Chapter 38: The Bloodstained Dress

After returning home, He Miao felt uncomfortable in her new clothes, as they were too tight and she didn’t want to dirty them. She thought about how every time A Xun went hunting, he would wear the clothes she made for him, saying he couldn’t bear to get them dirty. At that time, He Miao thought it was a bit exaggerated, but now she completely understood.

Today, A Xun went to the town to sell the wild boar. After several days of searching, he finally hunted another one, a fully grown boar weighing twice as much as the last one. He hurriedly rented a donkey cart from Big Hu and rushed to the town to sell it while it was still fresh.

While A Xun was away, He Miao stayed at home, stitching a handkerchief, waiting for him to return so she could show him her new clothes.

Not long after, A Xun returned from the town. Today, he earned his first bit of money from hunting, though it was much less than he expected. He had asked several butchers in the town, and in the end, he managed to sell the boar for just over a tael of silver. It seems that wild boars were priced this way, and they couldn’t compare to horses.

Despite that, this amount of silver was still a considerable sum for the villagers.

A Xun bought some food for He Miao and headed straight to her house. When he opened the door, he saw her smiling brightly. 

“A Xun, you’re back!” she said, stepping back and spinning around twice to show off her new dress. “My clothes are ready. Do they look good?”

A Xun’s eyes brightened when he saw her wearing the new dress. His heart fluttered.

He Miao was already beautiful, but when she wore the light green dress, she looked like a fairy, exuding an ethereal charm. The delicate floral pattern of the dress was understated, yet elegant, and the design was slightly beyond his expectations.

However, what truly surprised him was how the dress fit her perfectly. The skirt flowed down, and the top clung to her shoulders, accentuating her slim waist, making her figure even more noticeable.

His mind couldn’t help but wander back to that rainy night when He Miao’s wet figure had left such an impression on him.

In the past, He Miao’s clothes were always loose and baggy, hiding her slender, graceful body. But now, in this dress, her shape was beautifully accentuated, stirring something deep within him. He found himself unable to look at her directly, feeling a rush of heat.

“A Xun, why aren’t you saying anything? Does it look good?” He Miao asked, noticing his dazed look, her brow furrowing in confusion.

A Xun snapped out of it and quickly replied, “It looks great, really great.”

“I think so too,” He Miao said, her eyes smiling brightly. “I also made a set of clothes with pants, for when I’m working. Let me show you.”

She then went back to her room and came out with the other outfit. It was similar to the one she had made for A Xun, but more fitting for her. Even though it was a simple design, A Xun still found it incredibly pleasing to the eye and praised it.

After showing him the clothes, He Miao noticed a few bags that A Xun had brought, emitting a delicious smell.

“Wow, it smells so good! A Xun, what did you buy?”

A Xun placed the bags on the stone table in the yard and opened them. “I bought roast chicken and some savory cakes. We can have these for dinner.”

“Mm, that’s great!” He Miao had planned to change back into her old clothes to cook, but now that A Xun had brought food, it was much easier.

However, she knew that roast chicken wasn’t cheap, so she put on a serious expression and said, “You earned money from hunting, but still, you should save a little.”

Seeing her serious expression, A Xun was tempted to gently ruffle her hair or pinch her smooth cheek. But since he didn’t feel like he had the right to, he restrained himself. “Mm, I sold the wild boar for about two taels of silver, and the food cost thirty-five copper coins. There’s still plenty left.”

“Mm, but still, you should save,” He Miao said, her attention now fully on the food. “Let’s eat, I’m starving!”

The roast chicken was flavorful, tender, and perfectly cooked. It was so appetizing that even the sight of it made them hungry.

A Xun tore apart the chicken and placed the wings and drumsticks in front of He Miao, while he ate the chicken breast and ribs.

Of course, He Miao didn’t refuse. The two of them took turns offering each other pieces, politely sharing the meal.

In the end, because He Miao had a small appetite, she only managed to eat a chicken leg and a piece of savory cake before feeling full. However, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her abdomen and put down her chopsticks, clutching her stomach with a furrowed brow.

“Miao’er, what’s wrong?” A Xun asked urgently. “Did the food make you feel unwell?”

“It’s not the food…” He Miao’s face turned red as she recognized the familiar sensation. She had experienced it every month, but this time, it came a few days early, and she hadn’t been prepared.

Perhaps it was because they had eaten more meat recently.

Though she felt some discomfort, it wasn’t unbearable. She forced herself to calm down and said, “I… I’m just…”

Before she could finish, she felt a rush of warmth, and immediately, she froze. “Ah! Oh no!” she thought, panicking as she turned to check behind her.

A Xun followed her gaze and was shocked to see a red stain.

“!!!” A Xun stood up in alarm, grabbing He Miao’s arm. “Miao’er, you’re bleeding!”

“I… I…” He Miao was embarrassed, trying to push him away. “I’m fine, you should go back. I’m full, I’m going to rest…”

But A Xun’s large hand was firmly holding her arm, and he refused to let go. Instead, he pulled her closer and swiftly lifted her in his arms, carrying her into the room and gently laying her on the bed. His expression was full of worry. “Wait here, I’ll go get Uncle Shun.”

“Wait!” He Miao, flustered and angry, almost cried. “You idiot, you can’t go!” She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.

A Xun caught the pillow in his arms, but before he could say anything, he saw He Miao’s face pale, her eyes brimming with tears, looking like she was about to cry.

She was upset, not about the pain, but because her new dress had gotten stained with blood!

He Miao was now eager to change her dress and clean it before the stain dried, as it would be much harder to clean once it set.