The woman had managed to muddle through with a few random excuses.
But if she kept making excuses, she was worried her younger brother-in-law would misunderstand her.
That wouldn't do.
Their family was counting on him to succeed in his studies and bring honor to their household, so they could all share in his glory.
They couldn't let this cause a rift between them, could they?
The woodcutter nodded.
He walked to the door of his younger brother's study and wiped his hands on his clothes.
Then he raised a hand and knocked.
After that, he pushed the door open and went inside.
"A thief?!"
The Young Scholar was astonished when he heard what had happened.
He'd been wondering why his sister-in-law hadn't made any steamed buns these past few days...
So that was the reason.
"Yeah."
The woodcutter nodded with a wry smile.
"I don't know what's going on..."
"But someone's got their eye on our steamed buns."
"I even went and bought a dog in the village..."
That was an extra expense.
But thieves were no laughing matter.
Some things were worth spending money on.
"It didn't help at all."
"It didn't even bark."
The woodcutter was starting to regret spending money on the dog.
"...It's fine."
Seeing his younger brother frown, the woodcutter waved a hand at him.
"This thief only steals steamed buns."
"We'll keep a close watch."
"Don't worry about it."
"...Still, you should be a little careful yourself."
The woodcutter warned his younger brother.
"For now, this thief is only stealing steamed buns..."
Who knew what he might steal next...
It would be bad if the thief slipped into his younger brother's room and disturbed his studies...
The worst-case scenario, of course, was that the thief failed to steal anything,