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墨書 Inktalez
“Husband, how about using your hands instead?”
However, Xia Muxin misunderstood his meaning. After all, they had been apart for so many days, and Shen Muhan was full of energy. With him holding her like this, it was hard for her not to think in that direction.
It took Shen Muhan a moment to grasp her implication, and he chuckled silently. He gently ran his fingers through her hair, biting back a smile, and pressed a kiss on her forehead before softly saying, “Once you’re better, don’t use your hands; you can make it up to me yourself.”
At first, she was fine, but now that Xia Muxin had brought it up, she really felt tempted.
Blushing, Xia Muxin snuggled closer to him. Had she been overly sentimental? Why would he say such cheesy things otherwise?
“Alright, let’s sleep. We’ll go home tomorrow.”
With a helpless sigh, Shen Muhan pressed down on her restless head. If she kept this up, they might really end up in a different situation.
Hearing that they could go home tomorrow made Xia Muxin quiet down immediately. She obediently leaned against Shen Muhan’s chest, and soon the sound of even breathing filled the air.
After a restful night, Xia Muxin woke up early. She tried to move a bit and found that it didn’t hurt as much as she had imagined. However, Shen Muhan didn’t seem to be in the same condition; dark circles were evident under his eyes, and there was a hint of fatigue on his brow despite just waking up.
“How are you feeling? Does it still hurt?”
Seeing Xia Muxin awake made him unable to fall back asleep. He simply held her close but was increasingly worried about her back injury.
“It doesn’t hurt; it’s much better now. I can go home right away.”
Wherever Shen Muhan was, even in the depths of hell, Xia Muxin felt happiness. Pouting slightly, she suddenly seemed to remember something and asked,
"Did you go to Kyoto? It's been so long."
"Yes, I went with Mu Qing. We took down Zhao Weiran and the others. Now the world is peaceful, and the Retired Emperor can finally rest in peace."
As he spoke, Shen Muhan snorted disdainfully; he had a strong aversion to the Retired Emperor's petty actions. Fortunately, this time they had worked together smoothly, and there wouldn't be any major conflicts in the short term. It was likely that Shen Muqing would end up staying in Daimiao Village for good.
Xia Muxin couldn't help but chuckle at his childish tone. It was amusing to hear someone curse the Retired Emperor to die early, but none of that was her concern; what she wanted was to secure her position as the richest merchant in the land.
Afterward, Shen Muhan gathered some medicine, and they bid farewell to Sister Tang. They took Ming Da's carriage and returned home shortly after the hour of Chen had passed.
Er Dan Ge was also there, looking guilty and melancholic; he probably knew about yesterday's events. Xia Jihua, her aunt, had red-rimmed eyes, indicating she had been crying.
When everyone saw Xia Muxin return, they all gathered at the door to greet her, bombarding her with questions.
"Alright, it's not like I sustained any serious injuries. Aren't these jujubes almost ripe? Just eat more jujubes later to replenish my blood."
Seeing their worried and gloomy expressions made Xia Muxin uncomfortable, so she teased them.
"Muxin is fine; just a few days of rest will do."
In the end, Xia Muxin had no choice but to seek Shen Muhan's help; after all, he was a doctor, and everyone would surely trust his words. Just as she expected, once Shen Muhan spoke up, their expressions softened. He took the opportunity to say that he still felt weak and needed rest, then carried Xia Muxin into her room.
"Aunt and Er Dan Ge are getting married on the eighth of next month; it will be lively at home for a while."
Xia Muxin lay on the bed, boredly staring at the pillow, while Shen Muhan changed her bandages, noticing her folding her fingers as she spoke.
"Yeah."
"We actually went to Town to prepare a dowry for my aunt."
"Yeah."
"That Zhao Dazhuang really deserves what he got."
"Yeah."
Xia Muxin was confused; she had been fine just a moment ago, but now she seemed to be sulking. She scratched her palm and continued, "Can you not take off all my clothes next time you change my bandages?"
"No way..."
Well, at least this person was still normal; it was just that her thoughts seemed to only wander in this direction. After finishing the bandage change, Xia Muxin wanted to turn over and lie flat, but Shen Muhan wouldn't allow it.
Thus, Xia Muxin lay on the bed for a full five days. Finally, Shen Muhan let her turn over and no longer restricted her movements.
