Sweet Rustic Love: Four Brothers' Wife

Chapter 626-650

Chapter 626

When Dongfang Ming saw this, he lifted his eyes and looked at her with no expression. “Get out!”

Before he started taking the medicine, he didn’t mind it when she came in straight after knocking without waiting for him to reply. He just treated it as if she was a mischievous little sister.

But now, he really hated when she did this. He felt that it was a complete lack of manners!

However, Wang Xiangyun smiled when she heard him. “Brother Ming, since neither of us is sleeping right now, why don’t we have a chat.”

“I have nothing to say to you! Get out.” Dongfang Ming didn’t look at her, his head looking down at the book in his hand.

He had a habit of reading a book before going to sleep.

Feeling a bit disappointed, Wang Xiangyun just sat on the stool and looked at him by herself.

She had heard these words so many times her ears were about to grow calluses!

She knew Dongfang Ming didn’t like her but she just couldn’t figure out why.

She was clearly not ugly but she just couldn’t get him to like her.

She always felt heartache and a sense of loss when he treated her coldly but she didn’t want to give up. He was the man she had loved for a long time. How could she just let go so easily?

She just kept looking at him, not uttering a sound and also not going out…

Dongfang Ming frowned ever so slightly. He said without even lifting his head, “Xiangyun, go back to your own room!”

It wasn’t good for a single man and a single woman to share the same room. He didn’t want to ruin her reputation although he didn’t care much for his own.

He chased her out again!

Wang Xiangyun puckered her lips and felt unhappy and irritated. “Brother Ming, why do you always chase me out? Can’t I just sit here and watch you quietly? Aren’t you being a bit too tyrannical?”

Dongfang Ming heard a hint of coquettishness in her rebuke and he repeated again, “Get out!”

He kept staring at the book all the while, not even bothering to lift his head.

As if she wasn’t even more interesting than the book.

She’d come all the way because she wanted to spend more time with him. However, she was always rejected and kept at a distance.

She got up and walked forward angrily. She wanted to snatch the book in Dongfang Ming’s hand and throw it away. However, he stepped back and dodged her.

The gaze he gave her showed he was obviously displeased. However, he was very self-cultivated so he didn’t get angry. “Get out!”

Get out, get out. These were the two words that he used all the time. Wang Xiangyun put both her hands on the desk and stared at him. Her beautiful eyes were fuming with anger. “Brother Ming, can you stop treating me this way constantly? I don’t want to go out, I don’t, and I won’t! I want to stay with you.”

Upon hearing her, Dongfang Ming put down the book in his hand and stood up. Without saying a word, he pulled her towards the door.

Won’t go out?

Then he would personally send her out!

He dragged her towards the door. Wang Xiangyun initially wanted to act shamelessly and refuse to move by crouching but she was not strong enough so she was still being dragged towards the door. She suddenly stood up and hugged Dongfang Ming’s waist.

“I don’t want to go out! Brother Ming, can you please not chase me out? I like you, I’ve liked you ever since I was young. We are engaged, you cannot keep treating me like this.”

Dongfang Ming pulled her away and said angrily, “Wang Xiangyun, please conduct yourself with dignity! I will say it one last time. I don’t like you and will never marry you. This engagement will be nullified once I go back to the capital and cancel it. You should also stop pestering me shamelessly. So annoying…”

Cancel the engagement?

This word felt even more painful to hear than hearing him say he didn’t like her.

Wang Xiangyun immediately started to cry. “I don’t agree with this! Brother Ming, I won’t agree with canceling our engagement. If you don’t want to go back to the capital to discuss the marriage then that’s fine. I will wait for you. I will wait for you no matter how long it takes. But I definitely will not agree to cancel the engagement!”

She wouldn’t marry any other person in this life!

Chapter 627

Wang Xiangyun’s weeping face was like a flower after a refreshing rain. It clearly looked like something that would make anyone who saw it feel heartache and pity. However, Dongfang Ming didn’t feel anything at all.

He said something that made her feel even sadder: “I will never marry you no matter what year it is. Your disagreement is completely invalid to me!”

After he finished speaking, he didn’t waste any more time and pulled her out the door.

With the sound of a bang, the room door was shut tightly and it was also locked.

Wang Xiangyun looked at the closed door and tears kept streaming down her cheeks…

It wasn’t that she’d never thought about giving up before…she’d thought about it not so long ago. However, whenever she thought about the man she’d liked since she was young living with another woman, it felt unbearable and made her not want to let him go!

She wanted to be with him no matter what…

At this time, a woman who was about Wang Xiangyun’s age walked over. She wiped her tears and helped her up. “Miss, don’t cry anymore. Let’s go back to our room.”

Her tears kept coming out like a flood that had broken through a dike. Wang Xiangyun mumbled out, “Little Tian, why does Brother Ming always treat me like this? He…he even said he wants to cancel our engagement. Boohoo…”

She hugged her tightly and kept crying. She was very very sad…

The servant girl named Little Tian was also twenty years old but slightly older than Wang Xiangyun by three months. The two of them had grown up together because her grandmother was Wang Xiangyun’s wet nurse. Although she was her servant, they were as close as sisters. Wang Xiangyun would share all her personal thoughts with her.

She was as sweet as her name suggested [1]. Although she wasn’t very beautiful her smile was extremely sweet. Moreover, this name had been personally given to her by Wang Xiangyun!

“Miss, Dongfang Ming perhaps just said that to scare you, don’t take it as the truth. Let’s go back to our room. Don’t cry, if you keep crying your eyes won’t be beautiful anymore…”

Little Tian spoke softly, trying to cheer her up. She helped her back to their room.

When they arrived back in the room, Little Tian asked her to sit down and she went to get some hot water to wipe the tear stains from her face.

“Miss, please stop crying, okay? Dongfang Ming won’t cancel the engagement. You need to relax. Come on, stop crying…”

She didn’t know why she was so obsessed with Dongfang Ming. It was like her soul would leave her body if she didn’t see him for one day.

When Dongfang Ming suddenly left the capital to come to this small town, in order to find out where he went, Wang Xiangyun would go to Dongfang’s mansion every day and kept pestering Ming Yan, Dongfang Ming’s personal bodyguard.

In order not to get found out and followed by Wang Xiangyun, Dongfang Ming didn’t bring Ming Yan with him.

Although Ming Yan didn’t tell her where he went, he forgot his own mother would help Wang Xiangyun to put pressure on Ming Yan. In the end, he let her know where Dongfang Ming went.

Wang Xiangyun asked while she wiped her tears, “Little Tian, why did you say Brother Ming won’t cancel the engagement?”

“Miss, this engagement was set up by Madam and Mrs. Dongfang. Is he able to cancel it just because he said so? Would Mrs. Dongfang agree? Miss, you need to relax and stop crying…”

“But…”

Little Tian interrupted her and said, “No buts. Miss, I know what you want to say, but you don’t need to worry about those things. Mrs. Dongfang and Madam will take care of all of them!”

There would be people who opposed him if Dongfang Ming wanted to cancel the engagement, so why should they think so much of it?

“Miss, if you don’t want to marry anyone other than Dongfang Ming, then you only need to wait until you become his bride. You don’t need to think about anything else. If you feel tired and want to give up, Little Tian will also support you.”

Truth be told, she didn’t want her Miss to marry Dongfang Ming. It was because she didn’t think she would have a happy life if she married him. This was because he didn’t just dislike her slightly, but he totally didn’t like her at all!

Endnote:

[1] The literal translation of Little Tian’s name is “small sweet.”

Chapter 628

“No, I will not give up!” Wang Xiangyun said with determination as she wiped away her tears.

If she had to give up, she would have done so long ago. Why now?

It was not that there weren’t any other men who liked her, but she had her eyes and heart on no one else except Dongfang Ming.

Little Tian gave a brief sigh before using a towel to wipe away Xiangyun’s tears. “If that’s the case, Miss, don’t cry anymore, or your beautiful eyes will become swollen and puffy when you wake up tomorrow. Then you won’t be able to look good in front of Master Dongfang.”

“Right, I can’t cry anymore. I can’t let Brother Ming see me like this.”

Wang Xiangyun took over the towel and dried the tears herself. She took several deep breaths, trying to control her emotions and stop her tears from flowing.

Dongfang Ming returned to his original spot, not affected at all by the commotion. He brought the book back into his hands and continued reading…

On the other side of town, Liu Duo was tending to Ye Mo’s long hair. When she was finished, she put down the comb and said, “Are you pleased with my service, my lord?”

Ye Mo toyed with the strands of hair by her ears and said arrogantly, “Wife, you call me Mo, not ‘my lord!’ Your service was sloppy. There were several times when I thought my scalp would fall off.”

Pffft, Ye Liu chuckled.

Liu Duo rolled her eyes. That meant he was giving her bad reviews then?

She had just asked a random question. She did not expect him to pick it up and give her an honest review in a lordly manner.

“Little Duo, if you’re the one combing my hair, I won’t feel any pain even if you do shave me bald,” Ye Liu said jokingly.

“Geez…”

“Geez…”

Liu Duo and Ye Mo uttered their annoyance at the same time. What a bootlicker!

“Liu, do you plan to become a monk anytime soon? You mentioned becoming bald just now.” Ye Mo rolled his eyes at his brother.

Pffft! This time it was Liu Duo who laughed. Ye Mo’s tone sounded so childish!

Ye Liu leaned against the wall column with his arms crossed. He said deviously, “If Little Duo wants to scrape away my magnificent, jet black hair, if she wants to see how I look bald so much, I’ll be happy to comply. I know I’m handsome, and I’ll still be handsome even if I’m bald! Mo, you don’t have to be a monk to be bald. After all, those who resumed secular life started off like that as well. Their hair only grew back later. Your brother, and I mean me, has fallen for a woman. I can’t possibly live a monk’s life!”

He even winked at Liu Duo. “Am I right, our Lady of the House?”

His pair of mesmerizing eyes sent sparks to Liu Duo every time he did that. Her face flushed, her bashfulness unable to be hidden.

Just then, Ye Ling finished his bath and came out of the bathroom, carrying two empty buckets. He headed to the kitchen to check on his family.

Gently, he called out, “Duo Er, do you want to bath now? The water should be ready.”

She turned around when she heard his voice. “Oh, sure.”

Then she walked over to him. Her change of clothes had already been left in the bathroom.

Ye Ling’s fair skin managed to flush red after a hot bath. It made him look even more delectable.

“Ling, wait for me, alright? We’ll go up together after I’m done.” With that, she took over one bucket in his hand. “I’ll take that.”

“Alright, I’ll wait for you,” Ye Ling nodded with a smile.

He had thought it over. Since his brothers were so worried about him and had made arrangements to accommodate, then he would listen to them and sleep with Liu Duo so that they could worry less.

Actually, ever since he found out he had been tricked, he became less frightened of the prospect of having to marry Li Chunmei.

Chapter 629

“Ling, I can fetch hot water for Little Duo. You can wait there with Mo. You’ve taken a bath so best not get sweaty again.” Ye Liu came forward and grabbed the other empty bucket from him.

