My Husband is a Drama King [Book Transmigration] 9

Chapter 9: Together

The person next to him was squeezing in, so Xu Zhizhou had no choice but to move closer to Song Changxu, who had no more room to move. Song Changxu held his breath as Xu Zhizhou’s fragrance wafted over. Young ge’ers loved beauty and fragrance. Xu Zhizhou always liked to put dried peach blossoms in his bathwater.

If there were no other flowers in spring, he would make dried flowers from the petals during the blooming season and store them. These dried flowers were excellent for making sachets and for putting in the bath.

The scent of peach blossoms was faint. They were so close that Song Changxu felt the fragrance lingering around him. If he lowered his head slightly, he could see the fine hairs on Xu Zhizhou’s face. His lips were pressed together, and his hands were on his knees, looking somewhat well-behaved.

But Song Changxu knew that was an illusion.

Xu Zhizhou noticed that the man next to him was still squeezing in. He didn’t want to be pressed against a smelly man.

Song Changxu looked over, reached out, and touched the man on Xu Zhizhou’s right, saying coldly, “Stop squeezing. There’s no more room here.”

This commotion drew the attention of the people on the ox-cart. The man, called out by Song Changxu, turned red, his face burning with embarrassment.

“You’ve studied, and now you’re so full of rules. If you’ve got the guts, then don’t sit here.”

Xu Zhizhou’s eyes blazed with anger, and he was about to explode. He said, “You keep squeezing and yet you have the nerve to blame Song Changxu. You’re shameless.”

The person on the other side of the man also spoke up, saying that the man had been squeezing in. “There’s not much space to begin with. You make yourself comfortable at the expense of others. We’re all from the same village. You can’t be like that.”

With people on both sides speaking up, and the stares and whispers of the others, the man couldn’t hold his head up. He settled down, muttering, “What’s with all the talk?”

Xu Zhizhou tilted his chin up. “If you’ve got the guts, say it louder. Song Changxu was being perfectly proper, and yet he has to take your scolding. Are you jealous that he’s studied a few more years than you? You have to bring up his studies in everything.”

“He’s never bragged about his studies. Why do you keep bringing it up?”

Song Ye looked at Xu Zhizhou with surprise. He hadn’t expected Xu Zhizhou to have such a sharp tongue, but since he was defending his son, he felt pleased.

The man who was being scolded didn’t dare to speak. He was indeed jealous of Song Changxu. They were all farmers, so why was he the one who got to study and have a chance to leave the village?

It would be best if he failed the exam.

There was no more commotion on the way to town. The others glanced at Xu Zhizhou and Song Changxu, their eyes flickering.

“Will your father have a bad impression of me for saying those things?” Xu Zhizhou asked nervously in a low voice.

A hint of a smile appeared in Song Changxu’s dark eyes. He whispered back, “No.”

Reassured by Song Changxu, Xu Zhizhou felt relieved.

He asked again, “Where are you going later?”

Song Changxu’s expression was a bit strange, as it felt like he was being asked for his itinerary. He said, “First, I’ll go to the bookstore to sell the copied book, then I’ll buy some meat and sugar cakes.”

Hearing this, Xu Zhizhou knew that Song Changxu had brought enough money. It seemed that copying books could earn a lot. He cleared his throat. “I’m going to sell some purses. My elder brother is selling vegetables and some other small things. You can accompany me to sell the purses, and then I’ll accompany you to the bookstore to sell your book.”

Song Changxu felt that all this “accompanying” was very troublesome.

“It’s not proper,” he said, trying to shut him down.

Xu Zhizhou snorted softly and nudged him with his elbow. “What I say is proper. What are you mumbling about? If you don’t accompany me, I’ll complain that you’re bullying me, and we’ll see how you face people then.”

Song Changxu took a deep breath. “…”

Who was bullying whom? When they got there, he would just turn and walk away. He absolutely could not be a pushover.

The ox-cart soon arrived at Shuibo Town. Song Ye told Song Changxu where he would be selling his vegetables and left. After speaking with Xu Zhici, Xu Zhizhou’s gaze wandered around. He saw Song Changxu walking away quickly, about to disappear.

He ran over and grabbed Song Changxu’s sleeve. “You promised to accompany me to sell the purses. Why are you running?”

Caught, Song Changxu had to accompany Xu Zhizhou to sell the purses. After selling them, Xu Zhizhou counted the copper coins and, with his back to Song Changxu, put them in his own small purse.

