How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

Qingru didn't take Erlang's words to heart, dismissing them as mere childish playfulness.

Xin Wu Hui didn't take it to heart; he was helping Niu Da chop firewood in the yard. "Brother Niu, you have quite a lot of firewood. Can your family of three use it all?"

The eaves of the courtyard were piled with firewood, neatly stacked. Hearing Xin Wu Hui's words, Niu Da just smiled憨厚ly, "Hehe, our family is small, so naturally we have to prepare in advance. Don't be fooled by how much it looks now, we'll use it up quickly. We're preparing more before winter comes, since our family won't be going out all winter. You see, we still have a lot?"

Xin Wu Hui thought about it and realized it made sense. If a family of three used it for an entire winter, it really wasn't much. So he didn't say anything more and obediently chopped wood.

"Husband, come here for a moment." Sister-in-law Niu waved to her husband from the kitchen doorway, and Xin Wu Hui looked over as well.

"what's up?"

Sister-in-law Niu smiled sheepishly and only asked her husband to come over. Xin Wuhui understood, "Sister-in-law, is it because we don't have enough food?" The family of three wasn't very successful, and they probably couldn't feed two outsiders, but they were too embarrassed to say so, so they asked her husband to come and discuss it.

Sister-in-law Niu quickly waved her hands, "No, no, don't worry, there's plenty of food. It's just that something else is going on." Then she yelled at her husband, "Come over when I tell you to! What are you dawdling about?"

Niu Da reluctantly got up. "Honestly, you're such a handful. Brother Xin, could you please gather this firewood? I'll go see what's going on."

"Alright, you go ahead, leave the safekeeping to me." Xin Wu Hui didn't want to get involved in the couple's affairs, so it was more practical for him to stay here and chop wood.

Niu Da washed his hands in the stone mortar by the door, wiped himself haphazardly, and went inside by lifting the curtain.

"What's the rush? It's not good if people find out." Niu Da said coldly, his honest expression completely gone.

Sister-in-law Niu patted her husband, her face beaming with undisguised joy. She gestured with her hands, "Hey, do you know what price they offered me this time?"

Niu Da took a big gulp of water and casually asked, "What's the price?"

"This number."

Niu Da looked at the number she gestured, somewhat incredulously, "Fifty silver dollars! There are actually that many?"

Sister-in-law Niu said proudly, "It's all because I'm good at talking. Hey, look at that one in the yard, tall and strong, those muscles...tsk tsk, you can tell he's got a lot of strength. He's a strong laborer, we can use him as soon as we buy him."

Seeing the gleam in Sister-in-law Niu's eyes, Niu Da was displeased. "Do you have a crush on her? Is it really necessary to praise her so highly?"

Sister-in-law Niu glanced at him with disdain, "I'm telling you, how many goods have passed through my hands, when have you ever seen me get them on my clothes? Let me tell you, don't get involved with my dirty tricks. You've ruined my sales of those girls in the past, and I haven't even settled accounts with you yet!"

Niu Da said with a forced smile, "I was just worried that you would change your mind. I was wrong, I was wrong. Please forgive me."

"Hmph," Niu Da said with a forced smile and a bow, which finally made Niu Da's wife smile again. "Alright, stop being so indecent. Hey, let me tell you, people will be coming to inspect the goods soon. You'd better cooperate and not give anything away, especially the one in the inner room. Don't let anyone find out. We have to wait until she's fully recovered before we can sell her for a good price."

Thinking of this, Sister Niu felt a pang of heartache. "Pah! If it weren't for her good looks, I wouldn't have done this troublesome thing. Once she's recovered from her injuries, I'm going to go to the bustling city and find the biggest brothel to sell her whole to pay off my debts."

“Hey, who says otherwise?” Niu Da chimed in. To be honest, he didn’t trust Niu Da’s wife, and she didn’t trust him much either, so she warned, “Don’t get any ideas. That woman is pretty, but I’ve looked her over carefully. She’s still a virgin. Only women like that can fetch a good price. If you dare touch my goods, I’ll sell you and your son and find someone else.”

Niu Da repeatedly assured, "Li Niang, do you not know me? I am completely devoted to you. For you, I would have sold my wife and daughter without batting an eye. It's all because you are the most important person in my heart. If you weren't infertile... my son would have been at your mercy long ago."

Thinking of this, Sister-in-law Niu was quite pleased with herself. A man would neglect his wife and children for her, all because she was more important to him. What else was there to say? However, given Niu Da's past record, Sister-in-law Niu still added, "No matter what, you can't touch that woman. She's the prettiest one I've ever handled. You can't ruin my image."

Niu Da quickly swore an oath, "I won't touch her. If I do, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death."

