Chapter 38 Believe It or Not

Chapter 38: Believe It or Not

The alley appeared dirty and chaotic at first glance, with shops and stalls selling live chickens and freshly slaughtered pigs and sheep. The offal was displayed openly, emitting a warm, pungent odor.

The ground was covered with a mixture of blood-soaked mud and rotten vegetable leaves, making it sticky, slippery, and uncomfortable to walk on.

However, as they ventured deeper, they came across stalls selling various cooked foods, pastries, and fried snacks. Though the ground remained dirty, the unpleasant odor was gone, replaced by the appetizing aroma of food.

Having left without eating lunch, both were hungry, but Jian Ru dared not let the Second Young Master eat just anything from the street.

It wasn’t until they reached a shop Jian Ru used to patronize regularly that he tugged on the Second Young Master’s sleeve and asked, “Want to try this?”

The Second Young Master glanced inside and saw it was a sweet soup shop. Noticing Jian Ru’s eyes fixed on the large pot of simmering soup at the entrance, he smiled and nodded. “Sure.”

They entered the small shop, which had only two or three tables. Since it was still early, no other customers were there, so they chose a corner table.

The shop was run by a couple who acted as both owners and staff, bustling about busily.

Jian Ru, familiar with the place, didn’t wait for service. He wiped the table clean with a cloth and polished the spoons and chopsticks with his own handkerchief.

The couple remembered him and called out, “Go ahead and serve yourselves, and I’ll settle up afterward.”

Jian Ru acknowledged them, took two large bowls, handed one to the Second Young Master, and led him to the front. A long table displayed an array of ingredients in divided containers. As Jian Ru filled his bowl, he pointed out which ones were particularly delicious.

After selecting the ingredients, they ladled hot, bubbling sweet broth from the large pot into their bowls, causing the peanuts, sesame seeds, and glutinous rice balls to swirl in the hot liquid.

Back at their table, Jian Ru watched with bright eyes as the Second Young Master took a small spoonful. “How is it?” he asked.

“It’s delicious,” the Second Young Master replied.

Only then did Jian Ru smile happily and begin eating his own portion.

After finishing the sweet soup, they bought two large meat buns from a neighboring shop they also knew and stood eating them at the entrance until they were pretty full.

Noticing the Second Young Master looking repeatedly at a miancha shop across the way, Jian Ru asked, “Do you want to try that?”

The Second Young Master recalled, “My father took me to try it when I was young, but I’ve forgotten how it tastes.”

Jian Ru tugged at his sleeve. “Let’s go taste it, then.”

Unable to drink much, they shared a single bowl, taking turns sipping until it was finished.

The shopkeeper preparing the miancha stared at them, his gaze shifting between the Second Young Master’s otherworldly good looks and the scar on Jian Ru’s face, his expression a mix of curiosity and disbelief, as if trying to figure out their relationship.

Though it was quite obvious, he seemed unwilling to believe it.

After finishing the miancha, the Second Young Master returned the empty bowl, paid with copper coins, and then, right in front of the shopkeeper, took Jian Ru’s hand firmly in his.

The shopkeeper’s eyes widened as the Second Young Master smiled and led Jian Ru away by the hand.

With their stomachs full, it was time to shop.

Besides food, the market also sold household goods. Jian Ru mentioned that their bamboo steamer at home was broken and picked out a sturdy one from a stall, along with several pairs of chopsticks and spoons. Instead of taking them immediately, he engaged in a lively back-and-forth haggling session with the vendor.

It was the first time the Second Young Master had witnessed such a scene. Both sides bantered good-naturedly without any anger, and the vendor even brought out small stools for them to sit on while they negotiated.

The Second Young Master sat down, but Jian Ru shot him a glare, realizing they had lost their bargaining position. Understanding his mistake, the Second Young Master quickly stood up again.

Jian Ru couldn’t help laughing at his reaction and pushed him back down on the stool. After paying, he had the vendor tie their purchases together with string and sat down holding them in his lap.

With no other customers around, the vendor happily made conversation with them, and the Second Young Master soon learned about the vendor’s son’s age, how much land the family owned, and even details about his brother-in-law’s household.

When they left, the vendor even included two extra steamer cloths for Jian Ru to use with the steamer.

Next, Jian Ru bought some chicken, planning to shred it into porridge that evening with scallions and sesame oil for extra flavor.

Though the Second Young Master had eaten chicken porridge before, watching Jian Ru select the ingredients and describe the dish made him eagerly anticipate the meal.

The outing had lifted the gloom that had weighed on him these past few days.

After buying the meat, Jian Ru wanted to pick up more seasonings and turned back.

Just then, a strong wind suddenly picked up, making the stall signs clatter loudly.

The seasoning vendor quickly pulled down his sign and looked up at the sky, frowning. “It’s going to rain.”

The sun was still out, so Jian Ru also glanced upward. The previously clear sky was now mostly covered with dark clouds, swiftly blown by the wind to blot out the sun.

The sky darkened abruptly. Stall owners hurriedly packed up, and pedestrians rushed toward the alley’s exit.

Jian Ru grabbed the Second Young Master’s hand. “Let’s hurry back to the carriage.”

The carriage was at the alley’s entrance, but they had reached the far end. Though their stroll had been leisurely, a quick run would have gotten them there in no time. But the weather changed too fast—before they were halfway, the sky turned completely dark, and the wind made their eyes water. Large raindrops mixed with snowflakes hit their faces, melting instantly and making them shiver.

Someone shouted, “It’s really coming down!”

Jian Ru felt the rain and snow pelting his face, his bangs quickly soaking and sticking to his skin.

