Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Pei Mu, relying on his strong body and hot-blooded nature, still took a cold water bath in the courtyard. But after he finished and returned to the room, he waited for a long time and still didn’t see Zhong Yizhu come out of the kitchen.

Zhong Yizhu had washed his hair last night, and he remembered to wrap it up while planting vegetables today. Washing his hair shouldn’t take this long.

Pei Mu walked to the kitchen door, paused, and hearing no sound from inside, grew increasingly uneasy. He reached out and knocked directly on the door: “Zhu Ge’er? Is something wrong?”

Zhong Yizhu stood by the washbasin, his slender legs bare, face full of distress as he stared at the underpants in the basin.

He didn’t want to put the dirty clothes back on—that would feel like the bath was wasted—but he was even more embarrassed to ask Pei Mu to fetch him clean underpants. After thinking it over, he decided to wash the dirty pair and wear them out wet, at least they’d be clean. But he forgot that with one hand still injured, he couldn’t wring them dry at all.

Zhong Yizhu almost cried at his own stupidity, both anxious and angry. To make matters worse, Pei Mu was still knocking and calling for him outside.

The sudden knock made Zhong Yizhu’s heart jump, and he hurriedly replied, “I’m fine, I’ll be right out.”

Pei Mu was only worried that something had happened to him. Hearing his response, he felt relieved. Though puzzled, he didn’t press further and simply said, “Alright, I’ll go back to the bedroom first. Call me when you’re done so I can pour out the water. Don’t push yourself with your injured hand.”

Zhong Yizhu looked down at his inner robe, which barely covered the tops of his thighs, and gritted his teeth as he called Pei Mu back.

“Pei Mu, you… close your eyes first, okay? Don’t open them until I tell you to.”

Pei Mu looked confused but still did as he was told: “Alright, I’ve closed them.”

Zhong Yizhu carefully opened the door and saw that Pei Mu indeed had his eyes shut. He sighed softly in relief, then quickly ran toward the bedroom.

He hurriedly opened the clothes chest and, sure enough, saw the underpants he had prepared earlier lying on top of the other clothes. Without thinking about anything else, he grabbed them to put them on, but in his rush, his hand hit the lid, slamming the chest shut with a bang. At the same time, he couldn’t help but let out a cry of pain.

Before Zhong Yizhu could collect himself, the bedroom door he had only half-closed swung open. Pei Mu rushed in with concern, but froze instantly at the sight.

Pei Mu had never imagined that opening the door would reveal such a scene.

In the dim candlelight, a pair of long legs shone white as porcelain, dazzling his eyes. Because Zhong Yizhu moved in panic, the hem of his inner robe half-covered and half-revealing a hint of something more, enough to burn through Pei Mu’s self-control.

Zhong Yizhu was now truly panicking, on the verge of tears. It was too late to hide under the quilt, so he frantically held the underpants in front of him to cover himself, not daring to even glance at Pei Mu. He trembled and whispered, “Don’t look…” but his voice was so soft only he could hear it.

Pei Mu walked over, took Zhong Yizhu’s right hand to examine it, his voice low and husky yet still gentle: “Did you bump into something just now? Does it hurt?”

Zhong Yizhu was far beyond caring about that. He quickly shook his head, gathering his courage to pull his hand back and ask Pei Mu to turn around, but before he could, he was already lifted into the air. Pei Mu wrapped one arm around his waist and back, and hooked the other under his bare knees, carrying him toward the bed.

In just a few breaths, Zhong Yizhu found himself pressed beneath Pei Mu onto the bed.

His lips were sealed, and calloused hands stroked his thighs haphazardly, sending shivers through him.

Wearing only his inner robe, he felt so ashamed that tears welled up, and in this completely vulnerable position, he vaguely recalled the nightmare of that rainy night.

Pei Mu sensed something wrong. He pulled back slightly, cupped Zhong Yizhu’s face, and called his name.

The two locked eyes from a very close distance, and Pei Mu’s deep voice fell on Zhong Yizhu’s ears, pulling him back from the suffocating despair of that memory.

“Look at me, Zhu Ge’er.”

Pei Mu stared intently at Zhong Yizhu, his eyes filled with dark desire and a raging, possessive greed for the person before him.

“I am Pei Mu.”

“Look at me.”

Zhong Yizhu breathed softly, looking at Pei Mu with a dazed expression. His voice, too, came out low and hoarse: “Pei Mu…”

“Mm…”

The next moment, Pei Mu’s hand boldly ventured beneath the hem of Zhong Yizhu’s inner robe to the sensitive area.

Zhong Yizhu had almost never touched that place himself, let alone anyone else. In an instant, he was reduced to tears.

Amidst the chaos, his left hand was guided to touch something hot, and he flinched, trying to pull back, but Pei Mu held his hand firmly, not allowing him to escape.

Zhong Yizhu couldn’t help but sob, and a pitiful complaint of “my hand is tired” only made Pei Mu thrust even harder.

When everything finally settled, the tip of Zhong Yizhu’s nose was red from crying. Looking at his own disheveled state—even his newly changed inner robe was unwearable—he was too ashamed to even open his eyes.

Pei Mu hadn’t expected things to turn out like this either. He hadn’t… before. Blushing, he got up, leaned in, and gently kissed the tip of Zhong Yizhu’s nose, coaxing him softly: “Don’t move. I’ll get water to wipe you down.”

When Pei Mu returned with water, Zhong Yizhu was still in the same position, only his head turned to the side.

He was afraid that lifting the quilt to cover himself would dirty it, and even after such an intimate act, he was still flushed all over with shame.