Early in the morning, she went to Er Dan Ge's new home, where her parents and others were also present. Many villagers praised the house with thumbs up.
It was almost finished; they just needed to put on the tiles.
Seeing that everyone in the family had arrived, Er Dan quickly set down what he was doing, rushing to grab snacks and pour tea, his hands moving in a flurry.
“Muxin, this is what I caught early this morning from the river. I heard from Songzi that you really enjoy eating this. How is your health now?”
All along, he felt guilty towards Xia Muxin, after all, she had been injured for Xia Jihua. Over the past few days, Xia Jihua had been preparing various nourishing soups for her, but her appetite seemed quite small. Fortunately, Shen Muhan was there to ensure she ate at least some.
He had tasted this dish once at the Xia Family; Xia Muxin called it Eel. It was quite delicious, with herbs and shredded cucumber mixed in. A few days ago, when Songzi returned and learned about his sister's injury, he was furious and wanted to take revenge. Eventually, he decided to bring something fresh for Xia Muxin. At that time, Er Dan was working in the fields when it started to rain. The fields had accumulated some water, and since their land was downstream, it never dried out throughout the year. When Songzi saw a few small round holes on the surface of the field, he decided to dig and ended up catching a large Eel.
Later on, he found out that Xia Muxin liked this dish, so as soon as dawn broke that morning, he took his tools and went out. He ended up with quite a good catch—around four or five pounds.
However, this creature looked rather daunting; it was slippery and snake-like. If he hadn’t eaten it before, he wouldn’t have believed it was edible.
Upon seeing the fresh Eel, Xia Muxin immediately felt hungry. With a smile lighting up her face, she thanked Er Dan:
“Thank you, Uncle.”
Her calling him "Uncle" completely amused Er Dan; after all, her acknowledgment carried more weight than that of Aunt Xia and her husband.
The adults gathered around to discuss how to arrange the other furniture. Some cabinets and items were handcrafted by Summer Forest and his son. Er Dan and Xia Jihua were thrilled with them because they were designed by Xia Muxin. When they moved these pieces into their home, they dazzled everyone in the village.
They had lived for decades but had never seen such beautiful cabinets or beds.
The house was mostly tidy now; however, the roof tiles were not fully laid yet. The recent rain had delayed this task. Fortunately, they had just harvested straw and covered the roof with it during the rain to prevent flooding inside.
As soon as the sun came out, they all began working again, estimating that they would finish laying the tiles by evening.
"Moving in the day after tomorrow, this child is going to be so busy."
Aunt Xia was immensely satisfied with Er Dan, holding Xia Jihua's hand, her eyes glistening with tears.
They say you shouldn't meet before marriage, but since Xia Jihua was on her second marriage and their families lived close by, Aunt Xia couldn't help but worry about Er Dan managing everything alone. She offered to help with whatever she could, and the family appreciated it deeply.
In the village, there's a custom that whenever someone builds a new home, they must treat the villagers to a feast. With just nine days until their big day, they decided to hold the feast as soon as possible, so everyone agreed on the day after tomorrow.
At noon, Xia Muxin asked Er Dan to invite a few roofers over to the Xia Family for lunch, and the special dish served was eel slices.
Xia Jihua cooked while Xia Muxin guided her. Shen Muhan watched her like a child, worried she might touch something sharp or cold.
In truth, Xia Muxin wasn't that delicate, but Shen Muhan had spoiled her.
They set up three tables because Ming Yi and others were also invited back. After all, hosting a feast was no small matter. Besides, Er Dan was the son-in-law of the Xia Family. Everyone from Village End who should come was there. They expected at least fifty tables, which meant they needed plenty of hands for cooking and shopping. Since everyone was free at the moment, Shen Muhan called them back to help. Each table had not only eel slices but also fried eel.
Inside, they usually added some ginger shreds and dried perilla leaves.
Just the smell was enough to make one hungry.
After lunch, everyone divided up tasks.
"Husband, let's send someone to the fish pond to catch some lobsters," Xia Muxin said to Shen Muhan, feeling bored and still under careful protection.
The lobster pond had doubled in size, and several months ago, many had been added. Now, if one stood far away, they could see a plump one from a distance. Xia Muxin estimated that with the breeding, there were at least four hundred pounds in that pond.
Moreover, it had been quite some time since they had pulled any out to taste. She wanted to take advantage of Er Dan Ge's move to catch some and try the flavor of the lobsters. Only then could she better market them.
