My Husband is a Drama King [Book Transmigration] 3

Chapter 3: Fetching Water

The original owner studied under Scholar Li. Scholar Li had fifteen disciples and charged three taels of silver per year. He used to teach in a private school in town, but he returned to his hometown to care for his sick, elderly mother.

The original owner had studied under Scholar Li for five years and was now twenty-one. Song Changxu thought to himself that he had gotten the better end of the deal; he was twenty-three in his modern life, so now he was two years younger.

The room was spacious. Song Changxu opened the wardrobe and glimpsed three long robes. One was already somewhat faded, while the other two were bright and clean.

On the desk were the Analects and the Doctrine of the Mean. The imperial examinations tested on the Four Books and Five Classics. By memorizing these nine books, one could pass the xiucai examination. Scholar Li had already taught the Four Books, the Classic of Poetry, and the Book of Documents. The Book of Rites, the Book of Changes, and the Spring and Autumn Annals had yet to be taught.

The Ningxing Dynasty already had movable type printing. Since the Four Books and Five Classics were required for the imperial examinations, their prices had dropped over the years. The Song family had gritted their teeth and bought a set for their son.

Song Changxu couldn’t find any knowledge from the books in the original owner’s mind. It seemed the original owner hadn’t absorbed anything he’d studied.

He would have to catch up on his own.

“Changxu, it’s time for lunch,” Song Mingyan’s voice called from the main hall.

Song Changxu closed his book and replied, “I’m coming.”

In the Song family’s main hall, Song Ye and Xu Cheng were already seated. Song Mingyan and Liang Su were bringing dishes from the kitchen.

Golden patches of light shone in, dust motes floating in the air like fine threads taking flight. There were a few cracks in the corners of the walls, resembling spiderwebs. The table in the house was faded, revealing the wooden legs. A pot of barley tea sat on the table, emitting a faint aroma.

Song Ye sat in the seat of honor, teasing Xu Cheng with a peanut. His face was weathered, but his gaze towards Xu Cheng was gentle.

He was dressed in a short, coarse coat and wore straw sandals on his feet, which were muddy.

When he saw Song Changxu, his brow relaxed. “What are you standing there for? Come and sit.”

The food was all on the table. Song Changxu picked up a coarse grain bun and started eating. He had expected it to be unpalatable, but surprisingly, the bun had a light fragrance and a grainy texture that was unexpectedly delicious.

Song Mingyan said, “I didn’t make soup today, just brewed a pot of barley tea.”

Liang Su said, “This is good enough. To have a hot meal and a pot of tea after a hard day’s work, life is comfortable.”

Song Mingyan smiled, pressing his lips together. “As long as you like it, Mother.”

Barley tea was made by roasting barley and boiling it in water. It was cheap and tasty.

Xu Cheng had a small appetite and was full after one coarse grain bun.

Song Changxu was thinking about his engagement to Xu Zhizhou. The longer this dragged on, the worse it would get. He tentatively said, “I was engaged to Xu Zhizhou yesterday.”

Thinking of this, Liang Su’s face broke into a smile. “You went to the Xu family with us yesterday. You were more than satisfied. But the wedding is set for the beginning of the sixth month, so there are still three months before you can bring him into the family.”

Song Ye thought about his son getting married and having children, which settled his heart considerably. He teased his son, “You can’t rush a marriage. Zhizhou is right here in Qishan Village; he’s not going to run away. It would be best if you could pass the xiucai examination. If you can’t, being able to read and write will still get you a job in town.”

Working as an accountant in town, or running a small business, was always better than being a farmer like them.

Song Mingyan had learned that the family had arranged a match with Xu Zhizhou and now felt a sense of goodwill towards him, already treating him as a future brother-in-law. Seeing that he was about to marry into the family, he considered him one of their own.

Song Changxu’s words about breaking the engagement were stuck in his throat. Thinking of the ending in the original book, and then thinking about how he was a homophobic straight man, he finally spoke up: “We were just engaged yesterday. Can we call it off today?”

The main hall fell silent, the only sound being Xu Cheng’s gurgling as he drank from his tea bowl.

Liang Su glared at Song Changxu. “What are you saying? You were the one who took a fancy to Xu Zhizhou and begged your father and me to go to the Xu family to propose. Now, just one day later, you’ve changed your mind? Do you think this is a game of house, where you can get engaged when you want and back out whenever you feel like it?”

