My Husband is a Drama King [Book Transmigration] 8

Chapter 8: Sitting Together

A stream wound around the fields, and elm trees concealed the fences. The villagers rose to start digging the earth and planting vegetables.

Song Ye tilted his head back, wiping the sweat from his face with his sleeve, a dull ache spreading through his lower back.

Their family’s five acres of land were quite a handful for just the three of them. Xu Cheng came to the fields to help, handing seedlings to his father and grandparents.

No one could be careless when tending to the crops.

Liang Su: “We still have the peanut, pepper, cabbage, potato, and celery seeds left from last year. I went to town and bought corn, eggplant, sweet potato, cucumber, pumpkin, and winter melon seeds.”

Last year, peppers and peanuts sold well. They hadn’t planted corn last year, but they would this year. It was useful whether for their own consumption, feeding the chickens and ducks, or selling. Winter melons were most popular in the summer; they would plant a field of them to take to town to sell.

“That’s good. Plant a few more varieties. If the townspeople don’t like some, we’ll have others ready.”

Song Mingyan often went to town to sell vegetables. He said, “Things like ginger, scallions, and garlic are also frequently bought.”

Liang Su smiled. “Good boy, we’ve already planted those. The townspeople can’t eat them all, and we eat them ourselves too.”

Song Ye took a breath and picked up his hoe again.

While the family tended to the crops, Song Changxu continued his studies in Lingshui Village. He had privately read and memorized the Four Books and Five Classics and had now memorized the Four Books.

The Five Classics were a bit more obscure for him and would be difficult to memorize.

The imperial examinations only tested on these nine books, so Song Changxu planned to memorize them first. In class, Scholar Li called on him to answer a question.

Song Changxu’s answer was conventional and proper.

Scholar Li: “You may sit down.”

After class, just as Lin Pu was about to talk to Song Changxu, Scholar Li called Song Changxu into his room.

The remaining classmates looked at each other. Scholar Li usually only called Feng Xin’ou in after class. Today, he had a change of heart and called Song Changxu instead.

Lin Pu pretended to rub his eyes. “Brother Song has been working harder recently. Could it be that he has caught the teacher’s eye?”

Feng Xin’ou clenched his fists and looked down at his book.

Scholar Li valued him the most. Now that he had called Song Changxu in, could it be that Song Changxu’s essay was better than his, that he was more talented?

Inside the room, Scholar Li had Song Changxu sit down, took his essay, and said, “This essay is insightful and different from your usual style. It’s very well-written.”

Song Changxu cupped his hands. “You flatter me, teacher.”

Scholar Li said, “But there are still areas where you can improve…”

Song Changxu listened attentively, taking note of his words. He had never written an ancient-style essay before, so it was inevitable that there would be flaws and mistakes, and it was still a bit unpolished. He needed to write a few more to change his way of thinking. Once he got the hang of it and knew the formula, it would be easier.

“You’ve been working hard recently. Keep it up,” Scholar Li said, acknowledging Song Changxu’s efforts.

Song Changxu’s brow relaxed. “Thank you for your encouragement, teacher. I will.”

Watching Song Changxu leave with his essay, Scholar Li thought to himself, Song Changxu’s essay is fresh, and his thinking is clear. If he works on his fundamentals, he might be able to pass.

In the past, he had only thought Feng Xin’ou had a chance. He hadn’t expected Song Changxu to improve so suddenly.

Studying in the countryside, the students he took on were all from farming families. The three taels of silver a year was a considerable burden on their families. He knew that the chances of these fifteen disciples passing were slim, but after learning to read and write, it would be easier for them to find work in town. They would have more choices and wouldn’t have to rely on physical labor to earn a living.

If they recognized the benefits of education and had their own children study in the future, with each generation supporting the next, their lives would get better and better.

Studying clarifies principles and broadens horizons. Sometimes it’s not about external things, but about seeking within, transforming the internal into external strength.

After finishing his lecture, Scholar Li watched his fifteen students leave and closed the door to his room. His son had opened a grocery store in town. He wasn’t cut out for studying, but he had learned arithmetic and become a small shop owner, which was a satisfactory outcome.

His wife and daughter were in the countryside taking care of his old mother. His daughter was not yet engaged. Scholar Li wanted to wait until his mother’s health improved a bit before returning to town to arrange a marriage for his daughter.

