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A new home for the New Year, a blessed place opening its gates to good fortune. Zhou Sanfeng followed behind and set up a table in the center of the new courtyard, laid out several plates of assorted grains, and set up an incense burner.

Each person helping with the move dropped a few copper coins into the incense burner as they entered, symbolizing bountiful harvests and wealth flowing in.

Everyone helped tidy the rooms, arrange the wooden cabinets, and sweep the courtyard. Worried that his young husband would overheat from exerting himself, Zhou Jinian sent him off to buy groceries and get the cooking fire going.

In town, even firewood for the stove had to be bought, showing just how much more expensive life there was than in the countryside.

Xie Ning bought a plump chicken, a slab of pork belly, and some vegetables, filling a basket to the brim. Carrying it, he went to buy a jug of wine, which he cradled in his arms, then led the elderly firewood seller back to their new courtyard.

He had spent an extra copper coin to persuade the butcher to kill the chicken for him. Chickens and ducks sold in town were generally not slaughtered on the spot, but since Xie Ning was moving house today, it was inauspicious to kill anything in his new home.

Setting a pot over the fire, Xie Ning fetched water to wash the chicken, removed its innards, and plucked away every feather. He blanched the whole chicken to remove the bloody scum, then lifted it out to dry.

He filled the pot with fresh water, added scallions, ginger, and spices, then put the chicken in to simmer over low heat.

A whole braised chicken, spicy stir-fried chicken giblets, Dongpo pork, flash-fried cabbage, boiled mature pumpkin, and loofah and egg soup-by the time everyone finished settling the new courtyard, they were ravenous. Smelling the fragrant meat and vegetables covering the table, they kept swallowing their saliva.

Zhou Sanfeng invited everyone to sit. "Please, take a seat, in-law. Thank you for all your hard work today. Thank you so much."

"Sit, sit. We're family, no need for thanks." Xie Dashu laughed heartily.

Xie Yao fetched the apples and glutinous rice cakes he had prepared earlier and brought them to the table. "May your home be peaceful and your family close-knit."

Zhou Sanfeng thanked him over and over. His in-laws were so thoughtful, helping them move and preparing gifts as well. He had arranged a fine marriage for his son.

After the meal, Xie Dashu and Xie Yao prepared to return to the village. Throughout the day, Xie Dashu had seen just how Zhou Jinian doted on his second son.

Just take the meal: Zhou Jinian had been drenched in sweat like the rest of them, and the strength he had shown moving cabinets made it clear he was used to helping with work at home, unlike those impoverished scholars who could barely stand against a breeze! His own son, meanwhile, had looked fresh and clean. As a father, wasn't all he hoped for a good son-in-law who would treat his son well?

The family rested that afternoon. Xie Ning, caring about his husband too, considerately went to fetch water without being asked.

Inside the room, Zhou Jinian wore only a pair of coarse hemp trousers, his bare upper body revealing fair skin a shade lighter than his face. His muscles were firm, his shoulders broad and waist narrow. With his back to Xie Ning, he wrung out a cloth and wiped away his sweat.

Feeling the burning gaze from behind, Zhou Jinian deliberately put force into his hands, tightening the muscles around his shoulder blades and arms, displaying the strength he had built climbing mountains with rocks tied to him.

He turned around and asked, "Had your fill of looking?"

Xie Ning pouted and protested, "Stingy. I let you look at me."

To show his generosity, Zhou Jinian simply lay down on the bed bare-chested for a nap. Who would have thought that even without provoking anyone, someone would come to provoke him?

"Jinian, how do we consummate our marriage? I want to do it with you more." With his back to him, Xie Ning undid his sash.

"..." Any man would have sat up just as Zhou Jinian did. Faced with such a bold demand from his husband, Zhou Jinian feigned composure, though his voice held a measure of heat. "Come here."

Xie Ning turned and met his husband's dark gaze. Puzzled, he walked toward Zhou Jinian. "What for?"

He was still two steps from the bed when Zhou Jinian pulled him over. Losing his balance, he landed astride his husband's thighs and cried out in protest, "What are you doing!"

His husband stopped his mouth again. Lately, he had really taken to nibbling at his lips...

Zhou Jinian followed him with kisses. Ninglang's body temperature was lower than most people's, and with him held in his arms, Zhou Jinian could not bear to stop stroking him, until his arms encircled his waist.

The warm palm stroking above his tailbone made Xie Ning tremble. "Mm..."

With his young husband's arousal pressing against his abdomen, Zhou Jinian gave a deep, husky laugh. "Your husband will teach you the first step of consummating our marriage."

Xie Ning bit his lower lip. He was growing hot again and wanted to escape, but his husband's other hand held his waist firmly. Zhou Jinian's hand pleasured him, drawing one sound after another from his throat...

Zhou Jinian lay down with him in his arms, turning onto his side to hold his young husband against him. His lips close to Xie Ning's ear, his voice was almost a breath. "Let your husband hold you. You can go into the water tonight."

Xie Ning panted softly. This bout of heat was unfamiliar and pleasurable, making him quite willing to press his bare skin against the warm chest behind him, until he spilled into Zhou Jinian's hand.

Zhou Jinian held him and rubbed lightly against him. Moving today had left his body somewhat tired, but the desire his husband had stirred remained unrelieved. He simply had nothing prepared and feared that rushing would hurt the person in his arms.

They had been living in town for several days. The daytime heat left them drenched in sweat, and the nights were not as cool as in Great Well Village, but the family felt at ease, so they settled in well.

The family built a simple pond in the courtyard. After letting it dry in the sun for a few days until it could hold water, Zhou Jinian took his young husband back to the village to catch fish.

Wearing a teal robe, Xie Ning let Zhou Jinian lead him by the hand into an apothecary. Always well-behaved, Xie Ning asked few questions, merely watching curiously as his husband tucked a little porcelain bottle he had bought into his robes.

Only after leaving the apothecary did Xie Ning ask, "Who's ill? Who is that for?"

"You'll know when the time comes." Zhou Jinian smiled enigmatically. Not wanting his young husband to keep questioning him in the street, he changed the subject. "Want some tanghulu?"

"Yes!" Sure enough, Xie Ning tossed the questions in his head aside.

For this trip back to the village, they rented a mule cart from the relay station. It was faster, and the few extra copper coins it cost were hardly worth mentioning.

The driver guided the mule up front while the husbands sat in the carriage. Xie Ning held up his tanghulu to feed Zhou Jinian. "Have one. It's so sweet."

Zhou Jinian drew his head back a little. "You eat it. Stay sweet a little longer."

Xie Ning hunched his shoulders and tucked his head down, staring at Zhou Jinian. "There's something off about you!"

Zhou Jinian raised an eyebrow and smiled without explaining.

Xie Ning snuggled up to him and pestered him all the way until the mule cart entered the village, but still failed to coax out an answer. He climbed down in a huff and headed for the Zhou family courtyard first.