Following the sound, he walked from the side path to the backyard. The Yu family’s chickens were kept in a free-range chicken coop, and the door of the chicken coop was a fence door. Meng Yunshu, who had just walked over, saw the chickens flying and dogs in the chicken coop. Before he could get close, a yellow shadow ran out of the door, climbed up the tree in the backyard at a very fast speed, jumped onto the wall and left.

What was that? A weasel?

Meng Yunshu approached the chicken coop in confusion. He had to cover his mouth and nose due to the foul smell. He thought it was a weasel, and was worried that the chickens would be taken away by the weasel. He frowned slightly and looked inside. The two dogs were protecting the chickens tightly behind them. When they saw him coming, they barked fiercely a few times, but did not pounce on him.

Staring at the two wolfhounds, Meng Yunshu hesitated for a moment, nervously grabbed his pants, and carefully probed inside, but there was no blood inside.

Seeing this, Meng Yunshu breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that the chickens were not missing.

 There were footsteps behind him. He turned around and saw Yu Jinhuai walking towards him with a gray rabbit in his hand. Behind him was a man who looked a bit like him that looked about fifteen or sixteen years old.

“Hello, brother-in-law. My name is Yu Jinyue, and I’m second brother’s cousin.” After Yu Jinyue called the man, he put down the backpack behind him, smiled and played with Daqing who ran over.

Second brother? But he didn’t see Yu Jinhuai’s brother.

Meng Yunshu opened his mouth, hesitating about what to say, and Yu Jinhuai stepped forward to help him out and said, “Just call him Xiao Yue.”

Yu Jinyue, who was playing with Daqing, nodded affirmatively and responded in a familiar manner.

 “Why are you in the backyard?”

“I just heard some noise in the backyard, so I came to take a look.” Meng Yunshu explained, “A weasel ran into the chicken coop. Fortunately, Daqing and Dahei are here.”

As if they could understand that Meng Yunshu was praising them, the two wolfhounds looked at him while wagging their tails. Then they approached Yu Jinhuai, rubbing his legs excitedly, as if they were asking for credit. For a moment, he seemed not to be afraid of the two dogs.

Yu Jinhuai kicked the two dogs that were clinging to his feet and responded.

Yu Jinyue spoke at the right time, “I told you to change the fence door a long time ago, but you didn’t. I don’t know how many times the weasel has come this year.”

The young man’s complaints were mixed with a sense of closeness, which was a family affection that Meng Yunshu had never experienced before, and he was envious for a while.

 The envy that unconsciously revealed in his eyes made Yu Jinhuai’s eyes darken. Ren Yazi told him about Ah Yun. Thinking of his uncle’s family who were almost unscrupulous, he couldn’t help but pinch his fingers to comfort him and quickly let go.

“I’ll change it tomorrow.” Yu Jinhuai said, “Bring Xiao Lan here in the evening.”

“Yes.” Yu Jinyue stood up and clapped his hands. He poured out the chestnuts in his backpack, knocked the leaves inside on the ground, and easily lifted the backpack and left.

“Xiao Lan is Xiao Yue’s sister, her full name is Yu Jinlan.”

Meng Yunshu carefully recited the names of the Yu family members and found that the Yu family members seemed to come from a large family or a clan, which had a special meaning.

The prickly shells of the chestnuts on the ground were peeled cleanly, and they were all big. They must taste good when made into sugar-fried chestnuts.

 As for the rabbit in Yu Jinhuai’s hand, he had already put it aside. There were two wolfhounds squatting beside it, staring at it hungrily. The timid rabbit was so scared that it dared not move.

Seeing him squatting down and picking small chestnuts from the chestnut pile, Meng Yunshu also squatted beside him and worked together.

Curiously glanced at the rabbit and asked, “Where did the rabbit come from?”

“I set a trap in the mountains two days ago, found a rabbit and brought it back. I met Xiao Yue at the door of the house.” Seeing that the chestnuts picked out were almost done, Yu Jinhuai signaled Meng Yunshu not to pick anymore. He got up and took a small basket from the windowsill in the backyard, put the small chestnuts in it and handed it to Meng Yunshu, “Bring the chestnuts to the front first, I’ll deal with the rabbit.”

“Okay.” Taking the basket, he thought about his cousins ​​who had just invited him to dinner. Meng Yunshu asked, “Do you want to deal with the chestnuts? When they come tonight, what else do you need me to do?”

Yu Jinhuai looked up at him, thought for a moment, and replied, “Just peel the shells. There are pickled sauerkraut under the chopping board. Take one out and cut it into shreds, and stir-fry it with the meat I bought.”

“Okay.” After getting the answer, Meng Yunshu left.

 ——

Dusk has not yet fallen.