Elsewhere, Song Changxu and Lin Pu walked together for a stretch. Lin Pu asked, “Has your family arranged a match for you? My mother is urging me to look, but I haven’t had the inclination.”

Song Changxu didn’t stop walking. He said, “My family has already arranged one for me. I’m getting married at the beginning of the sixth month.”

Lin Pu was shocked. “When was this decided? How come I didn’t know?”

“Just a while ago, when the teacher gave us leave for spring planting.”

Lin Pu thought it over and felt something was off. Song Changxu was really good at keeping a secret. If it were him who got engaged, his big mouth would never be able to keep it quiet. He would have to shout it out for everyone to know.

“Remember to invite me to your wedding.”

Song Changxu nodded. “I’ll call you over to give me a gift of money then.”

Lin Pu: “…”

He asked curiously, “Is it a woman or a ge’er?”

Song Changxu stepped on the hard, dry earth. “He’s a ge’er.”

Seeing that they were about to part ways, Lin Pu quickly asked, “Is he good-looking?”

Song Changxu paused. He couldn’t bring himself to say that Xu Zhizhou was not good-looking.

He said truthfully, “He’s quite good-looking.”

Lin Pu wanted to ask for more details, but they had already reached the fork in the road. He could only go back with regret.

He hadn’t expected Song Changxu to be engaged already. Thinking about it, he wasn’t as opposed to the idea of a match anymore.

Song Changxu didn’t know what Lin Pu was thinking. When he got home, it was still light out, and there was no one in the house.

He had copied four storybooks, earning a total of two taels and four qian of silver. This time, he had taken on another one. The owner said he would get one tael of silver for finishing it. He had tucked the storybook into his clothes. He had been busy writing essays these past few days and hadn’t had a chance to look at it.

He opened the storybook and saw that it had some more explicit descriptions than usual. He blushed as he read.

Words were not as direct as pictures. Song Changxu only saw a short passage, but in the context of ancient storybooks, it was already explicit and not something for polite company.

He would copy this one first, but he wouldn’t copy such storybooks in the future.

This time, he wrote quickly, his ears slightly red. Besides reading and copying books at home, Song Changxu also helped with household chores when there were any.

He copied for a while, then got up and went to the kitchen to fetch water for the vat.

This time, his steps were steady as he carried the water. He filled the vat in three or four trips. At first, he would sweat when fetching water, but now that his body had been trained, besides a slight soreness in his shoulders, there were no other problems.

He had developed a thin layer of abdominal muscles, and his waist was narrow. He always wore long robes, so the outline of his body was not very clear.

On his way back from fetching water, he ran into a few ge’ers coming back from the river. The most eye-catching one in the middle was Xu Zhizhou.

This was the first time they had met since Song Changxu had gone to the Xu residence to give him the ointment.

When the ge’ers ran into Song Changxu, their laughter died down. Sun Luzhen nudged Xu Zhizhou with his shoulder.

Xu Zhizhou’s gaze was a bit evasive.

Song Changxu greeted them according to etiquette. After getting engaged, they still had to pretend not to be familiar in front of others. Song Changxu only asked, “Is Uncle Xu in good health?”

Xu Zhizhou said stiffly, “My father is in good health.”

Hearing this, Song Changxu walked past them.

“He’s gone. Why are you still looking, Zhizhou?” Sun Luzhen pulled Xu Zhizhou’s arm.

Xu Zhizhou coughed lightly and withdrew his gaze.

One of the ge’ers chuckled. “You’re already engaged. Why do you speak so formally?”

“We’ve only met a few times. It’s natural to be a bit formal when we meet,” Xu Zhizhou said without batting an eye.

His long eyelashes fluttered, and he lowered his eyes. “Aiya, stop teasing me.”

He held his washbasin, his knuckles white as he gripped the rim.

The ge’ers laughed good-naturedly.

On the way back, Xu Zhizhou was still thinking about Song Changxu. He looked a bit stronger. Before, he would be panting when fetching water, but now he could carry it steadily and even have a few words with them.

This was very good.

When Xu Zhizhou got home, he hung up the clothes and then sat down to twist hemp ropes. The ropes were used to tie firewood to take to town to sell, and also to pull farm tools and carts.

