The Second Young Master’s Obedient Husband : Chapter 18

The next day, after the two of them had eaten breakfast, Liang Yu had Shuanzi take Su Qingyu back.

After that, Liang Yu used the excuse of work to secretly meet with Su Qingyu several more times. Each time Shuanzi came, Su Qingyu would tell Mother Su that the cloth shop had a big commission for him, that he needed to discuss embroidery patterns with the employer, and if it got late he would stay in town for the night. Mother Su now only nodded upon hearing this, and even urged Su Qingyu to hurry, not to keep the employer waiting.

As the twelfth lunar month set in, the weather grew bitterly cold. Though the distance was not long and there was a cart canopy, the journey was still miserable, so Liang Yu rarely sent for Su Qingyu anymore.

Su Qingyu stayed at home working on embroidery pieces he liked. Mother Su did not sense anything amiss, only saying that the employer was kind and urging Su Qingyu to work more carefully. Mother Su’s health had improved considerably, and she could not stay idle. Su Qingyu would not let Mother Su strain her eyes with embroidery. The family had enough silver and grain, so Mother Su no longer insisted, only doing some odd tasks.

One day, Su Qingyu went to the village well to fetch water. He had just reached the well when he heard several people gathered there talking. When those people saw him coming, their voices suddenly dropped, but their eyes drifted over, a gaze that felt particularly uncomfortable.

Those few were known in the village as gossiping busybodies. Su Qingyu did not want to deal with them, only bent his head to draw water himself. He could not lift a full bucket, so he drew half a bucket each, carrying one wooden bucket in each hand as he prepared to leave.

The few exchanged glances, and one of them suddenly laughed, speaking in a strange tone: “Some people really have good fortune, an orphan and a widow, suddenly living the good life.”

Another picked up: “Indeed, wearing new padded coats, eating white rice, even firewood delivered to their door. Who knows which god of wealth is looking after them.”

“What god of wealth,” that woman’s expression turned exaggerated, her lips curling, her tone full of mockery, “probably the attendant boy beside the god of wealth.”

The few covered their mouths and laughed, glancing at Su Qingyu from time to time, determined to make him suffer.

Su Qingyu bit his lip, ignored them, and carried his buckets to leave. The best dressed was Li Family’s wife. The Li family had good circumstances, with plenty of farmland, and the Li family man was capable, though not good-looking. He had spent quite a bit of silver to marry his wife, and after marriage treated her well, not making her work.

That Li Family wife was insatiable, feeling herself good-looking yet married to an ugly man. After entering the household she did not settle down, ordering people about and refusing to work, spending every day wandering about and loving to spread gossip. She had once tried to seduce Liang Yu and was beaten severely for it, yet still would not give up.

Any young woman or young man in the village who was good-looking or married well had been the subject of her gossip. That mouth of hers was vicious. Li Family wife slanted her eyes, glancing at Su Qingyu, her tone sour: “I heard that little servant beside Second Master Liang runs to the Su household every few days, delivering this and that. Second Master Liang isn’t even married yet. Who knows who he’s delivering them for.”

“Who else could it be? The person himself didn’t ask to be married.”

Another round of laughter.

Su Qingyu’s face burned fiercely, his lips pressed tight, carrying the buckets and walking quickly. Even after walking far away, he could still hear those laughs, like needles pricking into his back.

Only when Su Qingyu saw his own house from afar did he let out a breath. Carrying the buckets and just approaching, he saw someone standing at the courtyard gate.

Wearing a dusty old padded coat with many patches and stains, looking like a man from his figure, hunched neck, hands tucked into his sleeves, peering into the courtyard. Hearing footsteps, that person turned around, revealing a greasy face. It was Ma Shan.

Su Qingyu’s heart tightened. The hand carrying the buckets gripped the handles tighter, lowered his head, turned, wanting to take a different path through the small gate into the house.

“Oh, Brother Yu is back?” Ma Shan stepped forward in a few strides to block Su Qingyu, looking him up and down, his gaze nauseating. “Haven’t seen you out much these days. What have you been busy with at home?”

Su Qingyu kept his head down, his face somewhat pale: “Move aside.”

Ma Shan chuckled twice, not moving at all, his eyes falling on the new padded coat Su Qingyu was wearing, clearly newly made, then looking at that face, fair with a rosy glow, his complexion improved beyond measure compared to before.

