My Husband is a Drama King [Book Transmigration] 49

Chapter 49: Winter Solstice

The weather grew cooler. After the autumn leaves had fallen, the branches became bare. In the early morning, the sky was filled with mist. The water plants by the pond turned yellow, and the fish rarely leaped out of the lake.

In the morning, Mijiang Lane was filled with various sounds: the pattering of someone doing laundry, someone coaxing a child, and someone pushing a pushcart to set up a stall. The wind blew, and the fog lifted. Through the thick fog, only a blurry shadow could be seen. The window was clear, and someone had lit a candle, casting an orange glow.

Song Changxu took two meat buns and a cup of soy milk to the county school. He ate one of the buns in a few bites and drank a large mouthful of soy milk.

He finished eating at the entrance of the county school and went into the classroom to review his books.

He had arrived early. A moment later, the others also arrived. They were already wearing thicker robes.

It had been more than half a year since he had come to Jinhe County in the second month. The classmates in the classroom were already familiar with each other.

In the afternoon, during the riding and archery class, Song Changxu swung himself onto a horse and galloped around the field with ease.

Xie Feng rode for a while and felt much lighter. “As expected, you can’t just sit in the classroom all day. You have to ride and walk more.”

Cheng Maoxue teased him, “You still know to ride and walk more. You take a carriage to school and a carriage back. You’re lazy to the bone.”

Xie Feng was thick-skinned. He smiled and said, “That’s right. It’s because I rarely ride that I feel this way.”

He saw that Song Changxu was riding more and more smoothly. He said, “I still remember that Brother Song was so timid when he first started riding. Now he rides well.”

If he had seen Song Changxu and been told that he was from an aristocratic family, Xie Feng would have believed it.

The county school had completed his Six Arts, and he was also handsome.

Feng Xin’ou had become familiar with riding and felt that it was not bad. This time, when he went back to Qishan Village for the holiday, he still had some spare money. He planned to buy an ox for his family, which would be convenient for both travel and work.

Buying an ox was a big deal. He had discussed it with Jiang Zhuo, who had said to buy it after he had finished the provincial examination.

Feng Xin’ou listened to Jiang Zhuo.

It was also good to take an ox-cart if he couldn’t ride a horse.

He looked ahead. Song Changxu was still riding. He first rode fast, then slowly reduced his speed, looking at the distant scenery.

In the future, if he had money, he would also have to train a horse and go for a ride occasionally.

Song Changxu had come to like the feeling of riding a horse.

After riding in the afternoon, Luo Shuang invited them to go to the bookstore. “I heard there are new books, written by the Minister of Rites, Sir Ma.”

They would be taking the provincial examination in Yunzhou Prefecture. The examiners in each prefecture were different, but the question setters were probably among the few ministers and grand secretaries. The Ministry of Rites was in charge of the imperial examination. Perhaps they could get some inspiration from Sir Ma’s books.

Song Changxu went with them to the bookstore. There were many scholars in the bookstore, all there to buy Sir Ma’s book.

Besides the county school, there were other academies and private schools in Jinhe County. They were all wearing the county school’s uniform, a blue and white robe.

Some of the scholars looked at them with a strange expression.

Song Changxu took Sir Ma’s book and first looked at the table of contents. The table of contents was the clearest. After reading it, he had a general understanding of the book’s framework.

After he had finished, he turned to the chapters he was interested in. After reading, he understood that this book was just Sir Ma’s random jottings.

He did not plan to buy it.

Everyone who had come had bought a copy. Whether they believed it or not, buying a copy would give them some peace of mind.

When they walked out of the bookstore, Luo Shuang saw that Song Changxu’s hands were empty. He asked with hesitation, “Aren’t you buying it, Brother Song?”

Song Changxu shook his head. “I don’t think it will be of much use to me.”

Luo Shuang nodded.

After they walked out of the bookstore, they parted ways. The Luo family had a carriage to pick him up, and Luo Shuang got in.

He thought of how Song Changxu had decisively not bought the book and sighed in his heart. It’s better to believe it than not. People like Song Changxu, who were so impervious, were rare.

He really had principles.

