Chapter 157
In these days following the birth of the kitten, Qingyan noticed that whenever he went out into the yard, he often saw that handsome and stylish black cat perched on the window sill or the eaves.
Qingyan knew it was coming to see Ah Miao, so he opened the door and let it in.
However, the black cat was very cautious and stared at Qingyan warily for a while, clearly hesitating, but eventually turned and left.
The next day, it came again but still didn’t dare to enter the house.
After a few more days, when Qingyan saw it turn away again, he opened a crack in the window of the neighboring room, entered, closed the door quietly, and left a gap to peek outside.
Sure enough, not long after, the black cat jumped from the eaves to the window sill. It looked around vigilantly and then noticed the crack in the window, leaning in to sniff inside.
Inside the window, Ah Miao seemed to hear something and meowed.
The black cat paused for a moment, no longer hesitating, and squeezed through the gap.
Qingyan was watching attentively when he felt a tug on his robe. He looked down and saw Jindou also carefully peering out through the gap in the door, curious and with a puzzled expression. But he was too short to see anything.
Qingyan patted his head and made a hushing gesture, and Jindou mimicked his father, also making a shushing gesture.
Qingyan lifted him up, and together they went to the yard. Through the crack in the window of the neighboring room, they saw in the corner of the cat’s nest, the kittens tumbling around, and the black cat had squeezed into the nest, gently rubbing against Ah Miao’s head.
Ah Miao lazily swatted the black cat away, annoyed by the rubbing, but the black cat didn’t get angry and instead started grooming the kittens.
In the following days, whenever Qingyan saw the black cat, he would open the window a crack. Once it entered, he would quietly close it. If it wanted to leave, it could easily push it open.
The weather was getting warmer, and it was time for Fragrant Melody Pavillion’s goods to change seasons.
The goods imported from the East were selling well, and Qingyan had a plan. He discussed his thoughts with Feng Lao San.
He would continue to source goods from the capital and also from the East.
It would take time for each trip because they had to align with the seasons, and time was tight.
Feng Lao San pondered for a moment and said, “It’s the first time sourcing from the East. We need to be cautious. I’ll go. I’m familiar with the channels in the capital. If you agree, let Feng Yin lead the team alone and give it a try.”
Feng Lao San managed the caravan himself, but Qingyan was his biggest customer and trusted him. Therefore, he needed Qingyan’s approval.
Over the past few years, Feng Lao San’s caravan had grown larger and larger. He intended to train Feng Yin. Although he was young, he was steady and experienced. Qingyan was also familiar with him and was willing to support him. So it was settled.
Fragrant Melody Pavillion’s business was steady and improving. The stores in the town and county were profitable.
…
After entering June, there was more rain than usual at this time of year.
After dinner one evening, it was drizzling outside.
Qingyan played with Jindou while Qiu Henian sat at the table by the window, grinding and writing something.
Qingyan went over to take a look and was surprised, “Are you writing a travelogue?”
Qiu Henian stopped writing and said, “When I went to the East before, I found that some places mentioned in ‘Records of Mountains and Rivers’ had changed, so I wanted to record the current situation.”
Qingyan bent down to look carefully, a nostalgic look on his face.
He said, “Reading what you’ve written feels like going there again. It’s really nice.”
Qiu Henian smiled and continued writing.
Before going to bed that night, after the child had fallen asleep, the two husbands tacitly went to the neighboring room after washing up.
Qiu Henian hugged Qingyan just now, kissed him affectionately, and when he reached into him, his fingertips were already wet.
Qiu Henian chuckled softly in Qingyan’s ear, “Why so quick today?”
Qingyan felt a bit embarrassed. He hugged the man’s neck with his raised hand, and with the other hand, Qiu Henian held his waist and let him sit down slightly, pulling down both of their trousers.
After putting down the person, the two of them hummed at the same time.
After a few movements like this, Qingyan was tired and unwilling to move.
Qiu Henian put him on the bed, kissed him on the lips, and joked, “Today, not only were you quick, but you’ve also become lazy.”
