After becoming a widow, I became the apple of a rough man's eye.

The shout of "Hello, sister-in-law!" sent chills down Sun Erniang's spine, and the hand with scarlet nail polish was about to strike her face.

"Oh my, look how delicate her face is. Our village's soil and water can't produce such a pampered little girl." Sun Erniang praised, but her fingernails revealed a fierce edge as she was about to pinch Lin Qingqing's cheek.

A hand holding a stethoscope intercepted her halfway.

Gu Qiangying still had that refined smile on her face. She pinched Sun Erniang's wrist with two fingers. She didn't seem to be using much force, but Sun Erniang's face turned pale instantly, and she cried out in pain.

"Sister-in-law, did you just clean the stove? Your fingernails are full of black grime." Gu Qiangying disgustedly let go of her hand, took out a handkerchief from her pocket and carefully wiped her fingers, then casually threw the handkerchief into the laundry basket next to her. "Don't touch my cousin, she has delicate skin and is prone to allergies."

Sun Erniang rubbed her wrists, her chest heaving with anger, the buttons on her bright red shirt almost popping off. Her eyes darted around, she picked up the bowl of dumplings, and swayed towards Qin Lie.

"Brother Qin, look what Lao San is doing. I came here to bring you dumplings out of kindness." She held the bowl right up to Qin Lie's nose. "They're still warm. I got up early this morning to chop the filling and made them especially for you."

Qin Lie was polishing the axe with a whetstone, not even lifting his eyelids.

"If you don't want it, take it away." The voice was as cold as ice.

Undeterred, Sun Erniang leaned against Qin Lie's arm, her body limp as if boneless: "Brother Qin, please try it, this is a token of my affection..."

Clang!

A pair of red-hot iron tongs was slammed down at Sun Erniang's feet, scalding the muddy ground.

Xiao Yong slammed the large dumpling he was holding onto the anvil, his shirtless body trembling with grotesque disgust: "Can't you understand human language? My brother told you to get lost! Keep those dumplings for your pigs, we don't need them!"

Sun Erniang was so startled that she jumped back, almost twisting her ankle in her high heels.

She looked at all the men in the courtyard, and not one of them even gave her a second glance.

Li Dongye leaned against the truck, smoking, looking at the sky and the ground but not at her; Jiang He squatted in the corner, teasing the big wolfhound and whistling.

Only the new little vixen, hiding behind Gu Qiangying, peeked out with her big, watery eyes and watched all of this.

Her eyes were so pure that it made you want to tear her apart.

Jealousy grew wildly in Sun Erniang's heart like weeds. She was used to being a tyrant in the village, and with her good looks, which man wouldn't be captivated by her? But these wolves from the Qin family were completely unyielding!

"Alright, you've all been bewitched by this vixen, haven't you?" Sun Erniang stopped pretending.

She pointed at Lin Qingqing, whose face, covered in makeup, looked particularly ferocious due to its contorted shape.

"What are you pretending to be, some innocent little white flower? Don't you even take a piss and look at yourself in the mirror? You just lost your man and you're already throwing yourself into a pile of men, five men at that! Is your genitals studded with gold or diamonds? So impatient with loneliness?"

Lin Qingqing's face turned deathly pale instantly, her lips trembled, and the foul language felt like needles piercing her ears, making her shudder all over.

"What? Did I hit the nail on the head?" Seeing that she didn't speak, Sun Erniang became even more excited, her voice so loud that the whole village could hear her, "Everyone come and see! This is the Qin family's new 'cousin'! I think she's more like a whore! Just..."

"Woof!"

A furious bark interrupted her cursing.

Jiang He loosened the iron chain in his hand.

The large wolfhound, taller than a person when standing, had been baring its teeth and enduring for a long time. Now, upon receiving the order, it pounced like a black lightning bolt.

"ah--!!"

Terrified, Sun Erniang turned and ran. She abandoned her high heels, losing one in the process, and limped barefoot as she ran wildly through the mud. Her bright red shirt billowed in the wind, making her look like a plucked turkey.

"Big Black, bite her butt!" Jiang He shouted excitedly, standing in the yard with his hands cupped around his mouth. "Take off a piece of flesh, and I'll give you an extra treat tonight!"