Actually, Song Changxu had thought about it. A copy of Sir Ma’s book cost one tael of silver. He might as well read the Four Books and Five Classics one more time.

Song Changxu returned to his room. There was no firewood at home. Just then, someone was hawking firewood outside. He opened the door and called out.

The strong man carrying the firewood came over.

“How much is a bundle of firewood?”

“Five copper coins.”

It was not yet deep winter, but the price of firewood had already started to rise. Song Changxu gave him twenty copper coins.

Zhizhou’s food business used a lot of firewood.

The man had only been carrying four bundles of firewood. Now Song Changxu had bought them all. He was very polite and carried the firewood directly to the kitchen before he left.

After selling all the firewood, he could also go home early.

When Xu Zhizhou came back, he had brought a bowl of lamb soup, which was steaming hot under the pushcart.

“Husband, I had a bowl of lamb soup today, and it was so delicious. I brought a bowl for you to try.”

Hearing that there was something delicious, Song Changxu immediately put down his book and came out.

Xu Zhizhou was cleaning the wooden bucket. The lamb soup was on the stove.

Song Changxu took a spoon and drank a few mouthfuls. His eyes lit up, and he quickly finished the entire bowl.

Xu Zhizhou finished scrubbing the wooden bucket and said with a smile, “How is it? Delicious, right? I heard it’s from the north, authentic lamb soup.”

He didn’t know if it was authentic, but it tasted very good.

In the evening, the two of them had a simple meal. Xu Zhizhou was full of energy. He took a moment to look at the sky. The winter nights came especially quickly. He still wanted to make a purse.

It was getting cold, and it was time to soak their feet in hot water. Xu Zhizhou poured some hot water and then added some cold water to mix. Then he and Song Changxu soaked their feet together.

The faint candlelight on the table cast a soft glow. The two of them soaked their feet together. Afterward, Song Changxu went to pour out the water. Xu Zhizhou slipped into bed, hugged the quilt, and it was so warm.

Song Changxu took a book and sat over to teach Xu Zhizhou to read.

Xu Zhizhou: “…”

He pulled the quilt over his head, then poked his head out and learned to read with Song Changxu.

Sooner or later, after he had learned, he would write his own letters.

Song Changxu was a very patient person. After Xu Zhizhou had learned to read for half a shichen, he let him go to sleep.

He still had to read for a while in the remaining time.

Xu Zhizhou admired his husband. He studied from morning till night, and even when it was time to sleep, he would not slack off.

But he was quite pleased.

Tomorrow, he would bring his husband another bowl of lamb soup.

Xu Zhizhou pulled the quilt and entered his dreamland.

Ten thousand mountains covered in snow, the bright moon thin. [1]

After Song Changxu had gone to the county school to study, he and Feng Xin’ou had arranged to go to the dining hall. As soon as they left the school, goose-feather snow began to fall.

Song Changxu reached out his hand, and the snowflakes melted in his palm.

Feng Xin’ou said, “Brother Song, let’s hurry to the dining hall.”

The students in the school also rushed to the dining hall. Today, the dining hall seemed to have a conscience. The food was barely edible. Song Changxu drank a bowl of hot soup.

“The snow is falling heavily. Let’s build a snowman at noon,” Xie Feng said, raising his eyebrows, thinking that his idea was not bad.

“Alright, that’s very spontaneous,” Luo Shuang responded.

Cheng Maoxue nodded. It was fine to have some fun.

The group of them agreed and pulled the others in the classroom to play together. They didn’t manage to build a snowman, as there was too little snow. They could only make a few snowballs to tease their classmates.

Cheng Maoxue stuffed a cold snowball down the back of Song Changxu’s collar. A shiver ran from his neck to his stomach, making him tremble.

Seeing his appearance, Cheng Maoxue laughed until his stomach hurt.

He had finally gotten his revenge for being fourth.

Song Changxu made a snowball, grabbed Cheng Maoxue’s collar, and threw it in under his terrified gaze.

Cheng Maoxue also shivered from the cold.

Studying at the county school was too boring. They were all a little happy and excited to have some fun.

A snowball was thrown at Xie Feng’s head, and his long hair was covered in white dots.

He made a snowball himself and retaliated.