Ye Ling nodded and walked over to where Ye Mo sat.

The sky had slowly darkened. Ye Liu took the buckets to the bathroom after fetching the hot water.

Liu Duo wanted to close the door to take her bath but Ye Liu would not move out of the way. He said, “Little Duo, I think I should still take a bath with you. It’s much more fun that way.”

“Fat chance!” Liu Duo rolled her eyes at him. She felt she might very soon become the master of eye-rolls.

How many times can one roll their eyes in one day?

“Since you haven’t bathed yet, why don’t you help Yang peel some garlic? You might learn something from him, like more work, less talk!”

And then she pushed him out and shut the door in his face.

Ye Liu bellowed as he leaned on the door, “Sure thing! I’ll listen to you and learn from Yang. Then you’ll have to reward me tomorrow by sharing a bath with me!”

“I’ll reward you with my fists! How about that, rogue?” Liu Duo’s resentment sounded out from inside.

Ye Liu chuckled and stopped teasing her. He turned around and went back to the kitchen to help peel the garlic.

Liu Duo heard the sounds of his footsteps trailing away before disrobing to take her bath.

Ye Ling found himself in the same room with Ye Mo. He said, “Mo, you can sleep with Duo Er tonight. I promise I won’t think about the incident. Don’t worry about me.”

“Ling, can you not be so sentimental? We don’t simply change what is already decided, alright?” Ye Mo fumbled with his hair, bearing a serious look on his face.

His youngest brother was perfect, but he had the tendency to nag.

“Oh.”

Ye Ling did not want to upset Mo, so he agreed not to talk about it again.

A few moments later, Ye Mo suddenly closed in on Ye Ling and, in whispers, offered a suggestion. “Ling, what do you think about you and I sleeping with our wife tonight?”

For one thing, he could keep an eye on Ye Ling; for another, he could still sleep with Liu Duo according to their arrangement! That was basically killing two birds with one stone!

Ye Ling’s eyes widened when he heard that. Did Mo suggest that the three of them sleep together?

Could his ears have deceived him?

Seeing him react like that, Ye Mo whispered some more, “Ling, we’re all Little Duo’s husbands. Even if Yang, Liu and us two sleep with her all at once, it’s still normal!”

Ah?

Ye Ling became even more surprised than before. What crazy things had he just heard?

Ye Mo had gotten him spooked.

Ye Ling gulped and whispered back, “Mo, this… this isn’t quite right, is it? Even though the four of us are her husbands, five people sleeping together is too… It just won’t do!”

Even if they might not do anything, it was just too embarrassing an image to think about!

So, would Duo Er sleep in the middle? While the four of them slept on both sides of her?

The more he refused to think about it, the more easily the image seeped into his brain. He could clearly see what was going on. And so, a blush came onto his handsome face. Even his ears went scarlet red.

He realized he was letting his imagination run wild, so he quickly changed the topic. “Mo, you’re going to town tomorrow, aren’t you? Can you buy some writing paper while you’re there? We’ve used them up quite quickly because we’ve been practicing a lot.”

“Sure, I’ll remember that,” Ye Mo nodded in acknowledgment.

Just when Ye Ling thought he had managed to turn the tables and therefore breathed a sigh of relief, he heard Ye Mo whisper to him again, “You’re right. It’s not very practical if all four of us and Duo Er go at it at once. The bed is only that big, but if it’s just the three of us, I think there’s some room to spare.”

Chapter 630

Er…

Ye Ling just stayed there, stunned. For a moment, he did not know how he should respond.

He thought that even if he agreed to Mo’s proposal, Liu Duo would never go through with it, would she? Also, three of them sleeping together would be as equally embarrassing as five of them sleeping together! The idea seemed quite exciting.

“Mo, Ling, what are you mumbling about here?” Liu Duo walked towards them.

They had their heads lowered, deep in whispers, and only looked up when they heard Liu Duo calling them.

Ye Mo beamed at Liu Duo, putting on a cool and serious face. “Nothing at all, just having a chat with Ling.”

They were just chatting, but they had their arms bent around each other’s shoulders and hung their heads low. They were whispering too, as though afraid to be overheard.

Liu Duo did not believe him one bit. She beamed back at Ye Mo, then looked over to Ye Ling who was already blushing.

“Ling, let’s go up.”

She knew better than to ask. Ye Mo would not tell her. Ye Ling would not tell her either. So she dropped her inquiries.

There was one time when Ye Liu had talked to Ye Ling about something. No matter how much she pestered him later, Ye Ling would not give in and tell her.

“Oh, alright,” Ye Ling responded but still avoided looking her in the eyes. He seemed shy.

Liu Duo held him by the arms. She was about to head upstairs when she tossed Ye Mo another sideways glance, wondering, what did he tell Ling, anyway? Ling seems so shy now, he won’t even look at me.

Ye Mo caught Liu Duo glancing back at him. He took the cue and went up to her, holding her by her thin arms too. “Wife, I saw you looking at me. Do you want me to come too? Sure! I’ll take that as you allowing the three of us to sleep together.”

Ah?

Liu Duo was taken aback by his statement. What did he mean?

Sleep together?

Ye Ling heard what Mo said. He snuck a glimpse at Liu Duo’s reaction, only to find that she did not really have one.

So was that a yes or a no?

“Wife, you must be too happy for words to hear that Ling and I want to sleep with you, am I right? It’s totally fine even if you want all four of us at once. After all, we are your husbands!”

Ye Mo saw her just standing there in a daze, so he took the liberty of giving her smooth and chubby cheeks a little pinch.

The feeling successfully transmitted to her brain and she finally came to. Flustered, she slapped his hand away and grumbled, “You’re so shameless! Who says I want you to sleep with us? You and your fantasies!”

She broke away from the hand clutching her arm. “Ling, let’s go. Ignore that shameless man.”

He had to be drunk! He actually thought about getting three, maybe even all five, of them to sleep together?

If one of them wanted intimacy with her, then did that mean the others should have a go too? Wouldn’t that be too much?

Ye Ling, who was being dragged along, looked back at Ye Mo, as though saying, Mo, I told you Duo Er wouldn’t like it.

Ye Mo followed them anyway. He flipped his long hair, which was mostly dry by then, and said, “Wife, you say I’m shameless. That means you think I don’t have an image to upkeep? If I really didn’t value my image or my face, I think you may faint, my dear. Because I really like my face. It’s the reason I’m so handsome. I won’t give it up for anything.”

Damn him!

Liu Duo just gave him a stink eye as she thought, the rogues of this house have mastered the art of being thick-skinned!

She continued to ignore him as she led Ye Ling all the way to the fourth floor, then slammed the door in Ye Mo’s face when they got into the room.

“Ling, you two were talking about this just now, weren’t you? What were you thinking?” She turned around to face Ye Ling.

Chapter 631

Ye Ling did not expect Liu Duo would direct the question to him. For a moment, he could not come up with an answer. The blush hung onto his face as he stammered.

Like a kid who had done something wrong, Ye Ling chanced a glimpse at Liu Duo and nodded shyly. “Mo… did say something like that.”

Since she was already so sure of it, it would make matters worse if he deflected the matter. She would not like that.

And he did not want to upset her.

“Duo Er, Mo was only joking. Don’t take it seriously,” Ye Ling said to Liu Duo, who was standing angrily in front of him.

That was what he said, but secretly he was slightly interested in Ye Mo’s suggestion, and he even thought about trying it.

Liu Duo took a glance at his crimson face and chortled, before walking to her dresser. “Let’s not talk about this, Ling. You get into bed first, I’m combing my hair.”

Even if Ye Mo said it with a straight face, she would not agree to it!

Ye Ling followed her to the dresser and said gently, “Let me help you, Duo Er.”

He liked combing her hair, all black and smooth, not like other girls and women whose hair had become so dry and obviously difficult to comb through.

Liu Duo passed the comb to him and he got straight to work.

Shut outside, Ye Mo merely stayed for a while before going back to his room downstairs.

Swallowed by warm, yellowish candlelight, Liu Duo’s room seemed cozy with subtle hints of love in the air.

“It’s done, Duo Er,” Ye Ling said, placing the comb back on the dresser.

Liu Duo got up from her seat. “Alright, let’s get to sleep.”

Next, she disrobed until she only had her undergarments on, and headed towards the bed.

Ye Ling just kept blushing, unable to look at her. He reached the bed, took off his clothes, but would not get in it.

Instead, he peered at Liu Duo as she pulled up the blanket.

This was the first time they would be sleeping together since their consummation. He was a little nervous and…excited?

Liu Duo, who had gotten in the bed, wondered why he was taking so long. She turned to look at him only to find him in a daze by the bed, wearing a white undershirt and his modified underpants, his face a bright crimson.

She dropped the blanket and scooted over to his side of the bed. “Ling, do you intend to stand here all night?”

When had he felt embarrassed about sharing a bed with her?

“Duo Er, cover yourself with the blanket first, would you? I’m going to blow out the oil lamp.” Ye Ling laid eyes on her exposed skin, looking so fair and so very smooth!

Seeing him constantly looking away from her, her lips curled up. She grabbed his hand and let him sit on the side.

“Ling, why are you so shy now? Didn’t I tell you last time, that there’s nothing to be shy about between us?”

In his current state, Liu Duo felt like pouncing on him.

Ye Ling dried his throat and said, albeit adorably, “I’m just feeling a little hot, that’s all. I’m not shy.”

Hot?

It was raining outside, and they could barely feel any heat so how could that be the reason for the redness on his face?

Even his ears were flushed red!

Liu Duo stayed silent for a while and just stared at him. Slowly, sweat began to flow from his forehead and the tip of his nose.

Er…

Was he really that hot?

She decided to unbutton his undershirt. “Ling, you have to take this off. What were you thinking, wearing long sleeves like this? Cut them off when you have the time. Make it into a vest. Then you won’t feel hot.”

She aimed to grab hold of him but Ye Ling shyly leaped away from her grasp.

Chapter 632

Finding herself empty-handed, Liu Duo jokingly said to him, “Ling, don’t hide from me. I just want to undo the buttons for you. There’s no harm in that.”

“I-I can do it myself,” Ye Ling gulped, looking helplessly nervous and shy.

Liu Duo, dimples showing, glared at him as she sat cross-legged and straightened her back. “Alright, take it off then.”

He heard her drag the last syllable and knew she was in a good mood. He peered at her again and quite liked the way she smiled.

He loved to see her dimples showing!

“Well, what are you waiting for, Ling? Take it off. Why are you sneaking glances at me like that?” Liu Duo resisted laughing at Ye Ling’s coyness. “Look all you want! I’m nobody else’s wife but yours, so stop sneaking around!”

“I…”

Ye Ling blushed even more after being caught red-handed.

He had not even begun to unbutton his undershirt.

His skin, including his back, was much fairer than his other brothers’. He might not be as strong as them, but the lines were still very clear and as refined as his appearance.

