Chapter 011

Chapter 011

Xiao Zhen also went hunting in the mountains, so he had plenty to talk about with Tong Youyu and Uncle Tong Gui.

After helping her mother tidy up the kitchen, Tong Sui quietly approached the door of the east room and heard her father asking Xiao Zhen about his six years of military service.

Tong Sui was curious too and stood outside the door.

Seeing this, Zhou Qing said in surprise, "If you want to listen, just go in. Why are you standing there like a thief?"

She spoke at a normal volume, audible inside the room.

Xiao Zhen's narration suddenly paused.

Tong Sui blushed from embarrassment and angrily went to the west room.

Zhou Qing: "..."

She followed into the west room and saw her daughter leaning against the bed with her head tilted, her side face flushed as if burned by fire. Zhou Qing laughed and whispered, "You've slept in the same bed for three nights now. Is this something to be shy about? If it were me, I would have asked everything I wanted to know in these three days. Besides, didn't you talk on the carriage ride that took over an hour?"

Tong Sui glared at her mother and clenched her sleeve, saying, "He doesn't talk much, and neither do I. We barely exchanged ten sentences on the way."

This included him asking her if she was thirsty.

Zhou Qing glanced outside and said in surprise, "I really didn't expect that. I thought your husband was quite talkative."

Tong Sui: "It's all about manners. He talks little even at home. His brothers chat lively during meals, but he only eats."

Zhou Qing: "Don't you have the same personality?"

Thinking of Sun Dian's comment "male log and female log," Tong Sui's anger flared again, and she ignored her mother.

Zhou Qing hugged her daughter and coaxed her for a while before asking about their marital harmony at night. Though private, such matters were inevitable after marriage, especially given her son-in-law's physique. If he only knew brute force and caused her daughter unnecessary suffering, Zhou Qing, as a mother, couldn't help but worry.

Tong Sui refused to answer and finally managed to push her mother out, quickly locking the door.

Zhou Qing chuckled through the door, "Alright, Mother understands."

Tong Sui covered her ears and lay down on the bed.

---

In the afternoon, Tong Gui took Xiao Zhen for a stroll around the village and the foot of the mountain. When they returned, Zhou Qing was sitting in the shade outside the main room, sewing. She called out to Xiao Zhen, "Go rest in the west room. The carriage ride must have tired you. Your father-in-law can't hold his liquor; he drank two bowls and is already snoring inside."

Seeing the old fabric in her hands, Xiao Zhen guessed it was being repurposed from her husband or Tong Gui's old clothes and asked, "Are you making summer clothes for Little Shan?"

Zhou Qing: "Yes, the boy grows fast. Last year's clothes don't fit anymore."

Xiao Zhen: "I still have some old clothes from when I was younger. If you don't mind, I'll bring them next time."

Zhou Qing's face lit up with joy. Since her son-in-law offered, those clothes must still be wearable. The combined clothes from the two brothers, aged twelve to eighteen, could save a lot of fabric, which meant saving money.

"Is it convenient? Do you still need them?"

"Our brothers have grown up. We only have an eight-year-old niece and a four-year-old nephew who don't need them."

Zhou Qing: "Great, then I won't be polite!"

Tong Gui enviously remarked, "Little Shan is lucky. I used to wear my older brother's hand-me-downs until they wore out. Few were left for Little Shan."

Xiao Zhen lowered his eyes.

Tong Gui remembered that Xiao Zhen's eldest brother had been killed by an enemy's blade, realizing that "older brother" was a painful word for Xiao Zhen. He sighed and patted Xiao Zhen's shoulder, "Sorry for my loose tongue. Don't think too much about it. Go rest inside."

Xiao Zhen nodded and went to the west room.

Tong Sui had already heard the commotion and unlocked the door.

Xiao Zhen lifted the curtain and found the girl packing her bags.

They exchanged a glance, and Tong Sui continued her work while Xiao Zhen sat on the bed, watching silently.

Previously, when Tong Sui got married, all her dowry items were new. This time, returning home, she packed most of her old clothes to wear regularly, keeping the new ones for special occasions or outings. This was how everyone lived in the village.

Seasonal clothes, both light and heavy, were packed into two large bundles using old sheets, and shoes were tied together with ropes.

Xiao Zhen picked up a pair of seven-tenths new shoes and compared them to his left hand. The girl's feet were smaller than his hand.

Only after he made a move did Tong Sui ask, "Isn't it customary for older brothers to pass down clothes to younger brothers?"

If so, Xiao Zhen's clothes should go to Xiao Ye, and Xiao Ye's to Xiao She.

Xiao Zhen: "Back then, our family's situation was better."

Tong Sui: "..."

She grabbed the shoes and tied them on top of the pile.

After finishing the clothes, Tong Sui looked at the bow and arrows hanging on the wall.

Xiao Zhen: "If you want to take them, bring them along."

Tong Sui hesitated, "Will they be useful?" Lingshui Village was far from the mountains, and the Xiao family only had two mules.

Xiao Zhen: "Better safe than sorry."

Tong Sui thought it made sense. Even if living at the Xiao residence didn't offer hunting opportunities, who knew what changes might come?