“Brother Yu has been living quite well lately,” Ma Shan smacked his lips. “Who made this new coat for you? And those firewood, rice, and flour at your house, I heard they were all given by the employer? What kind of employer is so generous, giving so many things?”

Su Qingyu said nothing, wanting to walk around him.

Ma Shan blocked him again, leaning closer, his smell making Su Qingyu’s stomach turn. Su Qingyu turned his face away, his eye rims reddening.

Ma Shan lowered his voice: “Brother Yu, tell your brother the truth. Who are you really working for? What kind of work earns this much? It couldn’t be some kind of shameful work, could it?”

Su Qingyu’s face went pale, raised his head to glare at Ma Shan, like a hissing kitten, his whole body tense, trying to lower his voice to sound fierce: “Move aside!”

Ma Shan was startled by that gaze, then laughed again, laughing obscenely: “Oh, the little brother’s temper has grown. What, after finding someone to rely on, you don’t put your brother in your eyes anymore? Tell your brother which big shot it is, and when the time comes your brother will go ask for a cup of wedding wine.”

Su Qingyu gripped the bucket handles, nails digging into his palms, making himself calm down. Taking a deep breath, he suddenly raised his voice: “Mother! I’m back!”

Mother Su’s voice came from the courtyard: “Qingyu? Come in quickly, it’s cold outside.”

Next door, Auntie Wang heard Su Qingyu’s call, carried her basket and opened the door. She was about to greet Su Qingyu when she saw Ma Shan blocking him, her face darkening as she cursed: “What are you doing! Blocking a clean and proper young man, Ma Shan, do you still want any face, haven’t you been beaten enough!”

Ma Shan was a bachelor ruffian. In the past he stole family money to go gamble in town, and even angered his parents to death. Now alone and without family, he was even more of a scoundrel and rogue. In the village he bullied men and women. Before the Wang family’s youngest daughter Sister Ling was married, he had harassed her, and was blocked and beaten severely by the Wang family’s eldest and second brothers, plus Sister Ling’s childhood sweetheart. He couldn’t get out of bed for half a year, and his money was scattered away. Now his arrogance was much reduced.

Ma Shan’s face changed, stepped back, and smiled sheepishly: “Sister Wang, you go about your business, I’ll be leaving now.” As he turned he glared viciously at Su Qingyu, coldly saying in a low voice: “Fine, little brother is impressive. Your brother is leaving, will come another day.”

Auntie Wang glared again at the departing Ma Shan, pulled Su Qingyu over, and cursed again: “These worthless men, seeing an orphan and a widow, getting those wicked ideas. A toad wanting to eat swan meat, why don’t you piss and look at your own reflection. Yu, don’t be afraid of them. In broad daylight, they don’t dare do anything.”

Su Qingyu nodded obediently: “Thank you, Auntie.”

Auntie Wang cursed a while longer before feeling relieved, then pressed her basket into Su Qingyu’s hands. Inside were several steamed buns, still steaming: “I made extra this morning, take them back for your mother. Don’t refuse, refusing would be treating me as an outsider.”

Su Qingyu held the basket, the steam hitting his face, his eye rims somewhat sore: “Auntie, how can I accept this…”

“What’s wrong with accepting? Your mother, back when my husband broke his leg, how much medicine did she send over?” Auntie Wang waved her hand, then lowered her voice: “That Ma Shan creature is just a scoundrel, ignore him. And that Zhou Dalang from the west of the village, he’s no good either. These days he’s been wandering around the village, specifically eyeing young men like you. Be careful.”

Su Qingyu nodded.

Auntie Wang sighed, looked at Su Qingyu’s face, wanting to say something but stopping, finally only patting his hand: “Go on, if anything happens just shout.”

Su Qingyu carried the buckets into the courtyard, closed the gate, and slid the bolt. He leaned against the gate and stood for a good while before slowly calming his heartbeat.

He poured the water into the water vat, went into the kitchen to decoct medicine.

Su Qingyu squatted by the small stove, hugging his knees and watching the fire, watching the jumping flames. His thoughts were tangled. These words would be spoken sooner or later, would reach other people’s ears sooner or later. What would happen then? If Mother found out, what would happen? The more Su Qingyu thought, the more distressed he became, letting out a sob, burying his face in his arms, staying there for a good while.

Those words, he had long anticipated. But hearing them for real, it still hurt.

Ma Shan’s words stabbed his fragile, sensitive heart until it bled.