Suddenly Liu Duo felt that Ling, with his tender and delicate features, seemed awfully androgynous too. He must be the submissive type, right?

She thought about it and laughed. She must be overthinking it! Ye Ling may look delicate but he was quite skilful in bed. Even though she had only experienced it once, she was very satisfied with his performance.

Ye Ling heard her laugh and coughed once to ease his shyness and awkwardness.

“Duo Er, you… lie down, alright? I’m really going to blow out the lamp.”

“Ling, why don’t we leave it for tonight? Let it run its course naturally.”

“But…that’s a waste of oil,” he replied.

Leave it?

He was only wearing underpants, and he did not want Liu Duo to see him like that. So, he wanted to blow out the lamp. If she could not see him, then he would not feel shy, right?

He was adamant to blow it out but Liu Duo, quick as a flash, got hold of his arm and stopped him from going any further.

She approached him and wrapped her arms around his neck, her upper body pressed upon his back. She whispered in his ear, “Ling, we can buy more oil when we run out. We have the money now.”

His whole body stiffened at her sudden closeness. He was at a loss for what to do. He could feel the soft, bouncy touch on his back as his thoughts flew all over the place. He could not register what Liu Duo had just said.

He had most likely zoned out. Liu Duo had one arm coiled around his neck, the other drawing circles on his chest.

“Ling, what are you thinking about? I’m talking to you. Do you hear me?” She said to him, and proceeded to blow some air into his ear and casually lick his earlobe.

A tingly feeling arose from his chest and ears. Ye Ling came to and stretched his neck. “I…No, I’m not thinking of anything. We’ll just leave the lamp as it is. Duo Er, you can let me go now. It’s time to sleep.”

After being teased around like that, Ye Ling, who had just had his sexual awakening not so long ago, quickly felt heat rising all over his body. A certain body part had also responded.

Liu Duo giggled when she heard him. “Alright, it is about time we sleep. Don’t sit there anymore, Ling. Get over here.”

She dropped her arms from around his neck and patted the space beside her.

Blushing, Ye Ling took off his shoes and lay on the spot. He did not dare to move about. His body had become stiff. He covered ‘that part’ with both hands because he did not want Liu Duo to know it had reacted, however slightly. He found it all too embarrassing.

Chapter 633

Liu Duo didn’t know what he was thinking. She lay down on her side and kept staring and smiling at him non-stop.

“Ling, you look like you are being overly cautious. Why?”

Liu Duo suddenly moved close to him. She used the strength in her elbow to push herself up so she was slightly above Ye Ling, who was lying flat. She supported her chin with her hand and looked down on him. Her big eyes were filled with a very obvious smile.

Ye Ling looked down and couldn’t help feeling a bit nervous. “I’m…I’m not over-cautious. You… you should lie down properly and sleep. You didn’t take your afternoon nap today so you must definitely be tired.”

Upon hearing him, Liu Duo smiled and said, “I don’t know why, but I’m not the least bit tired right now. Ling, you should keep me company and chat with me.”

She just loved looking at Ye Ling while he was very embarrassed. It really tempted her to commit a sin.

Err…

Ye Ling didn’t know why, but he felt even more nervous after he heard what she said. It was as if she had the hope that as they chatted, something else would happen.

“Then, Duo Er… you… what do you want to talk about?” He lifted his eyes and looked at her smiling brilliantly.

When Liu Duo saw how he wanted to look at her but was too embarrassed to do so, she found it so funny she lay down on his body, her upper-body pressing against his chest. “Ling, after you learn how to write the records in the transaction book, I will hand the responsibility of recording down the purchase of tomatoes to you, okay? I will just draw some drawings for Miss Fang from time to time and be responsible for looking as pretty as a flower every day. How about it?”

This time, he could feel something soft and bouncy touching his chest. Ye Ling basically didn’t hear a thing Liu Duo said. Moreover, his mind was completely blank.

“Ling?”

Liu Duo didn’t get an answer so she shook his body and lifted her head to look at him.

Ye Ling regained his senses only after she shook him. “Huh? Oh, okay. Yeah, that’s good.”

He didn’t actually know what Liu Duo had said but since he thought everything Liu Duo said was good, he just replied absent-mindedly.

Err…

Why was his mind wandering?

Liu Duo found it strange and glanced at him. She stretched her hands and lightly pinched his chin. “Ling, I said I wanted to sell you away and you actually said that’s good?”

Ye Ling was shocked and dumbfounded again. He…he didn’t hear it wrong, right? Duo Er wanted to sell… sell him?

He lifted his eyes and saw how ‘serious’ Liu Duo looked. Ye Ling widened his good looking eyes and frantically denied it. “No… not good. Duo Er, I said not good. You… you must’ve heard it wrong.”

“I don’t have any problems with my ears so how could I have heard it wrong? Ling, do you think there’s something wrong with my ears?” Liu Duo retorted with a serious-sounding tone to tease him.

She even observed his response as she spoke. His facial expression was really just too amusing and she laughed in a cute, silly way. She was clearly teasing him but he actually couldn’t tell?

“Duo Er, I… that’s not what I meant. I don’t think there’s any problem with your ears,” Ye Ling explained so frantically that he spoke unclearly.

“Haha… Ling, you are just too cute. I am just teasing you!” Liu Duo just couldn’t hold it anymore. That foolish and cute look on his face was just too funny.

In response, Ye Ling let out a heavy breath and he muttered in his heart, Duo Er is really too… too naughty. She really gave me a fright.”

He had really been worried she was mad!

She always teased her. Ye Ling stretched out his hand and put them on her small waist. He then rolled around and pressed down on her body. “Duo Er, you are always teasing Ling so mischievously. Now, I want to teach you a lesson.”

Liu Duo was smiling happily when she heard him. She didn’t find their posture to be too ambiguous at all. Instead, she put both her hands around his neck and asked him with a smile, “Oh? How does Ling want to teach me a lesson?”

Chapter 634

This question really stumped Ye Ling. How was he supposed to teach her a lesson?

He looked at her smile and her soft and sweet body. Ye Ling’s body was already feeling very hot but now it felt even hotter.

The changes in his body made his face and ears blush. He wanted to leave the warm body beneath him but was reluctant to do so. Instead, he actually wanted to get even closer.

Naturally, Liu Duo also felt the change in his body. His embarrassed look always made people want to touch him all over!

“Ling, so where’s the lesson you want to teach me? Mmm… why haven’t I see you make your move.”

She saw that he still hadn’t made his move after some time so Liu Duo applied some force on his neck using her hands to lower his forehead closer to hers, and she looked at him.

Ye Ling heard her and although he didn’t know how he should teach her a lesson, his body was very honest and he kissed her on her lips. He really really wanted her right now…

In response, Liu Duo didn’t evade it and instead cooperated fully. They shared a passionate kiss.

As they kissed, Ye Ling felt unsatisfied with only being limited and he started to kiss Liu Duo’s neck. Not knowing when, he’dalready grabbed Liu Duo’s breast and started rubbing it…

“Duo Er…” Ye Ling called her with a raspy voice.

Liu Duo was already aroused. She half-opened her eyes and replied, “Mmm, what is it, Ling?”

“Duo Er, I…” Ye Ling felt embarrassed about saying it. He couldn’t say that he wanted her.

Liu Duo saw him mumbling and she said in amusement, “You what? Ling, aren’t you going to teach me a lesson? I’m still waiting for it.”

Upon hearing her, Ye Ling lifted his head and looked at her, his whole face red. “I… I… how should I punish you?”

He didn’t know why he’d said he would punish her just now. How was it possible he would teach Liu Duo a lesson? There was no way he would be able to make himself do it.

Pff. Liu Duo never thought he had a talent for being funny. It was really too funny.

This was the first time she’d heard the punisher ask the person being punished how they should be punished.

When Ye Ling heard Liu Duo’s laughter, he suddenly really wanted to hide inside a narrow crack in the floor. Why was he so bad at this?

It was so embarrassing!

Liu Duo wrapped her long fair legs around his waist and laughed, “Ling, is the first step of your lesson to take off my clothes? Come on, I won’t resist but you need to take the initiative.”

She even shot him an alluring wink as she spoke.

Ye Ling was stupefied when he heard her. He replied, “Oh.”

He then stretched out his hand to pull off the clothes on her body. He didn’t know why but his hand kept trembling non-stop.

This was the first time Ye Ling had taken off a girl’s clothes so he felt shy and nervous. When they had consummated their marriage, Liu Duo was the one who took the lead.

Liu Duo didn’t give him any pressure and just waited for him. The smile on her did not disappear for even one second.

After what seemed like a century, Ye Ling finally took off all the small amount of clothes Liu Duo had on.

This was also the first time he saw a girl’s fully naked body. Ye Ling became stupefied when he looked at it.

It had to be said that, when they consummated their marriage, there weren’t any lit oil lamps so he had not seen such a sight.

Ye Ling gulped and didn’t know how he should begin.

Liu Duo actually felt a bit embarrassed from him staring at her like this.

“Ling, what…what are you looking at? Take off your own pants and come teach me a lesson.”

Liu Duo’s egg-shaped face was blushing slightly. She reminded him, otherwise, she didn’t know how long he would keep staring.

This visual impact made a certain part of Ye Ling’s body that had already reacted become even more hot and stiff. A tall tent was pitched in his pants.

When Ye Ling heard her, he cleared his throat and looked away. He replied with an, “Oh,” again.

Chapter 635

Ye Ling slowly took off the only piece of clothing on his body and once his little brother was no longer bound, it jumped out excitedly.

The two of them were facing each other, completely naked in the light. Ye Ling had never felt so embarrassed before.

Liu Duo was also a bit embarrassed. She sat up, stretched her hands to grab his neck and said, “Ling, what are you spacing out for? Come on…”

As she spoke, she took the initiative to kiss his attractive lips. She then said next to his ear again, “Ling, you need to take the initiative on such things. We still have many more years together in the future. It won’t be good if you’re always this shy, right?”

Upon hearing her, Ye Ling’s handsome face and ears were extremely red. He nodded and replied with his raspy and attractive voice, “Okay!”

He felt that what Liu Duo said was correct. There were still many years ahead of them, so he needed to slowly change his habit of getting embarrassed…

Ye Ling held his shyness in, put his hands around her waist, and pulled Liu Duo into his embrace. Their chests were touching and they could feel each other’s heartbeat.

He returned a kiss to her and slowly took leadership…

In response, the corner of her lips moved up and shallow dimples appeared. She was very satisfied with his performance. A hint was all he needed!

She liked it when he acted very masculine. Although he usually was a bit elegant like a woman, when the time called for it, all traces of any femininity would be gone.

That serious tyrannical chairman look he had during the day was really too handsome!

Liu Duo replied passionately and hugged him. She let him take whatever he wanted…

Ye Ling didn’t restrict it to her lips or linger there. He moved along her fair neck and stopped when he reached her breast.

He looked at that big white tender bun and those red dots. He used his hand to rub them and then put the red dot in his mouth.

It didn’t only feel good in his hands, they also tasted good as well!

