This time, Ye Li left the door open for Jiang Ji.

As soon as Jiang Ji pushed the door open, he saw Ye Li lying back with his arms behind his head, one leg crossed over the other, his feet dangling as he swayed them back and forth, looking utterly content.

A smile instantly lit up his eyes.

Seeing him enter, Ye Li propped herself up on the bed with her hands, beckoning to him with a radiant smile. “Come up here. I’ll give you a massage.”

“Huh?” he asked, slightly surprised.

But his surprise lasted only a moment. He quickly walked to the edge of the kang, took off his shoes, and climbed up.

Even though Ye Liang had helped him that afternoon, the aches and pains were still there.

“Lie down properly, lie down properly.” Ye Li made room in the middle of the kang.

Once Jiang Ji lay down as instructed, Ye Li straddled him, sitting directly on his waist.

He lectured playfully, “Massage me like this from now on. Yesterday, you deliberately sat beside me, all awkward and stiff. What haven’t we done together?”

Jiang Ji: “…”

Before he could respond, Ye Li grabbed his shoulders.

He couldn’t spare a thought for Ye Li’s grip, clenching his teeth immediately.

Sure enough, the next instant, the sensations of soreness, pain, and pleasure hit him all at once—and intensely.

Had he not braced himself beforehand, he would have cried out.

But soon, the soreness and pain faded, leaving only the overwhelming pleasure.

His tense body relaxed completely.

Behind him, Ye Li said, “By the way, I need to go to the county town tomorrow. I’ll buy some meat and make extra buns. Take some with you when you return to the private school.”

“…No need to trouble yourself. Just make a few pancakes.”

Jiang Ji shook his head gently.

The private school he attended had a large communal kitchen.

Students paid their grain quota every three months, which granted them access to meals there.

But the kitchen meals were either vegetable-stuffed corn cakes with watery congee, or simply steamed sweet potatoes and potatoes with congee.

Not even pickled vegetables.

Under such circumstances, those from better-off families would choose to eat out or at home.

But he had no choice.

Therefore, every time he returned to the private school, his second aunt, Liang Erxiang, would fry him a few white flour flatbreads and boil some eggs to improve his meals.

Besides that, there was always a small jar of pickled vegetables.

Now that Ye Li was taking over this task, it was certainly possible.

But there was no need to trouble himself.

Just a few white flour pancakes would suffice.

“How can you get by on just pancakes? Studying strains your mind and body. If you don’t nourish yourself properly, what if you fail the exams?”

“I can’t read a single character and can’t help you with much else. But when it comes to food, I can definitely contribute my share.”

Ye Li couldn’t just let his husband bring a few cakes back to the private school.

He hadn’t thought of this before, but now that it had occurred to him, he would certainly prioritize it.

Intimacy could wait a little longer.

Life was long; one night wouldn’t make a difference.

But upon hearing this, Jiang Ji fell silent for a moment before murmuring, “What if I fail the exam?”

“Then you retake it. It’s not like I can’t afford it.”

Ye Li replied without hesitation.

Yet as someone who’d been through it, he understood never to pile too much pressure on a college entrance exam candidate.

He softened his tone and added, “I’d love to be your Xiucai husband, even your Juren husband. But this is like striking it rich—you can’t force it.”

“All you can do is try your best. The rest is up to fate.”

After speaking, he slid down from Jiang Ji’s waist and lay on his side beside him.

He wrapped his arm around Jiang Ji’s right side and smiled warmly. “My dear husband, don’t dwell on all that nonsense. I’ve got your back. Even if things stay as they are, we’ll live comfortably.”

“Got your back.”

The words struck Jiang Ji like a bolt. His large hand, casually resting at his side, instantly clenched into a fist.

He slowly turned his head to look at Ye Li, who was mere inches away.

The dim light made Ye Li’s pupils gleam like precious stones, breathtakingly beautiful.

A surge of emotion stirred within him. He reached out, pulling Ye Li into his embrace. His large hand gently caressed Ye Li’s cheek before he lowered his lips to meet his.

