Chapter 209: Brothers

Feeling uncomfortable, the lethargic Li Man knitted her elegant eyebrows tightly, she hummed several times and turned her body to lie on her stomach on the kang bed.

Her bundled hair had long ago already let loose, spilling gently on her soft body and jaded neck, her slender body was illuminated with a soft yellow light from the oil lamp, giving out a fair porcelain lustre, just like an exquisite fine and polished jade.

In a blink of an eye, the inside of the room became frighteningly quiet, the thick and heavy breathing filling the air with ambiguous atmosphere.

Li Yan turned his head quickly as he busily let Little Five bring the oil lamp over. The light shined on Li Man’s body and the wounds can be clearly seen. Her right arm was red and swollen, furthermore, more than half of her right shoulder, all the way down to her back was bruised here and there.

Li Mo’s deep black eyes tightened as he watched Li Yan’s fingers slowly taking off her trousers. Looking at the inside, that snow-white and fragile buttocks were also bruised, all of their eyes turned red, “Have to die.”

“How?” Li Shu leaned on the kang bed’s head, although he actually didn’t have much strength left to crawl near, when he heard his eldest brother’s low curse, he couldn’t help but anxiously asked.

Li Yan’s eyes were obscured with sorrow but he tried to console his younger brother, “It’s only a little bit swollen, there wouldn’t be too much that would hinder her. Luckily, we have some bruise ointment in the house, I’ll go and grab it.”

“En.” Li Shu finally could ease his heart.

Li Mo looked that Third Brother was exerting his body too much so he hurriedly said, “Third, you should wait a bit, I’ll cook something for you. After eating some food then you can sleep well, hmm?”

“Alright.” Li Shu wasn’t sleepy, his body was only tired.

Very quickly, Li Shu arrived at the west room. He searched the ointment from underneath Li Man’s pillow, Li Mo also cooked a bowl of nice and warm rice gruel, which Li Shu ate with relish.

Li Yan let Little Five bring the oil lamp to the side as he gently helped Li Man applied some ointment on the bruised places.

Didn’t know if the effect of the ointment too strong, or Li Yan’s touch that was too heavy, Li Man often groaned and hummed in discomfort, Li Mo couldn’t see it anymore and directly came over, “Second, give me that.”

“Can your hand be more gentle than mine?” Li Yan didn’t lift his head while giving back a response in low voice.

Li Mo paused for a bit, Li Shu was eating the gruel while saying, “Big Brother, let Second Brother do it. Your fingers were rough, big and strong, it’s not suitable to do anything with medicine, your applying the ointment on me was really hurting, you know?”

“Oh.” Li Mo gloomily furrowed his eyebrows, he blamed that he only did hard labor at ordinary times that he can’t really control his hand’s strength. Hearing Li Man groaned two times more, he became more anxious, “Second, can you be gentler? She looked like she’s in pain.”

“Of course she’s in pain, her whole body is bruised ah, even if I’m not applying the ointment, she would still groan…” as Li Yan said this, his hand’s movements weren’t the least bit hesitating, fast and light, and in just a moment, all of her back was smeared with medicine. He leisurely gripped Li Man’s trousers and wanted to strip it off completely.

When Li Mo looked, his heart stopped for a second as he busily said, “Second Brother, don’t…”

“What?” Li Yan lifted his head, nearly provoking his older brother. He put his strength  a bit and Li Man’s trouser was already pulled down until her thigh.

Li Mo’s expression became cold, but he immediately endured it down, “Second, gentler.”

“I know.” Li Yan’s slender fingers took a drop of ointment when suddenly, he glanced Little Five’s wooden look, and at once his palm beat Little Five’s head, “Smelly boy, close your eyes.”

Little Five staggered and the oil lamp almost bumped with Li Man’s body, frightening Li Yan as he quickly blocked it, and as a result, that small flame immediately went out.

The dark and dim room was accompanied by Li Yan’s hoarse and crude breath.

“Second Brother.” Little Five became panicked.

Li Mo swiftly searched for the fire starter and relighted the oil lamp, “Second, are you okay?”

