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

During dinner, Qin Lie unusually brought out a bottle of very strong liquor.

He unscrewed the bottle cap without expression and poured a full bowl for everyone at the table.

The strong smell of alcohol instantly filled the sweltering air.

"Now that you've made the decision, do it well."

Qin Lie picked up the bowl of white wine and stared intently at Lin Qingqing.

His voice was deep and resonant, carrying the unquestionable authority of the head of the family, yet concealing a subtle restraint and forbearance.

"Don't worry about things at home. If you need money or supplies, just send a message back. Anyone who dares to cause you trouble outside..."

Qin Lie paused for a moment, then looked at Gu Qiangying, "Don't hold back. Come back and tell me. I'll take care of things if the sky falls."

Gu Qiangying adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, picked up his wine bowl, and with a gentle smile, said politely:

"Don't worry, big brother. With me here, no one can bully Qingqing."

Lin Qingqing's eyes welled up with tears. She knew that Qin Lie was supporting her and giving her confidence.

She picked up the cup of weak tea in front of her, her hands trembling slightly.

"Big brother, I will take good care of myself. You all should also take good care of yourselves at home." After saying that, she tilted her head back and drank the tea in her cup in one gulp.

As night fell, the torrential rain outside had just stopped, and the air was humid and muggy.

Lin Qingqing sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) in the east room, packing her luggage by the dim light.

There's really not much to tidy up.

She folded the two coarse cloth shirts she wanted to change into and pressed them down firmly.

She also laid the slightly faded floral shirt flat at the bottom.

She carefully tucked the fountain pen that Song Weihe had given her into her diary, which was filled with her thoughts, and then stuffed it into the bottom of her bundle.

The thick introductory medical books that Gu Qiangying had brought her in advance were also wrapped in a clean blue floral cloth and placed on top. The drawstring was pulled tight and tied in a knot.

The rain started falling again outside the window.

The autumn rain was incessant, pattering in the yard, making a soft, rustling sound that disturbed everyone's peace of mind.

The room was stuffy and humid, with a faint musty smell typical of old mud-brick houses.

She pushed the bundle to the head of the kang (a heated brick bed) and went barefoot onto the floor.

Can't sleep.

I'm going to town tomorrow, leaving behind those domineering and powerful men.

She felt a little flustered, especially towards Qin Lie, the man who was as steady as a mountain, always silently supporting her and protecting her under his wings.

She pushed open the door to the east room.

The courtyard was pitch black, with only a few scarlet sparks glowing under the eaves of the main room, flickering in the thick darkness.

Qin Lie sat on a low stool, wearing only a pair of loose, coarse cloth trousers.

His broad, sturdy back was slightly bent, and his elbows were resting on his spread knees.

Lin Qingqing walked step by step toward the man on the cool blue bricks. She knew he was also not at peace.

He smoked heavily, and cigarette butts littered the muddy ground at his feet.

Lin Qingqing stopped behind him, stretched out her slender and soft arms, and wrapped them around his strong waist from behind. Her cheek naturally pressed against his warm and broad back.

The man's body was damp from the rain and burning hot.

She could even feel the longest scar on his back digging into her cheek.

Qin Lie's back tensed instantly, his hand holding the cigarette froze in mid-air, and the spark at his fingertips trembled slightly.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?"

"I can't sleep." Lin Qingqing tightened her arms, her slender waist pressed against his back, and she rubbed her cheek against his back like a kitten. "I'm feeling anxious."

Qin Lie stubbed out his half-smoked cigarette in a puddle next to him, making a soft "hiss" sound.

He stood up and turned around.

Qin Lie was too tall; even when Lin Qingqing stood on tiptoe, she only reached his chin.

He looked down at her, his dark eyes seeming to flicker with suppressed fire.

He didn't say anything, but simply reached out his rough, large hand and cupped her small, delicate face.

His thumb, calloused from years of handling guns and doing rough work, gently stroked her fair, radiant cheek, as soft and delicate as a peeled egg.

Qin Lie's gaze fell downwards, and in the dim light of the day, he saw her delicate white feet, slightly red from the cold, as she stepped on the damp, cold blue bricks.

His already hard brows instantly furrowed into a tight knot.

"Aren't you cold coming out barefoot?"

"I'm not cold." Lin Qingqing bit her lower lip, looking at him with her watery peach blossom eyes.

Qin Lie bent down, stretched out his long arm, and picked her up horizontally.

Lin Qingqing cried out in surprise, her body suddenly leaping into the air, her hands reflexively wrapping tightly around his thick neck.

The man's chest was hot and hard, instantly dispelling the chill of the autumn rain that clung to her body.

Qin Lie carried her into the main room, stretched out his long legs, and hooked the door shut with his foot.

He gently placed her on the bench, then bent one of his long legs and squatted down in front of her, holding her cold, slender ankle.

"You said you weren't cold, but you're freezing." Qin Lie scolded in a low voice.

He grabbed a towel from the washbasin stand and carefully wiped the mud off her feet.

The towel tickled the soles of her feet, and Lin Qingqing couldn't help but flinch, trying to pull her feet back.

Qin Lie gripped her ankle tightly, so firmly that she couldn't break free, and said in a deep, domineering voice, "Don't move."