It had also been a long time since any fish had been caught for tasting, which made Xia Muxin sigh.
"Do you want to go take a look together?"
This time, Shen Muhan did not refuse and generously asked her if she wanted to join him.
Xia Muxin was more than happy to go along. As a result, the lobster-catching turned into quite a spectacle, with many people gathering to watch. After all, everyone had seen lobsters in the river before but had always kept their distance. Now that they saw Xia Muxin's family not only raising them but also claiming they were delicious, curiosity ran high.
Ming Qi and Ming Da were among those who went into the water. It was a bit challenging because they didn't have large nets; they mostly used small scoops and bamboo sticks to catch them. During this time, several of them were unexpectedly attacked by the lobsters, causing them to scream in pain and making those onshore laugh uproariously.
Before long, it was the day of Er Dan Ge's move.
Everything inside and outside was ready, and the furniture was complete. Many people came to help, mostly from the Brick Factory, as they had worked together making bricks and formed strong bonds. Plus, Er Dan was quite personable, making everyone happy to have such a friend.
Some villagers were curious and arrived early just to see his new home.
At the village end, tables and chairs were borrowed for fifty tables set up outside in the yard. A new stove was built outside as well. Fortunately, the weather wasn't hot; the sun hadn't come out but it hadn't rained either—it was pleasantly cool, giving everyone energy to work.
At that moment, Xia Muxin lay on her bed waiting for her dressing change. Shen Muhan said it would be the last one today. She looked in the mirror and saw no scars left—there wasn't even an imprint—but Shen Muhan insisted that she needed one more change of dressing.
"Husband, I'm really fine now. There's no need to change the medicine again."
The medicine was fresh, ground into juice and mixed with some of Shen Muhan's potions. Each application felt cool but sticky, which made her quite uncomfortable.
"Be good. After this time, you can do as you please."
Shen Muhan completely ignored her pleas and abruptly tore off her upper garment, not sparing even her undergarment. Sometimes she wondered if he did it on purpose.
It wasn't until a chill spread across her back that Xia Muxin finally gave up trying to argue.
However, Shen Muhan's words were loaded with meaning. What did he mean by saying she could do as she pleased? Clearly, it was him who had the power here.
After applying the medicine, she had to lie down for a while to let it dry; otherwise, her clothes would stick together.
"Muxin, your aunt is married now. Shouldn't we have children?"
Shen Muhan's fingers traced her smooth back, his eyes filled with a green light of desire. It had been a month since he last touched her, and the longing was almost unbearable. With so many Little Carrot Heads around the house, if Xia Jihua were to get pregnant again, there would be no peace at all. Therefore, he wanted to have a child before Xia Jihua did, to ensure that their home was lively and chaotic. Watching others enjoy family life while Little Carrot Head called him brother-in-law or uncle instead of father was a feeling he couldn't bear.
Xia Muxin furrowed her brows in silence. If she said no, Shen Muhan would likely give up on having children just to accommodate her feelings. But that would make her feel guilty. After a moment of hesitation, she finally said:
"Husband, let's just go with the flow. If it happens, then we'll have the baby."
This was her way of conceding.
Shen Muhan happily kissed her several times on the back. Once the potion on her back dried, Shen Muhan helped her put on her clothes and then took her to Er Dan's house.
The banquet at Er Dan's home was very lavish, with each table set with twelve large bowls, and the dishes were plentiful. Many villagers took their own bowls to bring back the leftovers. The rarest delicacy among them was the lobster.
Xia Muxin shared the cooking method for the stir-fried lobster with Xia Jihua. This dish was prepared by Xia Jihua himself, as such a recipe could fetch a considerable income if sold at Fortune and Longevity Restaurant, but he wanted to establish its reputation first.
As they had anticipated, all fifty tables were completely cleared.
Typically, after a banquet, guests would take some leftovers home happily. Er Dan had no other relatives; even if he did, they had lost contact after his parents passed away. This time, he didn’t invite anyone else; his only family was the Xia Family.
After the meal, some women stayed behind to clean up the tables and tidy up the place. Er Dan invited them to stay for dinner, but since there were still elderly and children at home, they couldn’t linger too long. Xia Jihua made sure each of them took a large bowl of food and some snacks home before they cheerfully left.
