Chapter 034

Chapter 034

"Don't you want to see how your painting turned out?"

Xiao Zhen handed the painting box to Tong Sui and asked while locking the door of the west wing.

Tong Sui stood facing outward and whispered, "I'll see it once you bring it back."

Xiao Zhen: "If you're not here, I might forget. Mr. Tao finally fulfilled his father's last wish and in his excitement, he might forget too."

Tong Sui realized he was teasing her and refused to accept this "threat": "Forget it then. At worst, I'll ask Third Sister-in-Law to paint another one for me later."

With that, she handed the painting box back, ready to leave.

Xiao Zhen didn’t take it: "I still need to hitch the donkey cart. Hold it for a bit longer."

Tong Sui: ...

She had no choice but to follow him to the backyard, standing next to the donkey shed as she watched him work.

Hearing the commotion, Aunt He came out and leaned against the back door of the West Court, observing the young couple: "Where are you two going?"

Seeing that Xiao Zhen wasn’t responding, Tong Sui said, "Second Master is going to town to handle some matters."

Aunt He: "What matters require a cart? Riding a donkey would be much faster."

Tong Sui: "Last time we brought lumber there. Grandfather asked them to make two sets of furniture, and today we’re going to pick them up."

Aunt He nodded toward what Tong Sui was holding: "What’s that in your arms?"

Tong Sui: "I don’t know either. Ask Second Master."

Aunt He looked at her cold-faced nephew, who seemed to have not heard and continued hitching the donkey. She pursed her lips and went back inside.

Once the donkey cart was ready, Tong Sui saw Xiao Zhen approaching and quickly handed over the painting box.

Unexpectedly, his large hands bypassed the painting box and grabbed her armpits, lifting her high and placing her in the middle of the cart.

"What are you doing?" Tong Sui looked down at him, meeting his eyes before quickly looking away. It was strange; they had been married for nearly half a month, and almost every night they were intimate, yet she still couldn’t get used to talking to him face-to-face.

Xiao Zhen held her shoulders and made her sit down, then gently touched her head, which only reached his waist: "Come with me. You’d just be idle at home anyway."

Tong Sui: "I can read books. Going to town will waste time."

Xiao Zhen led the donkey toward the back gate: "It’s not a big deal."

The cart swayed slightly as Xiao Zhen walked. Tong Sui glanced at him, then at the painting box in her arms, settled herself, and didn’t get off.

Exiting the back gate, Xiao Zhen called out to Xiao She in the west.

Sweating profusely, Xiao She ran over: "What do you need?"

Xiao Zhen patted the left seat of the cart: "We’re going to town. You drive, and go around from the east."

Xiao She was delighted to accompany his second brother and sister-in-law, so he climbed onto the cart without asking questions. Meanwhile, Xiao Zhen also got on, sitting directly opposite Tong Sui.

Tong Sui: ...

Not long after leaving the village, Tong Sui couldn’t bear Xiao Zhen’s gaze anymore. It was as if he could only see her in this world, scrutinizing even the number of her eyebrows, as if they had just been introduced and he had never seen her before, needing to observe her closely.

There were still more than six miles to go. Tong Sui pointed at Xiao She and whispered, "You should drive."

Xiao Zhen: "Why?"

Tong Sui tilted her head, not believing he didn’t know.

Xiao Zhen moved beside her.

This caught Xiao She’s attention, and he turned to ask, "Second Brother, why did you switch places?"

Xiao Zhen: "Your Second Sister is afraid of the sun. I’ll shield her."

Xiao She glanced at his sister-in-law, completely hidden by his brother, and smiled: "Second Sister is fair-skinned, like Third Sister, like a lady."

If Xiao Yan or Xiao Ye had said this, Xiao Zhen would definitely have given them a lecture. But since it was Fifth Brother, who was simple-minded, he didn’t mind.

Tong Sui wasn’t angry at Xiao She and simply lowered her head, caressing the patterns on the surface of the painting box.

When Xiao She turned back, Xiao Zhen asked her, "Would you feel more comfortable if Fifth Brother sat behind?"

Tong Sui nodded.

Xiao Zhen: "I am your husband."

