Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Back at the house at the foot of the mountain, Zhong Yizhu had just placed the basket on the table in the main hall when he turned and saw Pei Mu holding tools and a basket, looking ready to head out.

Zhong Yizhu was momentarily startled. It was already past noon—was he going up the mountain at this hour?

He called out to Pei Mu.

"Pei Mu, what are you going to do?"

Pei Mu paused and replied, "I'm going to check the traps I set yesterday. I'll be back later."

"Oh..." Because the return visit to his mother's home had interrupted things, Zhong Yizhu had already put aside the awkwardness between them from the morning. Suddenly remembering what he had wanted to mention last night but hadn't gotten the chance to, he quickly brought up the land and asked Pei Mu what he planned to do.

Bringing ten mu of land into his husband's family was rare even in the town, let alone the village. But given that it was Zhong Yizhu and Sun Yunniang, it didn't seem all that surprising.

Pei Mu thought for a moment, did a quick mental calculation, and quickly made a decision: "Better rent it out. You handle it. I'm not good at farming. If the crops don't grow well and hunting doesn't bring in anything either, we'll lose on both ends."

"Alright."

Zhong Yizhu had already guessed Pei Mu would choose this after seeing his hunting skills, so he wasn't surprised.

He nodded, quickly filled a cloth bag with snacks, and ran out to hand it to Pei Mu.

"Here, take this in case you get hungry. Be careful on the way."

Pei Mu looked at the bag in his hand, then at Zhong Yizhu. Only when Zhong Yizhu raised an eyebrow in slight confusion did he take it and hang it at his waist.

After walking for a while, Pei Mu stopped on a whim and turned back to look at the house at the foot of the mountain.

The few mud-brick rooms still looked the same—rough, dark, no different from many other houses in the village. But somehow, something felt different now.

A startled bird flying out of the forest interrupted his thoughts. Pei Mu glanced sharply into the woods, then softened his steps and hurried over.

At the foot of the mountain, Zhong Yizhu finished putting the basket in order and prepared to go find the village head to discuss renting out the land.

It wasn't proper to show up empty-handed when asking for a favor. He wrapped a portion of pastries in oilpaper, thought for a moment, then wrapped another portion of snacks to give to Chen Xiaorong when he passed by the Wang family.

When Wang Ping'an and his husband had come to propose, they had followed Pei Mu to his house. Later, at the wedding, Chen Xiaorong had stayed with him in the bridal chamber. Since they were both close to Pei Mu and had treated him warmly, he naturally wanted to remember their kindness.

Zhong Yizhu locked the door, picked up the two oilpaper packages, and headed into the village.

Pei Mu had said the Wang family lived in the first house heading toward the village. When they had passed by during the return visit, no one seemed to be home. At the time, his mind had been on other things, so he hadn't paid much attention.

Now, as he approached, he saw Wang Ping'an and his husband unloading things in the yard. They looked like they had just returned from a trip.

Chen Xiaorong spotted Zhong Yizhu first. He called out, "Zhu Ge'er? Come in and sit down!"

As he spoke, he rushed to the gate, took Zhong Yizhu's hand, and invited him inside, warm and welcoming.

Zhong Yizhu handed him the oilpaper packages and said with a smile, "I won't come in, Xiao Rong Ge. I still need to go to the village head's house. These are snacks my mother bought for me. I've shared some with you—I hope you don't mind."

Chen Xiaorong had worried at first that Zhong Yizhu, being a young man from the prefectural city, might not get along with the villagers, and that he might become distant from Pei Mu's family. But seeing Zhong Yizhu like this, with a beautiful smile, he felt nothing but joy. "Mind? I should be thanking you! As it happens, I promised Aunt Sun I'd buy her some colored thread, and I've just gotten it. I'll go with you to the village."

Chen Xiaorong took the oilpaper packages inside, said a word to Wang Ping'an, then came out with the colored thread and walked with Zhong Yizhu toward the village.

Chen Xiaorong was gentle by nature and knew the village far better than Zhong Yizhu. As they walked, he told Zhong Yizhu about village affairs. When he heard that Zhong Yizhu was going to ask the village head to help find a family to farm the land, he started pointing out which households were hardworking and which were lazy and dishonest.

"But the village head will surely find someone trustworthy. I'm just telling you this so that you'll know what to expect and won't be fooled later."

Chen Xiaorong spoke carefully, and Zhong Yizhu listened attentively. The two were so absorbed in their conversation that they didn't notice two people blocking their path until they nearly collided with them.

Chen Xiaorong steadied Zhong Yizhu and looked up, somewhat irritated, but his expression changed the moment he saw who it was.

He pulled Zhong Yizhu, trying to go around them, but someone grabbed Zhong Yizhu's sleeve.

A pretentious female voice came from beside him: "So, now that you're married, you don't even acknowledge your husband's family? Is that the proper way of you city folks?"

Zhong Yizhu stopped and frowned at the middle-aged woman and the young man who had inexplicably blocked their way. Realizing that these two were targeting him, he also understood their identity from her words.

