Allowing herself to be embraced by her husband, her face was lovingly caressed by him.

The onlookers suddenly shivered intensely, realizing there was no more drama to watch. Disappointed, they all dispersed.

For Shu Ci, it was the first time experiencing something so novel; she found it quite amusing to sit with these elderly women, munching sunflower seeds and watching the village spectacle.

Even as these women left unsatisfied, she still felt a lingering interest, her mind subtly elevated amidst the worldly chaos.

She brushed off the sunflower seed shells from her dress, held her wooden basin, and walked away gracefully, swaying with each step.

Baili An was sitting in the yard, having received a letter back from his mother, and felt at ease knowing all was well on that side.

He glanced up at the sky; the twilight had deepened, and the distant mountains echoed with the gentle sound of the evening bell.

The evening glow in the sky gradually faded, and the sunset at the horizon resembled a red maple leaf falling onto the dusty and old village.

Unknowingly, it had become quite late.

He remembered that the buxom fox had gone out to wash clothes since noon, yet she hadn’t returned.

On the wooden table outside, the shredded chicken and egg drop porridge simmered on the stone stove had already gone cold.

He coughed lightly, adjusting his breathing, and was about to go inside to fetch some firewood to warm the porridge.

Just then, with a creak, the wooden door of the yard was pushed open by a hand.

"Is Young Master Baili here?"

Baili An turned around to see who had come: "Aunt Wu, it’s so late. Is there something urgent?"

Aunt Wu looked at Baili An with a troubled expression, glanced around, and whispered: "Is my girl cousin Shu not back yet?"

Baili An felt a stir in his heart, seeing her like this...

Could it be that the dumb, buxom fox encountered trouble?

He frowned slightly and said, "She’s not back from washing yet. Did something happen?"

Upon hearing this, Aunt Wu’s expression grew even more troubled and somewhat embarrassed.

At noon, she had been washing clothes by the stream too and saw from afar that the old Taoist, revered by the village as a godly figure, was ambiguously engaged with the Baili Family’s madam.

While others regarded the old Taoist as a deity, Aunt Wu paid more attention, understanding some basic truths despite not being educated.

She knew that this old Taoist often liked to be close to some of the better-looking women in the village, frequently taking advantage of them under the pretext of dispelling evil spirits.

These women were often resentful but dared not speak out, fearing to offend the spirits, and trusting in the Taoist’s abilities, usually letting the matter rest.

But Aunt Wu was aware that some women in the village had indeed been taken advantage of by the old Taoist.

She ultimately thought this was not a good situation, but dared not spread the news recklessly.

Today, she saw that even Cousin Shu had been lured away.

She felt sorry for Baili An, the frail young master still bedridden, relying on medicine daily, while his wife might be consorting with someone else.

Discarding all fame and fortune for love, if he were abandoned by his own woman and left alone to the point of dying, it would be too tragic.

Hence, Aunt Wu couldn’t help but gossip a bit and came here to kindly remind him.

She recounted everything she saw and some vague conversations she overheard to Baili An.

Hoping he would be more vigilant and treat his wife better.

Lest in the end, his young wife ran off with an old fellow.

That would indeed be a double loss.