“I’m going out for a while.”
After Shi Wuxiang finished speaking with Shi Qingyue, he came out with him. He had returned early today, and even after dinner, the sky was not yet completely dark.
When Yuan Zhao heard this, he immediately stood up as well. “Then I’ll go with you. Where are you going?”
Shi Wuxiang looked at him. The young omega in front of him looked thin, but he was capable with farm work and had managed to support a struggling household on his own. Even after suffering so much hardship, life had not crushed him.
He had assumed someone so resilient would attract only decent men, but he had forgotten that in a rural village like this, such an omega was seen as the best kind of labor.
That was why Zhao Hu had thought of marrying him.
That day, he had only heard Yuan Zhao complain a little, but Zhao Hu’s mother had spoken so harshly—it was clear Zhao Hu had been harassing Yuan Zhao privately.
Shi Wuxiang regretted what he had said to Zhao Hu that day. If Yuan Zhao was going to marry in the future, it should be someone he personally vetted. Otherwise, he would never feel at ease.
Yuan Zhao had already walked up to him and waved his hand in front of his face. “What are you thinking about? Dizzy? Can you see my hand?”
“I can see it.” Shi Wuxiang grabbed his waving hand and squeezed his fingertips lightly. “I have something important to attend to. You don’t need to follow me. I’ll be back soon.”
“Oh, alright then. Be careful!” Yuan Zhao obediently agreed. “Come home safely!”
Shi Wuxiang couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t treat me like Yuan Meng.”
Yuan Zhao puffed his cheeks slightly. I’m being nice to you and you don’t like it? Annoying scholar!
Shi Zhangshi had made Yuan Zhao a new outfit and called him over to try it on. “I made it a bit loose on purpose. You’re still growing, so it should fit comfortably.”
Since his parents had died, Yuan Zhao had not worn anything new. Even the clothes on his body now were hand-me-downs from the Yuan family, washed until they were almost worn through.
Now that he finally had new clothes, he finally understood why Yuan Meng had been so excited before. He felt like jumping up in joy.
Shi Zhangshi looked him over. “I’ll take in the sleeves and waist a bit first. When you grow taller and gain weight, we can let it out again and it’ll still fit.”
They couldn’t afford to buy new clothes every season, after all.
Yuan Zhao nodded quickly. “It’s already very good. I’ll listen to Mother. Your sewing is amazing—better than the shop in town.”
“When I was younger, I actually earned quite a bit of money selling embroidered handkerchiefs,” Shi Zhangshi said with nostalgia.
Back then, life had been poor, but at least she had supported the household with her own hands. Unfortunately, fate was unpredictable, and in the end they had returned to the village.
The village wasn’t bad—but if one truly wanted to build a future, it was still better to be in town or the county. Parents always hoped to work harder so their children could have an easier life.
It was a pity things had turned out this way.
Yuan Zhao, however, was more practical. “Then I can go to town and buy some scrap cloth. Mother can embroider when she’s free, and I can sell it!”
“That would be troubling you,” Shi Zhangshi said, though she was tempted. “But what if it doesn’t sell? Wouldn’t that waste money?”
“There are plenty of young masters and young ladies in town. They all use handkerchiefs. A few coins mean nothing to them. As long as they see it, they’ll buy it,” Yuan Zhao said confidently. He had been selling goods in town for a long time and understood it well.
Shi Zhangshi was persuaded. If she could earn money at home, she wouldn’t feel so idle anymore.
By the time it was fully dark, Shi Wuxiang finally returned at a calm pace. Yuan Zhao greeted him at the door holding a torch and complained a little about his late return.
His gaze fell on Shi Wuxiang’s shoes, and he frowned. “What did you do? Why are your shoes covered in dirt? Did you fall? Let me check your feet!”
He crouched down to grab him.
The moment Yuan Zhao’s cold hand touched Shi Wuxiang’s warm ankle, Shi Wuxiang nearly kicked him away.
“Don’t touch randomly!” Shi Wuxiang grabbed his wrist and pulled him back, shaking it lightly.
Yuan Zhao: “……What do you think I am?”
Shi Wuxiang ignored him, walked over to the water vat, scooped water, and washed his feet. Then he put on his straw sandals and went inside.
Yuan Zhao gritted his teeth. “That’s my job! Why didn’t you let me pour your water? You’re so annoying!”
Shi Wuxiang couldn’t hold back a smile. “My feet, I wash them myself. If you want to wash something, wash your own. Then go back and rest.”
With that, he entered the house.
Yuan Zhao huffed like an angry calf, then obediently washed his feet and rushed back inside.
Inside, the candlelight was dim, casting Shi Wuxiang’s profile in a soft glow. The usually sharp edges of his presence seemed blurred by the light.
Yuan Zhao didn’t know how to describe it, but he just felt that Shi Wuxiang looked unusually gentle at this moment.
“I’ll change the candle for you,” Yuan Zhao said softly. “This one is too dim. It’ll hurt your eyes.”
“No need. It’s enough,” Shi Wuxiang replied.
Not long after, a bowl of warm sweet water was placed on the table. It was set a little far away so it wouldn’t be knocked over.
“You should sleep first. Don’t wait for me,” Shi Wuxiang said, glancing at Yuan Zhao’s sleepy eyes. “Or go lie down on the bed and wait.”
The words came out, and he immediately frowned.
That sounded… inappropriate.
Yuan Zhao didn’t notice. He just went to bed, spreading out like a starfish and occupying most of the narrow space.
Shi Wuxiang shook his head and continued reading.
Before long, Yuan Zhao muttered drowsily, “Ah Xiang… I forgot what I wanted to tell you. If you remember, remind me…”
Shi Wuxiang sighed softly. Of course I don’t know what you forgot.
He blew out the candle and went to bed.
The next morning.
Yuan Zhao woke up groggily and found he couldn’t move. Turning his head, he saw Shi Wuxiang’s face right beside him—and realized he was being tightly held in his arms like a trapped fish.
Shi Wuxiang woke up as well and immediately released him.
“Sorry. I was too tired last night.”
Yuan Zhao said nothing and went to cook breakfast. Shi Zhangshi was already up and busy in the kitchen.
“Mother, I’ll do it,” Yuan Zhao said quickly. “Why are you up so early?”
“You should wash up first. Aren’t you going to town to sell fish with Ah Xiang?” Shi Zhangshi smiled. “Did you forget again?”
Yuan Zhao’s eyes widened.
He really had forgotten.
“Ah Xiang!” he rushed back into the room, panicked. “Ah Xiang, help!”
Seeing him arranging everything in an orderly manner, Yuan Zhao’s anxious heart immediately settled back down. There was still plenty of time anyway—they would make it in time.
Shi Wuxiang first went to Village Chief Niu’s house to borrow a bull cart. He also borrowed several wooden buckets, since they needed to empty out the basins and large vats at home; otherwise, things would be difficult to handle later.
Borrowing the bull cart was not free. Shi Wuxiang forcibly pressed five copper coins into Village Chief Niu’s hand before managing to “drag” the cart back home.
Driving the cart would probably have to be left to Yuan Zhao.
“So I’ll drive, and you’ll guard the buckets in the back. Is that alright? Or should I bring Yuan Meng too? You can sit in front instead—don’t let your clothes get dirty,” Yuan Zhao said.
“No need,” Shi Wuxiang replied helplessly. It wasn’t as if he couldn’t endure such a thing, and sitting in front would only be cramped anyway. “Just drive.”
“Alright!”
Yuan Zhao grinned and, under Shi Zhangshi’s repeated reminders, drove the bull cart toward town.