Chapter 31: A Secret Affair Unknown

Sixth Uncle Huang had brought a large team of craftsmen who were quick and efficient. In just three days, they had already constructed the inner wooden framework of the house and completed the rear and side walls. Now, everyone was working together—some finishing the front wall while others were building the interior partitions.

The house layout was designed by Sixth Uncle Huang. It included a modest-sized main hall, four rooms, and a kitchen. Against the left wall, a small partitioned space was built just large enough for two people. Once a curtain was drawn across it, it could be used for washing up.

Overall, the design resembled a super simplified version of a siheyuan (a traditional Chinese courtyard house). Once all the walls were built, they planned to enclose the small vegetable garden outside with a fence made of bamboo segments.

In front of the slope, Xiang He had leveled an area by filling it with soil dug from behind the house. This widened the road in front. Compared to their old, run-down thatched hut, the difference was astounding—it was much bigger.

Xiang He looked at the soon-to-be-finished new house and was extremely satisfied.

“Wow! I watched them build it from the start, but how come it suddenly looks so much bigger today?”

The loud voice made Xiang He turn around. It was her Fourth Aunt, standing down below admiring the house. “He girl, this house is plenty big!”

“Isn’t it, though?” Xiang He replied with a satisfied smile. “Fourth Aunt, you’re up early! Is Fourth Uncle coming to help today?”

“Of course he is,” Fourth Aunt said, walking up with a basket on her arm. “I came to ask on his behalf—do you want him to make your doors? He and your father are both skilled in that trade, but since your father’s not too nimble these days, he figured he could lend a hand.”

“That’d be great! I was just in need of someone to make the doors!”

Xiang He pulled Fourth Aunt over to find Xiang Dayong, who was working on splitting bamboo.

“Wha—what is it?” he asked.

“Let’s have Fourth Uncle make our doors, alright?”

Xiang Dayong nodded. “Mm, Fourth Brother… his craftsmanship is good.”

“Perfect then. I’ll let him know in a bit so he can start preparing the wood early.”

Fourth Aunt handed the basket in her hand to Xiang He. “These are steamed buns I made this morning. They’re still warm. You probably haven’t eaten much yet—go ahead and eat up.”

Xiang He accepted them without standing on ceremony. “Thank you, Fourth Aunt.”

She called Xiang Yun to send some to the field for Xiang Yang and was the first to take a bite. Since she had only eaten some rice soup that morning, she was indeed quite hungry.

“By the way, Fourth Aunt, how much do you need for the wood? I can pay you in advance. As for the labor fee, whatever it should be, we’ll settle it properly—clear and fair.”

“That’s enough!” Fourth Aunt lightly patted her shoulder. “Our families are close, of course, the labor fee will be paid. I don’t want you, girl, to force it on me! But rest assured, I would never overcharge you.”

“I feel quite reassured!”

She liked dealing with people like this—clear and upfront about what is owed, just as long as the money and goods are settled, there won’t be any future disputes.

They chatted for a while longer before Fourth Aunt had to go back to tell Fourth Uncle. She raised her hand, waving goodbye as Xiang He left. On the distant ridge of the rice field stood a very unfamiliar figure.

Xiang He squinted to look. As the figure drew closer, the way he walked made her frown.

“What kind of worthless scoundrel is this…”

The man wore loose, baggy clothes with his chest exposed. He staggered as he walked but somehow didn’t fall. One hand held his waistband, the other twirled a small wooden stick picked up from somewhere, pointing here and there as he spoke.

The nearby villagers pointed fingers at him from afar, clearly showing their dislike.

Xiang He thought for a moment but couldn’t recall who this person was. It seemed the original owner of the body hadn’t met him before or simply didn’t care.

As he came nearer, his face became clearer. Under his droopy eyes was a black patch with a few stray hairs. He pinched and pulled the hairs a couple of times with satisfaction…

Xiang He’s mouth twitched—this was a typical gangster’s pose.

Watching him reach the foot of the slope, he smirked, raised his head, and called out, “Yo! He girl!”

