LW chapter 31

The weather was growing colder day by day. Chen Qing had finished making two outfits for Zhou Yuan: one for autumn and one for winter. When Zhou Yuan tried them on, he felt they fit perfectly. He looked much more handsome in them than before.

Chen Qing only glanced at Zhou Yuan briefly before looking away.

The work in the fields was almost finished. Chen Qing and Aunt Sun spent two days planting vegetables in the garden outside the house to bring some greenery and fragrance to the winter landscape.

During this time, Chen Qing also sewed and embroidered a few handkerchiefs, but his style hadn’t changed much. One handkerchief was embroidered with two small birds hidden among peach blossoms. Another handkerchief was embroidered with two mandarin ducks cuddling in the middle of a lake.

The rest were pouches embroidered with orchids and contained a talisman.

Zhou Yuan came home more frequently, but only at night. He was very busy during the day and only had time to come home and sit down when he fetched water at night.

When he arrived, Aunt Sun would retreat to her room, leaving the main room for the two of them to talk.

Chen Qing was no longer the same, blushing when talking to Zhou Yuan and unable to respond when teased.

“Where did you go today?” Chen Qing poured Zhou Yuan a bowl of water and watched him drink it.

“Didn’t I tell you I went out with Meng Qi and the others? I think everything’s ready for tomorrow.” Zhou Yuan set down the bowl as if a bowl of water had washed away all his exhaustion.

Chen Qing’s hand froze in place. “You’re leaving tomorrow? Didn’t Meng Qi just get married? Would his family let him go?”

Zhou Yuan nodded, finding it amusing. Chen Qing didn’t know Meng Qi, but he had learned to use others’ names to his advantage. “It’s a wealthy family in the area. They want to send some goods to the capital. If all goes well, we’ll be back by New Year’s.”

“The capital…” Chen Qing murmured. “I don’t know if there will be any danger.”

Zhou Yuan patted his head. “Don’t worry. No matter how dangerous it is, could it be more dangerous than the battlefield?”

Chen Qing was a little dazed. He sat down and stood up again. Zhou Yuan grabbed his hand and pressed him to sit on the stool beside him. “I decided to do this a long time ago, so I wanted to lease out the land beforehand.

“But to do this, you’ll have to be away all year. The outside world is very dangerous.” This was the first time Chen Qing had held his hand. His hand was big and covered in scars. Unlike his own hands, Zhou Yuan had a long scar on his. Seeing it, it wasn’t hard to imagine how dangerous the battlefield had been.

Zhou Yuan patted his hand. “Don’t worry. I made it back alive from the battlefield. This is just a trip.”

Chen Qing lowered his head. “All right.”

“So our cow will have to depend on you.” Zhou Yuan said with a smile. “As the weather gets colder, there won’t be any new wild grass, so you’ll have to take care of it.”

“Yeah.” Chen Qing nodded. “I know. I won’t let it lose weight.”

“Play with my brother more when you’re free and let him take you out for walks.”

Chen Qing still had some questions. “Your brother?”

Zhou Yuan smiled. “Li Xin.”

Chen Qing then remembered that Zhou Yuan had acknowledged Li the blacksmith as his godfather. Therefore, Li Xin was indeed his brother.

Unexpectedly, things had turned out this way. Li Xin, whom he thought would marry Zhou Yuan, had become his brother. As for himself…

“I’m leaving tomorrow, and you’re still burying your head in your thoughts.” Zhou Yuan was dissatisfied that Chen Qing was right in front of him yet still floating somewhere else.

“Then what can I do for you?” Chen Qing glanced at his hands.

“Meng Qi asked his wife to help him pack when he left, so I’ll have to pack by myself.”

Chen Qing immediately stood up. “Then bring it here. I’ll help you pack.”

Zhou Yuan only gave a faint smile, and Chen Qing shivered.

“Shall I go with you to help pack?” Chen Qing glanced at Aunt Sun’s closed door and hesitated.

“Let’s go.” Zhou Yuan reached out to hold his hand. Chen Qing kept looking back.

