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

"I heard that Li Ergou broke his leg because of her. What a menace."

"That's right, he doesn't look proper at all, and the way he wiggles his butt, isn't he afraid of breaking his back?"

Lin Qingqing kept her head down, the clothes in her hands crumpled in her hands. As an outsider and a widow, if she got into an argument, she would be the one who suffered in the end.

"Splash—"

Just then, a basin of dirty water was suddenly splashed at Lin Qingqing's feet, splattering mud all over her trousers.

"Oops, my hand slipped." Wang Dazui exclaimed in feigned surprise, but a smug smile was on his face. "Little sister, you've wasted your time washing these clothes. Why don't you take them off and I'll scrub them for you?"

Laughter erupted from all sides.

Lin Qingqing held back her tears and was about to stand up and find another place when a loud shout suddenly came from behind her.

"Let's see who dares to touch her!"

The sound was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, startling Wang Dazui so much that he dropped the soap in his hand.

Everyone turned around and saw Xiao Yong standing on the embankment at some point. He was shirtless, his muscles were taut like rocks, and he was carrying half a bag of nails that had just been driven in. His dark face was so gloomy that it looked like he wanted to devour someone.

He strode down, stirring up a gust of wind.

"Who just splashed the water?" Xiao Yong's gaze swept fiercely across the crowd.

No one dared to speak. Wang Dazui shrank his neck, trying to hide in the crowd.

Xiao Yong sneered, strode up to Wang Dazui, raised his foot, and with a "bang," kicked over the large wooden basin full of clothes in front of Wang Dazui.

Clothes, soap, and a stick were scattered all over the ground, floating downstream with the water.

"Ouch! My clothes! You damned Xiao Lao Er, are you crazy?!" Wang Da Zui slapped his thigh in distress and screamed.

"Am I crazy?" Xiao Yong slammed the bag of nails on the ground with a loud crash that sent shivers down everyone's spines. He pointed at Wang Dazui's nose, his eyes wide and bulging, veins popping on his neck: "If I hear you spewing filth again, I'll knock all your teeth out! You try me!"

His reckless, thuggish demeanor intimidated all the women present. Everyone knew that the second son of the Qin family was a scoundrel who never fought to the death; who would dare to provoke him?

Wang Dazui was so frightened that his face turned ashen, and he sat down on the ground with a thud, not even daring to cry anymore.

Xiao Yong turned around and looked at Lin Qingqing, who was squatting on the ground trembling. His anger instantly turned into tenderness.

He bent down, snatched the clothes from Lin Qingqing's hands, stuffed them haphazardly into the basin, then, holding the basin in one hand, grabbed Lin Qingqing's slender wrist with the other.

"Let's go home!"

His palms were large and rough, covered in calluses, yet they were burning hot.

Lin Qingqing stumbled as he pulled her, and had to jog to catch up.

"Second brother...the clothes aren't finished washing yet..."

"Wash my ass! I'll wash you when we get home!" Xiao Yong said without turning his head, pulling her through the crowd as if to announce to the whole village who this land belonged to.

From the village entrance to the Qin family compound, there were many people watching along the way.

Xiao Yong stood tall and proud, while Lin Qingqing lowered her head, her face as red as a ripe shrimp, but she did not break free from his hand.

She could feel the strength of that large hand, and that domineering yet genuine protective instinct.

In the Qin family courtyard.

Qin Lie sat on a low stool, testing the blade of the gleaming sickle.

"Sizzle—"

The blade sliced ​​through the wood, shaving off a thin layer of curled edge.

The courtyard gate was pushed open, and Xiao Yong strode in, pulling Lin Qingqing along with him.

Qin Lie stopped moving.

His gaze fell on their clasped hands.

That fair and delicate little hand was tightly wrapped by that rough and dark big hand, which was glaringly obvious.

"Relax."

Qin Lie stood up, his voice not loud, but carrying a chill.

