A Good Country Wife
Chapter 205: The Less Reserved_1

Chapter 205: Chapter 205: The Less Reserved_1

"No need to thank me, just pack me some extra tea leaves, and I must congratulate you, Erhu, it has not been easy waiting day by day for your little wife to grow up. Now, you’re finally going to have your wish come true." This is how men talk when there are no women around, always with a hint of color in their conversations. Even Doctor Zheng, now quite familiar with Zhao Erhu, spoke with less reservation.

"Why did Doctor Zheng need to take you outside? It’s not like I really have some illness you’re hiding from me, right?" Lin Yue hadn’t felt anything was amiss until seeing Zhao Erhu come back acting a bit off after being called out by Doctor Zheng, like he was holding back something, which made her overthink.

Lin Yue didn’t know that Zhao Erhu was afraid of getting too excited and offending his little wife, whose temper had been a bit foul these past two days. Although she seemed much more normal now, she was still on the edge of danger. Who knew if she might explode again? He thought it was best to tread carefully.

"What crazy ideas are you thinking up? Doctor Zheng said you’re healthy; I’m just happy that my little wife has grown up," Zhao Erhu said, and could not help but express his joy, picking up Lin Yue and spinning her around before setting her down again, slightly startled.

Lin Yue frowned at Zhao Erhu’s strange behavior. "Zhao Erhu, what are you doing? Have you lost your mind or taken the wrong medicine?"

"My silly wife, you’ve grown up; you’re going to have your menstruation soon, and of course, I’m happy!" Zhao Erhu laughed heartily.

"What, menstruation is coming?" Lin Yue was somewhat stunned; she hadn’t expected that her long-absent aunt would be visiting. It explained why she had been feeling off lately. On reflection, those were indeed the signs of an impending period. She hadn’t had it since her arrival, probably due to the malnutrition and frailty of her body and the constant busyness that made her forget about the monthly inconvenience. Now, it seemed to be making its presence felt.

Zhao Erhu misunderstood Lin Yue’s stunned reaction, thinking perhaps she wasn’t valued much at her family home, and her mother must not have explained these things to her. That was why his little wife didn’t understand what was happening, and he felt even more pity for her. She truly was pitiable, having suffered with such parents in the past. He would take good care of her from now on.

"Don’t worry, this is something every woman experiences. After you grow up, it’s natural. Don’t be afraid; I have everything prepared for you." Zhao Erhu, having been married twice before, was well-acquainted with these matters, even knowing more than Lin Yue, who was used to using sanitary pads.

However, upon hearing Zhao Erhu’s words, the corner of Lin Yue’s mouth twitched. Her older man was starting to show a potential for becoming ’Daddy Cool,’ having everything ready for her. But this woman’s business, he—a grown man—would prepare sanitary products for her? No, here it seemed they were called materials for menstrual affairs.

Although Lin Yue was inwardly quite resilient, she was still embarrassed by certain things, especially with Zhao Erhu, a big man, so candidly discussing these topics with her, which could make her blush, alright. To cover her own discomfort, Lin Yue stealthily changed the subject.

"No wonder, I also thought that there wouldn’t be anything wrong with my body, didn’t Brother Jiang adjust it fine last time? It turns out it was because of this," Lin Yue said, pinching her chin that had recently grown a bit rounder.

"But, I’ve grown too fast recently," you keep telling me to eat and eat and eat—it’s no wonder I’ve put on weight. If this continues, I might turn into a big fatty one day. No, that won’t do, I must watch my diet from now on. I can’t go on like this."

Lin Yue was genuinely worried now. She grew up in an era where thinness was considered beautiful, thinking that women looked better slim. Back then, everyone around her was always trying to lose weight. Luckily, her own figure was quite decent, sparing her that worry. Her body had grown to just the right size. Although not svelte and curvy, she was still young and bound to grow, so she certainly couldn’t allow Zhao Erhu to keep feeding her like she was a pig being fattened up any longer.

Zhao Erhu, following Lin Yue’s fair little hand, pinched his wife’s soft little chin, disagreeing with her decision to diet, "Why control your food? You are too thin now, need to fatten up a bit. I like you better when you’re chubbier; it feels nice and soft to the touch." As he spoke, to prove his point, he pinched the tender flesh on Lin Yue’s chin again.

Lin Yue looked up speechlessly at the ceiling, the old man was becoming less and less discreet.

When she knew her menstruation was coming, Lin Yue couldn’t possibly let Zhao Erhu prepare for it. She had only heard about menstrual cloths but didn’t know how they were used. She took the opportunity when no one else was around to pull her sister-in-law Liu into the room to ask for advice. It turned out to be really simple—just a clean strip of cloth made into a long belt, with plant ash placed in the middle of the menstrual cloth when the menstruation comes. The rest she didn’t need to say.

Though the method was easy, Lin Yue honestly found it hard to accept. Using plant ash wasn’t very appealing to her, plus it seemed far too insecure—just a strip of cloth to prevent side leakage? So she redesigned it herself, adding a layer of cotton in the middle before feeling that it was just barely acceptable. She made several to have as spares.

She didn’t know if it was psychological or if Doctor Zheng’s medicine was really that effective, but these past few days, Lin Yue felt back to normal, no longer prone to getting angry at the drop of a hat. However, the expected menstruation was delayed, and after wearing the menstrual cloth for two days, Lin Yue couldn’t stand it anymore. In such hot weather, wearing that thing was real suffering. She had to be on guard all the time, which made Lin Yue anxious. She feared being caught off guard all of a sudden.

Now that it was the fourth day, Lin Yue felt she was out of touch with her body, and fussing over it for so many days wasn’t helping. She decided to simply not think about it anymore.

What Lin Yue was most worried about now was the weather. The sun was scorching, and for several months, not a drop of rain had fallen, which threatened the crops with drought. If it weren’t for Zhao Dahuo and his wife’s diligence in watering the vegetables every morning and evening, their garden would have probably withered long ago.

But even this wasn’t a solution. Their land, except for the two acres that were conveniently watered, included several acres of newly cultivated wasteland close to their home on the mountainside with no water source nearby. Watering the crops by carrying water every day was labor-intensive, and they needed to find a better way.

Lin Yue thought about it all night and couldn’t come up with a good solution. She drifted off into a groggy sleep, and when she woke up the next morning, she felt a wet stickiness beneath her. After lifting the blanket, she saw a crimson stain. Turning her gaze toward Zhao Erhu, who had woken up from the noise, Lin Yue’s head thundered with a feeling akin to wanting to die.