The Second Young Master’s Obedient Husband : Chapter 24

In the following days, the snow fell ever harder. The farm work was done, and the villagers all hunkered down for winter.

With idle time came idle chatter, so Liang Yu no longer brought Su Qingyu over. Afraid Su Qingyu would overthink, he had Shuanzi deliver a message. Su Qingyu also didn’t go over at night anymore.

But every early morning, something extra would appear on the kitchen windowsill. Sometimes a piece of cured meat, sometimes a few eggs, sometimes a small package of malt candy. Like little points of starlight in life, they could make Su Qingyu happy the whole day.

The first thing Su Qingyu did every morning was open the window. Seeing the things on the windowsill, the corners of his mouth would curve up. He would take the things inside, like a little mouse hiding treasures, secretly stashing them behind the rice jar.

Su’s mother’s illness was improving. She couldn’t stay idle, so she liked to walk around the courtyard to move about.

Old people sleep little. One day Su’s mother got up early. Leaning against the doorframe, she stood at the kitchen doorway and watched her son hiding things behind the rice jar. She smiled and watched for quite a while, not alerting Su Qingyu. After watching for a while, she went back to her room.

Three or four days later, Liang Yu took advantage of the heavy snow not yet sealing the mountain paths. He went up the mountain to collect prey from his traps, carrying a full basket down the mountain. First he went home and changed into clean clothes, then prepared two fat rabbits to go find Su Qingyu. Liang Yu stood before the wooden door and raised his hand to knock.

Footsteps came from inside, and the door opened.

Su Qingyu stood inside the door. Seeing the person outside, he was startled, and his face slowly reddened.

Liang Yu looked at the person he thought of day and night, his throat moving. He handed over the rabbits.

Su Qingyu took the rabbits, his fingers accidentally brushing Liang Yu’s hand. His fingertips curled, but he still couldn’t resist, following his heart to catch Liang Yu’s hand, caressing it for a while in that broad palm, then pressing his face against Liang Yu’s palm and rubbing against it.

Liang Yu let Su Qingyu act spoiled, his heart softened by the sweet little ge’er’s rubbing. The two of them stood there, neither speaking.

A cough came from inside the room, and Su’s mother’s voice came out, “Qingyu, who is here?”

Su Qingyu bit his lip, but still turned back and answered truthfully, “It’s… it’s Second Brother Liang from the village head’s family.”

The room went quiet for a moment.

After a while, Su’s mother’s voice came again, “Please invite the guest in to sit.”

Su Qingyu lowered his head and moved aside.

Liang Yu stepped into the courtyard and walked toward the main room. The room’s door curtain was raised, and one could see the woman sitting up in bed inside. The room was kept very clean. Inside was a smell of medicine, mixed with the scent of old bedding. It wasn’t unpleasant, but that lingering smell of decay made one’s heart sink.

Su’s mother leaned against the headboard, a small quilt covering her legs. She put down her needlework and sized up the person who entered.

Liang Yu stopped half a meter from the bed and called out, “Auntie.”

Su Qingyu put the rabbits in the kitchen. Looking at Liang Yu in the room, his heart couldn’t help but tighten.

He walked into the room and stood beside Liang Yu, his head lowered, his fingers tightly gripping the corner of his clothes, wanting to ease that indescribable unease.

Su’s mother nodded, her gaze circling his face and body, then looking at her son standing beside him. She was silent for a while, then sighed.

“Master Liang, please sit.” Su’s mother pointed at the stool beside the bed.

Liang Yu sat down accordingly. Gone was his usual reckless, unbridled manner. He sat very properly, his expression calm and composed.

Su Qingyu stood in place, neither advancing nor retreating. In the end, he moved a small stool himself and sat by the bedside, gripping the bed edge, looking at Su’s mother with eager eyes.

Su’s mother coughed and spoke, “These days, I am much obliged to Master Liang’s care.”

Liang Yu raised his eyes to look at her, “Auntie, just call me Liang Yu.”

Su’s mother nodded, “Your father… is Village Head Liang Zheng?”

Liang Yu made a sound of agreement.

Su’s mother nodded again, glanced at Su Qingyu gripping the bed edge, reached out and stroked Su Qingyu’s head. Su Qingyu’s ears turned completely red, his lashes lowered, not daring to raise his head.

The room was quiet for a while, only the occasional crackling from the charcoal basin.

“Master Liang, how old are you this year?” Su’s mother asked again.

“Twenty two.”

“Have you married?”

“I have not.”

Su’s mother nodded, said no more, and looked at Su Qingyu, “Fish ge’er, it’s getting late. Go cook. Cut that string of meat and cook it too. Make more rice. Liang Yu will eat here today too.”

Su Qingyu nodded and obediently went out.

Su’s mother was silent for a while, then sighed, “It has only been three months since Qingyu’s father passed.”

Liang Yu looked at her.

Su’s mother’s gaze fell on the window. The sky was gray and gloomy, and people’s moods were also weighed down, “This child’s life is bitter. He followed us fleeing famine here and hasn’t had a few good days.”

