The Second Young Master’s Obedient Husband : Chapter 78

The caravan had been traveling for three days. The fresh excitement of setting out had passed, leaving only the exhaustion of a long journey.

Liang Yu tried his best to stick to the main roads, but not every place had a main road to follow. When they could not take the main road, they had to choose dirt paths trampled out by people. The dirt paths were bumpy, and the dust kicked up by the mules and horses got everywhere. Although Su Qingyu’s small compartment had a thick mattress laid down, the jolting still made one’s bones ache.

As the journey grew longer, villages on both sides became fewer and fewer. The scenery gradually changed from wisps of cooking smoke to barren mountains and wild ridges.

During the day they could not reach places with people nearby, so at night they could only camp in the open wilderness. Fortunately, the young and strong men were all used to scratching a living from the fields and were not afraid of hardship and toil on the road. More than a dozen of the older men had also returned from the battlefield. Years of military life had made sleeping in the open and eating in the wind gradually no longer a difficulty. Many of them had rich wilderness experience too. Although the road was hard, no one had complained about hardship or exhaustion.

But Su Qingyu was different. The young man’s skin was tender and his nature more delicate. Although Su Qingyu had traveled far during the famine years when he fled, all these years he had been living comfortably and had not walked such a long distance again.

Even though he had a cart to ride, a long journey was always unpleasant. Liang Yu did not say it out loud, but his heart was constantly on edge.

Camping in the wilderness at night was much more dangerous than places with people. The men in the caravan felt uneasy. Liang Yu had them rest in place while he rode his horse with two or three men to scout ahead. He would find nearby villages to ask for directions, check which roads were good to travel, and then determine the direction for the caravan to proceed.

The first night camping in the wild countryside, Su Qingyu squatted in front of a makeshift stove built from piled stones to cook. The firewood was gathered on the spot, not very dry, and when it burned it was all smoke, choking Su Qingyu into coughing fits, tears streaming out.

More than twenty men had walked a whole day, and every one of them had a big appetite. Cooking for so many people was no easy task. When they were in places with people, Liang Yu always had them eat at village households, and when it was time to leave, Liang Yu would settle the bill with silver all at once. Su Qingyu only needed to cook for himself and Liang Yu, so he did not suffer much exhaustion.

Now in the barren mountains and wild ridges there was no other way. It was Su Qingyu’s first time cooking for so many people. Just the food ingredients alone were a big headache. Liang Yu had gone to scout the route and left Qin Cheng behind to watch over Su Qingyu. Qin Cheng saw Su Qingyu struggling with cooking and kicked the foot of a man resting nearby, telling them to help cook together.

Su Qingyu felt a bit afraid seeing so many men gather around. Qin Cheng comforted him. “So many people sitting idle anyway. Better to help cook together, so we can eat sooner and don’t have to keep starving.”

Su Qingyu recognized Qin Cheng. Liang Yu had introduced him. Thinking of Liang Yu, Su Qingyu could not help but smile, and his heart settled down. “Alright, thank you all. Some of you gather firewood to burn, and the rest help wash and chop vegetables, is that okay?”

Qin Cheng nodded and divided the men up to help with the work. After walking on the road for so long, having something else to do was a nice break. With more people bustling about, cooking a meal could be lively and cheerful too, with constant laughter and jokes.

When Liang Yu returned from scouting with his men, seeing the lively scene he could not help but be infected with a smile too. He tied up the livestock, washed his hands by the stream, walked over, hugged Su Qingyu from behind and kissed him while no one was looking. Looking at the person smiling so sweetly, he pinched his face and helped cook together too.

After eating, it was not yet the usual time to rest. Su Qingyu sat by the fire pile leaning against Liang Yu. The outer perimeter of the caravan was sprinkled with medicine to drive away insects and mosquitoes. Su Qingyu had also brought quite a few insect repelling sachets and handed them out. The fire burned bright, and the men chatted about everything under the sun. The quiet forest was not so scary after all.

The two of them leaned against each other speaking softly. Liang Yu’s hand covered Su Qingyu’s waist, massaging it for him. After sitting in the cart for so long, Su Qingyu’s legs went soft when he got down, and the way he unconsciously held his waist did not escape Liang Yu’s notice.

