Chapter 47 p2: Boat Trip
Summer passed in a flash. Song Changxu got up early to read and saw that the leaves had turned yellow. The county school was on holiday, and he was reading in his room.
Xu Zhizhou had left with the pushcart. Song Changxu would still copy books. The money Xu Zhizhou earned a month was considerable. With Luo Shuang’s words to the yamen runners, the stall was no longer bothered by ruffians.
Song Changxu pushed open the window and saw the leaves falling. He turned his gaze and held a book.
The days of studying were boring. Occasionally, a thought would come to his mind, and he would take his brush to write an essay.
In the afternoon, Xie Feng had invited them for a boat trip. He had told Xu Zhizhou last night, and when the time came, Song Changxu left.
Xie Feng had booked the entire boat. Song Changxu walked into the cabin. Someone was playing the pipa, someone was dancing. Grapes, fine wine, beautiful women, and handsome attendants were fanning them from behind.
A scene of debauchery.
Cheng Maoxue drank a cup of wine from a dancer’s hand. Besides drinking, he did not touch her. It was just a refined pleasure.
Luo Shuang did not like to be disturbed. He was sitting next to Xie Feng. Seeing that Xie Feng had been persuaded to drink a lot, he secretly tapped his leg to remind him not to lose his composure.
As the host, he was the first to get drunk. What would that be like?
Xie Feng reined himself in a little.
Song Changxu found an empty seat and sat down. A dancer offered him some fine wine, wanting to feed him.
“No need. I can drink it myself,” Song Changxu politely refused.
The dancer did not insist. Young Master Xie often called them to dance and play the pipa. The scholars at the table were all gentlemen and rarely showed any indecent behavior in public. Even if they had any thoughts, they would not dare to act recklessly in front of so many people.
In Jinhe County, the Huang and Luo families had an important status, but the Xie clan of Chen Commandery was a famous aristocratic family in the whole country.
There were many benefits to be gained from getting on good terms with Xie Feng.
Xie Feng saw that all his friends were here. He clapped his hands, and the dancers and the pipa player bowed and withdrew. A graceful ge’er came in with a zither.
He only sold his art, not his body. A song was hard to come by. He sat down and played the zither with his head down.
The scene of luxury and indulgence immediately turned into green mountains and flowing water, the sound of the zither clear and resonant.
The scholars fanned themselves and enjoyed it.
Song Changxu also found it pleasant to listen to. He ate the snacks on the table as he listened.
Xie Feng said, “I’ve invited you all for a boat trip today to enjoy the good scenery and this zither.”
A young master teased, “Brother Xie has forgotten the most important thing. We’ve also come here to admire the beauties. Hands like soft buds, skin like congealed fat, neck like a beetle’s larva, teeth like melon seeds, a broad forehead and arched eyebrows, a charming smile, and beautiful eyes.”
Lian Ge’er stood up and bowed to the young master to express his gratitude, then sat back down and continued to play.
Song Changxu silently ate. “…”
So they can also use the Book of Songs like this. No, did the county school teach you the Book of Songs just so you could use it like this?
Xie Feng: “With such good scenery, why don’t you all compose a poem?”
“Brother Xie’s idea is excellent.”
Song Changxu: “…”
Song Changxu put down the pastry in his hand. I knew it.
Brother Xie, are you a poetry-composing demon?
When it was almost his turn to compose a poem, Song Changxu pretended to leave the cabin to enjoy the breeze outside.
Fortunately, he did not get seasick, or he would have been embarrassed. Song Changxu looked at the distant green mountains and felt refreshed.
After a quarter of an hour, just as he was about to go in, Luo Shuang came out. He saw Song Changxu looking at the scenery on the deck and stood with him.
“The scenery in Jinhe County is not bad. When you go to the capital one day, Brother Song, and see the scenery there, you’ll think that Jinhe County is just alright. I once went to the capital with my father to do business, or rather, my father took me to see the world. I was dazzled when I stood in the capital. For the first time, I had the obsession to pass the exam to go to the capital.”
In that case, Xie Feng, Luo Shuang, and Cheng Maoxue were indeed good friends. They all had clear goals for their future.
“I also hope to meet you in the capital one day, Brother Luo.”
Luo Shuang smiled.
“Brother Luo, I’m going in first.”
Luo Shuang nodded. “I’ll enjoy the breeze outside for a while longer.”
Song Changxu entered the cabin. Xie Feng was in the middle of drinking, his chest exposed. He glanced at him and could vaguely see his abs.
He was in the middle of composing a poem. Anyone who couldn’t would be punished with a drink.
Song Changxu planned to continue eating his own things. Xie Feng, with his sharp eyes, saw him and called out, “Brother Song, you haven’t composed a poem yet. Hurry and compose one.”
He couldn’t. Even if he used all his strength, he couldn’t.
Song Changxu: “…”
If you can’t agree, you drink.
In the end, he got off the boat drunk. He had been forced to drink by a group of old sixes, and he couldn’t take it.
He walked in a straight line back home. Xu Zhizhou was drinking tea. He had just cut a winter melon. Seeing that Song Changxu’s face was as red as a monkey’s bottom, he said, “Come and have some winter melon. I can’t finish it by myself.”
Song Changxu swayed in front of Xu Zhizhou and hugged the winter melon to eat.
