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

"Hold on tight, don't bump your head."

No sooner had Li Dongye finished speaking than the Jiefang truck rolled over a deep ditch, its body suddenly sinking and then bouncing back up.

The metal door slammed shut, and the steering wheel jolted.

Lin Qingqing instinctively gripped the door handle, but her shoulder still slammed against the side of the seat, causing her to gasp in pain. She glared at him and said, "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

"Innocent, how could I bear to?" Li Dongye smiled lazily, but his voice was steady. He kept one hand on the steering wheel and raised the other hand to slowly unbutton the top two buttons of his collar. "It's too stuffy today, it's too tight."

The carriage was already cramped, and the window was only slightly ajar, so hot air mixed with dust swirled inside.

As he loosened his collar, the scent of soap mingled with his body became even closer.

Too vivid, too straightforward, like a person plastered right over your shoulder.

Lin Qingqing was still angry, but when she was enveloped by this aura, her ears turned red.

She turned her face away, staring at the swaying road ahead, and whispered a reminder: "Watch where you're going."

"I'm watching." Li Dongye replied quickly, easing off the accelerator and slowing the car down.

There was a shady spot ahead, so he pulled the car over to the side of the road and turned off the engine.

The engine hummed and vibrated a few times due to residual heat before stopping. He turned to look at her, a barely suppressed smile in his eyes. "Let's take care of something important first."

Lin Qingqing was taken aback: "What important matter?"

Li Dongye pulled a palm-sized red velvet box from his breast pocket. The corners of the box were slightly worn, indicating that he had carried it all the way.

The lid was lifted, and a silver necklace lay quietly inside.

The delicate chain gleamed even in the dark, and the pendant was a small silver leaf with finely polished edges—understated yet exquisite, perfectly complementing her.

Lin Qingqing stared at it for two seconds, then her eyes lit up, and her voice softened slightly: "For me?"

"If it's not for you, then why would I give it to Third Brother?" Li Dongye raised an eyebrow, his tone nonchalant but his eyes serious. "I saw you in the county yesterday, and you were the first person I thought of. It's a shame that your neck area has always been empty."

The words weren't harsh, but they felt like a small flame, instantly warming her heart. She reached out to take it, her fingertips barely touching the rim of the box: "I'll put it on myself..."

"I'll do it."

Li Dongye leaned closer. In the cramped driver's seat, their knees were almost touching. He reached out and gently brushed his hand past her ear.

The moment the silver chain touched the side of her neck, the coolness made her flinch slightly, and her shoulders involuntarily tensed.

Once the buckle was fastened, his rough fingertips ran down the chain, seemingly casually, but deliberately very slowly, finally brushing over the most sensitive skin on the back of her neck.

Lin Qingqing's breath hitched, and her fingers involuntarily tightened around the strap of the cloth bag: "Fourth Brother..."

"Hmm?" Li Dongye leaned closer, his voice low, a hint of amusement in his tone, as if coaxing her or deliberately flirting. "Why are you so nervous? I haven't done anything wrong."

"Don't mess with your hands—"

Before she could finish speaking, Li Dongye lowered his head and gave her a heavy kiss on the lips.

His movements were swift and decisive, carrying an air of undeniable aggression, yet he held back his strength just right, not giving her a chance to truly get angry.

He stepped back half an inch, staring at her rapidly flushing face, and chuckled softly, "So adorable."

Lin Qingqing was both embarrassed and angry. She raised her hand to hit him, but it didn't come down halfway. She could only bite her lower lip and glare at him: "You're just being a pervert."

"Wrong." Li Dongye smiled and started the engine again, which roared to life. "I can still drive to support my family. Buckle up, I'm going to buy you something."

The truck started moving again, and the shadows of the poplar trees flashed by outside the window. Lin Qingqing raised her hand to touch the silver chain around her neck. Her fingertips were cool, but her palms were burning hot, and even her heartbeat pounded against her chest in rhythm with the engine.

……

As usual, the entrance to the supply and marketing cooperative was packed with people.

Two long queues stood under the wooden sign, the ground covered with gray footprints left by people walking back and forth.

Some people were carrying shopping baskets, some were holding children, and behind the counter, several sales clerks were calling out numbers, recording transactions, and collecting receipts, their voices overlapping each other.

