My Husband is a Drama King [Book Transmigration] 46p2

Chapter 46 p2: Brother-in-law

When Song Changxu returned home, he didn’t think about anything else. The matter was already over. Whether it rose or fell had nothing to do with him.

He saw that there was still pork in the kitchen. He wanted to mince it to make a zha jiang mian.

He made the zha jiang sauce first. Song Changxu added half a spoonful of sugar, which made it taste even better. When he heard the noise outside the door, he knew that Xu Zhizhou was back. He would cook the noodles then.

“Zhizhou, we’re having noodles tonight. Do you want any vegetables? It might be a bit dry later.”

Xu Zhizhou nodded. “I want to eat vegetables.”

Song Changxu brought over the noodles and the zha jiang sauce, as well as a bowl of scallion soup on the side.

“You can add the zha jiang yourself.”

Xu Zhizhou nodded. He added a lot of zha jiang and mixed the noodles. It looked and smelled delicious. He couldn’t help but swallow.

He took a bite, and his eyes lit up. In the middle of eating, he felt that it was a bit salty and dry. He took a sip of the scallion soup to recover and continued to eat.

Song Changxu had been thinking tonight that the two of them hadn’t had noodles in a long time, and he had suddenly had a craving for zha jiang mian.

The taste was not bad this time, Song Changxu thought with satisfaction.

The green trees grew wildly, and the shade was heavy. The sun shone through the leaves, casting a circle of light on the wall. The reflection of the attic rippled in the green waves. The sound of cicadas could be heard, making the forest seem even quieter. An occasional bird call would echo in the mountain forest.

The pedestrians on the street were wearing light summer clothes. The women and ge’ers all held a round fan. They would gently fan themselves to cool down, and also, when they met their loved ones, they would hold the fan to cover their faces below the nose, revealing only a pair of smiling, curved eyes.

There were more people on the street selling herbal tea drinks with carrying poles. They would hawk their wares loudly, and often pedestrians would be drawn by the sound to buy a bowl to relieve the heat.

There were also more people selling fans and umbrellas. You could see three or four in one step. The umbrellas had all sorts of patterns, which was a dazzling sight.

After Xu Zhici had sold his vegetables in Shuibo Town, he also went to buy some sugar, meat, and vegetable oil, as well as a pot of wine.

He went to the cloth shop to sell the handkerchiefs and purses he had embroidered, and also picked out some scraps of cloth and colored thread.

He went to the post station and received a letter. Xu Zhici’s brow relaxed, and he was a little happy.

“Brother Xu, there’s also a large bundle. Have a look. Is it alright if I put it in your basket?” the man at the post station said with a smile.

Xu Zhici nodded shyly.

Xie Huaichuan would not only write to him recently, but would also buy things for him from the border and send them back. When the two of them had talked about money before, Xie Huaichuan had probably guessed that he was reluctant to spend money, so he would send him a bundle from time to time.

In the future, there would be many expenses for the wedding. It was better to save a little. Xie Huaichuan’s uncles had taken over the Xie family’s fields, and his house was also gone. If he returned to Qishan Village from the battlefield, he would have nothing.

Xu Zhici had not yet married into the family. If he were to talk about these things, Xie Huaichuan’s uncles would not only not listen, but would also mock him.

So he did not get involved, and just hoped that Xie Huaichuan would come. He took the ox-cart back home. His parents were still in the fields. He put away the things he had bought and carried the bundle to his room.

Xie Huaichuan had sent him some rouge and powder, as well as some fabric. He had not sent any food.

Xu Zhici could tell from the boxes of the rouge and powder that they were not cheap. The material was even smoother and more delicate to the touch.

“Where did he get so much money to buy such expensive things? He’s not thinking about the future at all,” Xu Zhici said with a frown.

These things had cost several taels. Xu Zhici was both happy and worried.

He took out the letter and went to find Wang Erlang.

