My Husband is a Drama King [Book Transmigration] 13

Chapter 13: The Trap

The nights in Qishan Village were quiet, with only the occasional bark of a dog. Xu Peng returned home, unable to sleep.

He was now working under the head steward, who provided a large communal sleeping platform. He had come back today on his day off to visit. At the dinner table, his parents looked at him with a sense of pride, feeling that he had made something of himself.

His husband was coaxing their son, and his expression was also one of extreme pride. Only he himself knew the bitterness in his heart.

He was a clumsy farm boy who couldn’t read a single character. Suddenly being promoted by the head steward to work in the shop, he was ostracized by the shopkeeper and the assistants.

At home, his family was always hinting that he should spend money. His husband would ask for money to buy new clothes and a silver bracelet.

Why is he so thoughtless? Can’t he be considerate of me in anything? If it were Song Mingyan, he would definitely understand him and wouldn’t pressure him. Instead, he would comfort him with soft words.

Xu Peng looked at the husband who had borne him a son, his face lit by the moonlight. He saw the weariness on the ge’er’s plain face and felt a wave of boredom.

Song Mingyan’s figure and looks were among the best in the village. He was virtuous and resilient, unlike his current husband, who was boorish and shrewish.

Xu Peng stayed at home for a day and then left. Perhaps the scheming at home had hurt his heart. It was then that he remembered he had another son at the Song family’s house. As he was leaving for town early in the morning, he snuck over to the Song residence to have a look.

He saw that Xu Cheng had grown much taller and was squatting under the cherry tree in the Song family’s courtyard, playing with mud.

His gaze lingered on Xu Cheng for a long time, unable to look away.

“Cheng Ge’er, come in and eat,” Song Changxu called to his little nephew.

Xu Cheng looked up, answered, and ran inside, where he was caught by Song Changxu and taken to wash his hands.

Xu Peng looked around for a few more moments, sighed, and left.

Xu Cheng didn’t know that his biological father had come to see him. He sat on a stool, waiting for his father to serve him noodles.

Today’s topping was scrambled eggs with pickled vegetables. One could scoop as much as they wanted with a spoon. Song Ye and Liang Su ate two liang of noodles each, while Song Changxu only needed one.

Xu Cheng had a small bowl, and Song Mingyan would just pick some noodles from his own bowl for him.

Song Changxu carried his noodles and scooped some scrambled eggs with pickled vegetables. When his elder brother made this dish, he would add scallions, which made it very fragrant.

He finished the entire bowl of noodles, soup and all.

Xu Cheng loved noodles. He would roll them into a ball with his chopsticks and take a bite.

Song Ye: “We’re leaving. Changxu, remember to go to Carpenter Hu in the village and ask him to make a double bed. Don’t dismantle your current bed; just move it to the storage room. Cheng Ge’er can sleep in it when he’s older.”

Hearing this, Song Changxu’s fingers paused. “I know, Father.”

The work had been light recently, so Song Mingyan didn’t have to go to the fields to help his parents. Today, he planned to go up the mountain to cut grass for the chickens, clean the house, and then do some needlework.

Song Changxu was wearing an old long robe, the edges of which were faded and had loose threads.

Liang Su had bought a few feet of cotton cloth and was making him a new long robe. Song Mingyan was working on the sleeves.

He said, “Changxu, don’t you have a few other long robes? Why are you only wearing this one?”

Song Changxu was proud and cared a lot about his appearance. He would never wear a long robe with faded edges like this outside.

Song Changxu didn’t seem uncomfortable. “I’m just wearing it in the village. No one will care. Besides, this old robe is softer.”

He wouldn’t deliberately wear an old robe to town, but it was fine to wear it in the village.

The faded edges were only on the cuffs and were hard to notice. It was normal for the sleeves to be a bit worn.

Song Mingyan didn’t say any more. Song Changxu remembered his father’s words and said, “Elder Brother, I’m going to Carpenter Hu’s.”

“Go on. It’s best to have a bigger bed made. When you have children in the future, they’ll have to sleep with you when they’re young.”

Song Changxu nodded absentmindedly.

What children? I really don’t dare to think about it.

Song Changxu followed his memory to find Carpenter Hu. Carpenter Hu usually made wooden tables and chairs in the village. When he had made enough, he would take them to town to sell. He also had three acres of land, which his family managed, so their income was good throughout the year. Their house was in the middle of the village, with two large trees planted at the entrance. The wooden door was polished to a shine.

The courtyard gate was not tightly closed. Song Changxu knocked on it.

“Come in.”

Carpenter Hu was smoking a pipe. New wood was laid out in the courtyard. Song Changxu could see that Carpenter Hu was halfway through his work and was taking a break to smoke.

When Carpenter Hu saw it was Song Changxu, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes. He had come to see him so early. He had thought it was a familiar man from the village. Then, a thought occurred to him. He put out his pipe, and in his straw sandals, went into the house to get some tea.

“It’s the Song family’s boy. Come, sit.”

The barley tea was placed on the table. Carpenter Hu poured him a cup with a warm expression. “What brings you to see me, uncle?”

Song Changxu: “I came to ask how much it would cost to have a double bed made here.”

Carpenter Hu: “It mainly depends on the style and size you want, and what kind of wood you want to use.”

Song Changxu took a sip of tea and said, “I don’t know much about this. I trust you won’t cheat me, uncle. Why don’t you tell me what kinds of beds you have and what their prices are?”

Carpenter Hu told Song Changxu about several styles of double beds and their prices.

In the end, Song Changxu chose a double bed with a carved pattern and also arranged to bring his own wood, so Carpenter Hu would only charge for the labor.