Aunt Sun leaned against the window and said, “Come back early.”

Fortunately, their houses were in a secluded part of the village. If there were more people around, they would have been noticed long ago.

It was the first time Chen Qing had entered Zhou Yuan’s courtyard. Zhou Yuan lived alone and didn’t have many belongings, so the yard wasn’t messy.

In the main room, there was a square table, and in the corner, some sawdust and wood were stacked. Chen Qing looked at Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan said, “Isn’t that the hairpin you asked me to carve last time? I tried a few times, but my hands still aren’t skilled enough.”

Chen Qing stood at the doorway of Zhou Yuan’s bedroom, and the long-lost feeling of embarrassment washed over him.

They weren’t married, nor even engaged. Now, he was entering Zhou Yuan’s bedroom. Wasn’t that inappropriate?

Zhou Yuan didn’t pay much attention to his thoughts and reached out to pull him inside.

This was Zhou Yuan’s most private space, and Chen Qing had just barged in.

Zhou Yuan’s room wasn’t as messy as Chen Qing had imagined. The blanket on the bed wasn’t folded, but it was neatly laid out.

There was a row of cabinets on one side, but the other three sides were empty, with only one side barely filled. The rest of the clothes were scattered, but the two outfits Chen Qing had made for Zhou Yuan were folded neatly.

Chen Qing folded his messy clothes, then remembered that he was going to the capital. They say that the winters in the capital are much colder than in Luohe Village, so Chen Qing packed all the thick clothes in his bag.

He buried his head in his work, and Zhou Yuan stared at him in the dim candlelight.

It wasn’t that he didn’t know how to pack. He used to be a soldier, so it came easily to him. But Chen Qing was much gentler while helping him pack.

He felt a little itchy.

A year was still too long. This time, he’d be gone for two months, and he just wanted to do something to make time pass faster.

After Chen Qing helped him pack, he decided that the clothes might not be enough to withstand the cold in the capital. “Wait until it gets cold in the capital, then buy thicker clothes. It’s too late to make any now.”

After he finished speaking, Zhou Yuan didn’t reply.

Chen Qing turned around and saw that Zhou Yuan was just staring at him. He felt a bit embarrassed under Zhou Yuan’s gaze. Zhou Yuan took the packed bag from him and stared closely at his brows.

Chen Qing swallowed. “Don’t look at me.”

Zhou Yuan hummed, but his eyes didn’t move.

Then, Chen Qing remembered the talisman he had asked for at Huaiyuan Temple. After returning from the temple, he never found an opportunity to give it to Zhou Yuan. Since Zhou Yuan was about to embark on a long journey, the talisman might be able to ensure his safety.

Chen Qing always carried the pouch with him. If he didn’t give it to Zhou Yuan now, there wouldn’t be a chance later.

He took out the pouch and handed it to Zhou Yuan. “This is the amulet I got at the temple last time.”

Zhou Yuan looked at the pouch in his hand. The fabric was probably leftover from when they made clothes for him. Though the color was dark, the bunch of orchids on it was plain, and the dark shade made it look softer.

Zhou Yuan knew about the talismans at Huaiyuan Temple. Meng Qi said that his wife had to fight to get one and that her hair got all messed up. Would Chen Qing, who always avoided people, also fight for a talisman?

He looked at the talisman and thought about how Chen Qing had been pushed around in the crowd. What had he been thinking then?

The more he thought about it, the more his heart swelled with emotion. He pulled Chen Qing to his side and wrapped his arms around his waist.

They were sitting and standing, respectively, but it didn’t seem to make a difference. He hugged Chen Qing, still able to smell the scent of soap on his clothes.

“Everything’s packed. Then I’ll head back.” Chen Qing was flustered and tried to push him away. His hand landed on Zhou Yuan’s head, but then he pulled away.

Zhou Yuan let go of one hand and pulled Chen Qing’s hand onto his head.

Chen Qing didn’t move, but he felt Zhou Yuan’s hair was stiff and prickly under his palm.

