Chapter 160
Xiao Zhuang stood by the bed, busy with his task, holding Wu Shuang’s slender back with both hands as if he wanted to devour him whole.
Just as things were getting heated up, there were two loud clangs from the courtyard gate—a sign that someone had returned.
Since the weather wasn’t cold yet, the windows weren’t shut, and through the thin paper screens, they could clearly hear the commotion outside in the courtyard.
It was Xiao Zhuang’s mother and his younger sister Xiao Ling who had returned.
As soon as Xiao Ling entered, she called out, “Sister-in-law, are you here?”
No one answered inside the room.
Xiao Ling said, “That’s strange, the main gate isn’t locked. I thought my sister-in-law had returned.”
Xiao Zhuang’s mother said, “Let’s go back inside. They should be back soon.”
Xiao Ling said, “Then I’ll go to the tofu shop to find him.”
Xiao Zhuang’s mother scolded, “Why are you in such a hurry? It’s not dinner time yet. Wushuang rarely visits other people’s homes. Let him stay a while longer, and he’ll come back whenever he wants.”
Xiao Ling said, “But Mom, you bought this steamed pork with rice noodles, and it’ll be cold in a while. It’s the most delicious when it’s just out of the pot.”
Xiao Zhuang’s mother hesitated for a moment and said, “Well then, go ahead. When you see someone, remember to greet them properly and don’t embarrass your sister-in-law.”
“Okay,” Xiao Ling cheerfully agreed and was about to leave.
Inside the room, Wu Shuang tensed up as soon as he heard his mother-in-law and sister-in-law mention him. When Xiao Ling said she was going to find him, he became even more anxious.
His body involuntarily tightened, and Xiao Zhuang, who hadn’t finished, was so excited that he couldn’t hold back.
Before it was completely over, Wu Shuang urgently pushed him hard. Xiao Zhuang staggered back in a daze, trembling, and made a mess.
Wu Shuang didn’t pay attention to him, quickly pulled up his pants, straightened his shirt, and hurriedly left the room. He didn’t forget to close the inner room door behind him before going out into the courtyard.
As he opened the door, Xiao Ling had already walked to the main gate.
When she saw him coming out, she exclaimed in surprise, “Sister-in-law, so you’re at home!”
Wu Shuang uncomfortably smoothed his messy hair bun and respectfully greeted, “Mother,” then said to his younger sister-in-law, “I just fell asleep.”
Xiao Ling didn’t suspect anything and happily took his arm to go to the next room to eat the steamed pork with rice noodles.
Xiao Zhuang’s mother followed behind, smiling to herself.
When Wu Shuang opened the door just now, she clearly saw the robe Xiao Zhuang had worn when he went out a few days ago soaking in the basin.
Looking at Wu Shuang’s appearance, she knew what had happened.
She regretted coming back too early and should have stayed out longer.
The door of the next room opened with a sound and closed shortly afterward.
Xiao Zhuang heard that there was no movement in the courtyard anymore. He stood in the same place in the inner room, his chest rising and falling violently gradually calming down, but the fire in his eyes had not yet subsided.
Just now, the rush had only intensified his desire, making him eager for more.
Now that he was home, right by the bed, he could indulge in wild thoughts.
Xiao Zhuang closed his eyes, once again hoping for nightfall.
…
This afternoon, Xiao Zhuang’s mother and Xiao Ling went to town and bought some meat back. At dinner, the table was more abundant than usual, and Xiao Hong ate until his mouth was full of oil.
Xiao Zhuang’s mother occasionally served dishes to Wu Shuang and Xiao Zhuang, as well as to Xiao Hong and Xiao Ling, smiling and saying, “You guys complain every day that I favor your brother and sister-in-law. Today, I’ll stuff you all with meat. Eat as much as you want!”
Xiao Hong was busy eating and didn’t care what his mother said. Xiao Ling smiled sweetly and hugged her mother warmly, coaxing her eyebrows and eyes smilingly, and picked a big piece of meat for her.
These two younger siblings weren’t actually dissatisfied in their hearts; they were just teasing. They understood that their brother was the main breadwinner of the family and had just married his wife, so favoring them was normal.
They would also have times when they were favored in the future, so there was nothing to be unhappy about.
After dinner, everything was cleaned up. Xiao Zhuang said goodbye to Wu Shuang and his parents and returned to his own room.
Once inside, Xiao Zhuang hugged Wu Shuang’s small body and reached into his shirt, feeling that it was still sticky and wet. Just now, Wu Shuang had gone to the next room with his mother and Xiao Ling, and hadn’t had a chance to change clothes yet, so he had stayed like this.
For some reason, this realization made Xiao Zhuang’s face blush suddenly, feeling embarrassed.
He let go of Wu Shuang, cleared his throat awkwardly to disguise his embarrassment.
Wu Shuang looked at him and asked, “Do you want to do it again?”
Xiao Zhuang turned his head, pretended to look at the stove, and said, “I’ve been in the shop for several days. I want to take a bath.”
Wu Shuang said, “Will you come after that?”
Xiao Zhuang glanced briefly at Wu Shuang’s face, unable to look directly at him, cleared his throat again, and said, “Let’s do it bathing, okay?”
Wu Shuang was much more straightforward in comparison, nodding and saying, “Okay.”
Blushing, Xiao Zhuang went to poke the stove to boil water, and Wu Shuang found clean clothes for both of them and came over to help him start the fire.
After everything was ready, the door was locked, and a faint mist filled the room.
In the bathtub, Xiao Zhuang held Wu Shuang’s small body in his arms, and the sound of water splashed loudly.
