Chapter 110: Scrambled Eggs and Boiled Eggs

Chapter 110: Scrambled Eggs and Boiled Eggs

Once he'd thought it through, Gu Chaoning quickly got up.

He strode to the door and yanked it open, the sunlight stinging his eyes and finally snapping him awake.

He'd still meant to bring up Wang Song with Yin Hongxue that morning.

But by now, Yin Hongxue had already left Xiaohé Village—he was probably already in class.

Gu Chaoning rubbed his brow, uncomfortable, and hung his head. Chen Youyan came back from outside carrying a load of grass on his back, and seeing Gu Chaoning awake, called out, "Chaoning's up! There's breakfast left for you in the pot."

Wang Xiuxiu followed Chen Youyan in, a basket of grass on her back, and gave Gu Chaoning a smile when she saw him.

"Chaoning, you're up? Didn't sleep well last night?"

Gu Chaoning couldn't figure out why his grandma and dad were so calm—downright gentle, even.

He headed for the kitchen. "Grandma, Dad, what time is it?"

Chen Youyan spread the grass out on the drying mat in the yard, picking out the thorny bits, brambles, and leaves the livestock wouldn't eat.

Wang Xiuxiu dumped her basket onto the unsorted pile, then turned to look at Gu Chaoning.

"It's already past nine in the morning."

Gu Chaoning was peeling an egg and froze mid-motion.

He looked up, shocked. "I slept this late and nobody woke me?"

Even Gu Muan hadn't come banging on the door with his butt, calling him a lazy brother.

Was this that legendary thing—when you don't need it, it's there, but when you need it, it's gone?

Chen Youyan shot him a look of disdain, and oddly enough, that look actually put Gu Chaoning at ease.

"We figured the honored scholar must've been up late reading and needed a little extra shut-eye during the day."

It had happened a few times before, but back then the family would wake him for breakfast.

Gu Chaoning went quiet.

Sure enough, it was that legendary...

After quietly eating his egg and downing a cup of warm water, he saw Wang Xiuxiu and Chen Youyan heading out to cut grass again, so he strapped on a basket and went along.

They were stockpiling winter feed for the animals, and every extra hand helped.

They worked straight through until around four in the afternoon.

In that time, Gu Muan came running over a few times.

First, he brought them hawthorn candies he'd made with Cook Cui, then he hauled two loads himself.

He was little, and his basket was little too, but one load was still enough to feed the family's chickens for a day.

Of the three of them, Yin Hongxue—who should've been the first back—ended up being the last.

Seeing this, all four elders asked, "Xue Geer, why so late today?"

Yin Hongxue's fingers pinched the strap of his box, where a small pendant hung—a peace knot Wang Xiuxiu had made for the three kids in her spare time.

He smiled at the elders. "My painting in class today had some issues, so the teacher kept me a bit longer to go over a few things."

With that, he headed to his room to put his box away.

After dinner, Gu Muan launched into his usual rundown of everything he'd done that day.

While Gu Muan chattered on, Gu Chaoning quietly sidled up next to Yin Hongxue.

Yin Hongxue seemed lost in thought, brows furrowed, staring blankly at a brick in the yard.

Gu Chaoning was sure Yin Hongxue had something weighing on his mind.

He called Yin Hongxue's name softly, and only on the third try did Yin Hongxue hear him, turning to look at Gu Chaoning with a dazed but steady gaze.

"What's up? Chaoning Ge?"

Gu Chaoning: "...Wang Song? I wasn't sure if you'd taken that to heart, so I wanted to check."

A flicker of unease passed through Yin Hongxue's eyes, but it was gone in a flash.

He nodded and smiled again. "I remembered what Chaoning Ge said. Today I watched Shopkeeper Wang on the sly, and I even asked him straight out..."

He actually went and asked Wang Song directly!?

Gu Chaoning hadn't expected that after he'd reminded Yin Hongxue, Yin Hongxue would just go ask him outright.

But the fact that he could ask directly also meant Yin Hongxue had definitely noticed something was off.

Yin Hongxue smiled, looking a little helpless.

"Shopkeeper Wang said it's because I look a bit like the young master of the main family, so he can't help but let his eyes linger sometimes."

Looks a bit like the main family's young master!?

Gu Chaoning's heart gave a heavy thump. His first thought at those words was of the Marquis's Young Master, Song Liyin.

But then he steadied himself.

The Marquis's Young Master, Song Liyin, had been dead for ages, and the main family's young master was said to be the same age as Yin Hongxue, with the two writing to each other regularly—there was no way it was the same person.

Besides, if the Marquis's household wanted to reach Yin Hongxue, they could never pull off something this careful.

Gu Chaoning grudgingly accepted that explanation.

If that was the case, then the affectionate look with a hint of respect made sense.

But then why was Yin Hongxue so off?

Yin Hongxue rubbed his nose, a little embarrassed.

"It's really just me overthinking. Shopkeeper Wang treats me well, and I'm happy about it, but I can't help wondering if he's nice to me because I look like the young master."

Yin Hongxue's eyelids drooped, his gaze dropping to the ground, the tips of his ears turning red, looking thoroughly embarrassed.

Gu Chaoning looked down at Yin Hongxue's lashes, watching them flutter like autumn leaves in the wind.

Watching his head bowed low, the hair tied up at the crown of his head.

He watched the tense muscles of his back, the fingers pinching at the hem of his clothes.

