The night shift duties this time were handed over to Yang Dong and Li Fugui. Xiaoxiao had learned from last time that two were always better than one.
She asked Yang Dong and Li Fugui, "Is it okay for you two to stay in this room?"
Li Fugui nodded his head, as he had no objections, nor dared to raise any. Having a place to stay was good enough for him now, what more could he expect? But Yang Dong felt differently.
"Sister-in-law, there are so many kang beds. Can’t we each have our own room? Do we really have to stay in the same room?" Yang Dong, thinking about sharing a room with Li Fugui, showed a face full of disgust. That man had too many rules.
Seeing that Xiaoxiao did not respond, Yang Dong pulled Xiaoxiao aside and whispered, "Sister-in-law, I really don’t want to share a room with him. He has too many rules and always bosses me around."
"..." Xiaoxiao, puzzled, asked, "What has he bossed you about?"
"Not letting me get on the kang if I don’t wash my face or feet, and also making me recite the ’Three Character Classic’ before bed. I can’t take it."
Xiaoxiao slapped Yang Dong on his back, "You don’t even wash up and you think you’re right? He’s doing it for your own good. You won’t develop good habits; see if your future wife lets you on the kang."
Li Fugui watched from the side, thinking how fierce Yang Ming’s wife was, always ready to strike.
Yang Dong, unconvinced, replied, "A wife is a wife, he is him."
Hey, this kid, I was thinking, sharing a room isn’t really suitable for two grown men. But now it seems best they stay together to help Yang Dong get rid of his bad habits.
Really, it’s not to say that Li Fugui is utterly useless; the lifestyle habits developed from a well-established family are quite admirable.
Having Yang Dong recite books? It seems Li Fugui is really taking teaching to heart.
"No discussion, with so many things around, there’s no space. Plus, it’s just one kang, not like we’re sharing a blanket."
Li Fugui heard every word that Xiaoxiao said, realizing that Yang Ming’s wife was not only fierce but also blunt. He’d better keep his distance in the future.
Yang Dong’s suggestion failed, and he sullenly organized the few things he had brought over.
Before long, barking echoed throughout the courtyard.
It was the watchdog Yang Chun had bought; Yang Dong immediately ran to check it out.
"Younger sister-in-law, the dog you asked me to buy is here, come out and have a look," Yang Chun called out from inside the house.
"Okay, I’m coming," Xiaoxiao responded to him from outside but was reluctant to actually go out.
She stared straight at Li Fugui, and he felt a chill as she stared, sensing that Yang Ming’s wife definitely had something for him to do, "What’s the matter?"
"Hehe, come out with me."
"..." Was she afraid of dogs? Where had all that fierce and commanding presence gone?
Not giving Li Fugui a chance to refuse, Xiaoxiao pushed him ahead of her, hiding behind him herself. She was genuinely terrified of dogs. Alas, her weakness was going to be exposed because of two dogs.
When they reached the courtyard, Xiaoxiao peeked out; there were two big dogs, one black and one yellow, both large and loud. Truly scary, they were perfect as watchdogs.
The two dogs, leashed by their older brother, were barking vigorously, obviously uncomfortable with the arrival in a place full of strangers and in need of some adjustment.
Just as she was thinking this, suddenly the dogs, as if having discovered something, broke free from their restraints and fiercely pounced towards her and Li Fugui.
She could not duck in time, fell back in fright, shut her eyes, and started screaming loudly, "Ah! Ah!"