Chapter 52:

After washing away the exhaustion of the day, Chunfu knelt on the kang with her hair down, holding Jicheng’s small savings jar upside down. The jingling sound of coins and silver pieces made her grin from ear to ear, her pearly teeth slightly visible. The candlelight reflected in her eyes, making them glisten like freshly picked black grapes, so captivating that one couldn’t help but feel drawn to her.

“It’s like a dream—we have so much money now. Tomorrow, you should… No, forget it, I’ll go to the village to buy things myself. That way, the gossips won’t have anything to say about you.” She couldn’t get enough of the sound of coins clinking together and poured them from one hand to the other, tilting her head to listen to the crisp, melodious noise.

Jicheng had just taken off his outer robe before climbing onto the kang. His eyes lingered on her delicate, charming figure, a tender smile playing on his handsome face. Watching her play with the money so happily, he couldn’t help but feel a mix of amusement and helplessness. “Have you counted how much we have yet?”

Chunfu squinted at him with a smile, then grabbed his arm with her coin-filled hand, pulling him down to sit beside her. “I’ll count it now. You keep an eye on me in case I miss any or make a mistake.”

Jicheng simply chuckled without responding. Chunfu was sharp—she wouldn’t really miscount. With her managing their finances, he could rest easy. But as he watched her rosy cheeks and the way the candlelight illuminated the fine hairs on her face, his thoughts began to wander. Her cherry lips parted slightly, and suddenly, a familiar heat surged within him, growing uncontrollable until it consumed his mind.

Chunfu had just counted five hundred coins and was about to continue when Jicheng’s large hand stopped her. His voice was hoarse with unmistakable desire. “Stop counting. We’ll do it another day. Right now, we have more important matters to attend to.”

Blushing, Chunfu felt the heat of his touch and pushed against him, muttering, “Put the money away first. If any fall into the cracks, it’d be such a waste. What could be more important than counting money?”

Jicheng ignored her protests, pushing the coins aside and pulling her down with him, his voice low and thick with desire. “Making a child is far more important than counting money.”

Chunfu couldn’t resist him. Once she had tasted the pleasures of intimacy, her heart could no longer remain indifferent. She stifled a laugh—he had once said they should wait two years, but if they had, he might as well have become a monk!

They knew each other’s most vulnerable spots, fingers entwined as they lost themselves in passion, their union like a dazzling light illuminating half their lives. Outside, the chirping of insects filled the air, and the moonlight bathed their entwined bodies in a gentle glow.

Later, as they lay in peaceful silence, Chunfu shifted closer to him and murmured in a lazy, seductive voice, “Do you think Cen Niu might try to sabotage you behind your back? I can’t shake the feeling they’re up to no good. Why would Jikun suddenly help him? Even if it’s because of Chunju… Well, who knows? Let’s just sleep. Tomorrow, don’t forget to take those jars of jam with you. Since we make them fresh, customers won’t mind waiting a little longer.”

Jicheng twirled a strand of her hair around his finger and brought it to his nose, inhaling its scent before tapping her nose playfully. “Give people some breathing room, won’t you? You just mentioned it today and expect it done tomorrow—where am I supposed to find help so quickly?”

Chunfu buried her face in his neck, breathing in the scent of soap and faint sweat. Closing her eyes drowsily, she mumbled, “She told me on the way back that she already found someone. Don’t worry—she’s more anxious than I am. With other shops in town watching, she can’t afford to slack off. It’s better for us—we just focus on making things and don’t have to deal with all that nonsense.”

Jicheng patted her shoulder gently. “Go to sleep.”

The next morning, Chunfu woke to find Jicheng already gone. She got dressed, tidied the house, and went out to sweep the courtyard. She had barely started when she heard Qiaoyun’s loud, ingratiating voice outside the gate. “Little sister-in-law, busy as always? This child says she’s looking for Zhang Yan. She went to Chunmu’s place first, but Xiue chased her away.”

At the mention of Zhang Yan, Chunfu’s heart clenched. She dropped the broom and hurried over. “You’ve seen Zhang Yan? Did he tell you to come here?”

The girl, dressed in a clean floral-patterned outfit with two braids, shook her head. “No, he didn’t send me. I was picking fruit in the mountains when a snake almost bit me. He saved me, and I asked for his name before going home. My mother said I should thank him properly, so I asked around several villages until I found this place. Do you know where he is? I have something to give him.”

