“If you want to raise them, then just raise a few. I’ll have someone build a chicken coop. A Zhao can just buy some chicks. It’s not troublesome at all. Leftovers from meals are enough to feed them.”
Although it sounded like careless talk since he wasn’t the one raising them, they had servants at home, so Madam Shi Zhang wouldn’t need to worry.
In fact, raising them would even save money in the long run—it could just be treated as keeping them for fun, and once grown they could be slaughtered for food.
Yuan Zhao also agreed. “Just treat it as something for fun. Mother will have something to do at home too. It won’t be troublesome.”
Madam Shi Zhang had enough silver on hand, and all household matters were handled for her. She had nothing to worry about, which made her a bit bored, so it was good to find her something to do.
“Then just buy a few and raise them. Don’t get roosters, or their crowing will cause complaints from neighbors,” she said after being persuaded.
“Mother wants to raise them, then raise more. A few chicks don’t cost much,” Shi Qingyue said.
He was immediately glared at by Madam Shi Zhang. Was he really so unaware of who she was doing all this for every day?
The family’s conversations were all about these trivial matters, repeated over and over again, just ordinary daily life.
In the evening, Shi Wuxiang took Yuan Zhao and the children to the street and bought three freshly slaughtered chickens to make fried chicken at home.
Madam Shi Zhang wasn’t used to heavy oily food, so she ate plain noodles and salted vegetables separately, while Yuan Ge’er and A Yue ate happily.
Before long, the summer heat completely ended.
Autumn was bleak, but in the county you could only feel the cool wind rather than see yellowing leaves. However, clothing still showed the change in season.
Yuan Zhao, being more resistant to cold from his years of hard labor, had gradually begun to care about his appearance and demeanor after interacting with the county’s ladies and noblewomen. He could be careless at home, but not outside.
So after entering autumn, he no longer personally did chores; anything that could be handed off to servants was delegated. His hands, once rough and swollen in past years, were now well cared for.
“Master, there’s a message from the village—saying that Zhou He has given birth.”
He was the one who had rushed to deliver the message as soon as he heard it. The moment Yuan Zhao heard it, he couldn’t sit still anymore and wanted to return to the village to see him, but he was stopped by Shi Zhangshi.
“You shouldn’t go make trouble right now,” Shi Zhangshi said softly. “If you go, will they be entertaining you, or taking care of He’ge’er? I know you’re happy and your thoughts are there—that’s enough. Wait until he’s done with his confinement period. It’ll be the same to visit when the child reaches the full-month celebration or the hundred-day celebration.”
Yuan Zhao nodded in sudden understanding. “Good then. The gifts were already prepared earlier anyway. Have Zhou Ren make a trip to Wen Family Village and bring everything over.”
Shi Zhangshi thought for a moment. “Don’t rush. I’ll boil a pot of eggs and send them along too.”
Soon after, Zhou Ren set off by carriage with the gifts and a basket of eggs.
Now there wasn’t a single egg left in the house.
“We’ll buy some more eggs later,” Shi Zhangshi said with a smile.
“Mm, alright,” Yuan Zhao replied obediently.
He thought of Shi Zhangshi’s happy expression when she had just been boiling the eggs, and unconsciously touched his own stomach. The summer had passed, autumn was almost over, and winter was approaching—but there was still no movement at all on his side.
Could it really take two or three years of effort?
He had always thought there was something wrong with Ah Xiang’s body, feeding him all kinds of tonic medicines. But now that it had come to this, he had to admit the problem might be his own—more precisely, the problem of a “xiaoge’er.”
So even if Ah Xiang tried his hardest, and he cooperated as much as possible, it might still come down to waiting for heaven’s mercy.
“Zhao-ge’er, are you unwell?” Shi Zhangshi turned and noticed him holding his stomach. “Did you drink something cold?”
Yuan Zhao shook his head and forced his usual smile. “My stomach just feels a bit cold. I’ll go drink some hot water. Mother, don’t keep busy—go rest. I’ll go pick them up later.”
Shi Zhangshi didn’t suspect anything and nodded.