Ye Li’s arms naturally wrapped around his neck.

Yet tonight, his husband seemed unusually passionate. Not only did his arms pull Ye Li tightly into his embrace, but his tongue also explored Ye Li’s mouth with fervor. Within moments, Ye Li felt his body heat rise and his breathing grow uneven.

But he understood.

He understood completely.

His husband had lost both parents at thirteen. For five years, he’d lived under others’ roofs, worked tirelessly to support himself and his younger brothers—truly a pitiful little cabbage.

Earlier, he’d spoken words straight from his heart. It was only natural that his husband felt moved and overwhelmed.

But.

He drew a deep breath and gently pushed Jiang Ji’s chest with his hand.

“What is it?” Jiang Ji pulled his lips away slightly, but before he could answer, he pressed another soft kiss to Ye Li’s lips, lightly biting and sucking on his lip.

“…”

Ye Li had no choice but to push him away again.

This time, Jiang Ji finally managed to pull back slightly.

But only with his lips. His arms still held Ye Li tightly as he frowned and asked, “Are you still not feeling well?”

“No.”

Ye Li pressed his forehead against Jiang Ji’s, steadying his breath before speaking. “Tomorrow I really need to go to the county town to buy meat buns. I also want to fry some pastries for your snack between classes. I’ve already planned it all out.”

“How could I bear to let you bring only a few flatbreads back to the private school?”

“My dear husband, tonight we won’t do it—just touch, okay?”

Jiang Ji: “…”

He slowly tightened his arms, his legs also trapping Ye Li’s.

The obvious difference in their builds allowed him to completely envelop Ye Li in his embrace.

Scene after scene from these years, from this very month, flashed through his mind, stinging his nose and warming his eyes.

Truthfully, such words and such care had never ceased over the years.

Each time he returned, his second aunt would meticulously plan delicious meals for him.

But constrained by their family circumstances, she could only offer him cakes and eggs.

He understood what his uncle truly longed for.

He had resolved to care for his uncle in his old age and see him through to the end.

Yet he and his uncle and aunt were never truly one family.

Even Ya-ger stopped clinging to his aunt’s embrace once he grew older—how much more so for him, now a grown man.

But “Ye Li” was different.

This was his Fulang, his family.

They were meant to spend their lives together, in intimate union.

His father and mother had set the example. Before meeting “Ye Li” or knowing his nature, he had countless fantasies and hopes about marriage.

Therefore, when he learned Ye Li’s true nature, his anguish rivaled the pain of losing his parents.

Other couples could part ways if their personalities clashed, but the Ye family had practically drained their resources to support him. How could he casually seek a divorce?

Who would have thought that after that extreme agony, Ye Li’s temperament changed.

This is a good review.

Very good indeed.

Though his temper was fiery, the marital scenes he had once longed for were now unfolding before his eyes, one by one…

Ye Li.

Ye Li!

Ye Li…

Suppressing the tumult of emotions churning within him, he spoke as if nothing was amiss: “Fine. Tonight, just touching.”

He strained to make his voice sound as ordinary as ever.

But Ye Li was so close to him now. He could hear the hoarseness in his voice.

This time, however, Ye Li didn’t tease him.

He simply smiled and called him “my dear husband” once more, then passionately pressed his lips to his.

They had developed a certain understanding, knowing each other’s sensitive spots, knowing how to bring each other greater pleasure.

Though it still felt like scratching through a shoe, Ye Li felt no resentment tonight.

Tomorrow would bring a pile of tasks.

Jiang Ji finished wiping him down and carried the basin away.

He couldn’t be bothered to climb down from the kang to bolt the room door—Jiang Ji would lock the main hall door anyway.

He ran through tomorrow’s schedule in his mind.

Moments later, he heard Jiang Ji reenter the main hall and lock the door.

Yet this time, footsteps still approached the west room.

He couldn’t resist peeking toward the doorway. Sure enough, Jiang Ji pushed open the door and entered.

“Something else?” Ye Li asked, puzzled.

“Sleep.” Jiang Ji approached the kang with a natural expression, first blowing out the oil lamp before removing his shoes and climbing onto the bed.

