The Second Young Master’s Obedient Husband : Chapter 72

After spring opened, Liang Yu gradually went into the mountains less often. Su Qingyu noticed but did not ask, only making the meals more refined each day so Liang Yu ate better and felt more at ease.

In the evening, the two of them sat in the courtyard watching the sunset glow. Liang Yu held Su Qingyu, his chin resting on his shoulder, his brows slightly furrowed as if thinking about something.

Su Qingyu sensed Liang Yu’s silence and raised his head to look at him. “Husband, what are you thinking about?”

“Thinking about the future. Hunting earns good money, but it is blood money. Before when I was alone, I did not care about the danger. Now that I have a family, it is not right to keep you worried and frightened.”

Su Qingyu’s eyes reddened. He turned and hugged Liang Yu’s waist tight, biting his lip and saying nothing.

Liang Yu continued, “Those few in the village who came back from the battlefield with me, they all have good skills. I will gather them, plus some familiar faces from the neighboring village, and form a merchant caravan. Transport goods from the north to the south to sell, then bring things back from the south to sell in the north. It will be hard work facing wind and sun, but the earnings are good and it is more stable.”

Su Qingyu nodded, rubbing against his chest. After a while he spoke, “A merchant caravan… it is safer than hunting, a good trade. I… I am just afraid of the danger on the road for you.”

“More than ten men, all battlefield veterans, their skills are unquestionable. These two years of rest, their bodies have recovered. Plus a few strong young men from the village, more than twenty traveling together, looking out for each other. Nothing will go wrong.”

Su Qingyu held him without speaking, moisture gathering in his eyes, teardrops about to fall but not quite, looking terribly pitiful.

“If you are unwilling, I will think of another way.”

“It is not unwillingness. I just… I just cannot bear to part with you.”

“It is not as if I will not come back. One trip, short then a month or two, long then three or four months. Come back and stay a while, then set out on the next trip.”

Su Qingyu leaned in his arms, teardrops falling one by one. Perhaps feeling he was being overly sentimental, he turned and buried his face in Liang Yu’s chest so he would not see.

Liang Yu felt the fabric at his chest grow wet in a large patch. He sighed softly, his hand covering the back of Su Qingyu’s neck, stroking gently again and again.

After a while, Su Qingyu’s emotions eased somewhat, and he spoke, “When will you leave?”

Liang Yu thought for a moment. “Not decided yet. I need to gather the men first, scout the routes. At least a month or two.”

Su Qingyu nodded, holding him tight in silence, not willing to leave even a bit of space between them.

“When the time comes, you stay home and keep Mother company. I will ask Big Brother and Sister in law to look after you.”

Su Qingyu nodded obediently, still holding him tight, his eye circles red, his face full of grievance and reluctance to part.

Liang Yu lowered his head to look at him, kissed his face, and said no more.

…

A few days later, Liang Yu went to the neighboring village, then to town. When he returned he brought wine and dishes, and had Su Qingyu cook a few more dishes, for guests were coming that evening.

When the sky was nearly dark, people arrived at their small courtyard one after another.

Su Qingyu recognized some of them. There were those from the village who had gone to the battlefield together, one missing an arm. There was one from the neighboring village with several scars on his face. Altogether more than ten came, all retired from the battlefield, each carrying injuries to varying degrees. But most were whole and healthy, only two or three badly injured, though even those were not too affected in daily life. Su Qingyu breathed a sigh of relief.

Liang Yu welcomed them to sit. Su Qingyu brought the dishes to the table and poured wine for them.

A few of the smooth talkers teased, “Liang Two, the life you are living, us brothers cannot envy it.”

Liang Yu narrowed his eyes and gave each a slap on the back of the head. The few of them straightened up and greeted properly, “Brother’s husband, good evening.”

Su Qingyu smiled and responded, then brought out a large basin of bones for them to gnaw on. The room was filled with men and smoky air, so Liang Yu had Su Qingyu step out first.

Su Qingyu nodded obediently, went out and closed the door, and took the three puppies to eat.

After three rounds of wine, Liang Yu spoke plainly.

“I want to form a merchant caravan. Collect furs and medicinal herbs from the north, transport them south to sell. Then bring back cloth, tea, and porcelain from the south to sell in the north. I know none of you have it easy. I will put up the bulk of the capital. Those willing to invest can become partners, accounts will be open and public, and profits will be divided according to shares at year’s end. Those unwilling to put in money, I will hire you for each round trip, twenty taels of silver per man. Whether we lose money or not, I will not cheat you out of that. If we earn money, there will be an extra dividend for the brothers at year’s end. You all know my character. I will not let my brothers suffer. Let us earn money together and have a good year this year.”

Once Liang Yu laid out his thoughts, the men looked at each other. For a moment the table fell silent, each one furrowing his brow and thinking carefully.

They had all lucked out and picked up their lives from the battlefield. Though the government had given silver and land as compensation, most of the land was wasteland. None of the dozen or so had skills as good as Liang Yu’s. Coming back from the battlefield they all carried injuries, and medicine was a large expense that could not be spared. Opening wasteland was hard work, and hiring help cost a lot of silver. Though they still had several dozen taels of silver left, they could not sit and eat until it was gone.

After a while, the scar faced one spoke first, “Master Liang Two has real ability. When there is silver to be earned, he has not forgotten us brothers. Master Liang Two is loyal and righteous. I will follow Master Liang Two.”

The others voiced their agreement one after another, their voices gradually growing louder, carrying the smell of wine, and the table grew lively once more.

After the excitement died down, Liang Yu told them to go back and think it over. Those willing to join, come to the village on the first of next month to meet, and then they would set the accounts and rules.

Once the gathering dispersed, Su Qingyu came in to clear the dishes. Liang Yu sat at the table, holding half a bowl of leftover wine, drinking slowly, his brows and eyes full of thought.

Su Qingyu walked over. Knowing the matter was settled after all, as he cleared up his eye circles involuntarily reddened.

Liang Yu came back to himself, looking at the silent little one tidying the table, reached out and pulled him into his arms for a kiss.

Seeing his reddened eyes, he swept him up in his arms and carried him out of the room, calling loudly for Shuanzi to clean up, and carried Su Qingyu into the inner room to coax him.