Upon hearing this, Qingyan raised his head and bit his shoulder. Qiu Henian’s large, gentle hand caressed from his forehead to the top of his head, soothing him like calm spring water, before they resumed their intimate movements.
After they finished, the two lay embraced on the bed.
Qingyan used his smooth calf to rub against Qiu Henian’s thigh, while Qiu Henian continued kissing his forehead and eyebrows.
Qingyan softly said, “I’ve been feeling a bit off these past few days.”
Qiu Henian responded with a questioning “Hmm?” propping himself up on his elbow to look at Qingyan, asking, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?”
Qingyan shook his head, cheeks still flushed from earlier excitement.
His beautiful eyes glistened with moisture as he looked at Qiu Henian and whispered softly, “It seems like I’m pregnant.”
With previous experience, Qingyan could sense the signs.
Qiu Henian was taken aback, then realized what Qingyan meant.
He quickly sat up and said, “Did I hurt you just now?”
Qingyan shook his head and replied, “No.”
Qiu Henian stared at Qingyan’s soft belly, a bit absent-minded for a while.
Qingyan raised his hand, softly resting it on Qiu Henian’s leg, saying, “You’re going to be a father again.”
The next morning after breakfast, Qingyan handed Jindou to Aunt Li, and Qiu Henian drove the carriage to the neighboring village to see the doctor.
After the old doctor felt Qingyan’s pulse for a while and smiled as he withdrew his hand, he quickly wrote down a prescription and handed it to Qiu Henian, saying, “These are all tonics. Take them every few days. Don’t take too much, otherwise, the child in your belly will grow too big, and it won’t be easy to give birth.”
Qiu Henian absentmindedly took the prescription, glanced at it for a long time, but didn’t absorb a single word. He was filled with joy, yet he also felt sorry that Qingyan would have to endure pain during childbirth.
When Qingyan was pregnant with Jindou, he worried day and night, traveling far and wide back and forth, which was quite exhausting.
Qiu Henian made up his mind that this pregnancy would be well taken care of, ensuring Qingyan wouldn’t suffer any labor or hardship.
…
The news of Qingyan’s pregnancy was known to Xiao Zhuang’s mother early on. She stewed a pig elbow and sent it over. When she cooked it, she kept a portion for her own family.
During dinner, Xiao Zhuang’s mother served a large piece of elbow meat to Wu Shuang, including the skin and meat, which melted in the mouth and was extremely delicious.
Wu Shuang thanked her and glanced at Xiao Zhuang.
After returning to the room that night and finishing washing up, Wu Shuang waited for Xiao Zhuang in bed.
Xiao Zhuang knew when he was taking a bath that Wu Shuang wouldn’t let him off tonight.
Since being discreetly taught a lesson by his father once, Xiao Zhuang had become more cautious and tried not to be too aggressive, but sometimes he couldn’t help being eager.
Wu Shuang was indulgent towards him and always accommodating. When they first started, Xiao Zhuang was still a bit reserved.
After returning home every day, he didn’t always rush straight to bed, trying to wait two or three days between times.
He thought to himself, who does this kind of thing every day? It’s too reckless. Besides, there were chores to do during the day, and he was also afraid that Wu Shuang’s frail body couldn’t handle it.
But once they got into bed at night, Xiao Zhuang couldn’t settle down, always thinking about it.
Unable to bear it any longer, Wu Shuang grabbed his arm and asked what was going on.
Xiao Zhuang didn’t say a word. Wu Shuang looked down and suspected that he was still upset about their previous disagreement.
He asked, “Are you still hung up on your old stubbornness of holding back?”
Xiao Zhuang shook his head.
“No…”
Wu Shuang decisively grabbed him, and Xiao Zhuang almost jumped up.
Wu Shuang’s hands moved, and he asked slowly, “If you want it, we can do it every night to make you comfortable, okay?”
Xiao Zhuang looked at him, and his last bit of restraint collapsed. He turned over and pressed down.
If there’s no restraint, there’s no restraint, Xiao Zhuang thought.
Anyway, as long as they don’t go too far, once they close their bedroom door, whether it’s deep or shallow, only the two of them will know!