“Ling…” Liu Duo couldn’t help but call him.

Ye Ling heard her and kissed her from her breast, collarbone, neck, and stopped when he was next to her ear. “Duo Er, I’m here.”

Liu Duo heard his alluring and attractive voice and suddenly felt like she was under the control of his voice.

Of the four brothers, Ye Yang’s raspy voice sounded the most enchanting. The other three brothers’ voices were also not bad and also sounded quite good.

“Ling, I like it when you punish me like this. Really like it…” Liu Duo’s small hand also moved all around his body.

Ye Ling felt shy when he heard her. He didn’t reply and instead used an action to make her this ‘punishment’ even more. He also really liked doing this.

He embraced Liu Duo and lightly push her to lie on her back. He rested on her and prepared to enter her secret garden but he couldn’t get in. He became so anxious a lot of sweat appeared on his forehead. Liu Duo became so anxious she wrapped her legs around his waist and wanted him to quickly get in. She was really looking forward to the feeling of getting filled up…

Liu Duo saw him wandering at the door so she had no choice but to pull his hand over to guide him in. “Ling, mmm… just use your hand to help…”

After she guided it slightly inside, Ye Ling gently and slowly moved inside completely. Both of them let out a moan of pleasure at the same time, “Mmm…”

Being wrapped around in that warm feeling again made Ye Ling so excited he couldn’t use words to express himself.

“Duo Er, I’m going to start.”

He felt he wasn’t going to be able to hold it and he really wanted to start moving. This tightness made him really want to go crazy and move rapidly.

Liu Duo hugged his waist and moved her body around to make him enter even more deeply.

“Mmm. Come on Ling. I’m still waiting for you to teach me a lesson…”

Ye Ling heard her lustful voice that had turned both coyish and whiny. This made him even more aroused and it became more difficult to control himself. He put both his hands on Liu Duo’s face and as he kissed her, he also slowly started to move…

Chapter 636

The two of them entered a state and held each other tightly. They then started the most primitive rhythm!

After a while, Ye Ling stood up with both his hands holding onto Liu Duo’s small waist. He rammed her gently but with strength.

“Duo Er, do you like it?”

He looked at how Liu Duo’s breasts moved because of him. They kept flying up and down, and he found this scene to be too beautiful.

Liu Duo looked at Ye Ling with her half-open charming eyes, her dimples sunk deep, and replied, “I like it. I like it a lot…”

She even lifted up her waist as she spoke to cooperate with him.

Ye Ling smiled slightly when he heard what she said. He then put in even more effort to make her like it even more…

Some time passed again before Ye Ling let out a deep howl and finally ended this primitive movement.

He looked down and swiped away the hair on Liu Duo’s forehead. “Duo Er, I’ll go down to get hot water.”

He even gave her a kiss on her forehead as he spoke.

He then slowly pulled out, got up, and left that beautiful body that he wanted to embrace at all times.

After they made love, Liu Duo’s face was red and her eyes were like silk. She got up along with him, took a coat and put it on Ye Ling’s body.

“Ling, I’ll go down with you.”

As she spoke, she got down off the bed while completely naked and went over to Ye Ling before also taking and putting on a coat.

Ye Ling saw her do this and decided not to say anything. He put on his belt and the two of them went down while holding hands.

Ye Ling held an oil lamp with his other hand to light their surroundings.

Hei Xiaomeng saw the two of them come down. This time, it didn’t bark loudly and only just kept running around them happily.

Liu Duo took the oil lamp from his hand and said, “Ling, I’ll hold the light, you go and take the water.”

“Okay.” Ye Ling nodded as a reply.

The two of them bathed together in the bathroom again. They showed affection once again while they were there before going back upstairs.

“Ling, let’s go to sleep. Goodnight.” Liu Duo yawned. After she had exercised twice, she was very tired right now.

After they covered themselves with the blanket, Ye Ling hugged Liu Duo and replied, “Okay. Goodnight Duo Er.”

He wasn’t tired. In fact, his entire body felt really good and he was full of energy.

Ye Ling’s entire face was red, even his ears were red. He looked at Liu Duo’s sleeping face and there was a satisfied smile on his face.

The oil lamp extinguished itself when Ye Ling had long since fallen asleep while he held Liu Duo with a smile on his face…

In the blink of an eye, the night passed and the day arrived.

Ye Ling was used to waking up early so he woke up as soon as the sky started turning bright.

He took a look at the still sleeping Liu Duo and quietly went down the bed to go dress and tidy himself.

“Duo Er, Ling will help tie your hair once you wake up,” Ye Ling said softly next to her before he went to open the door and headed out.

He knew from when Liu Duo usually woke up that it would still be a long time before she would wake up.

Just as Ye Ling arrived to wash up beside the well, Ye Yang and the other two also came down from upstairs.

They would all wake up early if they didn’t share the room with Liu Duo.

“Yo, Ling, why are you awake? Isn’t it a bit early? Aren’t you going to hold onto Little Duo and sleep for a bit longer…did you slack off last night?” Ye Liu immediately started to tease his youngest brother as soon as he saw him.

His youngest brother had already consummated his marriage so he would naturally be able to guess he’d definitely made love again last night.

Upon hearing him, Ye Ling’s egg-shaped face immediately turned red. He knew what he was referring to when he said he slacked off!

“I…I didn’t slack off. I just wanted to get up earlier to prepare breakfast.”

Although he was in high spirits and wasn’t tired at all after doing it twice with Liu Duo, Liu Duo was tired so he naturally wouldn’t continue out of consideration for her.

“Your brothers will cook breakfast. In the future, you don’t need to wake up so early when you sleep with Little Duo.”

He even winked at Ye Ling as he spoke as if saying, You know what I mean!

Chapter 637

Ye Ling nodded shyly when he heard him and started washing up.

When the four brothers had almost finished washing up, Liu Ran came down and said, “Good morning brothers-in-law.”

“Ran Er, come and wash up. We will take the bullock-cart to Yuan Fang’s house after we have breakfast.” Ye Liu smiled at him.

Liu Duo had previously said she would send him there but now Ye Liu and the others would be the ones sending him over. He nodded and didn’t say anything and started washing up obediently.

Ye Ling initially wanted to go to the kitchen to prepare breakfast but Ye Liu said to him, “Ling, let Mo and I prepare breakfast. You go upstairs and help Little Duo tie her hair once she wakes up later.”

They had been helping to tie and brush Liu Duo’s hair practically every day recently.

Ye Yang held the broom and was clearing the bamboo leaves in the yard. The ground was filled with bamboo leaves after a night of rain.

Upon hearing him, Ye Ling had no choice but to turn around, leave the kitchen, and go upstairs.

He initially wanted to say Liu Duo wouldn’t wake up so early so he could go upstairs after he prepared breakfast. However, when he saw the gaze Mo gave him, he was able to understand what he was saying in his eyes so he just kept his mouth shut.

He didn’t want to make Ye Mo mad but he muttered in his heart, Am I really very fussy?

When Ye Mo and Ye Liu were the only people left in the kitchen, one of them tended to the fire while the other cooked.

“Liu, I want to tell you something.” Ye Mo glanced outside the door and lowered his voice to prevent Liu Ran from hearing him.

In response, Ye Liu, who was rinsing rice, turned his head towards him and laughed, “Hmm? Mo, did you change your sex? Why are you speaking so gently? Speaking like this is so strange and hearing it makes me feel so awkward.”

Speaking softly was not his style.

The corner of Ye Mo’s mouth twitched. Liu attacked him so early in the morning. Was he really his real brother?

Ye Mo cleared his throat and said, feeling upset, “Liu, I want to talk about something serious with you. Don’t ruin it.”

Ye Liu put away the rinsed rice, came beside him and asked, “Mo, what do you want to say? Say it, I’m listening.”

Ye Mo glanced at the door one more time and said, “Liu, let’s widen beloved’s bed in the future till it can fit three people and would still have extra space.”

After he went back to his room last night, he suddenly had a thought and he thought about it for a long time. Having five people share one bed was not likely but having a threesome once in a while was actually quite possible.

Upon hearing him, Ye Liu raised his eyebrows and leaned against the kitchen stove very hooliganishly. “Do you think Little Duo will agree?”

“Liu, why is there a need for an agreement? We are her husbands and sleeping with her is extremely normal. Since having five people at once is too cramped, let’s have a threesome. Having a threesome once in a while will be lively and exciting. It’s not like we are going to do it every day, so it is quite possible.”

Ye Mo shared his thoughts sincerely with Ye Liu.

He felt that there would only be a possibility of it being implemented if he talked about it with Liu. Yang was like a piece of wood and talking about it with him was a waste of time. Talking about it with Ling was even more so a waste of time!

Pfff. Ye Liu looked at that arrogant and cool look of Ye Mo and laughed.

Although it sounded quite good, they still needed Liu Duo to agree. Was it possible for them to do it forcefully?

“Liu, what are you laughing about? What do you think? Should we widen beloved’s bed?!” Ye Mo cast a glance at Ye Liu.

He muttered in his heart, Is it very funny? I am talking about this so sincerely!

Ye Liu put one hand on the kitchen stove and one hand on his chin. He laughed, “Widening Little Duo’s bed isn’t a problem. The main problem is that the threesome you mentioned might be difficult.”

He was quite interested in this suggestion.

It was indeed possible for it to happen once! However, the main problem was still getting Liu Duo to agree.

Chapter 638

Ye Mo, the ill-tempered man that he was, was quick to respond when Ye Liu agreed to widen Liu Duo’s bed. “We’ll just make it happen first. Then when it’s time to vote, it’ll be two against one. The wife will have no choice but to go along with it.”

Smirking, Ye Mo felt no pressure about the matter. Now they just had to fix the bed.

Ye Liu chuckled again. Would their Little Duo be stupid enough to let this matter be decided by voting?

How could Mo be so naive?

“Let’s talk about this later. We have a meal to prepare.” Ye Liu dropped the conversation to continue cooking.

“Gosh, we should find time soon to widen her bed, and sort out our sleeping arrangements some other time.” Ye Mo was quite impatient. They had to deal with the bed first. If not, everything else would be nothing but empty talk.

Ye Liu laughed as he kept himself busy. “What’s the rush, Mo? You think we can just go ahead and widen Little Duo’s bed? We have to come up with a plan first, or do you think you have the guts to tell her to her face that you want to make it wider? Yang would have your head!”

Liu Duo was a smart woman. She would know exactly why they wanted to widen the bed. How would she agree to that?

She would turn down the idea for sure, and Yang would stand on her side. He and Mo could not possibly win then.

Ye Mo did not respond. He knew that what Liu said was right. They could not widen her bed while she was around.

She would surely put a stop to it. If she could not do it by herself, she would tell Ye Yang about their scheme. Yang, like Ling, was very protective of her. He would definitely come to her rescue.

Even though, technically, Liu and himself were also protective of her too!

“Sure, we’ll just find a time when the wife isn’t at home, then we widen the bed when no one’s looking.” Ye Mo was suddenly in a very good mood when he thought about his idea. A grin quickly spread on his usually solemn face.

