Samuel's face turned red.
'He was also married in his previous life. Why would he be shy about having a child? Isn't it normal for a married couple to have babies?'
He held me tighter. "Don't worry about having children for now. We'll talk about it when I come back to visit next time."
He pushed me onto the stool, opened my bridal braid, and brushed my hair for me. His movements were both gentle and affectionate.
As I thought that he had also treated Flora like this in his previous life, the jealousy welling up inside me burst. I snatched the hairbrush from his hand and threw it away. I jumped up and wrapped my arms around his neck, while my legs wrapped around his waist.
"Samuel, I want a baby!" I demanded domineeringly and moved my mouth toward him.
He was stunned for a moment before quickly turning his head.
I kissed his earlobe.
This time, not only did his face go red, but his ears did too.
I nibbled his earlobe, and his chest beat rapidly, making me extremely nervous. I was no match for him. He did not want me to succeed, so he used one hand to subdue me.
That night, Samuel had my hands locked as we slept through the night.
After breakfast the next day, I went with Samuel to the town. I planned to buy some wire mesh to make a drying rack and start my side business to earn money.
Autumn had arrived, and I wanted to pick some wild mushrooms to dry. They were good for health and could fetch a good price.
We ran into Flora and Logan in town.
Upon seeing me, Flora proudly flaunted the box of cake in her hand. "Sally, you've never had August Bakes cakes before, have you? My Logan knows I love them, so he brought me here to buy it!"
I linked arms with Samuel, tilting my chin up and smiling sweetly. "August Bakes' cakes are too sweet; eating too much will make you gain weight. My Samuel said Ducky Bakery's are soft and melt-in-your-mouth, so he brought me here to buy some."
My silly little sister had been spoiled since childhood; she was lazy and gluttonous. The Zigger family was large, with complex interpersonal relationships. Her pampered princess behavior might be acceptable now and then, but her mother-in-law would definitely scold her in the long run.
Flora's disdainful gaze fell on Samuel. As if remembering something, she suddenly leaned closer and whispered mockingly, "Did Samuel touch you last night? He probably didn't bother touching you, right?"
As she spoke, she pulled open her collar, showing me the hickies on her neck. "Look, we're a loving couple. That's what a real couple is. You're living just like a widow!"
I grabbed Samuel and stood on tiptoe to give him a quick kiss on the neck. "A loving couple isn't about what they display to outsiders. Love is enough. Sam, don't you agree?"
Samuel hugged me tighter and kissed the top of my head. "My wife is always right!"
His gaze fell coldly on Flora, as if she were a stinkbug. "Flora, you're just wasting your time gossiping here. Why don't you go home and help your mother chop some more firewood? Sally's married; your family lost a good laborer."
"My dad's a supply and marketing cooperative official; he earns more than you…"
I interrupted her, "I hope your dad stays in power. Otherwise, your whole family will starve!"
Flora pointed at me, trembling with anger. "Sally, you shameless brat!"
She slammed the cake on the ground and stormed off.
The yellow box holding the cake ripped. Logan picked it up with a pained look, tucked it into his coat, and ran after Flora.
Back on the bus after buying the wire mesh, I remained silent for a long time, wondering, 'Flora was certain Samuel hadn't touched me. How did she know? Did Samuel not touch her in their past life either?'
Samuel was also a weirdo. He had married twice in both lives. Was he not satisfied with either? Or did he have some peculiar preferences? For instance, did he dislike women?
The seeds of doubt took root in my mind. I trembled with fear, scared to think any further. Was I married to a gay man?
"Feeling unwell?" Sensing something off with me, Samuel lowered his head and asked me softly before touching my forehead.
Before I could say anything, he continued, "Our Sally is capable. She's more than capable of handling Flora!"
Considering that I enjoyed his compliments, I would not bother to question whether he was gay for now.
When we got home, Candice had already prepared dinner and was waiting for us to eat together.
She was a hundred times better than Logan's mother, Mariah Deak.
In my past life, on the first day of marriage, Mariah got me up before dawn to feed the pigs. It was winter, and there was not much to do on the farm. Waking up at 5 AM to cook was already early, but she insisted on 3 AM. She didn't even eat the breakfast I made but made me reheat it when it cooled down.
She regarded herself as the wealthy landlady, while I was just a servant working for her family.
If it were not for my ability to make money that gave me a say, she would have tortured me to death long ago.
Candice kept piling food onto my plate, urging me to eat more. She also mentioned that Samuel was reserved and not much of a talker; she asked me to be more tolerant of him.
I smiled and nodded in agreement.
After dinner, it was still bright outside. Samuel started working on building the wooden frame, while I assisted him.
He had a well-proportioned physique, and his every movement exuded a powerful masculinity.
In my previous life, when I was with Logan, he acted like a rich young master, getting out of breath even while chopping down a log. I had no choice but to take the axe and chop the wood myself. It took me a week to build that frame.
Having married Samuel, he did all the physical labor, and it was finished in one night.
After a long day, I had no desire to make babies and went straight to sleep.
The day after our wedding, we went up the mountain to chop firewood, gathering five or six cartloads, enough to keep us warm for the entire winter.
Tomorrow, Samuel would return to his unit.
Back in the house that evening, Samuel took out a savings book from his backpack and handed it to me. "This is my savings from all these years. Take any money you need. All my money is deposited into this account. I'll leave my mother in your care."
His magnetic voice was slightly hoarse. "I know you're a woman. You can live well without a man."
My heart sank, wondering, 'Why is this man speaking like he was giving his last words?'
Thinking that he would be gone in a few months, my eyes reddened.
After hesitating for a moment, I took a silver pendant from my inner pocket. The pendant was engraved with intricate patterns.
I gave him the pendant. "Wear this and never take it off. I once saved an old man. He gave it to me before he left, saying this pendant would bring good luck and success."
That night, I held Samuel tightly, telling him to be careful and to think of his mother and me at home. We would wait for him to come home.
Two months after Samuel rejoined the team, Flora came to visit, carrying a bouquet of white roses. Her tone could not hide her smugness. "My dear sister, Samuel is dead. You don't know yet, do you? I've brought you some white roses!"