The Yu family house was bustling. The two families were sitting in the main room around the table. Three dogs are squatting beside the table, gnawing on the bones fed to them by their owner.

The rabbit meat was made by Yu Jinhuai. Before this, Meng Yunshu had never thought that he could make rabbit meat so delicious. The slightly burnt taste made the slightly spicy rabbit meat even more delicious. As he was eating, another piece of rabbit meat appeared in his bowl. He looked up and saw the chopsticks that Yu Jinhuai had just taken back.

“Brother-in-law, when will you and second brother get married?” Yu Jinlan asked excitedly while holding the bowl and drinking a cup of thick porridge.

The rest of the people at the table set their eyes on him. The burning eyes focused on him made Meng Yunshu’s body stiff, especially the expectant but complicated eyes of the people around him made Meng Yunshu’s head hang even lower. He sat on the bench stiffly, not knowing what to do.

 Yu Jinhuai tightened his grip on the chopsticks and calmly changed the subject, “Xiao Yue, why did you snatch your sister’s meat?”

Yu Jinlan looked down and saw that the meat in her bowl had been picked up by her brother. She quickly used her chopsticks to snatch her meat back and stuffed it into her mouth. She glared at her brother angrily and turned her back to him.

Yu Jinyue, who was discovered, was not embarrassed at all. Instead, he leaned over and coaxed her in a low voice.

Meng Yunshu, who was ignored, suddenly breathed a sigh of relief and continued.

After dinner, Yu Jinhuai sent his younger cousins home. Meng Yunshu cleaned himself and Yu Zhining at home. When he came back, Yu Zhining, who had played with his uncle and aunt all night, had fallen asleep, and Meng Yunshu also slept in the quilt.

 The bedroom door was pushed open from the outside with a creaky sound. The oil lamp was blown out, and the bedroom became dark. After a rustling sound, Meng Yunshu, who was pretending to be asleep in the quilt, couldn’t help but breathe hard. His motionless body was tense and straight.

The bedroom was quiet. Just when Meng Yunshu thought Yu Jinhuai would not speak, he asked directly: “Ah Yun does not want to marry me?”

People who pretended to be asleep would not answer his question.

“Aunt Sun came here today to ask me about marriage.” Yu Jinhuai said in a deep voice.

Meng Yunshu: “…” I fell asleep.

“I will respect Ah Yun’s opinion.”

After saying that, he closed his eyes and did not say another word.

Meng Yunshu, who pretended to be asleep, moved his eyelids, glanced at him secretly, and shrank into the quilt. He did not want to get married, not at all. His household registration had already been settled in the Yu family. What difference did it make whether he got married or not?

He did not like that kind of excitement. Meng Yunshu felt sad and stuffy in his heart. He could not breathe. His eyes blinked sorely and reached out to grab the clothes on his chest. The sudden heavy emotion made him curl up, and even breathing was painful.

 Yu Jinhuai, who was standing by, suddenly felt something was wrong. He pricked up his ears and listened carefully. He turned over in a panic and pulled open Meng Yunshu’s quilt. In the moonlight, he saw that Meng Yunshu’s face was red, as if he couldn’t breathe. His eyes were closed, his slightly curled eyelashes were wet, his right hand was tightly grasping the clothes on his chest, and his whole body was shaking.

“Ah Yun.” Yu Jinhuai panicked immediately. He didn’t care about etiquette and hurriedly hugged him in his arms. He put his ear close to his nose and found that he didn’t breathe. In an instant, endless fear and panic came to him. He was afraid of hitting his face and put his fingers into his mouth, prying his teeth hard.

“Ah Yun, breathe, breathe.” Yu Jinhuai begged hoarsely, and his heart was anxious and angry. He hugged Meng Yunshu helplessly and tried all means to make Meng Yunshu breathe, but it was useless.

 Yu Zhining, who was awakened by his voice, opened the quilt and sat in the dark. Hearing the wrong voice of his uncle, he realized that something happened to Meng Yunshu. He crawled to their side, tentatively grabbed Meng Yunshu’s clothes, and cried in panic: “Little uncle, little uncle.”

Meng Yunshu, who was trapped in his own consciousness, had no idea what was happening outside. He just wanted to sink into the land where his parents were and live with them.

–Detected that the owner was in danger, turned on the first aid mode.

Yu Jinhuai, who was holding Meng Yunshu, finally pried open his teeth with his fingers, but was bitten hard by Meng Yunshu. Blood dripped into his mouth, and the smell of rust invaded his sleeping consciousness.

Meng Yunshu, who regained consciousness, raised his head and reached out to catch the blood drops falling from the air. He smelled it curiously and realised it was the smell of blood.