Yuan Zhao returned to his room and drank down a full cup of tea in one go. Even if it was due to his own constitution as a xiaoge’er, he didn’t want to give up like this. He had to make more effort.
—
In the evening.
Yuan Zhao left early with Xia Lian. Zhou Ren, who had already delivered the gifts, was now driving the carriage. Originally they were supposed to wait near the school, but instead they first went to the medical clinic.
The clinic was always crowded. Yuan Zhao waited quite a while before his turn came. The old physician glanced at him. “What’s wrong?”
Yuan Zhao felt inexplicably nervous and looked around before speaking softly. “I’d like the doctor to check whether there’s something wrong with my body. It’s been almost half a year and there’s still no news.”
The old physician immediately understood and gestured for him to place his wrist down. After carefully taking his pulse for a while, he asked calmly, “How often do you have relations?”
“Almost every night… though sometimes only once…” Yuan Zhao’s face burned red, as if it might drip blood, yet he still forced himself to continue bravely. “And… those positions… also… mm!”
“Your body has no problems. According to what you said, your husband’s body is also quite strong. Just wait for the right timing. There’s no need for treatment—medicine is three parts poison,” the old physician said evenly.
He had seen many such cases; some things could not be rushed.
Yuan Zhao nodded blankly, finally understanding. In short, he just needed to wait.
Seeing his youth, the old physician added, “Don’t worry. If your body is healthy, you will eventually conceive. You’re still young—you can wait another year or two without issue.”
It was rare for a xiaoge’er to conceive within half a year. Even women often took this long. Most of the time, it had nothing to do with frequency or effort—sometimes it was simply fate.
“Thank you,” Yuan Zhao said sincerely.
Xia Lian quickly placed the consultation fee down and helped him leave.
They didn’t linger long at the clinic, and by the time they reached the school, it was just the end of classes. The two children ran over excitedly when they saw someone coming to pick them up, directly crashing into Yuan Zhao’s arms.
He couldn’t help but laugh—at least there was an advantage to not being pregnant.
“Miss Shi, your hair ornament has fallen off.”
A young voice, slightly immature yet pretending to be mature, rang out.
Yuan Zhao looked over first and saw a boy standing not far away, about the same age as Ranran.
The boy stood there obediently. Yuan Zhao gestured for Xia Lian to retrieve the hair ornament. After it was brought back, he didn’t put it back on.
“Thank you. I’ll treat you to some snacks tomorrow,” Yuan Zhao said with a smile. “We’re leaving now—goodbye.”
He let Ranran and Yuan Ge’er get into the carriage first, then followed after. Only then did he notice the boy being yanked roughly by an older woman, stumbling awkwardly and looking pitiful.
He didn’t look any longer. Children growing up brought new worries everywhere—too many watching eyes, too many complications.
—
That night, when Shi Wuxiang returned, Yuan Zhao told him about it.
“Ah Xiang, what do you think we should do?”
In the past, he had thought that marrying and forming a family at the right age was best. Who wouldn’t want to settle down early and have children?
But Ranran was a child he had watched grow up. In his heart, she was still the twelve-year-old girl. How could she suddenly go into another family and shoulder such heavy responsibilities?
Shi Wuxiang remained silent, thinking.
Letting the two children study and learn to read was certainly fine. The problem was the limitations of the current situation—there were very few schools willing to accept both xiaoge’er and girls. Yuan Zhao had only found one in the county after so long.
If they didn’t attend, the only option would be a private tutor.
But at this age, children were also beginning to awaken emotionally. If the tutor were a man in his twenties or thirties… that would be even more troublesome.
“It’s still better to ask Ranran herself. If she understands these things, she won’t be easily deceived,” Shi Wuxiang said.
“But that family didn’t seem easy to deal with. You didn’t see it—I even saw them pushing the boy around. No reason at all…” Yuan Zhao sighed. “Even if Ranran liked someone like that, it wouldn’t work. She’d definitely suffer there.”
They realized that all their worry was only speculation. In the end, they still had to ask Ranran.
Shi Qingran arrived with a smile. Though her face was still youthful, she already showed hints of a young woman’s appearance—like spring grass and peach blossoms, lively even in the cold late autumn.
