Chapter 104: The Returned Wish
That morning, Huani arrived at the shop later than usual. Qiuniang and the others had already opened the shop, and it was mostly cleaned up.
As soon as Huani entered, Qiuniang noticed that her eyes were a bit red. The once beautiful eyes swollen like two fish bubbles.
Upon entering, Huani said somewhat embarrassedly, “Sister Qiuniang, I’m late.”
Qiuniang replied, “It’s alright. You’ve always been early in the past. A day or two late doesn’t matter.”
Qiuniang walked up to her, took her hand, and asked, “Did your husband leave?”
At these words, Huani’s lips trembled, tears streaming down as she nodded choked up, “He’s gone for at least three months this time. By the time he comes back, it’ll be early autumn.”
Qiuniang sighed. It was only May now, and summer hadn’t even arrived yet. To be parted for so long was hard for anyone.
Qiuniang took out her handkerchief to wipe Huani’s tears and said, “You’re both still young. Take it slowly. He’s out there earning money, and you’re here in our shop. Endure these two years, build a foundation, and life will get better in the future.”
Huani nodded and threw herself into Qiuniang’s arms, crying.
…
When Qingyan was four months pregnant, there were some changes. He became more sleepy, struggling to get up every morning. He couldn’t hear the rooster crowing at all.
His sleeping patterns at night weren’t much different than usual, but he couldn’t wake up fully. During the day, he yawned frequently.
He hadn’t suffered at all in the first three months, when others would have overcome the initial discomfort. Now, he felt tired almost every day.
After being late to the shop two days in a row, Qingyan told Qiu Henian that he must wake him up in the mornings. If he overslept at home, Qiu Henian wouldn’t leave for the store first, instead waiting for him to get up.
Lishen would have to drive to town with the carriage, delaying both of their schedules and affecting the shop. Qingyan had poured his heart into running this shop and naturally couldn’t accept such disruptions.
Qingyan started going to bed earlier at night, but the next morning, Qiu Henian still couldn’t wake him up.
Though reluctant, Qingyan insisted on trying to maintain a normal schedule. Qiu Henian then took the inner clothes and robes hanging on the fire wall, dressing Qingyan in bed like taking care of a child. He was careful not to let him catch a cold, only lifting the blanket slightly to cover his exposed arms and legs from time to time.
Halfway through dressing, Qingyan would groggily open his eyes, cooperating with Qiu Henian’s instructions. If Qiu Henian said “hands,” Qingyan would extend his hands; if he said “leg,” Qingyan would lift his leg. If he asked him to exert more effort, Qingyan would straighten his leg, letting the man help him put on his pants.
After this fuss, even during meals, Qingyan would keep his eyes half-closed. Qiu Henian would put something in his plate, and Qingyan would eat it.
After eating, Qiu Henian would rub Qingyan’s head with a smile and praise, “So well-behaved.”
Perhaps because the little bean inside was active at night, Qingyan didn’t sleep as soundly as before. His position constantly changed, sometimes almost pushing the person next to him off the bed.
Sometimes he would lie sprawled on the bed with his hands and feet spread out, his face buried in the blanket, looking uncomfortable in his sleep.
Qiu Henian worried about his breathing and feared he might press on his belly, so he often got up in the middle of the night, one hand on Qingyan’s shoulder and the other around his waist, gently adjusting his position.
Qingyan also had to get up to use the bathroom more frequently, at least twice a night, sometimes three times.
During this period, he could never quite wake up fully, which might have been the reason he spent a lot of time lying in bed, though not always sleeping well.
Qiu Henian felt sorry for him and wouldn’t let him get out of bed to struggle. When Qingyan needed to go out at night, he would wake him up. Qiu Henian would bring a bucket to the bedside, help him urinate, and then wash it out so there would be no smell.
Sometimes when Qingyan couldn’t open his eyes, Qiu Henian would sit by his side, let him rest his head on his shoulder, and support him with his hand.
After he finished urinating, he would use a specially prepared soft cloth to wipe him clean before pulling up his pants and letting him go back to bed to continue sleeping.
Qingyan’s skin was tender all over, especially in that area. Qiu Henian was afraid of hurting him, so he always wiped very gently and meticulously when doing this. Qingyan wasn’t awake at this time, so he didn’t feel embarrassed. If it had been during the day, he would surely have been embarrassed.
