While seeing the Third Aunt worried, Ye Ling felt quite warm in his heart, because only the Third Uncle's family treated the four brothers well and with a sincere heart. They provided the brothers with supplies from time to time, instead of looking down upon their poverty.
"Third Aunt, don't worry. The wife didn't run away. She only asked me to borrow something. She said...she said her menstruation occurred. She doesn't have the stuff needed. Ye Ling's face turned redder and redder as he explained.
Looking at Ye Ling's red face, the Third Aunt smiled, realizing she had thought too much. "Oh, I see. Wait a moment, Little Fourth. I'll go inside and prepare the stuff. Then I'll go with you to see her."
The Third Aunt turned back to the room, prepared some blocks of cotton cloth and charcoal ashes to put them in a basket covered by a piece of linen before she went out.
"Come on. Your wife is waiting for us."
The Third Aunt went out with a smile, locked up the gate, and went towards the Ye's. Ye Ling wanted to walk fast, but he couldn't. The Third Aunt laughed after noticing it, "Don't hurry. Take your time, little Fourth."
In the outhouse, Liu Duo remained squatted, bored and miserable. She tried to stretch her legs sometimes to release them from numbness. The good thing was that it was not too stinky in the outhouse. Otherwise, she might be suffocated from the smell.
Hearing footsteps, Liu Duo came to her senses immediately and said, "Fourth Brother, is that you?" Have you borrowed some? My legs are so numb as if I were crippled!"
Hearing Liu Duo's clear and crisp grumbles, like an oriole singing, the Third Aunt chuckled, "I'm coming. Don't hurry, my girl. You'll be better soon."
After hearing the answer, Liu Duo calmed down. As long as someone gave her a "sanitary pad", it was not unbearable to wait another minute. "Oh, thank you."
The Third Aunt came into the yard, sat on the stool, and then took out the stuff to make the cloth strips for Liu Duo.
After she finished sewing several strips, the Third Aunt handed them to Ye Ling, "Take these to your wife."
Looking at the stuff passed on, Ye Ling blushed again. He lightly knocked on the door, "Wife, Here you are. Please open the door."
Creaking rang out while the door opened slightly. Liu Duo extended her hand, "Give them to me!"
Seeing her fair and clean palm, Ye Ling passed them to her. Liu Duo's hand recoiled once it took the stuff. It was made using two layers of long, cotton strips with something sewen inside. This was the "sanitary pad" in ancient times!
She looked it over and figured out how to use it. Liu Duo put it on her underwear and pulled up her trousers. She felt quite comfortable.
Liu Duo walked out by holding the wall after she pushed open the door of the outhouse. Her legs were trembling due to the longtime squatting.
Ye Ling held up Liu Duo immediately, saying with guilt, "I got you. Your legs must be numb. It's my fault for making you wait for so long."
"Ah, it's nothing." Liu Duo didn't know what to say! She didn't blame him at all.
"Girl, come here. Come on. Third Aunt wants to have a word with you." The Third Aunt called Liu Duo with a gracious expression.
Liu Duo was quite satisfied with the appearance of herself reflected on the water when she washed her hands by the well. It was not even close to that in her previous life, but quite pleasant.
She especially liked the tiny red mole at the center between her brows, aside from big eyes and arched brows, a tall and delicate nose, reddish cherry-like lips, and a baby-fat, oval face. Two small dimples emerged around the corner of her mouth when she smiled.
Liu Duo also came and sat under the roof. Ye Ling took the cooled paste to heat again in the kitchen.
The Third Aunt smiled greater and greater after staring at Liu Duo for a while. She was beyond satisfaction. Liu Duo felt quite uncomfortable under such scorching eyes.
The Third Aunt held and slightly patted her hands, saying earnestly, "Duo, live a good life with Little Four and the others. If they dare to treat you badly, tell your Third Aunt. I am on your side!"
"You may feel wronged for being a wife in such a poor family, but the brothers, they are all good guys. You can settle down here and bear a healthy baby in about a year. I can give you a hand at my convenience."