The Missing Husband Returned (02)

He was saying strange things again.

Xue Ci endured the heat in his cheeks and ignored him.

His skin was fair with a rosy tint, made even more beautiful by the dim yellow light. The loose, worn fabric clung to his body, outlining his lovely waist.

[Baby.]

[Why aren't you saying anything?]

Xue Ci couldn't take it anymore. [I like aloof people. You're a little noisy.]

The fragment finally quieted down, not daring to make any demands, and casually let 11 out.

As soon as 11 came out, it tugged at the hem of Xue Ci's shirt and complained, as if it had just been released from prison. [The virus locked me in a dark room, boohoohoo! Luckily, 11 was smart and exchanged points for a mute function! Now whenever the viruses come online, I can shut them up!]

Hearing that such a function existed, Xue Ci breathed a sigh of relief.

They were quiet now, so he wouldn't make them mute for the time being.

Summer in the village was quiet and cool. The fan made Xue Ci a little chilly, so he turned it off and wrapped himself in a thin blanket. Before long, he fell fast asleep.

The young man under the blanket was awakened by a knock at the door. A fluffy head emerged, his hair soft and smooth. Still half-asleep, he rolled back and forth across the big bed several times, wrapped in the blanket, before drawling,

"I don't want to get up..."

But the person outside kept knocking.

Xue Ci reluctantly got out of bed and saw through the window that it was already broad daylight. He rubbed his eyes and went to open the door. The tall man stood there carrying a basket filled with lunch.

A Hui usually arrived right on time. Xue Ci glanced at the clock hanging in the main room. It was already eleven thirty.

The flowers he had given A Hui last night were the last few. Xue Ci tipped his head back and said, "Wait a moment."

He was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and shorts. As he trotted away, the soft flesh of his thighs rippled like water, and even his knees were pink and fair.

The man standing in the doorway said nothing, his eyes fixed on those legs.

Oblivious, Xue Ci pulled two coins out of a wooden box. He had earned the money doing handicrafts for a girl in the village, saving a pitiful twenty-five yuan over half a month. It was nowhere near enough to pay back the several thousand yuan he owed.

"Hold out your hand."

A Hui couldn't speak, but communicating with him wasn't difficult.

Hearing the young man's clear voice, he obediently held out his palm.

Xue Ci placed the coins on it. "I don't know when the flowers will bloom, so let me give you money instead."

In this era, two yuan should have been enough to pay for several meals.

But the next second, he saw A Hui lower his head and sniff the coins, breathing heavily through his nose.

Xue Ci's eyes widened.

Did he think my money was dirty?

"It doesn't smell."

After explaining, Xue Ci felt it had been unnecessary and awkwardly took the basket.

Today's dishes were especially lavish: two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes. He set the lunch containers out on the table, then saw that A Hui was still standing in the doorway. Puzzled, he asked, "What's wrong?"

A Hui made a motion as if picking something up with chopsticks.

Xue Ci understood. "Do you want to eat with me?"

A Hui nodded and pointed at a stool.

Was he asking if he could sit down?

The burly man reminded Xue Ci of the big dog his grandmother used to keep. The dog was well-behaved and wouldn't dare enter the house without its owner's permission.

Once he had permission, A Hui came inside. Though he had said he wanted to eat together, he barely touched his chopsticks the whole time.

While Xue Ci focused on his meal, A Hui's gaze remained fixed on his gorgeous face.

His soft tongue gathered up grains of rice, and his teeth were clean and white. Whenever he ate a chili pepper, his lips would turn from pale pink to bright red, his eyes misting over as he opened his mouth to draw a quiet breath.

The inside of his mouth was visible.

A Hui rarely interacted with others and knew nothing of romance. While hunting in the mountains, he had occasionally come across men and women from the village meeting in secret and chewing on each other's mouths in the bushes.

One would hold the other against their body, sucking and biting at their mouth and eating the tongue inside.

The person being kissed would make strange sounds.

At the time, he hadn't known what they were doing. He had only felt that the two were getting in the way of his hunting, so he had deliberately made a noise to scare them off.

What was he supposed to do after eating the tongue?

A Hui stared at Xue Ci's lips, plump as though filled with water. He was no different from a strange, unthinking savage, making no attempt to conceal himself. The infatuation in his eyes couldn't be hidden.

Xue Ci loved tasty food, but he knew how much spice he could handle. After picking out a few pieces of spicy chicken, he put down his chopsticks. He had a small appetite and was full after eating only the top layer of each dish.

A Hui finally looked away and packed the remaining food back into the basket. Just as he was about to leave, a fierce wind sprang up, rattling the doors and windows. In an instant, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled. A downpour was imminent.

A Hui's home wasn't particularly close, and Xue Ci was afraid it would start raining while he was on the road, so he lent him the rain cape from the house.