Li Yan spread open his hand. In the center of his right palm was a red mark with a broken skin, just a bit painful so he didn’t care about it. “Nothing. Little Five, I told you to hold onto the lamp, not for you to see and make trouble.”

Little Five’s mouth flattened, his heart felt very much wronged, clearly eldest brother also looked ah, isn’t second brother himself looking right now? But because he’s afraid of hurting second brother, he didn’t dare to retort and only brought the oil lamp closer while closing his eyes.

“Give it to me.” Looking at Little Five’s grievous appearance, Li Mo offered himself.

“Elder Brother, you should look after Third Brother.” Li Yan didn’t want Li Mo to have a try.

Little Five also said, “Elder Brother, just attend to Third Brother, I can do this myself.”

Li Mo felt a bit embarrassed looking at Li Shu. After he finished his last bite, he passed over the bowl and chopstick to Li Mo, “Elder Brother, I’m full.”

“One bowl and you’re already full? There’s some more at the pot.” Li Mo said after receiving the empty bowl.

Li Shu was really tired so he wormed himself inside the quilt as he waved towards Li Mo, “It’s okay, I want to have a rest.”

“En.” Li Mo didn’t urge him anymore and put the empty bowl on top of the rack. He then turned and walked to Li Yan’s side, looking at his fingers crawling on Li Man’s inner thigh, he can’t help but pulled a long face, “Second Brother, there’s no bruise there.”

“How do I know if I don’t take a look?” Li Yan’s face wasn’t red and his heart wasn’t jumping as his fingers withdrew back, he said in a low voice, “There’s no wound here.”

Li Mo’s two eyebrows twisted tightly as he stared angrily at Li Yan.

Li Yan shrugged his shoulders, and used his strength to pull down Li Man’s trouser completely.

Li Mo’s chest trembled as he shook his fists, almost pounding him down.

Fortunately, Li Yan quickly pulled a thin blanket covering Li Man’s whole body. Then he lifted his eyelids, unhurriedlly looking at Li Mo, “I just smeared the ointment on her body so she shouldn’t wear clothes now.”

“Oh.” Li Mo’s raised fist finally fell down.

Li Yan’s eyes were welling with taunt, he smirked with ridicule, “What did you want to do just now, Big Brother? With those big fists, is it possible that you wanted to hit your second brother, me?”

‘Second Brother’ these two words, he deeply put a stress on them.

“…” Li Mo knew that he was the one in the wrong so he looked at his brother with regret in his eyes, “I’m sorry, big brother is too impulsive just now.” it‘s still Second that‘s more considerate.

Li Yan’s smile became deeper, “Big Brother doesn’t need to blame yourself, you’re just concerned about wife so it’s still within reason, it’s just, is your second brother that kind of person who would take advantage of somebody’s difficulties? Wife is already hurt like this, how can I have any idea to take her this cheaply?”

After hearing him, Li Mo became more ashamed, it’s my own heart that’s too narrow, misunderstanding Second Brother.

“Alright, Little Five, you can open your eyes now.” At this moment, Li Yan packed up the ointment and lightly hit Little Five’s head.

Little Five blankly said ‘oh’ and opened his eyes, but the corner of his eyes unconsciously wanted to go to Li Man’s side, like there’s a magic power that attracted him, but he was hindered by Older Brother and Second Brother. He actually didn’t have big courage to take a peek with those two nearby, so his heart became a mess instead.

Li Mo also didn’t want to pester with this topic anymore, so he only turned around and said, “I’m going to get some water, you guys should rub your bodies clean and go to sleep.”

“Little Five, you go to sleep first.” Li Yan ordered Little Five.

“Oh.” Little Five finally quickly gave a quick glance at Li Man, then with a guilty conscience, he squeezed himself into the bedding, tugging the quilt until it covered his head.

“Big Brother.” Li Yan followed behind Li Mo, and together they went inside the kitchen, “What do you think about today’s matter?”

Li Mo calmly raised his head to look at the boundless and indistinct dim light of the night, “With this matter happening, the town outside the mountain definitely would spread wildly, and that vile man who hurt Third and wanted to snatch Man Er would naturally won’t have any difficulty finding them.”