Sure enough, when Chen Xiaorong turned and saw the woman holding onto Zhong Yizhu, he retorted sharply, "What husband's family? Were you at their wedding? What gives you the right to call yourselves family?"

The young man beside the woman was not one to back down. He glanced sideways at Chen Xiaorong. He seemed no more than thirteen or fourteen, fairly good-looking, but with his brows raised high, he put on a mean expression.

"What does this have to do with an outsider like you? Why are you butting in?"

He obviously looked down on Chen Xiaorong. After speaking, he didn't even wait for Chen Xiaorong's reaction; he turned to Zhong Yizhu.

When his eyes met Zhong Yizhu's, jealousy flickered briefly, then he adopted a falsely sweet tone.

"What are you looking at me for, sister-in-law? You might not know me, but you should know Mother, right? As expected of someone from the city—so high and mighty. It takes Mother herself coming to find you before you deign to see her, huh?"

As he spoke, he hooked his arm through hers and lifted his chin, the implication clear.

Chen Xiaorong was not quick-tongued. Every time he faced this family's unreasonable and twisted logic, he felt stifled, unable to speak his mind or swallow his anger. Realizing these two had been waiting specifically for them, he tugged Zhong Yizhu's sleeve, wanting to leave, afraid Zhong Yizhu would be bullied.

But Zhong Yizhu spoke up.

"Do I know you, young man? Don't go claiming kinship. And as for me, on my wedding day, I only bowed to heaven and earth. I didn't see any mother-in-law. Please let go of me, ma'am. I have things to do."

The woman and the young man were both taken aback by Zhong Yizhu's reaction. They hadn't expected that.

The woman was Tian Shi, Pei Song's second wife, and the young man was Pei Shui, the son of Tian Shi and Pei Song.

Zhong Yizhu had never met them before, but he immediately connected them to the rumors he'd heard.

He didn't want to get entangled with them. He pulled his sleeve free and turned to leave with Chen Xiaorong. But Tian Shi and Pei Shui had come prepared and wouldn't let him go so easily.

Seeing that subtlety wasn't working, Tian Shi barked, "Stop! Don't you have any manners? You don't know me? Then let me tell you this—I am Pei Mu's mother, and this is Pei Mu's brother. Who do you think you're kidding with this act?"

Some nearby households heard the commotion and poked their heads out to watch. Seeing it was this group, they watched with interest.

Chen Xiaorong looked around, saw that the two wouldn't let up, and became both anxious and angry. "What exactly do you want?"

Tian Shi was not yet forty and, probably because she didn't do much farm work, looked younger than most women her age in the village. But the same mean expression she and Pei Shui shared made people instinctively dislike her and keep their distance.

She looked at Zhong Yizhu, her tone was contemptuous.

"That jinx Pei Mu doesn't get along with our family—our auras clash, we're better off staying apart. But his new husband hasn't even come to pay respects to his in-laws? I'm just kindly reminding you, lest you earn a reputation for being unfilial and get struck down by lightning."

Zhong Yizhu looked back at Tian Shi.

Ever since his father had passed away, every time he thought he had seen the worst in people, someone new would come along to broaden his horizons.

Pei Song and Tian Shi had already sent Pei Mu to the battlefield, where he nearly lost his life, and still they weren't satisfied. Now they were setting their sights on him, throwing the heavy charge of being unfilial at him, trying to control and use him. If they could use him to control Pei Mu, or even make Pei Mu resent him, that would be an outcome they'd welcome.

Zhong Yizhu smiled back at her, his tone equally feigning concern.

"My husband and I are already married—two husbands united as one, bound together. If I go to your house and something happens—a headache, a fever, or some calamity or retribution—you'll blame me, won't you? I can't bear that."

Tian Shi hadn't expected, before she came, that this seemingly beautiful and naive young man from the prefectural city would be such a tough nut to crack. Her face shifted as her mind raced, still plotting how to counterattack to achieve her goal, but Pei Shui beside her had already lost his temper.

He glared at Zhong Yizhu, frowning: "If you don't want to be filial, just say it. Why make so many excuses? You're carrying pastries in your hand and run into your mother-in-law without offering them—some filial piety that is? You and that jinx Pei Mu are truly a perfect match."

Zhong Yizhu's expression suddenly turned cold. He stared at Pei Shui, who inexplicably felt a twinge of fear and instinctively looked away, unable to meet his eyes.

The next moment, he heard Zhong Yizhu speak coldly.

"I enjoy my parents' protection, follow their teachings, and honoring them is only natural. I have a clear conscience before heaven and earth. You can't just call me unfilial with your lies. You didn't show your faces once between my engagement and my wedding, yet now you come to talk to me about filial piety?"

"As for the pastries..."

Zhong Yizhu glanced at the pastries in his hand, then back at Pei Shui.

"Wanting to eat pastries isn't hard? It probably won't fly in the village, but let me give you some advice. Head to the bustling West Street in Rongyang Prefectural City. Beg for a day, and you should be able to afford a piece—no problem at all."

