Chapter 98: This Horse is Called Xiaozao
Even Qiuniang, who was originally on the second floor, heard the commotion and clattered down the stairs.
When she reached the door, she exclaimed, “Oh my! Second Brother, is this the horse you bought from the county? It looks so spirited!”
Huani also chimed in admirably, “This horse must have been quite expensive!”
Qiu Henian smiled, stroked the mane of the chestnut horse, and it shook its head, snorted loudly, and curiously stared at the people emerging from Fragrant Melody Pavillion.
Looking at Qingyan, he said, “The prices for carts in the county are too high. Hunter Liu knows someone in town who had one sitting unused at home. I went to see it; it’s not too old. After the owner tidies up the things piled on it today, it can be hitched up tomorrow.”
Qingyan nodded, wanting to reach out and touch the chestnut horse’s head but hesitated. Qiu Henian held his hand and placed it on the horse’s head, saying, “It has a good temperament. Just don’t approach it from behind and don’t startle it, and everything will be fine.”
Encouraged, Qingyan dared to touch it. As a city child, he hadn’t had many chances to get close to large animals before. He had ridden horses but only when touring the grasslands, led by herdsmen with the reins. Now, he found it quite novel.
Qiuniang couldn’t resist either and joined in, asking while stroking the mane, “Second Brother, this horse doesn’t look very old.”
Qiu Henian nodded, “Just turned three years old. It only started pulling carts at the end of last year.”
He paused and added, “Once the cart is hitched up tomorrow, I’ll be driving you all morning and evening.”
Qiuniang happily exclaimed, “That’s great! Aunt Li and I are borrowing some glory from Second Sister-in-law.” She recalled something, “Oh right, Second Brother, if you’re ever busy, San Yao can drive and feed the horse too, she can help.”
Qiu Henian agreed.
After chatting at the door for a while, Qiuniang glanced at the sky and said, “Second Sister-in-law, you and Second Brother should head back now. It’s getting late, and with your condition, especially in the first trimester, you should take it easy and not overexert yourself.”
Huani added, “Shopkeeper, you should go back too. There’s me and another person in the store. Don’t worry.”
Qingyan didn’t make a fuss and just agreed before going back to fetch something and prepare to leave.
Qiu Henian took out a package tied with hemp rope from the saddlebag of the horse and handed it to Qiuniang, saying, “These are the sour jujube cakes and cloud cakes from He Xiang Zhai, for you to taste.”
Qiuniang happily accepted it. Huani, who was not yet twenty, was at the age where she loved to eat. Upon hearing there were cakes to eat, her eyes lit up even more, and she couldn’t help but swallow saliva, feeling very happy inside.
Qingyan’s gaze lingered on the package for a while before he withdrew his gaze and looked down at his own shoes.
Qiu Henian adjusted the saddle, held Qingyan’s waist, and helped him onto the horse. Qingyan nervously gripped the handle on the saddle.
It was only after Qiu Henian mounted the horse from behind him, sat behind him, wrapped his hands around him, and held the reins that Qingyan relaxed slightly.
Qiuniang and Huani watched them leave, returned to the shop, washed their hands, and opened the package. Qiuniang let Huani take the first piece.
The young woman took a piece of white cloud-like cloud cake, put it in her mouth, squinted her eyes, and said, “It’s really delicious!”
Qiuniang smiled and picked up a piece to eat herself.
Huani said, “My Feng San said it right. The shopkeeper and his husband are really nice people.”
Qiuniang teased, “Only good people get to eat. Wait until the end of the year, and you’ll know how good Shopkeeper Qingyan really is.”
Huani was clever enough to understand that what she said was what Qingyan had told her. If he did well, there would be a “bonus” at the end of the year.
She had worked briefly in other places before. Getting paid on time each month was already good enough; how much she earned had nothing to do with her. Not to mention bonuses. Huani secretly resolved to work hard and save up money for a year or two so that her family could also buy a tall and majestic horse.
That would be impressive!
…
Qingyan was initially very nervous sitting on the horse. However, after trotting steadily for half the journey, he gradually relaxed, especially with the familiar warmth of a chest against his back.
He asked behind him, “Does this horse have a name?”
A deep male voice behind him responded, “Not yet. Why don’t you give it one?”
Qingyan stroked the horse’s mane and said, “It’s chestnut in color. How about calling it Xiaozao (Little Date)?”
Qiu Henian chuckled and agreed, “Alright.”
Qingyan lowered his eyes and repeatedly glanced at the saddlebag on the horse’s back.
After glancing several times, Qiu Henian, who had been paying attention to him all along, noticed. He turned his head and quickly understood what Qingyan was looking at.
He said, “I’ve saved some sour jujube cakes for you, and there are cloud cakes too. Plus, I bought their famous lotus fragrance rice dumplings.”
After pausing for a moment, amusement could be heard in his voice, “I got you more than what I gave them.”
Qingyan immediately turned his head to look ahead. Qiu Henian saw his ears turn red again from behind. Seeing that there was no one around, he kissed him lightly on the ear.
Qingyan shrank his neck slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed.
