The Second Young Master’s Obedient Husband : Chapter 70

The autumn harvest kept them busy for a long while before the grain in the fields was finally gathered.

The threshing yard was piled high with grain stacks, the grain golden and gleaming in the evening light. This year was a good harvest.

Tomorrow they would begin threshing, which would take several more days. But the most exhausting period was past, and everyone’s expressions had relaxed considerably.

Mother Liang came out from the kitchen and called everyone to eat. Su Qingyu and the others had been working hard all afternoon, so she had specially prepared a large table full of dishes. She had also sent Shuanzi to town to buy several kinds of good wine, strong brews for the men and green plum wine for the wives and husbands, no one left out.

Father Liang drank a little wine. It seemed older people were all like this. The weight of past events pressed heavily on their hearts, and their usual silence made them seem unbreakable. Only when the wine went to their heads could those heavy burdens be briefly set down, and the desire to talk rose continuously. He spoke more, talking about this year’s harvest and the hardships of years past.

Mother Liang listened nearby, occasionally adding a word to make the stories richer and more vivid.

Liang Feng put food in Zhang Yun’s bowl, back and forth, and occasionally exchanged small talk. Little Yu was not very old, but he had helped with the autumn harvest too. These past few days had tired him out terribly, and he buried his head in his meat, eating hard, long used to his parents’ affectionate ways.

Su Qingyu sat beside Liang Yu, eating in small bites. Liang Yu got up to ladle him soup, placed it by his hand, and casually picked up one of his hands to hold and play with on his lap.

Su Qingyu gave him a reproachful look, glanced at the lively family up ahead, and only relaxed when he confirmed no one was paying attention to them. He buried his head in his food with red ears, though his hand did not pull away.

Liang Yu’s lips curved in satisfaction. He too picked up his chopsticks and began eating, occasionally tossing gnawed bones into the dog bowl beneath the table. The three dogs lay nearby eating with their heads down, not looking up.

Fine food and good wine, the whole family sitting together, chatting and laughing noisily, their faces all showing the joyful smiles of harvest. Perhaps this was what happiness meant.

After the meal, once the tables and dishes were cleared, the sky was already completely dark.

Su Qingyu had heated water in advance for Liang Yu to bathe. Liang Yu took off his clothes and sat in the wooden tub, and Su Qingyu took a cloth to scrub his back.

Soft little hands slid across his back, warm fragrance lingering at his nose, and Liang Yu unconsciously swallowed.

He reached out and pulled the person to the front, his hand covering Su Qingyu’s face, staring at him darkly without speaking. Su Qingyu blushed from being stared at, his breathing quickened slightly, and he lightly kissed his face.

Liang Yu gave a soft laugh, pinched his waist, and said in a hoarse voice, “Bathe together, save some water?”

Su Qingyu nodded as if possessed, undid his clothes, and got into the tub. Held from behind by Liang Yu, his whole body turned completely red.

…

In the end they did not save any water at all. The other bucket of warm water they had prepared was also used up completely by the two of them.

After bathing, Liang Yu carried the soft, limp little one in his arms into the room and onto the bed. He pulled up the quilt and looked at the red, fragrant person in his arms, kissing him again and again.

Su Qingyu recovered and found him annoying. He reached out to press his face and stop him from kissing, then suddenly pulled his hand back, glaring angrily at the thick skinned man licking his palm, his voice still somewhat hoarse. “How can you lick even there, are you not disgusted?”

“What is wrong with licking your palm? Even your there I…”

Su Qingyu suddenly lunged over and covered his mouth, then lowered his head and opened his mouth toward his vulnerable spot, even licking his own little sharp teeth, glaring at him full of threat.

Liang Yu smiled and stopped teasing him. He patted his shoulder to signal him to relax. Su Qingyu gave a soft humph and lay on his chest, letting Liang Yu massage his waist and legs.

Liang Yu’s hands were strong, and Su Qingyu hummed and grumbled from being rubbed, looking wonderfully comfortable.

The two of them held each other in tender warmth for a while. Liang Yu pinched his cheek flesh and asked gently, “Tired? There has been a lot going on at home these past few days. You have worked hard.”

Su Qingyu shook his head. “Not tired. You cutting wheat is what is tiring, your body is covered in red spots from being scratched.”

Liang Yu smiled and stroked his head. Su Qingyu rubbed against his chest, a sweet smile at his lips.

…

During the threshing days, the yard was wonderfully lively.

People came before dawn, grain ears spread across the ground, mules pulling stone rollers round and round, the grains falling from the ears. When winnowing, wooden shovels tossed the grain into the air, the husks blown away by the wind, the golden grains falling down to become edible food.

The men moved wheat and threshed grain, and Su Qingyu helped out too, passing water and delivering meals, running errands and doing odd jobs. He looked curious watching them winnow, and Liang Yu, seeing his eager expression, handed him the wooden shovel.

Su Qingyu learned their movements and tossed the grain a few times with the shovel. His strength was small and he could not toss it high. Liang Yu stood behind him and supported his hand to toss together. When Su Qingyu grew tired, he let go and let him rest.

Liang Yu stretched his muscles, picked up the wooden shovel, and continued working.

Once the grain was threshed, it had to be dried before going into storage. Only when it was in storage did the autumn harvest truly end.

The two of them rested at home for a few days, then began preparing to go into the mountains.

The autumn harvest had lasted a long time, and the chickens had been brought down the mountain when they came. This trip up the mountain would not be too long. The eggs were packed in jars lined with straw, two jars enough to eat. There was also the large basket of vegetables Mother Liang sent, pastries and fruits from Zhang Yun, this year’s new grain… altogether they had a cartload of things.

The two puppies had grown sturdy now, but were still terribly clingy, constantly circling around the two of them. Liang Yu lightly kicked them a couple of times but still could not drive them away. His eyes turned, and suddenly he thought of a good idea.

Liang Yu tied ropes to the cart, pressed the two dogs down, and secured the ropes tightly.

Mountain Wind had been watching the fun quite happily, but when he saw Liang Yu start working he warily backed away. Liang Yu beckoned to him. Mountain Wind’s steps still hesitated and he would not come over, but when he heard his owner’s impatient clicking sound he trotted over and was harnessed up securely.

Now going up the mountain, Liang Yu would not have to pull the cart himself. Mountain Wind walked in the middle leading, the two puppies on either side steadying the cart. Liang Yu led them in circles around the courtyard, confirming they pulled steadily, then patted each of the three dogs on the head in praise.

Before, when there was only Mountain Wind, one dog pulling the cart was strenuous and hard to balance, so Liang Yu had never considered it. Now seeing them pull steadily, it was not a bad method at all.

When Su Qingyu saw Liang Yu tying up the dogs he was a bit puzzled. Hearing the puppies’ pitiful whining, he was about to speak up and plead for them, when he saw Liang Yu leading them around the courtyard testing the cart.

Pulling the cart up the mountain was hard work, and every time Su Qingyu felt sorry for Liang Yu, he would not load too much onto the cart. Most things were not brought in large amounts, and when supplies ran out, Su Qingyu would bring things up when he went down the mountain to sell mountain goods.

With the puppies pulling the cart, her own husband would not have to suffer. Su Qingyu silently apologized to the three puppies in his heart, then cheerfully handed Liang Yu a tea bowl, kissing him while praising, “Husband is so clever.”

Liang Yu raised his brows proudly and drank the tea bowl in one go.