My Husband is a Drama King [Book Transmigration] 18

Chapter 18: Buying Tofu 

Song Changxu and Xu Cheng returned with a full load. They lent the rake to a child they knew in the village, telling them to return it after they were done.

Back at home, Xu Cheng volunteered to wash the raspberries. Song Mingyan grabbed a handful of pickled vegetables and pickled cowpeas. There were also pickled cabbage and radishes at home, which he also took out. He added some salt, vinegar, soy sauce, and a large spoonful of chili oil, mixed it well, and the aroma was very fragrant.

He diced the potatoes and put them in the pot to cook with the congee. He diced the cured meat, minced it, and kneaded it into the dough. Song Mingyan poured oil into the hot pot to fry the pancakes.

He liked to add some scallions when he made pancakes.

He also stir-fried a plate of peanuts and sprinkled some salt on top.

Dinner was quickly ready. A plate of washed raspberries was placed on the table, so that Song Ye and Liang Su could have a bowl of hot congee when they returned.

Song Changxu waited for the congee in his bowl to cool down a bit, then took a bite of the potato chunks and ate some pickled radish. The pickled radish strips, coated in chili, were an excellent accompaniment to the rice.

The oil used at home was rapeseed oil and soybean oil, which were relatively cheap. Of course, there was also a jar of lard, which they didn’t eat often. Lard was extremely delicious for frying eggs and making noodles.

The iron pot used for stir-frying heated evenly and conducted heat quickly, which made the food taste better. Ordinary farming households were reluctant to buy an iron pot for their homes. Song Ye had also been very hesitant when he bought it, but then he thought that an iron pot would last a long time, so it was a worthwhile purchase in the long run.

He had bought a small iron pot, which was enough for stir-frying.

Most of the plate of peanuts was finished by Song Ye. Song Changxu and Xu Cheng both loved the pickled radish.

Cao Qin took her food and went out to chat with people.

After the raspberries were finished, Xu Cheng ran into his room to sleep. As the weather got warmer, a mosquito net was hung up in the room. Song Changxu lay in bed, reciting articles from memory.

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In the afternoon, when Song Changxu returned from Lingshui Village, Liang Su was about to go up the mountain to cut grass. She called out, “Go to Carpenter Hu’s and bring back the finished dressing table.”

Song Changxu nodded. The air still smelled of sawdust. The dressing table was made of solid wood. He had never seen an ancient dressing table before. He moved it to his room and tapped on it.

There was only an empty space for a mirror to be inlaid in the front. The rest was exactly the same as an ordinary bedside table. Song Changxu quickly lost interest.

The bed was not yet finished. Carpenter Hu had told him to come back in half a month, which would be mid-May.

The thought of getting married made Song Changxu’s scalp tingle. He held a book but couldn’t read a single word.

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After many days, the weather grew hotter. The people of Qishan Village usually went to work early, stayed at home to cool off at noon, and then went back to the fields in the afternoon when it was cooler.

The villagers took a short nap at noon. Xu Zhizhou and Xu Zhici were not yet resting. They were still embroidering the wedding dress. Xu Zhizhou put down his needle and thread and said, “Elder Brother, I’m going to the fields to pick a winter melon to eat.”

Xu Zhici nodded. “Go on. Wear a straw hat and be careful of the sun.”

Xu Zhizhou took a straw hat and went out. As soon as he stepped outside, he felt that it was hotter than at home. The ground was so hot that his feet felt like they were steaming. He quickened his pace and picked a large winter melon from the fields.

Back in his room, he cut the winter melon, put it on a plate, and brought it to the table in the courtyard. “Elder Brother, hurry and eat. It’s so sweet, and so juicy.”

Xu Zhici took a bite of the winter melon.

“I put the other half of the winter melon in a basin of water to chill. It will taste even better later.”

The two ge’ers quickly finished half of the winter melon. Xu Zhizhou felt a little sleepy. He asked, “Elder Brother, has Elder Brother Xie sent you anything?”