“I don’t know what’s gotten into me these days. I seem to be unusually fixated on food.”
Hearing this, Qiu Henian’s heart softened even more than the cloud cakes.
He couldn’t let go of the reins with both hands, so he gently rubbed Qingyan’s cheek with his cheek and said softly, “Aunt Li said that temperament and habits change a bit after pregnancy. It’s okay.”
“If you want to eat anything in the future, just tell me, and I’ll get it for you.”
Qingyan murmured in agreement, leaned his head back against Qiu Henian’s neck, and rubbed against it.
As they rode back to the village, the villagers they encountered on the way stopped in their tracks to watch. Some praised the horse’s spirit, while others congratulated the couple.
The rumors about Qingyan being barren had long since dissipated, but occasionally, people would still gossip. Now, those rumors would naturally fall apart.
Qingyan wasn’t surprised that they knew. Once the news of the pregnancy spread, everyone in the village would know, thanks to Chen Yu.
…
When they arrived home, Qiu Henian led Xiaozao into the courtyard and tied the reins to the fence.
Seeing him bring hay from somewhere to feed the horse, Qingyan found it interesting and fetched some himself to feed Xiaozao. The little horse enjoyed it thoroughly.
Seeing how much Qingyan liked it, Qiu Henian stopped his own hands and smiled as he watched.
As Xiaozao ate, he found Qingyan was feeding slowly. The horse stretched its neck, grabbed the grass Qingyan hadn’t handed over, and tugged it back. Qingyan quickly let go, finding it quite exciting and fun.
He laughed, and Qiu Henian patted the horse’s head, saying, “He’s hungry. This bit of grass might not be enough. Later, I’ll take it for a stroll by the river.”
Not far behind them, someone snorted coldly.
The two turned to look, seeing Chen Yu holding Jiu Liang, glaring over the fence.
Qingyan wanted to greet him, but Chen Yu muttered to himself, “What’s there to show off about?”
Then he turned and went back inside.
Qingyan wasn’t angry. He asked Qiu Henian to take down his bundle from the horse’s back, took out a box from inside, told him something, and then knocked on the door next door.
Chen Yu opened the door with a cold face.
Qingyan smiled and said, “We just got some new goods at the store, and I found a headpiece that I think suits you perfectly. So, I brought it over. It’s nothing special; I hope you won’t dislike it.”
Chen Yu was slightly surprised. His expression changed several times, and in the end, he couldn’t suppress the smile that crept up on his lips.
He stepped aside to let Qingyan in, saying, “It’s cold outside. Come in and talk.”
Unable to resist, Qingyan followed him inside with a smile, feeling that despite Chen Yu’s many flaws, as long as you understood his temper, he wasn’t bad.
Jiu Liang was playing on the heated brick bed. Chen Yu and Qingyan sat on the edge of the bed. Chen Yu opened the box, took out the pearl hairpin, and looked at it several times. His smile was unstoppable.
Qingyan gave him the gift to thank him for taking care of him when he visited home last time.
Chen Yu took the gift and felt a little embarrassed.
He said, “I have a few small clothes for Jiu Liang that are too small. If you don’t mind, you can have them all.”
Qingyan happily said, “That’s kind of you. Thank you.”
Chen Yu remembered something else and reminded, “By the way, have you ordered a milk goat from Old Wang’s house in the village?”
Qingyan exclaimed in surprise, not understanding what he meant.
Chen Yu sneered, “I knew you wouldn’t understand anything. We keep the milk goats in the backyard. Neither of us has milk. When the child comes, you’ll let him drink the northwest wind.”
“Old Wang’s mother goats give birth to a few lambs every year. People from nearby villages buy from him as well. You should go early and pay a deposit. Otherwise, when the child is born and hungry, don’t blame me for not reminding you.”
Qingyan suddenly understood, his face turning embarrassedly red. He hadn’t considered this at all.
When he returned home, he told this to Qiu Henian. Qiu Henian said, “I’ll go to Old Wang’s house tomorrow morning. If they don’t have any, I’ll go to the town to look again. We’ll definitely find one.”
Qingyan felt relieved. He was eating sour jujube cakes at the moment, his eyes still fixed on the cloud cakes in the paper package.
After Qiu Henian finished speaking, he fell silent. Qingyan looked up in puzzlement and saw Qiu Henian staring fixedly at his chest.
At first, Qingyan thought there might be crumbs from the cakes on his clothes, so he brushed them off. When he looked at Qiu Henian again, he saw that he had already shifted his gaze away.
Qingyan continued eating, but he sensed something different. He looked across at Qiu Henian, who was looking down without meeting his eyes. Yet Qingyan couldn’t shake the feeling that he was suppressing a smile.
So he stood up suddenly, rushed into Qiu Henian’s arms, and exclaimed, “Ah, no, no, you’re not allowed to imagine things!”
Qiu Henian hugged him tightly, unable to hold back anymore, and finally burst out laughing!
Spoiler for the Next Chapter:
“Yang Huai has harmed so many people; there are just as many who harbor resentment against him. Even Liu Fawei once considered seeking justice for Liu Xiang but had to give up due to pressure.”
