“Yo~ Isn’t this the man from Xu Duoyan’s house?”
Qin Xieyue was in the courtyard drying clothes.
She had just shaken out a shirt and hung it on the drying rod.
As she tilted her head, she saw a tall man standing on the path outside her yard.
She recognized him at a glance.
His features weren’t exactly striking, but he was tall, well-built, and stood upright.
From near or far, he looked far better than those delicate-faced scholars.
She had noticed him earlier when she ran into Xu Duoyan on the road.
Thinking Xu Niangzi’s hair oil was well-made and she often went over to buy it, she had taken some interest in Xu Duoyan’s man—but she hadn’t really had any improper thoughts.
But now he had shown up right at her doorstep.
Well, she couldn’t be blamed now.
Holding a basin of laundry in her arms, she walked over with swaying hips and full of charm.
“Is there something important?”
Cao Wen looked at the woman, who seemed rather enthusiastic, and smiled a little.
Standing politely outside the fence, he said,
“Big sister, may I trouble you with something?”
“What did you call me?”
Qin Xieyue almost lost her balance when she heard him.
Cao Wen politely repeated,
“Big sister, I need a favor.”
Qin Xieyue immediately straightened her twisted waist.
Her soft, boneless hands suddenly went to her waist with a snap.
“You called me what?! Big sister?!”
Cao Wen was momentarily stunned, frowning slightly.
Thirteen is a budding age; thirty is a ripe woman.
He thought the woman in front of him must be at least thirty.
Calling her “big sister” shouldn’t be wrong, right?
But then he remembered that in ancient times people were particular about proper titles.
Maybe he had underestimated her seniority and sounded a bit flippant?
Since he needed her help, he forced himself to be patient and cautiously tried,
“Da…dame?”
“Who’s your dame?! You brat, looking for trouble?!”
Startled by her booming voice, Cao Wen knew he had definitely called her wrong.
“Misunderstanding, misunderstanding. I really need your help.”
Xu Duoyan walked quickly out of the house, but slowed down as he neared Qin Xieyue’s place.
There was only an old blind granny living in Qin’s house.
She was well aware of Qin Xieyue’s character, but chose to turn a deaf ear.
The old lady was clever enough to know that Qin Xieyue wasn’t doing anything disgraceful, and since she was still fed and housed after her husband’s death, it was already more than decent.
Human nature is complex, and one can’t judge a person based on one side alone.
Even if Qin Xieyue’s reputation was questionable and she was despised by women in nearby villages, no one could criticize the way she treated her mother-in-law.
Xu Duoyan looked up at the sky, thinking that broad daylight shouldn’t be cause for concern.
But then again, Qin Xieyue was bold, and Cao Wen came sniffing after her—he might not behave properly either.
If sparks were to fly between them, wouldn’t he just be ruining the fun by showing up?
Still, they had been gone for quite a while.
If something had happened, it must be over by now.
Of course, it would be best if nothing had happened!
He’d show up just in time to give him a fright, maybe even ruin the mood…
“Ah-Yan, what brings you here?!”
A voice suddenly sounded from above, making Xu Duoyan jump.
He snapped back to reality and saw Cao Wen smiling innocently at him, showing his canine teeth.
Looking at the man coming from a widow’s house and still grinning like he did nothing wrong, Xu
Duoyan felt an inexplicable surge of anger.
He lowered his gaze and turned to leave without responding.
Only to bump into Qin Xieyue, who was leaning against the fence.
“Your man’s not bad,” she said.
Xu Duoyan’s brow furrowed, seeing the ambiguous smile on her face.
He gestured.
“Good body?”
Qin Xieyue chuckled,
“Getting married really changes people. You’re even making dirty jokes now.”
Lowering her voice, she leaned close and whispered,
“I meant he’s good to you, not his body.”
Before Xu Duoyan could say anything, Qin Xieyue sighed a little and turned to head back inside.
“Going to cook. I won’t keep you two for a meal.”
Since the hostess had made her intentions clear, Xu Duoyan didn’t say much.
He didn’t even look at Cao Wen and walked ahead on his own.
Cao Wen quickly followed.
“You came to pick me up?”
Xu Duoyan: “Went to pick vegetables. Just passing by.”
Cao Wen scratched his head.
“But you don’t have a field. Where were you picking vegetables?”
Xu Duoyan paused awkwardly.
“Mother made food. Eat quickly and go home. Still have work to do.”
“No need to help the master today. Farm work can wait a bit. After eating, let’s go to Gongshan on this side of the village and take a look. You’re familiar with the area—take me.”
Xu Duoyan said nothing, just kept walking ahead.
But after a while, he suddenly stopped.
Cao Wen nearly bumped into him.
He steadied himself and asked,
“What is it?”
Xu Duoyan gestured: “Can you understand what I’m saying?”
Cao Wen smiled as he saw Xu Duoyan finally notice.
Instead of speaking, he raised his hand and awkwardly signed: “I can.”
Xu Duoyan’s mouth parted slightly, a look of shock appearing as he saw Cao Wen’s signing.
“Did I learn badly? You don’t understand?”
Cao Wen put his hand down and said,
“Qin-jie taught me too fast and without structure. I only memorized the meanings of different signs, but can’t do them properly myself.”
