Chapter 46: Whose Husband Is This Clingy?

Chapter 46: Whose Husband Is This Clingy?

On the day of the Lantern Festival, every household made tangyuan. After breakfast, Wen Xi joined Chen Lanfang and the others to knead dough and prep the fillings.

Everyone in the Yan family preferred sweet fillings for their tangyuan. Chen Lanfang had prepared four kinds of fillings: black sesame, red bean paste, jujube paste mixed with osmanthus honey, and brown sugar filling.

Each of the four fillings had its own distinct flavor. Wen Xi had never seen so many varieties, and the sweet smell alone made his mouth water.

Once the dough was kneaded, Chen Lanfang took out a small bowl of shelled lotus seeds and a plate of peanuts from the cupboard.

They had been carefully selected, dried, and stored before the New Year—each white lotus seed and red-skinned peanut looked plump and perfect.

Chen Lanfang poured the lotus seeds and peanuts together and said, "This year, let's do like those fancy folks in town and put something different inside our tangyuan."

Lotus seeds and peanuts were both considered good luck. Li Wan asked, "Should we put a copper coin in one too?"

Wen Xi remembered Yan Fengan's words, thinking that tangyuan were meant to be eaten, so he said, "Wouldn't a copper coin be kind of dirty?"

"Don't worry, boiling it in water will clean it." As she spoke, Chen Lanfang took a copper coin from her pocket and placed it into the boiling water in the pot. "We'll just wrap one in for good luck."

After a while, He Jin fished the boiled copper coin out of the pot, dried it with a cloth, and carefully wrapped it into a tangyuan. He said with a smile, "Let's see who in our family gets this good luck this year."

They dropped the rolled tangyuan from the bamboo sieve into the pot and boiled them for a while. The plump, white tangyuan soon floated to the top. Since they knew the tangyuan had lotus seeds and peanuts inside, Li Wan and the others let them cook a bit longer.

Once cooked, they scooped them into bowls and hollered for the men of the house to bring the tangyuan to the table.

After all the rich food these past few days, something different was a nice change of pace. The black sesame filling was rich and fragrant, the jujube paste sweet and smooth, the red bean paste soft and creamy—only the brown sugar filling was sickeningly sweet.

Country folks rarely got the chance to eat sweets, and even brown sugar was considered a rare treat. Since it was such a rare treat, Wen Xi savored every bite even though it was sweet.

Tiezhu, who got the peanut in his tangyuan, hadn't even swallowed it yet before he shouted happily.

Hearing the adults praising him, Tao'er quickly took a bite out of each tangyuan in her bowl until she found the lotus seed. Then she ran over to He Jin, beaming: "Papa, I've got good luck too!"

He Jin smiled and added another tangyuan to her bowl: "Our Tao'er is such a good girl, she's bound to have good luck forever."

There were plenty of peanuts and lotus seeds to go around, but no one knew who'd end up with the one tangyuan hiding the copper coin.

Just as Wen Xi was happily eating, he bit into a tangyuan and felt his teeth hit something hard. He paused, surprised and a little in disbelief, then used his chopsticks to pick the brown-sugar-coated copper coin out and set it on the table.

"I... I found the copper coin!"

Yan Fengan was the first to react, smiling as he said, "Looks like Xiao Xi's gonna be the luckiest one in the family this year."

Yan Fuqiu chimed in teasingly, "Xiao Xi's gonna get rich and have a stroke of good luck!"

Since they were all family, Chen Lanfang was happy no matter who got the copper coin. "Xi Geer is blessed. With such a good omen, you and Fengan are bound to have a smooth year."

Hearing everyone's kind words, Wen Xi smiled and wiped the copper coin clean with his handkerchief.

While everyone was in good spirits, Yan Fengan finished his tangyuan, cleared his throat, and announced he'd be heading back to the academy in a few days.

The academy usually opened in the first lunar month and started classes in the second. Yan Fengan had taken a six-month leave due to illness, and he had to report back to the academy before the second month to check back in and end his leave.

If he stayed away too long, not only would his stipend be suspended, but in severe cases, his academic title could be revoked.

After years of hitting the books, how could he let it all go to waste?

When Yan Shichang had originally asked the academy head for leave, the head had laid out these consequences. So hearing this, he nodded and said, "You've missed a lot of coursework with such a long leave. It's time to go back."

Even the usually joking Yan Fuqiu turned serious: "Next year is the provincial exam, which happens every three years. Third Brother, work hard and try to earn a provincial degree—let the whole family share in the glory."

Though being a scholar was something, it was the lowest rank of scholarly honors. It could impress rural farmers, but among the gentry, it wasn't enough to earn any real respect.

Yan Wangchun's eyes also shone with hope. Though he didn't say it aloud, he felt the same as Yan Fuqiu.

They had supported Yan Fengan's education without complaint, not just out of brotherly love and duty, but also with the quiet hope that one day he'd earn a title and change the family's fate.

A scholar and a provincial graduate might seem only a step apart, but their standing was worlds apart.

