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

"I'm not a child," Jiang He muttered discontentedly. "I know everything I need to know. Besides, I'm smarter than them. I can see right through my older brother's little schemes."

Seeing his defiant look, Lin Qingqing suddenly had an idea.

Although this trip into the mountains was thrilling, it also allowed her to see the outside world.

That vastness, that unknown, though full of danger, is also full of possibilities.

Jiang He was like a young wolf trapped in this small village. No matter how smart or fierce he was, his vision was always blocked by the surrounding mountains.

"Xiao He," Lin Qingqing's voice softened, tinged with a hint of probing, "have you ever thought about going out and seeing the world?"

Jiang He paused for a moment, then rubbed his face against her palm. "Where to?"

"Go outside."

Lin Qingqing pointed to the dark mountain shadows in the distance.

"Beyond this mountain, there are county towns, provincial capitals, and even more distant places."

My third brother told me that the outside world is very big, with tall buildings, cars and trains, and many people.

"You're so smart and quick-witted, you shouldn't spend your whole life feeding pigs in this village."

She was sincere.

Jiang He may have a somewhat eccentric personality, but he is capable.

In this era, as long as you dare to venture out, you can always make a name for yourself.

Jiang He stopped stroking the piglet completely.

He slowly straightened up, his eyes, which always held a smile, now filled with tranquility. He looked at Lin Qingqing as if trying to see into her heart through her eyes.

"Does my sister think I'm useless?" Jiang He asked.

"No," Lin Qingqing quickly explained, "I just feel it's a pity. You're still so young..."

"It's no pity," Jiang He interrupted her.

He took a step forward, almost touching Lin Qingqing through the fence.

"Sister, no matter how big the outside world is, is it bigger than you?"

Jiang He's voice was very soft, but he emphasized every word.

"I don't care about skyscrapers, cars, or trains. I just love this courtyard, I love the food my eldest brother cooks, I love my third brother calling me stupid, and I love... the scent of my sister."

He reached out and, through the thin fabric of his shirt, loosely wrapped his arms around Lin Qingqing's waist.

"You're all here, I'm not going anywhere."

His eyes were clear yet obsessive, like a bottomless lake that absorbed all the light, reflecting only Lin Qingqing's image.

Looking at his serious expression, Lin Qingqing felt a pang of sadness, as if something had struck her heart.

She suddenly realized how heavy the word "home" was for someone like Jiang He who had been abandoned since childhood.

It's not that he doesn't want to fly; he's afraid that if he flies too far, he won't be able to find a branch to land on when he looks back.

That extreme lack of security made him confine himself to his own little world, clinging tightly to this small corner of the earth and the few people who gave him warmth.

"fool."

Lin Qingqing sighed and reached out to touch his hair.

His hair was a bit prickly, just like his temper.

"Okay, I'm not going anywhere, I'll just stay home."

Upon hearing this, Jiang He's tense shoulders instantly relaxed. He leaned forward, burying his head in her arms, and took a deep breath.

"Sister, you smell so good," he said in a muffled voice, his tone slightly coquettish.

Lin Qingqing gave him a helpless push, "What's so pleasant about it? Get up, you're so heavy."

"No," Jiang He protested, pulling his arms even tighter. "Sister, you have to take me with you next time you go out. Don't take Big Brother, and don't take Third Brother, just take me, okay?"

"You guys went out this time, leaving me all alone at home. I was so bored. I had to see Chen Qinghe's stinky face and listen to Su Jiaojiao, that shrew, yelling. I don't care, I want to go next time too."

"Okay, okay, I'll take you." Lin Qingqing couldn't resist his pestering, so she could only stroke him gently. "I'll take you to the market in the county town next time, alright?"

"Really?" Jiang He suddenly looked up, her eyes sparkling. "Pinky promise?"

"How old are you, still making pinky promises?" Lin Qingqing said, both amused and exasperated.

"Let's pinky swear." Jiang He stubbornly extended his little finger.

Lin Qingqing had no choice but to hook her finger with his.

The door to the main room creaked open.

Qin Lie stepped across the threshold and looked up to see two heads huddled together in the middle of the courtyard.

Jiang He clung to Lin Qingqing like he had no bones. He only straightened up lazily when he heard the noise, his little finger still hooked around Lin Qingqing's fingers.

"Finished talking?"

Jiang He turned his head, his gaze sweeping over Qin Lie and Li Dongye's faces before finally settling on Li Dongye's noticeably reddened eyes. "Fourth Brother, what's wrong? Did Big Brother scold you and make you cry?"

Li Dongye took a deep breath, took out the pack of Daqianmen cigarettes from his pocket, wanted to smoke it, but glanced at Lin Qingqing and put it back.

He rubbed his face, forcibly suppressing the heavy and oppressive emotions he had just felt, and replaced them with his usual carefree smile.

"Get lost." Li Dongye gave Jiang He a light kick in the butt. "My older brother is teaching me how to get rich, what do you know, you little brat?"

Jiang He pursed his lips, clearly not believing it. Just as he was about to say something more sarcastic, a rich aroma of meat wafted out from the western side room on the wind.

My stomach growled, just as it was supposed to.

"Dinner's ready." Qin Lie didn't give Jiang He a chance to ask any more questions. He waved his hand and walked into the kitchen first.

The kitchen was filled with the aroma of cooking.

Gu Qiangying wore a dusty gray apron around her waist, held a cookbook in her left hand and a spatula in her right, and was flipping through the food while reading the recipe, her brows furrowed.

The large iron pot was bubbling away, and the bright red broth coated the square pieces of pork belly, making it look incredibly tempting.

Lin Qingqing followed Qin Lie in, her mouth watering at the aroma.

She leaned over to help get the bowls and chopsticks, but before her hand even touched the cupboard, she was met with a cold, indifferent glance from Gu Qiangying.

"Get out of here."

Gu Qiangying's hands kept moving as she stirred the pot with a long ladle in her other hand. "There's a lot of smoke in here, don't let it get into your clothes that you just changed. I'll have to wash them for you later."

Lin Qingqing withdrew her hand and retorted softly, "I can wash it myself."

"The water's cold." Gu Qiangying scooped up a spoonful of soup and tasted it. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she added some sugar. "If you wash your clothes a few more times, I'll have to change your herbal medicine."

Hearing this, Li Dongye, who had followed him in, leaned against the doorframe and chuckled, "When are you going to do the laundry, Third Brother? Could you wash mine too?"

Gu Qiangying raised an eyebrow, turned around, holding the gleaming spatula in her hand, and looked at Li Dongye with a half-smile:

"If you don't know how to wash your own clothes, I'll prescribe you two doses of medicine. After you drink them, you'll be able to wash them."

Li Dongye shrugged and patted Lin Qingqing on the shoulder: "Come on, let's not play with him."

Gu Qiangying turned and tapped Lin Qingqing on the head, "Not getting along with the cook? Believe me, I'll serve you both plain rice later, and I won't even pour soup on you."

Lin Qingqing covered her forehead; it didn't actually hurt at all, but Gu Qiangying rarely talked so much.

She secretly glanced at Li Dongye, as if she suddenly realized that anyone who was with Li Dongye would become more talkative.

"Fine, I won't give it to you then." Lin Qingqing was dragged out of the kitchen. "My older brother will definitely share some with me."

Qin Lie was serving rice when he heard this. He slammed the overflowing bowl of rice onto the table. "Everyone's here. Eat."

Gu Qiangying chuckled softly, turned around, and ladled the vegetables out of the pot.

The family argued and bickered, and another day passed like that.