Yang Daniu’s eyes immediately showed a hint of covetousness, but he had more important things to do at the moment, so he only glanced a few times before pulling his gaze back.

Lan Hua, the auntie, was a bit puzzled when she saw Yang Daniu enter her courtyard.

Who in this village doesn’t know Yang Daniu? He’s basically a small-time thug, a swindler, living a life of drinking, gambling, and womanizing. He’s already twenty-five and hasn’t even found a wife, always looking like a good-for-nothing.

Did the sun rise from the west today? Why did Yang Daniu come to her place?

Though they were distantly related, Yang Daniu had never visited her home before.

Since someone was visiting her home, she naturally went up to greet him and said, "Oh my, isn’t it Daniu? What wind blew you here, visiting your aunt’s house?"

Yang Daniu wasn’t particularly attractive, and he was always used to being nonchalant. After entering the courtyard, he grinned cheekily at Auntie Lan Hua, "Auntie, what’s up? It’s my first time visiting, am I not welcome?"

"What are you talking about, no way! It’s just that you seem so busy every day, what brings you to your aunt’s house today?"

A few of Lan Hua’s daughters-in-law nearby curled their lips at the remark; everyone knew that Yang Daniu spent his days doing nothing, even during the busy farming season, he didn’t help his family at all.

"Auntie, I’m here to borrow a shovel. I need to help fix up the yard at home, but the shovel’s broken, so I thought I’d come here to borrow one."

Hearing this made Auntie Lan Hua even more puzzled. They lived as far as possible from each side of the village. If it was just to borrow a shovel, he could easily have gone to a neighbor’s, not circled several paths to come here.

Besides, Yang Daniu fixing the yard? It sounded like a joke; everyone knew he never helped with anything at home. It really was like the sun had risen from the west.

Though she was suspicious, she didn’t voice it because Yang Daniu was a known troublemaker, and she couldn’t afford to offend him. If he latched onto them, they wouldn’t be able to shake him off easily, so it was better to stay away.

"Alright, Daniu, wait here. Auntie will get the shovel for you."

Auntie Lan Hua was usually protective of her belongings, only ever borrowing from others, and never lending out her things. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

But today, with Yang Daniu here, she still lent it out. Sometimes people just yield to the threatening.

Yang Daniu internally scorned people like Auntie Lan Hua, but he spoke again, "Alright, Auntie, help me get the shovel. Oh, by the way, which room is your kitchen in? I’ll go get a drink of water."

"Over there, you can go," Auntie Lan Hua pointed in the direction of the kitchen, then went to the small storage room to get the shovel.

Following Auntie Lan Hua’s direction, Yang Daniu headed to the kitchen.

At this moment, only Yang Xiaocui was in the kitchen, preparing dinner for the family.

Right when Yang Daniu entered the courtyard and spoke, she heard him, and her body stiffened as if the sky was falling.

Others might not know, but she was very aware that Yang Daniu certainly came to her house to see her.

The story about borrowing a shovel or getting a drink of water was merely an excuse to come to the kitchen to find her.

Was he about to break his word? Not keep her secret, or continue to use this matter to threaten her?

What was she to do?

What kind of peaceful days could she look forward to in the future?

As she was thinking, she saw Yang Daniu enter the kitchen. She showed a look of terror, and before she could speak, Yang Daniu covered her mouth with his hand.