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

"Stop eating, collect the medicinal herbs first, quick!"

As soon as Gu Qiangying put down her chopsticks, the chair leg dragged on the ground with a short thud. She had already gotten up from the table and stepped down the stairs in a few strides.

He glanced up at the sky, his brow furrowing slightly... The clouds in the west were very low, and the wind carried a damp, earthy smell, clearly indicating that a sudden downpour was imminent.

Jiang He, with half a mouthful of winter melon still dangling from his mouth, asked indistinctly, "Which pile should we collect first?"

"Clean up the pile at your feet first, or you'll be soaked by the time you ask again."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the first bolt of lightning struck the roof of the courtyard. A flash of white light illuminated the figures in the courtyard as if they were paper cutouts, followed by a deafening clap of thunder that shook the windows.

The next second, the rain didn't just "fall," it "poured"... as if someone were pouring buckets of water down from the sky. The freshly laid-out herbs were instantly soaked at the edges, and the delicate leaves clung to the bamboo mat, their color darkening immediately.

Lin Qingqing grabbed a winnowing basket and ran down to the corridor. Her shoes slipped on the wet bricks, and she fell straight forward.

Xiao Yong reacted quickly, stepping forward and grabbing her waist with his arm, pulling her back steadily: "Slow down!"

"I'm fine."

After Lin Qingqing regained her footing, her ears burned. Without saying anything more, she quickly went to pick up another basket of honeysuckle.

Gu Qiangying stood at the top of the steps, her voice steady but her pace quick: "Qingqing, you and Jiang He move the fine materials to the main room first. Xiao Yong, protect the woodshed in the backyard first; the dry firewood can't be completely wet. Be quick, don't delay."

"I'll go," Xiao Yong replied, turning around and rushing into the rain.

He tossed his coat under the eaves, grabbed an axe, and started chopping wood.

The rain lashed down at an angle, rolling down his bronze shoulders and back. His muscles tensed and contracted with each precise and ruthless axe strike. As the log shattered, debris flew everywhere, mingling with the rain and soaking his trousers.

Jiang He darted across the corridor carrying a winnowing basket, glanced at it sideways, and muttered, "Second Brother really thinks he's a water buffalo."

Gu Qiangying didn't even turn her head, and said indifferently, "If you have time to give your comments, why don't you make a couple more trips?"

Jiang He immediately shut up, hugged the winnowing basket tightly, and continued rinsing.

The rain intensified, and the wind whipped around it, making the main room door rattle loudly.

Gu Qiangying quickly went over and bolted the door shut, then reached out to steady the medicine shelf to prevent the bottles and jars from falling. The sounds of footsteps, water, and wind mingled together inside and outside the house, making the yard as chaotic as a battle.

A moment later, Xiao Yong rushed in carrying a bundle of freshly chopped firewood, his hair dripping wet, his chest heaving: "I've already lit the stove in the kitchen, the hot water will be ready in a bit."

Gu Qiangying glanced at him, her tone unusually gentle: "Okay. Go wipe yourself down, don't catch a cold."

"Um."

Xiao Yong agreed, then turned around and went to move more firewood, clearly not taking "Ceca" seriously.

Lin Qingqing poured the last basket of medicinal herbs into the bamboo basket. As she straightened up, she saw Xiao Yong bending over in the rain, neatly separating the wet and dry wood.

Rainwater slid down the back of his neck and into the grooves of his back, the lines as sharp as if carved by a knife. Her heart skipped a beat for no reason, and she quickly looked away, squatting down to wipe the water stains off the floor of the main room little by little.

……

The rain came suddenly and poured down. With the doors sealed off, no one could leave, so dinner had to be cooked fresh at the clinic.

The kitchen was dimly lit, but the fire in the stove was burning brightly.

Lin Qingqing rolled up her sleeves and started a fire. She first put scallions and ginger into the pot, and with a sizzle of hot oil, the aroma immediately filled the small kitchen. She poured in slices of cured meat and potato chunks and stir-fried them. The spatula made a soft clanging sound as it scraped against the bottom of the pot, and the steam carrying the aroma of oil rushed towards her face.

Jiang He lingered behind her like an inescapable ghost. First, he handed her a bowl, then a plate, and as he did so, he rested his chin on her shoulder, his voice soft and sticky: "Sister, it smells so good."

"Stay away, the oil will splatter." Lin Qingqing nudged him gently with her elbow.

Jiang He refused to leave, wrapping his arm around her side to hold the pot lid down for her, saying matter-of-factly, "I'll shield you."

A muffled clap of thunder rolled by outside, making the kitchen window frame shake.

The moment the thunder drowned out the murmurs, Jiang He lowered his head and quickly bit her earlobe.

Lin Qingqing's hand trembled, and the spatula almost slipped into the pot: "Jiang He!"

Jiang He's eyes crinkled at the corners, and he smiled innocently: "I didn't do anything."

"you……"

In the main room, Gu Qiangying was tending the medicine stove.

A small earthenware pot was simmering with a medicinal soup to ward off the cold; the pungent aroma of perilla leaves, ginger slices, and scallions warmed one's nose. Hearing the sound from the kitchen, he didn't even turn his head, but slowly added a piece of firewood; his voice drifted in through the curtain, neither too loud nor too soft.

"Jiang He, if your hands don't behave, you'll have to drink two bowls of your herbal medicine tonight."

Jiang He immediately raised his voice and retorted, "Why should I get two bowls!"