After drying his feet, Qin Lie did not stand up, remaining squatting in front of her.

He braced his hands on the edges of the bench on either side of her body, encircling her between his broad chest and arms.

In the darkness, their breaths mingled together.

The man's heavy, hot breath sprayed onto the edge of Lin Qingqing's knees, making her feel weak all over.

"Big brother," Lin Qingqing called softly, her voice carrying a charming allure that she herself was unaware of.

"Um."

"Will you miss me when I go to town?" Lin Qingqing asked, looking down at his indistinct silhouette in the darkness.

Qin Lie raised his head and said:

"If the third brother dares to bully you, come back. Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up."

"Third Brother wouldn't bully me," Lin Qingqing whispered in defense.

Qin Lie smiled gently, a rare occurrence for him: "I know."

Lin Qingqing fell silent.

She boldly reached out and touched his strong, well-defined cheek.

My fingers slowly traced the hard stubble on his chin; it was a little prickly, but it brought a strange sense of security.

She knew how restrained this man was, and she also knew how much he loved her.

"Big brother, take me." Lin Qingqing closed her eyes, her voice barely audible, yet it struck Qin Lie like a thunderclap.

Qin Lie's breath hitched. He stood up and pulled her into his arms.

The movement was so forceful that it overturned the washbasin stand next to it, and the basin fell to the ground with a loud crash, splashing water everywhere.

But he didn't care about any of that and lowered his head to kiss her fiercely.

Lin Qingqing felt dizzy from his kisses and could only stand on tiptoe, clinging tightly to his neck with both hands, tilting her head back, and responding to him without reservation.

Qin Lie's arms tightened, gripping her slender waist as if he wanted to crush her whole body.

The two stumbled into the inner room.

Qin Lie pressed her against the door, showering her with kisses like a storm.

From her smooth, full forehead, to her delicate nose, the path winds downwards.

Lin Qingqing tilted her head back and let him take it: "Big brother..."

Qin Lie opened his mouth and bit down on her delicate collarbone, his teeth gently rubbing against her tender skin, leaving a deep red mark.

"I'm leaving tomorrow." His voice was hoarse.

"Um."

"The third brother is taking care of..."

"I can take care of myself," Lin Qingqing interrupted him.

Qin Lie didn't reply, but picked her up and threw her onto the bed.

His tall, imposing body pressed down on her, ruthlessly tearing open the buttons of her thin shirt.

Because of the excessive force, several plastic buttons broke off and bounced and rolled under the bed in the darkness.

In the past, Lin Qingqing would always shyly close her eyes and let him do as he pleased at times like this.

But she didn't hide today.

She took the initiative to cling to his broad, sturdy shoulders and boldly hooked her arms around his waist.

Qin Lie's Adam's apple bobbed violently, and a raging fire ignited in his eyes.

She was usually shy and let him do whatever he wanted, but today she was unusually proactive.

"Qingqing".

"Big brother, give it to me." Lin Qingqing's watery peach blossom eyes gleamed with a hazy light in the darkness, as if she were asking for something.

Qin Lie could no longer hold back.

He leaned down and kissed her breast. (Hahahaha)

Lin Qingqing raised her neck and dug her fingers deep into his short, stiff hair.

The rain outside was getting heavier and heavier, with large raindrops pounding heavily on the tiles, making a deafening sound that drowned out the blush-inducing noise inside the house.

"Does it hurt?" Although Qin Lie was fierce, he was always paying attention to her reaction.

"It doesn't hurt." Lin Qingqing shook her head and hugged him even tighter.

She wasn't good with words, so she could only tell him in the most straightforward way that she belonged to him and that she couldn't bear to part with him.

late at night.

The rain outside showed no signs of letting up, and the wind made the paper windows rattle loudly.

Qin Lie leaned against the headboard and pulled the blanket over both of them.

He reached for the matches on the kang table, struck one with a "snap," and lit a cigarette.

Lin Qingqing lay softly against his broad, hot chest, listening to the strong, steady heartbeat coming from his chest.

She casually drew circles on his muscular chest.

He grabbed the mischievous little hand and played with it in his palm.

"Big brother."

"Hmm." Qin Lie exhaled a bluish-white smoke ring, his large hand habitually stroking her smooth back up and down, like soothing a cat with its fur being stroked.

"I'll come back and treat your back injury once I've mastered medical skills," Lin Qingqing said softly, her tone full of seriousness.

She knew that Qin Lie's old wounds would ache on rainy days, but he never said anything and just silently endured it.

Qin Lie paused for a moment as he touched her back.

"Old wounds, deep in the bone, can't be healed."

"It can be cured. My third brother said there are good medicines in town. Once I learn how to make them, I'll brew medicine for you to apply to your legs every day."

Qin Lie's heart softened completely. He had lived a rough life and never expected anyone to care for him, until this delicate little woman entered his life.

……

This chapter was revised twice during the review process, ugh!

Finally, it's the third one's turn.

I'm torn between adding this and not adding it. There's a lot more about the third brother later on, so I'm planning to add more about him. I feel like I can't keep up with writing it all.

Gu San, Gu San, finally here!!!

It's so hard to write about men! The fourth brother's character has only been partially revealed so far, and there's still so much to write.

Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah! ! ! ! !