They were running out of oil and salt at home. They would have to go to town to buy some in a few days. A round trip cost six copper coins. It was only worth it if they brought a full basket of things to sell in town.

After twisting the ropes, he threw some grass into the chicken coop. The Xu family raised chickens, ducks, and three pigs. They had to cook pig feed twice a day, in the morning and evening.

He then took a broom and swept the courtyard clean.

Today, he was wearing a wooden hairpin. He usually didn’t wear valuable items at home, as it would make others envious. He was good-looking, and other things were just embellishments.

Xu Zhizhou couldn’t help but go to his room to look in the mirror again.

Although he hadn’t dressed up today, he still looked good. Song Changxu must have been looking at him.

In the evening, Xu Zhizhou washed his face with hot water and covered it with a hot cloth.

His family was used to this. Xu Zhizhou had been very particular about his appearance since he was a child.

Back then, only Cao Qin’s room had a bronze mirror. When Xu Zhizhou was still young, he would climb onto Cao Qin’s bed to find the mirror to look at himself.

When they grew up, Xu Sunzheng bought a mirror for each of the two ge’ers to keep in their own rooms.

The Xu family was good-looking. Xu Zhici was engaged to Xie Huaichuan, and they should have been married long ago, but it had been delayed until now. The two had deep feelings for each other, and the Xu family couldn’t bring themselves to break off the engagement. But if they kept waiting, his parents’ hearts would ache for Xu Zhici.

Seeing that their second son was about to get married, the Xu family’s parents felt even more worried. They knew that their eldest son was also suffering, so they didn’t voice their concerns.

After applying the hot cloth to his face, Xu Zhizhou felt refreshed. He went back to his room, took the purse he hadn’t finished embroidering, and slipped into Xu Zhici’s room. The two brothers embroidered and talked together.

Xu Zhizhou had saved up three purses and planned to sell them for a good price in town. Xu Zhici noticed a mistake in Xu Zhizhou’s stitching and pointed it out to him.

“Elder Brother, how are you so good at everything?”

Xu Zhici smiled at his words.

After embroidering for a while, Xu Zhizhou lay down on his elder brother’s bed. The quilt still smelled of warm sunshine.

Xu Zhici was embroidering clothes. Seeing the dark blue color, he knew it was for Xie Huaichuan. He pouted.

His elder brother had never embroidered many clothes for him. That boy Xie Huaichuan was getting all the benefits.

When Xie Huaichuan earned money in the army, he would send it back, not to his uncles, but to Xu Zhici.

This made the Xie family’s people gnash their teeth in hatred.

His elder brother sent so many things to Xie Huaichuan every year. They were fiancés, so why couldn’t he manage Xie Huaichuan’s money?

When had they ever seen the Xie family send money to Xie Huaichuan?

Xu Zhici looked down, his eyes gentle, each stitch a thread of affection.

.

Song Changxu wrote another essay. It was the same one he had given to Scholar Li before. He had revised and re-copied it according to Scholar Li’s suggestions.

When he gave the essay to Scholar Li, Scholar Li was surprised that his suggestions had been accepted and implemented so quickly.

He was pleased and carefully read Song Changxu’s essay.

“This essay is much better now. There are still a few small mistakes. Let me explain them to you.”

Song Changxu humbly accepted his advice.

He was a practical person. Since he paid three taels of silver a year, he wanted to get his money’s worth.

Scholar Li gave a three-day holiday in the middle of each month, and it was time for the holiday. After lunch, the students’ minds began to wander.

Feng Xin’ou sat upright, not distracted at all. Song Changxu was taking notes. Lin Pu was dumbfounded. Now, these two were the most serious. Lin Pu’s mind had already started to wander, but seeing Song Changxu like this, he quickly collected himself and listened attentively.

After class, Feng Xin’ou called out to Song Changxu, “Brother Song, the teacher said your essay is well-written. Could I borrow it to have a look?”

Song Changxu: “Of course. Mine isn’t very good. Please don’t laugh, Brother Feng.”

Feng Xin’ou smiled. “I won’t.”

Song Changxu went to walk back with Lin Pu. Lin Pu said, “Feng Xin’ou usually doesn’t talk to people. There’s something going on between you two.”

Song Changxu: “He just asked to borrow my essay. In your eyes, is Brother Feng like the King of Hell?”