Dinner was also held at Er Dan's house, with a few close brothers joining in, totaling four tables. The topic of discussion revolved around the upcoming wedding in a few days. Xia Jihua listened to these conversations with a flushed face as he ate, and he left early with Summer Old Man.
Summer Old Man seemed to be feeling his age; his health was not what it used to be, and he ate much less than before. His family was particularly worried about him.
Shen Muhan also took Xia Muxin home early; Ming Yi and the others had already left during lunch.
The autumn night was slightly cool as they walked home together. Xia Muxin felt a surge of emotions as she recalled how she struggled when she first arrived—unable even to drink a bowl of porridge. Now she had her own home, her own supermarket, and countless savings. Most importantly, she had a man who loved her like life itself.
Her heart was filled with gratitude.
“Muxin,” he said, “do you think our child will look more like you or more like me?”
Xia Muxin had been silent all the way, prompting Shen Muhan to start a conversation. However, his question made Xia Muxin roll her eyes; he never stopped thinking about that matter.
As she expected, after they returned home and freshened up, Shen Muhan eagerly pinned her down.
That night was another sleepless one, with them changing positions repeatedly.
Er Dan's move went smoothly, and the wedding was equally successful, celebrated with great fanfare. Xia Jihua's dowry dazzled everyone; the newly made large boxes totaled ten. In this countryside, and even in Town, how many families would spend so lavishly on a daughter's marriage?
Once married, Xia Jihua became part of Er Dan's family. Although they were from the same village, Xia Jihua cried bitterly, only managing to get into the sedan chair with the support of Aunt Xia and Ermiao.
The procession was lively with drums and gongs, making it one of the top fifty wedding parades in Daimiao Village, much more bustling than when Xia Muxin had her wedding.
On the third day after her marriage, Xia Jihua returned to her parental home. This time, Xia Muxin and her husband set off for Dayao Village. She hadn't been there for almost two months and was preoccupied with those seedlings.
At this season, the sweet potatoes were nearly ripe, and she needed to arrange for people to harvest them.
She also had to prepare to build an earth cellar to store the sweet potatoes.
This time she didn't bring Yan Zhouwan along; it seemed they had entered a period of adjustment. Perhaps it wouldn't be long before good news arrived. Shen Muqing even asked Shen Muhan to find a piece of land for him as he wanted to build a house too. Every day watching Xia Muxin's family together and happy made him envious.
Shen Muhan was naturally pleased with this idea; he couldn't wait for Yan Zhouwan to get married so that Xia Muxin would have more time for him. The lively procession continued in Daimiao Village, far more vibrant than when Xia Muxin had her wedding.
On the third day after her marriage, Xia Jihua returned home again. This time, Xia Muxin and her husband headed to Dayao Village; she hadn't been there for almost two months and was focused on those seedlings.
At this season, the sweet potatoes were nearly ready for harvest, and she needed to make arrangements for their collection.
At the same time, she needed to prepare to build an Earth Cellar to store the Sweet Potatoes.
This time, she did not bring Yan Zhouwan along. It seemed that the two had entered a period of adjustment, and perhaps it wouldn't be long before good news arrived. Shen Muqing even asked Shen Muhan to find a piece of land for him; he also wanted to build a house. Every day, seeing Xia Muxin's family together and happy made him envious.
Shen Muhan was naturally willing. He couldn't wait for Yan Zhouwan to get married soon, as that would give Xia Muxin more time to spend with him. The procession was lively and bustling, making it one of the top fifty wedding processions in Daimiao Village, much more festive than when Xia Muxin got married.
On the third day after Xia Jihua's wedding, it was time for her to return home. This time, the couple headed to Dayao Village. She hadn't been there for almost two months and was eager to check on the Seedlings.
At this season, the Sweet Potatoes were nearly ripe, and she needed to arrange for people to help with the harvest.
She also had to prepare to build an Earth Cellar to store the Sweet Potatoes.
This time, she did not bring Yan Zhouwan along. It seemed that the two had entered a period of adjustment, and perhaps it wouldn't be long before good news arrived. Shen Muqing even asked Shen Muhan to find a piece of land for him; he also wanted to build a house. Every day, seeing Xia Muxin's family together and happy made him envious.
Shen Muhan was naturally willing. He couldn't wait for Yan Zhouwan to get married soon, as that would give Xia Muxin more time to spend with him.
- End of Chapter -
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