Chapter 169
Throwing stones proved to be much quicker than using a slingshot. Wu Shuang’s throws were both precise and powerful, and in just moments, he had thrown seven or eight stones.
Almost as soon as Xiao Zhuang dragged Wu Shuang back, the door opened once more.
This time, both Wu Shuang’s foster father and foster mother emerged with oil lamps, scanning the area suspiciously.
Perhaps emboldened by each other’s presence, from the roof they could clearly see that the couple went out of the courtyard gate and even searched the place they had just avoided.
When they returned empty-handed, the two on the roof quickly lay flat.
The couple didn’t expect anyone to be above their heads. Wu Shuang’s foster father’s expression was ugly. He couldn’t muster any curses and returned to the house with a worried look.
This time, the lamp in the house didn’t go out but remained lit.
Xiao Zhuang lowered his voice and asked Wu Shuang, “Still want to play?”
Wu Shuang’s eyelids twitched nervously, but he smiled confidently and said, “Let’s play!”
Xiao Zhuang said, “Okay, this time we’re going big.”
Saying that, he took off the entire bundle cover and pulled out a large stone from inside.
Wu Shuang took the stone, weighed it in both hands, and smiled satisfactorily.
Xiao Zhuang asked, “Ready?”
Wu Shuang nodded.
Just like before, Xiao Zhuang hugged Wu Shuang’s waist. Wu Shuang, agilely hanging upside down from the eaves, swung the stone a few times and accurately smashed it into the already dilapidated window frame.
With a clatter, Xiao Zhuang quickly pulled him back.
The door clanged, and finally, Wu Shuang’s foster father realized that the stones came from the roof and was about to look up.
Just then, Xiao Zhuang shouted loudly, startling Wu Shuang’s foster father, who shivered and hurried back into the house, slamming the door shut.
During this time, Xiao Zhuang supported Wu Shuang’s shoulder, and the two climbed over the roof ridge to the back of the house.
Xiao Zhuang jumped down first and immediately caught Wu Shuang.
Behind the house was a deserted path. Xiao Zhuang held Wu Shuang’s hand, and the two ran all the way, quickly disappearing into the night.
By the time Wu Shuang’s foster father figured it out and carried the oil lamp to the back of the house to look, they couldn’t see a trace of them.
One tall and one short figure ran all the way to the riverside between two villages.
Xiao Zhuang supported Wu Shuang’s shoulder, both breathing heavily, their faces close together, both looking extremely excited.
Wu Shuang laughed as he gasped for breath, raised his hand, grabbed Xiao Zhuang’s cheek, and pulled it hard, causing Xiao Zhuang some pain, but he still grinned broadly.
Finally catching his breath, Wu Shuang’s eyes sparkled as he said, “It’s fun.”
Xiao Zhuang said, “If you’re feeling down in the future, I’ll bring you to play again.”
Wu Shuang asked, “But won’t it be dangerous?”
Xiao Zhuang asked back, “So, do you still want to play?”
Wu Shuang nodded, “Play.”
Xiao Zhuang smiled brightly, squatting down, he hugged Wu Shuang’s thighs and lifted him up.
Wu Shuang nervously pinched his face and looked down at him.
Xiao Zhuang asked, “Are you tired?”
Wu Shuang said, “Tired.”
Xiao Zhuang asked again, “Are you cold?”
Wu Shuang said, “Cold.”
After these inexplicable exchanges, the two looked at each other for a while. Suddenly, Wu Shuang lowered his head and bit Xiao Zhuang’s lips tightly, biting hard enough to make Xiao Zhuang cry out in pain.
Wu Shuang lifted his head, examined him closely, and said, “If you have something to say, just say it directly!”
Xiao Zhuang replied, “Xiao Shuang, I have feelings for you.”
Wu Shuang’s expression stiffened. He looked at Xiao Zhuang, noting the increasingly appealing features of his face and the youthfulness of the man before him.
Xiao Zhuang’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he said, “I’m being honest. Little Shuang, how do you feel about that?”
Without hesitation, Wu Shuang answered, “I have feelings for you too.”
Xiao Zhuang’s heart skipped a beat, unable to hide his happiness.
Wu Shuang added, “Even though you like me now, over a lifetime, you might come to resent me for not being able to have children.”
Xiao Zhuang said, “I won’t.”
Wu Shuang said, “My foster father said he would treat me well when he brought me back.”
Xiao Zhuang was neither anxious nor angry.
He said, “Then you’ll see in the future if I’m different from him.”
Wu Shuang looked at him for a while, then suddenly lowered his head and kissed him fiercely.
Xiao Zhuang opened his lips and took the lead, not having kissed in a long time. He cherished this moment and kissed Wu Shuang for a long while.
After kissing, Xiao Zhuang pressed his lips against Wu Shuang’s, unwilling to let go.
“From now on, I’ll listen to everything you say. If I don’t behave, you won’t give me money to spend, okay?”
Wu Shuang lowered his head and bit Xiao Zhuang’s cheek lightly, saying with a smile, “You’re such a fool.”
…
The two of them played around like this for most of the night, so naturally they couldn’t get up early the next day.
Xiao Zhuang’s mother got up early and found no one in the outer room. Her daughter-in-law hadn’t made breakfast early, so she was instantly in a good mood.
When breakfast was almost ready, the young couple from next door hurried over.
One had a dress with the belt still untied, and the other had a strand of hair loose.
Wu Shuang washed his hands and helped set the table. Xiao Zhuang’s mother saw that although he looked a bit tired, his expression was no longer as tense as it had been in the past few days. Instead, his eyes were bright and lively, and he seemed happy.
Seeing this, Xiao Zhuang’s mother knew that Xiao Zhuang had finally persuaded him, and the tension that had been present all this time finally relaxed.
