The Second Young Master’s Obedient Husband : Chapter 15

A young man’s reputation was extremely important in the present world. Fearing that filthy gossip might spread, Liang Yu had sent him back so early.

Shuanzi drove the cart both fast and steady. When the ox cart stopped at the Su family courtyard gate, the sky was not yet fully bright.

Shuanzi jumped down from the cart and helped unload that large basket of things, carrying them trip by trip into the house. Su Qingyu stood at the courtyard gate, watching those things being moved inside, unable to describe what he felt in his heart.

“Brother Su, is there anything else you need help with?” Shuanzi asked, rubbing his hands together.

Su Qingyu shook his head, pulled a few copper coins from his chest, and handed them over. This time Shuanzi did not refuse, took them and tucked them into his chest, grinned, and ran off.

Su Qingyu closed the door and stood in the courtyard, taking a deep breath.

Su Qingyu entered his mother’s room on light feet. The hour was still early, and his mother was still asleep. He touched her forehead and let out a breath of relief. No fever. These past days she had eaten well, and the medicine had never been lacking. His mother’s complexion had improved considerably. Su Qingyu silently watched his mother for a while, then carefully stepped out again.

Su Qingyu looked at that large basket of things and felt troubled. Before, when there were fewer things, his mother had been ill and her mind not very clear. He had disposed of the medicine dregs early so she would not discover them, and those things could still be passed off as borrowed. Now that there were more things, his mother would sooner or later notice something amiss.

Su Qingyu sighed, cast those complicated thoughts to the back of his mind, and with great interest set about organizing that large basket of things. He hid the silver in the deepest corner of the kang stove, folded the cotton cloth and placed it in the cabinet, and hung the several strings of cured pork from the beam of the back room. The oil paper packages contained several kinds of pastries giving off a sweet fragrance, and there was also a large package of medicinal herbs, all things from the mountains, of long vintage and good effect.

That silver hairpin, Su Qingyu took it out and looked at it for quite a while, before wrapping it in a cloth and hiding it beneath his pillow.

When he took off the large padded jacket, Su Qingyu paused. It still carried Liang Yu’s scent, a faint fragrance of soapwort, mixed with the smell of charcoal fire. He held it in his arms, buried his face in it and rubbed against it, and only after a while did he fold it neatly and place it on the topmost shelf of the cabinet, changing into his own small jacket.

While cooking, the fire in the stove reflected upon his face. Su Qingyu stared at those flames, yet his mind kept surfacing that face, those eyes, and those words, and his earlobes grew hot again.

The sky brightened.

Movement came from his mother’s room. Su Qingyu carried in hot water to attend to his mother’s washing up, and the two of them ate. Su Mu’s health had improved somewhat, and she could now get out of bed and walk a few steps, doing some scattered chores.

Today the sun came out. Su Qingyu moved his small stool and found a sheltered spot in the courtyard to embroider handkerchiefs. The more he embroidered, the more he could take to town to sell and accumulate some silver.

Just as he was working, the courtyard gate was knocked upon. His mother opened the door, and the person who came was Shuanzi.

Shuanzi wore a smile on his face, pretending not to recognize Su Qingyu. He was carrying two large baskets in his hands. “Greetings, Su Auntie. Today the master household slaughtered several pigs, and Master Liang instructed that we deliver some to the struggling families in the village, so they can eat well after working hard all year.”

Shuanzi said this and set down one of the baskets, looked left and right, and lowered his voice: “Our village head is kindhearted, knowing that you mother and son have it hard, so he sent more things. The hard times have passed, and good days are all ahead. Brother Yu went to our Second Master yesterday saying he wanted to find some work to do. Our Second Master is also a top notch good person, and took the trouble to find Brother Yu a good job. The newly opened Yuqing Cloth Shop in town collects embroidery from skilled embroiderers, and since Brother Yu’s skills are good, the shopkeeper took a liking to him and wants Brother Yu’s embroidery to be supplied exclusively to their shop. The price they give Brother Yu is two tenths higher than what others pay outside. Brother Yu can work from home and only needs to go to town each month to deliver the agreed upon amount.”

