"Tao!" Zhou Zhijun walked in hurriedly, carrying a red plastic chamber pot in one hand and a half-filled basin of warm water in the other.
Setting the basin down beside her, he didn't wait for her to react before reaching in, fishing out the towel, and wringing it dry in a few quick twists.
Cradling her flushed little face in one hand, he used the other to gently wipe her face with the towel.
After washing her face, he grasped her hands and carefully wiped them clean too.
Then he took off her cloth shoes and washed her feet.
Finished washing her feet, Zhou Zhijun scooped her up in his arms, strode over to the bed, and laid her down. His voice carried an uncontrollable urgency, "Tao, wait for me!"
He took the water out to the courtyard, dumped it, turned around, and pumped a basin of cold water from the well.
Taking the steps two at a time, he rushed into the outhouse, scrubbed his body thoroughly, and carried the half-filled basin of clean water back into the house.
Pushing the door open, he saw Chuntao lying on the bed, her clothes still on, completely buried under the quilt.
He set the basin by the bed, his voice incredibly hoarse, "Tao, let's have a good talk tonight..."
He hopped onto the bed and, without a word of argument, turned Chuntao's petite body over so she was lying flat on her back.
"Tao, I've missed you to death..."
...
"I... need to use... the bathroom!" Chuntao suddenly pushed at his head. Taking advantage of Zhou Zhijun's panting, she squeezed the words out through her teeth.
In truth, she had needed to go for a while, but was too embarrassed. Now, she simply couldn't hold it in any longer.
Hearing Chuntao say she needed to relieve herself, Zhou Zhijun gritted his back teeth, his voice urgent and raspy, "Really?"
"Need to pee?"
Chuntao couldn't hold it anymore. "I, I need to pee! Get up, quick!"
She was down to just her small camisole and panties.
Zhou Zhijun's Adam's apple bobbed. "I'll hold you over the pot!"
Chuntao was so ashamed she wanted the ground to swallow her whole. She quickly pushed him away, "No, I'll do it myself!"
She wasn't a child anymore; did she really need him to hold her like a baby to pee? He was trying to embarrass her to death.
Chuntao reached out, fumbling for her clothes to pull them on, but Zhou Zhijun snatched them away and tossed them onto the nearby chair. His own clothes were already draped over it.
"Why are you putting clothes on? You'll just have to take them off again in a minute."
"I'm going to the outhouse!" With Chuntao's shy nature, she was far too embarrassed to relieve herself right under Zhou Zhijun's nose.
"Why go to the outhouse? We've got the chamber pot right here!"
Zhou Zhijun picked her up without another word and jumped out of bed.
Taking two strides to the chamber pot, Chuntao was so embarrassed she tensed up entirely. Her lower belly ached with the urge to pee, but she just couldn't let it out.
Covering her flushed face with her hands, she begged softly, "Turn off the light! Otherwise, I can't go!"
Not wanting to delay the main event, Zhou Zhijun gritted his teeth and obliged, switching off the light.
Once the light was out, Chuntao relaxed a lot, though she still couldn't completely let her guard down.
She held her breath, keeping her breathing light and slow. It wasn't until she was finished that she quietly shifted her body, preparing to stand up.
But just then, a pair of scorching hot, calloused hands lifted her up.
With the room's light off, a smattering of moonlight slipped in through the gap in the curtains. The room was hazy, allowing them to see only each other's blurred silhouettes.
On a night like this, with a man like this, she actually forgot the bitter hardships of the day and all the malicious gossip, leaving her filled with nothing but complete and utter joy.
"Tao, you are so good! Will you always be this good from now on?" His voice trembled with excitement.
The moonlight outside grew brighter, casting its glow through the curtains onto her peach-blossom-like face.
Zhou Zhijun's Adam's apple bobbed hard as he rolled over and pinned her tightly beneath him once again.
Right at that moment, a chaotic flurry of footsteps and cursing suddenly rang out.
Before the two of them could even react, the door to the main room was pounded on with a deafening bang.