Ye Li was startled. “Aren’t you going back to the east room?”

“This is my room.”

Jiang Ji stripped off his undershirt and trousers, then grabbed the quilt with his large hands and burrowed beneath it.

In this season, a single quilt sufficed. Ye Li lay completely naked, and as soon as Jiang Ji slipped in, he brushed against Ye Li’s warm arm.

Yet he lay perfectly still, flat on his back, appearing utterly focused on sleep.

There was only one pillow.

Moreover, lying flat like this left a gap where their shoulders met.

Ye Li was speechless. He rolled over, draping his leg over Jiang Ji’s thigh. “Lie on your side. Hold me.”

Hearing this, Jiang Ji struggled hard not to let the corners of his mouth turn up.

How could newlyweds normally sleep apart?

He spent most of his days at the private academy. If they didn’t sleep together at night, how would they ever get to know each other?

His mood lifted considerably. Closing his eyes, he pulled Ye Li into his embrace just as he had before.

This was Ye Li’s first time sleeping in such an embrace. He tugged the pillow closer, fidgeted a few times, and finally settled into a somewhat more comfortable position.

“Husband, sweet dreams.”

Leaving those words, he yawned and drifted happily into the arms of the Lord of Dreams.

Jiang Ji’s thoughts churned violently—one moment filled with joy, the next overwhelmed with confusion. But having worked so hard today, he soon succumbed to exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, Ye Li awoke to find the bed empty.

He patted the cool, damp sheets, dressed, and climbed down from the kang.

Stepping outside, he saw the dim yellow light from the mill. He walked straight over. “Jiang Ji.”

Jiang Ji paused, first wiping sweat from his forehead before responding.

Seeing Ye Li push open the door, he said, “Go back to bed. I’ll handle the grinding.”

“You sure do run off fast. We slept together, and now you’re gone again.”

Ye Li looked utterly speechless.

“I needed to grind tofu, so I got up early.”

Jiang Ji explained.

Heaven knows, last night he’d been bold enough to stay in the west room—why would he fear awkwardness after waking?

“Oh? Then let’s kiss and make up. After the kiss, I’ll make breakfast. Once we eat, I’ll head to the county seat. You can make the tofu.”

Ye Li strode to him, tiptoeing to kiss him.

Jiang Ji, however, was startled by his words and hurriedly stepped back. “Me make tofu?”

“Or did you plan to keep dumping this chore on me forever?” Ye Li frowned.

“But this is how you earn your money,” Jiang Ji emphasized.

“Then why didn’t you step aside yesterday when you watched me make preserved eggs the whole time?”

Jiang Ji: “…”

“If Xiao Mai weren’t so young, I’d teach him this, too. This job chains me down like a dog leash. Last time I went to the county town, I got sold out of all pork belly.”

“Today I need to buy not just meat, but also sugar and spices. I’ll have to run to several places.”

His schedule was packed!

The cheap husband must learn!

Ye Li’s words were blunt but true, and Jiang Ji couldn’t argue.

Seeing that Ye Li was serious about teaching, he finally agreed.

So, after breakfast, before dawn, Ye Li shouldered his basket and headed out.

He bought meat at the butcher’s, sugar at the sweet shop, plus salt, vinegar, and assorted odds and ends. By the time he returned to the village, the sun was high in the sky.

Upon entering the house, the two little ones were nowhere to be seen. Jiang Ji was squatting by the well, washing leeks.

For steamed buns, leek filling is the tastiest.

Seeing him return, Jiang Ji rose and walked over, taking the heavy basket from his back. “Go check on the tofu,” he said.

“Alright.” Ye Li headed straight for the kitchen.

Inside, the tofu in the molds had set.

He pressed it with his finger—it was springy and elastic, just like the ones he made.

He couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear. His cheap husband was pretty good at this.

Turning around, he saw Jiang Ji carrying the basket inside. Ye Li rushed over with a smile.

Perfect. Next, he just needed to mince the meat into filling, and then they could start wrapping the buns.