Sister-in-law Niu was finally satisfied. She swayed her waist and brandished the spatula to shoo people away, saying, "Alright, I just wanted to tell you something to make you happy. Now hurry up and go keep an eye on people."

"Yes," Niu Da readily agreed, quickly kissed Niu Dasao on the cheek, and turned to run away.

Sister-in-law Niu was both ashamed and angry, and chased after him to hit him, yelling, "You dead man!"

Niu Da chuckled and ran off early, and once outside, he was back to his honest and simple self.

Xiao Erlang squatted in the corner, listening to their entire conversation. He stared blankly into the distance, seemingly lost in thought. The grass in front of him had been completely uprooted.

That night, Sister-in-law Niu prepared a table of dishes and invited Niu Da and Xin Wu Hui to drink.

Seeing the sumptuous meal on the table, Xin Wu Hui couldn't help but feel a strong urge to eat. Not to mention that he had been eating wild fruits and tree bark for days, even at the Huang residence, there wasn't often a table of food and wine. Moreover, he had to drive and was strictly forbidden from drinking alcohol.

Without standing on ceremony, Xin Wu Hui sat down as if they were old friends. Seeing that there were five sets of bowls and chopsticks on the table, but only the three of them, he couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Why isn't the child at the table?"

Sister-in-law Niu was taken aback for a moment. “Oh dear, he wanted to drink, but he’s just a kid. I was afraid he’d cause trouble, so I gave him some rice to eat inside. I also packed some food and took it over.”

"Oh, so these five sets of bowls and chopsticks, is it because someone else is coming?"

Niu Da chimed in, "I'm just a rough man and not good with words. It's fate that we met, so I invited a fellow villager and his wife to keep me company. You don't mind, do you?"

Xin Wu Hui wouldn't mind at all. This wasn't his home, and besides, it was all to entertain him. So he said, "How could I mind? Brother Niu and Sister-in-law Niu, you're too kind."

Sister-in-law Niu covered her mouth and laughed, "If my child hadn't lied, your sister wouldn't have been frightened by the dog. In a way, it's our fault. Here, have a drink, as an apology."

Xin Wu Hui quickly picked up her cup as well, "Sister-in-law Niu, you're too kind. The guests haven't arrived yet, it's not appropriate for me to drink first."

Sister-in-law Niu said reproachfully, "How could that be? You drink yours, I prepared more, and they won't be here for a while."

Xin Wu Hui couldn't refuse, and before even taking a bite of food, he drank a glass of wine. The spicy wine made him cough repeatedly, "Cough cough, Sister-in-law Niu, I've finished it all, cough cough."

Sister-in-law Niu gave him a wink, and Niu Da stood up again and said, "Hehe, good brother, that's great! Come on, you've drunk your sister-in-law's wine, so you should at least drink one of mine. Here, I'll toast you."

"Hey, brother." Before Xin Wu Hui could stop him, Niu Da had already downed a cup of wine. Helpless, Xin Wu Hui had no choice but to fill his cup again and drink it all in one gulp.

As they were talking, a noise came from the courtyard, "Niu Da, is he home?"

Niu Da quickly replied, "Yes, yes, come in quickly into the inner room."

The newcomer was dressed entirely in black, with a dark complexion that almost blended into the night. He was short and thin, with a withered face, drooping eyebrows and eyes, and an unremarkable appearance.

The woman following beside her was also dressed in dark gray clothes, with few patches and faded from washing. She had delicate features, but her drooping eyebrows were just like her husband's, and her hunched back made her look even more sorrowful.

The man's cloudy eyes gleamed with a sharp light as he subtly sized Xin Wu Hui up and down before quickly entering the kitchen. A smile appeared on his face. "Brother Niu, is this the young man you were talking about?"

Niu Da smiled憨厚ly, "That's right, this is my brother Xin, young and strong, he even worked for a wealthy family."

Seeing that Xin Wu Hui was somewhat at a loss, he introduced him again, "This is my cousin, you can just call him Niu Er."

"Brother Niu Er," Xin Wu Hui called out readily, but for some reason, he thought of the day when Xiao Erlang called his dog "Er Niu," and felt a little strange.

Niu Er smiled and patted Xin Wu Hui on the shoulder, testing his strength. He then touched Xin Wu Hui's arm and felt the hard muscles, exclaiming, "Not bad, you've got some strength."

Niu Da tried to smooth things over, saying, "Hehe, Brother Xin, don't mind it. We country folk just love to show off our strength."

Xin Wu Hui had also lived in the countryside, so although it seemed a bit strange, he kept quiet and simply kept his distance.

The group introduced themselves to each other, then sat down and began toasting each other. Most of them urged Xin Wu Hui to drink more. Niu Da also drank, but Niu Er didn't touch much. The woman just ate her food and didn't say much.