Xu Duoyan’s breath hitched slightly.
He gestured a few times but couldn’t finish any one sign, switching to others, then finally said: “You’re not mute. Why go through all this trouble?”
“I want to understand you the moment you ‘speak’.”
Cao Wen added,
“And it’s not that troublesome. I learn fast—see, I’m already using it.”
Xu Duoyan looked at Cao Wen, surprised and pleased that they could now communicate easily, but his emotions were complicated.
“But I only know some basic ones. There are still some complex gestures I don’t get. You’ll need to simplify and teach me.”
Xu Duoyan didn’t respond.
Seeing his gloomy mood, Cao Wen softened his tone.
“What’s wrong? Are you upset because I learned sign language from Qin-jie?”
“I never went into her courtyard—just asked her from outside.”
Xu Duoyan shook his head.
“No, I just…I’m a bit hungry.”
Cao Wen glanced at the sun, now high overhead, and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Then let’s hurry home.”
Just as they arrived outside the Xu household, a delicious smell of meat wafted through the air.
It wasn’t even lunchtime yet, and the fragrance was already enough to make one’s mouth water.
The Xu family was poor—rarely did they have meat even during the New Year or festivals.
So today’s aroma was quite a surprise.
Even passersby couldn’t help stretching their necks to peek inside.
Xu Duoyan knew full well what kind of situation his family was in.
Although he had given all the money he got from the Cao family to Lyu Lingbi to manage—telling her to buy medicine if she got sick and eat better food when needed— both mother and son carried worries in their hearts, so they were never willing to spend much.
They scrimped and saved wherever they could.
Smelling the meat, Xu Duoyan immediately asked Cao Wen without thinking: “You bought meat?”
Cao Wen nodded.
“There was a pork stall near the rice vendor, so I picked up a bit on the way.”
Xu Duoyan thought of the sack Cao Wen had brought earlier.
He hadn’t opened it, but judging by its size, he figured it contained quite a few things.
“How much did you spend today?!”
Being questioned, Cao Wen’s heart skipped a beat.
Although Ah-Yan hadn’t taken the money he earned at home, it was clear he still held authority over the household finances!
He did a rough mental calculation—though he hadn’t bought much meat, rice, or flour, everything cost real money.
Add in breakfast from earlier, and it came to nearly 200 wen coins.
With a guilty look, he widened his eyes a bit and said: “A little over 100 wen…”
Xu Duoyan stared at him.
“…Okay, okay. Plus another 100.”
“Don’t spend so lavishly from now on.”
Cao Wen obediently nodded, but his mouth had its own opinions: “Isn’t earning money so we can eat well and stay warm? It’s not like I’m wasting it.”
Xu Duoyan silently agreed—what he said wasn’t wrong.
But having lived through too many bitter days himself, he knew what it was like to have one meal but not the next.
So when there wasn’t a long-term guarantee of stability, any temporary surplus would instinctively make him cautious.
He was about to lecture the boy, who was still young and inexperienced, when Lyu Lingbi’s voice rang out from inside: “You’re back? Come in quickly, lunch is almost ready.”
Seeing his mother-in-law speak, Cao Wen immediately responded and dashed into the house.
Xu Duoyan could only press his lips together helplessly.
Lunch was stewed cabbage with pork and white rice, accompanied by some homemade pickled vegetables by Lyu Lingbi.
No one talked during the meal.
Cao Wen buried his head in his bowl, eating large mouthfuls, thinking he might be able to collect something useful up the mountain later.
Xu Duoyan chewed in silence, still mulling over the issue of Cao Wen learning sign language.
Lyu Lingbi noticed that not only was there no tension between the two men after they came back, the atmosphere even seemed better than in the morning.
She wondered if she was just feverish and imagining things.
The three ate their meal, each lost in their own thoughts.
“Are you leaving already?”
After the meal, Lyu Lingbi saw Xu Duoyan packing a basket and asked worriedly.
Xu Duoyan originally wanted to tell his mother he was going to Gongshan in Tonggou Village.
But he figured she’d just worry and ask a bunch of questions, so he simply replied:
“I’ve already discussed it with Cao Wen. When we have time, we’ll come back often to visit you. Please take care of yourself and don’t worry about me.”
Lyu Lingbi couldn’t quite figure out why that boy had suddenly changed his ways—acting so respectful, bringing gifts like a dutiful son-in-law.
She held Xu Duoyan’s hand, looking at his delicate and handsome face, her heart full of anxiety.
She feared that Ah-Yan might be lowering himself just to keep her fed and cared for.
If that were the case…it would truly be a sin.
“Don’t overwork yourself and tire out your body.”
Xu Duoyan nodded.
When they stepped outside, they saw that Cao Wen had already split all the firewood that Ah-Yan had previously gathered, using a stone axe.
Chopped wood was scattered all over the ground.
“Let’s go.”
Xu Duoyan stepped forward and called out to Cao Wen.
“We’ll be going now, Mother. We’ll come visit again in a few days.”
Lyu Lingbi didn’t respond to Cao Wen’s casually spoken “Mother.”
She just waved to Xu Duoyan.