Chapter 14 This Family

Chapter 14 The Family

Early the next morning, before dawn, Jian Ru rose to comb his hair and dress. The Second Young Master awoke as Jian Ru left the bed, but Jian Ru urged him to remain under the covers a while longer, waiting for the brazier's warmth to permeate the room before he got up.

Jian Ru had never been particularly fond of mirrors. Before his marriage, his hair was simple to manage—a braid or a single束 was sufficient, requiring no reflection. However, after marriage, custom dictated that his hair be meticulously styled into a bun when venturing out, with not a single strand astray, a task that necessitated a mirror's aid.

Naturally deft, he found styling the bun itself unproblematic. Yet, the jade hairpin proved stubbornly elusive, refusing to settle correctly. He stood, turning to the mirror to adjust it, but it remained askew.

From behind him, a young man's voice, still husky from sleep, offered, "Let me help you."

Jian Ru acknowledged with a soft "Mm," and brought the hairpin to the bedside.

Li Jintong leaned against the headboard, half-reclining. Jian Ru handed him the hairpin and crouched beside the bed, lowering his head to facilitate the placement of the jade ornament into his bun.

In his village days, Jian Ru's complexion had not been particularly fair. Years of farm work meant that even with efforts to avoid the midday sun, tanning was inevitable during the summer. Since leaving the village, his exposure to the sun had diminished. Over time, his skin had lightened somewhat, though it would likely take another winter to fully regain its original tone.

Nevertheless, his family possessed an inherited fineness of skin, and his youth further contributed to its delicate softness.

He stretched his neck towards Li Jintong. His hair, freshly washed the previous night, carried a faint fragrance, and the soft, downy hairs at the nape of his neck accentuated its warmth and tenderness.

Jian Ru waited for a moment, but receiving no movement from the man on the bed, he looked up in confusion. Before he could discern the expression on Li Jintong's face, a hand gently pressed the back of his head, guiding it back down.

The young man's voice, slightly hoarse, murmured, "Don't rush, it'll be done soon." As he spoke, a warm breath brushed Jian Ru's forehead, gentle and comforting, much like the man himself.

Jian Ru remained perfectly still, utterly compliant, until the other said, "Done," whereupon he lifted his face.

The two husbands, one on the bed and one beside it, faced each other, their gazes meeting.

The proximity was intense. Jian Ru instinctively wished to turn his face away, to conceal his scar, but his chin was gently held, preventing his movement.

Li Jintong gazed at him, his long eyelashes fluttering softly, his beautiful eyes glistening, as if on the verge of speaking yet holding back.

It seemed as though something was about to happen.

Jian Ru's eyes darted between the man before him and the quilt beside him, his lips moving as if to speak, but shyness held him back.

Li Jintong leaned a little closer and whispered, "What's wrong?"

Jian Ru blinked. "Are you... hungry?"

"Hm?"

"I heard your stomach rumble."

"..."

*Thump*. The Second Young Master's hand fell to the edge of the bed. Before he could utter a word, his capable, energetic little husband had already risen, turned, and bustled over to retrieve the small bedside table that Granny Jin had delivered a few days prior.

The Second Young Master had no choice but to cooperate, leaning against the headboard as they arranged the small table together.

"Xiao Ning, bring in the congee!" Jian Ru called out.

Having called, he bent down to tuck the blankets around Li Jintong once more, fearing that the opening and closing of the door might bring a chill to him.

The Second Young Master watched his actions, still not entirely resigned. Gritting his teeth, he attempted to grasp the hand tucking him in, but by the time his own hand lifted, his little husband had already bustled off to open the door for Xiao Ning, leaving him grasping at empty air.

The Second Young Master leaned back against the headboard, staring at the bed canopy, his vexation even greater than when he had woken that morning to realize he had fallen asleep the previous night, having intended to do something but waiting in vain.

...

After breakfast, the two husbands were impeccably dressed, their hair neatly styled.

Jian Ru even had Xiao Ning retrieve two pieces of jewelry from his betrothal gifts: a matching set of gold bracelets and a gold neckring adorned with a ruyi-shaped pendant.

The Second Young Master wore a jade pendant at his waist and a formal headpiece on his head.

Once they were nearly ready, Jian Ru found a cotton-padded cloak for the Second Young Master, ensuring he wore his hat and gloves before they felt comfortable venturing out together.

It was a cloudy, cold day, their breath visible in the air. Unswept snow crunched underfoot.

The Li family residence comprised three courtyards. The foremost courtyard housed the Eldest Young Master, Li Jinfeng, and his wife. Her family were scholars; her father had passed the county-level imperial examination and shared the surname Li. Her name was Li Qinglan.

