Chapter 159
After Xiao Zhuang made a mistake and was scolded by his master, he reflected on it and naturally dared not indulge in idle thoughts anymore.
After exchanging greetings and a few words, Wu Shuang and Qi Yinglan walked away, carrying their baskets.
The carriage continued on its way out of the village. Although Xiao Zhuang really wanted to look back, he suppressed the urge.
After a while, his master turned to him and said, “You’ve worked hard these past few days. After unloading the goods this afternoon, you can go back first.”
Xiao Zhuang felt embarrassed to leave first and hurriedly said, “Master, why don’t you go back first? I’ll watch over the shop. You’ve been away from home for several days because of my mistake.”
Qiu Henian thought for a moment and said, “Forget it. After unloading the goods in the afternoon and closing the shop early, you can come back earlier to work tomorrow.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhuang agreed.
With the carriage, the round trip was much faster, and he didn’t feel as tired.
After finishing lunch and working for more than an hour, everything was unloaded and tidied up neatly.
His master left first. Xiao Zhuang extinguished the fire in the shop, double-checked everything, and only then locked the door and left.
As he arrived at his doorstep after just three or four days away, he felt a slight unfamiliarity with this familiar gate.
The front door was locked, indicating there was probably no one at home right now.
Xiao Zhuang checked his pockets and fortunately had his keys with him.
He opened the gate and entered the courtyard.
He checked the neighboring houses and his own room, confirming no one was around.
At this time, his father and younger brother should still be in the fields, and he didn’t know what his mother and Xiaoling were up to. Wu Shuang had been with Qi Yinglan in the morning and might have gone to his house for lunch and hadn’t returned yet.
Old Liu from the tofu shop treated them well. Master had asked Wu Shuang and Qi Yinglan to spend more time together, which Xiao Zhuang thought was a good idea.
Apart from his own family, Wu Shuang didn’t have many people to confide in. If there was anything inconvenient to discuss at home, chatting with Qi Yinglan and the others could provide some relief.
Previously, Qi Yinglan had invited Wu Shuang to have meals at their house, but he was too embarrassed and always declined. After several invitations, Wu Shuang asked Xiao Zhuang about it.
Understanding his intentions, Xiao Zhuang said, “If he invites you, just go. In a while, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, I’ll buy some pastries and preserved meat in town, and you can deliver them.”
Only then did Wu Shuang agree.
At this moment, Xiao Zhuang belatedly remembered that Wu Shuang probably didn’t have much money on him.
That night before going to bed, Xiao Zhuang handed over all his savings to him.
Previously, he had handed all the money he earned to his mother. After turning twenty, his mother had let him keep some for personal expenses, and he managed the money himself, occasionally buying food and other necessities to improve their lives.
During festivals and holidays, he would also give his mother an additional sum.
Their family had always lived frugally. Xiao Zhuang himself didn’t drink, gamble, engage in any shady business, or compare himself with others. In these past few years, he had managed to save some money.
Wu Shuang held the money pouch, looked at it for a while, then looked up and asked, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll take the money and run away, never to return?”
Looking at him, Xiao Zhuang said, “I’m not afraid. As long as I treat you well, you won’t run away.”
Wu Shuang stared straight at Xiao Zhuang with those big eyes, and finally, under Xiao Zhuang’s hopeful gaze, he uttered two words.
“Idiot.”
Xiao Zhuang scratched his head, and Wu Shuang immediately put aside the money pouch, lifted his hand to embrace Xiao Zhuang’s neck, and kissed him.
…
Although Xiao Zhuang and Wu Shuang had been intimate in bed countless times, they were as close as could be. However, Xiao Zhuang often didn’t know what Wu Shuang was thinking or what he wanted.
He wanted to give, but didn’t know where to start, so he could only rely on his own observations and thoughts to give.
He was rather simple-minded and knew that what he did was definitely not enough; there were many things he couldn’t think of. Despite being somewhat overwhelmed by their recent intimate moments, Xiao Zhuang also remembered to be more considerate of Wu Shuang and treat him well.