When Teacher Zhou arrived at the school, he saw that his disciples were all dusty and disheveled. Someone had a big painted face, and someone’s shoes were still dripping with water.

Teacher Zhou was at a loss for words. He shook his head without saying anything and continued to lecture.

It was still snowing in the afternoon, but it was light. They walked in the snow with their heads down. Feng Xin’ou and Song Changxu were on the road when they saw Xie Feng and the others getting into a carriage. Xie Feng saw them and called out, “Get in. I’ll give you a ride.”

Song Changxu agreed and pulled Feng Xin’ou up with him.

It was much warmer in the carriage. Xie Feng poured them two cups of tea and told them to have some snacks.

“The snow has finally fallen,” Xie Feng said, lifting the curtain and seeing a familiar figure holding an umbrella. He called out, “Song Furen, Song Furen, your husband is in my carriage. Stop!”

The coachman stopped the carriage at the young master’s words.

Xu Zhizhou and Jiang Zhuo were at their stall when it suddenly started to snow. They put up the large umbrella. Then Xu Zhizhou said, “My husband and the others haven’t brought their umbrellas from class. I’ll go and send them.”

He was halfway there when he heard someone calling him. He turned around and went to the side of the carriage. Song Changxu reached out and pulled him up.

It was much warmer in the carriage. He stuffed one umbrella into Song Changxu’s hands and the other into Feng Xin’ou’s.

“Jiang Zhuo and I were at our stall and saw that it was snowing. I thought that you two hadn’t brought your umbrellas, so I came to send them.”

Song Changxu poured him a cup of hot tea. “Have some tea to warm up first.”

Xu Zhizhou smelled the fragrance of tea in the carriage. He felt much better after taking a sip. The Xie family’s tea was really good, and so was the Cheng family’s.

“Young Master Xie, you can stop here. I still have to watch the stall. Thank you,” Xu Zhizhou said, getting off the carriage.

After dropping Song Changxu and the others off at Mijiang Lane, Song Changxu and Feng Xin’ou thanked him.

“It’s a small matter. I’ll be going back first,” Xie Feng said, lowering the curtain and having the coachman drive away.

Xie Feng drank a cup of hot tea and took a piece of date paste cake. He lifted the curtain, looked at the falling snow, and then lowered it again.

“Seeing how Brother Song and Brother Feng’s husbands care for them, I’m really a bit envious.”

Hearing this, the coachman smiled. “There are countless people in Jinhe County who admire the young master. If you have the heart, the ge’ers and women will all pounce on you.”

The carriage rumbled along the road.

Xie Feng said, “My marriage is not up to me.”

The marriages of aristocratic sons were all exchanges of benefits. Since he had enjoyed the family’s resources, he naturally had to pay his price.

The coachman said, “After the young master has passed the exam, the master and mistress will arrange a good marriage for you.”

It was just waiting for the right price.

Xie Feng smiled without speaking.

On the other side, Song Changxu had bought some charcoal and a wooden woven basket with a handle. There was some ash inside, and a small piece of cotton cloth on top. It was warm with the charcoal on it.

He went out with an umbrella to find Xu Zhizhou.

“Coming,” Xu Zhizhou said, handing a customer some Bobo Chicken.

He was smarter than Song Changxu. When he had gone back to get the umbrella, he had also taken a hand warmer. When there were no customers, he would put his hands in it.

Song Changxu brought the fire over. “The weather is cold. You should keep warm when you’re doing business.”

Xu Zhizhou took it and saw that Song Changxu had covered the basket with a cotton cloth. He was amused. He reached out to warm his hands. “Jiang Zhuo, come and warm yourself by the fire.”

Song Changxu explained, “The cotton cloth is for insulation.”

Xu Zhizhou gave Song Changxu some meat and vegetable skewers. “I know. You should go back and study.”

He pushed Song Changxu away.

Song Changxu walked a few steps and looked back. His gaze met Xu Zhizhou’s. It turned out that he was also looking at him.

Xu Zhizhou made a waving gesture. Then a customer came, and he couldn’t be bothered with Song Changxu anymore.

“What would you like, sir…”

Song Changxu was in the wind and snow. His heart beat rapidly a few times.