Xu Zhici: “Sometimes he sends something every two months, sometimes every three. It’s uncertain.”

Xu Zhizhou rested his face in his hands on the table. What an unpredictable man.

After a flurry of activity, they went to cut pig feed in the afternoon. When Xu Zhizhou reached the back mountain, he kept his eyes straight ahead, looking at nothing but the grass.

Xu Zhici said, “You cut the pig feed first. I’ll go cut some bamboo to weave baskets later.”

While cutting bamboo, Xu Zhici noticed a fresh scent in one area. He pushed aside the grass and ran into Song Changxu picking mint leaves.

Song Changxu reacted first. “Elder Brother Xu, the wild mint here is very refreshing for making tea. Would you like to pick some to take back?”

Xu Zhici nodded and called Xu Zhizhou over to pick some together.

Xu Zhizhou came over quickly. When he saw Song Changxu was also there, he looked at the mint leaves and started picking them.

Song Changxu felt Xu Zhizhou’s gaze on him and couldn’t help but straighten his back.

Only after the gaze disappeared did he breathe a sigh of relief.

He had brought a ceramic jar to put the wild mint in. Song Mingyan had said that in a few days, he would find a large pot to dig up some wild mint to plant in the courtyard. That way, if they wanted to drink mint tea, they could just pick it from the courtyard.

After cutting the pig feed, Xu Zhizhou lazily picked a few mint leaves and then went to rest under a tree. He opened his water flask to drink, only to find that he had already finished it.

Xu Zhici had picked the mint leaves, wrapped them in a large leaf, and put them in his basket. He was now cutting bamboo elsewhere. Only he and Song Changxu were here. Seeing this, his courage grew.

Song Changxu was still bent over, picking leaves, when he felt a touch on his shoulder.

Xu Zhizhou poked him with his finger and asked, “Do you have any water left in your flask? I’ve run out.”

Song Changxu untied his own water flask and handed it to Xu Zhizhou.

Xu Zhizhou didn’t put his mouth to the flask, but poured the water to drink. His eyes lit up. The water was cool and had a hint of sweetness.

He couldn’t help but take another big gulp, then handed the nearly empty flask back to Song Changxu.

“Is this mint tea? It’s so good.”

Song Changxu had finished picking the mint leaves. He said, “It’s even better with a little sugar.”

Xu Zhizhou mumbled an affirmative. “Do you have winter melons at your house?”

“We’ve planted winter melons.”

Xu Zhizhou thought that the two of them would be married in a month. He couldn’t help but secretly look at Song Changxu’s features and waist.

Song Changxu’s features were extremely handsome, his fingers well-defined. His figure was hidden under his long robe, but his waist was lean and strong.

Song Changxu felt a prickle from being watched. He said hesitantly, “I’ll be heading back first.”

This time, Xu Zhizhou didn’t ask him to do any chores. Xu Zhici was not far away, and it wouldn’t be good if his elder brother found out. Xu Zhizhou nodded and magnanimously let him go back. There would be plenty of days in the future to make Song Changxu help him with his chores.

This time, Song Changxu went back with his ceramic jar and was not called back by Xu Zhizhou. He breathed a sigh of relief. He went back to his room and looked at his own figure. There didn’t seem to be any problem.

Why would a ge’er look at his face and waist? It’s unbearable.

Song Changxu lifted his long robe and touched his thin abdominal muscles and the faint V-line.

His figure wasn’t too bad.

Song Changxu went home and brewed some tea. His clothes needed to be washed. He didn’t dare to go to the river to do his laundry. He scooped water from the water vat into a basin, washed his undergarments with soapberries, and hung them up to dry.

The wardrobe in his room was big enough. He didn’t need to have another one made. He and Xu Zhizhou could share it.

With the room tidied up, Song Changxu could study in peace.

It was difficult to become a xiucai in ancient times. He didn’t dare to underestimate the ancients, especially those who had studied hard for ten years. Song Changxu was not very confident that he could surpass them.

