Chapter 77: Shirtless

Chapter 77: Shirtless

Lin Xiaopu grinned, explaining, "Brother A-Ye heard us say we caught a lot of fish in the stream last time. He thought our two buckets at home weren't enough, so he went to Third Aunt's house to borrow one."

Lin Shu paused, "Why go all the way to Third Aunt's just to borrow a bucket? Couldn't he ask the neighbors?"

Lin Xiaopu immediately adopted a sly, knowing expression, "Brother A-Ye didn't say, but I bet he plans to put a couple of fish in the bucket when he returns it."

Hearing this, Lin Shu understood.

If Cousin Yu Shu carried the fish back, they'd likely be dead by the time he got home. Dead fish had to be eaten the same day and couldn't be kept for the next. But if they were alive, Third Aunt could keep them and cook them whenever she wished.

Moreover, if Cousin Yu Shu carried the fish openly on his way back, other villagers would surely see and gossip, and some might even grow envious.

"Last time I asked Cousin Yu Shu to take a fish back, did someone see and say something?" Lin Shu asked. She truly hadn't thought much of it at the time.

Lin Xiaopu nodded, "Mom said when Cousin Yu Shu brought the fish back, quite a few people saw him on the road. So even without Mom or Third Aunt saying anything, the whole village already knows our two families are on good terms now."

"Sis, it's true that the villagers in our Tianshui Village are warm-hearted, but many love to gossip. Just take that big water urn Brother A-Ye carried back for Uncle Miao's family—word spread so fast! And everyone knows he saved them sixty coppers too. Several thick-skinned villagers have already asked Brother A-Ye to help carry large items back from the next market day."

Lin Shu frowned, "Isn't there Old Man Liao? If they want to buy something big, wouldn't using Old Man Liao's ox cart be more convenient?"

Lin Xiaopu immediately gave her a "how could you not know this" look, "Using Old Man Liao's ox cart costs coppers! Brother A-Ye is different. Last market day, he helped Uncle Miao carry a big water urn back not only without charging a single copper but even saved them sixty coppers. Sis, sixty coppers can buy a lot of things!"

Lin Shu asked seriously, "Brother A-Ye didn't agree, did he?"

Lin Xiaopu giggled, "Don't worry, Sis. Brother A-Ye isn't that foolish. Every year during the busy harvest season, many families want to borrow him to help in the fields because he works fast and well. But Brother A-Ye said he has a big appetite and would need a full meal on harvest day, enough to fill him up. And guess what happened?"

Without waiting for Lin Shu to guess, Lin Xiaopu burst out laughing, "He ate five big bowls of mixed grain rice at one family's place that day, stunning the whole household. After helping two families, no one ever asked him again."

Lin Shu couldn't help but laugh either. When Zhou Ye played clever, he really wasn't slow at all.

Lin Xiaopu continued, "This time, Brother A-Ye used the same excuse. He said he'd help carry large items for free, but they'd have to provide him dinner on market day. After that, who would dare ask him?"

"Pfft, so everyone in the village knows Zhou Ye eats a lot?"

"Yep, everyone knows Brother A-Ye eats a lot. Before, Mom, Dad, and I thought he was doing it on purpose. Mom was even worried he'd hurt his stomach those times. It wasn't until later when I discovered Brother A-Ye's secret that I realized he really can eat that much."

Lin Shu laughed, "Five bowls? He was holding back. If he really let loose, he could eat several days' worth of food in one meal."

"Oh, right, Sis. Brother A-Ye asked me to check if your legs still ache."

Lin Shu: …

"Does Brother A-Ye know you'd mention he told you to ask?"

Lin Xiaopu grinned, "I'm just being honest."

"Don't worry, they don't ache at all today. I could jump three feet high without any problem."

Lin Xiaopu: "Great! Then I'll pass on the second message. Brother A-Ye said if your legs are better, he'll take you straight to the big river at the village entrance."

Lin Shu was surprised, "Brother A-Ye went directly to the big river after borrowing the bucket?"

"Yep, Brother A-Ye left really early. Sis, let's hurry and meet him!"

"Let's go, let's go! We shouldn't keep him waiting!"

The two sisters informed He Guixiang and slipped away empty-handed, carrying nothing because Zhou Ye had already taken all the gear, including the simple fishing net they used last time.

Lin Shu had woken up late. When she and Lin Xiaopu passed the big locust tree in the village, several women had already gathered underneath, spinning hemp and chatting.

As the two passed, the women glanced their way but didn't say anything.

Of the two Lin sisters, one had returned from outside, and the villagers weren't familiar with her. Since her return, most had only heard gossip from others. As for Lin Xiaopu, although she was born and raised in the village, she was a shy and quiet girl who didn't play with the other children and rarely spoke to elders. So the women didn't start a conversation.

Lin Shu walked confidently, letting them look. As she got closer, she greeted them openly, "Aunties, spinning hemp?"

One of the women laughed and replied, "Where are you off to, A-Shu?"

"Just heading to the village entrance, Auntie."

After a brief exchange, the conversation ended.

Lin Shu usually decided whether to continue chatting after a few sentences. Clearly, these women, whose eyes were curiously scanning her, didn't inspire her to say more.

