My Husband is a Drama King [Book Transmigration] 53

Chapter 53: Flirting (Brother-in-law)

Xie Huaichuan had spoken to everyone in the Xu family, but he had spoken the least to Xu Zhici. He clearly had a lot to say, but in front of him, he had nothing to say, becoming a mute.

Xu Zhici spoke first. “I sent you some sausages before. How were they?”

Xie Huaichuan said, “Very delicious. I also gave some to Master Wu. I was planning to eat the rest myself, but the soldiers were clamoring to try them, so I gave them a piece.”

Xu Zhici laughed. He knew of Master Wu. Xie Huaichuan had mentioned him in his letters.

“I’ll make more in the future for you to take to them.”

Xie Huaichuan agreed.

Now that there was no one else between them, a fire was burning, spitting out a few sparks, and the surroundings grew quiet. Xie Huaichuan stared at Xu Zhici’s face, his gaze gentle.

Xu Zhici, on the other hand, became embarrassed. He lowered his eyes, and his ears were tinged with a faint red.

Perhaps one would always feel uncomfortable when they met their loved one. Xu Zhici began to wonder if there was anything wrong with his appearance today. He had only used fragrant balm and had not drawn his eyebrows. Was this set of clothes too plain?

He became apprehensive, afraid that he was not in his best state to see Xie Huaichuan, and a hint of resentment arose in his heart.

Since you were coming back today, why didn’t you write a letter? You’ve left me completely unprepared. Then, a thought occurred to him, and the resentment turned into a pleasant surprise.

How come you’re back today?

Xu Zhici gave Xie Huaichuan a reproachful look. “Why didn’t you say you were coming back?”

Xie Huaichuan was mesmerized by this look, his heart tingling. He said in a warm voice, “I didn’t know when I would be back, so I didn’t write. I didn’t scare you, did I?”

Xu Zhici shook his head.

Now that there were no outsiders, Xu Zhici could have a good look at Xie Huaichuan. His features still had a hint of his former self, but he had grown more handsome and sharp, with an extraordinary temperament.

His eyes were filled with tears again. “You said you’re an official. How can it be so easy to be an official? You must have suffered a lot of injuries on the battlefield. In the future, when you go to the battlefield, you must remember to take care of yourself.”

Xie Huaichuan was at a loss when he met Xu Zhici’s eyes. He could only mumble in agreement, “I’ll listen to you.”

“I’m afraid the proposal this time will be too hasty and will wrong you,” Xie Huaichuan said in a low voice.

Xu Zhici: “I don’t care about these things. The most important thing is that we’re together, isn’t it?”

Xu Zhizhou was eavesdropping at the door. Song Changxu shook his head. What can he hear from so far away? So Song Changxu opened the door a crack. He could vaguely hear a few words.

The sense of unfamiliarity between the two of them became familiar in their words. They had been corresponding for a long time, so compared to the awkwardness and shyness of the original novel, their feelings were deeper. There was a faint warmth in their conversation.

Xu Zhizhou didn’t hear anything. He closed the door and sat on the bed.

Song Changxu looked around Xu Zhizhou’s room. There were only a few small things. He sat on a chair and poured himself a cup of tea.

“Xie Huaichuan is an official now, and he’s the same as the county magistrate. When will you be an official?” Xu Zhizhou said pitifully, looking at Song Changxu.

Song Changxu said, “I still have to wait for the provincial examination in August.”

“Xie Huaichuan is definitely going to be arrogant.”

Song Changxu was puzzled. He didn’t know what conflict Xu Zhizhou had with Xie Huaichuan to dislike him so much.

“What conflict do you have with Elder Brother Xie?”

Xu Zhizhou said angrily, “He’s been fighting with me for my elder brother since we were young.”

But now that Xie Huaichuan had become a high-ranking official, he had to tuck his tail between his legs and be a good person.

Xu Zhizhou was still a little scared. He was tall and strong, and he didn’t look like an easy person to get along with. He had killed enemies in the army camp, so he had seen blood.

Now that he thought back to what he had said before, he really had been tired of living.