The big dog chased Sun Erniang for two miles until Sun Erniang's pig-like screams came from the village entrance. Only then did Jiang He whistle, still not satisfied, to call the dog back.

The courtyard was quiet.

Lin Qingqing remained standing there, her shoulders heaving, tears streaming down her face, but she bit her lip, afraid to cry out loud.

She was genuinely afraid. In that other home, she was scolded by her mother-in-law and bullied by her brother-in-law; now, she was being called a slut by others.

A rough, large hand suddenly covered her head.

Qin Lie appeared out of nowhere, standing like a mountain in front of her, blocking out all the malicious gazes and words.

"Don't listen to her nonsense." Qin Lie clumsily ruffled the top of her head, but he didn't control his strength well and turned Lin Qingqing's originally neatly combed hair into a bird's nest. "In this family, no one dares to bully you."

Xiao Yong chimed in, scratching the back of his head with a goofy grin: "Exactly! Cousin, don't cry! I can't stand seeing women cry. If that crazy woman dares to come again, I'll smash her shit out of her head with this hammer!"

Gu Qiangying pushed up his glasses, took out a White Rabbit milk candy from his pocket, unwrapped it, and handed it to Lin Qingqing's lips: "Have a candy. Just take what those people say as a ripple and don't take it to heart."

Lin Qingqing looked at the men in front of her.

They were fierce, rude, and even somewhat dangerous. But at this moment, they surrounded her like an impregnable wall. That long-lost sense of security, like a warm current, instantly broke down her defenses.

"Thank you... thank you, eldest brother, thank you, second brother, third brother..." Lin Qingqing sobbed, her voice soft and nasal, melting hearts.

Li Dongye threw his cigarette butt on the ground and stomped it out. Looking at the three brothers who were fawning over Lin Qingqing, a wicked smile crept onto his lips.

What's the use of comforting these idiots?

He strode over and grabbed Lin Qingqing's wrist.

"Alright, stop crying like that." Although Li Dongye's tone was disdainful, his actions left no room for refusal. He pulled Lin Qingqing toward the Jiefang truck, saying, "Come on, your fourth brother will take you to clear your head."

Qin Lie frowned: "Fourth brother, what are you doing?"

"Taking my cousin for a drive." Without turning his head, Li Dongye opened the car door, supported Lin Qingqing's waist with one hand, and easily lifted her into the high driver's seat like carrying a child. "This village is so polluted, let's take my cousin to get some fresh air. Don't worry, big brother, we'll definitely be back before lunch."

Before Qin Lie could speak, Li Dongye had already jumped into the driver's seat and slammed the car door shut.

"boom--"

The engine roared, and a plume of black smoke billowed from the exhaust pipe.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the large truck charged out of the yard like a wild beast, leaving behind only a yard full of dust and a few men looking at each other in bewilderment.

Xiao Yong was dumbfounded: "This...you're leaving already? I haven't even had a chance to say two words to my cousin!"

Gu Qiangying narrowed her eyes, looking in the direction the truck had disappeared: "Fourth brother, you've really mastered hand speed."

Qin Lie stared at the billowing dust with a grim face, his grip on the axe handle tightening.

……

The scenery outside the car window rushed past.

Lin Qingqing sat in the passenger seat, her hands gripping the overhead handle tightly, her body swaying with the bumps of the car.

This was her first time riding in such a large truck; the view was frighteningly expansive, and it seemed like she could reach out and touch the treetops along the roadside.

Li Dongye held the steering wheel with one hand and rested the other on the car window, humming a tuneless little tune. He wasn't wearing a coat; the collar of his floral shirt underneath was wide open, revealing his muscular chest and a section of his collarbone.

"How's it? Pretty good view, huh?" Li Dongye glanced at her, his peach blossom eyes full of mockery. "Much better than listening to those old women gossip at home, right?"

Lin Qingqing nodded, her face still a little pale: "Fourth Brother, where are we going?"

"I'll sell you." Li Dongye grinned wickedly, "to an old bachelor in the neighboring village, in exchange for two pounds of pork."

Lin Qingqing shuddered in fright and instinctively reached for the car door.

