Chapter 13 Consideration

  Time flies! It's already 1988. [First issued]

  By the end of August, although the scorching summer has passed, the autumn tiger is not weak. The summer in the mountains is indeed cooler than in the plains, but before September, the sweltering heat will not retreat, it's just less dry and scorching.

  Around eight o'clock in the evening, as the night fell, a gentle breeze began to blow in the sultry air. The hanging houses were all lit up with orange-red lights. This was the most lively time for every household in Liujiacun Village, as they had just finished dinner and the adults were shouting at the children to fetch water and take baths. The doors of the hanging houses were all wide open, and the shouts from the households near Qing Sheng's and Bai Cui Fen's homes could be heard even more clearly.

  Qing Shu walked out of his own house, passed the bluestone bridge in front of the door, along the small path between the water and the pond, to the west end of the village, passed the arch bridge, and went to Bai Cui Fen's home.

  Just after passing the arch bridge at the west end, before reaching the entrance of Bai Cuifen's house, a dog barked. It was the big yellow dog from next door to Bai Cuifen's house. As soon as it barked, seeing that the person approaching was Qing Sheng, its acquaintance, it immediately stopped barking and walked away with its tail between its legs.

  Upon hearing a dog bark, An Shaojie, who was sitting at the gate in a daze, knew that Qing Sheng had arrived.

  Why does he always sneak into my home at night?

  An Shaojie sprang up from the ground and stood in the middle of the doorway with his fists clenched.

  Yes, the actions of Green Tree are too sneaky.

  He came out of his house and originally didn't need to go through the stone bridge at the east end of the village, but instead went around to the outside of the village via the arch bridge at the west end to get to Bai Cui Fen's home. He could have gone straight to Bai Cui Fen's home by passing in front of a few houses at the entrance of the village, but since An Bing Wen passed away, he has been taking a detour.

  His change in behavior is too sneaky.

  Before An Bingwen's death, rumors about his improper relationship with Bai Cuifen had been circulating quietly in the village.

  Alright, now that An Bingwen is gone, every time Qing Sheng comes to Bai Cuifen's house, he always sneaks around stealthily, as if he has a guilty conscience, making the rumors even more direct and publicized, no longer as secretive and obscure as before.

  "Hum! Look, he's going to that house again." Several neighboring households had their doors wide open and had already seen the shadow of Qing Sheng walking towards Bai Cui Fen's house in the darkness. They all stuck out their heads, or found various excuses to go outside and stand at the door, looking around.

  "Hmph! Look at how serious they are during the day, but as soon as night falls, he rushes to their house, taking a few detours along the way. Is it really necessary? Who doesn't know about their relationship? Who can't see it? Are we blind or something?"

  Back in the house, they complained about other family members, not avoiding their own children, so Bai Cuifen and Qingteng had an improper relationship. Not only did the adults in Liujiacun know, but the children also vaguely understood some meaning.

  So those kids rarely played with An Shaojie and Shao Min in their daily lives, especially Shaojie, because he seemed even less willing to play with them.

  In fact, there was no need for the loud barking of the big yellow dog to remind the villagers that Qing Sheng had gone to Bai Cui Fen's home again.

  Qing Shu had just stepped out of the door when Liu Xiu Zhen's scolding voice had already been heard from their window for a long time.

  When An Shaojie heard Liu Xiuzhen scolding Qing Sheng's voice at home, he was still sitting quietly on the threshold, because Liu Xiuzhen's scolding could sometimes stop Qing Sheng from coming to his house.

  However, after hearing the dog barking, An Shaojie knew that Liu Xiu Zhen's tantrum tonight also failed to stop Qing Shu Sheng.

  This made An Shaojie feel a strong sense of anger, shame and resistance.

  He clenched his fists tightly and bit his lips tightly.

  You'd better keep it secret, don't let your family know, especially that shrew of a woman. You're doing things sneakily, but you've let everyone in Liu's village know, from the old to the young. Are you not harboring evil intentions? Is this not deliberately trying to humiliate the widow and orphan in front of everyone in Liu's village?

  No, it's not just Liujiacun Village, but also several neighboring villages and even the entire area that now knows of his shame.

  In the darkness, An Shaojie glared angrily at the tall and dark figure walking towards his home.

  Qing Shu walked on one side, while lowering his head and scratching the back of his head with his hand.

  He also didn't know why he had become so timid and sneaky now.

  In the past, when An Bingwen was alive, although there were rumors in the village about him and Bai Cuifen, what was he afraid of at that time? What did he fear? Who did he avoid suspicion from? At that time, how clear his heart was. In the past, when Liu Xiuzhen scolded him and stopped him, how righteous and confident he was.

  But now he is timid and has scruples.

  Is he really guilty now? Is his heart no longer at peace?

  No, it's not.

  Now he is timid and hesitant because he doesn't want to bring trouble and annoyance to her.

  Now he just wants to protect her well.

  He thought that as long as he avoided suspicion and retreated in front of others, it would bring her peace.

  But he didn't know that sometimes many things won't be settled just because of your tolerance and compromise.

  Rumors are even more so.

  Before, when Bai Cuifen had just married into Liu's village, Liu Xiuzhen was still very good to her and often socialized with her. Whenever something happened at Bai's home, she would come over to help.

  However, since Shaojie was two years old, An Bingwen fell ill and his body was not good, so he often lay in bed all year round. The village began to spread rumors that Qing Shu and Bai Cuifen had an improper relationship.

  At first, Liu Xiu Zhen didn't pay much attention to it.

  Later, the rumors became more intense and public, even some fabricated things were said to be true, Liu Xiuzhen began to believe them, so she stopped being friends with Bai Cuifen, didn't let Qing Sheng go to their house to visit or help, and often quarreled loudly with Qing Sheng at home about this matter, even extending to scolding Bai Cuifen in a roundabout way.

  Liu Xiuzhen is a troublemaker, she quarrels and scolds people without any reserve, every time she quarrels with Qing Sheng, almost everyone in the village knows about it. Moreover, even the neighboring villages and stockades on both sides of Liu's village are almost all aware of it.

  So, after Liu Xiu Zhen's repeated public outbursts and scolding, the non-existent relationship between Qing Shu Sheng and Bai Cui Fen became a fact that everyone took for granted.

  But at that time, Qing Sheng didn't avoid suspicion because after all, Bingwen was still alive and trusted him.

  At that time, every time Qing Sheng came to their home and heard Liu Xiu Zhen's scolding behind him, Bing Wen would always look at him with an apologetic gaze and say: "Shu Sheng brother, I'm sorry."

  Then, he turned around and pulled Bai Cuifen's hand, "Cuifen, I've wronged you."

  Every time this happens, Bai Cuifen's eyes are always filled with tears, and she is grateful for An Bingwen's unwavering trust in her.