The Second Young Master’s Obedient Husband : Chapter 26

On the thirtieth day, Su Qingyu got up early to sweep the courtyard and put up the door couplets. The couplets were sent over by Liang Yu, who said his older brother had written them offhand. He told him to just put them up casually. Red paper with black characters, pasted on the door frame, they looked festive. In the kitchen, meat was stewing and cakes were steaming. The aroma floated all over the courtyard.

Mother Su was also helping in the kitchen, a smile on her face, her complexion better than it had ever been before, full of energy.

“Qingyu, about the Liang family… shouldn’t we send something over?” Mother Su suddenly said. “This year we’ve been so much in their debt. It’s the New Year now. We should show our gratitude.”

Su Qingyu froze for a moment, lowered his head, and gave a soft “mm.”

That afternoon, Su Qingyu steamed a pot of cakes and wrapped up some of their homemade fried meat. He packed a full basket and headed toward the Liang house. He didn’t meet many people along the way. Everyone was at home preparing for the New Year.

He knocked on the gate of that small courtyard. When Liang Yu saw Su Qingyu and the basket, he raised an eyebrow.

“New Year’s gift?”

Su Qingyu nodded, his face a bit red, and handed the basket over. “Cakes made at home, and fried meat. Second Brother Liang, try them.”

Liang Yu took it, gave it a glance for show, then busily pulled the person inside.

The courtyard gate closed. Su Qingyu was pressed against the door panel, and Liang Yu kissed him fiercely.

When the kiss was done, Liang Yu pressed against those reddened lips, slowly rubbing them, his voice carrying a smile. “Come keep me company for the New Year vigil tomorrow?”

Su Qingyu pressed his lips together and said softly, “My mother is alone…”

Liang Yu looked at him. “Then bring your mother over too. Celebrate with our family. More people, more lively.”

Su Qingyu’s eyes grew a bit hot, but he shook his head and said, “That won’t do. Too eye catching.”

Liang Yu thought about it and didn’t insist further. He lowered his head and kissed him again.

“Then I’ll come get you on the second day.”

Su Qingyu nodded.

The two of them hugged behind the door for a while before Su Qingyu took the empty basket and went back.

The Liang family set out two tables of feast that evening. The whole big family was bustling and lively, the room full of happy laughter.

Liang Yu picked up a chopstick of vegetables, slowly chewing, his thoughts drifting off without him noticing.

Mother Liang saw his absentminded look, sighed, and put a piece of meat in his bowl. “Eat. What are you spacing out for?”

Liang Yu gave an “mm” and lowered his head to eat the meat.

Mother Liang looked at her son like this. How could she not know who he was thinking about? She sighed and said in a low voice, “That child is still in mourning.”

Liang Yu didn’t speak.

Mother Liang glanced at him. “As long as you have a plan.”

After the New Year’s Eve dinner was finished, those keeping the vigil stayed up, and those who were tired went back to their rooms. Liang Yu returned to his small courtyard, pushed open the door, and the room was cold and quiet. The charcoal brazier had been lit long ago, but it still felt empty.

Liang Yu tossed and turned several times, but his mind only grew more muddled.

The soft waist, the white skin, that bright red birthmark, and those watery eyes, looking at him with red rims, the cool feeling when he held his fingers…

Liang Yu turned over, took a deep breath, cursed himself under his breath, and forced himself to sleep.

Su Qingyu made dumplings that evening, pork and cabbage filling, thin skins and thick filling. When they were cooked, he brought them to the table, along with a whole table of dishes. Mother and son had a good New Year.

Su Qingyu ate the dumplings, wondering what Liang Yu was eating over there.

After eating and cleaning up, he helped Mother Su lie down. Su Qingyu returned to his small room, lay on the kang, thinking about that face, thinking about all those kisses and hugs, thinking about those nights, his heart all in a mess. He tossed and turned and couldn’t sleep, and only somehow drifted off in the middle of the night.

On the morning of the second day, Shuanzi came to pick him up. Su Qingyu told Mother Su, then got on the ox cart.

Entering that small courtyard, Liang Yu was standing in the yard waiting for him, wearing a newly made indigo long robe, his hair tied up neatly, looking a bit more proper than usual. Seeing Su Qingyu come in, he waved at him.

Su Qingyu walked over and was pulled into the room. In the main hall, a table of wine and dishes was laid out, chicken and duck and fish and meat all present, along with a pot of warmed wine.

“Sit.” Liang Yu pressed Su Qingyu onto the stool, poured a cup of wine and pushed it over. “Try it. This is good wine brought back from the prefectural city.”

Su Qingyu took a sip, coughed until he was choking.

Liang Yu looked at him like that, propped his head on his hand, and laughed heartlessly without end, drawing an angry glare from Su Qingyu. When Liang Yu had laughed enough, he pulled him over, held him and kissed him and coaxed him, and the two of them were sticky and close, kissing again.

Eating and drinking, the sky outside slowly darkened. Liang Yu lit the lamp, closed the door, pulled a red paper packet from inside his clothes, and stuffed it into Su Qingyu’s hand.

“New Year’s money.”

Su Qingyu froze for a moment. “You already gave it…”

“That was for Young Master Su,” Liang Yu leaned close to his ear, warm breath spraying on that red ear tip, his voice carrying a hoarseness. “This is for my Qingyu.”

Su Qingyu’s face instantly went red. He clutched that paper packet in his palm, gripping it tight.

That night, Liang Yu wanted him several more times.

Perhaps because it was the New Year and he was happy, perhaps because he had drunk wine, he was a bit fiercer than usual. Su Qingyu was tossed and turned until he was worn out, crying and calling out, calling out and crying again, pitiful and begging, but very obedient, doing whatever he was told.

The next day, Liang Yu sent him back on time.

In the days that followed, Liang Yu always found opportunities to go out.

Today he went to the east end of the village to borrow a plow, tomorrow he went over there to check the snow conditions, the day after he said he was helping someone carry things. Every time he could make a detour behind those few adobe houses, and every time the kitchen window would be cracked open a bit.

One time, when it was almost dark, he climbed in from the back courtyard and stayed in the kitchen for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Su Qingyu was blocked by him against the stove edge, his face completely red, his lips sucked until they were red, his collar loose, revealing half a collarbone with a few new marks added on top.

Liang Yu’s palm pressed against his waist, through the thin old padded coat, he could feel the skin underneath trembling finely. He wanted to go lower, but Su Qingyu pressed his hand and shook his head.

“Mother is inside…”

Liang Yu’s breathing grew heavy, but in the end he let go, pulled his collar together, bit his back molars, lowered his head and kissed him fiercely again.

“I’m going.”

Su Qingyu nodded, clutching his fingers, and only let go after a good while.

Liang Yu climbed over the courtyard wall, walking back through the snow with deep steps and shallow steps, cold wind blowing, but the fire in his heart took half the day to suppress.

That night, Liang Yu lay in bed thinking over and over about Su Qingyu’s appearance, a soft and fluffy person yet so resilient. Thinking and thinking, his body grew hot again, tossing and turning unable to sleep. In the end he got up and took a cold water bath, and that heat slowly subsided.

Damn it.

Liang Yu cursed under his breath, returned to bed, stared at the ceiling and gave a bitter laugh.

Twenty two years old, and for the first time he understood, missing someone was this kind of taste.

Even kissing and hugging had to be done at the right moment, secretly and quietly, afraid of being seen, afraid of ruining his reputation.

Liang Yu turned over and buried his face in the pillow.

The pillow seemed to still carry some scent. Liang Yu took out the handkerchief from his clothes and buried his face in it again, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.

Just have to endure it slowly.