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By the river

Sun Luzhen called Xu Zhizhou over to catch shrimp. A few other familiar ge’ers were also there. Xu Zhizhou was unlucky and only caught three or four. It wasn’t enough for a dish, so they could only be added to the vegetable soup as a bonus.

He stopped catching shrimp and instead started to pick stones from the river. When he found a nicely shaped, smooth stone, he would keep it and place it on the windowsill in his room.

This time, he had chosen two stones and was satisfied. The other ge’ers had all caught more than Xu Zhizhou.

Xu Zhizhou didn’t care. There was no telling what you would find in the river. It was good enough to have something. Sun Luzhen chatted with the others for a while and then went back with Xu Zhizhou.

Sun Luzhen’s ancestors were fishermen. It was only in his grandfather’s generation that they had settled down in Qishan Village. But according to family tradition, they still had a fishing net, and from time to time, they would go to the river to catch some fish for a treat.

When there were a lot of fish, they could also take them to town to sell, which was an extra source of income for the family.

“Zhizhou, what are you thinking about?” Sun Luzhen asked, skipping a stone across the water.

Xu Zhizhou sat on a large rock. “I’m thinking about the wedding.”

Sun Luzhen: “What’s there to think about? You’re getting married next month. It’s set in stone.”

Xu Zhizhou felt a bit hesitant and uneasy. “I’ve never been married before. I’m a little scared.”

Sun Luzhen wanted to comfort his friend. He looked around. The other ge’ers were playing elsewhere. He lowered his voice and said, “I think Song Changxu is a good person.”

He told Xu Zhizhou about how Song Changxu had reminded him when he had met Bai Yuan by the river.

After hearing this, the corners of Xu Zhizhou’s mouth turned up. “He’s a kind-hearted person.”

Hearing Sun Luzhen’s words, Xu Zhizhou thought, Would someone like Song Changxu want to bully him?

He said, “Song Changxu is right. You shouldn’t meet that Bai Yuan in private. Who knows what kind of person he is.”

Sun Luzhen: “I’ll listen to both of you.”

Hearing this, Xu Zhizhou’s cheeks turned red. He said shyly and angrily, “We’re talking about you. Why are you bringing him into it?”

After chatting for a while, Xu Zhizhou took the shrimp back to his room and helped Xu Zhici cook.

“I heard that Auntie Li’s family is selling tofu. Go buy a piece to make fried tofu,” Xu Zhici said, taking out three copper coins and giving them to him.

Xu Zhizhou took the copper coins and went to Auntie Li’s house. Many people in the village had heard the news and had come to buy tofu.

When it was Xu Zhizhou’s turn, he carefully selected a piece of tofu. Auntie Li said, “Zhizhou, you’re really good at picking.”

Xu Zhizhou couldn’t help but puff out his chest. “It’s because Auntie’s tofu is so good. I think all the tofu is good. I wanted to pick a good piece, but they’re all good.”

He received a piece of tofu in a bowl.

The other women and husbands laughed at Xu Zhizhou’s words.

“Your mouth is as sweet as if it’s been smeared with honey,” Auntie Li, who was around forty, said. She looked at Xu Zhizhou as if he were her own ge’er. It was rare to see such a lively ge’er.

Song Changxu, who had been sent by Liang Su to buy tofu, heard the conversation.

I don’t know about smeared with honey, but he’s very troublesome.

Song Changxu was tall and stood out in the crowd. Xu Zhizhou saw him queuing and didn’t say anything as he carried the tofu.

With so many people around, it wasn’t appropriate to say anything.

When it was Song Changxu’s turn to buy tofu, he didn’t know how to pick. They all looked the same to him. He bought a piece and left.

Someone said, “Look at that young couple. They’re a bit cold. They didn’t even smile when they ran into each other.”

A woman laughed. “I think they’re just shy.”

Author’s Note:

Little Song: Poison! I’m not eating that sweet talk.

Little Xu: We’re not familiar, so I didn’t ask him to do any chores. [Pats head]