Chapter 56: Qingyan’s Decision
During the night, there was continuous movement inside the tent for a long time.
Perhaps it had been too long since the last time, Qingyan was particularly excited today.
Almost without pinching the wrist guard a few times, the roughness that had previously made him feel unbearable pain unexpectedly made him shiver with comfort all over.
At one moment, Qingyan even felt as if he had lost consciousness, with a brief blank in his mind. But soon, he regained his consciousness.
As he slowly opened his eyes, he realized what had just happened, suddenly embarrassed and wanting to escape. However, as he looked clearly in front of him, his eyes widened.
Despite feeling embarrassed and the numbness and weakness all over his body, he hastily knelt up, grabbed a piece of cloth and wiped the man’s face who was also kneeling on the bed, hurriedly saying, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to….”
There were droplets of water splashed on Qiu Henian’s face, neck, and even on the muscles of his chest that bulged, reflecting an ambiguous light under the dim light of the oil lamp.
Qingyan blushing cheeks looked as if about to catch fire, wishing to immediately “destroy” these “evidences”.
His hand, which was wiping, was grabbed. Qingyan stopped his movements blankly and raised his eyes to look.
The man who was close at hand had eyes like a hungry wolf on the wilderness, making people dare not look directly at them.
…
The next day after getting up, Qingyan didn’t dare to raise his head all morning. During the meal, he lowered his head to pick at the rice in his bowl, too embarrassed to reach for the dishes further away.
However, someone naturally noticed, pushed the plate closer to him, and occasionally put some food in his bowl.
After finally finishing the meal, Qingyan stood up with a red face and bowed his head, preparing to clean up the bowls and chopsticks.
However, a large hand reached over, wrapped around his waist, and suddenly dragged him onto a sturdy thigh.
Qingyan sat in Qiu Henian’s arms like a light cat, avoiding his gaze when he tried to look at his face, burying his face in the man’s neck.
A deep laughter sounded, and Qingyan felt the body he was leaning against trembling slightly with this laughter. Annoyed, he raised his hand and pounded Qiu Henian’s shoulder.
However, the other party took hold of this hand, and the two hands, one large and one small, overlapped on Qingyan’s soft abdomen.
The laughter stopped.
“Last night, you were very red here…”
Qiu Henian whispered, “If you’re really pregnant, what do you plan to do?”
Qingyan looked up at him, biting his lip.
“I…”
Qiu Henian turned his head to look at the ground.
“I shouldn’t have been impulsive,” his Adam’s apple moved, “The old doctor in the neighboring village has a safe medicine for miscarriage, but it’s still harmful… I’m afraid it will still hurt your body.”
Qingyan raised his hand to cover his lips, preventing him from continuing.
The two of them stared at each other silently for a while. Qiu Henian’s eyes were gentle and tolerant, and Qingyan’s gaze gradually became firm.
“Henian, let’s go with the flow. If it really happens, then… let’s keep it.”
…
After finishing the meal and cleaning up, following yesterday’s agreement, Qingyan went to the blacksmith’s shop with Qiu Henian.
Without much questioning, Xiaozhuang, who was already feeling guilty, blurted out everything about yesterday’s incident.
Qingyan’s eyelids twitched as he listened, and when he heard the end, he glared fiercely at Qiu Henian, then picked up the basket and said, “You’re busy, I’m going out for a while.”
Qiu Henian smiled bitterly and stood up. “I’ll go with you.”
Qingyan waved his hand.
“No need. This has nothing to do with you anymore. I’ll handle it.”
With that, he left decisively.
Xiaozhuang didn’t notice the abnormality of his Master and Madam, and with his head down, he muttered softly, “Master, do you think I should go and clarify with them in person? After all, he has come to me and said he… he likes me.”
As he spoke, his face turned red.
Qiu Henian looked at him, sighed inwardly, and said, “You’re still young. Don’t think too much. Focus on learning your craft. Your Master will go and explain this.”
…
Qingyan carried the basket covered in pink silk cloth and hurried all the way to the old house borrowed by the Liu family from Liu Fa.
The house had undergone repairs, with new windows and doors installed, the walls repainted, the courtyard ground leveled, and the fence replaced.
Liu Fa must have spent quite a bit of money; compared to neighboring houses, this house now looked several shades brighter.
When Qingyan arrived, he happened to see the courtyard door wide open. Zhang Ju was sitting in the yard picking vegetables, while Liu Youfu squatted on the side, puffing on a dry cigarette.
“Liu Family’s Elder Brother, Liu Family’s Sister-in-law, are you busy?”
Qingyan arrived at the door and knocked, smiling.
Upon hearing the sound and seeing someone, Liu Youfu stood up somewhat awkwardly, smiling and bowing to Qingyan. It was just starting to get cold, and being of older age, he had already put on cotton pants early. After squatting for a long time, there were two big bulges on the knees of his trousers.
Zhang Ju also stood up, looking surprised.
“Oh, isn’t this the blacksmith’s young master? Come in quickly and have a seat.”
Zhang Ju smiled warmly and went to greet Qingyan at the door. When she saw the basket in his hand, her eyebrows furrowed momentarily, but she quickly pretended not to notice and greeted him with a smile as she welcomed him inside.
Yesterday, after Liu Xiang returned and told her about it, that blacksmith was not as indifferent as they had said. He seemed to be totally infatuated with Liu Xiang, speaking incoherently and losing his composure upon seeing him.
Both she and Liu Youfu were delighted to hear this. Zhang Ju grabbed Liu Xiang’s hand excitedly and said, “It’s all because our Xiang’er is so beautiful and eloquent. That man looks so stiff and cold, but when he’s with you, he melts like water.”
Liu Xiang proudly raised his head and glanced at his brother, who was chewing on a big piece of steamed bun.
“Brother, I’m almost certain about this matter. Once I marry in, when the betrothal gifts come, I’ll make sure you marry a beautiful wife.”
Liu Yong chuckled and said, “No matter how beautiful, she’s not as good-looking as that brother named Yu Qingyan.”
Liu Xiang rolled his eyes, his face stiffening.
Seeing this, Zhang Ju quickly said, “Don’t listen to your brother’s nonsense. Qingyan can’t compare to our Xiang’er in beauty. Besides, isn’t it common for a tame flower to be less fragrant than a wild flower? Once that blacksmith has Qingyan, won’t he be completely captivated by Xiang’er?”
Upon hearing this, Liu Xiang’s anger turned to joy. He took his mother’s hand and said, “Mom, rest assured. Once I’m married, I’ll bring back money, good food, and good things from home from time to time.”
Zhang Ju smiled like a chrysanthemum upon hearing this, praising him repeatedly, “My Xiang’er is the most sensible. Those Liu brothers who lack virtue haven’t made much money at the tofu shop every day. I said let your father and brother go over to help, and at the end of the year, we’ll share the profits, but they refused. If it weren’t for Xiang’er, how could your father and I survive, and how could your brother get married? Oh, my good child!”
Thinking of yesterday’s scene, Zhang Ju looked at the basket Qingyan brought back unchanged.
Most likely, that blacksmith had already gone home and talked about taking a concubine. Qingyan was not having it and came here with this basket.
Zhang Ju wasn’t afraid of him at all. She had fought with other women in the village before, wielding a big stick and chasing people all over the street. No one dared to take advantage of her.
If this Yu Qingyan dared to come in and cause trouble, Zhang Ju would dare to scratch his handsome face all over, and then let’s see if that blacksmith would still want him!
Spoiler for the Next Chapter:
Qiu Henian helplessly stroked his temples and glanced outside. Seeing no one around, he asked, “Can I still get a kiss after making you angry?”