“En.” Li Yan nodded, his expression sombre just like the night sky, “Big Brother, after two days, I’m gonna go to the town with you to find any news.”

Li Mo joined him, “Alright. However, don’t let third brother and the others know about this. And Man Er too, her courage is small.”

“I know.” Li Yan answered in affirmation.

In the dim night, the two brothers discussed for a while in a low voice, and after washing their faces and feet, they went back to the room together, taking their own place on the kang bed.

Because of this one night, Li Man also slept on the kang bed, Li Mo and Li Yan were very conscious at the empty space beside her, trying their best not to touch her.

However, at the middle of the night, unaware how, they heard off and on ‘hic hic’ sobbing sounds that would tug at the anyone who heard it. [T/N: I’d shit my pants if it’s me]

And sure enough, except for the deeply sleeping Li Shu and Little Five, Li Mo and Li Yan practically sprang to their feet at the same time, they both looked at each other a quick glance as their sight slowly fell to the small silhouette.

That’s right, the sobbing sounds that were just like kitten’s  croon were indeed came from Li Man, it’s just, she looked like she was still fast asleep and didn’t know what she was doing.

Li Yan hurriedly went to her side and softly calling out two times ‘Man Er’, extending his hand to stroke her face. Her cheeks were soaked with her tears…

“Girl, Man Er…” Li Yan realized that she was inside a nightmare and hurriedly held her inside his embrace.

Li Mo also moved around Little Five and walked over, touching her face gently and followed by lightly calling out, “Man Er, wake up…”

Li Man was still inside the frightening nightmare where Li Shu was beaten, his whole body bleeding, gasping on his last breath, but she just stood there without any way out, calling out to the sky and earth uselessly.

At this time, she heard Li Mo and Li Yan’s voices so suddenly, just like a deity descending to human world to save her, she tried to stretch her hands and grab them in a flurry.

Li Yan’s one hand was holding her, while the other hand hastily seizing her little hand. Meanwhile, Li Mo’s big palm firmly captured her other hand without losing time.

“Big Brother.” Li Man shouted with difficulty, and at the same time, her heavy eyelids finally opened. Inside the dim light, she could only saw a blurry figure in front of her.

Although she’s not able to see clearly, but when Li Man saw this figure she immediately knew that it was Li Mo, she suddenly threw herself hard inside his embrace, “Big Brother, quickly save Li Shu, he’s gonna be beaten to death.”

“Girl, don’t be afraid, you’re only having a nightmare.” Li Yan stretched his hand and lightly stroke Li Man’s back, gently consoling her.

“Li Yan?” Sure enough, Li Man was still unable to move. Inside the dim night, she stared blankly and turned her head, seeing Li Yan’s hazy outline and his pair of bright eyes.

She called out with faint nasal sound like she wanted to cry again. Li Yan’s heart became soft, immediately, his whole body nestled to her back, both of his hands comforted her trembling shoulders, “I’m here, don’t be afraid.”

“I…” Li Man had just came back from her nightmare, so she was looking all around. Although the view was dim and hazy, but this place was unmistakably the West Room that she sweep everyday, and also the place where her men slept.

“Li Shu?” Li Man hastily asked with anxiety.

Li Mo pointed to the kang bed, “He’s sleeping.”

Li Man finally felt a bit of ease, “Is he alright? He spitted out blood at noon, does he has any internal injury?”

“I’m gonna look for a doctor tomorrow, we should let him sleep now, don’t wake him up.” Li Yan whispered at her ear,  a strand of delicate fragrance came from her body, mixing up with the herbal aroma from the ointment, they slowly winding around his nose, making him dizzy for a while. When he talked, he unconsciously stuck to her body.

Hearing the tone of his speech, Li Shu wouldn’t have heavy wounds so Li Man’s taut heart finally could let loose, her head leaning on Li Mo’s bosom, not wanting to say anything anymore.

“Man Er, go back to sleep.” Li Mo raised his hand to signal Li Yan to move from the bed, then he slowly tuck Li Man inside the warm blanket.