In a one-on-one fight, Tong Sui couldn't beat a strong man, but with distance, a bow and arrow could be a powerful weapon for self-defense.

"I still have a dagger."

Tong Sui took out the sheathed dagger hidden at the bottom of the cabinet.

Xiao Zhen, still relaxed in his sitting posture, drew the dagger and examined it. Seeing that the blade was incredibly sharp with almost no scratches, he asked, "Has this seen blood?"

Tong Sui: "No, my grandfather gave it to me for self-defense. I've never used it."

Xiao Zhen sheathed the dagger again: "Best if you never need to use it. Take it along."

Tong Sui silently stuffed the dagger into a bundle of clothes.

She told Xiao Zhen to rest while she went out to help her mother with chores. They were leaving tomorrow, so she cherished the remaining time.

At dusk, mother and daughter prepared dinner in the kitchen, while Xiao Zhen and the others chatted in the courtyard.

Outside the gate came Tong Shan's voice: "Sir, Brother Song, I'm heading home!"

"Go ahead."

Soon after, Tong Shan ran in carrying a bag of books.

Tong Youyu recounted to his son-in-law about the neighboring Song family, lamenting, "Mr. Song has had bad luck; otherwise, as a distinguished scholar, he wouldn't have fallen so low."

"A person of great talent will rise when the opportunity comes." Xiao Zhen simply agreed.

Tong Youyu: "Yes, that's true."

Xiao Zhen glanced at the girl busily preparing dinner in the kitchen and asked, "Has Mrs. Song been helping Mr. Song with cooking all these years?"

Tong Youyu: "Yes, Mr. Song's wife passed away early. The father and son aren't good at cooking, and they also teach at the private school, so we've been providing them with meals. They paid us when they first moved here, and they didn't charge us for teaching Xiaoshan."

Xiao Zhen: "Neighbors should help each other; it's only right."

Tong Youyu: "Seeing your scholarly knowledge, why don't I invite Mr. Song and his family over for dinner tonight? Ah Gui and I are simple folk who can only talk about mountain affairs."

Xiao Zhen: "Father-in-law is too kind. I am also a simple man, and it would be an honor to dine with Mr. Song thanks to my in-laws."

Pleased by his son-in-law's words, Tong Youyu smiled and decided to take him to invite the Song family.

Watching the two leave through the gate, Zhou Qing gritted her teeth and said to her daughter, "Your father is such a blockhead, always respecting Mr. Song and forgetting about you and Little Song. This is getting out of hand!"

Tong Sui looked at the fire in the stove and whispered, "There's nothing between us. At most, we're neighbors who've known each other for years."

Zhou Qing fell silent for a moment, then sighed, "I'm relieved you feel that way. Your husband is handsome, and though his scholarship isn't on par with a true scholar, he's excellent in every other way."

Tong Sui smiled.

In the neighboring yard, Song Lan praised Xiao Zhen to Tong Youyu: "Xiao Er is truly remarkable; you've found a splendid son-in-law."

Xiao Zhen: "Xiao is just a commoner, unworthy of such praise from Mr. Song."

Standing nearby, Song Zhishi let out a cold snort.

Xiao Zhen glanced at him.

Song Lan stroked his short beard, embarrassed, "My son is unlearned yet arrogant; I apologize for his rudeness."

Song Zhishi: "..."

Tong Youyu, not comfortable with such formal exchanges, also to help Song Zhishi, said, "Let's go inside; dinner should be ready."

Song Lan: "Then we'll intrude."

The elders walked ahead, followed by Xiao Zhen and Song Zhishi. Song Zhishi, being six feet seven inches tall, was a handsome young man, but he was half a head shorter than Xiao Zhen. Despite his cold demeanor, he couldn't match Xiao Zhen's presence.

Tong Sui was setting the table when she saw the group enter. She naturally smiled at Song Lan: "Mr. Song, please come in and sit down."

She knew Song Lan didn't approve of her as a daughter-in-law, but his elegant demeanor made it hard to dislike him. He had taught her for years, answering all her questions, making him a good mentor.

Tong Sui appreciated Song Zhishi's warmth and care. If the Song family had proposed before the Xiao family, she would have been willing to marry him.

However, she never thought she must marry Song Zhishi, so she wasn't overly disappointed by Song Lan's indifference.

Song Lan hadn't seen Tong Sui for some time. He worked long hours at the private school, and after her engagement to the Xiao family, she mostly stayed at home.

He guessed she chose the Xiao family because marrying into the Song family was hopeless, expecting her to show sorrow upon seeing his son.

Song Lan prepared himself to handle such a situation, but then he met Tong Sui's clear, bright eyes.

It wasn't surprising for a girl from the mountains to be simple, but after six years of war and heartbreak, to still have such clear eyes...

Song Lan suddenly realized he might have underestimated Tong Sui.

"Aman, how long are you staying this time?" After a brief surprise, Song Lan smiled and asked.

Tong Sui glanced at Xiao Zhen and replied, "We're leaving tomorrow morning."

Song Lan nodded and sat down as invited by Tong Youyu.

