The Second Young Master’s Obedient Husband : Chapter 59

Liang Yu was very good at earning silver. He was a skilled hunter, and for game he intended to sell, he wouldn’t kill it all at once. He would keep it alive in the house for a few days, accumulate more, and then go down the mountain to sell. The hides he tanned were kept for their own use if good quality, and the excess sold for quite a bit of silver. If the season was right, Liang Yu would occasionally go deep into the mountains to gather rare medicinal herbs to sell to the medicine shop in town.

Su Qingyu’s embroidery sold well in the county. Southern style embroidery was rare in the north, and now that times were better, people were willing to spend silver. Some young ladies from wealthy families especially liked the southern embroidery style and would even commission Su Qingyu for specific designs they wanted. For more complex pieces, they wouldn’t hesitate to pay a tael of silver.

Life was comfortable, and the food was good. Liang Yu brought back wild game every few days, and the two of them would cook it in different ways. Su Qingyu’s cooking skills were getting better and better. Even though there were only two of them eating, he always wanted more variety. What Su Qingyu couldn’t finish, Liang Yu would take over and keep eating without complaint.

Even though they made a few extra dishes, Liang Yu had a big appetite, and there were never any leftovers.

Su Qingyu’s body was being raised to become a bit rounder.

That morning when dressing, Su Qingyu suddenly felt his waist was a bit tight. He paused, pinched his waist, and touched his face. His face was indeed a bit fuller.

Liang Yu came in from outside, saw Su Qingyu’s appearance, and his eyes carried a smile. He walked over, reached out, and touched him too, saying honestly, “You’ve gained a bit of weight.”

Su Qingyu’s eyes widened, and he looked up at Liang Yu. “Does it look bad?”

Liang Yu chuckled softly and rubbed his face, which now had a much better feel to it. “You look good.” Perhaps feeling this was a bit perfunctory, he added, “You’re more comfortable to hold.”

Su Qingyu’s face grew even redder, and he buried himself in Liang Yu’s chest, refusing to lift his head. Liang Yu laughed softly as he held him, then bit his plump cheek with great satisfaction.

They had no shortage of silver, and their days were sweet. One day after another, one month after another.

Spring gave way to summer growth, summer passed and autumn came. The days drifted by slowly, and the affection between the two grew deeper and deeper.

In autumn, the mountain goods were abundant. With the two puppies following him, Su Qingyu was no longer confined to the small courtyard. Fish in the river, chestnut trees on the hillside, mushrooms in the underbrush… When the mountain goods accumulated too much to eat, they were dried and stored away. When the day came to go down the mountain, Liang Yu would help him carry them down to sell in town, then buy Su Qingyu his favorite pastries to sweeten his mouth.

As the days passed, Su Qingyu’s original youthfulness gradually faded. His eyes carried a pure yet unknowingly alluring charm. His body was raised to become even more voluptuous, with fair skin and pink cheeks, a slender waist and rounded hips, like a flower in full bloom, exuding a mature allure born from being thoroughly pampered.

Liang Yu grew to like him even more and became even more enthusiastic about giving his little person all kinds of jewelry and buying different fabrics to make into clothes. He was only happy when his husband was dressed up beautifully.

When the villagers saw him, they all said the Su family young man had married the right person. His complexion was so good, anyone could tell he was being doted on.

There were some people whose own lives weren’t going well who secretly envied Su Qingyu, especially that Li family wife, whose harsh words had once made Su Qingyu cry in secret.

After Su Qingyu and Liang Yu got married, those few people had deliberately spread rumors in the village that Liang Yu would beat his spouse after marriage. Now the rumors collapsed on their own. Those people still put on a brave face, but secretly they were so jealous they nearly ground their teeth to bits.

But they were all cowards and didn’t dare say any nonsense in front of Su Qingyu anymore. Whether Liang Yu treated Su Qingyu well or not, the smarter villagers all knew in their hearts, and no one really believed their nonsense.

When they talked among themselves and no one agreed with them, they gradually lost interest, and the rumors slowly died away.

The young couple didn’t care what the villagers thought. As long as their own life was thriving, that was enough.

That evening, Su Qingyu was wearing a newly made pink autumn outfit while collecting dried clothes in the courtyard. The tender color made his face look even more fair with a rosy glow, delicate and lovely.

Liang Yu returned from outside. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he froze, standing at the courtyard gate and watching Su Qingyu for a good while.

Su Qingyu heard the footsteps and turned to look at him. His eyes immediately lit up, and he smiled so obediently and sweetly.

“Husband, you’re back?”

Liang Yu walked over without speaking, only wrapping his arm around his waist and looking down at him fixedly.