In the evening, they went to the main hall for dinner. After dinner, the three of them left together. Song Changxu walked between Xie Huaichuan and Xu Zhizhou.

Xie Huaichuan put on his cape. He looked up and saw that it was not snowing anymore. He was in the neighboring Yitan Village. The two villages were very close, just a short walk away.

Xu Zhizhou held Song Changxu’s arm and looked at Xie Huaichuan.

When it was time to part, Xie Huaichuan cupped his hands and said, “No matter what, I still have to thank you for taking care of Zhici. He is a good ge’er, but I am not so good.”

Xu Zhizhou said, “Since you know that my elder brother is a good ge’er, you should treat him well and not be two-faced.”

“I know.”

Xie Huaichuan left.

Song Changxu praised him, “You used a four-character idiom very accurately just now.”

Xu Zhizhou’s tail went up.

“Of course. I’m putting what I’ve learned into practice.”

Song Changxu smiled and agreed.

Xu Zhizhou pulled on Song Changxu and said, “Actually, I’m also dissatisfied with Xie Huaichuan because his uncles are so annoying. This time, seeing that he’s become an official and is so imposing, he won’t have to suffer at their hands.”

He said this with a hint of schadenfreude.

Song Changxu smiled. “Elder Brother Xie is indeed not a soft persimmon.”

“I see that you seem to admire him very much. Whose side are you on?” Xu Zhizhou asked, his hands on his hips, sensing a clue.

Song Changxu: “I’m not on anyone’s side. I’m on the side of reason.”

“You’re my husband. How can you not be on my side?” Xu Zhizhou said, stomping his foot in anger.

The two of them bickered all the way back. Every household in Qishan Village had lit their candles, and the village paths were also bright.

.

Xie Huaichuan let out a breath and returned to the village. Most of the people in the village no longer remembered him. This morning, he had found some idle men to fix the eaves of his house, which was barely enough to keep out the cold. He hadn’t had a chance to buy a quilt yet. He found a candle in the cupboard and lit it.

Tomorrow, he would find a matchmaker to go to the Xu family to propose and also prepare the betrothal gifts. When Xie Huaichuan had left, he had taken his savings from all these years. Fifty taels of silver should be enough for the wedding.

When Xiao Bang had learned that he was going back, he had had someone send him a hundred taels of silver in bank notes. Xie Huaichuan knew that if he didn’t accept it, Xiao Bang would be angry, so he had taken it and kept the kindness in his heart.

The sound of children playing came from outside. They had always treated the Xie family’s house as a playground. When they reached the door, they saw that the courtyard gate was locked, and there was a light leaking out.

“There’s a ghost!”

The children cried out and scattered like birds and beasts.

Xie Huaichuan found it amusing.

On the other side, after Cao Qin had washed up, she suddenly remembered that Xie Huaichuan had returned today. His parents had died early, and his uncles would not tidy up the house for him.

The old Xie family house had not been repaired for seven years, and there was no quilt. Even cooking was a problem.

“Where do you think Huaichuan will sleep when he gets back?”

Xu Sunzheng was about to take off his cotton-padded coat and get into bed. Hearing this, he couldn’t answer. The relationship between the Xie family’s uncles and Xie Huaichuan was very bad. Where would he sleep?

“Hurry and go to Yitan Village to find him. Let him come and sleep at our house,” Cao Qin said.

Xu Sunzheng put on his shoes and agreed. He took a lantern. It was snowing heavily outside. He shrunk his neck and walked on the village path.

When Xu Zhici heard the courtyard gate open, he went out and saw that there was still a candle lit in the kitchen. Cao Qin was adding firewood to boil hot water.

“Zhici, you’re not asleep yet? Help me cut some ginger.”

Xu Zhici agreed and then turned to ask, “Did Father go out?”

“Yes. I thought of Huaichuan going back for the night. He just came back today and probably hasn’t prepared anything. I’ve sent your father to have a look and bring him back to stay in the guest room.”