Li Dongye parked the car, jumped out, then turned and reached out to her: "Slow down, step off the pedal."

Lin Qingqing took his hand and stepped onto the iron footboard. As soon as her shoes touched the ground, before she could even stand up, he half-protected and half-blocked her as he led her into the crowd.

Li Dongye was tall and broad-shouldered. When he stood in front of her, he was like a wall. The elbows of the people around him naturally made way around her, and he even managed to carve a gap in the crowd.

"What should we buy first?" he asked, turning his head.

"Frost cream is fine, don't buy too much." Lin Qingqing glanced at the skincare counter and lowered her voice, "I really don't need any."

"You don't need it, but I do." Li Dongye raised his voice and shouted at the counter, "Sister, take two boxes of Friendship brand face cream, and one box of Pechoin cream, pick the new ones."

The woman behind the counter looked up and saw him, immediately smiling as she clicked the beads on her abacus: "Oh, Mr. Li, you have time to visit the supply and marketing cooperative today? This young lady looks unfamiliar."

"My family." Li Dongye replied quickly, the ticket and money already on the table. "Give me the ticket, hurry up."

As Sister Wang responded, she rummaged through the goods, the cardboard boxes rustling as she moved them. Lin Qingqing tugged at his sleeve beside her and whispered, "Two boxes are enough."

"You need to apply it to your hands and face, you'll use it quickly." Li Dongye stuffed the collected tickets into his pocket, then glanced at the fabric counter next to him. "Let's go over there."

The fabric store had just received new stock. Two garment samples were hanging on the counter; the colors weren't many, but they were lighter and more refreshing than usual. Li Dongye glanced at them and pointed to a light-colored dress: "Take this one, in her size. And get two meters of that fine cotton fabric."

The sales clerk twirled the ruler and deftly measured the fabric. Lin Qingqing's face flushed even more, and she couldn't help but tug at his sleeve: "Fourth Brother, I have a skirt."

"I know you have them." Li Dongye turned back and smiled at her, his tone matter-of-fact. "I want to see you wearing new clothes, is that not allowed?"

The middle-aged women in line nearby, who had been listening to the commotion, all burst out laughing. One woman holding a child even chimed in, "This young man knows how to take care of people."

Li Dongye wasn't intimidated at all and readily replied, "There's nothing shameful about being affectionate towards your partner."

The laughter grew louder as soon as he said that. Lin Qingqing's ears burned, and she glared at him in a low voice, "Who's your boyfriend? Don't talk nonsense."

"Not now, but sooner or later." Li Dongye leaned closer, his voice low enough for her to hear, "If you nod now, I can buy you another pair of leather shoes right here and now."

"Shut up."

"Okay, whatever you say."

He said he would listen to her, but his hands never stopped. After buying face cream and a dress, he led her to the daily necessities counter. The counter was piled with soap, enamel mugs, and needles and thread, and a row of soft cotton cloths hung on the innermost shelf.

"Two bars of soap, one bar of scented soap, and a pound of brown sugar," Li Dongye ordered crisply. He paused, his gaze falling to the innermost part of the room. "Also, some underwear and soft cloth, fine cotton, nothing prickly."

Lin Qingqing almost choked on her saliva, her face flushed red, and she reached out to grab him, saying, "I'll buy this myself!"

Li Dongye didn't let her have it. He flipped his wrist and grabbed her hand, his palm dry and strong. His expression remained unchanged as he said to the sales clerk, "She's shy, Sister Wang, please forgive her. I know the size, just take the one I tell you to take."

Sister Wang laughed as she rummaged through the goods: "Master Li, you're really something, you even know this inside and out."

"After driving a sports car for a long time, you need to have a sharp eye," Li Dongye said seriously, as if he were sharing his experience. After saying that, he turned to Lin Qingqing and asked, "Should we get two more menstrual belts? You said the ones in town were too stiff last time."

Lin Qingqing was so ashamed she wanted to disappear into the ground, gritting her teeth and whispering, "Li Dongye!"

"Okay, okay, I won't shout anymore." Li Dongye laughed so hard his shoulders were shaking, still in that coaxing tone, "Whatever you say you want to buy, I'll buy it."

