In the morning, after breakfast, Rong Zheng cleared away the bowls and chopsticks and told Ye Chen and Ye Yun to go back to their rooms to change and get ready to leave.
Ye Chen soon came out in his new clothes. Today, he wore the white brocade outfit Rong Zheng had bought him, with a blue silk sash at his waist, looking fresh and neat. He had sword-like brows, eyes like obsidian, and a youthful face. Under Rong Zheng's guidance lately, he had learned to stand straight and tall, and dressed up like this, he looked like a little young master.
He was very excited today. Yesterday, Brother Rong had told him they would go to a teahouse to listen to storytelling. He had never heard it before and had no idea what exactly he would hear, but children were always curious about things they had never experienced.
Rong Zheng felt gratified. Ye Chen was changing for the better, looking increasingly spirited and no longer so constrained and self-conscious.
Just then, Ye Yun also came out of the house. He wore a light blue satin robe, with a translucent white jade pendant at his waist. Silver flowing-cloud patterns shimmered along the hem, and his ink-black hair fell to his waist, with a light blue ribbon tied at the crown of his head fluttering in the breeze.
His features were exquisite, the cinnabar mark between his brows vivid and striking. With his gentle, refined air, he looked like an elegant young nobleman-a truly pleasing sight.
Rong Zheng thought that robe really did suit Ye Yun perfectly. When he had seen it in the clothing shop, he had pictured Ye Yun wearing it, and now he finally got to see it.
So this was what they meant by breathtaking beauty that captivated the soul!
When the three appeared in the village, the villagers kept turning to look. The once frail Ye Yun and Ye Chen now had rosy complexions and handsome clothes. Both the older one and the younger one looked like young masters from town.
Standing together, Rong Zheng and Ye Yun were a perfect pair.
Some villagers had previously seen Rong Zheng making Ye Chen carry water to water the vegetables and said that Rong Zheng had married Ye Yun and taken in his younger brother-in-law just to gain another pair of hands around the house. They had been eagerly waiting to laugh at how Ye Yun would end up.
Now, seeing the three of them, those rumors fell apart on their own. The family was living together in happy harmony.
"Rong Zheng, you're all dressed so nicely. Are you going to town?" some villagers asked curiously.
"Well, the house is almost finished, so I'm planning to take my husband and little brother into town to buy some things today," Rong Zheng replied.
"Oh, I see. Speaking of your new house, I passed by the day before yesterday and took a look. It really is big and impressive."
"It certainly is. So enviable. It'll surely be comfortable to live in."
"Doesn't Ye Chen look a lot sturdier? He used to be such a scrawny child, but now even his face has some color."
"Oh? You don't need to dress so nicely just to shop in town. Are you visiting relatives?" a villager asked, very curious, mainly because the family of three was dressed far too smartly to look as though they were simply going shopping. Some people spoke bluntly and freely, without worrying that others might resent their prying.
Rong Zheng smiled. "Auntie, after we finish shopping in town, I'd like to take my husband and little brother to a teahouse to listen to some storytelling."
"Storytelling! That's the sort of entertainment only town families enjoy. Rong Zheng, you really are doing better and better for yourself."
Rong Zheng smiled and politely fielded the chatter of the passing villagers.
The three took an ox cart into town and headed first to the main street. The morning market was bustling, with crowds surging along the street. Rong Zheng naturally took Ye Yun's hand, interlacing their fingers as he led him forward.
Ye Yun looked at his handsome, distinguished husband beside him, then at their joined hands, his ears turning faintly red.
Rong Zheng took them around for a while and bought each of them a skewer of candied hawthorns to try. Ye Chen happily ate as he walked, obediently staying close to Brother Rong's side.
Ye Yun also took small bites, his pink tongue licking the bright red candied hawthorns. Rong Zheng's breath caught at the sight, and he said with a smile, "Won't you let your husband try one?"
At that, Ye Yun held it up to Rong Zheng's mouth, only belatedly realizing that he was feeding him. A little shy, he hurriedly glanced around on instinct. Only after finding that no one on the street had noticed them did he relax and urge, "Hurry up and eat!"
Finding Ye Yun's embarrassment amusing, Rong Zheng deliberately bit down without letting go. Only when Ye Yun grew anxious and pushed the skewer forward, stuffing the hawthorn into his mouth, did he let him off.
Rong Zheng took the two to the Distant View Bookshop to see Shopkeeper Sun.
Shopkeeper Sun handed Rong Zheng a printed storybook. "All two hundred copies have been printed. We'll see over the next month whether they sell well. This copy is for you."
The cover bore the title "Realm of Wonders and Strangeness." It was the storybook Rong Zheng and Feng Xuanwen had published together.
Rong Zheng thanked him. Remembering that Ye Chen and Ye Yun were still using his old writing supplies, he bought them a set each at the bookshop, along with a large stack of paper.
During their conversation, Shopkeeper Sun learned that Rong Zheng was buying these brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones for his husband and younger brother-in-law, and his face filled with shock. Writing supplies were expensive. Ordinary families were not necessarily willing to pay for even the men of the household to study, let alone gers.
Not only was Rong Zheng letting his husband learn to write, he was letting his younger brother-in-law study too. How much he must dote on his husband!
This was Ye Yun's first time buying brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones in a bookshop, and only now did he learn just how expensive paper was. Just look-a few things like these cost over three taels. He had heard before that the cost of studying could equal a year's income, and now he had witnessed it himself. Although the purchases were for him and his little brother, the expense still pained him.
As they left the bookshop, his eyes were full of gratitude, and he said softly to Rong Zheng, "Thank you!"
Rong Zheng smiled. "What are you thanking me for? We're husbands. Ye Chen is your little brother, and he's mine too. We're a family."
"Mm." Ye Yun was happy. Rong Zheng had bought them writing supplies without so much as blinking, showing no stinginess toward them at all. Having a husband like this left him deeply content.
The three followed the main street all the way to a corner. Rong Zheng turned and looked up to see "Forget Worries Pavilion" written in broad, flattened clerical script on a red signboard. The doors stood open, and every so often, groups of two or three went inside together.
Knowing this was the largest teahouse in town, Rong Zheng led the two inside.
A teahouse waiter immediately came forward attentively when he saw the customers. "A party of three?"
"Yes."
"Please come inside!"
Rong Zheng entered the hall and looked around. The teahouse had two floors. A storytelling stage stood in the center of the first floor, surrounded by closely arranged tea tables. It was noisy and bustling. Though not every seat was occupied, it was still very lively, with everyone sipping tea and chatting merrily.
Tea was the main offering here, but they also served wine, and naturally there were dishes as well. As they drew closer, the bustle of the crowd mingled with the aromas of wine and food, washing over them.
Waiters carrying trays in both hands wound through the hall, attending to the guests.
Above was the second floor, with an open center surrounded by a gallery and rows of neatly arranged small compartments-private rooms, in modern terms. The people upstairs generally wore finer clothes than those below and looked like wealthy masters, madams, young ladies, and young masters.
Guided by the waiter, Rong Zheng and the other two passed between the tables and sat fairly close to the storytelling stage. They ordered tea and the establishment's specialty dishes: pork knuckle, stir-fried cauliflower, mapo tofu, and a plate of osmanthus cakes.
"Come on, you must be hungry. Let's eat while we listen to the story." Rong Zheng poured tea for them both and told them to eat while the food was hot.
The three had spent quite a while walking along the main street, and it was nearly noon now. Hungry as well, they picked up their chopsticks and ate with relish.