Everyone working upstairs stopped and looked at him, those below did the same. Even Xiang He was stunned, pointing at herself in disbelief, “You—are you calling me?”

His eyes gleamed with joy as he threw down the stick and ran up. Xiang He quickly stepped back a few paces. Xiang Dayong, hobbling on his cane, came before her and frowned at the newcomer, “Y-You, what are you doing here?”

Xiang He was stunned and turned to her father, “Father, who is he?”

“I’m your lover! He girl, you’re really heartless—used me up and now you’re pretending not to know me.”

That one sentence stunned everyone present. Even Xiang He, the person in question, was dumbfounded. Her lips twitched in disgust as she scowled, “Lover? I’m a decent, proper young lady—why would I ever go for… someone like you?!”

She even pointed at him from head to toe with her finger, her little face scrunched up in pure revulsion. “Are you dreaming?”

Sixth Uncle Huang slammed a mud brick into place with his hammer and added, “Ergou, a girl would have to be blind to fall for you. Quit dreaming.”

The moment that name came out, Xiang He suddenly remembered something. She recalled that people in the village had occasionally mentioned him—Ergou from the neighboring village, known for mooching and loafing around. Parents always warned their daughters to stay far away from him, lest they get ruined.

So it was that Ergou…

Xiang He lifted her hand to rub her forehead, completely speechless.

Then she suddenly remembered something from this morning. Her expression shifted from disdain to amused brightness, and she narrowed her eyes with a smile. “Ergou, what are you doing here? You came all the way just to say this?”

Ergou didn’t care at all about the mockery from everyone around. He tugged up his waistband and said shamelessly, “He girl, you and I made a private pledge up in the back hills—we agreed that I’d come to propose marriage today. Did you forget?”

Well, looks like he really was here to stir up trouble.

Xiang He helplessly spread her hands. “How come I have no memory of any of that? Don’t just open your mouth and make stuff up—you’ll ruin my reputation as an unmarried girl.”

Ergou immediately put on a heartbroken expression and patted his chest. “You’re really turning your back on me, huh? We said that once you had silver and built a big house, I’d come propose and take over managing the household. He girl, how could you lie to me like this?”

Hearing this shameless nonsense, Xiang Dayong angrily slammed his cane to the ground and glared at him. “You—you stop slandering He girl!”

“Father-in-law, how could I slander her? I even have a token of our affection!”

That got everyone’s eyes widening. They watched as he pulled a filthy, crumpled piece of rose-colored fabric from his grimy pocket. With a flourish, he shook it open—and it turned out to be an article of clothing.

The people below could see clearly. One person gasped, covering their mouth: “That’s He girl’s bridal dress!”

An uproar broke out immediately, with people chattering and murmuring about that garment.

“That really is the one…”

“Could it be that He girl actually…?”

“No way! He girl’s taste can’t possibly be that bad…”

At that moment, Mrs. Su came running over and, hearing the nonsense being spouted, shot a glare at the speaker. “What are you thinking?! He girl would never mess around with someone like that!”

Xiang Dayong’s face changed dramatically. That was indeed the dress He girl had worn the night she was carried away—how could it have ended up in this Ergou’s hands?

“H-He…”

Xiang He gently patted his hand, supporting him. “It’s okay, Father.”

Holding the garment up to his nose, Ergou took a deep sniff, his expression turning disgusting and perverse. “He girl, that night we were like gods and mortals in ecstasy—you personally said that once you made some silver, you’d let me come propose marriage. You even left this fragrant top as a token of our promise.”

The lecherous affection plastered on his face was so vile it was nauseating.

Xiang He was utterly disgusted, her lips twitching involuntarily. “Ergou, you’d better take responsibility for your words. If not, I’ll report you to the authorities.”

“Report us?” Mrs. Su had already reached Xiang He’s side and furiously pointed at Ergou. “How dare you slander my He girl’s reputation—of course we’ll report you!”

“Slander? I even know where the birthmark on her body is! That skin—just amazing!”