So those memories of being cast aside by his family had grown up with him, like a scar etched onto his skin.

Was that what made him such a sensitive young man, still carrying that timid, careful version of himself, treading cautiously through every day that followed?

So no matter how happy he was now, the pain of the past would always stay pain.

Would that grief keep buzzing back, like a fly, right in the middle of Yin Hongxue's happiness, tormenting him no matter what?

Gu Chaoning looked at him, and a fierce, desperate wish surged in his chest—no. Not that.

Gu Chaoning wondered if he had ever really understood Yin Hongxue at all.

He'd watched Yin Hongxue get better day by day, watched him make new friends, watched him go from clutching his family's sleeves to throwing his arms wide open and laughing out loud.

So he'd figured his family was simple and kind, that they'd warmed that timid young man's heart, made him forget the darkness, made him happy and carefree.

So he'd assumed Yin Hongxue had long since buried those dark memories.

But he'd forgotten—Yin Hongxue was a sensitive soul.

Had Yin Hongxue ever forced himself to stop tiptoeing around and act cheerful, just because he thought his family was good to him?

Gu Chaoning reached out and ruffled Yin Hongxue's hair, messing up the neat, smooth strands.

"Xue Geer."

Gu Chaoning had a thousand things he wanted to say.

"People are all different. Some will treat you well because you're good at painting. Some because of whose son or little brother you are. And some will treat you well just because of who you are."

"Xue Geer, you must remember—you are you. Good or bad, those who truly love you will always love you."

Yin Hongxue, who'd been fixing his hair, suddenly looked up, staring at Gu Chaoning, stunned.

This was the first time Chaoning Ge had ever talked to him like this.

Yin Hongxue's heart shook, and for a moment, he couldn't find his voice.

Seeing Yin Hongxue finally look up, Gu Chaoning breathed a sigh of relief.

He reached out and ruffled Yin Hongxue's hair again, but this time he was gentler, careful not to mess it up.

The young man cared a lot about his hair, so he had to be careful.

"Tomorrow, if you've got time, want to work on the bamboo tube waterwheel together?"

Gu Chaoning was itching to get the bamboo tube waterwheel finished as soon as possible.

Yin Hongxue got swept up in his words and stammered out an agreement.

Even after Gu Chaoning left, Yin Hongxue was still in a daze.

Walking back to the west wing, he saw Gu Muan with his back to him, already half-asleep. Only then did it hit Yin Hongxue—Gu Chaoning had said all that because of his own half-hearted answer.

Yin Hongxue squeezed his palm, his guilt growing even heavier.

...

The next morning, Gu Wen headed to the backyard first, dug out a few of his old woodworking tools, tied them together, and carried them to the front yard.

His eldest son had asked to use them early yesterday, and afraid he'd forget, Gu Wen grabbed them first thing after getting up.

After setting them somewhere obvious, Gu Wen headed to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Gu Daniu had already lit the fire and was boiling water. The two of them were heading out together today, and since the place was a bit farther, they needed an early start.

Gu Wen was handier than Gu Daniu. After washing up, he got started on breakfast.

Just as the rice went into the pot, Wang Xiuxiu came out wrapped in a padded jacket. Seeing Gu Wen had things under control, she reminded him there were leftover pancakes in the cupboard and to boil two eggs for each person, then headed back inside.

After Gu Daniu and Gu Wen, father and son, had eaten and left, Wang Xiuxiu and Chen Youyan finally stirred inside the house.

Chen Youyan had actually woken up earlier but had been lazing in bed. When he heard the door close outside, he finally mustered the energy to get up.

After feeding the livestock in the backyard, Wang Xiuxiu carried the morning's egg haul to the front. Seeing Chen Youyan come out, she beamed, "We got a lot of eggs today—let's scramble some."

Eggs already smelled great on their own, but fried in oil, they were absolutely irresistible.

Chen Youyan was thrilled at the news and, without even washing up, hurried out to pick some scallions.

In the west wing, Gu Muan, still half-asleep, heard the words "scrambled eggs" and snapped his eyes open, shooting upright.

He shook Yin Hongxue, who was just starting to wake up.

"Xue Age, I heard Grandma say we're having scrambled eggs for breakfast today."

Yin Hongxue hadn't been able to sleep the night before, tossing and turning for ages before finally drifting off. Hearing Gu Muan's racket, he mumbled something vague and started dozing off again.

Gu Muan sighed, got dressed, and crawled out from the foot of Yin Hongxue's bed.

Yesterday it was Big Brother sleeping in, and today it's Xue Age.

Oh boy, oh boy—honestly, neither of his brothers was as hardworking as him!

Gu Muan shook his head, quietly closed the door, and took off running toward the kitchen, his footsteps thumping.

Gu Chaoning woke up around the same time. Remembering he still had to work on the bamboo tube waterwheel with Yin Hongxue today, he got up quickly and headed out.

In the kitchen, Gu Muan was over the moon. Seeing Gu Chaoning walk in, he rushed over and grabbed his hand.

"Brother! Brother, come look!"

Five eggs sat in the pot, gently bobbing as little bubbles rose to the surface.

Gu Muan went on, "Is it New Year's or something? Grandma just said we're having scrambled eggs, and there are boiled eggs in the pot too!"

Gu Muan put his hands on his hips, threw his head back with a few big laughs, then turned and ran back toward the west wing.

Xue Age, stop sleeping! Breakfast is actually going to be good today!