Liang Yu said nothing.

Su’s mother withdrew her gaze and looked at him, “Master Liang is a sensible person.”

Liang Yu was silent for a moment, then said, “Auntie, take good care of your illness. If there is any difficulty, send someone to call me.”

Su’s mother looked at him and nodded.

Liang Yu lifted the door curtain and went out, walking to the kitchen doorway. Su Qingyu heard the footsteps, raised his head and looked at him, his red rimmed eyes looking terribly pitiful.

Liang Yu stood at the doorway, restraining the impulse to kiss Su Qingyu. His footsteps paused, and he didn’t enter.

“I’ll help you fill the water vat.”

Su Qingyu was startled, stood up wanting to say something, but Liang Yu had already picked up the wooden bucket and gone out.

Liang Yu seemed to want to vent something. He went back and forth several times. The water vat was full, then he went to chop all the firewood and stack it neatly.

In the kitchen, Su Qingyu finished cooking the meal. He stood at the doorway holding a bowl, the bowl filled with steaming thick porridge. On the small table was a dish of pickled vegetables and a large bowl of stewed meat.

The little ge’er with red rimmed eyes kept staring at Liang Yu, the water light in his eyes flickering.

Liang Yu took the bowl, squatted at the kitchen doorway, and finished the porridge with the pickled vegetables in a few bites. He placed the bowl back in Su Qingyu’s hand, stood up and dusted off his hands.

Su Qingyu called softly, “Second Brother Liang…”

Liang Yu reached out and embraced Su Qingyu, lowered his head and fiercely kissed those soft lips. The two of them hugged for a long time before separating.

Liang Yu said in a hoarse voice, “I’m leaving.” He pushed open the courtyard gate and walked into the snow.

Behind him came a light sound, like someone wanting to call out but swallowing it back.

Liang Yu hurried back to his own courtyard, his mind weighing matters.

He had not failed to consider proposing marriage, but Su Qingyu’s father had not been dead long, and his mother was still ill. It truly was not a good time to propose. Not to mention Mother Liang wouldn’t agree, but a ge’er’s reputation was always important. He had been single all these years, so waiting a bit longer was no matter.

The mourning period must be observed, the illness must be nursed, and the reputation must be considered.

But meat that had reached his mouth, Liang Yu had no intention of letting go.

Su Qingyu was still in the mourning period, and Su’s mother’s health was not good. Proposing marriage was impossible, but Liang Yu didn’t give up either. He continued sending things as usual, even sending more than before.

On the windowsill of those few adobe houses at the end of the village, the things never stopped. Sometimes a piece of cured meat, sometimes two dried ducks, sometimes rice and flour… all placed there by Liang Yu before dawn. He understood propriety and also made his attitude clear.

A few days later, several packages of medicinal herbs appeared on the windowsill.

Liang Yu thought that Su’s mother’s health had improved somewhat, and now she could withstand nourishment. So he sent over those good nourishing medicinal herbs. They were ones he had dug in the mountains before and kept to sell for money. Now they had found their use.

Su’s mother opened the medicinal packages. Codonopsis, astragalus, goji berries… each one wrapped in small paper packages, with writing on top, stroke by stroke, instructing how to brew and how to consume them. The medicinal materials inside were of good color and smelled authentic. They were far better than what was usually obtained.

When Su Qingyu was brewing medicine, Su’s mother stood at the kitchen doorway and watched him for quite a while.

“Qingyu.”

Su Qingyu turned back, dark circles under his eyes, his expression haggard. In the days after Liang Yu left, Su Qingyu hadn’t slept well.

Su’s mother looked at Su Qingyu’s appearance, was silent for a moment, then walked over and took Su Qingyu’s hand, patting it, “Enough. He is also a good child. At his age, in the village children would already be running all over the place. Keeping him waiting indefinitely is not the way. If he truly means it, let him propose in a year.”

Su Qingyu’s eyes brightened. He embraced Su’s mother and couldn’t help crying.

Su’s mother’s health gradually improved, and color returned to her face. One day she was basking in the sun in the courtyard when she ran into Auntie Li from next door, who had come to borrow salt.

The Li family had also fled famine here. Their circumstances were similar to Su Qingyu’s family, but Father Li was accustomed to farm work, and his health was considerably better than Su Qingyu’s father.

Auntie Li borrowed the salt but didn’t hurry to leave. She glanced toward the kitchen and lowered her voice, “Sister Su, your Qingyu… is he close with the village head’s second son?”

Su’s mother’s expression changed, and she looked at her.

Auntie Li quickly waved her hand, “I don’t mean anything by it, just… some people in the village are muttering, saying they saw Master Liang coming from your direction.”

Su’s mother pressed her lips together. After a while she said, “Master Liang is kind hearted, looking after us widows and orphans. His father is the village head, so helping out families in difficulty, isn’t that as it should be?”

Auntie Li nodded, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and left.

Su’s mother stood in the courtyard, gazing in the direction of the Liang family in the village center, watching for a long time.