In the quiet night, the room was like a cat in spring.
When Xiao Zhuang did this, he was not as quiet as Wu Shuang, who was always very quiet, only occasionally humming.
But tonight, Xiao Zhuang was as aggressive as a bull, and Wu Shuang couldn’t help but make a sound in his throat.
Xiao Zhuang listened, finding it even harder to control himself.
He was so comfortable that he felt like he could die in there.
…
Qingyan’s belly was five months swollen.
The discomforts of early pregnancy had passed, and she felt good eating, drinking, and sleeping every day. Her energy improved a lot, which relieved Qiu Hene’s worries.
Jindou felt that his father’s bulging belly was really magical. He often gently lay on his father’s stomach to listen, sometimes for quite a while.
Qingyan asked him what he was listening to, and he replied, “I’m listening to my little sister talking.”
Qingyan smiled and asked him, “How do you know it’s a little sister and not a little brother?”
Jindou patted his chest confidently and said, “I know, it’s definitely a little sister!”
Qiu Henian, repairing the cradle Jindou had used, heard this and smiled knowingly.
As her health improved, Qingyan started visiting Fragrant Melody Pavillion in town every few days and occasionally went to shops in the county. The peddler who had previously informed her now frequently came to Fragrant Melody Pavillion to stock up and had become quite familiar.
When he saw that Qingyan was pregnant again, he congratulated him with folded hands. Seeing that there were few people in the shop at the moment, they chatted for a while. He mentioned that Zhou Yanliang’s father, who had been an executioner, had died a few months ago from excessive drinking.
Although he did a job that couldn’t be openly discussed, he actually earned quite a bit. After Yu Fengtang’s death, Yu Qingxi had not found a suitable job and the family had no income source.
Originally, Zhou Yanliang’s father could occasionally give a little help to his daughter, but now that he was dead, all the family property had gone to Zhou Yanliang’s brother, and his brother and sister-in-law didn’t want to take care of her at all.
Zhou Yanliang had no choice but to remarry. She couldn’t seek wealth anymore; as long as she could make ends meet and keep warm, she was satisfied.
This man worked as a servant in a wealthy household. Although his status was low, the wealthy man treated him well and relied on him considerably, so he was slightly better off than an average family.
But he was very stingy and shrewd. When Zhou Yanliang married him, she had thought about managing the household’s finances like before, where having money meant having the final say in the family.
However, this man didn’t give her any chance to touch the money. No matter how she tried to persuade him, he became impatient and even beat her.
Zhou Yanliang dared not try that trick again and lived honestly, depending on others for her livelihood.
Washing clothes and cooking every day, her hands were no longer as fair and tender as before, and she rarely had any decent clothes on her body. The comfortable days were completely gone.
Originally, she had planned to take care of her son with the money from home after marrying. But now she couldn’t take out anything. Even with how much rice was left at home, this man had to see it every day before going out and took note of it.
Yu Qingxi was originally dissatisfied with his mother’s remarriage. Seeing that his mother didn’t give him any benefits, he hated her even more.
Seeing that his son could barely have enough to eat, Zhou Yanliang was anxious.
Coincidentally, the wealthy household where her husband worked had an old friend who wanted to marry his daughter to a son-in-law.
This young lady had fallen from upstairs when she was young and became a paraplegic. Although she had a brother, her parents and brother loved her dearly.
The family didn’t dare to marry her off for fear that she would not be well treated and would be bullied by her in-laws, so they wanted to marry a son-in-law.
Zhou Yanliang knew about it and helped her son make arrangements.
Originally, Yu Qingxi was unwilling, but compared to doing hard labor or selling goods, he felt that being a son-in-law was more respectable. Moreover, the family was willing to continue supporting him in his studies.
So, in the end, he agreed. A few days ago, he had already gotten married and moved to the wealthy household.
The peddler told Qingyan about this a few days ago. Qingyan saw Yu Qingxi on the street in the county.
At that time, he was pushing a wooden wheelchair out of the bookstore.
The wheelchair was well-made, obviously crafted carefully by a carpenter at home.
However, no matter how well it was made, it couldn’t pass through the threshold and needed someone to carry the wheelchair out.
Qingyan saw that Yu Qingxi was impatiently carrying the wheelchair out.
Then a woman with one leg on the ground, holding his arm, jumped over the threshold and sat in the wheelchair.
Yu Qingxi scolded, “I told you to stay at home and save trouble. Yet, you insisted on coming. I really don’t know what you’re thinking.”
The woman was gentle and beautiful.
Hearing Yu Qingxi’s words, she wasn’t angry and still spoke kindly, “I’m bored at home and wanted to come to the bookstore to pick a few books.”
Yu Qingxi sneered, “Merchants have no knowledge, and women without talent are virtuous. After we have children, I definitely won’t let your parents take care of them.”
Qingyan watched the woman’s eyes gradually redden, her lips tight, as if she wanted to retort but forcefully suppressed it, not saying a word.
Yu Qingxi impatiently pushed the wheelchair towards this side of the street.
Qingyan heard the woman trying to please him, saying, “You read all day and must be bored. Next time, I won’t come with you. Don’t be angry.”
“Next autumn, you’ll be taking the county exam. After you pass, accompany me out again.”
This statement touched Yu Qingxi’s nerve.
He suddenly frowned and said angrily, “Are you mocking me for not passing even the county exam? You’re a cripple, and I’m a loser. What face do we have to wander outside? Just rot in that home that’s full of copper stench…!”
Yu Qingxi hadn’t finished his words when he inadvertently looked up and finally saw Qingyan standing not far away.
He was stunned.
