared that I used my carrying pole to block him, and then I tripped... He was just about to... when you arrived."

She recalled Old Hu's murky face and nauseating stench, and couldn't help but shudder. Her eyes reddened again: "I...I just felt so disgusted...I was terrified..."

Hearing her say definitively that she "didn't touch it," the huge weight that had been hanging over Lin Dachun's throat finally lifted.

"It's good that we didn't run into each other... It's good that we didn't run into each other..." He murmured twice, as if he were talking to Li Ruoxue, or as if he were talking to himself.

"However, I think I twisted my ankle when I fell. I don't know if I'm alright," Li Ruoxue said.

Lin Dachun reached out and gently placed his rough yet incredibly warm palm on Li Ruoxue's cold, trembling hand, stroking and comforting it.

"I'll take a look at you tonight. Don't be afraid. It's my fault for not thinking things through. I'll talk to those lecherous guys in the village to prevent them from bullying you in the future. I'll be heartbroken if you get bullied," Lin Dachun comforted him.

"Yes, I'll protect myself next time."

"Yeah, I feel sorry for you," Lin Dachun said with a smile.

"Mmm..." she nodded, her voice choked with emotion. "I'll definitely be more careful from now on."

Lin Dachun felt a pang of pain in his heart as he watched her shed tears.

He didn't say anything more to comfort him, but simply stood up and went to the kitchen to start a fire and boil water.

"You've started your period, I'll make you some ginger and brown sugar water to calm your nerves. Go to bed early tonight."

After dinner.

Lin Dachun silently prepared a basin of warm water and carried it to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).

"What's wrong?" Li Ruoxue asked, struggling to sit up in the dim light.

"Didn't you twist your ankle? Soak your feet in hot water tonight." Lin Dachun's voice was deep and slow, like a gentle mountain breeze at night.

"Thank you," Li Ruoxue said, pouting and acting coquettishly.

"No need to thank me, you can soak in it for a while. I'm going to Lin Hao's house." Lin Dachun said, closing the door and leaving.

Lin Dachun tied up some firewood in the yard. Lin Hao's leg was injured, so chopping firewood was a problem. The family was also short of this and that.

Lin Hao and Lin Jie were very happy to see Lin Dachun arrive.

"I brought you some firewood. It's cold tonight, so don't catch a cold." Lin Dachun put down the firewood and stuffed some more into the kang (heated brick bed).

Lin Hao lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), feeling depressed.

"Dachun, have a seat." Lin Jie invited.

"Lin Hao is lying down, and it's not easy for you two to be alone. Do you have any ideas or ways to make money?" Lin Dachun asked.

Both of them shook their heads.

"What ideas could we possibly have? We're starving. We'd be incredibly grateful if you could spare a little something," Lin Jie replied.

Lin Dachun himself is also facing difficulties and can't offer much help.

"That's true. If you have any ideas or local specialties, we can discuss them and see what's best," Lin Dachun sighed and said.