“Brother, sister-in-law, did you call me for something?” she asked, tilting her head.
Yuan Zhao was waiting for Shi Wuxiang to leave.
But Shi Wuxiang had no such awareness. He was like both brother and father here—why couldn’t he listen?
Yuan Zhao coughed lightly, struggling with how to begin.
Shi Qingran, confused, asked again.
Shi Wuxiang went straight to the point: “Who was the one who gave you the hair ornament today?”
“Oh, just someone from the neighboring school. I don’t even know his name,” Shi Qingran said calmly. “I don’t talk to boys there. It would cause misunderstandings.”
After experiencing family upheaval, she had become mature and composed. She looked down on timid boys like that.
Only then did they feel relieved.
Shi Wuxiang continued, “You’re fifteen now. There are some things you should understand…”
He spoke calmly about boundaries and self-protection, though internally he was already thinking that if anyone dared have improper thoughts toward his younger sister, he would not let them off easily.
Shi Qingran nodded seriously. “I understand. Is there anything else? If not, I’m going back to study.”
She stood up immediately after speaking.
She had thought her brothers were going to say something serious—turns out it was just this. Their mother had already told her these things; she wasn’t foolish.
After she left, Yuan Zhao frowned slightly. “You were too blunt with her. She’s still a young girl—what if she feels we don’t trust her?”
Shi Wuxiang chuckled. “I don’t think so. She’s more transparent than you think. If she’s unhappy, she’ll say it.”
Yuan Zhao thought about it and agreed.
Their household really didn’t have those complicated layers of resentment.
Just following this line of thought inevitably brought her marriage into mind.
“Axiang, don’t be angry at what I’m about to say…” Yuan Zhao spoke as he lightly patted his back. “I know Ranran is still young, but getting married is only a matter of time. Shouldn’t looking into matches start early too? I’m not trying to force her to marry off right away, I’m just… a little worried.”
Even though he did not feel guilty, his voice still grew softer and softer as he spoke.
Putting those words out in the open almost sounded like he disliked having his little sister-in-law staying at home, but Yuan Zhao truly did not mean that. After all, it was perfectly normal for girls and young ger to start discussing marriage at fifteen or sixteen.
Shi Wuxiang understood what he meant too. Such was the era—they married young here, whether girls or young ger. Those still unmarried at seventeen or eighteen were already considered late marriages in outsiders’ eyes, and there would inevitably be gossip.
But now that the family’s life had improved, even if there really were marriage proposals, they would be the ones choosing others. Those idle rumors would not dare reach them anyway.
“I know what you’re thinking. Mother will handle this matter. We’ll wait until Ranran finishes with the academy before discussing it.” Shi Wuxiang pinched his cheek lightly. “You don’t need to speak so cautiously with me.”
Yuan Zhao shook his head and replied with perfect reasoning, “That won’t do. Even blood brothers should settle accounts clearly. If husband and husband don’t speak properly, conflicts will happen too. I don’t want to quarrel with you.”
Too adorable.
Shi Wuxiang clasped the back of his neck and kissed him hard, invading deeply until his lips were swollen from sucking, prickling and numb with tingling pain, making Yuan Zhao pound him several times.
“We might bicker, but we won’t have conflicts.” Shi Wuxiang pressed his forehead against his, filled with utmost gentleness and indulgence.
As the older one, he naturally could contain, tolerate, and accept everything about Yuan Zhao.
Yuan Zhao said nothing, only clung to him stickily in his arms, occasionally letting out two silly chuckles.
After Zhou He finished his confinement month, his son happened to reach his full-month celebration.
Yuan Zhao brought another pile of gifts back to the village to visit him. The child was indeed rather cute and did not cry or fuss, only rolling his big eyes around to look everywhere. One look and it was obvious he had inherited Wen Qingshan’s temperament.
Yuan Zhao did not stare long. He grinned and teased the baby twice before chatting with Zhou He instead.
“It’s getting colder and colder. I brought you all some coal this time.” Yuan Zhao smiled. “I already gave the congratulatory gifts before, so I didn’t bring much else.”
