Chapter 158
Qingyan didn’t feel comfortable during this pregnancy unlike Jindou’s.
Just over a month in, he started feeling unbearably unwell. He didn’t vomit much, maybe once or twice every two to three days, but he couldn’t eat anything.
Qiu Henian tried various ways to cook delicious food for him. Even before the dishes were served, Qingyan would catch a whiff and look visibly uncomfortable, not wanting to eat at all.
Xiao Zhuang’s mother sent a stewed pig’s elbow that was tender and flavorful. Jindou ate it happily, smacking his lips, but Qingyan covered his mouth and hurried out of the room after just a glance.
Unable to eat meat, Qingyan switched to vegetarian dishes. For every meal at home, dishes were prepared separately for him. However, after just a few days, Qingyan’s cheeks noticeably grew thinner.
Aunt Li also pitched in by making some delicate pastries. Qingyan finally managed to eat them, but after a couple of times, he found them too sweet and lost his appetite.
Qiu Henian bought plenty of fruits from the county, which Qingyan could eat daily, but they couldn’t replace proper meals. Qiu Henian frowned with worry.
Qingyan’s energy also declined. He couldn’t wake up in the morning and would lie down again before noon. Qiu Henian was busy managing the shop and household affairs, and had to take care of Jindou as well.
Fortunately, Aunt Li helped take care of Jindou, and when she went to the county, Qiyinlan would take over for a couple of days.
Qiuniang occasionally helped out too. With many relatives and friends around, they could be of great help during this time.
By July, the weather had become hot, and Qingyan couldn’t eat cold food, making him uncomfortable every day during this tough summer.
It wasn’t until the fourth month of pregnancy that his energy finally returned to normal, and he no longer felt nauseous. He even regained his appetite, but regardless of the delicacies or his favorite fruits, everything tasted bitter.
These days, Jindou was taken back by Qiyinlan, leaving just the two of them at home.
At night, Qingyan leaned against the headboard, listening to Qiu Henian reading to him. Feeling hot, Qiu Henian stopped and fanned him for a while.
There was an ice bucket on the floor, brought back by Qiu Henian from town during the day. Now, it was mostly melted, and the room gradually cooled down.
Qiu Henian put down the book, helped Qingyan lie down comfortably, and pulled the cool blanket over him. Qingyan pushed it away with his hand, not wanting to cover himself.
Qiu Henian coaxed him, “At least cover your belly, or you’ll feel uncomfortable tomorrow morning.”
Qingyan withdrew his hand and let him cover the blanket over his belly.
Qiu Henian thought about going downstairs to extinguish the candle, but Qingyan grabbed his clothes and said, “Don’t.”
“Don’t you want to sleep yet?” Qiu Henian turned back and asked.
Qingyan nodded, his watery eyes looking at his husband, a bit aggrieved.
Seeing Qingyan like this softened Qiu Henian’s heart. He turned back to the bed, propped his head on his hand, and looked tenderly at the brother who was pregnant with his child.
He smoothed his forehead and asked softly, “If you don’t want to sleep, do you want to chat with me?”
Qingyan shook his head. Qiu Henian didn’t guess his mind. His expression looked a bit wronged.
He said, “I want you to kiss me.”
Qiu Henian smiled and said, “Okay.”
Before the words had fallen, he lowered his head and kissed Qingyan’s forehead, followed by his eyebrows and nose tip, but he passed his lips.
Qingyan tugged at his clothes discontentedly, but Qiu Henian remained unmoved. His kiss gradually moved down.
The weather was hot. Before lying down, Qingyan took off all his clothes and wore only a short undershirt and loose silk shorts with the legs just reaching the roots of the thighs. The silky fabric made his skin look whiter and tender.
Qiu Henian’s gaze and large hands lingered there for a while.
He raised his eyes to look at Qingyan and asked softly, “Do you want to?”
Qingyan’s eyes were moist, and he nodded. Qiu Henian then bent down deeply and lowered his head.
It was convenient, with the loose legs of his shorts pushed aside…
Afterward, Qiu Henian didn’t rush to clean him up. He once again lay down beside Qingyan, his large hand gently stroking Qingyan’s head, intermittently.
Qingyan felt the lingering sensation in his body, his eyes looking at the man beside him with a dazed expression.
Qiu Henian’s lips were still moist, shimmering in the dim light of the oil lamp. Qingyan looked at them and lifted his head to kiss him.
The feeling of kissing was so good, even his tongue felt numb.
After kissing, Qingyan finally felt sleepy. Only then did Qiu Henian get up to fetch warm water and clean him up. They both rinsed their mouths and washed their hands before getting into bed.
Once Qingyan fell asleep, Qiu Henian quietly got out of bed again and went to the outer room. He scooped a dipper of cold water from the water tank, tilted his head back, and gulped it down, calming the restlessness in his body.
…
During this period, Xiao Zhuang had no more concerns and almost wanted to be intimate with his husband every night.
Sometimes in the morning, just waking up, he found himself hard, pressing against his husband’s thigh.
In the morning, this was normal, and it would subside after washing his face and waking up.
But Wu Shuang indulged him, and his own willpower had completely collapsed. So occasionally, if he woke up early in the morning and wasn’t in a hurry, he would have an extra meal in the morning, eat enough, and then get out of bed with a satisfied face.
He had previously been concerned about day and night, but now that concern was gone.
In the bright morning light, everything was clear. Even though it was embarrassing, it had to be done.
He spent the past half month unrestrainedly, seeming to become addicted to this. Even during the day, when he was working in the shop, he was thinking about it. He even looked forward to nightfall every day.
After a long time, he made a mistake and took several days to finish the iron work that the customer wanted.
After discovering this, his master scolded him severely.
Xiao Zhuang knew he was in the wrong, feeling particularly ashamed.
Since his master’s wife was uncomfortable with his pregnancy, and recently his master was unusually busy, but because of his mistake, he couldn’t return home even late at night. The master and apprentice worked late into the night for three days straight to complete the batch of ironware.
After this incident, Xiao Zhuang reflected on his actions, resolving to keep thoughts about bed matters confined to the bed and not indulge in idle daydreams anymore.
With the materials used up over those three days, Xiao Zhuang went with his master to town to restock the following day.
By coincidence, before they even left the village, they encountered Wu Shuang on the way to gather wild vegetables.
Wu Shuang and Qi Yinglan were from the same village but hadn’t interacted much before. Now both married into the village, Qingyan deliberately facilitated their interactions, hoping to find someone Wu Shuang could talk to.
Today, the two of them had arranged to gather wild vegetables together at the foot of the mountain.
Xiao Zhuang had been staying and eating at the workshop for these three days, not returning home because of his master’s presence.
Wu Shuang also didn’t dare to come often, fearing it might upset his adoptive father if he delayed work, so the two hadn’t seen each other in three days.
Sitting on the carriage, Xiao Zhuang looked from afar at the approaching Wu Shuang, unable to shift his gaze.
As they neared, Qi Yinglan greeted them, and Wu Shuang bowed respectfully to his adoptive father. Then, he looked up at Xiao Zhuang, his gaze sweeping over his face.
It was still early, with no heat yet, and Wu Shuang was dressed in a thin gown, moving gracefully like a gentle willow in the breeze.
In just a few days of not seeing each other, Xiao Zhuang found him even more attractive than before.
He stared fixedly at his husband, unable to look away.
Qi Yinglan chuckled beside them, covering his mouth, and it was only then that Xiao Zhuang realized his predicament. He wanted to retract his gaze but hesitated, tried to speak but stumbled over his words, his face suddenly flushing red.
Seeing him like this, Wu Shuang smiled with his eyes lowered.