Su Qingyu was massaged into comfort, leaning in Liang Yu’s arms, his eyes involuntarily narrowing. Liang Yu found it amusing, lowered his head, kissed him, and asked, “Tired?”

Su Qingyu shook his head and rubbed against Liang Yu’s chest. After checking left and right to confirm no one was looking at them, he secretly kissed Liang Yu on the lips, smiling so sweetly.

Liang Yu laughed helplessly and stroked his hair. He cupped his chin with his knuckles, bent down, and kissed him thoroughly.

Su Qingyu was kissed until his face grew hot. He involuntarily wrapped his arms around Liang Yu’s neck and responded passionately. The kiss gradually became lingering, filled with dependence and comfort. Su Qingyu’s heart gradually swelled full. With Liang Yu here, those hardships and exhaustion did not seem so difficult anymore.

Once the kiss ended, Su Qingyu leaned against Liang Yu’s arms, catching his breath, listening to the men who had been on the battlefield tell the younger men about how things were back then on the battlefield. Their animated energy, their faces full of self praise and pride, made the younger men listen with faces full of longing. Someone who could not stand it kicked that man, and then they started talking about the hardships of the battlefield… laughing, scolding, vivid and lively.

Traveling consumed one’s spirit. Su Qingyu listened and gradually grew drowsy, his head nodding bit by bit, looking adorable beyond measure.

Liang Yu watched him for a while, a smile involuntarily appearing at his lips. He pulled him over to lean on his shoulder and said gently, “Sleep. I’m here.”

Su Qingyu made a drowsy sound of agreement and fell asleep peacefully before long.

…

Life on the road was not so good. Su Qingyu had expected this. Although the cart was bumpy and the food was not great, he never made a sound of complaint. When it was time to rest, while Liang Yu took men to scout the route, he would get down from the cart and actively help the caravan with work. If things were too heavy to lift, he would help move small things and tend the fire for cooking.

The journey was not all smooth sailing either. There were always people who did not adapt to the climate and got sick with headaches and fevers. The caravan kept heading south, and the climate grew much more humid, the temperature rising too. That morning a man surnamed Wang said he felt dizzy and weak all over. Having heard Liang Yu say before that Su Qingyu knew some medicine, he came to find him.

Su Qingyu set down what he was holding, asked carefully about his symptoms, and looked at his complexion. He reckoned it might be a wind cold, so he found several ingredients from the medicinal herbs. They were all mild medicines that would not cause problems even if taken when not sick.

Liang Yu came over, looked at the man’s complexion, rubbed Su Qingyu’s head without saying much more, and had the caravan stop to rest. Several men helped move that man to lie down and rest on the mule cart.

Liang Yu had Qin Cheng watch over them, mounted his horse himself, and went to a nearby town to fetch a doctor.

Su Qingyu got down from the cart, simply set up a stone stove, found a small pot, and started decocting the medicine. Once the medicine was decocted he had the man drink it. After a while the man said his throat felt more comfortable. Although he was not completely better, he looked somewhat more spirited.

After one or two hours, Liang Yu brought the doctor back. The doctor felt the man’s pulse and examined him. The condition was not serious. He wrote out a prescription and selected medicines from his own small medicine chest and from the medicinal herbs Su Qingyu had brought to prepare the formula.

Su Qingyu decocted the medicine according to the doctor’s instructions. Liang Yu rode his horse to take the doctor back. When he returned, the man had already taken his medicine and fallen asleep. Su Qingyu cleaned up the medicine dregs, sat in the cart, and flipped through a book restlessly, waiting for Liang Yu.

Seeing Liang Yu return, Su Qingyu jumped down from the cart, threw himself into Liang Yu’s arms, and rubbed against him, his mood somewhat low.

Liang Yu kissed his face and said, “It’s fine. The condition is not serious. Didn’t the doctor say so? He’ll be better after a few doses of medicine.”

Liang Yu saw the person in his arms still was not speaking, and bit his lip. “Worried?”

Su Qingyu was kissed until his face turned red, and hearing his words, he nodded.

Liang Yu said, “I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”

Su Qingyu lifted his face to look at him, and only then did he show a smile.