After some back-and-forth, the total came to three hundred copper coins. Song Changxu paid half as a deposit.

Carpenter Hu’s heart ached, but he also felt a bit of admiration. “You’re too good at bargaining, Song boy. I thought someone like you would agree to the first price.”

Song Changxu smiled. “Uncle, there are a lot of expenses for the wedding. I wish I could split one piece of silver into two.”

Carpenter Hu strongly agreed. He had spent more than half of his family’s savings when he got married.

When Song Changxu left Carpenter Hu’s, he felt refreshed, as if he had accomplished something.

Another day, he would have to go to town to buy suitable pillows, quilts, and bedsheets. The ones he had now were for a single bed. They would need a wedding quilt for the marriage, but it was still necessary to have a few extra quilts.

The sun was a bit glaring. Song Changxu looked up and quickened his pace. He couldn’t take the exam this year; the time had already passed. He would have to wait another year and a half. He didn’t know if he would have the confidence to pass the exam to become a xiucai then.

Song Changxu was never arrogant and didn’t feel superior just because he came from the modern era. On the contrary, he felt pressured. He had majored in history in university, but the scholars in ancient times had also studied hard for ten years. He should put in more effort.

Song Changxu sometimes hated studying, but in ancient times, only through studying could one possibly gain power and not be bullied.

Even as a merchant, without a backer, one was like a child carrying gold through the streets, attracting covetous eyes.

Song Changxu was walking along the road when a fruit hit him on the head.

He looked up—

Xu Zhizhou was carrying a basket, tossing a fruit up and down in his hand. The blue veins were visible on his fair skin. He had a high nose bridge and reddish lips. He was full of vitality and said with a smile, “What are you looking at? I was aiming for you.”

The fruit rolled on the ground. Song Changxu was stunned for a moment, then picked it up.

Xu Zhizhou thought Song Changxu had come looking for him. His gaze fell behind him as he carefully considered.

He took a bite of the fruit. “You’re not staying at home. What are you doing here?”

His dark eyes stared at Song Changxu curiously.

The words he wanted to say swirled in his throat. Song Changxu pretended to be reserved. “Nothing. I was just bored and came out for a walk.”

If he knew he had gone to Carpenter Hu’s to have a bed made, Xu Zhizhou would surely ask all sorts of questions.

“Bored? That’s perfect.” Xu Zhizhou took off his basket and handed it to Song Changxu. “I’m going up the mountain to cut pig feed. You can help me. I’ll go pick soapberries. Two people working together is not tiring.”

Song Changxu: “…”

Yes, two people working together is not tiring, it just shifts the burden of fatigue.

Song Changxu had a sudden idea. “I have to go back and study.”

Studying could not be delayed. Xu Zhizhou thought for a moment and magnanimously said, “Then you can just cut half a basket.”

Song Changxu refused coldly.

Seeing that there was no one else in the village, Xu Zhizhou grabbed Song Changxu’s sleeve to prevent him from leaving. “Just help me. In the village, engaged men have to help their fiancé’s family with chores. I’m not lying to you. Helping to deliver firewood, planting crops, these are all things you should do.”

Xu Zhizhou said, “You weren’t like this when we got engaged!”

This is improper. Song Changxu felt dizzy from being shaken by Xu Zhizhou.

“I’ll help, I’ll help, alright?” If this standoff continued, who knew when he would be able to go home. He was only doing this to get home earlier, Song Changxu comforted himself.

He took the sickle and started cutting grass. Xu Zhizhou glanced at him and went into the mountain to pick soapberries. While picking, he saw a wild chicken.

Xu Zhizhou lightened his steps and followed it, looking for an opportunity to catch it. Seeing the chicken stop in a patch of grass to eat, he held his breath and pounced. His foot landed on empty ground, and he fell into a hole. He let out a scream and fell face-first into the mud.

Xu Zhizhou patted his bottom, stood up, and looked at the height of the hole. He couldn’t climb out by himself. Looking at the surrounding large trees, he realized he had wandered deep into the mountains without noticing. Li Hu was a skilled hunter. He had fallen into a hunting trap. Perhaps tomorrow, when Li Hu came to check, he could be rescued. Being rescued after a day would be lucky. He had heard that some hunters would wait three or four days before checking their traps.

By then, he would probably have starved to death.

His ankle hurt a little, but Xu Zhizhou couldn’t be bothered with it now.

He shouted a few times, startling the birds resting in the trees. They flapped their wings and flew away.

The deep mountain forest was rarely visited by people. He didn’t know if there were bears or tigers. Xu Zhizhou’s lips turned pale.

.

Song Changxu wiped his sweat. He was still bent over, cutting grass with a sickle. He was supposed to cut half a basket, but he had stubbornly filled the entire basket.

After finishing, he looked back and didn’t see Xu Zhizhou. He thought he was still picking soapberries and hadn’t come back yet. He waited for a while but saw no one.

Could Xu Zhizhou have gone back first? Song Changxu thought about it and felt it was impossible.

He wouldn’t have left his basket, and he would have told him. Song Changxu hid the basket and sickle in the grass and went to look for Xu Zhizhou.

Song Changxu searched the outer perimeter of the back mountain and the places where the ge’ers often went to pick soapberries, but he couldn’t find any trace of Xu Zhizhou.

He couldn’t help but walk deeper into the back mountain. In one spot, he saw freshly picked soapberries on the ground. Song Changxu narrowed his eyes, his expression inexplicably tense.

Author’s Note:

Little Song: Where is he?

Little Xu: [Crying][Crying][Crying][Crying]