Tong Sui looked toward the back of the cart, her ears turning red.

Xiao Zhen pinched her thin earlobe and, before she could dodge, jumped off the cart to switch positions with Xiao She.

Xiao She wondered, "Why the switch? I was driving slowly to avoid jostling Second Sister."

Xiao Zhen: "It has nothing to do with speed. Your Second Sister dislikes me."

Tong Sui: ...

Xiao She moved aside and asked, "What does she dislike about you?"

Xiao Zhen: "She dislikes that I don’t talk to her."

Xiao She suddenly understood and sat cross-legged on the opposite diagonal side from Tong Sui in the carriage. He initiated the conversation: "Second Sister-in-Law, don't mind Second Brother. He's always been like this. Grandfather likes him the most and praises him for being steady. He finds faults with us three younger brothers every day."

Xiao She, as an older brother, teased his younger brother's simplicity, but Tong Sui didn't clarify. Instead, she asked, "Why were you sweating so much just now?"

Xiao She grinned, "Sun Dian came to challenge us brothers. Third Brother said I could beat him, but Sun Dian didn't believe it. So we had a wrestling match, and I took him down."

Tong Sui was surprised, "You're about ten years younger than him, yet you're that strong?" The Sun Dian brothers were known for their robust physiques in the countryside.

Xiao She proudly puffed out his chest, "Of course! Grandfather says I have natural strength. Among the four of us, only Second Brother can barely match me in wrestling. Third Brother and Fourth Brother are no match for me. Sun Dian didn't know and was tricked by my Third Brother."

Tong Sui instinctively measured Xiao She's shoulders and chest, realizing he was just as muscular as Xiao Zhen. Men continue to grow until their early twenties, meaning in a few years, the youngest Xiao She might become the strongest among the four brothers!

She complimented, "No wonder Second Master always calls you along to town."

Xiao She smiled even more proudly.

Xiao Zhen glanced at them and explained, "I just wanted to find someone who could keep you company."

She clearly didn't like Third Younger Brother and felt uncomfortable around Fourth Younger Brother.

Tong Sui couldn't help but admire his meticulous attention to detail once again.

—

Upon entering the town, they didn't head to Aunt Xiao's house this time. Instead, Xiao She drove straight to Mr. Tao's calligraphy and painting shop.

The shop was still empty, but Mr. Tao had changed from his previous state of boredom and was wiping everything with a cloth.

Hearing the sound of the mule cart, Mr. Tao turned to look outside, recognized Xiao Zhen and Tong Sui, and excitedly greeted them, "You finally came! I've been waiting anxiously for the past two days, cleaning inside and out five or six times." He even avoided using the toilet, fearing that someone would come and think he wasn't there.

Tong Sui: ...

She thought Mr. Tao was preparing to run the shop properly, but it turned out he was just too restless to sit still.

Xiao Zhen left Xiao She to watch the mule cart while he picked up the painting box and entered the shop with Tong Sui.

Mr. Tao tried to ignore the box in Xiao Zhen's arms and took out a meticulously crafted painting box from under the counter. He explained to the couple, "This is made with the finest silk from our family's collection. I used all my skills to mount it. Take a look and see if you like it."

Tong Sui looked around the shop, noticing that the other paintings were mounted on paper, while Mr. Tao had used silk for theirs. She felt honored.

As the scroll unfolded, Tong Sui first saw a light blue silk skyhead, followed by a beige silk water barrier, and then Lin Ningfang's painting. The lower water barrier and groundhead corresponded elegantly with the upper part, creating a refined and unique appearance.

Just like how clothes make the man and saddles make the horse, the same painting with or without mounting, and the quality of the mounting, could make it appear entirely different.

Tong Sui couldn't take her eyes off it.

When she finished examining it, Mr. Tao pointed to the rods at both ends of the scroll, "These are made of sandalwood, fragrant and resistant to insect damage."

Tong Sui had never seen sandalwood in her life.

"Look at this box," he continued, "the inside is made of nanmu, the outside of camphor wood. I've also prepared anti-moth incense for you. If stored properly, it can last for hundreds of years."