Pei Mu quickly and efficiently cleaned him up, then fetched clean inner clothes from the chest and helped him dress. The underpants that should have been on Zhong Yizhu’s body nearly an hour ago were finally put back on.

Pei Mu felt immensely satisfied, both physically and mentally. He swiftly tidied up, blew out the candle, and squeezed into Zhong Yizhu’s bed, pulling him into his arms and kissing him tenderly from brow to eyes. He felt that even if he had to go into the mountains to hunt a bear right now, he would be full of energy.

Even now, Zhong Yizhu’s face was still burning. He had thought that the wedding night things the Groomsman had told him about were the most unspeakable, but he never imagined that even without a wedding night, such a storm could happen—nothing less astonishing and indescribable.

But unlike what the Groomsman had said, there was no pain, no fear—only an unbearable shyness and a few indescribable sensations.

Zhong Yizhu burrowed deeper into Pei Mu’s embrace.

Part of him thought it was because Pei Mu was good to him, and another part thought Pei Mu was truly wicked.

…

Zhong Yizhu slept wonderfully that night, without a single dream. When he woke, the sky was already bright. The space beside him was empty, but on his pillow lay the sachet he had given Pei Mu, along with a small bouquet of flowers tied with a blade of grass.

The early autumn sunlight poured into the room. Zhong Yizhu picked up the flowers, brought them to his nose, and felt his heart thumping.

After he got up and tidied himself, the first thing he saw when he pushed open the door was a row of clothes hanging to dry in the yard—not only the clothes he had changed out of yesterday but also the underpants he had left in the washbasin unwrung, and even two pieces of his inner garments.

Blushing, Zhong Yizhu looked away. He found an earthen jar by the wall, filled it with water, and placed the flowers inside.

Pei Mu must have left at some point—even the flatbread left for him in the kitchen was cold.

Zhong Yizhu looked back at the mountains, already tinged with autumn colors, and silently made a wish that Pei Mu would return safely before the flowers withered.

Because he had woken up late, by the time Zhong Yizhu reached the Zhong family’s old house to meet up with his mother, the sun was already high.

But since they weren’t heading for the market, it didn’t matter.

Old Zhang’s oxcart from the village had already left early with passengers, so they decided to walk to Chuiliu Town instead.

People in the village were hardworking, and anyone sleeping in as late as Zhong Yizhu would be called a lazybones. But Sun Yunniang wasn’t like others. Seeing her son sleeping well and looking in good spirits, she was actually happy. The only thing that secretly worried her was Lai Laoer, who lived in town.

What if they ran into Lai Laoer again and frightened Zhu Ge’er? What if his wicked intentions remained? Sun Yunniang didn’t show her concerns, but she secretly placed a sickle in her basket.

From Willow Mountain Village to Chuiliu Town was an hour’s walk on foot. By the time they reached the town, it was almost lunchtime. Ignoring his mother’s protests, Zhong Yizhu took her to a restaurant. He ordered his mother’s favorite dishes and leaned in to coax her.

“Mother, you always cook delicious food for me. I’m not a good cook, so I have to ask someone else to make it for you. Are you saying it’s not sincere?”

Sun Yunniang looked at his pitifully wide eyes and, even though she knew he was just acting cute, how could she bear to frown? She gently tapped his forehead.

"You've been like this since you were little. I just think you worked hard to earn this money. I can make these dishes myself, why waste the money?"

"It's different." Zhong Yizhu helped his mother set the table and said again, "It's different."

Sun Yunniang knew her son was being considerate and always thinking of her, so she stopped saying anything that would dampen the mood. Instead, she smiled and said with emotion: "In the blink of an eye, our Xiao Zhu Ge'er can earn money for his mother. How could other young men be so capable? I'm truly blessed."

Zhong Yizhu's throat tightened, and he smiled: "Mm, just wait to enjoy the blessings I'll bring you, Mother."

After eating, Zhong Yizhu first accompanied Sun Yunniang to the cloth shop to buy cloth, and then went to the general store to buy oil paper and red paper.

There was nothing lacking at home, but Zhong Yizhu thought of Chen Xiaorong and felt that the braised duck from the restaurant they had gone to was delicious, so he packed another portion before leaving.

Returning to the village, mother and son parted ways at the village center. Zhong Yizhu had to go back to the yard at the foot of the mountain to take care of the incense pellets that were not yet dry, and he promised to return to the old house to stay with his mother for two days after collecting the pellets.

When passing by Wang's house, Zhong Yizhu greeted Chen Xiaorong, put the braised duck on the table, and left. Chen Xiaorong unwrapped the oil paper and looked at the braised duck, not knowing whether to laugh or worry. He had thought that after Pei Mu got married, having someone to manage the household would tighten the purse strings, but now it seemed they were truly a couple.

For the next three days, Zhong Yizhu did not go out. He cut the oil paper into small pieces, made some paste, and glued them together, making small paper bags that were perfect for holding the incense pellets.

Wrapped in oil paper, it not only prevents the incense pellets from staining the fabric but also ensures they are not scratched or damaged.

Zhong Yizhu had noticed the last time he sold incense pellets that among the customers, those who brought their own sachets had a place to put them, but those who bought on a whim found it inconvenient to carry them. So it was best to prepare in advance. Although these small details are insignificant, they can sometimes be the key to retaining customers.

Because it was the Qixi Festival, he simply cut out magpies from the red paper he bought and pasted them on the paper bags, making them look quite presentable.

Three days later, Zhong Yizhu sorted and packed the dried incense pellets into categories, and also prepared everything needed for setting up the stall.

Everything was ready, just waiting for Pei Mu to return.