He talked with Lin Pu for a while. Lin Pu said, “Two days from now is market day in town. We can go and buy some things. I plan to get some cloth and have my mother embroider a new long robe for me. I have to go for a match-making meeting, so I need to dress up.”

Lin Pu asked Song Changxu awkwardly, “How do you get along with your ge’er?”

What do you mean, your ge’er, his ge’er? He’s not mine yet.

Getting along? Song Changxu recalled his interactions with Xu Zhizhou. It was probably him doing all the work. Song Changxu’s face darkened.

He said, “I just got engaged, so I’m not very clear on it.”

Lin Pu sighed. “Then I can only ask the married men in the village.”

After parting ways with Lin Pu, Song Changxu continued on his way. He felt unsettled. Even though he was engaged, he still felt like he was floating on a cloud, his feet on foam, and he could fall and shatter into pieces at any moment.

Two men.

Song Changxu frowned.

Wedding night. The phrase was so awkward.

He put his book box at home and washed his undergarments in a basin. He liked to be clean, and he kept his washing basin and laundry basin separate. To avoid mixing them up with the family’s, he kept the basins in his room.

Song Changxu lived in a small farmhouse. His room was about sixty square meters, with a wooden wardrobe and a set of desk and chairs. There were hooks on the wall for hanging things, and a wooden box under the bed for his used books and writing materials.

He had also asked Song Ye for a shoe rack. Song Ye had bought a few boards from the village carpenter, nailed them together, and brought them to Song Changxu’s room.

Song Ye looked at the furnishings in his room. It was simple and spacious. He didn’t have many things, and he was a clean and tidy person, so it looked very comfortable.

“When we have time in a few days, we’ll have to ask the carpenter to make a dressing table.”

Song Changxu put his shoes on the shoe rack with a sigh.

In the evening, he rushed to finish copying the storybook. He would take it with him to the market. He also needed to buy some things in town.

It had been a long time since the family had eaten meat. He had earned some money, so he would buy some meat and some sugar cakes for snacks.

Song Ye carried some vegetables, and he and Song Changxu went to Shuibo Town together.

The father and son got up early and ate a bowl of pickled vegetable noodles. Song Mingyan had stir-fried the pickles with scallions as a topping. It was a simple bowl of clear noodle soup, but it was flavorful. If one wanted more flavor, there was chili in the kitchen.

After eating, the two of them went to take the ox-cart. No one came for a while, but then more people arrived, and the cart was packed.

Xu Zhizhou and Xu Zhici came together. Seeing the crowded ox-cart, Xu Zhizhou spotted Song Changxu sitting on the side and blinked.

The ox-cart was most crowded on market day. Some of the men were not clean and had a strong odor. Seeing an empty spot, Xu Zhizhou said, “Elder Brother, you go sit there. I’ll sit over here.”

Xu Zhizhou went to sit next to Song Changxu. This time, they had to sit together, so it didn’t violate any etiquette.

Song Ye moved further into the cart, and Song Changxu followed suit. Xu Zhizhou sat down, their shoulders touching.

The man in the front cracked his whip, and the ox-cart started to move.

Some parts of the village road were bumpy. Song Changxu had been a bit distracted since Xu Zhizhou sat down. Seeing him sway from the bumps, he put a hand out to steady him, grabbing his shoulder to hold him in place.

He was strong, and with his pull, Xu Zhizhou’s body was much more stable. Everyone on the cart was holding on to something to steady themselves, so no one noticed them.

Song Ye was holding on to his basket.

“This part of the road is like this. It’ll be better after this,” the man driving the cart said.

When the road became smooth, Song Changxu let go of Xu Zhizhou’s hand, very proper and well-behaved.

Xu Zhizhou didn’t smell any other odor on Song Changxu, only the clean, dry scent of soapberries.

Song Changxu felt a bit uncomfortable. Their clothes were thin, and he could feel the warmth from the shoulder pressed against his. The bumps of the cart made their legs touch from time to time.

If he were sitting this close to any other man, Song Changxu wouldn’t think anything of it. But since this person was Xu Zhizhou, someone he was engaged to, he felt restless.

Author’s Note:

Little Song: Too close… (breathes in and out)

Little Xu: Smells nice. [Pats head]