He stopped abruptly, just as the Second Young Master also halted. Almost simultaneously, they both began removing their outer robes.

Barely opening his eyes against the rain, Jian Ru pressed down on the Second Young Master’s hand. “You mustn’t get sick.”

The Second Young Master stopped removing his robe. Jian Ru shook out his own padded robe and put it over the Second Young Master’s head. As he prepared to run again, the Second Young Master pulled him close with an arm around his shoulders, so his back rested against the Second Young Master’s chest. Huddled together under the robe, they hurried toward the alley’s entrance.

Once safely inside the carriage, Jian Ru noticed that despite the robe, the Second Young Master was still somewhat damp. The weather had been warm when they left, so they hadn’t brought any heating supplies. Now the carriage felt damp and chilly.

Jian Ru took out a handkerchief and leaned over to quickly wipe the rain from the Second Young Master’s face, while the Second Young Master used his sleeve to dry Jian Ru’s wet hair.

When they were done, they looked at each other.

Jian Ru’s face was pale from the cold, his eyes anxious. He wore only a thin layer of cotton clothing, his slender frame looking fragile. His hair clung messily to his cheeks, his eyelashes still glistening with raindrops. Combined with the scar on his face, he looked utterly pitiful.

The Second Young Master wasn’t doing much better.

He unbuttoned his padded robe, pulled his slender husband into his embrace, and wrapped the robe around them both, with the rain-dampened outer robe covering them.

Jian Ru wrapped his arms around his waist, pressing his face into the crook of his neck, just like the night they had huddled together for warmth in the cave.

Li Jintong knew what Jian Ru was worried about. He leaned close and whispered reassuringly in his ear, “It’s alright, it’s alright.”

But after returning home, despite immediately drying off, changing into dry clothes, and drinking hot ginger soup, Li Jintong still came down with a fever that very night.

Jian Ru was getting out of bed when Li Jintong grabbed his hand. Pale and breathing heavily, he with effort instructed, “Don’t mention our outing. Just say I caught a chill while walking in the courtyard.”

Jian Ru bit his lip and remained silent. The Second Young Master squeezed his hand. "Be good."

Only when Jian Ru nodded did the Second Young Master release his hand.

Like last time, the room was packed with people again. The Eldest Young Master checked his younger brother’s pulse, and the eldest sister helped prepare the medicine for the Second Young Master to drink.

It had been quite some time since the Second Young Master had fallen ill. Seeing him collapse like this, Old Madame Li was so distressed that tears streamed down her face. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she held his hand and said regretfully, "My little one, it’s been so long since you were last sick. Was it because I didn’t let you go to the free medical clinic this time that you fell ill from unhappiness? It’s all my fault, my little one. Please get better quickly. Once you’re well, I’ll let you go to the clinic. I won’t restrict you anymore. I’ll do as you say, alright?"

Old Madame Li’s words were sincere and heartfelt. Jian Ru clenched his fists so hard his nails nearly pierced his palms.

Li Jinhui looked at her mother, then looked at Jian Ru, who was hanging his head, but in the end, she said nothing.

After taking the medicine, the Second Young Master felt a bit better. He held his mother’s hand in return and said, "It was my own fault for being careless. I didn’t dress warmly enough while taking a walk in the courtyard. It’s no one else’s fault."

Old Madame Li held his hand tenderly, repeating over and over, "My little one, my poor little one..."

Li Jinhui sighed and said, "Mother, don’t worry too much. If you fall ill as well, younger brother will only worry about you. Let him rest properly. He might feel better after a good sleep."

Old Madame Li was helped to her feet. She turned to Jian Ru, took his hand, and said, "Xiao Ru, you’ve had it hard. I’ve failed you. My son has suffered since birth, and you’ve had to share the burden with him..."

Jian Ru looked up at her, unable to hold back any longer. He parted his lips, about to speak the truth.

But Li Jinhui had already stepped forward to support her mother, saying, "Alright, Mother, let younger brother rest. We can talk tomorrow."

Only then did everyone in the room begin to leave. The Eldest Young Master gave Jian Ru a few more instructions before departing.

When only the couple remained in the room, Jian Ru perched on the low stool beside the bed, lowered his head, and said, "I thought too simply."

The Second Young Master’s chest rose and fell gently as he listened to Jian Ru, his eyes red-rimmed and his voice hoarse, say, "I talked about wanting you to fully recover, but even the eldest brother and second sister couldn’t manage it, let alone me."

"Are you... regretting it?" the Second Young Master asked.

Jian Ru looked up at him. "Regretting what?"

The Second Young Master’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He averted his gaze, his expression dim, and said slowly, "Regretting marrying me."

"No!" Jian Ru stood up abruptly. "Don’t talk nonsense."

But the Second Young Master still refused to look at him.

Jian Ru instinctively wanted to climb onto him as he usually did when angry, but the Second Young Master was too weak from his illness. He lifted his leg but then set it down again. "Believe me."

Yet the Second Young Master, seeing that Jian Ru wouldn’t even sit on his lower abdomen, became even more convinced of his own thoughts.

Jian Ru grew anxious and shouted, "Li Jintong, you know my luck has always been bad! The best thing that ever happened to me in this life was marrying you!"

Hearing this, the Second Young Master finally turned his head to look at him but still said nothing.

Jian Ru gritted his teeth, climbed onto the bed anyway, and perched lightly on his lower abdomen. Grabbing the Second Young Master’s collar with both hands, he narrowed his eyes and asked, "Do you believe me or not?"

Only then did the gloom in the Second Young Master’s eyes fade away. He blushed and said: "I believe you."