After questioning the girl at length, Chunfu realized this wasn’t a recent event. She sighed. “I don’t know where he is either. At some point, he stopped trusting even me, his aunt. He doesn’t tell me anything anymore.”

The girl lifted her head, her delicate face bright with a sweet smile. She pulled out a slightly rough-looking sachet from her pocket and said cheerfully, “If he comes back, can you give this to him? It’s not very pretty, but I made it myself. My mother said that shows sincerity.”

Chunfu took it with a smile and nodded. “Of course. What’s your name?”

The girl, already turning to leave, answered over her shoulder, “Futong.”

Qiaoyun watched her skip away enviously. “That girl’s mother knows how to raise a child. I saw her waiting nearby, but she let the girl handle everything herself. Even after being scolded by Xiue, she still smiled. Not only is she pretty, but she’s also well-mannered. She’ll grow up just fine.”

Chunfu watched the girl walk off, chatting happily with a woman, then turned back to Qiaoyun. “Did things settle down after you went back the other day?”

Qiaoyun lowered her head with a sigh before looking up with a bitter smile. “What difference does it make whether we fought or not? My mother-in-law yelled for the whole neighborhood to hear, saying I’m unfilial and that they should’ve married me off sooner. I was furious. Jiliang is just as his brother said—a blockhead. I doubt he’ll ever wise up. The other day, he went over there and came back telling me some big boss gave Jikun all sorts of fancy gifts—things we never see around here. I asked why he came back empty-handed. Guess what he said? ‘Those things were for Jikun. It’s not my place to ask for them. Besides, I’m used to simple meals—this is fine.’ How am I supposed to live like this?”

Chunfu stopped sweeping, not wanting to kick up dust, especially with someone standing nearby. Jinjuan called from a distance, asking if she wanted to gather pigweed. Chunfu agreed and walked to the low wall to ask Liansheng’s wife if she was coming. Once she got an answer, she turned back to Qiaoyun. “It’s your family matter, and I’m too young to know how to advise you. But as long as Jiliang stands by you, things will work out.”

Seeing Liansheng’s wife come out with her basket, Qiaoyun didn’t want to air her grievances further. She forced a smile. “I’ll come chat with you another day. I should go now.”

As soon as Qiaoyun entered her own courtyard, she saw Jiliang squatting by the vegetable patch, lost in thought. Anger flared in her chest. “I thought you were going to discuss renting land with the village head? There’s a plot west of the village—we could clear it. It’s farther and more work, but growing our own food is better than borrowing all the time.”

Jiliang stood up, frowning. “I’ll go this afternoon. Father asked me to help with something first. I’ll hurry back.” Seeing his wife’s darkening expression, he softened his tone. “I couldn’t refuse him. He and Mother have been complaining about you lately, but I know they don’t understand you. As long as I know you’re good, that’s enough. We can’t cut ties with them—that’d make us heartless. If we’re more accommodating and you’re sweeter to them, they’ll treat you better.”

Qiaoyun felt like her lungs would burst from rage. She understood Jiliang wanted to mediate, but his heart still leaned too much toward his parents. Looking around their dilapidated home, her eyes welled up. “Jiliang, I heard Jikun’s doing well now. If he can get Cen Niu work, surely he could find you something easy? Especially since you ended up like this because of him—he owes you. Did you even ask him? You shouldn’t suffer for nothing. I won’t make my own life harder for no reason.”

Jiliang hesitated. “Why bother with him? You know how he is—looks down on everyone. I don’t want to talk to him. Don’t worry, I’ll figure something out.”

As he brushed past her, Qiaoyun grabbed his sleeve. “If you dislike him so much, why help with his business? What could Father possibly need you for? It’s about finding Jikun a wife, isn’t it?”

Jiliang shook her off. “We’ll talk when I get back.” With that, he hurried away.

Qiaoyun had never imagined their marriage would come to this. Jiliang wouldn’t listen to a word she said. If a couple couldn’t even communicate, what was the point? Staring blankly at the vegetable patch she had cultivated, she thought back to their early days—even their first fight hadn’t left her feeling this powerless. Her heart felt like a leaf drifting on a river, unsure where it would end up. A dangerous thought flickered in her mind, but she quickly suppressed it.

She panicked. What was wrong with her? How could she even think such a thing? Little did she know, her ties with Jiliang would soon unravel when least expected.