After breakfast, Xiao Zhuang went to work in the shop, and Xiao Zhuang’s mother grabbed Wu Shuang’s hand and chatted with him.
She said, “That’s right. In the future, it will be just like before. Whether or not there are children doesn’t matter much. The old doctor hasn’t said it’s impossible. Maybe one day it will happen. Besides, if it really doesn’t work out, let Xiao Hong have a few more children. You can adopt them later, and they can take care of you in your old age.”
“Little Shuang,” Xiao Zhuang’s mother touched his cheek, which was still somewhat lacking in flesh, and sighed, “Your parents have gone early. In the future, just treat me and your father as your own parents!”
Xiao Shuang’s eyes moistened.
He reached out and grabbed his mother-in-law’s hand, nodding vigorously.
…
In the evening, Xiao Zhuang couldn’t wait to return home, finished dinner early, and went back to the room.
After washing up, Wu Shuang sat at the table by the window, took a needle and thread basket, and started sewing Xiao Zhuang’s torn clothes.
His hands were small and skillful. He sewed the stitches finely and densely. The repair was so well done that it wasn’t noticeable unless one looked closely.
Xiao Zhuang sat beside him, occasionally getting up to walk around or go out and come back.
After finishing sewing the clothes, Wu Shuang folded them neatly and put them away in the cabinet.
As he stepped back to tidy up the needle and thread basket, he bumped into Xiao Zhuang who had somehow stood behind him.
Xiao Zhuang’s chest was broad and strong, and Wu Shuang’s back hurt a bit from the collision.
Xiao Zhuang held his shoulders with both hands, his voice careful behind Wu Shuang, “Do you… really care about me?”
During the day in the shop, whenever his hands were free, Xiao Zhuang kept recalling the words they had said to each other the night before. He even doubted whether he had imagined it all and if Wu Shuang had actually said those things to him.
Tonight, looking at Wu Shuang, he liked him more and more, unable to resist asking this question.
But Wu Shuang just glanced back at him and said, “It’s fake.”
Xiao Zhuang was stunned for a moment, until Wu Shuang lowered his head and laughed out loud. Only then did he realize that Wu Shuang was teasing him.
Wu Shuang went to tidy up the needle and thread basket, and Xiao Zhuang helped beside him. Wu Shuang locked the door to the outer room, and Xiao Zhuang followed closely behind. Wu Shuang made the bed inside, and Xiao Zhuang paced around it.
After making the bed, Wu Shuang took off his outer robe and hung it on the drying rope on the fireplace wall. Xiao Zhuang subconsciously reached up and touched the robe. It still held the warmth of Wu Shuang’s body, causing Xiao Zhuang’s cheeks to redden slightly.
Wu Shuang sat on the edge of the bed, watching him.
Xiao Zhuang hesitated and said, “I’ve been thinking all day but haven’t figured out what good I have. What about you? What do you care about me?”
Wu Shuang said, “You made me believe in you, but do you believe in me?”
Xiao Zhuang hurriedly said, “I didn’t mean that. I just…”
Wu Shuang interrupted him, “I thought you were following me around just now because you wanted to get close to me.”
Xiao Zhuang exclaimed, and Wu Shuang asked, “Are you coming or not?”
Xiao Zhuang clenched his fist and glanced at Wu Shuang’s smooth neck through the slightly open collar. He swallowed and said, “I’m coming!”
It had been a while since they had been intimate. Xiao Zhuang was so excited that he accidentally hurt Wu Shuang a bit. But Wu Shuang endured it without making a sound.
When Xiao Zhuang realized this, he quickly hugged him tightly, kissing and kissing him tenderly.
When he felt Wu Shuang relax in his tight embrace, moistened and relaxed, he repeatedly asked in Wu Shuang’s ear, “Is it okay? Is it okay?”
Wu Shuang, annoyed by his chatter, lifted his head and bit Xiao Zhuang’s strong shoulder. Xiao Zhuang gasped and finally stopped asking, eagerly starting to act.
…
Ah Miao’s kittens had grown up. After weaning, Ah Miao frequently took them into the inner room, asking her owner to look after them while she went out to play.
The kittens were adorable, and Jiuliang and Zhuangzhuang were particularly fond of them, wanting to visit daily.
Qingyan talked it over with Jindou and decided to let Jiuliang and Zhuangzhuang each pick a kitten to take home. Jindou pondered it for several days but eventually agreed.
Although Jindou was young, within this trio, he was the one in charge. Dad had said that everyone should listen to the village chief of Liuxi Village because the chief treated everyone well.
Jindou also wanted to treat Jiuliang and Zhuangzhuang well.
Jiuliang and Zhuangzhuang were thrilled to be able to bring home a kitten. Jiuliang selected a calm little orange cat, while Zhuangzhuang chose an energetic and playful tabby.
Jindou watched closely, feeling particularly relieved that the little black kitten wasn’t chosen, which brought him some comfort.
The two children bid farewell to Ah Miao before leaving with their new kittens.
It was unclear if Ah Miao understood, but she watched them take the kittens away without showing any reaction.
However, a few days later, Chen Yu came over and said that Ah Miao came to his house every day to see the little orange cat.
Qi Yanlan also mentioned seeing Ah Miao at home.
Ah Miao came back a little later every day, not only to play outside but also to check on her kittens.
…
Summer hadn’t ended yet, and the marriage between Nian Sheng and An Xin had finally been settled. Nian Sheng had been eager for this, and his face showed happiness every day.
During those days, Qiuniang was so happy that she couldn’t close her mouth. She went to find someone to calculate the date, and it turned out that there were good days in July and August next year suitable for marriage.
Qiuniang calculated that these two times were not too far away, so she suddenly became busy.