Gu Qiang said in a flat tone, "You have the worst temper. If you don't control it, you'll get mouth ulcers tomorrow."

Lin Qingqing suppressed a laugh and nudged Jiang He, saying, "Did you hear me? Go get the bowl."

Jiang He snorted, still sticking to his post: "I'm bringing it back too."

"Why did you come back?"

"I'm keeping an eye on you, so you don't get snatched away by my second brother."

"I'm not the meat in the pot."

"You smell better than meat," Jiang He said, moving closer.

Lin Qingqing reacted quickly, shoving a handful of garlic sprouts into his hand: "Peel them. Don't speak until you've peeled ten."

Jiang He looked aggrieved, but he still obediently squatted down on the small stool and started working.

He lowered his head to peel garlic sprouts, muttering to himself, "My third brother tricked me, and my sister tricked me too..."

In the main room, Gu Qiangying slowly skimmed off the foam with the back of a spoon, while listening intently to the sounds coming from the kitchen.

Occasionally, a low laugh could be heard. He raised his hand to push up his glasses, his lips twitching almost imperceptibly. He didn't go into the kitchen, nor did he ask any questions; he simply kept the heat of the medicine pot more steady.

The brothers lived under one roof, so they couldn't hear anything.

Even if you hear it, you don't necessarily have to expose it.

……

The rain continued until nightfall, showing no sign of stopping.

A shallow layer of water had accumulated in the courtyard, dripping from the eaves like broken threads. When the light shone on it, the surface of the water shimmered with tiny sparkles.

The light bulb was just turned on when dinner was served.

A dim, yellowish light enveloped the four of them, keeping the wind and rain out through the doors and windows, leaving only warmth and the aroma of food inside.

The table was laden with a sumptuous feast: braised pork with potatoes, glistening and fragrant; stir-fried garlic sprouts with eggs, their green and yellow hues distinct; honey pumpkin, soft, sweet and glutinous; a plate of reheated braised chicken legs, still steaming; and a large bowl of cornmeal dumpling soup on the side.

Outside, the wind and rain pounded against the glass; inside, chopsticks clattered against bowls, and people chatted and bickered—it was as lively as another world.

The first thing Xiao Yong did after sitting down was to pick up his bowl and start eating.

He ate quickly, finishing half a bowl in just a few bites, and soon sweat appeared on his forehead.

Jiang He sat next to Lin Qingqing, his chopsticks almost never stopping as he picked out the best pieces and put them in her bowl: "This chicken leg is tender, you eat it. This pumpkin is sweet, you can have it too. This egg..."

Gu Qiangying raised her hand and gently tapped the rim of his bowl with her chopsticks: "Eat the carrots in your own bowl first."

Jiang He frowned: "I don't like it."

"A picky eater has no right to serve food to others."

"What's wrong with me putting food on my sister's plate?"

"Pick a piece of vegetables for her, and eat one less piece of vegetables yourself. Your throat will hurt tomorrow, so don't shout."

Jiang He was unconvinced. He stared at the few pieces of carrot in the bowl for two seconds, but finally stuffed them into his mouth with a frustrated expression.

Xiao Yong looked up at him and chuckled softly.

Jiang He immediately bristled: "Second Brother, what are you laughing at!"

With food still in his mouth, Xiao Yong mumbled, "I wasn't laughing at you, I was laughing at the carrot."

Lin Qingqing laughed so hard her shoulders shook, and quickly ladled a spoonful of hot soup for Jiang He: "Alright, have some hot soup."

Gu Qiangying casually pushed the medicine bowl over: "Drink this first, it will dispel the cold."

Jiang He's eyes widened: "Again? I didn't get much rain today!"

Gu Qiangying remained calm: "You spend the most time in the kitchen, so your temper is the strongest. It's better to be safe than sorry."

"Then my second brother got caught in the rain too!"

"One bowl for second brother, two bowls for you." Gu Qiangying looked at him. "Any objections?"

Jiang He: "..."

Lin Qingqing almost burst out laughing, and coughed twice, covering her mouth with her head.

Gu Qiangying immediately handed her a glass of warm water, her voice softening, "Drink slowly, don't choke."

Xiao Yong also stopped eating and looked over: "Is it too spicy? I'll pour you some honey water."

"It's not spicy, it's just a laugh," Lin Qingqing quickly waved her hand.

Jiang He held the bowl of medicine, his face contorted with bitterness, yet he still continued his accusation: "Third Brother deliberately tricked me."

Gu Qiangying said calmly, "You bit today..."

He paused halfway through his sentence, his gaze sweeping over Lin Qingqing's reddened earlobes. Without changing his expression, he changed his words, "You talked too much today. Take your medicine and calm down."

Xiao Yong, oblivious to the subtlety, nodded in agreement: "Yes, Fifth Brother, you certainly talk too much."

Jiang He rolled her eyes and snorted angrily, "You two are in cahoots."

By the time they were halfway through the meal, Xiao Yong had already eaten his third bowl of rice, and a thin layer of sweat had formed on his back.

Despite his complaints, Jiang He was still carefully picking fish bones from Lin Qingqing's bones.

Gu Qiangying would occasionally remove the oily dishes from her bowl and replace them with lighter ones, her movements as natural as if it were a long-standing habit.

There was a lot of bickering and arguing around the table.

The wind and rain outside seemed to be truly separated from the outside world by this door.