Farming for Three Meals a Day [Farming Life] 30

Chapter 30

Building the chicken coop required dozens of mud bricks, so Lin Jiangshan dug dozens of loads of yellow mud, mixed it with water to form a slurry, and added straw to increase its cohesiveness.

Then, he used a rectangular wooden mold to shape the mud into rectangular bricks, leaving them to dry in the courtyard. Once the water evaporated, they would become hard bricks.

This was time-consuming and labor-intensive work. By the time dozens of evenly sized mud bricks were laid out in the courtyard, it was already getting dark.

Lin Jiangshan was covered in yellow mud, even his face smeared with it. Ye Xi went to the kitchen to boil hot water for him.

“We don’t have a bathtub, so you’ll have to wash in the courtyard,” Ye Xi said, adding firewood to the stove.

Lin Jiangshan tidied himself up a bit in the courtyard, washed the mud off his hands, and entered the kitchen. “It’s still early autumn, and the weather isn’t cold yet. But in a while, the temperature in the mountains will drop, and it will be difficult for you to bathe without a bathtub.”

He didn’t mind, being robust and unlikely to get sick even from bathing in cold weather, but he still needed to make a bathtub for Ye Xi, so he could bathe in the kitchen during winter.

“I’ll find a carpenter to make one for you tomorrow when I’m free, it won’t cost much.”

Ye Xi nodded. “Alright, that would be more convenient for bathing.”

After the water boiled, Ye Xi mixed it with cold water in a bucket, and Lin Jiangshan carried it to the courtyard.

They were the only family living halfway up the mountain, with no neighbors, so Lin Jiangshan took off his clothes in the courtyard.

When Ye Xi brought him a clean cloth for bathing, he saw Lin Jiangshan’s bare back in the moonlight, only wearing a pair of shorts.

His firm muscles, broad back, and smooth waistline, a strong and sturdy physique, made Ye Xi’s heart race.

Lin Jiangshan poured a ladle of water over himself, his body glistening in the moonlight. He turned around and saw his young husband standing there, motionless.

“What’s wrong?” He took the cloth from Ye Xi’s hand.

Ye Xi averted his gaze, not daring to look at him. Although the man before him was his husband, and they had been intimate, seeing his husband’s body so suddenly still made him blush.

“The door isn’t even closed, and you’re just…”

Lin Jiangshan didn’t mind and smiled. “I’m a man, what’s there to be afraid of? No one’s going to peep on me at night.”

Ye Xi snorted. “Who knows, what if there is such a person…”

Lin Jiangshan’s dark eyes gleamed in the moonlight as he stared at his husband. After a moment, he chuckled softly, took two large steps forward, wrapped his arms around Ye Xi’s waist, and pressed his wet chest against him, dampening his clothes.

This intimate and suggestive posture made Ye Xi’s face and neck flush crimson.

Although they were married, it had only been two days, and they were still shy about physical intimacy. Suddenly being so close, Ye Xi didn’t dare to look at him.

Lin Jiangshan held his husband’s waist, his voice low, deep, and husky. “If my husband were bathing, then someone might peep. My husband is beautiful and delicate, many men would be interested.”

Ye Xi’s ears burned, and he lowered his gaze, reaching out to cover Lin Jiangshan’s mouth, but he kissed his palm, a warm and ticklish sensation.

Ye Xi said, blushing, “You wash up, I’m going back inside.”

Lin Jiangshan wouldn’t let him go, clinging to his husband. “Your clothes are wet now, just bathe with me.”

“N-no way.”

Just as he finished speaking, a ladle of water poured over their heads, making Ye Xi close his eyes. Lin Jiangshan smiled triumphantly. “Well, now we have to bathe together.”

This man! He had become completely mischievous after getting married!

The bath naturally turned into another round of intimacy, Ye Xi’s eyes red and teary, leaving several bite marks on Lin Jiangshan’s shoulder.

A few days later, the mud bricks in the courtyard had dried and were ready for use.

Lin Jiangshan and Ye Xi worked together to build a chicken coop in the backyard and moved the chicks and ducklings inside, adding some straw as bedding since late autumn was approaching.

The remaining bricks were just enough to build a pigsty. It was only five months until the New Year, and they couldn’t do without a pig, as they needed to slaughter a pig to make sausages and cured meat.

Ye Xi asked his mother to inquire around the village if anyone had new piglets. It was also time for him to visit his parents’ home. The custom in Shanxiu Village was to visit one’s parents seven days after the wedding.

He could buy the piglets when he visited his parents.

This was Lin Jiangshan’s first visit to Ye Xi’s parents’ home as his son-in-law, so he took it seriously.

While selling firewood in town, he bought two packages of soft cloud cakes, two jars of good wine for his father-in-law, a slab of ribs, and two pig’s trotters from the pork stall.

Ye Xi was surprised to see the things he was carrying when he returned.

He quickly took the things and asked, “Why did you buy so much?”

Lin Jiangshan said, “We have to bring gifts when visiting your parents. If we’re stingy and don’t bring enough, others will think I’m mistreating you, and your parents will lose face. It doesn’t cost much anyway. I earned one hundred and twenty wen selling firewood today, and I added thirty wen from our savings, that’s enough.”