Song Changxu stood on the side, completely unaware that Xu Zhizhou was being wary of him.

“Let’s go, to the bookstore.”

Xu Zhizhou readily agreed and went with him to the bookstore. This way, he would know how much money Song Changxu could earn. Besides being good-looking, a man also had to be able to earn money. A man couldn’t rely on his face for a living, but he could.

Song Changxu went to the bookstore owner and handed him the storybook to inspect.

“Here’s one tael of silver. If you want to copy more storybooks like this, I can introduce you to more.”

Xu Zhizhou couldn’t hear what Song Changxu and the bookstore owner were saying anymore. His mind was echoing with the owner’s words, “one tael of silver,” and his head was ringing.

He could earn one tael of silver just by copying a book. He had worked himself to the bone embroidering purses, and after deducting the cost, he had only earned forty copper coins. It was a waste to spend it on just mung bean cakes; he should have bought a few more things.

This time, Song Changxu took two ordinary storybooks to copy when he got back.

The two of them left the bookstore together. Xu Zhizhou let out a breath and looked at Song Changxu with a very friendly gaze.

An ominous premonition rose in Song Changxu’s heart.

Song Changxu bought three catties of pork and was about to go to the pastry shop to buy snacks when Xu Zhizhou pulled on his sleeve.

“You’re not going to buy some for me, are you?” he said, looking at the pastries in the shop and shaking Song Changxu’s sleeve.

“I’ll buy them, I’ll buy them,” Song Changxu said helplessly.

Xu Zhizhou’s expression immediately changed. He began to pick out pastries with an air of arrogance, choosing three or four kinds.

Song Changxu went to pay.

The shopkeeper’s wife saw the young couple buying pastries and smiled as she calculated the bill. “That’ll be sixty copper coins in total.”

I’ll have to be a scribe more often in the future.

Hearing the price, Xu Zhizhou subconsciously clutched his own purse.

Carrying the oil-paper package, they saw that it was getting late. Song Changxu saw a stall selling meat buns and felt a craving. Xu Zhizhou was also craving them.

Xu Zhizhou said self-righteously, “You’re treating me to buns.”

Song Changxu had money in his pocket. “Let’s go, let’s eat.”

Song Changxu ordered a steamer of buns. One steamer cost nineteen copper coins, while a single bun cost four.

The vendor brought the buns over with a smile. “Here are your buns, sir.”

The buns in the oil-paper package were steaming hot. Song Changxu held the package, opened it towards Xu Zhizhou, and let him take one first.

Xu Zhizhou took a bun and took a bite. The aroma of meat filled the air. He mumbled, “So hot, so hot, but so delicious.”

Song Changxu handed the oil-paper package to Xu Zhizhou. “Use the paper to hold it while you eat.”

He took a bun himself and started eating, his head down. The taste was really good.

Xu Zhizhou said, “You’ve got thick skin.”

Song Changxu’s fingertips were red from the heat. He mumbled a reply while chewing on the meat filling.

Xu Zhizhou was full after two buns. He usually didn’t eat much. Song Changxu ate the remaining three.

“Wait here for a moment,” Song Changxu said after he finished eating.

He went back to the bun stall and ordered two more steamers of buns, each wrapped in oil paper. Seeing a stall selling plum juice, he thought that Xu Zhizhou might be thirsty after eating the buns, so he bought a bowl of it as well.

Xu Zhizhou saw him coming and watched him with a composed expression.

Song Changxu quickened his pace and handed him an oil-paper package. “Your elder brother hasn’t had lunch yet. You can give this to him later.”

Xu Zhizhou looked at Song Changxu with a smile. The sunlight shining on him made him look even fairer, his pupils like watery black grapes. He tilted his head and said, “Song Changxu, you’re so generous.”

Hearing this, Song Changxu felt a little embarrassed. Being a young man, he was thin-skinned. He pretended to be calm and cleared his throat. “This bowl of plum juice is for you.”

Xu Zhizhou suddenly thought of something, and his expression changed. He finished the plum juice first, then said righteously, “You spend money so freely. How will we manage our lives in the future?”

Are you one to talk?

Song Changxu was dumbfounded.

He stiffened his neck and said, “Money can be earned again after it’s spent.”

Xu Zhizhou shook his head. “No. In the future, you’ll have to rely on me.”

“After we get married, you’ll give your money to me, and I’ll help you save it,” Xu Zhizhou said with great seriousness.

Song Changxu: “…”

Somehow, I don’t believe you.