After he had finished cutting the ginger, Xu Zhici was filled with regret. He had not thought of this. It was a good thing his parents had.

Cao Qin took a clean bedsheet and a quilt. The two of them arranged the guest room.

Xu Zhici also went to his own room to get a cotton quilt, afraid that Xie Huaichuan would catch a cold.

Xu Zhici was wearing a cotton-padded coat. He said, “Mother, you go to sleep first. Father and I will receive Huaichuan later.”

They were not outsiders. Cao Qin yawned, nodded, and went back to her room.

The courtyard gate creaked open. A young man was following behind Xu Sunzheng. He shook the snow off his body when he reached the courtyard.

Xu Zhici brought over two bowls of ginger soup.

“Drink it while it’s hot.”

Xu Sunzheng drank a bowl, and his stomach warmed up. Xie Huaichuan’s body also warmed up.

“Huaichuan, you can wash up first. I’ll take you to the guest room.”

Xie Huaichuan said with embarrassment, “I’m sorry to trouble you.”

Although Xu Sunzheng was a bit sleepy, he still watched the two of them. Seeing that Xie Huaichuan had gone to the guest room after washing up, he dragged his feet back to his room.

Xu Zhici was also relieved to see that Xie Huaichuan was fine.

Just as he was about to go back, Xie Huaichuan opened the door, revealing a handsome face. He said in a gentle voice, “I want to talk to you. Is that alright?”

Xu Zhici thought that he was in his own home, and that Xie Huaichuan was a trustworthy person. He also had something to ask him.

Xu Zhici entered the room. Since it was a guest room, it was a bit narrow. Xie Huaichuan had him sit on the edge of the bed.

“I didn’t expect your uncle to come and find me today. I’m afraid I’ve caused you trouble.”

“What are you talking about? We all know that your uncles are not easy to get along with. They were cruel enough to send you to the army. How could they care about your life or death?” Speaking of the Xie family’s uncles, even a good-tempered person like Xu Zhici couldn’t help but get angry.

“I haven’t found trouble with them yet since I’ve just come back. Tomorrow, after I’ve found a matchmaker, I’ll find fault with them. I’ll take back the land and property that belong to me.”

Xie Huaichuan’s tone paused, and he softened it. “I’ll give it all to you.”

Xu Zhici’s face turned red from his roundabout words. “What would I do with those?”

Xie Huaichuan smiled. “You’ve married me and become my new husband. Of course, the things in the family should be in your care.”

“After we get married, I’ll still be going to the army camp. The border is unstable. I think it’s better for you to stay at your in-laws’ house. You’ll be all alone at the old Xie family house.”

Xu Zhici actually liked to stay at home. He nodded gently. “I’ll listen to you.”

Xie Huaichuan: “Thank you for waiting for me.”

He met Xu Zhici’s gentle eyes, and his heart and eyes softened.

“I left when I was sixteen. I’ve seen too many bloody things on the battlefield, and I’ve also seen some dirty things. I was originally thinking of writing to you to break off the engagement, but you sent me something first. After thinking about it, I was still reluctant.”

“My parents died when I was young, my uncles didn’t care for me, and my relatives were all after the land and property my parents had left behind. They just treated me like a gullible child. If it weren’t for you always being by my side, I wouldn’t have had any thoughts in my heart.”

Xu Zhici said, “What are you thinking about again? I’ve often heard you mention Master Wu in your letters, as well as a few of your subordinates, and Young Master Xiao. With so many people by your side, how can there be only me? I think you’re deliberately pretending to be pitiful to me.”

Xie Huaichuan’s lips curved into a smile. “How did you see through me again? Can’t you just let me be happy for once?”

Xu Zhici did not answer his question. He said, “I’m going to sleep first. You should also rest early.”

He went out and went to his own room, the corners of his lips unable to stop turning up.

He was always calm at home, but in front of Xie Huaichuan, he was a bit willful. Xu Zhici blushed.

***

Author’s Note:

Brother-in-law: How am I not a pitiful little thing? [Crying]

Little Xu: Me. [Furious]

Little Song: [Shrugs]