Members of the Ye household were not the only early birds. In town, Dongfang Ming woke up quite early too.

He dressed well and washed up. Then he sat at his desk with a brush at the ready.

He dabbed the brush in ink and scribbled something on a piece of writing paper about two fingers wide.

He let the ink dry before attaching the message to a bamboo tube tied to a carrier pigeon. He released the bird at an open window.

He stared at it flying into the distance before returning to his desk, this time picking up his accounts book.

At the other Ye household, Ye Xuan woke up early to study for his exam, the way he usually did. It had become a habit, and he had never taken a day off even when the seasons changed.

He used to revise his lessons and practice his writing, but lately, he had an additional task. He would take time to admire Liu Duo’s portrait.

He would smile as he touched the portrait. He imagined he was holding onto Liu Duo in person.

“How could someone be so absolutely lovely, and yet so strikingly sassy too?” he mumbled softly to himself, grinning.

He did not remember ever being looked upon or treated kindly by Liu Duo.

Then he took out another rolled up painting and laid it flat on the desk. It was another one of Liu Duo’s portrait, but this one had her painted in the nude and lying on the bed.

After he flattened it, Ye Xuan grinned even wider, feeling a little lustful.

“Sister Duo, you look so tempting without clothes on! How I wish to have you in my arms…”

On the other side of town, Liu Duo let out a sneeze as she lay on the bed. Slowly, she opened her eyes.

She rubbed her nose, her mind still blurred and foggy, as she mumbled softly, “Who’s talking about me so early in the morning? How troublesome!”

Ye Ling saw that she had awoken and came to inspect her by the bed. Very warmly, he asked, “Duo Er, do you want to get up?”

Chapter 639

He did not register clearly what she said just now.

She heard the voice capable of lifting her spirits and felt a bit more refreshed. She looked up at Ye Ling, “Ling, why don’t you ever lie with me a little longer? You always wake up so early.”

She peered at the window he had opened. Daybreak had come but she knew it must be quite early outside.

Ye Ling looked at her too with a warm smile. “It’s a habit. I can’t fall back to sleep after waking up. I wanted to prepare breakfast for you all but my brothers told me to stay with you. I’ll help tie your hair later, alright?”

Still lying down, Liu Duo scratched her head and rubbed her eyes. “Oh, I want to lie a bit longer. Ling, rather than just staying with me, why don’t you lie with me in bed too?”

Slowly, his cheeks flushed red unknowingly after he heard what she said. “Duo Er, I’ll be right here with you. I don’t have to lie back down.”

Seeing him blush, Liu Duo’s fuzzy mind cleared up instantly. How she wanted to tease him!

“Ling, don’t stand if you can sit, and don’t sit when you can lie down. We have the bed over here, why not make use of it? Come on, lie with me for a while.”

He coughed. Hearing the affectionate tone in her voice, Ye Ling was reminded of her melodious rhythm from last night, and suddenly got bashful.

He spotted her shallow dimples too, and averted his gaze. “Duo Er, I-I think I’ll pass. If you’re still tired, then sleep for a little while longer. I’ll stay here.”

She purposefully ignored his shyness and made a grab at his arm, giving it a good shake. “Ling, come on, just lie down with me, pretty please…”

Ye Ling, now shy, found it difficult to refuse. “Duo Er, I…”

Before he could finish, Liu Duo interrupted, “Come on, come on, just lie down…”

“A-Alright,” Finally admitting defeat, he nodded shyly.

Pffft, Liu Duo laughed out loud. “Ling, why is it so easy to change your mind? Haha…”

She knew Ye Ling could not bring himself to refuse her, but she still thought the self-contradiction along with his shyness was quite funny.

Hearing her say that only made him more confused. To lie or not to lie?

Here he was, being stupidly adorable again. Liu Duo sat up and lightly pinched his cheeks, giggling, “Ling, why are you so darn cute? You’re just so lovable!”

Er…

Receiving compliments like that made his ears flush. “Duo Er, do you still want to lie down?”

“No need, I’ll just take an afternoon nap later,” she said with a broad grin.

How could she fall back to sleep? She was fully awake now.

Ye Ling stopped the small hand that was pinching his cheek. Then he took down a light-colored dress and passed it to her. She put it on, and then he helped her comb and tie her hair.

When all was done, the two of them went downstairs.

“Sis, you’re up,” Liu Ran greeted them when they came down.

He was helping Ye Yang sweep away the leaves in the yard. He liked to be useful around the house and did not want to leave all the work to the others.

Liu Duo replied, “Right. Ran Er, later when you go to Yuan Fang’s house, do you mind going with Liu on his bullock-cart. It’s right along the way, so they can give you a ride. What do you say?”

She ought to tell what she had discussed with Ye Liu and the men, to get his opinion.

Liu Ran nodded almost instantly. “Sure, Brother Liu told me about it.”

Next, Liu Duo nodded in approval and went to wash up by the well. Ye Ling entered the kitchen to check on their breakfast.

Chapter 640

Ye Liu smiled when Ye Ling came in. “Ling, Little Duo’s up early today.”

He had only gone upstairs for half an hour and Liu Duo was already awake? That was quick.

Usually, Liu Duo would sleep in and would not get up for another one or two hours.

Since Liu had already started cooking, Ye Ling helped with other chores like cleaning up the chopping board. “Duo Er woke up after a sneeze. We talked for a while and then she did not want to sleep anymore. She said she would nap later.”

He told him everything but withheld the part about Liu Duo requesting him to lie down with her, which he had shyly declined.

He thought about how useless he was for being too shy to accompany his own wife. He did not want his brothers to joke about him, despite knowing that his brothers would never do that.

After a good wash, Liu Duo came back indoors. She sat down and let her chin rest on her palms, observing Ye Yang and Liu Ran.

Liu Ran sent her a happy smile, while Ye Yang remained emotionless, aloof and stoic as always. But he was in a good mood knowing that his wife was watching him.

By the time Li Wazi arrived with his family, the Ye household had finished breakfast.

“Ran Er, go get the present you’ve prepared for Yuan Fang. We’re leaving soon,” Ye Liu told him.

Liu Ran understood. He turned to sprint up the stairs excitedly.

Ye Yang went to the farm that day. When they left, Liu Duo and Ye Ling stayed in the house to practice writing, while Aunt Li and Little Lian got busy in the kitchen.

The bullock-cart moved along steadily on the path. Ye Liu said to Liu Ran, “Ran Er, are you staying for dinner at Yuan Fang’s house? I’ll come get you after that.”

Liu Ran held onto the present in his lap. He replied with a smile, “That will be great, Brother Liu. But I hope I’m not troubling you.”

It was his friend’s birthday. Of course he wanted to stay longer.

“All’s as it should be, Ran Er. You don’t have to say things like that.”

Right at that moment, they saw Ye Xuan’s figure in front of them.

He had his back to them, but Liu Ran could clearly make out who he was. Only scholars would often wear white. The average villager normally would not dress like that. They would not tie their hair with hemp rope either.

Liu Ran called out to him joyfully, “Brother Xuan, where are you going? Brother Liu is taking me to Yuan Fang’s house. If you’re headed in the same direction, hop in. We can give you a ride.”

Ye Mo did not like where this was going. He peered at Liu Ran. The boy clearly did not think of Ye Xuan as an outsider.

He cut in rudely, not waiting for Ye Xuan to answer. “We’re in a rush to collect tomatoes. There’s no time to stop for other passengers!”

Ye Mo did not feel awkward at all as his smile remained plastered, unchanging, on his face.

He was walking in front of them, and the trio was slowly approaching him on Ye Liu’s bullock-cart.

“Ran Er, I thank you for the offer but, alas, we’re not going the same way, so I cannot accept your ride,” Ye Xuan said politely.

His reply made Ye Mo’s action seem unreasonable, petty, and just downright rude.

Geez… Ye Mo grunted. He would not give the man a ride even if they were going in the same direction. Why did he have to show off his courtesy?

Ye Liu smiled too, but he was much better-looking then Ye Xuan’s. “Little Xuan, since you put it like that then I guess this is where we part.”

“That’s alright. I am grateful for your sincerity,” Ye Xuan replied to him.

Li Wazi, who was on the bullock-cart too, peered at Ye Xuan’s and could not help feeling that he had a hidden agenda.

He wanted to punch him so badly!

“Then we shall be on our way,” Ye Liu said for the last time. He held up the whip and flung at the bull. At the sound of a crack, the bull picked up speed.

Chapter 641

It all happened so fast, Liu Ran did not even have the chance to speak. They were just a few meters away from Ye Xuan’s position when the bullock-cart took off under Ye Liu’s guidance.

It was clear that Ye Liu and Ye Mo had the same mindset. Neither of them liked Ye Xuan, so much so that even if they chanced upon him on the road they would find an excuse to walk away!

“Brother Xuan, see you tomorrow.” Liu Ran waved at him as they left, smiling innocently.

He was, after all, still young, so he could not tell that his two brothers-in-law with him right then, as well as the other two in the house, and even his sister, did not like Ye Xuan.

Ye Xuan just stood there as the bullock-cart sped off further and further away from him, the smile on his face slowly fading.

“Why isn’t Sister Duo taking him to Yuan Fang’s house?” he said in a volume only he could hear.

He had hoped he could take the opportunity, when Liu Duo was walking Liu Ran to his friend’s house, to have a moment alone with her.

He never had the chance because every time he went over to their house, Liu Ran and the brothers were always there.

He frowned, then reversed and walked towards home, deep in thought.

People were arriving one after another at Liu Duo’s house to sell their tomatoes. Liu Duo busied herself with the accounts and payment, while Ye Ling practiced his writing indoors.

Wang Xiangyun, on the other hand, woke up with swollen eyes that made her look even more pitiful. She had cried herself to sleep the night before.

“Little Tian, what should I do? My eyes are so puffy, how can I let Brother Ming see me like this. I look hideous.”

She stared at her reflection in the bronze mirror as she pouted and fretted.

Little Tian had already expected this would happen. She took a boiled egg, peeled off the shell, and wrapped it in a handkerchief before giving it to her lady, “Miss, I’m going to place this boiled egg over your eyes. It should subside in a moment.”

“Little Tian, what do you think Brother Ming is doing now? Has he taken his breakfast?”

She did not want him to see her with her eyes swollen like that. She looked ugly, so she did not look for him first thing after waking up.

Wang Xiangyun closed her eyes as she let the egg roll around the swelling.

Little Tian sighed soundlessly. When would her lady ever stop talking about Dongfang Ming?

Helplessly, she said, “Miss, I wouldn’t know that. I don’t have clairvoyance. I can’t see what Mr. Dongfang is doing! But I guess he should have eaten.”

Wang Xiangyun pouted even more and urged her to speed up, “Quick, help me get better. I want to keep him company.”

To Little Tian, Wang Xiangyun was like a sister. She poured all her love and admiration on Dongfang Ming yet was not reciprocated at all. Little Tian felt that the man was not worth the lady’s effort, but she could not do anything about it.