Ye Xi wasn’t distressed about the money, but he was touched by the thoughtfulness. Lin Jiangshan had worked hard chopping firewood in the mountains and carrying it a long way to town to sell, and he spent all his hard-earned money on gifts for his in-laws.

“My parents will definitely praise you endlessly.”

Lin Jiangshan smiled. “I married their precious son, shouldn’t I bring them some gifts?”

They chatted for a while, then took the gifts, locked the door, and went down the mountain.

Knowing that Ye Xi was coming home today, Liu Xiufeng had been looking forward to it since early morning, constantly standing at the door and looking out. Although their houses weren’t far apart, Ye Xi hadn’t been back since he got married a few days ago. He could only come back on this day, for his first visit after the wedding.

On the way, Lin Jiangshan carried a basket in one hand and the wine and meat in the other, while Ye Xi walked beside him in his new clothes.

The villagers, working or chatting, gathered at the village entrance, cracking melon seeds and peanuts.

They saw Lin Jiangshan and Ye Xi, the newlywed couple, approaching from afar.

The two looked good together, the man tall and strong, the young man delicate and handsome. Their words and gestures revealed their love and harmony as a couple.

“Is today Xi-ge’er’s homecoming?”

“Yes, it’s been seven days since Xi-ge’er got married, today is his homecoming,” a village woman said, cracking melon seeds.

“Look at what Lin fellow is carrying, wine, ribs, and something else. Such generous gifts for a homecoming.”

Another villager craned his neck to look.

“For homecoming gifts in our village, we usually just bring some eggs and a piece of meat. He’s brought so much. Some husbands are even unwilling to accompany their wives back to their parents’ home, their faces long, as if it’s such a big chore.”

“When my daughter came home, my son-in-law brought a basket of eggs, and I slaughtered a chicken for lunch. It would have been better if they hadn’t come at all.”

The villagers chattered, and when Lin Jiangshan and Ye Xi approached, everyone’s eyes were on them.

Ye Xi greeted the villagers with a smile, and Lin Jiangshan also greeted them. Since marrying Ye Xi, he had become more sociable, not as cold and distant as before. The villagers knew he was a good man and would exchange a few words with him.

“Xi-ge’er, welcome home! I smelled the aroma of meat from your house early this morning! Your mother must have been looking forward to your return, slaughtering a chicken and cooking meat early in the morning.”

Ye Xi smiled at Second Aunt Zhao’s words. “I also miss my mother very much, she must have been waiting for me. I won’t delay any longer, uncles and aunts, please continue chatting.”

“Alright, go ahead. After your visit, come back to the village more often and chat with us.”

Ye Xi and Lin Jiangshan exchanged pleasantries with the villagers and headed towards the Ye family’s house with their gifts.

After they left, the villagers continued to gossip.

“The newlywed couple looks quite well-matched, very loving.”

“Lin fellow used to be so cold and distant, we didn’t even dare to talk to him. Now that he’s married, he’s become more approachable. He must be happy marrying such a beautiful and virtuous husband, his life full of hope.”

“Who would have thought Xi-ge’er’s face could heal? The burn was so severe, even the doctor in town couldn’t do anything. Who knew he found a folk remedy and it healed! That outsider got lucky. The Cao family must be regretting their decision now.”

“Why would they regret it? Their Bin-ge’er is a scholar, preparing for the imperial exam next month, hoping to become a Xiucai. I ran into a matchmaker a few days ago, she said the Cao family asked her to find a wife for him.”

Someone curious about gossip asked, “Which family? Isn’t Yao-ge’er from the Lin family in the east end of the village going to get engaged to the Cao family? Why is there no news after all these months?”

The person speaking rolled her eyes and whispered, “The Lin family keeps bragging about having a Xiucai son-in-law, but have you seen the Cao family come to propose? I heard from the matchmaker that the Cao family is in contact with the wealthy Zhang family who runs a shop in town, and they’re interested in their daughter.”

The other villagers clicked their tongues. “Yao-ge’er from our village is quite good-looking, the Cao family is getting picky.”

“Let it go, it’s none of our business. Just some gossip to pass the time. I’d say Xi-ge’er is much smarter than Yao-ge’er.”

“It’s still uncertain whether that Cao boy will become a Xiucai. Xi-ge’er found this Lin fellow, he’s tall and strong, can handle the household, and is diligent and capable. He plowed those two acres of land long ago, ready for planting. I heard he also knows how to fish and hunt, all skills that can earn money. Marrying a man should be about finding someone like him.”

“You’re right. Didn’t you see? The new clothes Xi-ge’er was wearing just now looked like they were made of cotton, and he even has a silver bracelet on his wrist. Look at yourselves, who has one?”

“I should have married my son to that outsider. Who knew he was so doting and hardworking.”

Others laughed at the woman who said this. “Don’t even think about it, although your Pan-ge’er is good-looking, he can’t compare to Xi-ge’er from the Ye family. Besides, Xi-ge’er is skillful and capable, famous in the village, everyone wants to marry him. You’re still thinking of marrying your Pan-ge’er to that Lin fellow? He probably wouldn’t even look at him!”

“Hey, how can you say that!”

The villagers behind them started arguing, but Lin Jiangshan and Ye Xi ignored them and went home with their gifts.