Help me save it? More like help me spend it.

Song Changxu met Xu Zhizhou’s sparkling eyes and looked away. “We’ll talk about the future in the future.”

If he obediently handed over his household money and didn’t keep any for himself, wouldn’t that make him seem spineless?

If he agreed to everything Xu Zhizhou said, he would look down on himself.

Xu Zhizhou pressed on. “How long is ‘in the future’? Is it our wedding night?”

Song Changxu felt shy and uncomfortable at the mention of marriage, as if ants were crawling all over him.

But Xu Zhizhou was so calm, as if their marriage was a foregone conclusion.

“I don’t know. Do you want to manage the money that much?” Song Changxu asked, keeping his composure.

“In our family, my mother manages the money. Xie Huaichuan’s money is also managed by my elder brother. It’s only right that I manage your money,” Xu Zhizhou said, his reasoning based on examples from his own family.

The examples weren’t very convincing, but Xu Zhizhou stood with his hands on his hips, full of self-righteousness.

He glared at Song Changxu, looking at him as if he were a heartless scoundrel. If he didn’t agree to hand over his money, he could accuse him in the street and throw all the pastries at him.

Xu Zhizhou: “Say something. Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Song Changxu: “We’re not married yet.”

Xu Zhizhou’s face turned red with anger. He took a step forward and blocked Song Changxu’s way. “You’re not allowed to say that. It’s just a matter of time. You’re already being so calculative now. How will we live our lives in the future? How will I survive?”

Xu Zhizhou let out a few dry sobs.

Song Changxu: “…”

To be honest, he’s a bit fierce, a bit…

“Fine, you can manage it.” At worst, he would hide some private money and not hand it all over.

He looked down on himself. His face felt like it had been slapped swollen.

Song Changxu hung his head, feeling that his future was bleak. When he parted ways with Xu Zhizhou, Xu Zhizhou stuffed a purse into his hand.

“I didn’t sell this purse. It’s for you. As for the handkerchief you gave me, I’ve already washed it. Do you still want it?” This was the best purse he had ever embroidered. Giving it to Song Changxu was a great bargain for him.

Song Changxu’s mind was in a daze. “I don’t want it.”

“Take it since I’m giving it to you,” Xu Zhizhou said, forcefully stuffing it into his hand. It wasn’t an option to refuse.

Xu Zhizhou said happily, “Study hard, and we’ll both have a good life in the future.”

He felt that Song Changxu was quite good. He listened to him, bought him pastries and buns. It would be even better if he helped him with his chores more often in the future.

He held the oil-paper package and the three or four kinds of pastries, the corners of his mouth turned up, looking very happy.

Song Changxu suddenly let out a breath. Is such a small thing worth being so happy about?

Xu Zhizhou walked ahead. When he reached a corner, he caught a glimpse of Song Changxu’s back in his peripheral vision. Song Changxu was also carrying an oil-paper package and going to find Song Ye.

Today was a really happy day.

Xu Zhizhou hummed a song as he went to find his elder brother. The vegetables in Xu Zhici’s basket were almost sold out. He stuffed the oil-paper package into Xu Zhici’s hands and said loudly, “Elder Brother, eat some meat buns.”

Xu Zhici rubbed his ears, opened the oil-paper package, and was met with a puff of steam. The buns were steaming hot.

“I can’t eat this many. Let’s eat together.”

Xu Zhizhou said proudly, “I’ve already eaten.”

Xu Zhici acknowledged him and smiled. “Why are you so generous today?”

“I’m very generous too, but Song Changxu bought these, hehe,” Xu Zhizhou said, sitting on the steps, his eyes sparkling like stars.

Hearing this, the smile on Xu Zhici’s face grew wider. “So it was my future brother-in-law who bought them. I’m really in for a treat.”

Xu Zhizhou shyly buried his face in his hands. After a moment, he mumbled, “We’re not married yet.”

On the other side, Song Changxu handed the meat buns to Song Ye, who was very pleased. Song Changxu tidied up the few remaining heads of lettuce.

A young husband carrying a basket saw Song Changxu’s handsome face and bought the remaining lettuce.

Song Changxu suddenly realized something. Why did I buy plum juice for Xu Zhizhou? He was so angry.

Song Ye chewed on a meat bun, his eyes narrowed in thought. I should bring my son to sell vegetables more often in the future.

Author’s Note:

Little Song: I’m angry at myself. [Lemon]

Little Xu: Mine, all mine. [Pats head]