Though only two dishes, they had the entire household raving. Everyone praised Yan Qi’s exceptional cooking skills—the dried tofu, for instance, smelled as savory as meat and went wonderfully with rice.

The praise made Yan Qi so embarrassed that she almost didn’t dare pick up her chopsticks.

“They’re just simple home-cooked dishes. I suppose it’s because it’s the first time you’ve tried them at home, so they seem fresh.”

“Nonsense. They’re just plain delicious.”

Ye Suping said, “My cooking skills are rough—I either add too much salt or not enough. Your older brother is even worse; his meals aren’t fit for dogs.”

Huo Feng choked, then looked up. “Why drag me into this?”

Ye Suping shot him a sideways glance. “Just admit it—last time you cooked, Dager wouldn’t even sniff the food.”

“That’s because he’s always hunting game in the mountains. His palate has become too refined. No dog in our village eats as well as he does—most people can’t even compare, right, Dager?”

Dager, lying in the courtyard far off, twitched his ears and tilted his head in confusion.

As the two chatted animatedly, Yan Qi glanced back and forth, feeling a bit amused yet hesitant to laugh.

Noticing Yan Qi holding his bowl without eating, Huo Ling proactively served him a few bites of food. Leaning closer, she whispered, “Ignore them. They bicker every other day.”

Yan Qi hummed in acknowledgment, took a bite of food, then stole a glance at Huo Ling. Seeing the man eating heartily without lifting his head, the corners of Yan Qi’s lips lifted slightly.

Those who cook often don’t eat much themselves. Seeing others enjoy the food they’ve prepared is their greatest joy.

After the meal, both men offered to clear the dishes, but Huo Feng refused.

“The cook doesn’t wash dishes. Your sister-in-law and I will handle it.”

Huo Ying joined in, carrying bowls back and forth. Together with Ye Suping, they squatted before the basin, scrubbing dishes until droplets clung to their noses. Behind them, Huo Feng bent over, scrubbing the iron pot and scooping out the dirty water to pour it away.

The family bustled with warmth.

Huo Ling watched for a moment before retreating indoors to tell Yan Qi about their upcoming trip to the mountains.

Yan Qi sat slumped on the kang, needlework basket in hand. Hearing this, she naturally assumed she’d be joining them.

He quickly set down his tools and asked Huo Ling, “What preparations are needed? I heard from your sister-in-law that they used to pack extra provisions for you. But if I go with you, we can cook fresh meals in the mountains.”

No matter how well-prepared the provisions, they could never match the flavor of freshly made food.

Unexpectedly, Huo Ling shook his head.

“Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet. You don’t need to come with me this time.”

“I’m already well. How much better do I need to be?”

Yan Qi looked somewhat reluctant. He had married Huo Ling as his husband; what kind of man would hide lazily down in the valley instead of accompanying his husband up the mountain?

But Huo Ling had made up his mind. He insisted, “I’ll definitely take you next time we go into the mountains. Not this time. Don’t be fooled by the spring weather—it’s colder up there than down below. The snow hasn’t even melted completely yet. If you catch something new up there, you’ll be stuck swallowing bitter medicine for days.”

He tried to reassure him, “This trip won’t be long. I’ll be back in seven or eight days. I missed the big market on the first day of the month, but I’ll definitely make it for the fifteenth.”

What he didn’t mention was that the mountain cottage was exactly as Huo Feng had described—utterly chaotic. He could live in such disarray himself without shame, but he couldn’t bear for his elder brother to see it. And certainly not for Yan Qi to see it.

This trip alone was the perfect chance to tidy things up first, at least making it presentable.

But after speaking, he saw Yan Qi staring down at his work, fiddling with the fabric. He’d barely sewn a few stitches before the fabric wrinkled. Feeling guilty, he thought for a moment, then moved closer and sat beside his brother.

Suddenly having someone beside him—a tall, sturdy man—made Yan Qi feel as if the oil lamp had dimmed.