After hugging for a while, Chen Qing asked, “Is there anything else?”

Zhou Yuan still didn’t speak.

The room was quiet. The autumn chill and the chirping of the mountain insects had vanished. Chen Qing could only hear his own heartbeat.

He tried to fill the silence. “How about I make you some more dried food?”

Zhou Yuan loosened his arm around Chen Qing’s waist and reached out to touch his face. “Okay.”

The two of them went to the kitchen again. Chen Qing saw the pile of food beside them and realized he hadn’t eaten much of it. He asked Zhou Yuan to light the fire while he began kneading the dough.

Zhou Yuan said, “I’ll send the rest to you later. It’ll get damp in two months.”

Chen Qing wanted to refuse, but what Zhou Yuan said made sense. As he kneaded the dough, he thought it seemed expensive.

Zhou Yuan knew what he was thinking when he saw his eyes dart around. “If you want to give me money, then don’t come back tonight.”

Chen Qing stopped kneading the dough and his face turned red. “I don’t want to give you money.”

Zhou Yuan lit the fire, and Chen Qing made pancakes for him on the stove. As he made them, he said, “The surface should be a little drier so they’ll keep longer.”

He had just come from his hometown, having suffered from hunger and the cold on the road. If he made more, Zhou Yuan wouldn’t go hungry on the way.

“Where’s your hometown?” Zhou Yuan asked as he lit the fire.

“In Xiaxi Prefecture, Jieshi City, Linhuang Village.” His hometown was very far from Chen Qing—so far that it took him a moment to respond.

“Xiaxi.” After a moment, Zhou Yuan said, “My hometown is in Yizhou, not far from Xiaxi.”

Chen Qing nodded. “I could tell from your accent that it’s kind of like mine.

“How did you get all the way here?” They chatted as the fire crackled.

Chen Qing’s hands didn’t stop moving, and he grilled one pancake after another. “I went to Yizhou and almost stayed there.”

“Huh?”

Chen Qing recalled something from years ago. “But I don’t remember the name of the place. Something unexpected happened, so I kept going until I met my mother.”

Zhou Yuan was curious about Chen Qing’s past, but he knew they wouldn’t finish talking in one night. He wanted to wait until they were married. Then, Chen Qing could curl up in his arms, and they could talk about the past and plan their future.

After Chen Qing helped Zhou Yuan grill the pancakes, it was late. Zhou Yuan carried the leftover food and walked him home.

“I’m leaving early tomorrow morning, so you don’t need to get up to see me off.” Zhou Yuan stopped at his door and didn’t rush back.

Chen Qing looked up and saw that Aunt Sun’s candle had gone out.

“Then be careful on the road.” He took a bag of food from Zhou Yuan. “Then I’ll go back?”

Zhou Yuan didn’t let go. He’d be gone for two months this time, and he needed something to support him on his journey.

The lantern’s flame was nearly extinguished, and Chen Qing looked at Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan looked at him, too.

He gritted his teeth, stood on tiptoe, and tried to kiss Zhou Yuan on the cheek.

However, Zhou Yuan was much taller. Despite his efforts, Chen Qing only lightly touched Zhou Yuan’s chin.

Zhou Yuan’s chin was rough, and the unshaven stubble pricked Chen Qing.

However, Chen Qing’s courage ended there. He was afraid that Zhou Yuan would tease him and was incredibly embarrassed. His strength failed him at that moment, too.

He grabbed the bag of food from Zhou Yuan and ran into the house in a panic.

Zhou Yuan was stunned for only a moment before Chen Qing fled. He touched his chin, lowered his head, and smiled.

It was rare. Chen Qing was like the hardest quail to catch in the mountains. Zhou Yuan finally nodded his head. Now, he could only stand still and watch Chen Qing slowly draw closer.

Zhou Yuan climbed the wall to get in, helped lock the door, and then climbed the wall again.

Seeing the shadow swaying near the window, Zhou Yuan instantly forgot about the exhaustion he felt all day and thought that tomorrow would be a good day too.

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