Li Man quickly felt weary again, she also received a big shock at noon, she was also struggling to fight with those ruffian. And so, she quickly fell deep into the slumber land, and this time, her sleep was free from anxiety.

After Li Mo and Li Yan helped her to settle down, they each returned to their own bed to sleep.

Passing a silent night, at the crack of dawn, Li Yan got up and busily cooked rice and bustled with household duties, Li Mo went alone to request for doctor.

At the East Room, from the three person sleeping on the kang bed, Little Five was the first to wake up. He dazedly crawled up and looked at he deeply sleeping Li Man, his mind suddenly was gushing with a strange feeling. He felt a bit scared, especially because yesterday night he actually dreamed about her.

“Little Five.” Li Shu who slept heavily throughout the entire night suddenly opened his eyes, feeling himself full of vigour from head to toe. When he just lifted his body to sit, he looked at Little Five staring at Li Man in a daze so he called out to him.

Little Five was startled, he turned his head and looked at Li Shu.

Li Shu lifted one of his eyebrow, feeling uncertain, he gave a quick glance at his brother, “What? Are you crazy now?”

“Ah!” Little Five suddenly shouted, slipping down from the kang bed and without even wearing his outer garment, he quickly held his shorts and ran away.

“What happened?” Li Shu can’t help but stroke his face, was his face beaten until it became so ferocious-looking? Seeing Little Five looking at him just like looking at a ghost.

“Emm,” Li Man straightened her legs from the quilt, changing to a more comfortable position. But when she’s just about to lie down, the wounds on her back ached and she immediately went back to lying on her stomach.

It’s just, with her movements, the quilt on her back slid more than a half, revealing half of her small body.

“Wife, have you woke up?” Li Shu busily abandoned his clothes and crawled over to her side.

“Li Shu?” Li Man blinked her big eyes twice, “How can you run to my bed?”

Li Shu had already arrived at her side, half kneeling, both hands supported his body, while his face was brimming with a smiling expression, “You’re the one who’s on my bed.”

“Ah.” Li Man opened her eyes wide, sure enough…

“Wife,” Li Shu’s line of vision swiftly moved from her face to her naked back and immediately shouted, “Those bastards, next time we meet, this father will definitely split them alive.”

Seeing a large area of her back had became purple, Li Shu was very distressed. He stretched his hand and lightly caressed, “Is it painful?”

His slightly cold big palm touched her warm back, making her shivered a little and conscious of something wrong. She looked down to her flimsy undergarment slanting to one side and half of her body wasn’t even covered, her back…

After blanking for a while, Li Man wheezed and wrapped herself with the quilt. Seeing Li Shu’s thoughtful expression staring blankly at her in a loss.

She slept on the bed inside East Room, without any clothing with only undergarment left.

God, who’s the one that did this?

“Wife, what happened with you? Are you hurting?” Li Shu wanted to pull open her quilt and took a good look at her.

Li Man felt endlessly embarrassed and awkward, she rigidly pulled the corner of the quilt, “I’m okay, really, I only fell down and scraped my skin a bit.”

“Really?” Li Shu was still full of doubt, but Second Brother said that nothing’s wrong yesterday night so it should really be alright, however, his heart suddenly became depressed and angry, “They should die, those abominable beast. Otherwise, today would be our auspicious day to round the room.”

“…” Li Man was stupefied and she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry facing this kind of Li Shu, can it be that she also gained a profit from this misfortune, at least these few days she didn’t need to feel anxious dealing with these men.

“Wife.” Li Shu vented his wrath for a while then he looked at Li Man’s eyebrows drooping down. Grinning, he moved closer to her face and ingratiatingly asked, “I’ve already seen your body, so I fear that we can’t round the room today, then can we just push and choose another auspicious day?”

This was certainly good, but Li Man still couldn’t nod her head to answer him ah, if she nod, it would look like she too eager on choosing an auspicious day for rounding the room.

“Alright, what inappropriate thing are you thinking about? Your body is already injured so heavily, just properly tend to your wound.”