"Tsk, just kidding, you're so easily teased." Li Dongye reached out and pressed down on the back of her hand. His palm was large, dry and warm, with calluses from years of holding the steering wheel, which made Lin Qingqing's hand itch.

He didn't let go; instead, he took Lin Qingqing's hand and gently stroked her delicate skin with his thumb.

"Sister-in-law's hands are so soft," Li Dongye said in a low voice, "like they have no bones."

The word "sister-in-law" made Lin Qingqing's heart skip a beat.

"Fourth...Fourth Brother, please don't do this..." Lin Qingqing tried to pull her hand back, but it wouldn't budge like an iron clamp.

"Don't move." Li Dongye stared ahead, but his tone became somewhat dangerous. "This road is difficult to walk on. If you move around and the car overturns, we'll really be a pair of lovebirds destined to die together."

Lin Qingqing dared not move and could only let him hold her.

The atmosphere in the carriage became somewhat strange. The roar of the engine made the seats vibrate, and the subtle vibrations traveled up her thighs, making Lin Qingqing feel uneasy all over.

The car turned onto a secluded dirt road, flanked by cornfields taller than a person. The lush green corn leaves, like a green veil, completely obscured the outside world.

It's so quiet and secluded here.

Lin Qingqing's unease grew stronger: "Fourth Brother, where...where is this? Let's go back, Eldest Brother must be worried."

"What's the rush? Big Brother is probably sharpening his knife right now." Li Dongye chuckled, then suddenly slammed on the brakes.

"Squeak—"

The large truck suddenly stopped in the middle of the road.

The momentum propelled Lin Qingqing forward, only to be pulled back by the seatbelt. Before she could even react, Li Dongye had already turned off the engine and removed the key.

The narrow carriage fell silent instantly, with only the slightly rapid breathing of the two people.

The sun beat down mercilessly on the metal roof of the train, making the interior feel like a sweltering oven. Sweat streamed down Li Dongye's temples, past his bobbing Adam's apple, and into the depths of his open collar.

He turned around, his long legs having nowhere to go in the cramped space, his knees pressing directly against the side of Lin Qingqing's thighs.

"sister in law."

Li Dongye called out, his voice hoarse. His usually smiling peach blossom eyes were now burning, staring intently at Lin Qingqing's chest, which was heaving with nervousness.

Lin Qingqing felt uneasy under his gaze and pressed herself against the car door desperately, pleading, "Fourth...Fourth Brother, please don't do anything rash...I'm your sister-in-law..."

"Sister-in-law?" Li Dongye chuckled, leaning forward abruptly and bracing his hands on the back of the seat next to Lin Qingqing, trapping her between himself and the car door.

The strong smell of tobacco mixed with the intense scent of male hormones pressed down on everything.

"That dead man has been dead for so long, who are you keeping this memorial tablet for?" Li Dongye leaned very close, his nose almost touching hers. Looking into Lin Qingqing's panicked, deer-like eyes, the evil fire in his heart burned even brighter.

"Lin Qingqing, put your hand on your heart and tell me, when you came to our family, did you never imagine this day would come?"

Lin Qingqing's pupils suddenly contracted.

That night...

"Fourth Brother...you...you stop talking..." Lin Qingqing's face was burning hot, she was so ashamed she wanted to die.

Li Dongye reached out and pinched her chin, forcing her to raise her head. His rough fingertips rubbed against her delicate skin, sending shivers down her spine.

"Why did you stop talking?" Li Dongye's lips curled into a wicked smile, his eyes roaming brazenly over her body. "Your waist is so slender, your legs are so white... I've been thinking about you so much these past few days that I can't sleep. You're all I dream about."

"You...you scoundrel!" Lin Qingqing cursed through tears, reaching out to push his chest.

That little bit of force was like a tickle to Li Dongye. He grabbed Lin Qingqing's wrist with his other hand, raised it above her head, and pressed it against the car window.

"A hooligan?" Li Dongye chuckled softly, his chest heaving as he pressed himself against Lin Qingqing. "That's what you call a hooligan? Then what should I call what I'm about to do?"

He lowered his head, his lips brushing against Lin Qingqing's earlobe, his warm, moist breath sending shivers of pleasure through her ear.

"Sister-in-law, call me 'husband' so I can hear it?"