Su Qingyu felt uncomfortable being watched like this. His face unconsciously flooded with a beautiful pink color. He lowered his eyes and pressed his lips together, his long eyelashes fluttering continuously.

Liang Yu chuckled softly, kissed his pink tinged cheek, and said in a hoarse voice, “How can you be so good looking?”

Su Qingyu’s face grew even redder, and he leaned against his chest without speaking.

The two puppies put the prey in their mouths into their own food bowls first, then came trotting over. They circled around their feet, tilting their little chins up curiously to look at the two of them, tails wagging happily behind them. Shanfeng, on the other hand, was completely used to such scenes and was already eating the rabbit he had caught, not expecting the two of them to eat anytime soon.

Liang Yu lowered his head and kissed the top of Su Qingyu’s head. “Let’s go inside. The wind is picking up.”

Su Qingyu nodded. Liang Yu bent down and scooped Su Qingyu up into his arms, walking toward the house and kicking the door shut with his foot.

The two little things had been wagging their tails and following behind the two of them. Just as they were about to step inside, they were shut outside the door. The two puppies scratched at the door anxiously, but no one paid them any attention. They whined pitifully but still couldn’t get anyone to come. Finally, Shanfeng dragged the two little ones to the food bowls. The puppies licked the blood dripping from the rabbit and ate with loud smacking sounds.

That evening, the two of them wouldn’t be eating dinner until very late again.

…

Autumn deepened, and most of the leaves in the mountains had turned yellow.

Su Qingyu had been very busy these days. The mountain goods needed to be gathered, the mushrooms needed to be dried, and the vegetables in the garden needed to be pickled. Liang Yu also brought back a lot of game. The meat needed to be cured, and the hides needed to be tanned… There was so much to do. The two of them were busy from morning till night. Though it was tiring, they felt at ease in their hearts.

When winter was almost upon them, the two of them tidied up the house and locked the door. Carrying their fully loaded things and bringing the dogs along, they went down the mountain.

When they reached the village, the two of them first returned to their small courtyard to drop off their things, then brought some mountain goods to visit Su’s mother. Su’s mother smiled from ear to ear when she saw Su Qingyu. She took Su Qingyu’s hand and looked him up and down.

“You’ve gained weight. Your complexion is truly good.”

Su Qingyu’s face reddened, but his heart was sweet as honey.

On the way back, the two of them ran into a few village wives. They saw Su Qingyu and greeted him with smiles, their eyes roaming over him.

“Qingyu, your complexion is really good.”

“Of course. Liang Er dotes on him so.”

Su Qingyu’s face was red as he tugged hard at Liang Yu’s sleeve, wanting to leave. Liang Yu, on the other hand, was completely calm. Hearing people praise Su Qingyu, he wasn’t in a hurry to leave anymore and even called out greetings to the aunties. Su Qingyu followed along in a small voice, then pulled Liang Yu to leave quickly.

Back at their small courtyard, Su Qingyu finally breathed a sigh of relief. He glared at Liang Yu, then was pulled into another thorough kissing session.

After their affectionate moment, Liang Yu stayed home to sort through their things, while Su Qingyu took the mountain goods they had brought from the mountain and went to Mother Liang’s place first. Mother Liang wasn’t home, so Su Qingyu left the things in the main hall as usual.

After leaving, he went to deliver a share to the elder sister in law. Zhang Yun pulled him aside to talk for a good while, asking how life on the mountain was and whether Liang Yu treated him well.

Su Qingyu answered each question with a red face. When he came out, he was carrying a large cloth bag stuffed full of things Zhang Yun had saved for him on ordinary days. Fine rouge, scented cream, fabric, trinkets… Liang Feng worked at the county yamen and had more connections than Liang Yu, so he could get his hands on fresh and expensive items that weren’t available in town. Zhang Yun would always save a share for Su Qingyu and give them all to him when he came down the mountain, saving him from making trip after trip.

Liang Yu finished sorting through the things and sat in the room waiting for him. Seeing him return, he took the cloth bag as if it were the most natural thing in the world, placed it on the table, reached out, and pulled him into his arms. “Why did you take so long?”

Su Qingyu sat on Liang Yu’s lap, holding the warm water Liang Yu handed him and drinking it. After finishing the water and setting down the cup, he caught his breath and leaned against his chest. “I chatted with elder sister in law for a while.”

Liang Yu reached out to tidy Su Qingyu’s hair and asked gently, “Are you tired?”

Su Qingyu shook his head, buried his face in his chest, and rubbed against him like a kitten washing its face for a good while, messing up his hair again.

Liang Yu smiled and rubbed his head, his strong arms holding him steadily, letting him act spoiled in his embrace.