Chapter 42 You Can Sponsor Me

Chapter 42: You Can Keep Me

The Chi family village had an old family tree book. It was a thick volume carefully wrapped, stored in a camphorwood chest at the village chief's house, with only the chief holding the key. Inside, written in meticulous regular-script calligraphy, it recorded the family lineage of the Chi family spreading its branches and leaves on this land—every birth, death, and marriage was recorded in detail.

When it was passed down to Grandpa Chi's generation, they were of the 'Wan' generation, and their names always carried the character 'Wan' (ten thousand), to wish for endless posterity and good fortune.

In Chi Family Village, this genealogy was not considered particularly precious, but it was a real legacy, a root, a thread you could always follow home, no matter how far you roamed.

Chi Family Village was tucked away in a mountain hollow, with only a winding dirt road for access. The younger generation had also ventured out, but most of the elderly, children, and those who were rooted in the land stayed here.

Since people rarely moved away, many old customs were passed down year after year. Things like the genealogy were no longer popular in big cities outside, but here, in the eyes of the older generation, it was still a big deal.

When Grandpa Chi was alive, he would go on and on about these things, saying that only when one's name was in the genealogy could they be considered a true member of the Chi family, and only then would the ancestors claim you in the afterlife.

Actually, Chi Luoxi didn't have much concept of it. He thought of that whole 'carrying on the family line' thing as something that happened to other people. That day, he was just shooting the breeze, saying Grandpa had told him when he grew up and married a wife, his wife's name would be written next to his in the Chi family genealogy.

By Chi Luoxi's generation, according to the arranged generational order in the genealogy, the middle character should have been 'Dai'. But Grandpa didn't use it for him. A few days after the old man found Chi Luoxi, he pondered for days, eventually went to the village chief's house to borrow a brick-thick Xinhua Dictionary with frayed corners, and flipped through it over and over.

Finally, his finger landed on one character: Xi (joy). Joy, good fortune, peace, and health.

He just hoped that this Little Radish, who had unexpectedly come into his life, would grow up to enjoy a life of happiness, health, and safety, free from sickness and trouble.

And so the name Chi Luoxi came to be.

When Chi Luoxi heard He Angxiao mention being added to the genealogy, the first thing that popped into his mind was Grandpa's words from back then.

He thought, He Angxiao didn't even have the surname Chi. If a grown man's name were to be written next to his Chi Luoxi, that spot, by tradition, was reserved for his future wife. Although it was impossible for him to marry, just thinking about it made his face flush.

Chi Luoxi stared at He Angxiao, his tongue got tied: “…Did the village chief really agree to that?”

This whole thing sounded totally ridiculous.

He Angxiao didn't answer directly, but the smugness, the slightly raised chin, clearly screamed 'Of course.'

Actually, the village chief’s original words weren’t so definitive.

The old village chief was puffing on his water pipe at the time. After hearing He Angxiao’s sincere words, he chewed it over for a while and only said vaguely, “Got it, got it. It’s good that you young people have this intent. I’ll talk to Xiao Xi and have a word with him and talk some sense into him.”

At first, the village chief really didn't believe it. This young man from the city came to this remote mountain corner saying he would build them a road—that was just blowing smoke, right? But the guy moved surprisingly fast. The very next day, someone came to the village wandering around with blueprints, pointing and drawing, talking about building roads, laying networks, and later promoting the export of mountain products to boost the entire village’s economy.

Upon inquiry, holy cow, he was a serious big shot with lots of pull.

This made the scales in the village chief's mind start to tip.

Compared to building bridges and roads for the village, which could benefit every household, adding an outsider's name to the genealogy didn’t seem like too big a sacrifice.

Rules are rigid, but people can adapt.

The village chief squatted on the doorstep, looking at the bumpy dirt road at the entrance of the village, and calculated in his mind: If this Boss He really could pave the road with asphalt, not to mention adding him to the genealogy, even writing He Angxiao’s name next to the family ancestral tablet and worshipping it for a couple of days—eh, that seemed possible too?

Chi Luoxi, feeling peeved, went over to the village chief’s house.