Occasionally, he knew to buy him jewelry, good food, or nice clothes to make him happy.
Every time this happened, Wu Shuang would dumbly look at the things in his hand. It was clear he was happy, and it seemed like he wanted to say something to Xiao Zhuang, but in the end, all he said was “Thank you” and nothing more.
Of course, Xiao Zhuang didn’t want to hear just “Thank you,” but after so many years, Wu Shuang had gotten used to keeping his thoughts to himself, and a few days wouldn’t change that.
It could only be done slowly, but Xiao Zhuang was already very satisfied with their current life.
When he entered the house and found no one there, Xiao Zhuang felt a bit empty inside. He sat down on a chair for a while, then took off the dirty robe he had been wearing for three days and soaked it in a basin of water. Afterward, he poured hot water from the stove and quickly washed it.
As he finished washing and was about to throw the water out in the courtyard, he heard a noise outside the front gate. Xiao Zhuang inexplicably felt that it was his husband outside.
Sure enough, after opening the door, Wu Shuang walked in carrying a basket over his arm. Seeing Xiao Zhuang holding an empty basin in the courtyard, he paused for a moment, closed the door behind him, and walked over.
“Did your foster father ask you to come back early?” Wu Shuang asked.
Xiao Zhuang nodded and said, “I’ll go a bit earlier tomorrow to make up for the afternoon’s work.”
Wu Shuang assessed him and said, “You must be tired. Come inside and rest.”
With that, Wu Shuang went inside first.
Xiao Zhuang followed behind him with the basin, watching his figure closely. He hadn’t seen this outfit before; it must have been given to him by his foster mother. Xiao Zhuang had visited his shop a few times and had been dazzled by everything, feeling that it all smelled good and looked good.
Indeed, his foster mother had a good eye. Xiao Zhuang couldn’t pinpoint what exactly made it so nice, but he felt that Wu Shuang looked even fairer and more attractive in this outfit. It was so captivating that he couldn’t look away.
Especially that waist cinched with a belt, slender and delicate. At night in bed, Xiao Zhuang feared he might damage it if he pulled too hard.
Wu Shuang entered the outer room and placed the basket on the stove. Inside were quite a few mushrooms he had dug up, as well as some dark, unknown items he had picked somewhere.
They were small, round, shiny, and black. Xiao Zhuang had tasted these things before; despite their small size, they were juicy and sweet.
For some reason, Xiao Zhuang suddenly felt his mouth water and his teeth itch.
Those dark items were just sitting in the basket, tempting him to eat them.
But Xiao Zhuang didn’t go for them; what he wanted to taste wasn’t that.
Wu Shuang took the basin from him and poured water to wash his hands inside the house.
Silently, Xiao Zhuang turned back and locked the outer door from inside.
Then, he went into the inner room and closed that door too.
Before Wu Shuang could finish wiping his hands and face with the cloth, Xiao Zhuang scooped him up around the waist.
Wu Shuang exclaimed in surprise, and before he knew it, he was lifted onto the bed, with Xiao Zhuang’s strong hands gripping his shoulders and flipping him over.
When he finally saw Wu Shuang’s face clearly, the hem of his shirt was already lifted up…
Xiao Zhuang was anxious but didn’t want to hurt Wu Shuang. He held onto his ankles and pondered for a way, then decisively lowered his head.
After a while, the bed was dampened a bit, and then he continued.
Even the usually bold Wu Shuang blushed, while Xiao Zhuang gazed at him foolishly.
After calming down that surge of emotions in his heart, Xiao Zhuang carefully untied Wu Shuang’s belt and opened his shirt from the sides.
Xiao Zhuang looked down, and Wu Shuang was small in stature, with everything about him being small except his large eyes.
He looked pitiful, but Xiao Zhuang liked it.
Looking for a long time, Xiao Zhuang bent over to bite, and unlocked the yearning for what he had just been craving when he had first come into the house.