Zhou He was deeply moved. Holding Yuan Zhao’s hand, his eyes reddened. “You shouldn’t have brought coal either. It’s such expensive stuff, why bother spending so much thought on us? Firewood at home is enough to burn already, yet you still worried this much.”
Yuan Zhao’s nose also turned slightly sour, but crying over such a happy occasion would not do. He curved his eyes and smiled. “I bought it with my own private savings. Axiang doesn’t know!”
“You even secretly save money yourself?” Zhou He’s eyes widened.
“Of course I have to. I still need to prepare a dowry for Yuange.” The more Yuan Zhao spoke, the funnier it felt, and he and Zhou He laughed so hard they shook like flowers in the wind.
Zhou He sighed softly. “As long as you’re living well now, that’s enough. Qingshan-ge hasn’t gotten any work lately. We don’t even know what next year will be like…”
Hearing that made Yuan Zhao anxious too. Zhou He had only just given birth, and already there was no work lined up for next year? How was their family of three supposed to manage?
He could only comfort him. “He has skills and strength. Whatever work he does, he’ll manage. Don’t worry. If things really don’t work out, come find people at the restaurant in town.”
“You’re starting to sound like my mother…” Zhou He was comforted by his words and stopped talking about it, changing the subject instead. “Speaking of which, have you been seeing the doctor every month? How are things with the child?”
“Not yet…” Yuan Zhao looked a little disappointed, but before Zhou He could comfort him, he cheered himself up first. “The doctor said both of us are healthy. Having a child is only a matter of time, so there’s no need to deliberately take medicine to adjust our bodies.”
Zhou He relaxed. “That’s good. Thinking about it, all the deficiencies your body had before have already been replenished, so just wait a little longer. As long as it’s not because of health issues…”
Yuan Zhao could tell he carried grievances he could not clearly express, so he asked a few more questions. Only then did he learn that because Zhou He had not conceived before, Wen Qingshan’s mother had forced him to drink all sorts of random medicines. Since he was already married off, it was hard to fight with his mother-in-law, so he endured it until Wen Qingshan found out and caused a huge argument before it finally stopped.
No wonder Yuan Zhao never saw that mother-in-law whenever he returned, and even this confinement month was being cared for by Zhou He’s own mother.
Zhou He spoke of these things partly because he was happy Yuan Zhao had married into such a good family like the Shi household.
Seeing the time was about right, Yuan Zhao prepared to leave. Zhou He’s mother tried to keep him for a meal, but he declined. After all, she still needed to care for Zhou He, and staying there would only add trouble.
After returning home, Yuan Zhao could not lift his spirits.
Madam Shi asked worriedly, “Azhao, are you feeling unwell?”
“No, no… I went to see He-ge’s child. He’s very pretty.” Yuan Zhao forced a smile. He had only gathered the courage to bring up the matter of children because he also feared Madam Shi might complain.
Of course, even if she truly made him drink bitter medicine, he would obediently drink it.
Madam Shi chuckled softly. “Why envy him? You two will have children sooner or later. If I wanted to pressure you, I would’ve done it in the first year already. You children all have your own ideas. This old woman won’t meddle in your affairs.”
If not Axiang, there was still Ayue!
And if Ayue’s side did not work either, then Ranran could marry a husband into the family. With so many children in the household, surely they would not end up without descendants.
“Thank you, Mother.” Yuan Zhao blinked hard several times and grinned foolishly.
Madam Shi patted his shoulder. “Alright, the weather’s getting colder and colder. There’s ginger tea in the kitchen—drink a bowl to warm yourself. Since you’re fine, I’ll head back to my room.”
“Okay.”
Yuan Zhao stood and saw her out, then sat by the charcoal brazier warming his hands. Only after hearing those words from her personally did his heart finally settle completely. Otherwise, he would keep overthinking, leaving his heart in chaos and making him want to lose his temper.
The maid brought over the ginger soup. Xia Lian took it and set it on the table, then conveniently placed a small plate of preserved fruits and candied snacks beside it. Ginger soup tasted awful, so one needed something else to wash the flavor down.