Sure enough, A Hui had only taken a few steps from the door when raindrops as large as beans came pounding down.

A Hui was entirely focused on protecting the food in the basket. His rain cape had rolled up to his waist, leaving him soaked everywhere except his shoulders.

Xue Ci was just about to call him back when he saw the tall figure disappear into the curtain of rain in two or three strides.

He pressed his lips together helplessly, then turned around and saw that the two yuan was still on the table.

A Hui had forgotten to take the money.

Summer rain passed as quickly as it came. The sky soon cleared, and a fresh scent filled the air.

Song Liu took advantage of the coolness after the rain to visit Xue Ci. She asked what he thought of Zhao Ying, whom he had met the night before, and whether he liked him.

Xue Ci nodded emphatically and repeated every compliment about a husband that he had looked up beforehand with 11.

Song Liu was surprised. It seemed Xue Ci had a good impression of Zhao Ying.

She went over Zhao Ying's circumstances again.

"But he's so hardworking and honest. You're sure to have a good life together, and your aunt can rest easy knowing you have someone dependable to look after you."

That evening, Song Liu went to Zhao Ying's house.

As soon as they met, she said, "My nephew thinks you're wonderful. He's very pleased with you and even praised you to me. He said you look tall and strong, and like someone who knows how to care for others."

Zhao Ying froze for a moment, then a faint blush spread across his face.

Seeing his shy, awkward expression, Song Liu had a good idea of how he felt. "So what do you think of Xue Ci?"

"I..." Zhao Ying's voice was stiff, and after struggling for a long while with a flushed face, he only managed a few words. "He's... he's very good."

Song Liu grinned. "As long as you're both pleased. So when should we make it official?"

Zhao Ying hesitated. "Wouldn't that be too fast?"

He had intended to spend more time with Xue Ci first.

"Everyone does it this way." Although free choice in marriage was encouraged, most marriages in the village were arranged. After a single meeting, if both parties and their parents were satisfied, one party would visit the other to propose, and they would grow closer after marriage.

Song Liu continued, "The main thing is, I saw that butcher going to see Xue Ci again today. My nephew doesn't have much guard up around people. Leaving aside whatever A Hui has in mind, it'll be trouble if some village hooligan starts pestering him one day."

Zhao Ying thought of the man who had come to see Xue Ci yesterday.

His eyes had been fixed on Xue Ci the whole time.

What he had in mind went without saying.

Zhao Ying pressed his lips tight. After a moment's thought, he said, "I'll come see you tomorrow."

After Auntie Liu left, Zhao Ying stayed up all night finishing his carpentry work.

When daylight fully broke, his eyes were slightly bloodshot. He tied the finished chairs to the back of his bicycle and rode to the manufacturing plant.

Factory Director Zhou was ill, so Zhao Ying looked for Li Junguo, a veteran worker he knew.

Li Junyuan glanced at the chairs hanging from the back of the bicycle and said in surprise, "You finished them that fast?"

Zhao Ying nodded steadily and carefully untied the rope. "Please inspect them."

There were many people who could do carpentry, but few with excellent skills. Despite his youth, Zhao Ying had inherited Old Zhao's craft. Li Junguo inspected the chairs, then looked at Zhao Ying's face. "Your eyes are bloodshot. Did you stay up all night making them?"

"Mm," Zhao Ying said. "Could you settle the payment with me today?"

Zhao Ying wasn't a worker at the plant. He was paid according to how much work he did, with the amounts usually recorded and settled at the end of the month.

A bachelor suddenly asking for his money early made Li Junguo understand at once. He chuckled twice and patted Zhao Ying on the shoulder. "Are you getting married?"

Zhao Ying froze and looked away awkwardly.

One look at his expression told Li Junguo he had guessed right. "All right, I'll make sure you get the money. We can't hold up your happy occasion! But I have to tell the director's son first."

Zhao Ying followed Li Junguo into the factory building. The workshop was on the right, and a row of offices was on the left. He waited by the door.

Li Junguo soon found Zhou Qize in the workshop. He pointed out Zhao Ying, who was standing not far away, and explained why he had come.

"You've met him before, Master Zhao, who often does custom work for the plant. He's getting married, so I expect he wants his money early to go propose."

Zhou Qize stopped what he was doing. After a few seconds, he said, "I understand."

The two went to the office together and asked the finance department to settle Zhao Ying's payment. While they waited, Zhou Qize glanced at Zhao Ying.

He looks so honest, but underneath he's a lecher.

He saw how pretty that person was and immediately wanted to propose. He probably wants to do those things to him sooner.

There was a touch more contempt in Zhou Qize's eyes.

Zhao Ying received his money, rode his bicycle home, and then took a ride into the city.