“Auntie, I still have to deliver meat to other families, I’m off.” After saying this, Shuanzi picked up the other basket and ran off in a flash. Su Mu wanted to call out thanks but could not catch him. The door closed, and Su Mu carried the basket inside, still somewhat in disbelief. Su Qingyu stepped forward to help carry the heavy basket and set it in the courtyard. Su Mu rummaged through it, her eye rims reddening. “There’s rice, there’s meat, and there’s medicine… Village Head Liang is truly a great good person.” Su Mu said through tears, “And he found you work, the master is a good person… Qingyu, is it true?”

Su Qingyu was also quite surprised to see Shuanzi delivering things, but he steadied his mind and nodded, making a sound of acknowledgment: “It’s true, Mother. Yesterday I went to find Liang Yu, and Liang Yu said the master knows our family has it hard. The master is benevolent, and also had Liang Yu help deliver things to aid us. There are many things, and he even sent us mother and son cotton padded garments, very thick.”

Su Mu cried even harder, hugging Su Qingyu, weeping as she spoke: “That’s good, that’s good… your father in heaven has finally blessed us…”

Su Qingyu held his mother, patting that emaciated back, his eye rims red, yet he did not cry.

In her great joy, Su Mu’s not yet fully recovered body could not quite bear it. Su Qingyu helped his mother into the room and had Su Mu lie down to rest.

After Su Mu rested, Su Qingyu returned to his own small room. The thing he had worried about was no more, and he was very happy, humming a little tune as he continued to embroider the handkerchief, his eyes bright and shining.

For several consecutive days, Su Qingyu did not go out, staying at home to embroider.

It was not that he did not want to, but that he dared not. That place between his legs was still sore, and when he walked it chafed somewhat painfully, reminding him of that day’s events. He could only stay at home, doing some needlework, keeping his mother company and chatting.

These past days Su Mu had improved considerably, able to get out of bed and move about, occasionally even fumbling to do some simple chores. Su Qingyu would not allow it, but Su Mu said she had lain for so long that her bones had grown stiff, and moving about was good for her.

That afternoon, Su Qingyu sat before the window doing needlework, making a new pair of cotton padded shoes for his mother.

A knocking sound came from outside.

Su Qingyu set down his needlework and got up to open the door. The door opened, and he froze for a moment.

Liang Yu stood outside the door, carrying a back basket on his shoulder. Seeing him, his gaze swept from top to bottom, finally coming to rest on that face.

“What, don’t recognize me anymore?”

Su Qingyu came back to his senses and hurriedly stepped aside to let him in: “Second Brother Liang, why have you come?”

Liang Yu stepped into the courtyard, set down the back basket, and did not enter the house, but stood in the courtyard looking all around. The courtyard was swept clean, the firewood stacked neatly, and in the corner there was still some snow that had not yet melted.

“Passing by, came to look in on you.” Liang Yu turned back, his gaze falling upon him, “how have these past days been?”

Su Qingyu lowered his eyes: “Quite good.”

“I brought you some things.”

Liang Yu squatted down and took things out from the back basket. A slab of pork belly, a package of pastries, and a small jar of wine, sealed at the mouth.

“Stew the meat to eat, save the pastries to eat slowly.” Liang Yu handed over the things, “this is medicinal wine, for your mother. Drink a small cup before bed, it drives out cold and supplements the body.”

Su Qingyu held those things, raised his head to look at Liang Yu, those eyes bright in the daylight.

“Second Brother Liang, won’t you come in and sit?” Su Qingyu said, “have some water.”

Liang Yu looked at him, then looked at the door of the main room, and shook his head: “I won’t go in. I still have matters to attend to, need to go to the mountains.”

Su Qingyu lowered his head in disappointment.

Liang Yu saw his appearance, reached out and clasped the back of his neck, pulling him forward, and his lips came down.

Su Qingyu held those things, unable to move, and could only tilt his head back and let him kiss. Yet his heart beat terribly fast, as if it wanted to leap out from his chest.

After kissing for quite a while, Liang Yu finally released him. The pad of his thumb rubbed across his lips, his eyes carrying a satisfied darkness.

His voice grew somewhat hoarse, “I’ll come again in a few days.”

After saying this, he turned and left, walking hurriedly, without looking back.

Su Qingyu stood in the courtyard, watching that figure disappear beyond the courtyard gate. His lips burned terribly, as if they still retained that person’s warmth.

He stood there for quite a while, before turning and returning to the house.