Yuan Zhao truly felt chilled all over. Taking the ginger tea, he held his breath and gulped it down fiercely, not daring to breathe through his nose the entire time. Only after finishing it and stuffing preserved fruit into his mouth did he dare breathe deeply again.
But the ginger taste still lingered in his nose, as if his entire body had been soaked in it. He felt even his burps would taste like ginger.
Perhaps he truly was strong and healthy. Despite all his running around outside, Yuan Zhao never got sick, and Shi Wuxiang, who returned home every day, also never suffered headaches or fevers.
Winter fully arrived.
The freezing wind was sharp and biting. Yuan Zhao had even begun considering not letting Ranran and Yuange attend the academy anymore. He felt unable to endure even going outside to the latrine. It was not even the coldest days of winter yet, but the wind already felt like knives.
“I don’t think it’s cold at all!” Yuange spoke while bumping his forehead against Yuan Zhao’s, wanting to press foreheads together. “Gege, are you catching a cold? Colds make people feel cold. Shouldn’t you see a doctor? You’re not hot though.”
“I’m not sick. Maybe the change of seasons came too suddenly…” Yuan Zhao poked his forehead. Seeing him enjoy being poked so much that he kept leaning backward, he could not help laughing.
It was probably just because winter had only begun. Yuan Zhao curled up indoors every day, not stepping outside except to use the latrine. Knowing he had suddenly become afraid of the cold, the servants kept the room especially warm, making him feel much more comfortable.
Soon the first snow arrived. This year’s first snowfall came earlier than previous years. In past years, Yuan Zhao would have been outside building snowmen and having snowball fights in the courtyard, but this year he lacked energy and only watched through the window as Ayue led Ranran and Yuange playing outside.
“Axiang, I kind of want to eat sweet potato fries…” Yuan Zhao shifted his gaze to Shi Wuxiang, lying sprawled on the table while looking at him coquettishly.
The fried sweet potato fries Axiang made were especially, especially delicious.
The outside was crisp and crunchy while the inside stayed fragrant, sweet, and soft. Every time, he could eat a lot.
Shi Wuxiang immediately put down his book. Looking at the plate of snacks Yuan Zhao had already emptied, he could not help frowning. “I can make them, but you’ve already eaten this much. Is there still room in your stomach?”
“Yes, yes, when I want to eat, there’s room…” Yuan Zhao raised his hand and poked the back of his hand, sticky sweet words spilling out effortlessly. “Axiang, good Axiang, the very, very best Axiang~”
“…Then I’ll go make some. I’ll make some other snacks too. The people outside are probably playing themselves crazy.” Shi Wuxiang sighed helplessly.
Eating more was a good thing anyway. Otherwise, he was skinny like a reed pole, making people feel like a gust of wind could blow him over.
The moment Shi Wuxiang entered the kitchen, the cooks knew he was personally cooking again. Men from other households all desperately maintained their status and would not even touch bowls and chopsticks, yet the master of the Shi family was someone who doted on his husband and loved cooking.
The cooks quickly lit the fire and stood nearby assisting him. Being helpers so often had already trained their judgment well.
Shi Wuxiang peeled the sweet potatoes and cut them into thick strips, soaked them, blanched them, drained the water, coated them with flour, then dropped them into the oil to fry. Once finished, he had people deliver them immediately. They would not taste good once cooled.
After frying the sweet potato fries, he used the same oil to fry some crispy pork and chicken cutlets too. These were all things Yuan Zhao normally loved to eat. Since he made them personally and they were clean, he was willing to let him eat them once in a while.
But this time, Yuan Zhao did not really want to eat.
After taking one bite of the chicken, he suddenly could not continue chewing and immediately spat it onto the table, placing the remaining piece back onto the plate too.
Shi Wuxiang quickly wiped things clean with a cloth. “What’s wrong?”
Yuan Zhao gagged twice. “It smells so fishy.”
“Fishy?” Shi Wuxiang turned to ask, worried he had ruined the food.
Ayue, Ranran, and Yuange, who were all eating enthusiastically, shook their heads in unison.
It was delicious!