Trouble Under the Same Quilt

Su Yuhe shook her head and pushed those thoughts aside. She would leave that alone for now and copy her books first. She was determined to earn those three taels in reward money.

Once she finished copying the two books and collected her reward, she would find time to visit that household.

Whenever she took an ox cart into town, she could always see that family's daughter herding ducks and geese along the riverbank anyway. There was no hurry to seek her out.

She had just become absorbed in her copying when two knocks sounded at the study door.

This time, she called, "Come in," rather helplessly, and a cool, otherworldly face came into view.

Lu Mingyi walked over with measured steps and carefully set the bowl in his hands on the desk. She put down her brush, picked up the bowl, and took a couple of mouthfuls.

The sweet potato was mildly sweet, soft, and sticky. The fragrance of rice melted into the rice broth, its richness mingling with the sweetness of the sweet potato.

"Delicious!"

The corners of his lips curved slightly. "There's more in the kitchen."

"Mm." Su Yuhe finished the bowl and handed it to him. "I've had enough. Thank you and Zhixian for your hard work today. Take a bath tonight and get some proper rest."

"All right."

Su Yuhe continued copying, battling on by lamplight so she could finish this month's copying schedule sooner.

After a long while, the shadow beside her desk was still there. She turned her head in puzzlement. "What's wrong? Is there something you need?"

"Yes. The young man from the Li family paid for the sweet potatoes today. Should we reimburse him?"

"Him? We'll all be family in the future. There's no need to be so particular about these things." She thought for a moment, then continued, "Give it to him. It doesn't matter whether he takes it or not."

Lu Mingyi had guessed most of it from her attitude and continued probing. "Then he'll be the head husband. It would be better to let the head husband manage the money."

"There's no need for that. He has other things to do, so you're still the better choice to handle household affairs."

Su Yuhe raised her brush and continued writing. Seeing that he said nothing, she reassured him, "Don't worry. Li Yun isn't petty."

"I wasn't thinking that. Young Master Li has always treated us very well. I'm very happy we can become a family."

"Mm."

"It's just that, before we become a family, shouldn't we prepare some..."

He did not finish, but she understood. Without looking up, she said, "Let's make plans next year, after his mourning period ends. Our immediate priority is preparing things to keep us warm. The great cold might come next year, or even this winter."

"Yes. I'll go chop firewood in a little while. For now, the sweet potatoes still need drying."

"There's no hurry to chop firewood. None of you knows how to do it, either. One trip up the mountain could leave your clothes torn or get you hurt. Just stay home where it's safe. I happen to have something for you to do."

Lu Mingyi watched her hand move without stopping, the tip of her brush flowing like water. As she spoke, a row of characters sprang to life on the paper.

"What would you like me to do, Wife?"

Su Yuhe switched the brush to her other hand and shook out her hand. "There's a household in the village that raises geese and ducks. See whether you can barter for some goose and duck down. Not the outer feathers, but the soft down underneath. The more, the better."

"Understood. I'll see to it right away and leave you to your work, Wife."

With that, he carried the bowl out. Su Yuhe was dumbfounded. She had not even decided what to offer in exchange yet. Seeing how decisively he left, she supposed he had a way.

Surely he would not use the one tael of silver he had to buy a few big geese and pluck their down?

He was not that foolish, anyway, so Su Yuhe thought no more of it.

Su Yuhe was the last to finish bathing. After washing her clothes, she hung them on the bamboo pole in the bathing room. Three wet garments hung there, still dripping.

She wrung the water out of them again, only hoping the clothes would dry sooner.

They did not have many clothes. Apart from their new padded cotton outfits, they only had the coarse hemp clothes they had arrived in, and coarse hemp did not keep them warm.

She would buy them new winter clothes next year. It was nearly summer this year, so she would get them spring and summer clothes first.

Spring and summer clothes would not cost much. With a few bolts of cloth, she could cut out several sets.

She pushed open the door and climbed onto the kang by moonlight. The formerly quiet room stirred.

A hand on her left caught her arm and shook it gently. She looked over, and once her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she could faintly make out Lu Mingxi's dissatisfied pout.

"Wife, Second Brother Meng won't let me sleep with you. Look at him!"

Su Yuhe patted him. "All right, time to sleep. What difference does it make who you sleep beside?"

Lu Mingxi protested quietly, "You promised me this afternoon, Wife."

It seemed she had indeed.

She had forgotten while copying books. Besides, quite a few people had come into the study today, so she had pushed that remark from the afternoon to the back of her mind.

Su Yuhe looked to her right. Meng Zhixian was equally unconvinced, staring fixedly at her as he waited for her to speak.

She patted his shoulder soothingly. "Sleep beside Mingyi. You've worked hard today, so sleep in a little tomorrow. I have to get up early tomorrow morning. If you sleep beside me, I'll inevitably disturb you."

Lu Mingxi said, "Exactly, exactly. I have to get up early to cut grass and feed the chickens too. Wife and I won't disturb each other."

Meng Zhixian glared toward the voice, still dissatisfied. He simply did not dare lose his temper with her, so he could only reluctantly swap places with Lu Mingxi, laying all his grievances at Lu Mingxi's door.

He lay down in a huff, still remembering to inch closer to Su Yuhe. Lu Mingyi closed his eyes, let out an almost imperceptible sigh, and moved a little closer to Meng Zhixian.

No matter whom he shared a quilt with, it was always like this. If he had not been sleeping in the warmest spot, there was no telling how many times he would have caught a chill.