If Yan Fengan could pass the provincial examination, his couplets wouldn't just sell for a few hundred coppers—they could fetch a thousand or more. He could also be exempt from taxes and forced labor for himself and his whole family, and the farmland under his name would be free from grain taxes. These were all tangible benefits.

Yan Fengan felt the pressure, but he didn't say anything to bring everyone down.

Once the fifteenth of the first lunar month passed, the New Year was officially over. After eating the tangyuan, Yan Fuqiu took the two children outside the courtyard to set off the remaining firecrackers.

After helping with the dishes, Wen Xi took the copper coin he'd found back to his room. He found a red cord in his sewing basket, added a few small beads for decoration, and strung the coin into a braided pendant.

When Yan Fengan came in, he saw Wen Xi sitting on a chair holding the pendant, staring blankly into space. His eyes weren't red and he wasn't crying, but he looked utterly pitiful.

He walked over and crouched beside Wen Xi, reaching out to touch his cheek. "You're upset that I'm going to the academy, aren't you?"

Yan Fengan's studies and pursuit of a scholarly title were what the whole family hoped for. If he were upset about something like that, wouldn't he be failing to understand the bigger picture?

Wen Xi clutched the copper coin and shook his head. "No." Afraid Yan Fengan wouldn't believe him, he forced a smile. "Going to study is the right thing to do. If you pass the exams someday, I'll get to share in the glory too. Why would I be upset?"

Yan Fengan tilted his head up slightly, his gaze calm and steady on him. "In front of me, do you still need to hide your feelings and say the opposite of what you mean?"

Those words made Wen Xi's nose sting. He reached out and wrapped his arms around Yan Fengan's head, tears streaming down in big drops. "I know it's not right, but the thought of being apart from you makes my heart ache so much..."

Since marrying into the family, he and Yan Fengan had been practically inseparable. Wherever Yan Fengan went, he brought Wen Xi along, never leaving him alone.

Though there were plenty of other people at home, they were ultimately different from Yan Fengan.

Yan Fengan gently stroked his back. "If it hurts, why not just say it openly?"

Wen Xi said in a muffled voice, "I'm afraid I'll hold you back from your studies."

"Knowing you're thinking of me will only make me work harder. How could that hold me back?"

Wen Xi's nose and eyes were both red. He released his arms from around Yan Fengan and lowered his head, a bit disgusted with himself. "Whose husband is this clingy? You're going to study, not anything else. If people found out, they'd probably laugh at me for being inconsiderate."

Yan Fengan stood up, pulled him into his arms, and gently stroked the top of his head. "So what if you're inconsiderate? Other people get to be willful—why can't you? Besides, this is only natural. I feel the ache too, not just you."

Wen Xi moved his head, tilting it up to look at him with surprise. "You're unhappy about it too?"

Yan Fengan smiled helplessly. "I'm a person with emotions too. The thought of being apart from you naturally pains me. Did you think I wouldn't feel the reluctance?"

So he wasn't the only one saddened by their brief separation. Wen Xi felt a little comforted and turned to console him instead: "Don't be sad. I'll wait for you at home obediently."

Yan Fengan leaned down and kissed his forehead. "The academy has holidays for Qingming and Dragon Boat Festival. I'll come back to see you when they come."

Hearing that, Wen Xi immediately started calculating how long it was until Qingming. Less than two months—not too long, really. He could endure it.

With red-rimmed eyes, he held out the knotted copper coin pendant to Yan Fengan. "The copper coin I just ate—I'm giving it to you."

When Yan Fengan took it, he said softly, "I'm sharing half my good luck with you. Take it to the academy and let it keep you safe for me."

If it were in the past, Wen Xi would never have said such things.

He was constantly plagued by bad luck; how could he have any good fortune to share with Yan Fengan? He would have been grateful just not to pass on his misfortune.

But now, he felt he wasn't so unlucky anymore—he had even eaten the one-of-a-kind lucky dumpling, so how could that not be considered good luck?

Knowing this was Wen Xi's heartfelt gesture, Yan Fengan didn't refuse and carefully placed it in his pouch like a talisman.

Seeing him accept it, Wen Xi's lips curved slightly, and he added, "I'll help you pack your clothes."

"No rush. I don't report to the academy until the twentieth of the first lunar month. I'll still be home for a few days; we can pack in a couple of days."

"Alright."

After the Lantern Festival, it stayed sunny for several more days in a row. With nothing to do, many people went to the village entrance to take a stroll and soak up the sun.

Li Wan and Chen Lanfang took advantage of the good weather to sit in the courtyard, stitching shoe insoles and doing embroidery, while Wen Xi helped Yan Fengan organize his books and clothes inside the house.

With lots of folks dropping by these days, the courtyard gate was left wide open. Shortly after lunch, Granny Wang from next door and Aunt Li came over with shoe patterns, saying they wanted to pick up some stitching tips from He Jin.

Sitting around together, they had to find something to chat about, and gradually Aunt Li steered the conversation somewhere else.

"Lanfang, did you know? That eldest boy of the Wen family, Wen Liu, is getting hitched."

"Really? Betrothed to which family?"

