Liu Duo and the others met a woman shortly after stepping out of the house. Liu Duo had never seen her before, at least according to her memory.
“Third brother Mo, are you going to the paddy field?” Li Chunmei rushed over and asked.
“Yes,” Ye Mo nodded coolly.
Li Chunmei responded happily when she heard that. “What a coincidence. Let’s go together.”
Liu Duo looked at the woman who had suddenly joined them. She should be older than her, with average looks, but she was taller – at least 1.7 meters.
“Ling, who’s that girl?” Liu Duo said, motioning towards her.
“She’s Li Chunmei, Aunt Li’s granddaughter.” Ye Ling looked at her, “What’s the matter, Duo Er?”
She shook her head, “Nothing. Just asking.”
There were many people there who she did not know and did not need to know, but suddenly seeing a stranger being familiar with Ye Mo and speaking to only him, despite traveling in a group, got her curious!
It was March – a busy month for the farmers. They were scattered everywhere in the farms and fields, busy tending to their own land.
When they reached the paddy fields, Ye Mo and the men rolled up their sleeves and pants, took off their shoes, and strolled barefoot into the field. Liu Duo stood aside, not moving.
She planned to help to pass the time, but at the sight of the wet field, she knew it would be muddy if she stepped in, and she did not like the feeling of dirt.
Ye Mo did not say anything to her this time. He stepped into the field, followed by Ye Liu and Ye Ling.
“Ling, you go up later. Mo and I can handle it. You best not tire yourself,” Ye Liu reminded him.
“Yes, I know.”
She observed the men from the side, and sat on the ground when she got tired.
What a coincidence it was that the paddy field that belonged to Li Chunmei’s family was right beside theirs.
Everyone busied themselves in the paddy fields, while Liu Duo was the only one standing on the path, especially out of tune.
“Third brother Mo, the girl that came with you is your wife, right? Why isn’t she helping?” Next to them, Li Chunmei asked curiously.
Whose wife didn’t have to work? Even kids, who knew better, would be helping.
Ye Mo raised his head and looked at Liu Duo. There she was, sitting quietly, watching them work.
He did not answer Li Chunmei, as he continued weeding.
Having received no response, Li Chunmei spoke again, “Third brother Liu, was she like that at her old place?”
She was curious. Was Liu Duo sold because she was too lazy?
“Her clothes are expensive, aren’t they? What a snob. Why aren’t you saying anything, third brother Liu?”
Was he unhappy because his wife was lazy? According to her mother, it was Uncle Ye who decided to buy a shared wife for them. Who would expect she’d turn out to be lazy and snobbish?
“Nothing. Get back to work,” Ye Mo said.
The words he spoke bore no expression. In Li Chunmei’s ears, it meant that he was unwilling.
Therefore she saw Liu Duo as a lazy and snobbish person – one who Ye Mo disliked.
Liu Duo knew what Li Chunmei thought of her. She reminded Liu Duo of a busybody.
After a while, Ye Liu told Ling to stop, “Ling, go rest, keep Little Duo company.” He looked over at Liu Duo and laughed.
“See, she’s bored out of her mind over there.”
He did not intend to rest. In fact, he wanted to help out more, but when he heard Liu Duo needed company, he obeyed.
Ye Ling walked over and plucked a handful of weeds to clean the mud off his feet.
Liu Duo saw Ye Ling coming and quickly invited him over for a chat.
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