Tong Sui hesitated to accept it, "This is too precious. Please give us a simpler box instead. We are common people, and using such a fine box would be a waste. If the painting can be remounted, could you please do that for us?"

Keeping such a valuable painting at home would only add another worry about theft when she went out.

Mr. Tao smiled, "In troubled times, calligraphy and paintings aren't worth much. These materials would gather dust at home or be undervalued at pawnshops. I'm giving them to you because I'm grateful for your introduction to the master artist. His work deserves these rare materials. Just as a fine sword should go to a hero, ordinary paintings wouldn't deserve such treatment."

His sincerity touched Tong Sui, who looked at Xiao Zhen.

Xiao Zhen said, "Thank you for your kindness. This is a copy of a hermit's work. Please take a look and see if it meets your expectations."

Mr. Tao had been glancing over several times. Hearing this, he rubbed his palms and carefully opened the box, taking out the two paintings inside.

After a careful comparison, Mr. Tao looked up, tears welling in his eyes, "They are identical. Even if my father were still alive, he couldn't paint a second 'Butterfly Chasing' picture."

Tong Sui finally breathed a sigh of relief. With Mr. Tao's wish fulfilled, she felt more comfortable accepting the gifts.

After both parties put away the paintings, the couple was about to leave when Mr. Tao glanced at the door and quickly pulled out a satin pouch from under the counter, handing it to Xiao Zhen in a low voice, "This is a small token of my gratitude. Please pass it on to the master artist. It's embarrassing, but his work would fetch at least a hundred taels of silver in the capital. Unfortunately, I am not wealthy and must consider my family's expenses. This is all I can offer."

Xiao Zhen hesitated, but Mr. Tao bowed deeply, "Thank you."

Xiao Zhen replied, "I will pass it on. If she refuses to accept it, I'll return it to you."

Mr. Tao nodded indifferently.

—

The trio then went to Master Wang's carpentry shop to pick up two sets of tables and chairs before returning to Lingshui Village.

After parking the mule cart, Xiao Zhen pointed to one set of furniture and told Xiao She, "This is for Grandfather to give to your Third Sister-in-Law. Move it over there."

Xiao She responded affirmatively, carrying the desk on his left shoulder and holding the simple yet polished armchair in his right hand, heading to the West Court.

Xiao Zhen tethered the mule and similarly carried the remaining table and chair, looking at Tong Sui, "Let's go."

Tong Sui hadn't reacted yet, "Where are we putting this one?"

Xiao Zhen: "Our room, for reading."

Tong Sui: ...

If he really needed a desk in the room, he would have bought one long before their marriage.

"If Second Aunt asks, tell her this," Xiao Zhen added.

Tong Sui, of course, knew and nodded with a smile.

As the couple passed through the eastern courtyard, they encountered Liu Chu, who glanced at what Xiao Zhen was carrying and immediately guessed it was for Tong Sui.

She subtly winked at Tong Sui.

Tong Sui, blushing, said, "In the future, Mianmian can come to our side to read or practice calligraphy, so she doesn't have to go to the central courtyard and ask Grandfather for the key."

Liu Chu smiled and said, "The schoolroom is still more convenient; all the pens, ink, paper, and inkstones are prepared there."

After exchanging pleasantries, Tong Sui followed Xiao Zhen back to their room.

In the north room, two floor-to-ceiling cabinets were placed against the wall opposite the door, leaving enough space in between for a desk.

Xiao Zhen asked Tong Sui, "Which direction should the desk face?"

If convenience were the only consideration, placing the desk against the wall would be best, making the room look neat. However, that would mean Tong Sui would be facing away from the door while reading, which made her feel uneasy.

"The desk should be next to the bed," Tong Sui decided, wanting to sit sideways to the door and facing the window to easily notice any unusual activity.

Xiao Zhen arranged the desk and chair as she suggested.

"Come and try sitting here."

Tong Sui particularly liked this armchair, running her hand over its smooth backrest, and asked, "How did you think of making one like this? The schoolroom only has benches."

Only the chair in the study used by the old master was an armchair.

Xiao Zhen replied, "Since you spend a long time reading, sitting upright for too long can cause back pain."