Dongfang Ming finished his meal and continued to imitate Liu Duo’s drawing on his desk, but he could never get the details right.

“I guess I should look for her and ask for guidance.” Dongfang Ming grinned and shook his head. For the first time, he admitted he could be quite foolish.

He headed to the door and opened it, only to find Wang Xiangyun raising a fist in the air, ready to knock.

At the sight of her, Dongfang Ming frowned slightly. He walked past her and continued down the hallway.

Wang Xiangyun would always be delighted to see him. “Brother Ming, where are you going? I’m coming with you.”

He ignored her, found his coachman and got him to prepare the carriage. He would wait at the entrance of the tailor shop.

Like a shadow, Wang Xiangyun followed him around and finally stood next to him. “Brother Ming, don’t be like that, can you? Say something. You’re making me look like I’m putting on a one-man show.”

Chapter 642

Dongfang Ming was not even willing to look her way, much less speak to her.

Fortunately for her, Wang Xiangyun just loved sticking to cold shoulders!

“Brother Ming, weren’t you trying to draw that picture yesterday? Why don’t we go see her? I’d really like to meet her.”

When a conversation became stagnant, the natural course of action was to change the topic, right? Wang Xiangyun had experimented with this many times, of course it only worked in front of others, not him.

However, this time Dongfang Ming actually responded. He lowered his eyes and looked at Wang Xiangyun, whose eyes were still obviously puffy.

“Xiangyun, either you go back to the capital or disappear from my sight! Stop following me!”

He said this as he walked towards the horse carriage he had requested earlier and took one majestic leap onto the vehicle. Instantly, the coachman drove the carriage away along with Dongfang Ming in it.

He did not want Wang Xiangyun to meet Liu Duo, as he did not want Liu Duo to know that he had a wedding contract.

Little Tian witnessed the scene and frowned. She walked towards the lady and spoke, “Miss, I think we should…”

She had not finished speaking when Wang Xiangyun quickly raised a hand and interrupted her, “Little Tian, prepare a carriage! Since Brother Ming so badly refuses to see me, I will follow him and I will make my presence known!”

When Dongfang Ming told her that he wanted to cancel their engagement, it had really frightened her, but after Little Tian’s reminder last night, she was even more determined to face the challenge. Regardless of how distant he treated her, she would cling to him no matter what.

Seeing her unwavering resolution, Little Tian went on to get them a carriage.

They got on, and Wang Xiangyun gave instructions to chase after Dongfang Ming.

“Boss, I think Miss Wang’s carriage is gaining on us,” the coachman said to Dongfang Ming, who was resting in the coach.

Dongfang Ming might have been resting his eyes, but he already knew that.

He snapped them open and, in a calm and stable voice, said, “Stop here.”

On his orders, the coachman pulled on the reins, causing the horse to come to a halt.

Holding a folding fan, Dongfang Ming stepped out of the curtained door. “You wait here. If I’m not back in five, you take the carriage back.”

Then he hopped down from the carriage and entered the woods nearby.

The coachman noticed that Dongfang Ming had barely walked a few steps before vanishing from his sight. He found this very unbelievable. He was quite a sprinter, wasn’t he?

The other coachman saw that and brought his carriage to a stop too. “Miss, Mr. Dongfang has left his carriage. He went into the woods.”

Wang Xiangyun was befuddled. She did not know why Dongfang Ming left his carriage, and she was about to go ask when Little Tian stopped her.

“Miss, Mr. Dongfang might have just gone to relieve himself. We’ll just wait. If you go and ask, do you think the coachman will tell you about that?”

She believed that most people would probably stop here to relieve themselves, because people have needs.

Convinced, Wang Xiangyun returned to her seat once more. She pushed aside the curtain and peered outside, hoping to see Dongfang Ming reemerge from the woods.

But Dongfang Ming had not gone in there to relieve himself. Rather, he pressed on with his journey where the coachman could not see him. He kept walking until he estimated he had arrived at the main road far away from their sight, and then he exited the woods.

His pair of luxury silk boots were covered in mud by then. Dongfang Ming merely smiled.

He unfolded his fan, moved it about, and continued walking.

His coachman realized that five minutes had passed. His master had yet to emerge from the woods. So, he turned the carriage around and began to make the return trip.

Wang Xiangyun’s coachman saw that and reported to her. “Miss, Mr. Dongfang’s coachman is turning the carriage this way. They must be heading back to town.”

Chapter 643

When she heard him, Wang Xiangyun immediately came out from the carriage, opened the door, and walked through the curtain.

She didn’t see Dongfang Ming get back onto the carriage but the horse carriage left without waiting for him. There was definitely something fishy going on!

She didn’t wait for Little Tian’s reaction and immediately jumped off the horse carriage and went onto the main road to block it. “Tell me, where is your boss? Where did he go!?”

Dongfang Ming hadn’t brought this coachman from the capital and only hired him after he arrived in Anping Town. After all, only he would know the roads in Ye Yang and the other’s village.

“My lady, slow down. Careful not to fall.” Little Tian jumped down. The carriage was a bit high and jumping off of it really made her worry.

The coachman replied honestly after he saw Wang Xiangyun block the road: “Miss Wang, I do not know. The boss asked me to wait for half an hour before heading back to town if he didn’t come out, and told me not to wait for him.”

Upon hearing him, Wang Xiangyun frowned and looked towards the woods. She really couldn’t figure out why he would do this. Why did he go into the woods?

After Little Tian got off the carriage, she came beside Wang Xiangyun and asked the coachman, “Where did your boss ask you to drive the horse carriage to?”

She could guess that the reason Dongfang Ming did this was that he didn’t want her lady to follow him.

He also definitely went to someone’s house.

“He didn’t ask me to go anywhere. Mister asked me to keep driving the carriage around randomly.” The coachman looked at her and replied again.

Dongfang Ming had already told him earlier when they left the town that if Wang Xiangyun asked about this, he should reply this way. He couldn’t expose his whereabouts.

The coachman was an honest person so how could he possibly lie? His eyes were obviously trying to look away a bit.

Going around randomly? Who was he trying to fool!

Wang Xiangyun and Little Tian didn’t believe him.

“Tell me, where did your boss ask you to bring him initially? Is it to the house of the person who drew the drawings? If you don’t answer me honestly than you can scram and forget about continuing to work as my Brother Ming’s coachman!” Wang Xiangyun said to him very sternly.

Unless she was in front of Dongfang Ming and her family, she wouldn’t hide her temper. The way she spoke also made people feel she was ordering people about.

She also knew this coachman was only following Dongfang Ming temporarily. Once he returned to the capital, his employment would be ended.

Little Tian looked at the coachman, smiled slightly and said gently with a smile, “Friend, you should just tell my lady where your boss went since she is your boss’ spouse!”

She was able to guess that it was definitely Dongfang Ming who had asked him to answer this way. It was a pretext to stop her lady from finding him.

Spouse?

The coachman frowned when he heard her. He was in a difficult spot. Should he tell her or not?

Even if he were blind, he could tell from the way Wang Xiangyun looked at Dongfang Ming that their relationship was unusual.

But he never would’ve thought she was actually Dongfang Ming’s spouse.

If he told her, wouldn’t this mean he wasn’t listening to his boss’ order? If he didn’t tell her, wouldn’t the boss’ wife fire him anyway?

Although he knew he was just Dongfang Ming’s temporary coachman, his pay was three hundred wens per day. He didn’t want to lose this job and also didn’t want to disobey Dongfang Ming’s order. What should he do?

The coachman was at a loss and, after he didn’t reply to Wang Xiangyun after a while, she became impatient. “If you still aren’t going to tell me, then scram immediately!”

As she spoke, she turned back and shouted to her own coachman, “Wang Xiaoliu, come and drive Brother Ming’s horse carriage. Take it back to town with our horse carriage!”

Wang Xiaoliu was a servant of the Wang family and he also took Wang as his last name.

“Yes, ma’am,” Wang Xiaoliu immediately replied.

He could tell their lady was angry.

Chapter 644

The coachman saw this and had no choice but to answer honestly, “Mr. Dongfang went to Mr. Ye’s house.”

How could he go against the ‘spouse?’ For the sake of his salary, he could only tell the truth.

Mr. Ye?

After she heard the coachman’s answer, Wang Xiangyun waved at Wang Xiaoliu to ask him to go back to their horse carriage.

“In that case, you will take me to Mr. Ye’s house.”

After she finished speaking, she didn’t care if the coachman agreed. She asked Little Tian to help her get onto Dongfang Ming’s carriage straight away.

In response, the coachman didn’t dare to say anything. He turned the horse carriage around and continued going straight.

Dongfang Ming walked as if he was flying and was faster than the horse carriage. He reached Liu Duo’s yard door very quickly.

Hei Xiaomeng had seen him before and knew he was its master’s friend so it didn’t bark at him.

“Xiaomeng, you still remember me.” Dongfang Ming patted its head as he smiled. Such a smart dog was very likable.

Hei Xiaomeng barked softly as a reply as if it understood what he’d said.

Liu Duo and Ye Ling looked towards the yard door when they heard it.

It just so happened that Dongfang Ming also lifted his head to look towards them. He laughed, “Little Ling, Little Duo, I hope you don’t mind me coming here to disturb you guys again.”

“Of course we don’t mind. Come in quickly,” Liu Duo replied with a smile. She didn’t find it to be a surprise since he had also come unannounced like this the last time he came.

The two of them only realized when Dongfang Ming was closer that his shoes were completely covered with mud.

It had been raining for the past few days and although it was sunny and cloudless today, the dirt on the road hadn’t dried yet.

“Brother Ming, did you walk here and not take your horse carriage?” Ye Ling asked curiously.

He went over to the side to get a slightly thick bamboo scraper as he spoke.

He knew Dongfang Ming wasn’t a farmer like them. He wouldn’t walk anywhere and would usually take his horse carriage. So why did he walk on the dirt road in their village?

Dongfang Ming came underneath the roof, sat on a stool and laughed, “Yeah. I suddenly wanted to experience using the small village roads so I didn’t take a horse carriage here.”

“Brother Ming, lift up your leg so I can scrape away the dirt underneath your shoes.” Ye Ling walked over with a piece of bamboo scraper, bent over and was about to help him clean the sole of his shoes.

When Liu Duo saw this, she wanted to tell him to let him do it himself since Ling wasn’t his servant!

However, before she said it, she heard Dongfang Ming said, “Little Ling, just let me do it myself.”

As he spoke he took the bamboo scraper from Ye Ling’s hand and scraped the dirt on his shoes’ soles himself.

When Liu Duo saw this, her impression of him went up a notch and she felt that Dongfang Ming had quite a good character. He wasn’t like those princelings she saw in television shows before who would look down on people who were lower than them in status.

Liu Duo sat at the side, looked at him and asked, “Dongfang, why did you come to our house?”

