It was already noon when Rong Zheng returned home. He took the vegetable seeds he had bought to the Wang family's house. Wang Ze happened to be there too, and smiled when he saw Rong Zheng.
"I heard my mother mention last night that you were planning to hire my wife and me to plant vegetables for you. I reckon we can finish three mu of land in two days."
Rong Zheng handed over the seeds he had bought. "I was planning to hire you for four days to tend the plot for me. The seeds need watering every day at first after they're sown. I'm heading into the mountains tomorrow for several days, and I'm not sure when I'll return. I'm worried the sun will dry the seeds out."
He thought for a moment. "After planting them, could you water them morning and evening? How about two hundred wen altogether?"
Wang Ze was startled. "That's too much. A hundred and fifty wen will do. Watering over the next few days will only take about two hours each day. We can help you out while we're at it. Besides, you've already given our family a rabbit. Xiao Le really liked it."
"If you feel bad about it, you can water them for a few more days." With that, he handed over two hundred wen, turned, and left.
Wang Ze called after him, "All right, then! Don't worry, I'll take good care of it for you."
Naturally, he was delighted to have wages to earn. There were few sources of income in the countryside to begin with. Families could handle all their own fieldwork and rarely hired anyone.
After leaving the Wang house, he first went home and heated the meat buns he had brought back from town on the stove. Then he wrapped them in several layers of cloth, packed them into his back basket along with the pastries, and headed straight up the mountain. He wanted to see Ye Yun sooner.
With his exceptional hearing, he soon found the brothers a little deeper in the mountain woods again, one gathering wild greens and the other digging up medicinal herbs.
Ye Yun's feelings were rather complicated when he saw him. The last time they met, Rong Zheng had looked angry and distressed after learning that he had been beaten. Would he end up like everyone else, merely watching until he grew used to it?
In his heart, Ye Yun always felt that Rong Zheng was different from other people. It would be a lie to say he had never held any expectations.
Ever since Rong Zheng realized he had feelings for Ye Yun, the sight of him filled him with joy. "Hurry and eat these meat buns before they get cold. Try the pastries too."
He gazed steadily at Ye Yun. His future husband really looked more handsome the longer he looked.
Those eyes, that nose, those lips-every feature suited his tastes perfectly. No wonder he could not stop thinking about him, and even seeing nice clothes in town made him think of him.
"You..." Ye Yun wanted to ask why he treated them so well.
But Rong Zheng's steady gaze left him a little at a loss. Those smiling, peach-blossom eyes made his face feel warm and his heart race. He did not dare keep meeting his gaze and hastily looked away.
Just then, Ye Chen came over too. He was no longer as guarded toward Rong Zheng as he had been when they last parted. Brother Yun said he was a good person, and he trusted Brother Yun.
Besides, children were actually very sensitive to people's attitudes. Having endured his eldest uncle's family's cold looks since childhood, he naturally knew how well Rong Zheng treated them.
Seeing Ye Yun look away without taking the buns or pastries, Rong Zheng handed them to Ye Chen. "Xiao Chen, take these and eat over there. I'd like to speak to your brother alone for a moment."
Seeing that Brother Yun said nothing but did not object either, Ye Chen took the food and moved aside.
"I'll be crossing this mountain to explore deeper into the wild forest over the next few days. I might be gone for four or five days, though I'm not sure."
Ye Yun turned his head at that and frowned. "It's very dangerous over there. Almost no one goes there, not even highly skilled, experienced hunters.
"I heard that a hunter from another village came here before and ignored everyone's warnings, crossing the mountain to hunt, but he never came back. You've only been hunting for a little over a month. You can hardly call yourself experienced."
"Oh? Are you worried about me?" Rong Zheng could not resist teasing him.
"Do you really have to go?" Ye Yun asked, paying no attention to Rong Zheng's teasing.
"Don't worry. I'm pretty skilled. Even if I encounter a fierce beast, I'll have no trouble running away."
But, but I don't want you to go. Ye Yun felt frustrated and angry. He did not want Rong Zheng to take risks, but he had no standing to press him further.
He was no one to Rong Zheng. How could an outsider like him have any say in what Rong Zheng wanted or intended to do?
Seeing that Ye Yun's brow was still deeply furrowed, Rong Zheng wanted to reach out and smooth it, but he was afraid of startling him and could only suppress the impulse.
He changed the subject. "Do you want to leave your eldest uncle's family?"
Ye Yun gave a bitter smile. "How could it be that easy? We have nowhere to go."
"Do you trust me? I'll definitely help you. Once I'm back, I'll settle this for you."
Rong Zheng had actually already thought of a plan. It would simply involve mediating between them to arrange a household division. Gers had no right to inherit property, but Ye Chen did.
After the household division, they would have to take back all the land that had originally belonged to Ye Yun's family. As for somewhere to live, he could send them to stay in town for a while and bring them back once a new house was built. In any case, he was confident he could handle this.
The most important thing now was to have money on hand.
Money might not be all-powerful, but without it, one really could do nothing!
"Why do you want to help me?" Ye Yun did not know how Rong Zheng would resolve it, but he was even more curious about the reason. He gazed at Rong Zheng with those beautiful eyes, wanting an answer, even though he could not quite explain the anticipation in his own heart.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled light and shadow around them.
Golden light fell over Ye Yun's body and face, making him look even more vivid. In that moment, Rong Zheng felt that Ye Yun's eyes could steal his soul.
The smile faded from his face, and his gaze was intent and tender. "Because I like you, of course."
He likes me? He said he likes me? Those words were like a pebble striking the surface of a lake, sending out ripple upon ripple and throwing Ye Yun's heart into turmoil.
There was surprise, delight, and bewilderment. No one had ever expressed affection for him before, and he did not know how to respond. For a long time, he did not speak again.
Rong Zheng watched Ye Yun's expression and found that he was not averse to his directness.
Originally, he had intended to confess only after helping Ye Yun leave his eldest uncle's family,
but perhaps the atmosphere was just right at that moment,
or perhaps Ye Yun's eyes shone so brightly in the sunlight,
or, more likely, his heart's desire had made him unable to help himself!
Whatever the reason, the urge to confess his feelings was so strong at that moment. He wanted to tell Ye Yun that he liked him.
"Take your time thinking about it. Wait until I come back. Don't be afraid!"
To Rong Zheng, not being rejected was the best answer. He called Ye Chen over and, realizing that he had not eaten yet, hurriedly urged them both to eat.
Knowing that Rong Zheng treated them very well, Ye Chen smiled shyly and said, "Thank you, Brother Rong."
Not bad. It looks like my future little brother-in-law should be easy to win over.
Ye Yun looked at the still-warm meat bun in his hand. He had not eaten one in years. He often ate cold, hard steamed buns with wild greens, and he had almost forgotten what meat buns tasted like.
He turned his head and saw Ye Chen eating with complete satisfaction, and bitterness welled up in his heart.
The person who had just said he liked him treated them so well-so well that he thought this was a dream.
His eyes could not help reddening. He lowered his head and took small bites of the meat bun. The bun was soft and delicious, and together with the meat filling, its flavor was endless.
Once they had finished eating, Rong Zheng helped them gather wild greens and chop firewood, then escorted them back to the main mountain path. Watching their backs bend beneath their loads, he thought, I have to get Ye Yun out of this situation as soon as possible.