The old village chief was sitting on a bamboo chair basking in the sun. Chi Luoxi shuffled over and said in a grumpy tone: “Village chief, how could you agree to such an unreasonable request from He Angxiao?”

The village chief glanced at him and put on his village-meeting voice: “Xiao Xi, compared to the collective interest, that little personal matter—giving way and sacrificing a bit of self—that kind of attitude is really praiseworthy!”

Chi Luoxi blushed: “Then he’s occupying the spot for my future wife. If I can’t get a wife in the future, I’ll have my grandpa come have a chat with you at night.”

“Oh, if your grandpa comes to me, so be it,” the village chief laughed, his wrinkles spreading out in a grin. “Boss He wants to be close with you, be brothers for life. Since you two aren’t in the same household registration, being on the same family tree isn't so bad either.”

Chi Luoxi opened his mouth, looked at the village chief’s expression, and swallowed what he wanted to say.

He felt the village chief was still too sheltered, having stayed in the mountains too long, old-fashioned, and had no idea about a sly city slicker like He Angxiao.

He Angxiao didn’t want to be his brother at all; he clearly wanted to become his wife.

This idea was way too ahead of its time and shocking for the entire Chi Family Village.

Only city folks were into that kind of thing.

Because sometimes when he walked around Jiangzhou with He Angxiao, he could tell some passersby, especially young girls, looked at him and He Angxiao with a weird look—not disgust, but more like excitement.

They would cover their mouths and giggle, huddling together and whispering.

If this got out in Chi Family Village, the clan head and some old uncles would probably grab him and have his name crossed out of the genealogy—it'd be a total disgrace to the ancestors.

The outside world was indeed more open.

But what was the result? This outsider, He Angxiao, had actually slipped right into their old Chi family genealogy without a peep.

Building a road was naturally a good thing.

That dirt road, which turned into a muddy mess and was bumpy enough to rattle an old ox cart apart whenever it rained, if it could really become a smooth road, villagers could go to market, kids could go to school, and mountain goods could get shipped out way easier.

Chi Luoxi scratched his head and said in a grumble: “Fine, add it then.”

After all, it's not like I'd lose a skin off my back.

He Angxiao had plenty of money anyway, so much it seemed inexhaustible.

Rather than letting him buy fancy, pointless stuff all day, it was better for him to do something practical for the village.

A good road benefits everyone.

The two people’s consumption views were indeed worlds apart. Chi Luoxi was used to a relatively frugal way of spending. He Angxiao, on the other hand, spent money as naturally as breathing—if he liked something, he bought it, and the number of zeros after the price sometimes made Chi Luoxi's head spin just counting them.

Chi Luoxi never thought who was right or wrong, and he never bothered to interfere with how He Angxiao spent his money. His simple principle was: whoever earns the money has the right to dispose of it. Only occasionally did Chi Luoxi find himself questioning life—was the cash in his wallet even the same kind of currency as He Angxiao's?

But hey, as long as He Angxiao was happy, that was all that mattered.

However, if He Angxiao really showed a long-term trend of staying put in this remote mountain corner of Chi Family Village, that would be quite bad.

Chi Luoxi began to worry.

He Angxiao was an eagle soaring in the sky, meant to navigate through the concrete jungles of bustling cities and strategize at negotiation tables, not to stay cooped up in his small yard all day, discussing with the village chief which mountain mushrooms made the best soup.

The village chief was incredibly enthusiastic toward He Angxiao.

As days went by, not only did He Angxiao show no intention of leaving, he became increasingly integrated, looking like he was ready to settle down here.

So on an ordinary morning, with cooking smoke still drifting in the air.

Chi Luoxi finished the last mouthful of porridge in his bowl, put down his chopsticks, and looked up at He Angxiao, who had also just put down his bowl across from him. His expression was unusually serious. He pursed his lips and, with the authority of the man of the house, asked the question he'd been bottling up for days: “He Angxiao, when exactly do you plan to leave?”

He Angxiao froze mid-motion, napkin in hand, about to wipe his mouth.