He had never thought that Xu Zhizhou would bring him an umbrella. Song Changxu’s steps grew faster and faster, and he did not look back again.

A person in the small lane asked, “Xiucai Song, you’ve just come back? It’s snowing heavily.”

Song Changxu answered a few times, returned to the courtyard, and closed the door. He went back to his bedroom and continued to hold his book.

The trees in Jinhe County were suddenly covered in silver. The snow on the ground was trampled on several times and turned into dirty snow.

The Bobo Chicken business was average in the winter. Xu Zhizhou put the fire in the pushcart. Thinking of something, he took a few copper coins and went to a steaming hot shop. “A bowl of lamb soup to go. I’ve brought my own bowl.”

“Alright.”

“More scallions,” Xu Zhizhou said. He saw that the tables and chairs in the shop were all full of people drinking lamb soup, and he was very envious.

Their business was so good, so lively.

“Your lamb soup is ready.”

Xu Zhizhou gave the copper coins. Blown by the cold wind, he shrunk his head like a rabbit, wanting to bury it in his neck. He carried the lamb soup, his steps light, his skin fair, his features bright, and the corners of his lips turned up.

“Let’s go,” he said, putting the lamb soup on the pushcart. He pushed the large pushcart with ease.

When he reached his door, he had to use more strength to move the pushcart. He first put down the fire and the lamb soup, and then pushed the cart into the courtyard.

Xu Zhizhou blew on his hands. “So cold, so cold.”

“Come and have some lamb soup, husband.”

Song Changxu brought the fire and placed it in front of Xu Zhizhou. He smiled and warmed himself by the fire.

He divided the lamb soup into two small bowls. Song Changxu brought it over to him, the spoon for him. “Let’s drink it together.”

Xu Zhizhou nodded in agreement, took the spoon, stirred the scallions, and took a sip.

“Their business is so good. I’m a little envious.”

Song Changxu said, “Everyone likes to drink some hot soup in the winter.”

Xu Zhizhou finished the small bowl of soup in one go. In the evening, they had a bowl of egg noodles.

He went to the stove and saw that there was enough firewood, and was satisfied.

The two of them had spent the winter alone in Jinhe County. They had two layers of quilts. Lying on Song Changxu’s chest, Xu Zhizhou was like a free-spirited kitten, holding onto his clothes and falling asleep.

Sensing the other person’s steady breathing, Song Changxu stared at Xu Zhizhou for a long time, then tucked him in, afraid that he would catch a cold.

The night was still long. Song Changxu closed his eyes.

On the other side, after Feng Xin’ou and Jiang Zhuo had washed up, they lay down together and talked about Qishan Village.

Jiang Zhuo: “I haven’t seen my parents in a long time. I didn’t expect it to be winter so soon.”

Feng Xin’ou nodded. “Time passes too quickly. The county school will have a holiday in a month. After the New Year, we’ll have to study until August for the provincial examination.”

Feng Xin’ou was not confident about the provincial examination. At the county school, he had met many learned people. There was always someone better.

Jiang Zhuo: “It’s fine. I believe in you, husband. If you don’t pass, we can continue to study in Jinhe County, or go back to the village and make other plans.”

“If I don’t pass, I don’t plan to take it again. I’ll go back and be a private school teacher. I know that Teacher Li took the exam for many years and didn’t succeed, and it delayed his family. I know that I only have one chance. If I don’t do well this time, I will definitely not drag my family down,” Feng Xin’ou said, holding Jiang Zhuo’s hand.

“This might also be my cowardice,” Feng Xin’ou said with a self-deprecating smile.

Jiang Zhuo shook his head. “In my heart, my husband has never been a coward. If you were that kind of person, we would never have been together.”

Feng Xin’ou’s heart warmed.

Winter had come. The scholars in the school had brought hand warmers, hats, and bed warmers. They were dressed in thick clothes like bears.

Song Changxu, nagged by Xu Zhizhou, was also dressed like a bear. He held a bed warmer and read with his head down.

A scholar called out, “Brother Song, did you understand what Teacher Zhou said? I’m a little confused. Can you help me explain?”

Song Changxu agreed.

***

Author’s Note:

Little Song: Hot soup is popular.

Little Xu: I’m envious. [Crying]