After finishing his piece in one breath, ignoring Pei Shui's face flushed with rage and Tian Shi's curses she couldn't hold back, Zhong Yizhu pulled Chen Xiaorong away.

They kept walking until they turned a corner and the noise of the crowd behind them faded. Chen Xiaorong tugged at Zhong Yizhu's sleeve. "Zhu Ge'er, don't be angry. It's not worth getting upset over people like that."

Only then did Zhong Yizhu realize he had been scowling. He relaxed his expression and turned to Chen Xiaorong with some apology. "I'm not angry, Xiao Rong Ge. I'm sorry for dragging you into that and getting you scolded too."

Chen Xiaorong shook his head nonchalantly. "If I'm mad at anyone, it's them. Why are you apologizing to me? And this is nothing compared to what they've done to Brother Pei. This family is cruel and malicious—better to stay far away. Zhu Ge'er, you did the right thing."

Chen Xiaorong had originally thought Zhong Yizhu, having grown up pampered, wouldn't be a match for the Pei family scumbags. But now he saw that the young man had a clear head.

He felt relieved. Pei Mu had suffered for so many years, and at last, heaven was showing him some kindness by letting him marry such a good spouse.

The two young men walked together a bit further before parting ways at the village chief's gate to attend to their own matters.

After Zhong Yizhu explained his purpose to Liu Youzong, Liu Youzong immediately agreed to handle it. He even went out with Zhong Yizhu, ready to find a farmer.

They were in a hurry because the planting season was pressing and also because Zhong Yizhu's favorable rental terms gave the poor families in the village a lifeline. As the village chief, Liu Youzong naturally wanted to see everyone in the village do better.

Zhong Yizhu had hoped to chat with Tao Ge'er, but unfortunately, Tao Ge'er had gone to town with Zhou Shaofen and his elder brother's family. So he didn't linger, planning to catch up another time.

When he got home, Zhong Yizhu looked around the house and yard but found nothing to do. They had no poultry, no crops, so there were few chores. The water vat was full, the firewood was neatly stacked. His daily tasks were just cooking, sweeping the yard, and doing the laundry—that was all.

Pei Mu was the cleanest man he had ever met. Men generally weren't as particular about hygiene as xiaoge'er or women. With his sharp nose, Zhong Yizhu would often catch unpleasant smells in crowded places during summer. But Pei Mu always smelled clean, and despite being a hunter, his home was exceptionally tidy.

Fortunately, he married Pei Mu. Sometimes Zhong Yizhu wondered idly: if he had married a slovenly man, he'd probably never get a good night's sleep.

He'd already cleaned the house that morning. Zhong Yizhu washed the vegetables for the evening meal and set them aside, thinking he should ask Xiao Rong Ge about growing vegetables one of these days.

Before, Pei Mu lived alone, occasionally picking vegetables from Wang's garden. Now that Zhong Yizhu had free time, he could clear a patch of land next to the yard to grow enough vegetables for themselves. It couldn't be too hard, he figured.

When he came out of the kitchen, it was still early. Zhong Yizhu went into the inner room and took out a box of incense materials from his dowry chest.

He had been nursing a vague idea ever since he was driven out to live with his mother in the village.

He wanted to try his hand at making incense to sell.

That was his strong suit. Compared to farming, embroidery, or cooking... his chances of making a living and supporting his mother were much better with incense-making.

But every time this thought popped up, he would suppress it. He hadn't even told his mother.

Since childhood, his father had said he had a talent for making incense, but his grandmother dismissed it as a child's game. As he grew older, she wouldn't let his father take him to the incense workshop, calling it foolishness. Even the incense masters always praised his cousin's incense, but never praised him...

And he was just a young man—how could he set up his own business?

Zhong Yizhu shook his head. With nothing else to do, he recalled the cheap incense balls he had seen at the market last time and Tao Ge'er's remark that he had never seen such balls before. He decided to try making some himself. What if... what if he could sell them?

He stared blankly for a moment, then carried the box to the yard, washed his hands, and began making incense balls.

When someone is absorbed in something, time slips away unnoticed. The sunlight in the yard gradually slanted and then faded into dusk. Zhong Yizhu was still focused on his work, oblivious.

When Pei Mu pushed the door open, this was the sight that greeted him.

His new husband was sitting at the small table in the yard, earnestly rolling mud balls, not even noticing his entrance.

Not bad, those mud balls were perfectly round, much better than Pei Mu's own pastry-making skills.

Pei Mu had just learned from Chen Xiaorong about Tian Shi and Pei Shui causing trouble for Zhong Yizhu during the day. Since the trouble stemmed from him, he had to take responsibility.

Chen Xiaorong told him to soothe Zhong Yizhu, but Pei Mu didn't know how to comfort people.

On his way back from Wang's house, Pei Mu racked his brain and finally remembered how Zhong Yizhu had once traded a load of firewood for wild fruit.

He had been thinking of offering to go into the mountains tomorrow to find some rare fruits as an apology, but seeing this now...

Pei Mu frowned. Could he have been so angry that he'd gone silly?

Author's note: Little Zhong, don't listen! It's a bad review... Thanks for the support, everyone~

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