"Let's go."
The woman's voice softened a little. "I've made up the bed for you, Auntie."
"Get some rest early, Auntie..."
The woman led the older woman away.
The woodcutter looked at the Young Scholar.
The Young Scholar pressed his lips together.
"I'm sorry, Brother."
Because of what had happened that afternoon, he'd let his temper get the better of him.
If he'd treated the older woman a little better just now, things wouldn't have gone this far.
The woodcutter shook his head.
"She's been dwelling on this the whole time. No matter how you treated her, she would've said those things."
"Why are you apologizing to me?"
The Young Scholar was the one who'd been scolded.
The Young Scholar fell silent.
The older woman had just taken out some of her anger on the woodcutter.
"All right."
The woodcutter reached out and patted the Young Scholar on the shoulder.
"Go back and read."
He knew it wasn't time for the Young Scholar to rest yet.
Still...
"If you're tired, go to bed early."
"Don't push yourself."
"Brother."
The Young Scholar hesitated, as if wanting to say something.
"What is it?"
The woodcutter looked puzzled.
"What Auntie said just now..."
The Young Scholar didn't know what his brother thought about it.
"Don't take her words to heart."
After a brief pause, the woodcutter reached out and patted the Young Scholar on the shoulder again.
"Her words may not have been pleasant, but she cares about you."
"She just misunderstood."
"Just let it go."
"Mm."
The Young Scholar smiled.
The woodcutter turned and left.
At the sound of the door closing behind him, his steps faltered.
After a moment, he shook his head and continued on.
The next day, Auntie prepared to set off after breakfast.
The woodcutter and the woman