Song Ye put down his bowl and chopsticks, his face darkening as he scolded, “The betrothal gifts have been given, the marriage certificate written, and the birth characters exchanged. Yesterday, I asked you if you were sure you wanted to marry into the Xu family, and you said you were certain. You, you are so fickle! This engagement cannot be broken. You’d better think it over.”

“If you had been uncertain yesterday morning and told Matchmaker Shen not to go to the Xu family, there would have been room for discussion. But not now.” Song Ye waved his hand dismissively, his chest heaving, clearly very angry.

Song Mingyan couldn’t help but speak up for Xu Zhizhou. “Changxu, if you break off the engagement, you can still find another woman or ge’er. But if Xu Zhizhou’s engagement with you is broken, his reputation will be ruined.”

The world was harsh on women and ge’ers, not as tolerant as it was with men. Breaking an engagement was of little consequence to a man, but it was a different story for the ge’er whose engagement was broken.

Song Changxu knew the marriage couldn’t be called off. He said, “I’m afraid I won’t be able to live a good life with him.”

Liang Su said, “The fact that you can think this way means you’ve grown up. But you haven’t even started your life together, how do you know it won’t be good?”

Song Ye also said, “Your mother and I were also introduced by a matchmaker. We didn’t know each other at all back then. It was a blind marriage, and we’ve lived a decent life. You chose Xu Zhizhou yourself, and both families know each other well. What are you afraid of?”

Song Changxu knew he hadn’t thought things through properly. But the thought of spending his entire life with a man was something he found hard to accept. Moreover, it would be unfair to Xu Zhizhou.

Xu Zhizhou wanted to find an ideal husband. Someone like him would be exposed on their wedding night.

Song Ye said, “Let’s eat. Stop thinking about nonsensical things. There’s no room to break off this engagement.”

Song Changxu replied, “I understand, Father. I won’t bring this up again.”

After lunch, Song Changxu gathered the bowls and chopsticks to take to the kitchen, but Liang Su shooed him out. “Your mother and elder brother will take care of this. You go rest. If you have nothing to do, go back to your room and read.”

The marriage was set in stone and couldn’t be changed. He had wanted to break it off and take all the blame himself, but now, after hearing his elder brother’s words, he realized there was truth in them. He had been inconsiderate.

Xu Zhizhou was, after all, a ge’er.

Thinking of the ending in the original book, Song Changxu sighed.

He couldn’t judge the people of this time based on a predetermined outcome.

At noon, Song Ye and Liang Su took a short nap before heading back to the fields. Song Mingyan went with them. Xu Cheng went to play with the other children in the village, leaving Song Changxu at home alone to read.

***

After lunch, Xu Sunzheng and Cao Qin took their eldest son back to the fields. Cao Qin reminded him, “Zhizhou, remember to fill the water vat and take care of the chickens and ducks.”

Xu Zhizhou replied, “I know, I know.”

After they left, Xu Zhizhou washed the dishes and complained, “I’m not stupid. I know how to do these things. You don’t trust me at all, still having to remind me.”

The sun had shifted. Xu Zhizhou picked up a carrying pole and went to fetch water. Qishan Village had only one well, located just outside the village. The Xu family lived far from the village entrance, so fetching water was a long walk.

When Xu Zhizhou reached the well, he pulled on the hemp rope to draw water. The bluestone rim of the well was uneven, with white marks worn smooth by the rope. The well water was clear. The web of Xu Zhizhou’s hand grew numb.

The bottom of the deep well was not visible. He pulled on the rope to fill two buckets, then bent down to lift the carrying pole.

Xu Zhizhou took a deep breath and hoisted the pole onto his shoulder. Every time he fetched water, he felt it was torture. His palms and shoulders would be rubbed raw.

He would always procrastinate when it came to fetching water. He still dreaded it now, especially with the sun beating down, which made him even more reluctant.

.

Song Changxu was reading in his room when he heard a rapid knocking on the door. He got up to open the courtyard gate and was met with the sight of a fair-skinned, handsome ge’er standing with hands on hips, glaring at him.

Xu Zhizhou was wearing a short, cyan coat today, with flax trousers. His hair was simply tied back with a ribbon, revealing a full forehead and a face as beautiful as a hibiscus flower.

His eyes curved like autumn waters, and his waist was so slender it seemed one could encircle it with a single hand. The corners of his lips were slightly upturned.

“Well, well, I’ve finally caught you this time,” Xu Zhizhou said sarcastically.

This was the first time Song Changxu had seen Xu Zhizhou. He hadn’t expected him to look like this. No wonder he was so proud of his beauty.