Even though Li Man gave him an annoyed gaze, Li Shu was still grinning widely. He lifted his fist and pounded his chest twice with a smug look, “See, my body is strong and sturdy, these superficial wounds don’t count at all, even if we round the room now, I would definitely have no problem, I’m just afraid that you—”

The more Li Man heard what he said, the more her face became scalding hot, it’s still early morning, she hurriedly stretched her hands to close his perverted mouth, “Don’t talk rubbish anymore!”

Nevertheless, Li Shu’s attention followed down to the inside of the flimsy undergarment. That pair of snowy-white doves wanted to burst out, her undergarment was fully filled with those swelling soft buns.

His eyes darken and his pair of hands reflexively wanted to grabbed onto them, liberating the bound up pair of white doves free.

Li Man anxiously pushed him away, covering herself with the quilt and turned her back on him.

All of a sudden, Li Shu can’t see and also can’t touch, this made Li Shu anxious, so he pulled Li Man’s shoulder and pleaded with his puppy eyes, “Wife, let me take a glance, just once, I promise not to stretch my hands.”

Ughh, how can he say this kind of words? Li Man gripped the corners of the quilt tightly, annoyed with him, “Li Shu, if you dare fool around, I’m gonna shout and call Big Brother.”

Li Shu became like a deflated balloon all of a sudden, shriveling his body down, looking at her white neck, he murmured, “Then, alright, I won’t look today, when it’s time to round the room you still have to yield to me, I won’t allow you to hide it from me then.”

He talked like she owed him, Li Man didn’t want to care about this overbearing and unbridled him. When she heard the rustling sound of wearing clothes, her calmness finally came back again.

Li Shu wore his clothes and went out the room but quickly came back again, but he was only standing at the door, “Wife, Second Brother already cooked breakfast, do you want to get up or eat here?”

Her body was aching and sore and lying down wasn’t possible, but if she want to get up, where’s her clothes then?

She looked all around and discovered her clothes was thrown on the small stool at the corner of the wall so she said to Li Shu, “Can you help me take my clothes there?”

“Oh.” Li Shu came inside and grabbed all of the piled up clothes with his one big hand, but he didn’t directly gave it to Li Man and instead smelled it then laughed, “As expected, it’s really fragrant.”

“What are you doing?” Li Man glared at him ferociously with her face red like a boiled shrimp.

But Li Shu just didn’t pay attention to it and gave the clothes to her, explaining, “I heard Second Brother said that female’s body is fragrant, I didn’t believe him, but now I 100% believe it.”

Wife is the most fragrant, even her used clothes would cause anyone to have a reverie.

Indeed it was Li Yan that scoundrel, Li Man ruthlessly bit her lower lip and said to Li Shu, “don’t learn from your second brother.” All day thinking about woman, that rogue.

“En?” Li Shu didn’t understand, is it not good to learn from Second Brother? Second Brother was really well received by women in Goddess’ Ravine ah, practically everyone all loved him.

“What are you talking about behind my back?” this time, Li Yan came over from the door with light sound.

Li Man lifted her eyes and looked at him, seeing him reclining at the door frame, his gaze fixed on her. Her heart jumped, sure enough, you shouldn’t talk about someone behind their back, she busily hung down her head and assumed an appearance of not knowing anything.

Who would have thought, Li Shu this blabbermouth betrayed her at once and even poked fun at Li Yan, “Second Brother, wife said that I shouldn’t learn from you. You too, don’t say those kind of things again to me, I’m a good man, don’t lead me astray ah.”

Li Man was startled, Li Shu, he… his mouth should get a thrashing.

Li Yan stared at Li Man’s rigid back, he laughed teasingly, “Really? What did I say to you that led you astray?”

Li Shu pulled the corners of his mouth, looking at Second Brother’s expression, he busily said, “Second Brother, you mustn’t bully wife. Anyway, you talked to me that females are fragrant ah. Second Brother, how can you say this when you haven’t touched a woman before?”

Pu-, Li Man almost spurted, Li Shu’s counterattack was too good ah, Li Yan you dirty embryo, I want to see if you have any words to say?