“…I’m not leaving. I told you, unless you come with me.”

Chi Luoxi insisted stubbornly: “Even if I go back with you, I'm not getting back together with you.”

He Angxiao’s shoulders slumped slightly. He lowered his head, looking very much like a big, sad dog that just got scolded. “I’ll change everything you hate about me. Really.”

Chi Luoxi didn’t know what to say.

He felt that He Angxiao was the kind of person who always held his head high, with an innate pride, as if nothing could ever humble him or make him back down.

Chi Luoxi knew he himself wasn’t a very tough person. He was soft-hearted, was a soft touch, was easily swayed by others, and tended to back down first in an argument.

His grandpa always said this personality would get him taken advantage of.

He and He Angxiao were polar opposites in personality. They really weren’t well-suited, and forcing it would just make both of them stifled and unhappy.

He knew that both of them had their own issues.

He Angxiao’s problems were like a sore thumb – obvious and grating. Chi Luoxi’s own problems were like hidden sandbars beneath the water—usually not showing, but they could build up and clog the riverbed over time.

“So how am I supposed to know if you’ve really changed? It’s not like it’s your first time lying to me.”

He Angxiao: “Everyone makes mistakes, Chi Luoxi. I've already owned up to my mistakes and want to fix them. Can’t you trust me one more time? Can't you be the bigger person and forgive me?”

“Even though I made you angry and sad, isn't there anything about me you'd even miss? I care about you so much. You're the first person I've ever cared about this much, besides my grandma.”

Chi Luoxi listened to these words and thought He Angxiao sounded less and less like himself with every word.

The old He Angxiao had a mouth harder than stone. He'd say things that could leave you speechless. He’d deliberately say the harshest, most hurtful things, as if that were the only way to show his strength and indifference.

But now, those barbed words seemed to have been quietly smoothed out by him, turning into pleasant ones.

Yet the more pleasant they were, the more uneasy Chi Luoxi felt, the more dazed he became. Was this really He Angxiao?

Chi Luoxi asked: “So you won’t interfere with who I’m friends with? From now on, whoever I meet and get close to, you’ll let me be?”

He Angxiao: “Mm, I won’t interfere.”

Chi Luoxi dropped a bombshell right away: “Then can I still interact with Mr. Han? He even sent me a message to say hello. Because of what you did last time, I feel too embarrassed to contact him again.”

He Angxiao: “…………”

The air fell silent.

He Angxiao didn’t say a word.

Chi Luoxi had a knowing look: “See, you haven’t changed at all. You can’t even stand me just mentioning it.”

He Angxiao said aggrievedly: “…Fine, I admit it. I really can’t stand it. That guy Han Wenbin is no good either. When you were with me, he already tried to butt in. Is that what a good person does? You just know nobody likes me, and you're the popular one, so you say this stuff to get under my skin.”

These words sounded somewhat unreasonable.

Chi Luoxi was stunned for a moment, feeling terribly wronged: “How am I likable? Aren’t you always saying I’m stupid and slow, bad at reading people’s expressions, and sluggish in doing things? Why don't you just go tell Mr. Han all my flaws, so he’ll stay away from me.”

He Angxiao was choked speechless by his question. His face flushed red—both from anger and being stifled.

He glared at Chi Luoxi and yelled with some irritation: “Why would I tell him that? Why would I tell him about the things I like?”

This shout came out of nowhere, leaving Chi Luoxi stunned again: “…Huh?”

He Angxiao gritted his teeth: “Why would I act like an idiot and lay it all out, what attracts me to you, what makes me unable to look away, and tell it to another man who’s also interested in you? So he knows where to make his move, how to be good to you, how to make you happy?”

Chi Luoxi, with his chopsticks in his mouth, was completely dumbfounded.

So He Angxiao was attracted to his flaws? That's one weird taste.

“…This,” Chi Luoxi’s voice trailed off, “can these really be considered strengths?”

Clumsy, slow, bad at reading the room—in He Angxiao's sharp, calculating world, weren’t these supposed to be flaws to be despised and corrected?

