The two held hands and exchanged silent messages for a while. Soon the gloom on An Yuying's pretty face dissipated, and her lips curved into a blissful smile.
Though they did not speak, their silent communication was more effective than words.
In their sign language exchange, they conveyed their feelings to each other without the need for verbal expression.
Of the four beauties in the car, except for Hong Jiaxin, the other three were all eager to go to the county. If it was for shopping, Luo Yang would take them. But dealing with bad folks with them around would be inconvenient.
Hong Jiaxin, lost in thoughts of her parents, stared blankly out of the car window. Luo Yang wanted to pat her thigh and offer a few comforting words, but knowing she was a tough girl, a pat on the thigh could lead to a big fuss, so he dropped the idea.
At that moment, An Yuying said softly, "Niu Zai, did Jiaxin buy that bathtub from Xiaoshulin Market?"
Luo Yang replied, "That's right. Sister An, what's the matter?"
As he expected, An Yuying wanted to buy a bathtub. She pursed her red lips and said, "I'm going to hitch a ride with Sister Guihua to Xiaoshulin Market to see what kinds of bathtubs are available."
She was eager to buy a bathtub to restore some peace of mind.
Thinking that buying a bathtub wouldn't take long, Luo Yang said with a smile, "Sure. We'll go look together later."
Hong Jiaxin knew An Yuying's sudden interest in getting a bathtub was due to jealousy, she had seen Luo Yang buy one for her. She glanced at Luo Yang with disdain from the corner of her eye.
Just as Luo Yang turned to look at her, their eyes met briefly before parting, yet they shared many thoughts. As he was about to speak, she slightly pouted her red lips and turned her gaze back out the window.
The real reason Luo Yang had bought a bathtub for Hong Jiaxin was known only to An Yuying.
Qin Piao and Fang Lin were there at the time, but they didn't quite understand why.
Sister Guihua asked with curiosity, "Yuying, why do you suddenly want to buy another bathtub?"
In the Hongyun Brigade, it was rare for villagers to have bathtubs in their homes. The country folks were simple and washed standing up. They were not as playful with new fancies as city folks were, with their bathtubs and bath pools.
Qin Piao joked with a smirk, "It's more fun for two to bathe together in a bathtub."
Upon hearing this, An Yuying's cheeks flushed to her ears, and she protested softly, "Qin Piao, what nonsense are you talking about? That's not what I meant at all. I have a special use for the bathtub."
In the car, it wasn't only the beauties from the Hongyun Brigade who noticed, even Hong Jiaxin could see that An Yuying had a rather special relationship with Luo Yang. It was only that they weren't officially a couple yet.
The other three beauties started giggling, and An Yuying became even more bashful, pouting her red lips and saying, "What are you laughing at? I really don't have that kind of intention."
The more she explained, the more the other three beauties believed she was making unnecessary excuses, laughing even harder.
Soon, the car was filled with joyful laughter, temporarily clearing away any traces of somberness.
"Niu Zai, they don't believe me. Tell them," An Yuying said in a delicate voice.
"Sister An, bathtubs are meant for bathing," Luo Yang said with a light pat on her thigh, smiling.
With his confirmation, the laughter of the other three beauties grew even more.
An Yuying grabbed Luo Yang's right hand and shook it, saying sweetly, "Niu Zai, you're teasing me too. I'm not talking to you anymore. I really didn't mean it like that."
Seeing her face flush and her moist red lips pouted, she looked both innocent and charming. With the tender emotions swirling in her doe-like eyes, her shy, smiling demeanor exuded a gentle charm that was endearing to behold.
Luo Yang pressed his palm gently on her thigh and gave a reassuring squeeze with his fingers, saying, "Sister An is telling the truth, stop laughing. She just wants it for bathing."
The laughter in the car erupted once more.
An Yuying waved her little pink fists, gently thumping Luo Yang's shoulders with a look of plaintive accusation in her eyes that was quite pitiable.
"I'm not talking to you anymore. You all are laughing at me. Bad Cowboy, I'm ignoring you now," she pouted, her red lips puckering higher and higher, becoming more enchanting with each moment.
If Hong Jiaxin hadn't been sitting right beside him, Luo Yang really would have wanted to peck at An Yuying's red lips.
He wrapped his right arm around her from behind, hooking her slim waist and pulling her closer to him; her delicate body was now pressing against his right shoulder.
"Sister An, don't get worked up. They just don't understand the art of bathing in a tub…" Luo Yang chuckled.
The laughter in the car erupted once again.
Before Luo Yang could finish, An Yuying reached out her hand to cover his mouth, stopping him from continuing.
Blushing, she said, "Guihua, I bought the bathtub for training purposes, you know."
Actually, it wasn't for training, it was just for soaking in herbal baths.
An Yuying didn't clarify this, and to everyone else, it sounded as though she meant that doing exercises with Luo Yang in the bathtub counted as training. Consequently, the other three beauties laughed until tears came to their eyes.
The more she tried to explain, the more unclear it became, making An Yuying increasingly anxious.
"Cowboy, you should tell Guihua. I didn't buy the bathtub for bathing," An Yuying, with her left arm resting on Luo Yang's right, leaned towards him, her left breast pressing against his chest, and pounded on his shoulder with her right hand.
"Sister An, let me tell Sister Guihua," Luo Yang said seriously.
At that moment, he felt a series of gentle and warm touches on his right shoulder, which were extremely comfortable.
The laughter abruptly stopped; the other three beauties also wanted to hear Luo Yang's explanation.
Clearing his throat, Luo Yang said in an earnest tone, "On behalf of Sister An, I will tell everyone that we, the upright, don't do secretive things. Buying a bathtub is for bathing and enhancing artistic cultivation, does anyone disagree?"
The delicate giggling in the car revived once more, full of life.
An Yuying's neck turned red, her pretty face dripping with embarrassment as she said softly, "Bad Cowboy, I'm getting angry. You're laughing at me, too. I'm not talking to you anymore."
While she complained, she continued to pound his shoulder.
Seeing that she was genuinely embarrassed to the point of almost crying, Luo Yang explained to Tang Guihua the real reason for buying the bathtub.
Upon hearing this, both Tang Guihua and Qin Piao said, "Cowboy, in that case, please help us open our governor and conception vessels too. We also want to train in high-level martial arts."
Not long ago, Luo Yang had taken Qin Piao as his disciple. He had two disciples. The eldest disciple was Hong Jiaxin.
Before she became close with Luo Yang, Qin Piao, a beautiful and solitary widow, was often coveted by local rascals. She wanted to learn a few martial arts moves for self-defense.
Even though now with Luo Yang's protection she was normally free from harassment by the village hoodlums, her initial intention remained unchanged; she still wanted to learn martial arts from him to maintain their close relationship and to have common topics of conversation.
After her brother Tang Dexing had been cheated through a rigged gambling game, Tang Guihua also wanted to enhance her abilities, thinking that if she had martial arts skills, she could teach the villains a lesson on the spot whenever she encountered them.
Therefore, both she and Qin Piao were sincerely eager to learn from Luo Yang.
"Alright. Opening the governor and conception vessels carries significant risks. You both will also need to soak in herbal baths to strengthen your constitution," Luo Yang agreed.
"Then we'll also buy bathtubs for herbal baths," Qin Piao and Tang Guihua said in unison.