Jiliang hadn’t fully grasped his father’s instructions. Distracted, he followed him to Mujia Valley, a few miles from Dongpo Village. The matchmaker had finally secured a potential bride for Jikun, and today was about finalizing the betrothal. At the village entrance, an elderly couple greeted them warmly. After exchanging pleasantries, they led the way through winding paths to a tiny courtyard.

Once seated, the old man rubbed his hands nervously. “You must be tired from the journey. Wife, fetch some water. It’s almost lunchtime—we prepared a few humble dishes. The matchmaker said Jikun is strong and hardworking. Seeing him in person, I’m even more pleased. Once the wedding’s settled, my heart will finally be at ease.”

It dawned on Jiliang then—his father had brought him here to pass him off as Jikun. He nearly stood up in protest, but his father yanked him down, whispering harshly, “We agreed on this. Don’t ruin it.”

The old man, Qi, was genuinely taken with the young man’s honest demeanor. To show sincerity, he had his wife call their daughter out—a rare gesture. And he wasn’t exaggerating; his daughter was one of the prettiest in the village. After much deliberation, they had finally found a worthy match.

For Jiliang, the meal was torture. Though the food was better than Qiaoyun’s cooking, he could barely swallow. His father had gone too far—this was fraud, a terrible sin. He held his tongue until they left Mujia Valley. On the quiet path home, his outburst earned him a glare from his father.

“How else is Jikun supposed to get married? You want your brother to stay single forever? That girl won’t suffer—Jikun has money to spoil her. Look how poor her family is. She’ll thank you later.”

“Father, this is wrong. If she finds out, she’ll resent us. How could their marriage be happy? You and Mother are getting older—do you want constant fighting at home? Let’s go back and explain the truth. At worst—”

His father flew into a rage, smacking the back of his head. “Why must you ruin everything? Just do as you’re told! And keep your mouth shut—understand?”

Knowing his father’s temper, Jiliang fell silent, cursing himself for not paying attention earlier.

Days passed as Jiliang struggled with how to tell Qiaoyun. Then, one day, she stormed in, grabbed his collar, and flung him to the ground. Caught off guard, he yelled, “Qiaoyun, have you lost your mind? Can’t we talk without violence?”

Shoving him down again, Qiaoyun trembled with rage, her face twisted in fury. Finally, she choked out, “Jiliang, that day you said Father needed you—turns out he took you to meet your future father-in-law! I heard they adored you, planning to marry their daughter to you. How could you? You and your father schemed this—how despicable! Look at Zhao Si’s family—their life is a powder keg. Jinjuan used to endure it, but now she fights back. Do your parents not see? Or do you secretly think I’m not good enough for you?”

Jiliang struggled to his feet with a sigh. “I’d never do such a thing! I wasn’t listening when Father spoke—I was thinking about the village head. I only realized at the Qis’ house. You know how Father is—I couldn’t stop him. How did you find out?”

Qiaoyun sat on the kang, her voice flat. “Word travels fast. Sister-in-law Axiang visited relatives in Mujia Valley. When people heard she was from Dongpo, they asked about Jikun. She spilled everything. Just wait—your ‘father-in-law’ will come knocking soon.”

Whether Jiliang had truly been unaware or not, she couldn’t take it anymore. His father only had to beckon, and he’d obey like a loyal dog. Even if he knew better, he’d still yield. She dared not dwell on it, afraid of what her anger might drive her to.

Jiliang dusted himself off, rubbing his temples. “Was shoving me necessary? What can we do? Father won’t listen. If they make a scene… Forget it. We’ll deal with it then.”

Qiaoyun lowered her eyes, her heart pounding. She knew it was futile, but she had to try. “Jiliang, can’t we just focus on us? Save up, fix this house when we have children, watch them play in the yard—isn’t that enough? Why take on others’ burdens? Jiliang, it’s just you, me, and our children in the end. Can’t you see that? Can’t you see me?”

Jiliang opened his mouth. Of course he understood. Didn’t he want that peaceful life too? But years of his father’s dominance had worn away his courage. Beyond respect, there was fear.

“Jiliang, if you keep abandoning this family for others… I’m afraid I—” The last thread of hope in her heart snapped. Yet, looking at this man—his brows furrowed, the one she had shared years of joy and sorrow with—she couldn’t bear to sever their bond. She knew some words, once spoken, could never be taken back. Still, she clung to the faint hope that Jiliang would wake up.