Wang Erlang was there and read the letter to Xu Zhici. It was probably that Xie Huaichuan had been promoted and had gained the favor of his superior. He was not short of anything at the border, so he had bought things for Xu Zhici and sent them back.

Hearing this, Xu Zhici was much more relieved.

He wrote back and gave Xie Huaichuan a lecture.

Wang Erlang would always help them read and write letters. He was clear about their situation. The two of them were still in a long-distance relationship after so many years, and their feelings were still so good. Wang Erlang was a bit envious.

Xu Zhici: “Thank you.”

Wang Erlang: “No need to thank me. We’re all from the same village.”

Xu Zhici returned to his room, opened the fragrant balm Xie Huaichuan had sent, and liked it very much.

He didn’t know how Huaichuan was doing. He had said he would be back for the New Year this year. Xu Zhici was happy and expectant.

.

Borderlands

Ever since Xu Zhici had written him a letter, Xie Huaichuan would write to him every month. He had learned many characters from Wu Yi and could basically read and write by himself. Wu Yi also taught him to read The Art of War.

Xie Huaichuan’s progress was rapid. After he had saved Xiao Bang, the people in the army camp were more polite to him. The dandies were not as careless as before and were a little more respectful.

The biggest gain was that Xiao Bang treated him like a savior and a good brother. With Xiao Bang there, his promotion was very smooth.

It could be said that the years he had spent fighting on the front lines were not as good as his current promotion.

Seeing Xie Huaichuan walk over, Xiao Bang pulled him along. “Brother Xie, come and have a drink with me.”

He was obviously happy.

Xie Huaichuan followed Xiao Bang to his tent. The floor of his tent was covered with a woolen carpet, and the tables and chairs were made of rosewood. There was incense burning to calm the nerves.

Xiao Bang had not been sleeping well recently. The military doctor had said that some incense would help, so the Xiao family had sent someone to Jiangnan to find the best incense and send it over.

As soon as Xie Huaichuan entered the tent, he felt refreshed, and a strong smell of wine wafted over.

“Sit, Brother Xie. This is my father’s private collection of Nu’er Hong. I wouldn’t have had the fortune to have it, but today is a good day. To not be so ostentatious, we can only celebrate by ourselves,” Xiao Bang said.

Xie Huaichuan took the wine bowl and drank it all in one gulp. It was fiery from his throat to his stomach. Good wine was just that spicy. As military officers, they loved strong wine.

Xiao Bang smiled. “Do you know, Brother Xie, that I’ll be the emperor’s brother-in-law in the future? Haha. My younger brother has married His Majesty and has become the Phoenix Lord. Our Xiao family has always shared weal and woe with the imperial family. Now, we’re even closer.”

Hearing this, Xie Huaichuan was shocked.

He quickly said, “Congratulations, Young Master Xiao.”

Xiao Bang smiled with satisfaction. “In the future, our Xiao family will be the number one noble family in Ningxing. My aunt is the Empress Dowager, my father is a general, my younger brother is the Phoenix Lord, and my cousin is His Majesty. Who is more noble than our Xiao family?”

Xiao Bang treated Xie Huaichuan as one of his own. He was usually arrogant and domineering, but he would not say such outrageous things.

Xie Huaichuan advised, “You can just say it to me. Don’t say it outside, Young Master Xiao.”

Xiao Bang held Xie Huaichuan’s hand affectionately. “Brother Xie is truly a kind person. If it were anyone else, they would only flatter me. I understand. After all, His Majesty is going to take over the government. This world is still His Majesty’s.”

Hearing this, Xie Huaichuan was terrified.

He had always thought that a dandy like Xiao Bang could not see the situation clearly. He had not expected him to say such a thing.

As expected, none of these aristocratic sons were easy to deal with.

Xie Huaichuan drank with Xiao Bang for a while. After Xiao Bang was drunk, he moved him to the bed. He pinched the space between his eyebrows and walked out of the tent.