He spent the whole morning picking out fruit, milk, new clothes and shoes, and fabric. After spending more than half his wages, he bought a red envelope and put the remaining money inside.

It was already afternoon when he returned to the village. Zhao Ying went to Auntie Liu's house under the scorching sun.

He wasn't good with words, so as soon as the door opened, he held out the red envelope.

Song Liu took it and felt the thick stack inside. Seeing Zhao Ying carrying bags in both hands, his head covered in sweat, she immediately invited him in to rest.

Zhao Ying politely declined. He still had fruit in his bag and wanted to bring it to Xue Ci as soon as possible.

Seeing how eager he was, Song Liu happily took him to Xue Ci's home.

When Xue Ci heard Song Liu say that Zhao Ying had come to propose, he was completely stunned.

Although most marriages in this era were arranged and the process was quick, according to the original story, the protagonist was very cautious about relationships. At the very least, he wouldn't marry someone he had only met once and didn't yet know.

Just moments ago, Xue Ci had been considering how to ask him out tomorrow and help him develop some affection.

What was going on...?

Xue Ci's eyes were round and soft, their light-colored irises unusual. In the sunlight, they looked like glass beads.

Being looked at like that was almost more than Zhao Ying could bear. He averted his eyes and took everything out of his bags, one item at a time.

Song Liu tactfully went to the kitchen.

"Is that all right?" Zhao Ying asked abruptly after arranging the things.

Xue Ci stared at him and said slowly, "What?"

"I mean... the engagement." Zhao Ying's voice was fairly steady, but his face was taut, and his eyelids kept twitching. He discreetly pressed a hand to his chest, trying to suppress his heartbeat.

The pleasant surprise had come very suddenly.

Xue Ci thought it might be thanks to Auntie Song Liu. She was persuasive and had convinced the protagonist, which was why he had come to propose so early.

The task was about to be completed. Afraid that delay might bring trouble, Xue Ci decided they might as well register their marriage directly.

He rose on his toes and leaned close to the man's face, his lips opening and closing.

Zhao Ying caught a strong, moist fragrance coming from the tip of his tongue.

A prominent vein bulged on his arm, hot blood surging through it.

He couldn't think or take in a single word. His mind was full of the sight of Xue Ci looking up at him, mouth open and tongue visible.

His heart was pounding so hard it felt ready to burst out.

Zhao Ying immediately took a step back. Only then could he hear the voice beside him-

"Are you listening to me?"

Xue Ci tilted his head and looked at him in confusion.

When Zhao Ying made a sound, he realized his voice had gone dry and raspy. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Sorry, I didn't hear you clearly."

Xue Ci thought he had spoken too quietly, so he leaned a little closer this time. "How about we get married tomorrow?"

Zhao Ying froze. "Tomorrow...?"

Afraid he might change his mind, Xue Ci tried a little courtship trick he had read about last night and reached out to take Zhao Ying's hand.

So hard...

Xue Ci's fingers were soon rubbed red.

Years of carpentry had left thick calluses on the man's palm and knuckles, rough to the touch. The back of his hand was covered in veins, his skin dark.

By comparison, Xue Ci's hand was soft and small, his fingers pale and slender, even his nails neatly trimmed.

It felt soft, as though the slightest force might break it.

Zhao Ying held his arm stiffly, not daring to move, and let Xue Ci rub his little finger against his palm.

"Don't you want to be with me?"

Zhao Ying's breath caught.

Seeing Zhao Ying's expression soften, Xue Ci said in a sweet, clinging voice, "We've already held hands... I only hold hands with my husband."

Words like that, which could stir a man's possessiveness, made Zhao Ying's blood rush at once. As if bewitched, he had already nodded in agreement by the time he came to his senses.

Xue Ci let go of his hand with satisfaction.

His palm was suddenly empty. A little unaccustomed to it, Zhao Ying curled his fingers slightly.

His eyes rested on the empty air, as though he were savoring the feeling from just now.

Meanwhile, Xue Ci was looking through the things Zhao Ying had brought. Among them were two new outfits.

[I finally don't have to wear patched clothes anymore.] He picked up an outfit and held it against himself, chattering to 11. [It seems having a husband is pretty nice, too.]

Soon, a man's voice rang out coldly, filled with wild jealousy-

[Is that so?]

Oh no! I forgot to mute him.

Xue Ci pretended not to hear and continued talking to Zhao Ying. "Are these all for me?"

Zhao Ying came back to his senses. "Mm. These are the proposal gifts. Once we... officially register our marriage, I'll prepare a separate bride price."

On the way, he had asked Auntie Liu about the marriage process. It generally involved proposing, giving betrothal gifts, registering the marriage, and holding a wedding banquet.

In the years since Old Zhao had passed away, he hadn't needed much money on his own, so he had saved several thousand yuan.