…
Yang’s family affairs spread far and wide, even reaching the villagers of Liuxi Village.
Because the Yang family had some connections with the village head’s family, when the village head’s mother celebrated her birthday, Yang Huai came to the village in such a high-profile manner to offer his congratulations. Therefore, the villagers talked about this matter with great enthusiasm.
On that day when Yang Huai came to wish the old lady a happy birthday, all eyes were on him. Even the horse-drawn carriage he arrived in was adorned with satin, and the pair of jade Ruyi scepters he brought were particularly admired.
Many villagers had never seen such high-quality jade items in their lives, and they envied him so much that when they talked about it to those who hadn’t gone home, their eyes gleamed with envy.
Yang Huai himself was also remarkably handsome and talented. On that day, many young girls and boys, as well as newlyweds who had already married, blushed as they watched him.
Looking at the jade Ruyi and then at Yang Huai’s dignified appearance, they couldn’t help but feel ashamed when they realized they had no jewelry on themselves.
When they returned home, they inevitably criticized their useless husbands for at least two or three days, and these men would not get a good reception at home.
When Yang Huai got into trouble and news spread to this side, many people’s feelings of envy and jealousy surged. They said that wealthy people like him were not good people; the money in their homes might have been obtained through shady means.
However, some people didn’t believe it. They said it might be someone’s jealousy causing rumors and slander. Yang Huai was polite and well-mannered, and with his good looks, he could have anything he wanted without needing to resort to such things.
However, when Liu Xiang went to Yang’s family with her pregnant belly, and Zhang Ju showed off when she returned to the village, she did indeed die under suspicious circumstances.
When the county yamen’s bailiffs moved the body, many people went to see the excitement. Along the way, the sackcloth covering the corpse was accidentally lifted, revealing a scene so horrific that it truly shocked everyone.
As this matter spread in the village, it became increasingly unfavorable. Whenever someone from the village head’s family went out, people would come over to chat and ask about this matter, and they would look at them strangely.
The old village head was a wise man who acted decisively and swiftly. Within a few days, he wrapped up the pair of jade Ruyi scepters and returned them to the Yang family in the county town.
The village head’s family, including his son, two sons, and the eldest and second daughters-in-law who were already married, would always say to everyone they met, “We returned the Ruyi scepters without any other intentions. It’s just that these things are truly precious. Our small family can’t keep them at home without someone to watch over them. It made our family uneasy day and night, so it’s better to return them.”
Anyone with discerning eyes could see that there was actually no substantial relationship between the village head’s family and the Yang family.
They just didn’t want to keep these benefits, fearing that the Yang family’s affairs might leave a bad impression on their own family.
If even such distant relatives acted this way, it was likely that the days of the Yang family were not so good.
…
When news of the Yang family’s affairs reached the village, Liu Fa naturally heard about it too.
At night, when the couple lay on the heated brick bed, Liu Fa tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Liu Fa’s wife had been married into the family for many years, and they had three children together, so she naturally understood her husband well.
She propped herself up and said, “Liu Fa, let me tell you. Liu Yongfu’s family has caused us enough trouble. Have you seen any minced meat on our dinner table these past few months? Little Zhuangzhuang has also become envious. Whenever he sees someone else’s little girl eating a piece of candy, his drool drips all the way down to his pants. Don’t you feel sorry for him?”
Liu Fa rested his hand on his face, silent.
His wife continued, “The matter with Liu Xiang is in the past. You promised not to interfere anymore.”
Liu Fa’s lips moved slightly, “You don’t know. I just can’t live with my conscience.”
His wife pleaded earnestly, “Liu Fa, for the sake of our three children and little Zhuangzhuang, I beg you, don’t get involved anymore.”
Liu Fa sighed deeply, nodded reluctantly, and agreed.
Spoiler for the Next Chapter:
Huani shouted, “Just because your family is powerful, do you think no one dares to oppose you? Can you still go out in public boldly now? If you dare touch me, your fate will only be worse than it is now!”
As she finished speaking, Yang Huai’s footsteps stopped.
Huani suddenly realized something was wrong, but the words had already been spoken and couldn’t be taken back. She looked at him, her face pale.