 There was a fierce sound of wind chimes ringing in his ears. The tinkling sound made him upset. The sound of wind chimes followed him like a shadow and was mixed with a hoarse and helpless cry. After careful identification, it was the two words “Ah Yun”.

Is he calling him? Meng Yunshu was stunned. His parents disappeared in front of him. When he remembered, it was Yu Jinhuai who was calling him.

Meng Yunshu opened his eyes and saw Yu Jinhuai. He was about to ask but felt two fingers and the taste of blood in his mouth. He stared at Yu Jinhuai in a daze and suddenly hugged him tightly in his arms, and kept apologizing with a trembling voice.

“Ah Yun, Ah Yun.” The whisper in his ear made him feel at ease. He hesitated for a moment and hugged Yu Jinhuai back, coaxing him softly: “I’m fine, don’t worry.”

Yu Jinhuai still didn’t let him go, fearing that he would become the same as before, making Meng Yunshu blush. Knowing that he had scared him, he let him hold him and sleep in the same quilt. His other hand was still holding the panicked Yu Zhining.

Before going to bed, Meng Yunshu leaned on Yu Jinhuai’s chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, and felt at ease, “I don’t want to get married, I don’t like it, okay?”

Yu Jinhuai rubbed his head and said hoarsely, “Of course. If Ah Yun doesn’t like it, then don’t do it.”

“Okay, Brother Huai, I’m sleepy and want to sleep.”

“Go to sleep.”

His words were soothing, and Meng Yunshu fell asleep in a short while.

In the middle of the night, Meng Yunshu woke up in a daze. He always felt that he had forgotten something. He opened his sleepy eyes and thought blankly.

 Yu Jinhuai, who had been guarding him, felt the movement in his arms. He opened his eyes and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Hmm.” Meng Yunshu raised his head slightly to look at him. After a long time, he realized something and quickly contacted the system to buy Band-Aids and alcohol. He pinched the things in his hand and gently poked the person in front of him, “Is your hand seriously injured?”

Yu Jinhuai lowered his voice and replied, “It’s okay.”

Even if he said it was okay, Meng Yunshu was still worried. He wanted to disinfect him himself, but Yu Zhining was holding him and couldn’t move for a while, so he could only give him the Band-Aid in his hand.

“You disinfect with alcohol first, and then stick this on.”

After waiting for a long time, his voice came from above his head, “Okay.”

Meng Yunshu listened to him getting up rustling, and studied it for a while before unscrewing the lid. Soon, the smell of alcohol floated in the air, and he was relieved. The strong sleepiness quickly dragged him back to sleep.

 In the dark, Yu Jinhuai hid the alcohol and band-aids in the cabinet to ensure that Yu Zhining would not find them, and then he returned to the bed, hugged Meng Yunshu and closed his eyes.

——

The next day, Yu Jinhuai, who had not slept all night, got up early to make breakfast. Meng Yunshu on the kang was still sleeping soundly with Yu Zhining in his arms. It can be seen that what happened last night did not affect him at all.

Meng Yunshu woke up and gently pushed Yu Zhining away from his arms, put on his clothes and tiptoed away.

He walked straight into the kitchen and saw Yu Jinhuai sitting in front of the stove boiling water. He leaned against the door and whispered: “Thank you last night.”

As his voice fell, he left without waiting for Yu Jinhuai to turn his head to look at him.

Although the two wolfhounds at home were not like when Meng Yunshu first came, their eyes still followed his figure.

 Smoke was coming out of the chimney. The Yu family lived at the end of the village. Meng Yunshu, who was standing in the yard wiping his face, looked up at the clear blue sky, and his heart became bright, dispelling the haze in his heart.

The only people he had seen in the past two days, apart from his cousins, were Aunt Sun and Sun Ming. The mourning period of the Yu family had just passed, and people in Cangnan Village rarely interacted with them. Meng Yunshu, who learned about this last night, thought it was a good thing, as it avoided his communication with the villagers. The rare quiet morning was broken by a noise outside.

The fierce quarrel was not far from the Yu family, and Meng Yunshu, who was standing in the yard, heard it clearly.

 “Old Third, open the door. I know you’re at home. Open the door.”

“Yes, open the door for your uncle and aunt. This is all for your sister’s good.”

Everyone is curious, but Meng Yunshu didn’t care at all. He put down the towel in his hand, took the basin and poured out the water. After walking a few steps, he saw Yu Jinhuai in the kitchen walking out with a cold face. The two wolfhounds lying in the yard followed him immediately.

Seeing him go out, Meng Yunshu put down the basin and went into the kitchen. He squatted down and took a look. There was no need to add firewood to the stove. When he was about to get up to cook, he heard Yu Jinyue’s scolding and Yu Jinlan’s crying. He couldn’t stay any longer and rushed out in a hurry.