Rong Zheng had mostly stayed home lately, but he was still very busy.
He began practicing calligraphy and reciting texts before dawn each morning. If he wanted to take the imperial examinations, he had to work hard, and Rong Zheng dared not slack off.
After breakfast, he took Ye Chen to the river to carry water for the vegetables.
He had specially commissioned the village carpenter to make two small buckets sized for Ye Chen and told him:
"Xiao Chen, carrying water is physical work, but it requires a high degree of concentration. It can train your strength, endurance, coordination, and balance. These are also fundamentals of martial arts. Come on, try lifting them." He pointed at the small buckets on the ground, signaling for Ye Chen to begin.
Having experienced Rong Zheng's attentive guidance over the past several days, Ye Chen trusted and admired him unconditionally. He calmed himself, bent down, and strained to lift the two buckets of water on the carrying pole.
But they were so heavy... Only after several attempts did he barely manage to stand, his face instantly creasing with strain.
Rong Zheng smiled and asked, "Tiring, isn't it?"
Ye Chen nodded. "Brother Rong, they're so heavy. I can't walk."
"Put them down first. There's technique to carrying water, too. Watch my demonstration carefully."
As Rong Zheng spoke, he demonstrated, lowering his stance and positioning himself before taking several large strides forward.
"Follow along and try again."
Copying Rong Zheng's posture, Ye Chen lowered his stance after lifting the water and barely managed to keep up beside him.
"Xiao Chen, you need to learn to find ways of applying your strength that make things easier for you. That takes time."
As he carried the water along, Ye Chen tried to find the most comfortable posture. Gradually, he began to get a feel for it, and his steps quickened. Delight stirred in his heart.
Just then, Rong Zheng spoke again. "Don't rush. You need to be steady at the start. The vegetable plot is still quite a way off. If you're too impatient, you won't be able to walk later."
Ye Chen slowed down, but he was already panting, his back drenched in sweat.
"Xiao Chen, slow down some more. Your breathing is too erratic. That will put more strain on you. Here, follow me. Breathe out, breathe in!"
"Sink your qi into your dantian."
"Controlling your breathing is a very important fundamental. Remember, a calm mind brings steady breathing, and steady breathing brings steady movements."
Ye Chen turned his head to look and adjusted his breathing according to Rong Zheng's guidance. Soon, he discovered that his breathing really was no longer erratic, and even quickening his steps did not leave him exhausted.
Rong Zheng observed the changes in Ye Chen. He really was a good prospect for martial arts, perceptive and hardworking. Rong Zheng had him practice the horse stance every day, and he had never missed a session. Carrying water was hard work for a beginner, but although Ye Chen was tired and sweat had soaked his eyes, he kept going as long as Rong Zheng did not tell him to stop.
When the villagers working in the fields saw this, gossip began spreading through the village again.
"Did Rong Zheng marry Ye Yun just to add another pair of working hands to his household? He makes Ye Chen carry water for the vegetables first thing every morning."
"I thought he was a good man for building those brothers a big house. Who knew he had such nasty intentions, treating his little brother-in-law like forced labor?"
"Nonsense. Here in the countryside, what child doesn't have to work?"
"But no one's as harsh as Rong Zheng. Didn't you see Ye Chen panting with exhaustion while Rong Zheng kept urging him on?"
"Has Ye Yun forgotten his own brother now that he's married and living the good life? Why haven't we seen him stand up for his brother?"
"Who knows whether he's living the good life? Maybe he has it even harder than when he lived with his eldest uncle."
As they talked, some had already begun gloating. It could not be helped. Some villagers had already been sour with envy when Rong Zheng threw a lavish wedding banquet for Ye Yun. Now he was building the grandest house in the entire village, too. It really did make people jealous.
Everyone had seen how Ye Yun used to work from dawn until dark every day, with beatings and scoldings a regular occurrence. When Rong Zheng proposed, he had been forced into it, with no choice but to agree. Otherwise, he would have had to marry an old widower who beat people.
