Chapter 125: Who Makes the Decisions in This Family?
Qiu Henian was originally forced to leave the Forbidden Army. Lao Huang had mentioned that after he left, they searched for him for quite some time, even asking around his hometown. Eventually, unable to find him, they officially marked his status as deceased.
Since the last time he went to Fengyu Pass and returned alive, everyone knew about it. Lao Huang even asked if he had thought about going back, but Qiu Henian refused.
As long as he was alive, he couldn’t be considered deceased. Instead, his status was changed to retired from military service, and the records in the Forbidden Army were all updated accordingly.
Qingyan knew that a conflict wasn’t something they could afford. However, he had no certainty about whether Qiu Henian would return to Fengyu Pass or when he would come back if he did.
This letter from Lao Huang left Qingyan’s heart hanging. But when Qiu Henian returned from Fengyu Pass last time, he had made up his mind: wherever Qiu Henian went, he would go too. Thinking this way, he felt less anxious.
However, Qiu Henian had clearly changed. While in the shop, he, who had always been patient with Xiao Zhuang, suddenly became stern. He made Xiao Zhuang cry secretly under the bridge outside, witnessed by Qingyan, who was bringing food to the shop. He blushed in embarrassment.
Qingyan comforted him for a few words and led him back to the shop, where they ate the freshly made dumplings with three fresh fillings brought by Qiu Henian. Xiao Zhuang finally smiled a bit.
After dinner, Qingyan hung the food basket on the back of the small cart, where Jindou was sleeping soundly.
There was no water left in the shop, so Xiao Zhuang took a shoulder pole to fetch water outside, leaving only the family of three in the shop.
Qiu Henian sat on a low stool, looking at Jindou, gently patting his cheek.
Qingyan moved a stool to sit beside him and said, “Xiao Zhuang is not a child anymore. His mother has arranged a marriage proposal for him. You can’t treat him like you did in previous years. You have to give the young man some face.”
Qiu Henian sighed and said, “I was too impatient.”
Qingyan knew why he was anxious. He reached out and held his hand, comforting him with a gentle squeeze.
He said, “Everyone has their own fate. We can’t force it. If you’re really worried, after we leave, we can entrust Xiao Zhuang to San Yao. He’s kind-hearted and won’t mistreat him. He’ll always have enough to eat.”
Qiu Henian nodded and said, “Mm.”
As rumors of impending war escalated, tensions rose in the county town, the town, and even in the small village of Liuxi.
Most people in Liuxi Village made a living by farming, and they had enough food at home. However, if the court demanded grain conscription, it would be hard to say.
Therefore, each household was thinking of ways to bring back more grain.
San Yao still had some grain left from last year in the warehouse. Despite the soaring prices of grains and oils this year, he didn’t take advantage of it to make a profit.
He sold the grain at normal prices to those in need from the village and nearby villages who heard about it. He only kept enough for close friends, and the villagers appreciated him.
With San Yao around, Qingyan didn’t worry about food. Although Fragrant Melody Pavillion’s business was certainly affected, the good profits from earlier this year meant that they could withstand a few months of closure.
After some time passed, despite the rumors intensifying, no actual war had started. As people gradually relaxed, the county office suddenly began sending people door-to-door to register all young men of military age in each household.
It was clearly a conscription.
Qingyan had initially thought there would be no issues, but when the registration personnel arrived at their home and registered Qiu Henian, marking him with special symbols, he understood that they might need to start preparing to move.
In these days, Qiu Henian left the shop earlier than usual, often waiting patiently at Fragrant Melody Pavillion.
Occasionally when Qingyan looked back, he would often catch him staring blankly at him.
Before going to bed at night, he always held Qingyan and the child tightly, refusing to let go even when asleep.
When they were intimate, it would be for a long time, leaving Qingyan in tears before he finally kissed him passionately, as if reluctantly withdrawing.
Since that registration, Qiu Henian had moved all the woodworking tools from the neighboring room. After dinner, he started making new tables and chairs for the house, a small wooden bed that Jindou would use when he was three or four years old, and various toys.
He also inspected all the doors in the house and oiled the hinges.
The chicken coop in the yard was also renovated, and the carriage was tidied up again.
He chopped almost half of the barn’s firewood.
Qingyan silently watched, enduring it, and didn’t say anything.
It wasn’t until Qiu Henian was preparing to replace the roof, which had already been re-tiled once in the summer, that Qingyan had a serious conversation with him.
After Jindou fell asleep at night, Qingyan and Qiu Henian sat in the neighboring room, one on the edge of the bed and the other on a low stool.
Qingyan’s face was stern as she said, “Qiu Henian, what do you mean by this?”
Qiu Henian remained silent, not uttering a word.
Qingyan continued, “I know what you’re thinking. You want to leave me and Jindou here and go to Fengyu Pass alone.”
Qiu Henian looked at him, his eyes filled with fluctuating emotions, but he remained silent.
His silence was confirmation.
Qingyan was annoyed. He stood up from the edge of the bed, pacing restlessly on the floor in agitation.
After a few rounds to calm herself down, he walked up to him, his tone calm but resolute as he said, “Qiu Henian, let me tell you, this is out of the question. If you dare to sneak away, I will immediately carry Jindou on my back and chase after you. If you don’t believe me, you can try it!”
Qiu Henian moved his lips and said, “The environment at the border is much harsher than here. I don’t want you and Jindou to suffer with me.”
Qingyan sneered coldly, his eyes reddening, “You didn’t understand at all when you went away for several months last time. That kind of life was what suffering truly means!”
Qiu Henian looked up at him, his eyes filled with turmoil.
Qingyan took another step closer and asked, “Who runs this household? Who has the final say?”
Qiu Henian’s Adam’s apple moved as he said, “You.”
Qingyan responded, “Since I have the final say, then it’s settled. Wherever you go, Jindou and I will go. There’s no room for negotiation!”
Qiu Henian fell silent for a while, his eyes struggling with emotions for a long time. Finally, he gritted his teeth and nodded in agreement.
But Qingyan wasn’t completely reassured. He squatted down, raised his hand to pull at the man’s collar, intending to strip off his clothes.
Qiu Henian didn’t know what he was doing but still stood up to cooperate.
When Qingyan didn’t stop after taking off his inner clothes, Qiu Henian understood. Without Qingyan continuing, he took off by himself.
Qingyan also threw his own clothes on the ground, took out the jade pestle in front of the man.
Ignoring the man’s burning eyes, he pressed him down on the bed, squatted down, rubbed a few times, and sat down.
Midway through, Qingyan was tired, and the man coaxed him to lie down on the bed, taking the initiative.
In the end, Qingyan turned over and sat on again.
At the critical moment, the man wanted to withdraw urgently, but Qingyan refused to let go. The man wanted to press him down, but he couldn’t succeed. He wanted to hold on for a while longer, but Qingyan was determined not to relax.
In the end, the man couldn’t help it. Qingyan raised his head, his chest rising rapidly, enduring it all.
After it was all over, he collapsed exhausted on the man’s chest.
Qiu Henian stroked his back and hoarsely said, “Why did you…?”
With half-closed eyes, Qingyan said, “If I get pregnant again, could you bear to leave me and the child here?”
Qiu Henian sighed deeply, lowered his head to kiss his lips, and muttered, “Qingyan, I surrender to you. Whatever you say, I’ll listen to you.”
Spoiler for the Next Chapter:
Qingyan himself didn’t know that his body’s contours had been gradually changing over these months. His buttocks were fuller, making his waist appear slimmer, and the two hip indentations became more pronounced.