Song Changxu came back to his senses, his tone puzzled. “What do you want?”

Xu Zhizhou stomped his foot. “You have the nerve to ask me? Don’t you know what you’ve done?”

What had he done? He was more wronged than Dou E.

Xu Zhizhou yelled at him, “Why didn’t you chase me? Do you have any idea how much face I lost because of that? Tomorrow, you’re going to town to buy me mung bean cakes. If you don’t, I’ll ignore you, and I’ll tell everyone you’re a heartless scoundrel!”

Song Changxu said, “Wait a minute. Just for this little thing? I don’t have time to go to town tomorrow. The day after…”

Xu Zhizhou interrupted, “I don’t care, I don’t care! I want to eat mung bean cakes! You heartless man, you made me lose face. How am I supposed to hold my head high as a ge’er from now on? Why am I so unlucky, woo woo woo.”

Both families were prominent households in the village, but the Xu family had a relative working in the county yamen. On top of that, the protagonist shou doted on this younger brother. Song Changxu had no choice but to comply.

Song Changxu gritted his teeth. “…I’ll buy them.” A wise man submits to circumstances. He was a smart straight man.

Xu Zhizhou looked up, his face completely devoid of tears. Seeing this, Song Changxu felt a slight suffocation.

“Good that you know what’s good for you. Don’t you dare try to fob me off with some cheap mung bean cakes. I want the ones from the shop on East Street.” Just thinking about them made Xu Zhizhou’s mouth water.

Song Changxu said, “I got it.”

Hearing Song Changxu’s words, Xu Zhizhou’s mood improved. He fidgeted with his fingers and said in a soft, delicate voice, “There’s something else I need your help with.”

A sense of alarm rose in Song Changxu’s heart. He didn’t agree immediately but asked cautiously, “What is it?”

Xu Zhizhou took three steps to the right, revealing the carrying pole and water buckets behind him.

Song Changxu: “…”

“My parents told me to fill the water vat, but the buckets are too heavy. I can’t lift them. And my hands and shoulders are injured. Could you…” As he said this, Xu Zhizhou glanced at Song Changxu with a hint of shyness.

“Could you help me fetch water to fill the vat?”

Song Changxu looked at Xu Zhizhou’s fair and smooth hands, which showed no sign of injury. Noticing his gaze, Xu Zhizhou hid his fingers in his sleeves.

“Aiya, don’t look at me like that. It’s so embarrassing,” Xu Zhizhou said, his eyes darting around.

Song Changxu noted that he wasn’t blushing.

He said, “Do your own things yourself.”

Xu Zhizhou’s anger flared higher than the sky, but on the surface, he looked pitiful. “Can’t you just help me? I’m really tired. You’re a man, so you’re naturally stronger than a ge’er. Fetching water is no effort for you. We’re going to be family soon, so what’s wrong with fetching some water? Song Changxu, are you my fiancé or not!”

His voice grew more and more righteous as he spoke.

“If you don’t help me, I’ll block your door.” Xu Zhizhou spread his legs to block the threshold.

“I’ll do it, I’ll do it, alright?” Song Changxu agreed helplessly. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his well-defined hands, bent down to secure his trousers, hoisted the carrying pole onto his shoulder, and stood up with a heave of his arms.

His steps were a bit unsteady at first. The original owner had never done this kind of work, and his body was weak.

Song Changxu was taller than Xu Zhizhou. As he bent down and stood up, he cast a shadow over him.

Xu Zhizhou said, “We can’t let people see us together. I’ll go home and wait for you.”

Song Changxu replied, “Go on back.”

Song Changxu soon heard the sound of footsteps fading away. If they were seen together, he didn’t know what kind of stories the villagers would spin. There would be more gossip.

The sun was strong, and the wind that blew as he ran was hot. The wind was annoying, and the sun was a nuisance.

Xu Zhizhou returned home.

Not long after, Song Changxu carried the water in. Xu Zhizhou pointed the way for him. “The water vat is over here.”

Song Changxu poured the two buckets of water in, but it was still far from full.

This body is really weak.

He took a breath, picked up the carrying pole and buckets, and headed back outside the village to fetch more water.

Author’s Note:

Little Song: Weak.

Little Xu: Is there something wrong with his body? [Cracking]

Translator’s Notes

1. Dou E (窦娥): The main character of the classic Yuan dynasty drama The Injustice to Dou E (窦娥冤). She is a famous symbol of a person who has been grievously wronged.

2. Yamen (县衙): The administrative office and/or courthouse in a county in imperial China.