As they walked away, Lin Shu could faintly hear the women murmuring, likely discussing her—the returned "marquis's daughter" and fake heiress from the capital.

Lin Xiaopu pouted, "Sis, they're definitely talking about us. These aunties chat about every villager who passes by. But there's no way around it—this is the only path to the village entrance."

"People can say what they want. My life story is unusual enough to be a play—no wonder they gossip."

Lin Xiaopu: "They probably talk about me too, saying Mom and Dad would be much better off if they hadn't had a money-drain like me. But I don't care. Mom, Dad, and I are family. Why would we need outsiders to pity our finances?"

Lin Shu smiled, "That's the right attitude."

Their guess was correct. Shortly after they left, the women under the locust tree began discussing Lin Dashan's family—there was simply too much to talk about.

First, Lin Dashan, usually a decent and honest man, had fallen out with his brothers during the family division. Then, the younger daughter of Lin Laoer's family was sickly, needing medicine daily—a true money-drain. And then the eldest daughter—turned out she was switched at birth! Lin Laoer's biological daughter had enjoyed sixteen years of luxury in the capital's marquis's household!

There was so much to discuss that even though Lin Shu had been back for a while, they still found the topic fascinating.

"Tsk, whenever I saw Lin Yao before, I always thought she was different from us village women. She's tall and pretty, nothing like her mother He Guixiang, and her personality is even less alike. Before the Lin family split up, He Guixiang suffered plenty, but Lin Yao had this unyielding spirit and rarely came out worse. And guess what? I was right! She really is a marquis's daughter! A marquis's household—something we common folks wouldn't dare dream of!"

"Exactly! Look at the one who came back—she's much more like He Guixiang, just raised more delicately. I heard since she returned, she doesn't do any work at home, just eats and sleeps all day—still acting like the young mistress from the marquis's household!"

"Are Lin Laoer's family supporting a little ancestor? I'd say they have it rough. First, the younger one is sickly—always ill since childhood. Who knows how much they've spent on medicine? Then their capable eldest daughter, Lin Yao, left, and this delicate young lady returned. I heard on her first day back, He Guixiang went to the village chief's house to exchange for fine rice!"

"Absolutely! A few days ago, this girl went to the back mountain to pick mushrooms and sprained her foot. She leaned on Zhou Ye all the way back—I heard she was practically hanging off him! It was really something… But I heard Zhou Ye didn't mind?"

"Can't blame Zhou Ye for being unable to resist—Lin Shu is quite pretty!"

"This girl came from the capital's marquis's household—she knows how to charm people! In such a short time, that money-drain Lin Xiaopu sticks to her like glue, even closer than she was to Lin Yao. Lin Dashan and He Guixiang are willing to provide her with good food and drink, and Zhou Ye—no need to say—has been running around at her beck and call. Last market day, didn't Zhou Ye help Uncle Miao's family carry back a water urn just so she could ride the ox cart? And he saved them sixty coppers! Did you all know about that?"

"Of course! I heard yesterday. Zhou Ye is capable, but let's not envy Lin Laoer too much. After all, we all know how much Zhou Ye can eat."

"Shh, shh! Stop talking—Zhao Laosan's wife is coming. Someone saw her visiting Lin Laoer's family. If she hears us gossiping, she'll probably start another argument."

"Hmph, what gossip? It's all true. I'd say she's just bored because she can't have children, always meddling in everything."

Though called the village entrance river, it was actually a stretch beyond the entrance, down a slope away from the village path, so few people usually went there.

Lin Shu and Lin Xiaopu passed the old locust tree and walked quite a while before reaching the village entrance. They went down the slope and walked another half a mile before reaching the wide, deep section of the river.

When they arrived, Zhou Ye was shirtless, wringing out the short coat he'd taken off. His pants looked like they'd already been wrung out, with creases from twisting still visible on the legs.

Having taken off his shirt, he was naturally bare-chested.

Lin Shu immediately noticed Zhou Ye's broad back—toned and well-defined, with beads of water trickling down along the smooth contours.

His waistline was sharp and well-defined, more robust than she had imagined.

As he twisted the garment with his arms, the muscles in his shoulders bulged, hinting at unimaginable strength…

Lin Shu's gaze was momentarily scorched; she quickly averted her eyes, but after a moment, she sneaked another look, focusing intently on that well-defined waistline.

So fine-looking, and it's free for me to see—might as well enjoy the view!

She even let out a silent, appreciative whistle in her mind, “Damn, what a hottie, and what a waist!”

Zhou Ye had noticed their approach earlier. It was common to see men working bare-chested in the village, and the local women were used to it, so he hadn't thought much of it.

But he keenly sensed… Lin Shu's gaze lingering on him a little too long.

He suddenly felt self-conscious.

The shirt in his hands was already half-dry from wringing. Zhou Ye shook it out, unfolded it, and put it back on.

“Aah! Aah! Aah!” Oblivious to the tension, Lin Xiaopu suddenly exclaimed excitedly, “Sis, sis! Three buckets—all three buckets are full of fish! And they’re all huge, such big fish, aah!”