Since the two families had cut ties, the Yan family rarely paid attention to the Wen family's affairs. They had heard earlier that Wen Shishan and Li Qiaozhen were scouting out matches for Wen Liu, but hadn't found a suitable one yet.

He Jin deliberately said sourly, "So this time, did he land a scholar, a provincial graduate, or is he off to town to be some rich young master's husband?"

Aunt Li covered her mouth and chuckled, "None of those. He's marrying someone right here in our village. You're all gonna be shocked when you hear who."

There were only a handful of unmarried folks of marriageable age in the village, and Li Wan's curiosity was piqued: "Oh, Aunt Li, quit beating around the bush and just tell us who it is!"

Aunt Li gestured with her lips and said, "Who else? Zhao Dahe's second son, Zhao Shoutian."

"What? Him!" He Jin was indeed stunned. "How could Wen Liu ever take a liking to someone like Zhao Shoutian?"

Granny Wang said, "What's there not to like? Zhao Shoutian offered thirty taels of silver as a betrothal gift."

There it was again—thirty taels. The Wen family really couldn't get over that number.

Chen Lanfang found it strange: "It's not that I look down on his family, but everyone in the village knows the Zhao family's situation—they're flat broke. How could Zhao Shoutian scrape together thirty taels for a betrothal gift?"

"Who knows? I heard Wen Liu brought it up himself, saying he'd marry Zhao Shoutian if he could come up with thirty taels."

Li Wan sneered, "Didn't realize he was so good at keeping his word."

Aunt Li lowered her voice, "Given what he's already been up to with Zhao Shoutian, does he dare not keep his word?"

Chen Lanfang feared she might be misunderstanding and quickly said, "No way. They haven't even tied the knot yet."

Everyone in the courtyard was married, so Aunt Li wasn't shy about embarrassing anyone: "We're all pure and proper folks, so of course we can't imagine such dirty business. But you all know what Zhao Shoutian is really like—don't go thinking he's some harmless, good-natured guy. And as for Wen Shishan and his wife, silver is dearer to them than any kin. When Zhao Shoutian laid that gleaming silver out in front of them, how could they not be tempted?"

"I heard that day Zhao Shoutian went to the Wen house not only with the betrothal gift but also with liquor. He drank till midnight and didn't leave till early morning. Folks saw it."

The Yan family looked at each other, at a loss for words.

Aunt Li, thinking they didn't believe her, went on, "I'm not making this up. This morning, Liu Jinhua was hollering at the village entrance, saying her son Liu Geer had been fed some love potion, that he got so much money but didn't think to give any to his family, insisting on giving it to someone else. She also said Liu Geer was shameless, born with a vixenish look just to seduce men..."

Liu Jinhua was loose-tongued, and there were even harsher words Aunt Li couldn't bring herself to repeat, but the gist was clear enough.

Chen Lanfang spat, "Such a disgrace should be covered up, not spread around. That old hag Liu is shameless too."

Aunt Li said, "That Liu Geer is scheming, and Liu Jinhua and Lin Xuemei aren't pushovers either. If those three get together, they'll be putting on a big show at home every day. The Zhao household is in for some real drama."

Granny Wang, being old and tender-hearted, sighed, "That Liu Geer is really pitiful..."

She stopped mid-sentence, remembering the bad blood between the Yan family and him, and changed course: "But it's his fate. With someone like Zhao Shoutian, you just ignore him. Why say such things to him? Now he's got that dog crap stuck to him and can't shake it off."

They chatted a while longer, and after Aunt Li and Granny Wang went home, He Jin couldn't help asking, "Mother, do you think Wen Liu will really marry Zhao Shoutian?"

"Didn't you hear Aunt Li? Liu Jinhua is ruining his reputation everywhere. Who else could he marry but Zhao Shoutian?"

Li Wan said, "This has nothing to do with us. Let him marry whoever he wants. The Wen and Zhao families are both troublemakers—now they're together. Let them fight all they want; we'll just watch the show from the sidelines."

He Jin was also a bit gleeful about it: "Just wait, there's bound to be more drama later."

Soon, the date for Wen Liu and Zhao Shoutian's wedding was set—the fifteenth of next month, less than a month away.

Weddings in the countryside weren't as grand as in the city, but they weren't usually this rushed either. Even if Liu Jinhua hadn't been running her mouth, people would still speculate whether something was going on.

Wen Xi rarely went out to gossip, so he only learned of this when Yan Fengan told him before leaving for the academy. His simple mind didn't overthink it, but he couldn't help being surprised at the news.

He knew how proud Wen Liu was—how could he agree to marry Zhao Shoutian?

Seeing his stunned expression, Yan Fengan ruffled his hair and said, "This has nothing to do with us. Just watch how those two families make a mess of it."

Yan Fengan had merely found a way for Zhao Shoutian to get those thirty taels of silver; as for everything else, he knew nothing.

Once he went to the academy, he'd be separated from Wen Xi for a while. If he didn't deal with those ill-intentioned people, how could he study in peace?

With a vicious mother-in-law above and a troublesome sister-in-law below, he doubted Wen Liu would have any energy left to meddle in other couples' affairs.