Ever since the Eldest Young Master had suggested Jian Ru seek help from his sister-in-law, Jian Ru had been too swamped to visit her. However, before he could find time to chat, Li Qinglan came to him first.

This sister-in-law was elegant, cultured, gentle, and soft-spoken. Jian Ru found her quite likable.

The middle courtyard of the residence was occupied by Madam Li, Han Xiuxiang, and the unmarried second daughter of the Li family, Li Jinrong. Li Jinrong was no longer young—most women her age already had children running around—but she was devoted to medicine and had vowed never to marry.

Jian Ru had heard from his sister-in-law that before Old Dr. Li passed away, aside from worrying about his youngest son, he was most concerned about his second daughter, Li Jinrong. There was plenty of gossip outside the family, but Li Jinrong was determined to ignore it. The family occasionally nagged her, but mostly let her be.

In these past few days, Jian Ru had only seen her twice: once on their wedding night, and another time when she returned from the clinic in the evening and brought some medicinal herbs. Jian Ru spoke to her, and she responded, but not with much warmth.

Xiao Ning said she was like that with everyone—her mind was always on medical texts.

The rear courtyard was larger than the first two. Years ago, it had been divided into two smaller courtyards. The western courtyard was where Li Jintong and Jian Ru lived, while the eastern courtyard housed the eldest daughter of the Li family, Li Jinhui, her husband Zhao Pin, and their two children.

When Li Jinhui reached marriageable age, she refused to leave home. Eventually, Old Dr. Li arranged for her to marry a man who would live with her family. Now, their eldest child was already eleven, and the younger one was six.

Li Jintong also had a third older sister, Li Jinhe, the only one among the siblings who didn't study medicine. Six or seven years ago, she married into a distant province. Less than two years after her marriage, her husband died unexpectedly. Old Dr. Li had wanted to bring his daughter back to her parental home, but since her husband was an only son, Jinhe sympathized with her elderly in-laws and stayed to care for them.

She had returned to her parental home recently for her brother's wedding. Jian Ru heard from his sister-in-law that Jinhe would be returning soon, and Madam Li had been in low spirits because of it.

At that moment, the entire family was gathered in the matriarch's room, bustling with activity.

Li Jinfeng was sitting nearby, chatting with Madam Li.

Li Jinhui's younger child, complaining about having to wake up early, was curled up chubbily in the matriarch's lap, whining. His older sister, disgusted by his behavior, pursed her lips and secretly pinched his calf, making him cry out. Madam Li, losing patience, handed the child to Jin Hui, who had stepped forward. "Quick, take whoever's child this is. All this noise is giving me a headache."

Li Jinhui took the child but had no patience to soothe him. She set him on the floor and gave him a light smack on the bottom. "Go find your father!"

Zhao Pin had just entered and hurriedly scooped up the younger child, exclaiming, "Aiyo, aiyo," as he wiped away tears and sweat. The child was not one to back down, pointing at his sister and yelling, "She hit me! It was her!"

His sister rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "I didn't hit him."

The eldest daughter-in-law, Li Qinglan, came over to mediate. "Qiao Zhi, be good. As the older sister, you should give in to your younger brother."

Li Qiaozhi was displeased. "Why should I always give in to him? I won't!"

As Li Qinglan tried to persuade further, Madam Li snapped impatiently. "Enough. You've never raised children, so you don't know how to manage this. Let each parent handle their own child."

Li Qinglan's expression fell immediately, her eyes reddening slightly. She shot a glance at Li Jinfeng, who was sipping tea obliviously, then lowered her head in acknowledgment and moved away.

"She hit me, she hit me!"

"I didn't."

"You did, waaah…"

The two children were making such a ruckus it felt like the roof was about to cave in. Li Jinrong, who had been engrossed in a medical book, suddenly looked up and slammed the table with a loud bang. The two little ones immediately fell silent.

Li Jinhui was visibly displeased and shot Zhao Pin an annoyed look. Zhao Pin smiled apologetically, scooped up the younger child and guided the older one, taking them to a side table to sit down, distracting them with snacks.

The third daughter, Li Jinhe, walked to the doorway and glanced outside before turning back to Madam Li with excitement. "Mother, they're here!"

Li Jintong and Jian Ru were supposed to come to the main house to worship the Kitchen God and offer tea the day after their wedding, but the ceremony was delayed because the second son had fallen ill.

Now that Li Jintong had fully recovered over the past couple of days, the ritual was finally going to take place.