Zhou Family Daughter-in-law — 8.2

　　”It’s okay. People in the countryside are used to it. This little bit of sun is nothing.” Old Man Zhou didn’t care at all. Zhang Xiaoyan saw that he was still sweating, so she took a white handkerchief and wiped him. Old Man Zhou was very touched. He thought that although his fifth’s wife could not do farm work, she was considerate. Which daughter-in-law in the village could compare to her?

　　Just as he was feeling proud, he suddenly noticed Zhang Xiaoyan lowering her head, her face looking somewhat sad. He hurriedly asked, “fifth’s wife, what’s wrong with you? Why do you look unhappy?”

　　Zhang Xiaoyan looked up, her eyes and brows locked with sadness, “Dad, I just went down the mountain to buy red dates, and I heard the sisters-in-law in the village say that I was a jinx, saying that I would bring bad luck to Si Nian… I…” At this point, she lowered her head again and began to wipe away her tears. She knew that in this kind of broken mountain village, the people there were superstitious and ignorant, and she expected to hear such words.

　　”Nonsense!” Old Man Zhou knocked his bowl against the wall. “Who said that? Who dares to say that? Tell me, and I’ll go ask her to judge the matter!”

　　”That’s right, those old ladies are talking nonsense all day long!” Zhou Yong, who was standing next to them, frowned and glared when he heard it, and he wanted to take a hoe and dig them up immediately.

　　She shook her head, wiping away tears. “I’m just a little sad. Maybe what they said is true. Maybe I was the one who killed him…”

　　Upon hearing this, Old Man Zhou frowned and said angrily, “Fifth’s wife, don’t let your imagination run wild!” The other people felt distressed when they saw her crying, and secretly hated those talkative people. They didn’t say anything, and those people were gossiping about her, making her cry so sadly.

　　”Really? Dad and my brothers don’t blame me?” Zhang Xiaoyan asked in a choked voice. Her tearful eyes broke Old Man Zhou’s heart. He reached out his hand to wipe her tears in a panic, and his rough fingers rubbed her skin until it numbed.

　　”Don’t talk nonsense!” Old Man Zhou didn’t know how to comfort people, and he had never seen a woman cry like this before. He could only wipe her tears clumsily.

　　When Zhang Xiaoyan heard this, she threw herself into his arms and sobbed softly, leaving the old man at a loss.

　　”Brothers, let’s go to work first.” Zhou Gui picked up the hoe and stood up. With her father comforting her, they didn’t have to worry. The wolfberries in the field were growing well now, and they were busy applying fertilizer.

　　Suddenly, only two people were left in the small wooden shed. Zhang Xiaoyan buried herself in Old Man Zhou’s arms, laughing inwardly. These honest men were quite good to her, so she should repay them well…

　　His fifth’s wife cried heartbrokenly as she leaned against his chest. Old Man Zhou felt a little uneasy, not knowing whether to push her away or hold her close. His face was filled with confusion. As he was struggling with the dilemma, he looked down and saw Zhang Xiaoyan frowning and humming, seemingly in great pain…

　　”Fifth’s ife, what’s wrong with you?” he asked hurriedly.

　　Zhang Xiaoyan’s fair cheeks suddenly turned red. She kept burrowing into his arms, but she didn’t say anything, only pressing one hand on her abdomen. Old Man Zhou was so anxious that sweat began to break out on his forehead. He grabbed her arms and asked, “Are you feeling unwell? Tell me now!”

　　”Dad…” She hummed, the blush on her face dyeing her ears, and her voice became lower and lower, “It’s just that I have my period these days… My stomach hurts so much…”

　　”Huh?” Old Man Zhou was stunned for a moment. When he realized what she was saying, his face flushed. He could see that she was frowning in pain, and he felt so distressed. He asked with a hint of embarrassment, “Then, what should we do? Shall I take you home to rest? Do you want to take some medicine?”

　　She shook her head, resting her face against his strong, broad chest. Blushing, she whispered, “Dad, just rub my belly…” Then she grabbed his rough, dark palm and placed it on her lower abdomen. Old Man Zhou’s heart was pounding. He had a hunch that something was wrong, but he couldn’t refute it. Seeing his daughter-in-law in pain, he felt really bad.

　　He followed her instructions and gently rubbed her belly. He felt her belly was soft and very comfortable. As he kneaded it, he asked, “Fifth’s wife, how are you? Are you feeling better?”

　　”Hmm…” She bit her lower lip lightly with her white teeth, leaning limply against his chest, moaning softly, her forehead lightly beaded with sweat. Seeing how much she seemed to be struggling, Old Man Zhou massaged her more diligently. Zhang Xiaoyan gently lifted the hem of her T-shirt and placed his palm on it. “It’ll be more comfortable if it’s directly against her stomach like this… Please, Daddy…”

　　Old Man Zhou’s dark face flushed red as his calloused palms rested against her flat belly. Without the barrier of cotton, he was able to touch her smooth, delicate skin, which felt cool and comfortable. He rubbed her while lowering his head to ask her questions, but his eyes accidentally fell on her collar. This angle allowed him to see his daughter-in-law’s breasts clearly: her plump breasts, white and tender, with a deep ravine that was not visible…

　　Father Zhou took one look and felt his lower abdomen tighten, a long-lost feeling of heat spreading through his body, which made him a little uneasy. Zhang Xiaoyan heard his heavy breathing on her face, and her heart fluttered. She deliberately stood up, “Dad… I’m in so much pain… I better go home and rest…”

　　Just as she was about to stand up, she felt a sudden pain and hunched over again, her face wrinkled. Seeing this, Old Man Zhou felt so distressed that he simply picked her up and said, “You can’t do this. Let me take you down.”

　　”Thank you very much.” This was exactly what she wanted. Zhang Xiaoyan smiled sweetly, put her arms around his neck, and was held in his arms like a princess. He walked towards home with steady and determined steps.

　　Old Man Zhou was about 180cm tall, with a muscular body from years of hard work. His arms were as thick as her calves, and he held her in his arms with ease. Leaning against his strong chest made her feel very safe, which was her favorite feeling.