After setting aside Xue Ci's betrothal gift, he could use the rest to renovate the house.

As for Xue Ci's family debt, a few thousand sounded like a lot, but as long as he worked hard, paying it off within a year or two wouldn't be a problem.

He had originally planned to renovate the house before registering his marriage to Xue Ci, but Xue Ci seemed eager to get married.

They were going to get married sooner or later.

Zhao Ying glanced at Xue Ci, still feeling a strong sense of unreality.

In any case... he was going to have a wife.

And a very beautiful one at that.

The gifts included soft peaches and other fruit. Seeing that Xue Ci's home didn't have a refrigerator, Zhao Ying hurried back and brought over an old freezer from his house.

The man was strong. A layer of sweat covered him as he worked, accentuating his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and the lines of his muscles.

By the time he had cleaned out the freezer and put away the fruit and vegetables, he turned around to find that Xue Ci had changed into his new clothes and was sitting obediently in a chair, watching him.

Zhao Ying's eyelids twitched wildly.

He had bought the clothes at a shop, though he didn't know what brand they were. In any case, it was the kind of shop he wouldn't normally set foot in. The two outfits certainly hadn't been cheap, but they were worth it for how good Xue Ci looked in them.

Realizing he had been staring for too long, Zhao Ying scratched his head and awkwardly looked away.

He could smell the sweat on himself and didn't dare stay long. After agreeing on a time to meet Xue Ci the next morning, he left.

Xue Ci hadn't expected to accomplish his first major goal so easily. He finally had the energy to tend to the little garden.

They had agreed to meet early, at eight o'clock at the bus station.

Xue Ci went to bed early. Afraid the fragments would come out and cause trouble, he even had 11 mute them.

11: [The host thinks you guys are too annoying!]

"..."

At that moment, the unwanted fragments gently shattered.

He slept soundly that night.

Xue Ci got up on time and took his household register and ID card.

As soon as he opened the door, he saw Zhao Ying sitting outside. He looked like he had been waiting for a while. "Did you get here really early?"

They had to take a photo for the marriage certificate, so Zhao Ying had changed into new clothes today and even washed and combed his hair neatly.

"I'm used to getting up early, and I didn't have anything to do this morning, so I came over to wait for you."

He said he'd gotten up early, but he actually hadn't slept all night.

Perhaps because he was so keyed up, he didn't look tired.

"Oh," Xue Ci said, locking the front door.

A voice came: "Here."

Xue Ci turned around.

Zhao Ying had brought two straw hats and handed him the smaller one.

Xue Ci had never worn one before. He eagerly took it, plopped it onto his head, and tied the strings.

The two walked to the bus station together. The first bus of the morning was due at around eight twenty. A lot of people wanted to board, and Xue Ci tried to squeeze his way through the door, only for his hat to nearly get knocked off.

Luckily, Zhao Ying was quick enough to pull him back, and they managed to get on after he shielded Xue Ci in front of him the whole way.

They sat in the back row.

Xue Ci wanted the window seat and stared outside the whole way. Whenever he spotted an ox plowing a field, he excitedly called for Zhao Ying to look.

At first, Zhao Ying looked out the window too, but in the end, his gaze always settled on Xue Ci's profile.

He had taken off his straw hat long ago, revealing the soft black hair at the back of his head. His cheeks were round, and his eyelashes curled upward.

Whenever the wind blew, the whole bus filled with a fragrance.

It was Xue Ci's first time visiting the provincial capital in this era. The streets were livelier and more bustling than he had imagined, though the shop signs were a little crowded together.

There were quite a few people coming and going. As if afraid Xue Ci would get lost, Zhao Ying held his wrist, then found a pedal-powered rickshaw.

Five minutes later, the two arrived at the entrance to the civil affairs bureau.

The summer heat was intense, and not many people had come to register their marriages. They barely had to wait before being called over to fill out forms and have their photo taken. They relied on the staff to guide them through the entire process and finally received a paper bearing a red seal.

The two came out of the civil affairs bureau.

Xue Ci looked around and quickly spotted a shop selling fried cakes.

Zhao Ying, meanwhile, was still looking at the marriage certificate.

His hands trembled a little. Beneath the gilded red characters was a photo of him and Xue Ci together.

He looked a little stern in the photo, while Xue Ci looked beautiful.

The corners of his lips were slightly raised, and his eyes were bright.

The man was absorbed in looking at it when someone suddenly tugged gently at his sleeve.

He lowered his head and met Xue Ci's eyes.

They were innocent and a little shy.

His voice was soft and sweet, with a faint nasal quality.

"Husband, I'm a little hungry."

Author's note:

Husband's ** will fill baby up.

And the twins should come out in the next chapter, hehe... hehehe...