Hearing the lively sounds coming from the kitchen, Qingru felt a little more at ease. Using her good right hand, she drank the cooled medicine in one gulp. The bitter taste immediately spread in her mouth. Since no one was there to pour her cold water, she had no choice but to endure it.

With a creak, Xiao Erlang pushed the door open and entered, staring straight at Qingru, which startled her.

Qingru had no liking for the child who lied to her about the earrings, and said coldly, "What are you doing here? Go have dinner with your parents."

Without saying a word, Xiao Erlang walked towards her in a daze, and suddenly reached out and hugged her around the waist.

Qingru was a little uncomfortable being held, even by a child. Moreover, she was injured and worried that Xiao Erlang would touch her wound, so she used her good hand to push him away, saying, "What's wrong? Tell me what's wrong, don't press on my wound."

Xiao Erlang seemed not to hear her. Just as Qingru was about to become impatient, she heard Xiao Erlang start to sob softly, "Wuwu..." The sound was suppressed and sad. Qingru didn't know how to shoo him away, so she gently patted his back instead.

"What's wrong? Did your mom hit you?"

"She's not my mother!" Xiao Erlang suddenly shouted, and Qingru froze on the spot.

The commotion could also be heard in the kitchen.

Sister-in-law Niu glared at Niu Da, then stood up and said, "This child has such a temper. I'll go check on him. You guys eat first."

With a single sentence, the matter was dismissed as a child throwing a tantrum, and the men resumed their drinking. However, Sister-in-law Niu glanced towards the side room, a meaningful look in her eyes.

Sister-in-law Niu disliked that look the most, so she frowned and quickly left the kitchen.

Sister-in-law Niu entered the house with a stern face, locked the door, and said in a low voice, "What are you shouting about!"

Then, with a forced smile, she said to Qingru, "This child didn't bother you, did he? He's so naughty; it's all my fault for not teaching him well."

Qingru herself was still being taken care of by others, so how could she say anything about their discipline? Therefore, she smiled and said, "It's okay. I'm also the older sister at home. He's still a child. He didn't bother me."

Sister-in-law Niu came up and tugged at Xiao Erlang's arm, "Quickly apologize to your sister. I made you a special meal. It's not that I didn't want you to sit at the table, it's just that they're drinking, and it wouldn't be fun for a little kid like you to sit at the table. I saved some for you separately, okay? Be good."

Xiao Erlang pouted, fiercely wiped away his tears with his arm, turned his face away, and remained silent. Tears welled up in his eyes, which he desperately tried to hold back.

Qingru suddenly felt a little soft-hearted and said, "Don't talk about him anymore, I'm fine, just eat here with me."

Xiao Erlang glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, then lowered his head and remained silent.

Sister-in-law Niu dared not let anyone discover that there was another person in the side room. "Oh, this child is so troublesome. You should rest now. I'll take him out to eat."

Without saying a word, she grabbed Xiao Erlang's arm and pulled him outside. She pulled the door latch, and there was Niu Ersao waiting at the door, saying with a half-smile, "Sister-in-law, are there other people at home? Let me see them too."

Sister-in-law Niu was almost scared out of her wits by her sister-in-law, gasping, "Why are you hiding by the door? You're scaring me half to death!"

Niu Ersao stopped smiling and pushed the door open herself. Niu Dasao, who was holding Xiao Erlang by the hand, was too late to stop her.

Qingru heard the noise and was about to struggle to get up when she saw a strange woman approaching. She was small, like a mouse, and walked very quietly. Her originally pretty face was marred by droopy eyebrows and eyes, and she looked sinister.

Being stared at by her felt like being stared at by a wild beast in the wilderness. Qingru couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine and asked Sister-in-law Niu, "Sister-in-law Niu, who is this...?"

“She’s my sister-in-law, you can just call her Second Sister-in-law,” Sister-in-law Niu said through gritted teeth, while still putting on a friendly front.

The woman just stared at her without saying a word, and Qingru looked embarrassed. If this were her own home, she would definitely have kicked her out.

Sister-in-law Niu also looked at her with a troubled expression and gently shook her head.

Fortunately, the woman only looked for a while, asked about Qingru's injuries, and then left. As soon as she left, Qingru and Sister-in-law Niu both breathed a sigh of relief.

Little Erlang had long since disappeared. Sister-in-law Niu said awkwardly, "My sister-in-law..." She pointed to her head, "That's why I didn't want to say there were still people at home, afraid that she would disturb your rest. Please don't mind."

Qingru wouldn't mind at all; in fact, she was grateful for her thoughtfulness. If she had such a frightening relative in her own family, she would also ask her guests to avoid them.