“I wanted to come and ask your advice on drawing techniques so I came over.” Dongfang Ming finished scraping all the dirt and handed the bamboo scraper back to Ye Ling.

When Liu Duo heard him, she joked, “Oh. In that case, you have the gall to come to visit empty-handed?”

“I will make up for it the next time, is that okay Little Duo?” Dongfang Ming laughed. He didn’t get embarrassed as he knew Liu Duo was teasing him and didn’t really want a gift.

“That’s also fine, bring two gifts next time!” Liu Duo smiled brilliantly.

Ye Ling looked at the mischievous Liu Duo with love-filled eyes. It was only their wife who could joke like this. Other people’s wives would be too embarrassed to say such things.

When someone came to sell their tomatoes, Liu Duo would go pay them and record down the transaction and then come back underneath the roof to speak with them. She would give Dongfang Ming some instructions while she was there. The three of them would chat and laugh.

After half an hour passed, Hei Xiaomeng barked and interrupted their cheerful atmosphere.

Chapter 645

Hei Xiaomeng barked loudly towards the yard door and bared its fangs fiercely.

“Hei Xiaomeng, stop barking,” Liu Duo shouted and walked over.

Who was it that had come and made Hei Xiaomeng bark so loudly?

Dongfang Ming put down the brush in his hand. His expression didn’t change but he just frowned ever so slightly. He never would’ve thought the coachman would bring Wang Xiangyun here.

He actually didn’t listen to his orders for him to go back to town!

Liu Duo came to the yard door and saw Wang Xiaoliu holding a whip while looking at Hei Xiaomeng as if he wanted to chase it away.

And Dongfang Ming’s coachman was also present. However, he didn’t come forward and just sat in the driver seat. There were also two other women standing next to the horse carriage. One of them was very beautiful.

What was going on?

“Who…”

Before Liu Duo could finish, Wang Xiangyun interrupted her, “This mastiff is yours, right? Quickly take it away and tie it up. I hate dogs the most! Why is a lowly peasant keeping a mastiff?”

Err…

Liu Duo could understand wanting it tied up because she didn’t like dogs but that last sentence really pissed her off!

Who made the rule that a lowly peasant couldn’t keep a mastiff as a pet?

Liu Duo frowned slightly and said again, “Who are you…”

Wang Xiangyun would always act proud unless she was in front of Dongfang Ming. She interrupted her again, “I asked you to tie the mastiff up quickly. Didn’t you hear me?!”

She had already said it but Liu Duo still hadn’t led Hei Xiaomeng away and tied it up so her bossy temper flared up. After all, she didn’t need to repeat her orders twice. Her coachman and servants would immediately do as she said.

In response, Liu Duo muttered in her heart, Sigh… where the hell did this missy who is bossing me around come from?!

She couldn’t be bothered with her. Liu Duo turned around and walked off straight away. She looked so beautiful but she spoke so aggressively!

She initially wanted to ask who she was, but she had spoken so rudely to her so why should she care?

Liu Duo had a really bad first impression of her.

Little Tian saw this and immediately said, “Young madam, please stay. Our lady really doesn’t like dogs, I hope you can understand. We are here to look for Dongfang Ming.”

She saw that although Liu Duo looked young, she wore her hair in a bun that was in the style of a married woman so she would naturally call her young madam.

Upon hearing her, Liu Duo stopped, turned her body to the side and looked at them. She then looked back at Dongfang Ming who was sitting underneath the roof with Ye Ling.

She ignored Little Tian. After stopping for a while, she continued to walk towards the area underneath the roof. “Dongfang, there’s someone looking for you outside. Go take a look, yourself.”

Dongfang Ming nodded. He stood up unhurriedly and walked towards the yard door.

Hei Xiaomeng was blocking the door and they didn’t dare to come in.

“That farmer is so rude. I asked her to take her dog away and tie it up but she actually just walked away? How could she treat a guess like this!” Wang Xiangyun complained to Little Tian.

“My lady, that young madam might’ve gone to ask her husband to tie the dog up. Let’s just wait.”

Hei Xiaomeng was now even bigger and taller than before. She thought that maybe Liu Duo wouldn’t be able to get it to move.

Just as Little Tian finished speaking, Dongfang Ming appeared in their line of sight.

“Brother Ming.” Wang Xiangyun immediately smiled brightly while she looked at him.

Dongfang Ming passed by Hei Xiaomeng and he ignored her. He unhurriedly walked to the horse carriage, looked at the coachman and said, “In the future, you are only to listen to my orders. If there is a next time, you will be dismissed!”

He could guess how Wang Xiangyun had made him bring her here. He didn’t plan on looking into it this time.

After the coachman heard him, he sneaked a peek at Wang Xiangyun and then nodded earnestly.

Although he was honest, he was not stupid. The boss had already said he should listen to him. After all, it was Dongfang Ming who paid his salary and not Wang Xiangyun!

Chapter 646

“Brother Ming, why didn’t you take the horse carriage, but rather walked here by yourself? The soles of your shoes are filled with traces of mud.”

Wang Xiangyun wanted to make her presence felt so she ran over beside him and asked this out of concern.

When Dongfang Ming heard her, before he could criticize her, she had already come close to him.

He turned his body sideways, and created a distance of three to four meters between them before saying, “Xiangyun, don’t order my people to do things for you in the future! Now, get out of my sight, otherwise, don’t blame me if I get physical.”

Having her following him around like a fly really annoyed him!

Every time he wanted to scold her fiercely without consideration for her feelings, he would remember her brothers and a few elders. He would always hold it in out of consideration for them. But now, he was on the verge of exploding. He didn’t want to hold it in anymore.

The coachman looked at his temporary boss and, as he had ordered, he decided he would definitely not listen to Wang Xiangyun anymore!

It was obvious the boss didn’t like his spouse.

Wang Xiangyun moved forward again to stand in front of him while facing him. She said angrily, “Brother Ming, I came from the capital to be with you, to be where you are. Why should I leave? I. Won’t. Leave.”

It was really so infuriating. The attitude Liu Duo showed when she turned around and left had already made her angry and now Dongfang Ming told her to leave. She was really going to go crazy.

Little Tian came over and said something to support her lady. “Mr. Dongfang, the reason our lady came all the way to find you is that her feelings for you are too deep. How can you keep telling her to leave and hurting her!”

Every time they saw each other, the thing she heard from Dongfang Ming the most was him asking her to leave. It really made her feel outraged at the injustice Wang Xiangyun suffered!

Wang Xiangyun felt wronged and her eyes turned red when she heard him. She wanted to cry but she held it in. She was like a beautiful woman who was attracting pity through her tears.

Dongfang Ming only looked at Little Tian, neither happily nor angrily as a response. He turned around and didn’t want to waste time with her. He had already said what he needed to say.

Wang Xiangyun saw that he wanted to leave and she immediately went and pulled on the corner of his clothes. “Brother Ming, is this peasant household the family of the person who drew the drawings? Can you ask them to tie the dog up? I also want to go in.”

She completely ignored what Dongfang Ming said. Although she felt hurt in her heart, she chose to forget about it.

Dongfang Ming didn’t want to waste his breath anymore. He pushed her hand away and immediately lifted his hand to touch her body a few times. Wang Xiangyun closed her mouth, stopped speaking, and her body couldn’t move.

“Bring your master back to the capital!”

After he finished speaking, he walked towards the yard door.

Wang Xiangyun saw him leave without the slightest hesitation and the tears in her eyes immediately covered her cheeks.

She wanted to say something but he had pressed her pressure points so she wouldn’t even move her body.

Little Tian went to help her and her eyes were also red like she was also about to cry. She turned around and said to Wang Xiaoliu, “Xiaoliu, drive the horse carriage over. We are going back.”

The coachman saw them leave and didn’t know what he should do. Should he follow them and leave or keep waiting?

Ye Ling and Liu Duo saw him come back not long after he left and found it quite strange.

However, they didn’t ask. After all, it was unrelated to them.

Dongfang Ming’s mood was also not the least bit changed. What happened hadn’t affected him and he continued to draw the way Liu Duo taught him…

“Little Duo, take a look at this drawing. Did I improve?” Dongfang Ming looked at his own drawing and felt that this was his most successful one yet.

When Ye Ling and Liu Duo heard him, they both took a look at it.

They saw that it was still a cute version of a little piglet. It looked very simple and cute.

Ye Ling looked at the drawing and said very generously, “Brother Ming, I think your drawing looks the same as Duo Er’s. You drew it very well.”

Chapter 647

Liu Duo pretended to be strict and said, “It is acceptable. Let me see you draw another expression on it. It can also be of any other small animals. You are free to be creative.”

Upon hearing her, Dongfang Ming laughed and picked up the brush without saying anything. He then focused and started moving the brush.

He knew Liu Duo was testing him to see if he had grasped this drawing technique and was not just drawing by imitation.

At this time, Hei Xiaomeng started barking again. They could even hear someone shouting, “Ye Ling, Ye Liushi, can you guys tie up your dog. I’m here to sell tomatoes.”

He knew the three older brothers usually weren’t home at this time. That’s why he called Ye Ling and Liu Duo.

When Liu Duo heard him, she asked Ye Ling to continue practicing writing. She would just go by herself.

“Oh, it’s you. Come in, it won’t bite.” Liu Duo patted Hei Xiaomeng on its head and spoke to the man.

This man was the one who had said he wanted to go to the villages in the neighboring towns to buy tomatoes. Ever since he said this, he never came to Liu Duo’s house again. Liu Duo even though he had just said it as a joke.

“Brother Su, how many jins did you purchase?” Liu Duo looked at the three of them and each of them was carrying a carrying pole with full loads.

The one she called Brother Su, Su Quan, replied while he walked into the yard, “Not much, just around two hundred jins.”

They had accumulated these in the past few days from purchasing them from the villages in the neighboring towns.

Liu Duo immediately went to grab a brush and the transaction records when she entered the back of the yard. “Brother Su, what is the specific amount. I need to record it down and pay you the money.”

She wasn’t worried there would be many cracked or dried up tomatoes since she still trusted them. If it happened a second time their cooperation would end.

“Two hundred and one jins.” Su Quan held the carrying pole and stood to the side. “Ye Liushi, about what we discussed last time…how did the discussion with the Ye brothers go?”

Liu Duo finished recording the transaction, and she put down the brush and smiled at him. “We will give you two wens more for every jin. What do you think?”

After Dongfang Ming finished drawing a rabbit with a blank expression, he looked over towards Liu Duo.

It seemed that Liu Duo’s business was about to grow bigger and bigger.

“That’s fine. Thank you.” Su Quan nodded and felt that it was quite appropriate. He was not greedy. It was good as long as he could make money.

In any case, it was better than not having an income like before.

Liu Duo gave him the money that was owed to him and then went back underneath the roof to look at Dongfang Ming’s rabbit.

“Dongfang, your drawing is quite good. You can finish your apprenticeship! It seems that my job of drawing for your tailor shop is no longer safe,” Liu Duo said, praising him.

Smart people really were different. He was able to draw so well just after some instructions.

