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

"What's wrong with me?" Li Ruoxue asked.

"Your shirt? It looks semi-transparent to me," Lin Dachun noticed this detail.

Li Ruoxue looked down at her shirt.

Upon closer inspection, it was indeed true; the shirt was semi-transparent, and even in dim light, the flesh underneath was clearly visible.

Instantly.

Li Ruoxue blushed.

"I washed it too much, and that's how it turned out," Li Ruoxue replied.

"Yes, I'll buy some more clothes next time, so at least I'll have something to change into all four seasons," Lin Dachun explained.

"No need, you don't even have any clothes, how can you keep buying me things? Besides, it's fine to wear this shirt at home," Li Ruoxue replied.

Lin Dachun looked at Li Ruoxue, unable to resist staring.

Because you can see inside.

Although Li Ruoxue often undressed in front of Lin Dachun, Lin Dachun never made a point of looking at her.

Li Ruoxue had an exceptionally good figure, like a stunner, especially her breasts, which were like headlights.

"Yes, yes, there are more perverts in the summer, so you can't dress like this outside," Lin Dachun instructed.

"understood."

Li Ruoxue nodded.

"I'll continue fetching water tomorrow and the day after, so you don't need to go. I'll irrigate the sea buckthorn and jujube trees on the mountain first. Then we'll wait for rain, or I'll fill the water cellar with water," Lin Dachun replied.

"Building the water cellar must have cost a lot of money, we have to earn it back." Li Ruoxue still wanted to share more of the burden of the family.

"Yes, I'll figure something out. You just take care of the household. You're frail, so don't do too much work." Lin Dachun really doted on Li Ruoxue.

"That won't do, I need to earn money too." Li Ruoxue wondered what she could do.

Li Ruoxue thought to herself that she seemed to know nothing.

She has a beautiful face and a great figure, and is constantly targeted by old bachelors and lecherous men.

However, this also has its advantages, namely that Li Ruoxue can sell anything very quickly thanks to this advantage.

"How about I go sell wine? Our wine is almost ready? Or, we can make some tofu and I'll go to town to sell it? Anyway, it's so close to town," Li Ruoxue said.

"Hehe, you want to be a tofu beauty?" Lin Dachun said with a smile.

"Is that not allowed? Do we have any soybeans at home?" Li Ruoxue asked seriously.

Yes, there are plenty.

Lin Dachun is hardworking, and his family still has a lot of food.

"Okay, let's make tofu. I'll borrow the tools tomorrow, or I can get someone to help me." Li Ruoxue had made up her mind.

He couldn't be lazy and leave all the work and pressure to Lin Dachun.

I also need to do my part and work together for this family.

"Okay, I'll do as you say and support you." Lin Dachun was indeed very supportive of Li Ruoxue.

"Okay, let's soak the soybeans. Then we'll go to sleep," Li Ruoxue said with a smile.

When the rooster crowed for the first time, Li Ruoxue quietly got up.

The cave dwelling was still dark, with only a faint gray-white light filtering through the window paper.

She fumbled to light the oil lamp. The soybeans had been soaked the night before and were placed in the chipped earthenware basin, bulging and huddled together in the clear water.

She reached out and scooped up a handful of beans; they were slippery, plump, and firm between her fingers.

The millstone was borrowed from Aunt Wang next door.

Aunt Wang's husband works in the mine, and she lives alone at home. The millstone is just sitting idle anyway.

"Use it, use it," Aunt Wang said, patting the millstone. "It's just that it hasn't been used for years, so you need to wash it properly."

Li Ruoxue spent most of the hour scrubbing the stone mill.

The aged bean curd residue was embedded in the cracks of the stone, as hard as stone.

She squatted in the yard, using the morning light to carefully pick at the food bit by bit with a thin bamboo skewer.

My fingers were red from scratching, but I finally managed to wash the stone mill back to its original bluish-gray color.

Just as I was busy working, the courtyard gate creaked open.

He Xiulan came in carrying a basket containing green peppers she had grown herself and a small bag of salt.

"I figured you should be up by now." He Xiulan put down her basket, rolled up her sleeves, and came over to help.

"Yes, Sister-in-law Xiulan, come and help me. I'm going to make tofu to sell." Li Ruoxue put aside her concerns from yesterday, even though she knew in her heart that He Xiulan had feelings for the man in her family, Lin Dachun.

But at that moment, she didn't see him as a rival in love.

The two women worked together to carry the stone mill to the center of the courtyard and set up the wooden frame.

He Xiulan tried pushing the handle, and the millstone made a dull turning sound.

"This mill is alright," He Xiulan said, "it's just a bit heavy."

"Um."

"Where's Da Chun?" He Xiulan asked with concern.

"He went to fetch water with the old donkey. The dry land is too short of water," Li Ruoxue explained.

Soybeans are poured into the millstone, and water is slowly added.

Li Ruoxue pushes the millstone, while He Xiulan adds beans and water.

The stone mill creaked and turned, and milky white soy milk overflowed from the millstone and flowed down the mill trough into the wooden bucket below.

The sound was monotonous yet rhythmic, carrying far into the quiet morning.

"Ruoxue, your sister-in-law has a question for you," He Xiulan said, starting the conversation.

"Yes, sister-in-law, please ask."

"You and Dachun sleep on the same kang (heated brick bed), right?" He Xiulan asked.

Li Ruoxue blushed.

"Um."

"Then do you share the same blanket?" He Xiulan asked again.

"Um."

"When it's cold in winter, if you share a blanket, wouldn't you be sleeping together?" He Xiulan asked again.

At this moment, Li Ruoxue's face was as red as a monkey's bottom.