“Sir Xie,” a soldier called out when he saw him.

Xie Huaichuan grunted in agreement.

The smell of alcohol on him was too strong. Xie Huaichuan still didn’t like to drink too much in the army camp, with the smell of alcohol all over him. He went to wash up before he returned to his own tent. He sat on the bed, took a cloth to wipe his wet hair, his dark eyes bottomless.

Seeing that there was still homework that Master Wu had left for him on the table, Xie Huaichuan took his brush to answer.

In the past, when Xie Huaichuan was with the generals in the army, he sometimes didn’t understand what they were saying. Now he could.

They had all studied and would occasionally use a few idioms, which Xie Huaichuan found confusing.

In addition, when he had first arrived at the army camp, Mandarin had not yet been popularized. He spoke it awkwardly, with a local accent. It was fine to talk to the soldiers, but if he were to give orders in the future, or talk with the generals, he would be laughed at.

Fortunately, Master Wu could speak Mandarin, so Xie Huaichuan learned from him and corrected his last bit of accent.

“Sir Xie…”

Hearing the voice, Xie Huaichuan got up to deal with the matter.

His current official position was equivalent to a junior eighth rank, but he was still from a military background and had no connections. It was already good that he could become an official.

Xie Huaichuan told himself not to be anxious, to take it one step at a time. He had to improve himself. When the opportunity came, he would have his own fortune. If his own strength was not enough when the opportunity came, he would surely regret it.

.

After summer arrived, the weather was hot. Xu Zhizhou had someone make a large umbrella to cover the entire stall and the tables and chairs, which made it much cooler.

However, the customers usually bought and took it home to eat. Only when it was cooler at night would they come and sit to eat.

Xu Zhizhou let out a breath, fine beads of sweat on his face. He wiped his sweat with a cloth.

“It’s too hot. If I were in the village, I’d have to go to the fields with a hoe. But I still have to take a nap. The sun is the hottest at noon.”

Jiang Zhuo also nodded. “I can’t take it either when I’m working in the fields.”

He had married from Shuibo Town to Linglai Village, which was considered marrying down. He had a good relationship with his husband, but when it came to farming, he also had to go to the fields to work.

In the summer, the customers had no appetite, so Xu Zhizhou also reduced the amount of food. By the time Song Changxu had finished class, they were already done. Xu Zhizhou would also cook some dinner now.

In the afternoon, they pushed the pushcart back to the courtyard. There was still some mint tea left. He first filled a pot for Jiang Zhuo, kept a pot for himself, and gave the rest to the neighbors.

Tonight, he wanted to eat crayfish, but he didn’t know how to cook it. He thought for a moment. His husband would definitely know how. They would go and buy some when he came back from class.

He first swept the floor, then cut a winter melon and sent half of it to Jiang Zhuo.

Jiang Zhuo: “Zhizhou, come in and sit.”

Xu Zhizhou smiled shyly and followed Jiang Zhuo in. Their small courtyard was neat and clean.

“There’s nothing good to eat at home. Have some melon seeds and dried fruits.”

Xu Zhizhou: “Not at all. I love to eat melon seeds.”

Jiang Zhuo smiled. The two of them had depended on each other in Jinhe County, and their relationship was close.

“I haven’t asked you how long you’ve been married to Xiucai Song.”

Xu Zhizhou tilted his head. “Me? We’ve just been married for a year.”

A year had passed just like that. Xu Zhizhou hadn’t expected to have been a husband for so long.

It was so hard to be a husband.

Jiang Zhuo smiled. “So you’ve only been married for a short time. My husband and I have been married for three years, and I still haven’t given him a child.”

Xu Zhizhou was startled. “Why are we suddenly talking about children?”

***

Author’s Note:

Little Song: Who’s the one with the husband-vibe? [Shrugs]

Little Xu: Wuwuwu, I’ve been married for a year. [Crying]