My best friend is living a famine-stricken life; you're going crazy, I'm farming.

Chapter 177 Should I give you a back rub?

Since she had to boil water anyway, Yang Fenglan decided to boil more and wash herself along with the water.

Xu Yingying saw a big pot of water and joined in the fun, wanting not only to wash her hair but also to take a bath.

There were no facilities for bathing, so they could only bring water into the house and wipe themselves with a towel.

Lin Cuiniang took the bowls away and said, "You definitely won't be able to use up all this water."

"You want to wash too? Then wash them all. I'll boil some more water." Yang Fenglan poured the remaining half bucket of water into the large pot.

This big pot was brought from his house by Xiao Yuanshan, who went to great lengths to do so.

The bucket was empty. Yang Fenglan looked at Xiao Yuanshan not far away and their eyes met.

Yang Fenglan gave an awkward smile, but before she could speak, she saw Xiao Yuanshan stride over, pick up a bucket of water, and go out.

While the women were washing their hair and bathing on the mountaintop, several men, along with boys, took handkerchiefs to the pond at the bottom of the cliff to wash themselves.

Yang Fenglan first washed Xiao Ning's hair. After washing it, she wrapped Xiao Ning's hair in a dry towel and then took her inside to take a bath.

As soon as the warm handkerchief touched his body, Xiao Ning shuddered.

"What's wrong? Is it hot?" Yang Fenglan quickly took back the handkerchief.

"It's not hot, but it itches."

"Haha, it will be a little itchy, just bear with it, it'll be fine in a bit." Yang Fenglan grabbed Xiao Ning with one hand and rubbed her shoulder with the other.

"Auntie, you are such a kind person."

Why did you suddenly decide to praise me?

“My father never bathed me, he only bathed my brother. The aunt at Uncle Zhang’s house always said that my father only cared about my brother and not me because I was a girl.”

Xiao Ning is only seven years old, but he speaks with remarkable logic.

"Don't listen to other people's nonsense. Your father treats you and your brother just as well."

"But he only helps his brother take a bath."

"Little girl," Yang Fenglan pinched Xiao Ning's smooth cheek, "Didn't your father tell you that men and women shouldn't touch each other?"

“I did say that, but he’s my father.”

“You’re seven years old now, a big girl. You can’t just let anyone see your body, not even your brother or father, understand?” Yang Fenglan explained to Xiao Ning as she wiped her body, explaining why her father couldn’t help her bathe.

The little girl seemed a bit confused, so Yang Fenglan tickled her, "Did you hear me? Why aren't you saying anything? Are you mute?"

Laughter could be heard coming from inside the house.

After tidying himself up at the bottom of the cliff, Xiao Yuanshan, worried that the women might not have enough water, carried two buckets of water up first.

Upon arrival, I heard what Yang Fenglan was saying, along with laughter coming from inside the house.

An involuntary smile crept onto her lips as she walked toward the kitchen.

Lin Cuiniang went to her room to take a bath, and Xu Yingying, having finished bathing, sat on the edge of the cliff, drying her hair.

There was no one in the kitchen.

Xiao Yuanshan then called out to Yang Fenglan's house, "Yang Fenglan, the water is here."

"Great! I was just worried about not having enough water. Could you please boil some more?"

"Hmm." Xiao Yuanshan poured half a bucket of water into the pot, squatted down by the stove, and started a fire.

Before the water boiled, Yang Fenglan led Xiao Ning out of the house, gently letting her hair down. "While there's still some sun, you can dry your hair here. Next, it's my turn to wash it."

Xiao Ning asked with a smile, "Auntie, would you like me to scrub your back?"

"No, I can do it myself."

Yang Fenglan poured the water from the basin, took the basin into the kitchen, where the water in the pot was already heated.

Seeing that Xiao Yuanshan was about to add firewood to the stove, she quickly said, "No need to boil any more, this water is enough."

"Okay." Xiao Yuanshan dropped the firewood, his gaze inadvertently glancing at Yang Fenglan. "Thank you."

"Thank you for making me carry so much water?" Yang Fenglan said casually.

Xiao Yuanshan: ...