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

arrive home.

The water in the large vat inside the cave was almost gone, so they poured out a bucket of it for domestic use.

The remaining three buckets were carried up the mountain to irrigate the sea buckthorn and jujube trees.

The leaves were all wilted and curled up, and the soil was cracked, like a thirsty mouth.

The water was immediately absorbed into the parched soil, leaving not even a damp mark.

"This little bit of water isn't even enough to fill a tooth gap."

Lin Dachun muttered to himself and touched his forehead.

My fingers brushed against my cheek, bringing down fine yellow sand.

"We still have to pick them out tomorrow and the day after, so you'll have to work hard, old black donkey."

By the time I finished my work, it was completely dark.

Lin Dachun and Li Ruoxue returned to the cave dwelling together.

"Quickly change into something dry, your clothes and pants are all wet." Lin Dachun's voice sounded particularly deep in the cave dwelling. "You're young, don't let it cause you any health problems. Besides, you're already prone to feeling cold."

Lin Dachun went to close the door of the cave dwelling first.

"I won't go out while you change your clothes. I'll light some firewood on the kang (heated brick bed) to keep it warm," Lin Dachun said.

The temperature difference between day and night is large; it's still a bit cool in the latter half of the night.

"It's summer, why are you still sleeping on the kang (heated brick bed)? You'll die of heat!"

Li Ruoxue is young and relatively healthy.

"What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and go." Lin Dachun's tone was harsh, but he turned to face the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), "I'll change my shift here."

A rustling sound arose.

Li Ruoxue walked to the edge of the earthen bed. The door to the cave dwelling was already closed, and it was not visible from the outside.

There was also a curtain above the kang (heated brick bed).

Li Ruoxue unbuttoned her soaked shirt, and when the cold fabric peeled off her skin, she couldn't help but shiver.

Lin Dachun was also changing clothes by the kang (a heated brick bed).

When he took off his coarse cloth jacket, a slight breeze stirred up the fabric, and he could smell the mixture of sweat, earth, and river scent on his body.

From behind the curtain came Li Ruoxue's soft voice, "You should also wipe yourself down quickly, so you don't catch a cold."

"I know," Lin Dachun replied, grabbing a dusty towel from the edge of the kang (heated brick bed) and wiping himself haphazardly.

The towel was rough and made a rustling sound when rubbed against the skin.

But Li Ruoxue, who was standing next to him, had a milky, sweet scent.

Lin Dachun had just finished changing when he heard the sound of rushing water.

Lin Dachun turned around, and Li Ruoxue squatted down on the ground and urinated.

"You kid," Lin Dachun muttered.

Li Ruoxue didn't pay attention; she was used to it. At night, or when she got up at night, she would always relieve herself inside the cave.

That big wooden basin was for holding urea.

Li Ruoxue changed into a white shirt.

The fabric had softened from washing, but the colors were still bright.

She carefully buttoned each button and pulled her wet hair out from under her collar.

Lin Dachun put on a dark gray T-shirt, two buttons of which were missing, and replaced them with knots made of cloth strips.

The pants were black, with thick patches on the knees, the stitches were coarse, and he had sewn them himself.

"Is it changed?" Lin Dachun asked.

"Um."

The two looked at each other.

Wearing dry clothes made me feel warm all over.

Their hair was still wet; Li Ruoxue's long hair was loose over her shoulders, while Lin Dachun's short, gray hair was plastered to his scalp in strands.

"Boil some hot water to drink," Lin Dachun said, walking to the stove and picking up a ladle to scoop water from the water tank.

Li Ruoxue quickly went over and said, "Let me do it."

"Let's stir-fry the snails tonight. They'll definitely taste delicious," Li Ruoxue said happily.

"Hmm, I'll go wash the snails and cut off their tails so I can suck them out."

Lin Dachun has a knack for cutting snails.

In places like this, you can hardly find any small fish or snails in the river because these things are not abundant.

Once everything was ready and the food was cooked, the two of them sat down.

Under the kerosene lamp, the cooked noodles, snails, potatoes, and other dishes gleamed.

Lin Dachun and Li Ruoxue sat facing each other.

At this time.

Lin Dachun then noticed the unusual thing about Li Ruoxue's shirt.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing Lin Dachun looking at her, Li Ruoxue frowned and asked curiously.