Xiao Yong paused, but didn't let go. Instead, he pulled Lin Qingqing behind him, craning his neck to look at Qin Lie: "Big brother, those gossipy women bullied Qingqing. What's wrong with me bringing her back?"

"I'll let you off the hook." Qin Lie placed the sickle on the whetstone, making a crisp sound. He walked over step by step, his tall figure exuding an extremely strong sense of oppression.

Lin Qingqing sensed that something was wrong and quickly struggled, saying, "Second Brother, you're hurting me..."

Xiao Yong then realized what had happened and quickly let go of Lin Qingqing's wrist. Looking at the red mark around her wrist, he felt somewhat annoyed: "Sister, I'm sorry, I'm a rough guy, I don't know my own strength..."

Lin Qingqing rubbed her wrist and quickly stepped aside, not daring to look at the two men who were fighting like cocks.

Qin Lie walked up to Xiao Yong. The two were of similar height, but their auras were completely different. One was as deep as the sea, and the other was as fiery as a raging wildfire.

"From now on, you don't need to get involved in these kinds of things," Qin Lie said in a deep voice. "She's a member of this family, and no one dares to really touch her."

"Brother, I don't like hearing that." Xiao Yong's stubborn streak kicked in. He wiped his nose. "She's part of our family, that's true, but that doesn't mean she's yours alone, right? Just now by the river, I was the one protecting her, I was the one standing up for her! Where were you then?"

Qin Lie narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint flashing in them: "What are you trying to say?"

"You know what I'm trying to say, brother!" Xiao Yong took a step closer, their noses almost touching. "Our family rules dictate that good things are always won through fair competition. Qingqing isn't married yet; whoever treats her well and has the ability will get her!"

The moment those words were spoken, the air in the courtyard seemed to freeze.

Lin Qingqing covered her mouth in horror. This thin veil of secrecy had been torn down by Xiao Yong, that hothead.

Qin Lie stared at Xiao Yong for a long time, then suddenly curled the corners of his mouth into a smile. However, the smile did not reach his eyes; instead, it sent chills down one's spine.

"OK."

He uttered a single word, "Then let's see if you have the ability."

Night falls.

Night falls quickly in the mountains, and darkness descends completely.

The Qin family courtyard was quiet, with only the incessant chirping of cicadas, which was quite irritating.

The sound of rushing water could be heard from the makeshift bathhouse in the corner of the courtyard.

The bathhouse was simply supported by a few bamboo poles and surrounded by a straw curtain. Because it had been in disrepair for many years, the straw curtain was somewhat sparse, and through the gaps, one could see the dim candlelight inside.

Lin Qingqing was taking a bath inside.

Hot water poured over her, washing away the day's dust and fright. She hummed a tuneless little tune as she raised her arm to wipe the side of her neck.

A delicate silhouette was reflected on the straw curtain.

Her slender waist and full curves swayed gently with her movements, like a silent shadow play, yet more captivating than any opera.

In the courtyard, two men sat on the steps at the entrance of the main room, separated by a pot of old wine.

No one spoke.

Qin Lie held the wine bowl in his hand, his knuckles turning white, his gaze fixed intently on the swaying straw curtain, his Adam's apple bobbing violently.

Xiao Yong even forgot to drink his wine, his big eyes staring straight at the shadow, his breathing heavy like a bellows, and fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

"Splash—"

The person inside seemed to stand up, and the sound of water droplets sliding down their body could be clearly heard.

Xiao Yong gulped down a large mouthful of liquor, the pungent liquid choking him and causing him to cough. His voice was hoarse, as if he had sand in his mouth: "Brother... who can handle this...?"

Qin Lie ignored him, simply downing his drink in one gulp. In his eyes, which shone brightly in the darkness, a burning desire surged, ready to devour anyone.

fair play?

He sneered inwardly.

In a wolf pack, the meat always belongs only to the alpha wolf.