Xu Zhizhou: “…”
“Are you crazy? I haven’t eaten yet.”
Song Changxu: “Chew, chew, chew…”
Xu Zhizhou was dumbfounded.
He was so angry that he stood on his tiptoes and gave Song Changxu a slap on the back of his head.
Song Changxu was stunned. He hugged the winter melon and stood still.
Xu Zhizhou hadn’t hit him hard. He asked guiltily, “Are you alright? You smell so strongly of alcohol. Didn’t you just go for a boat trip to see the scenery? Why did you drink so much? Wait, besides the smell of alcohol, there’s another smell on you.”
Xu Zhizhou leaned over with hesitation. He sniffed and smelled the scent of rouge and powder.
“Husband, besides the smell of alcohol, where did the other smell come from?” Xu Zhizhou asked softly.
Song Changxu: “A dancer offered me a toast, and I had a cup.”
Xu Zhizhou opened Song Changxu’s collar and saw no other marks, and was relieved.
He poked Song Changxu’s shoulder. “Drunkard, go and take a bath and then go to sleep.”
Song Changxu seemed to still be able to understand him. He got up, went to the bedroom to get his change of clothes, and went to the kitchen to take a bath.
There was no separate place for bathing here. They usually washed in the kitchen.
Seeing Song Changxu go into the kitchen, Xu Zhizhou was a little worried. He looked at the mangled winter melon and threw it away in embarrassment and anger.
“Call me if you need anything,” Xu Zhizhou said.
Song Changxu answered. After a long time, Xu Zhizhou had changed into his inner garments, but Song Changxu had not yet come back. He walked to the kitchen door.
“You’re not done yet? I want to drink some hot water,” Xu Zhizhou urged.
Song Changxu came out from inside. He was still holding a teapot and handed it to Xu Zhizhou.
Xu Zhizhou: “…”
Xu Zhizhou took a sip of hot water and watched as Song Changxu calmly washed his changed clothes and wrung them out.
He seemed to have come back to his senses. It should be fine.
When he had been chatting with the neighbors, they had said that their husbands would get drunk and go crazy. Song Changxu had only ruined a winter melon, which was not bad.
Xu Zhizhou: “Now that you’re clean, go to sleep.”
Song Changxu hung up the clothes to dry. He went to his room, didn’t read, and drank a cup of hot water. Xu Zhizhou was nestled in the quilt. Hearing the noise, he stretched his neck to look at him.
Song Changxu blew out the candle and got into bed.
Xu Zhizhou: “I haven’t learned to read today.”
He had suddenly become studious.
In the darkness, Song Changxu touched Xu Zhizhou’s face and quickly slid his fingers to his lips.
Xu Zhizhou really wanted to bite him. “Husband, what are you doing?”
Song Changxu: “Doing what I should be doing.”
The two of them hadn’t had sex in a long time. This time, Song Changxu put his legs on his shoulders and forced him to watch.
…
Xu Zhizhou was at his stall. He saw many yamen runners coming back with grain and grass. It was clearly the autumn harvest.
Their family no longer had to pay taxes. Xu Zhizhou looked away, his legs still a bit sore.
His husband had been too much last night.
Xu Zhizhou had scratched and cursed him, but he had seemed to have even more energy.
He pushed the pushcart back home. When Xu Zhizhou saw Song Changxu, he snorted heavily.
“I went too far last night. Come and see. Our parents have written to us.”
Xu Zhizhou’s attention was immediately diverted. “I’ll read it.”
Song Changxu smiled and made way.
Xu Zhizhou took the letter, cleared his throat. “Changxu, Zhizhou, are you well in Jinhe County? … not good… ox open uncle, if you’re short of money, write to us and we’ll send some… golden flower become… open the door…”
The corner of Song Changxu’s mouth twitched. He held his forehead. After Xu Zhizhou had finished reading, he read it again.
“I still don’t recognize a few of the characters,” Xu Zhizhou said, clutching the corner of his clothes and fidgeting.
Is it just a few characters?
Song Changxu couldn’t refute.
Xu Zhizhou peeked at his expression and said with dissatisfaction, “What’s wrong? If I’m not learning well, it’s because you’re not a good teacher. I’m so smart, and in your hands, you should treat me seriously and make me learn to read.”
Song Changxu: “Alright, I’ll definitely make you learn to read in the future.”
Xu Zhizhou snorted coldly. “That’s more like it.”
Just as Song Changxu was about to go and review his books, Xu Zhizhou’s voice came from behind.
“In that case, I’ll reluctantly consider you a very good husband, very suitable to be a husband. At least in my eyes, you’re good.”
Song Changxu’s steps paused.
Such a chatterbox. I really want to shut him up.
Xu Zhizhou’s eyes sparkled. He kicked a small stone in the courtyard.
“In my eyes, you’re still a…” Song Changxu chose his words carefully, not knowing how to describe Xu Zhizhou.
“Person.”
Xu Zhizhou was dumbfounded. He said with a pout, “What do you mean? Am I not a person in your eyes? Do you have a heart? Do you know how to talk? You shouldn’t have a husband.”
“I mean, you’re my good person,” Song Changxu said, forcing himself.
A shallow love is like a pale dog, a deep love is like a long wind.
***
Author’s Note:
Little Song: I know how to talk. [Let me see]
Little Xu: I’m a genius ge’er. [Shy]