They did feel some sympathy for Ye Yun, but not much. Some people lived in poverty and hardship, and seeing someone worse off than themselves naturally made them feel a little better.
Compare miseries, and the suffering was halved. That was the truth of human nature!
Things were different now. The worst-off ger in the village had married the most handsome man in the village, a man who had even received an education. That man had held a grand wedding for him and was building him a big house. Just like that, he had become the envy of the village's unmarried girls and gers, leaving some people green-eyed.
And now, with Rong Zheng revealing his true nature and mistreating his little brother-in-law, surely mistreating Ye Yun could not be far behind?
Having finally found something bad about his life, they simply had to embellish it and have a good long gossip.
In fact, Rong Zheng's household knew nothing of their discussions. Even if they had heard, there was no need to pay them any mind. They only needed to close their door and live their own lives well.
When they returned home after carrying water, both their clothes were soaked through, and Ye Chen's little face was flushed from the heat.
"I've heated the water. Rest a little, then hurry and wash."
Ye Yun came over and spoke gently. Every day, he prepared hot water for them in advance.
"All right." Rong Zheng agreed and told Ye Chen to go change first. Watching Ye Chen leave, he stepped forward, took his husband's hand, and swung it. "You're so thoughtful, my dear." He had wanted to hug him, but he was covered in stinking sweat and feared subjecting his soft, sweet-smelling husband to the smell, so he could only hold his hand.
Ye Yun had discovered that Rong Zheng was poised, composed, and unflappable outside, but very clingy at home. He liked to touch his hand now and then and hold him gently, occasionally saying teasing things and refusing to stop until Ye Yun was red in the face.
"Hurry up and wash. I'll get you some clean clothes. We still need to go look at the construction site together later." Ye Yun urged Rong Zheng, who lingered without moving.
"You haven't called me husband today." Rong Zheng continued wheedling.
Left with no choice, Ye Yun blushed and called him "husband." Only then did Rong Zheng reluctantly stroke his husband's little hand a few more times before turning to enter the kitchen.
Ye Yun had no objection to Rong Zheng having Xiao Chen carry water early in the morning. He did not think Rong Zheng was enslaving his younger brother.
Because he knew that Rong Zheng truly treated them extremely well. During this half month at home, Rong Zheng had cooked almost every day, making sure they had good meat with every meal, while packages large and small of sweets and candied fruit never stopped coming into the house.
Even Ming-ge'er, who sometimes came to visit, repeatedly marveled at how blissful it was to eat like this.
Xiao Chen practiced his fundamentals at home in the morning, played with Wang Liang and the other children in the afternoon, and then came back to study and learn to read.
He noticed that Ye Chen's complexion was gradually improving and that he was much more lively. Every time he returned from playing, his face was full of smiles, and his former inferiority and timidity were slowly fading. Ye Chen also loved sticking close to Rong Zheng, his eyes full of admiration for him. Whenever he followed Rong Zheng around the construction site, he held his head high and his chest out.
Ye Yun did not care at all about the villagers' gossip. They could feel how well Rong Zheng treated them every single day.
In truth, Ye Chen was hardly the only one who had changed. Ye Yun's transformation was also very obvious. He now knew more characters and could understand a little of the medical books he had borrowed from Doctor Ye's household. Eating well, sleeping well, and with little work to do, his complexion had become visibly rosier.
One day, while they were washing clothes, Ming-ge'er looked at Ye Yun's smile and said in surprise, "Yun-ge'er, you seem to have become better-looking. Even your complexion is rosy now." It seemed Rong Zheng really did treat Ye Yun well, caring for him until he looked fresher and lovelier by the day. He envied Ye Yun and was also sincerely happy for him.
Ye Yun had fine features to begin with, but his formerly sallow complexion, coupled with his taciturn manner, had given him a gloomy air that concealed his striking looks.
Now that his life had improved and he was getting proper nourishment, with Rong Zheng pampering and cherishing him every day, he smiled more, and naturally grew increasingly radiant.