When it was time to pay, the receipt was stamped and slammed onto the counter. Li Dongye picked up two large bags, the paper bags bulging, containing almost everything she would need for the next two weeks.

As the two reached the door, Sister Wang, still leaning against the counter, shouted outside, "Girl, your boyfriend is so sweet! You won't regret being with him!"

Lin Qingqing paused, wanting to turn around and explain, but opened her mouth and didn't know where to begin. Li Dongye reacted quickly, waving his hand without turning around: "Thank you for your kind words, I'll treat you to wedding candy next time."

"Who wants to eat wedding candy with you?" Lin Qingqing raised her hand and pinched his arm.

"Ouch...be gentle, it really hurts." Li Dongye deliberately gasped, but his smile didn't fade. He switched both bags to his left hand, freeing his right hand to help her into the car. "I'm happy even if you pinch me, it means you're willing to talk to me."

How can you be so shameless?

"There's no way around it, if you're too thin, you won't be able to get anyone."

The truck started up again, the bed swayed, and the enamel mug and soap dish in the paper bag clinked softly.

Lin Qingqing leaned back in her chair, recalling the commotion that had just filled the room. She felt both embarrassed and sweet inside, but she had to pretend to be calm. She simply turned her face to the window to let the wind dissipate some of the heat.

……

By the time the truck returned to the clinic, the sun was high in the sky, its blinding rays pressing down. The gate was ajar, and several herbs were drying on a bamboo sieve beside it, their bitter, sun-dried aroma mingling with the heat.

Gu Qiangying sat on a bamboo chair, holding an enamel mug in her hand, with a medical record book beside her legs. Her eyes behind her glasses looked tired, clearly indicating that she had just finished seeing a round of patients.

He didn't even look up when he heard the car. Only when the two men entered the yard carrying large bags and small packages, slamming the paper bags onto the table with a dull thud, did he slowly lift his eyelids and coldly snort, "Are you two going to the supply and marketing cooperative or the purchasing station?"

Li Dongye pushed the bag open to reveal the neatly arranged goods inside: "None of them. I'm going to replenish the family's coffers for Doctor Gu, who only knows how to prescribe medicine."

Gu Qiangying picked up her teacup and took a sip, her tone indifferent: "I asked you to take her to buy some daily necessities, not to bring the counter back."

"You call that buying things?" Li Dongye leaned against the table, laughing self-righteously. "Go ask around yourself. What girl can't be short of things? Besides, I have coupons, might as well spend them."

Gu Qiangying's gaze slowly swept over the bag, finally landing on the new silver chain around Lin Qingqing's neck. She paused for half a second without speaking immediately.

Lin Qingqing felt inexplicably uneasy under his gaze. She subconsciously raised her hand to touch the pendant and explained softly, "It was a gift from Fourth Brother. He said it was bought in the county."

Gu Qiangying hummed in agreement, placed the teacup back on the table, and the porcelain rim clinked crisply: "You have a good eye for quality."

Li Dongye sensed the underlying meaning in the words, leaned against the door frame, raised an eyebrow and smiled: "That's right, I've always had good taste."

"You have good taste, but the team always punishes you for being late."

"Gu Qiangying, is this the same thing? Why do you always bring up things that are hard to put down?"

"I can bring up whatever I want."

The two exchanged words, their voices neither loud, but the tension was slowly building. Just as Lin Qingqing was about to change the subject, a muffled "crack" sounded from the backyard, as if another section of wood had collapsed under pressure.

She immediately turned around and looked over: "Hey, is that medicine drying rack in the back crooked again?"

Gu Qiangying frowned and glanced at the backyard: "It was windy last night, so I was planning to fix it this afternoon."

"No need for you this afternoon, I'll get it done for you right now." Li Dongye rolled up his sleeves, revealing his muscular forearms, and turned to walk towards the backyard. "Where's the hammer and nails?"

Gu Qiangying raised her chin and gestured towards the storage room: "The second box on the left."

Li Dongye paused, turned around, and grinned roguishly: "See, you may be stubborn, but you've already laid out your family's assets to me clearly."

Gu Qiangying said coldly, "Stop talking nonsense, or you'll tear my backyard down."