He Angxiao also seemed a little shy: “How should I know? Is it that strange? Anyway, I think they're all pretty cute.”

From the very first time he saw Chi Luoxi, He Angxiao thought, how could anyone be this cute?

Turns out, in He Angxiao’s eyes, Chi Luoxi’s flaws were also his strengths, and his strengths were even more so.

This person, from head to toe, even his annoying little habits, was seen through a unique, rose-tinted lens in He Angxiao’s eyes.

Chi Luoxi felt his ears burning. He turned his head away, unable to face He Angxiao's too-honest, burning stare.

Seeing Chi Luoxi at a loss and flustered, the suffocating weight in his chest strangely lifted a little. He leaned in, lowering his voice and sounding dead serious: “Chi Luoxi, do you feel like when we were together before, it was especially unfair? Like I was always bossing you around, pushing you, and you had to obey me?”

Chi Luoxi didn’t exactly feel it was unfair. He Angxiao was indeed domineering, but he also relied on He Angxiao’s decisions for many things.

That feeling wasn’t so much unfairness as it was a weird, uncomfortable feeling.

Like wearing shoes that don't fit—you can't pinpoint where it hurts, but it feels wrong all over, and something's off.

He Angxiao studied his face: “Alright then. If that’s really how you feel, I have an idea.”

Chi Luoxi looked at him doubtfully.

He Angxiao dropped another bombshell: “Then how about you keep me instead? I can even call you 'hubby'.”

Chi Luoxi stared at He Angxiao like he was an idiot: “…But I don’t have any money.”

Keep He Angxiao? That joke wasn’t funny at all.

He Angxiao stood up, walked quickly into Chi Luoxi’s bedroom.

Chi Luoxi only heard a rustling sound of things being searched. Before he could see what He Angxiao was doing, he walked back out, holding a chubby little piggy bank that Chi Luoxi had hidden for years. It was ceramic, with most of the paint on its snout and tail already flaked off.

This was money Chi Luoxi had earned as a child, picking cicada shells with the villagers. Back then, the school had a cassette player. He had wanted to use this money to buy one, but later found out it cost quite a bit—the gap was too big—so he gave up and used the money to buy a kite instead. Once, a strong wind blew in the mountains, carrying the kite away. No matter how hard Chi Luoxi tried to chase it, he couldn’t catch it, and could only watch it drift farther and farther into the distance.

Under Chi Luoxi’s gaze, He Angxiao found the cork at the bottom of the piggy bank. The stopper was loose. He turned the piggy bank upside down and shook it hard.

“Clatter!”

A few coins and several small bills fell onto the wooden table.

A ten-yuan note, a two-yuan note, a one-yuan note, and three one-jiao coins scattered across the tabletop.

He Angxiao extended his fingers, carefully gathered the money together, counted it, then looked up at Chi Luoxi with an utterly serious expression. He cupped his hands around it, almost reverently: “Thirteen kuai and three mao.”

I'm a cheap date, with a bad personality, a foul temper, and I can't speak well. This money should be enough.

He Angxiao pushed the crumpled bills toward Chi Luoxi, his eyes burning into his: "You can use this money to keep me. For all the times I treated you badly, the nonsense I said, and the terrible things I did, you can get back at me. Whatever way you want, I won't fight back or talk back."

In this remote and quiet mountain village, the nights seemed endless, with only the chirping of insects and the sound of wind.

With each long night like this, He Angxiao suddenly kind of understood why the villagers liked to get married young and have kids—probably because these endless nights are just too unbearable without something warm and tender to fill them.

He hoped Chi Luoxi would cross the line with him.

Chi Luoxi looked at He Angxiao.

He thought, the money he saved as a child couldn't buy him a luxury item, but could it actually buy He Angxiao? The kite string from childhood seemed to have come full circle, landing in Chi Luoxi's hands.

Chi Luoxi wondered if he had the ability to hold onto him this time.

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Author's note: Boss He: head full of dirty thoughts.

Little Luobei: Being sentimental.

Tomorrow's chapter will be longer! I got home a bit late today, but I'm doing my best to catch up!