Tong Sui ignored Song Zhishi's complicated gaze and took out the warm corn cakes from the pot.

The men drank and talked, while Zhou Qing called Tong Sui and Tong Shan to eat inside, sparing Song Zhishi from staring and causing suspicion.

Tong Sui sipped her porridge and nibbled on the cake, listening carefully to the conversation in the main room.

As she listened, she noticed that Xiao Zhen spoke far less than he did earlier with her father. She wondered whether it was out of respect for Mr. Song or for another reason.

Night fell, and Tong Sui mixed a basin of warm water to wipe herself down. When she climbed into bed, Xiao Zhen finished his conversation with his father and brother and came in.

"Why didn't you spend more time with your mother-in-law?"

Xiao Zhen took off his shirt, wet a towel to wipe his face and chest, and asked the figure under the quilt on the kang.

Tong Sui: "We said everything we needed to say; there's no need for special company."

After being away from home for three days, she missed her parents and brothers. But upon returning, she found it was just as it always was. After introducing her husband's family, they reverted to their usual interactions—talking when necessary, but not forcing conversation otherwise.

Xiao Zhen hummed in acknowledgment, turned to stand facing away from her, undid his pants, and wiped himself twice.

Half of Tong Sui's face was buried in the quilt, and she remained still, not looking at how he cleaned himself.

Putting his clothes back on, Xiao Zhen went to the backyard to pour out the water. When he returned, he bolted the door.

The house had no extra large quilts, so Zhou Qing had helped by airing out two single-person quilts for her daughter and son-in-law, one for each.

When Xiao Zhen climbed in, he directly lifted Tong Sui's quilt.

Tong Sui was pulled into his embrace, her small frame fitting perfectly under his chin.

This man was tight-lipped, but his hands were busy.

Tong Sui let him do as he pleased, thinking he just wanted some relief. But when Xiao Zhen flipped over and pressed down, she panicked: "There's only a room between us and them; don't be reckless."

Xiao Zhen pulled the quilt over both of them: "Keep your voice down; they won't hear."

Tong Sui was still worried, but he gave her no chance to argue, holding both her wrists with one hand.

—

When the quilt was lifted again, Tong Sui felt like she had been drenched in spring rain.

Xiao Zhen felt the mattress, got up to retrieve the towel, then held her in his arms and wiped her down. After tidying up, he placed her in his own quilt.

Tong Sui didn't want to move a finger.

In the dim night, she watched him open a large window and hang the wet mattress on the window frame, half inside and half outside.

Perhaps the evening breeze would dry it?

Tomorrow morning, she'd wash it again and tell them she wouldn't be back for a long time, so it should be clean before storing it.

Since it had already happened, Tong Sui could only think of ways to cover it up.

When Xiao Zhen lay down again, Tong Sui, her voice hoarse, said: "Don't forget to bring it in tomorrow morning."

Xiao Zhen: "I know."

Despite the added trouble, Tong Sui couldn't help but blame him: "We're leaving tomorrow, and you had to..."

Xiao Zhen: "I had a bit of wine and couldn't resist."

His matter-of-fact explanation lacked any hint of remorse, and Tong Sui turned away, slightly annoyed.

A single-person quilt wasn't that big. When she faced Xiao Zhen, she could maintain some distance, but turning made her body parts stick out, and when he reached over to hold her, they touched again.

In the blink of an eye, the new son-in-law's desire reignited.

Tong Sui: "..."

She dodged out of the quilt like avoiding a snake.

Xiao Zhen: "...You sleep here; I can do without the quilt."

With that, he grabbed another quilt and moved to the other end.

Tong Sui finally believed him.

After all that exertion, Tong Sui quickly fell asleep. Suddenly, a sharp cry woke her: "Thief! Our chickens have been stolen! Everyone, come help catch the thief!"

Instinctively, she reached under the pillow, remembering her dagger was packed away.

Noises from the east room indicated Tong Youyu and his wife were getting up. Xiao Zhen also leaped out of bed, quickly dressing while telling Tong Sui: "Stay calm; I'll go check."

Tong Sui nodded, grabbing her clothes and dressing hastily.

In a village like Taohuagou, neighbors might quarrel, but when faced with outsiders, everyone unites. Only this way can they deter criminals from targeting any household.

The men had already gathered in the courtyard. Tong Youyu told Xiao Zhen: "Ah Gui and I will help catch the thief; you stay and guard the house."

Xiao Zhen: "You're not feeling well; Ah Gui and I will go. We can run faster."

Zhou Qing: "Alright, settled. Go catch the thief; don't let him escape!"

Such thieves, if successful once, would try again. Only catching them could deter others.

Tong Gui immediately set out with Xiao Zhen. As they left, they saw Song Zhishi and his father coming out. Tong Gui ran while saying: "We'll catch the thief; Mr. Song, please watch over our three households."

Song Lan: "Alright, be careful!"

Before his words faded, the two figures vanished into the darkness.

People rushed from front and back streets, torches flickering like fireflies. Song Zhishi, filled with excitement, exclaimed: "Father, I'm going too!"

Song Lan held his son back, calmly saying: "Know your limits; your strengths lie elsewhere."