It had to be said that she had practiced quite a while before she could reach his current standard.

Dongfang Ming laughed when he heard her. His gentle temperament paired with his handsome face made him look handsome no matter how one looked at him. “Little Duo, you really know how to joke. How could my drawing be compared to yours?”

Liu Duo and Ye Ling also started to laugh in response to his modesty.

In the blink of an eye, Ye Liu and the others returned on the bullock-cart when it was close to noon. They saw Dongfang Ming’s horse carriage outside the yard…and the coachman was actually taking a nap on it?

Ye Mo muttered in his heart, Why did this fella come again? Why hasn’t he gone back to the capital?!

“Friend, why didn’t you go into the yard? Why are you spacing out over here?” Ye Liu smiled and said to him.

The coachman woke up from his nap when he heard Ye Liu’s voice.

Err… it wouldn’t be good for him to answer and talk about Dongfang Ming and Wang Xiangyun. After all, it was the boss’s family affair.

He only spoke after pausing for a while, “I’m waiting for the boss out here. He asked me to go back to town but I didn’t leave.”

Chapter 648

“Come in with us. It’ll be lunchtime soon, your boss won’t be leaving,” Ye Liu said to him.

His brothers would definitely allow Dongfang Ming to stay for lunch. If the coachman waited here, wouldn’t he starve?

The coachman hesitated. Ye Liu had to call out to him a few more times before he was willing to step into the yard.

They entered to find Liu Duo and Dongfang Ming having a friendly chat. Ye Mo’s temper built up instantly.

“Wife, we’ve returned! Get us some water quick! We’re thirsty!”

Liu Duo, already used to his manner of speech, got up to get water for them.

Ye Liu greeted Dongfang Ming with a smile and a nod.

Ye Ling was not with them because he was preparing food in the kitchen.

The coachman felt like he was making a mistake and did not dare to look straight at Dongfang Ming. He helped the brothers unload the tomatoes from the bullock-cart.

“Mo, you always complain about the heat or being thirsty when you come back. What’s your deal?” Liu Duo said as she served him water.

She did not regard serving them water as a chore. Strangely, it was always he who demanded it. Never once did Ye Liu or Li Wazi ask it of her.

“Does it tire you to get water for your husband? Loudmouth…” Ye Mo drank his water in one gulp.

Hey! What’s with him? Did he swallow dynamite? How rude and disrespectful!

She rolled her eyes at him and could not care less. Then she poured water for Ye Liu, Li Wazi, and the coachman.

Ye Liu also finished his in one gulp and said to her playfully, “Little Duo is so thoughtful. You’re making me love you even more. I haven’t seen you all day and I missed you so much.”

Liu Duo blushed slightly at his declaration of love but rolled her eyes nonetheless. Bullocks!

“Little Duo, you collected so many tomatoes this morning?” Ye Liu passed her the bowl and commented when he saw the tomatoes stacked in a corner.

“Those are from Brother Su who got them from nearby villages. We have about two hundred jin here.”

“Then we can ask the women that Aunt Li enlisted to come help out, although we’ll need to get another stove.”

Liu Duo nodded in agreement with him. Based on their current purchase volume and only one working stove, the tomatoes would rot if left alone and not processed in time. They also did not have enough manpower.

Next, Ye Liu looked back at Dongfang Ming and grinned. “Brother Dongfang, what brings you here? I haven’t seen you in town over the past few days, how are you?”

“I’m doing fine. I wanted to learn drawing from Liu Duo, so I came here asking for her guidance. I apologize for the interruption,” he said slowly as he fanned himself as usual, giving a polite smile.

Ye Mo peered at Dongfang Ming and asked an enigmatic question: “Mr. Dongfang, you’ve been here for more than ten days now, haven’t you? Don’t you have business to take care of in the capital?”

In other words, why haven’t you left?

Liu Duo glared at him. Why did he need to know when the man would return to the capital?

Ye Liu added onto the question jokingly, “Brother Dongfang, what my brother meant was, you have been here for so long. He worries that your business in the capital might require you to make big decisions and that profits might be affected if you delay those matters for too long.”

Since he could stay here for so much time, obviously he had made proper arrangements. He did not have to worry about trivialities.

Hence why Ye Liu phrased his words like that.

Dongfang Ming grinned again. He folded his fan and said, “My subordinates have it under control. I pay them well for their work. Thank you, Brother Ye, but you don’t have to worry about that.”

Of course, he knew what Ye Mo meant, but he did not think deeper into it. He could tell Ye Mo did not like him very much.

Chapter 649

“That’s nice to know. Now you can feel free to stay longer.” Ye Liu smiled back.

By the time they had taken all the tomatoes indoors, Ye Yang and Old Liu came back with their farming tools.

Ye Yang spotted Dongfang Ming in the house and greeted him with his eyes, then both he and Old Liu went to wash up by the well.

After a morning’s work, they were sweaty, sticky, and overall uncomfortable.

“Yang, come get a drink.” Liu Duo went up to them with some water. She also brought bowls for both of them.

After getting to know them for some time, it was apparent that they were an easy-going family. Old Liu’s constraints had soon vanished. He casually accepted the water and drank it in one go.

Ye Yang felt better after a face wash. Liu Duo passed a bowl of water to him, but he did not drink it immediately. With a glimmer in his eyes, he said to her, “Good.”

He drank it all then said again, “Tasty.”

Coming home to a virtuous wife made Ye Yang feel that his life had become so wonderful.

Er…

Blushing, Liu Duo peered at Ye Yang. Is he flirting with me out in the open?

When did he learn to say something like that?

She did not know how to react, so she averted his gaze. Shyly, she took the empty bowl from his hand and returned to the house.

It was obviously an icy glare, but somehow she was stunned just looking into his eyes. Her heart beat fast, and very soon she was flustered.

Ye Yang caught up with her. He took a good look at her flushed face, and the angles of his lips curled up a little.

“Time for lunch.” Ye Ling came out of the kitchen with a dish.

Ye Yang moved to the kitchen to help serve the food.

Everyone sat around the table, eating merrily. The conversation between Ye Liu, Liu Duo, and Dongfang Ming went on harmoniously.

Not so for Ye Mo. Whenever Liu Duo spoke to Dongfang Ming, he would eye the man suspiciously, finding him more and more despicable!

He thought, you think you’re so good-looking? Quit smiling. It’s repulsive.

“Dongfang, I want to ask about the frozen fruit salad. When do you intend to sell it in your shop in the capital?” Liu Duo asked him.

Their little town would not stand a chance. If they did not sell it now, when the weather was still hot, they would not have the chance to do so after summer ended, and they would have to wait for next year.

Dongfang Ming replied, “I’ve arranged for Chef Liu to return. In a couple of days, the menu will be ready. You just wait for the bonuses, Little Duo.”

It was sunny today. Chef Liu should be on his way there now. It had been raining for the past two days, and he had stayed put here.

“Alright, I’ll count on you then.” Liu Duo grinned broadly. She had gained another source of income. How wonderful.

Ye Mo kicked her lightly under the table. What was her deal, smiling to other men like that? Did she have any shame?

Liu Duo dropped the smile when she felt the kick. Which rascal had kicked her?

Without being detected, she surveyed the few people sitting opposite her. They were Ye Mo, Ye Ling, and Li Wazi.

To her, Ye Mo was the most suspicious one. Ye Ling and Li Wazi would not do something as immature as this!

Ye Mo noticed Liu Duo glaring at him with fire in her eyes. Deliberately, he asked, “Dear wife, just eat. What are you staring at?”

As long as she stopped talking to Dongfang Ming, and instead shifted focus onto him, he was more than delighted.

Go on, keep pretending then! You’re just asking for trouble!

She brought her leg up and kicked him back. “I’m just admiring Aunt Li’s cooking. It’s all so good, I don’t know what I should try.”

Chapter 650

“Then taste a bit of everything. No one’s saying you can only pick one. Don’t constrain yourself inside your own house.” Ye Mo picked a random dish and dropped it into her bowl. The way he said that to her, people would think she was dumb.

She twitched her mouth and rolled her eyes at him. He was the idiot here!

After listening to their interaction, the other three brothers followed suit and each gave her a bit of the other side dishes.

Dongfang Ming sat there like an outsider. Did they have to express their love like this?

After lunch, Liu Duo and Dongfang Ming engaged in a short conversation, under Ye Mo’s close inspection and prompting, before she went upstairs for a nap.

“Mo, why are you following me?” Liu Duo looked back at her pesky follower.

Ye Mo glanced at her too but said nothing. Instead, he sped up and beat her to her room. He sat on her bed as though he owned the place, and waited for her to come in.

Liu Duo merely rolled her eyes at him. “Mo, if you have something to say, just say it. What’s with the pose?”

She sat on a nearby stool.

“Wife, you should restrict your actions, you hear me? Other than your husbands, you are not permitted to communicate excessively with other men!”

Pffft. Liu Duo let out a laugh.

Commandments for me?

She was not even a woman from this era. She had no care for restrictions that husbands would place on their wives. She was satisfied as long as there was loyalty to their marriage!

She would not be confined by these old-fashioned quibbles.

She came to stand in front of him and spoke to his face. “And if I don’t obey that, if I really want to talk to other men, what are you going to do about it? Repudiate me?”

She would really like to know what he planned to do. She engaged with so many villagers on a daily basis, how could she refrain from talking to them?

Ye Mo’s uncontrollable temper rose instantly!

He knew she would talk back, but he did not expect her to mention repudiation! He would not do that, and would never dream of it.

He cleared his throat, restrained his anger and said, “H-How dare you disobey your husband! Even if I want you gone, I don’t have the final say. My brothers would need to agree unanimously. So I advise you to be obedient. I don’t expect you to listen to everything we say, but you have to change your habit of conversing with other men, or else I’ll convince my brothers to repudiate you!”

Obviously he was stretching the truth. He was mad, but he would not unload his anger on her. He’d gotten himself into a ridiculous situation.

“No, I’m not going to! How’s that?” Liu Duo grinned broadly, completely ignoring his words. She bet he would not dare to repudiate her.

For a shared wife to be repudiated, all her husbands would have to agree to it. One alone simply would not work.

Unable to contain his fury, Ye Mo’s mouth twitched. With his strong arms he pulled her close such that she landed on his lap with her back facing him. He then proceeded to spank her three times on the buttocks, albeit quite lightly.

“Wife, this is what you get for not listening to me. If you keep resisting me, I’ll hit you even more.”

He spanked her another two times.

She struggled as she lay pressed on his lap. She was so mad and so humiliated!

How dare he treat her like a child?

“Let me go, Mo, I…”

“What? Don’t think about reporting this to Ye Yang. All my brothers definitely agree with me on this!”

He interrupted her. His nagging could only be described as ‘fierce.’

She talked back anyways. “Y-You’re the childish one! You’re the most childish one in the family! And overbearing too! And you have the gall to lecture me? Let me go now!”

She was not very strong, so she could not free herself, but her current situation was just so shameful. It looked like an adult teaching a naughty child a lesson!