Chapter 15

Zhou Jinian was a little surprised. In his previous life, his father had refused to split the household no matter what. Why was he not only willing in this life, but also thinking everything through so thoroughly?

"Seeing you married, and with Ninglang such a sensible child, your dad told me he wanted to get better soon so he could hold a grandson someday. He's suffered a lot with me. As his husband, I have to get him well, and as his son, you need to hurry up and give him a big, chubby boy to hold!"

Zhou Sanfeng gave a couple of hearty laughs after saying this, feeling that life held plenty to look forward to.

They had nearly finished digging up this row of peanuts. The dirt had to be shaken off as they dug, or it would be troublesome once it dried. Zhou Jinian simply went to sit beside his father, picked up a bunch of peanuts, and shook off the dirt as he asked, "Father, weren't you against splitting the household before?"

"I had worries before. Now that I see you handling things steadily and taking responsibility, those worries are gone. Besides, I'm disheartened. If our Zhou family stays forcibly bundled together like firewood, won't we all turn to ash when the fire starts?" Of course, Zhou Sanfeng's greatest concern was still Jinlang.

Breathing in the scent of the soil, father and son sat quietly together. From time to time, a breeze lifted the hems of their coarse-cloth clothes, cool and pleasant.

"Back when your dad had just given birth to you, your grandfather fell ill. Mother panicked, and all the housework landed on your dad's shoulders. Neither your dad nor I was twenty yet, and we were strong and healthy. No one taught us back then. What did farmers in the countryside know about looking after their health? He went down to the river to wash clothes in the dead of winter. I didn't know any better either and went along to help. If I'd known sooner, would I ever have let your dad touch that icy water?"

Zhou Sanfeng sighed. "Ah, now I regret it, but it's too late! That business over the meal-your grandmother truly chilled my heart..."

"Then when I go to town the day after tomorrow, I'll look at houses and ask about the rent. Father, let's move to town. I can earn money copying books." Zhou Jinian lowered his head slightly after speaking. Living his life over again, he found that he still had to take things one step at a time.

"We have money. You concentrate on your studies. Earning scholarly honors is the proper path. Your dad and I plan to set up a stall, frying dough sticks and cooking porridge. It'll be a livelihood."

The corners of Zhou Jinian's mouth lifted slightly. Facing the sunlight, his whole expression relaxed. A family discussing things together and working as one-that was what life should be.

Toward evening, Zhou's Sixth Daughter-in-Law busied herself preparing dinner in the kitchen.

Apart from Zhou Liufeng and Lin Jin, everyone in the family gathered in the inner courtyard. The men grabbed handfuls of peanut plants and slammed them hard against the ground. Whatever would not come off was passed to the family members to pick off by hand.

Xie Ning's hands were muddy too as he picked peanuts, squatting beside Rong-ge'er from the fourth branch and chatting.

There was fish soup for dinner. Of a fish as big as an adult's arm, only the head and tail remained. Anyone could guess without a moment's thought that Zhou's Sixth Daughter-in-Law had secretly kept the rest.

As a junior family member with a different surname, Xie Ning naturally would not stick his neck out and say anything. He merely filled a bowl to the brim with fish soup and took it to Dad.

The Zhou family had gathered in the main room and had just finished dinner when a sound came from the courtyard gate. "Guihua'er, open the gate."

They knew from the voice that Zhou Sifeng had returned. Rong-ge'er jumped up and ran over, calling, "Father!"

Zhou Sifeng entered the courtyard first with his eldest brother on his back, followed by Zhou's Eldest Daughter-in-Law and Zhou Wenshu. The Zhou family hurried out to ask after them.

"Sifeng, what did the doctor say?"

"He's all right now. A bowl of medicine a day and some rest, and he'll recover." Zhou Sifeng took the bowl of tea his son handed him and drained it. They were finally home. Food and lodging were both difficult in town; no amount of money seemed enough.

Lin Guihua was overjoyed to see her husband. Seeing Mother smiling too, she could not help saying, "You, Sister-in-law, and Wenshu must be starving, right? We still have three fish at home. Wenshu, how would you like yours? Fourth Aunt will go cook for you."

She felt it was unfair. Such a large fish, and Zhou's Sixth Daughter-in-Law had actually dared to pocket it.

"Pan-fried, please. Thank you, Fourth Aunt." Zhou Wenshu stood on no ceremony, immediately asking for the most troublesome preparation, which was also his favorite.

"Then sit for a while. I'll go light the stove." Lin Guihua patted her legs and stood up. "Mother, I'm going to cook a fish for my nephew."

Grandmother Zhou had no objections at all. She fussed over her eldest grandson, offering both comfort and assurances. "With your grandmother here, just concentrate on earning scholarly honors. Tell me whatever you need."

Water did nothing to fill Zhou Sifeng's stomach. Taking his son by the hand, he went to the kitchen to talk with his wife. Even if he stayed, his mother had no eyes for him, her fourth son, anyway.

Author's note: Thank you to the little angels who cast Overlord votes or watered me with nutrient solution between 2020-09-19 20:32:02 and 2020-09-20 22:37:20~

Thank you to the little angel who cast landmines: Mi Se Ye Ru Gou, 1;

Thank you to the little angels who watered me with nutrient solution: Mi Se Ye Ru Gou, 10 bottles; Zuo An and Tou Ding Hong Hua Xiao Yan Hua, 2 bottles each;

Thank you all so much for your support. I'll keep working hard!

Chapter 15

Seeing Zhou Sifeng's family enjoying themselves together in the kitchen that evening, Xie Ning decided not to disturb them after all. He would put off making dried eggplant for now and catch fish to sell first.

The moment Xie Ning returned to the room, Zhou Jinian pulled him over. "You didn't go into the water this afternoon?"

As he asked, he pushed up Xie Ning's sleeves. Several blood-red lines crisscrossed his pale arms. Then he cupped his face. There were no vein patterns on it, but they had turned into large patches of dry lines, with flakes on small areas of skin.

"Hm?" Zhou Jinian was a little surprised. "What did you eat today?"

"I didn't feel hot, so I didn't go into the water." Xie Ning rubbed his cheek with his index finger out of habit. "Fish at noon, fish soup tonight, and some shrimp-paste pancakes this afternoon."

Zhou Jinian caught the finger rubbing his cheek. "Don't touch it. Let me look at your body."

"Oh." Xie Ning obediently lowered his head to untie his sash.

"..." Zhou Jinian felt a little dazed, a trace of wedding-night intimacy stirring in his heart...

Xie Ning took off his clothes and draped them over his arm, looking down at his chest. "Mm, it's all red. Even uglier now."

Fine blood vessels stood out across his pale, thin chest. Of his whole body, the backs of his hands had healed best. Zhou Jinian guessed it was because his hands were often in contact with water.

"It isn't ugly," Zhou Jinian countered, helping him put his clothes back on. "From now on, eat some fish and shrimp every day, then try staying out of the water during the day."

Meat every day-that would certainly be good, Xie Ning thought delightedly. "Then I want to go to town with you."