He had to turn slightly, bringing the fabric closer to the brighter light, but Huo Ling pressed down on his hand.

“Wait until daylight. It’s too dark now. It’s not worth straining your eyes.”

Seeing Huo Ling’s insistence, Yan Qi could only set the fabric aside for now and tuck the needle back into the thread ball.

After a moment of silence, he asked Huo Ling, “You really don’t plan to take me?”

Huo Ling let the ger raise his gaze slightly, nearly slipping and agreeing. Fortunately, he regained his composure in time.

“Next time.”

He said, “Besides, you won’t be able to sit still at home.”

Yan Qi assumed Huo Ling had other plans and listened attentively. Unexpectedly, Huo Ling continued speaking, bringing up their wedding banquet.

“Truthfully, we could leave tomorrow, but I reconsidered and pushed it to the day after tomorrow. There’s a carpenter in Shuangjing Village. Years ago, I stockpiled several pieces of old elm wood, intending to use them for wedding furniture. This time, I thought I’d start by ordering a chest and a new cabinet—better to be prepared than rush later. I’ll also find someone to pick an auspicious date within this month.”

He spoke at length, and when the ger remained silent, he couldn’t help asking, “Is there something wrong with that?”

Yan Qi quickly shook his head. “No.”

He lowered his gaze. “I just hadn’t considered that we’d need to host a banquet at home. That must cost quite a bit of silver, right?”

Huo Ling smiled. “That’s a separate matter. How could we skip such an occasion just because it costs money? It only happens once in a lifetime.”

Yes, only once in a lifetime.

What ger hadn’t imagined his wedding day before marriage? He’d thought he’d never have that blessing.

Yan Qi’s eyes flickered, brightening.

“According to my hometown customs, the new husband must provide the groom with a new outfit and a pair of new shoes.”

Huo Ling calculated the amount of needlework required and said, “Focus on yours first. Mine isn’t necessary. My sister-in-law made me new clothes before the New Year. I’ve only worn them during the New Year greetings and haven’t touched them since. They’re still as good as new. I’ll just tie a red sash around them for the occasion.”

Yan Qi counted the days and asked when Huo Ling planned to hold the banquet. Learning that an auspicious date still needed to be chosen, but it would likely be sometime in March, he realized it truly wouldn’t be ready in time.

He currently has only one set of clothes. If she wore them on the wedding day, she wouldn’t even have a spare set to wash beforehand.

“Then the clothes can wait, but the shoes must be made.”

He glanced down at Huo Ling’s large feet, gauging their size, and inwardly gasped.

Drawing the pattern for these shoes would likely cost as much as two pairs of his own.

“Does your sister-in-law have a pattern for your shoes?”

Seeing Huo Ling nod, he said, “I’ll get it tomorrow. While the weather’s clear, I’ll make a rough upper and dry it, then mold the sole.”

Whether attaching soles or stitching uppers, he could work whenever time allowed.

Yan Qi negotiated with Huo Ling, “I’ll brighten the oil lamp. Grant me half an hour to work—daytime chores await.”

He normally wouldn’t agree to that, but he couldn’t refuse this request either. Huo Ling conceded and stepped back, though he took the needle himself to trim the lamp wick.

Once the lamp flared up, the room did indeed grow much brighter.

Yan Qi began threading the needle with satisfaction, momentarily unaware that Huo Ling had returned to his original spot, still behind him.

They say a beauty shines brighter by lamplight. Yan Qi’s features were delicate and refined, though his sallow complexion had previously dimmed his radiance.

These past few days, the pallor had faded from his face, and a hint of color returned to his lips. Bathed in the lamp’s glow, he became utterly captivating.

After meals, Huo Ling would either go out to play with the dog or find other ways to pass the time, only retiring to bed when drowsiness overtook him.

Today, seeing the ger busy on the kang, he found himself reluctant to stray too far. After some thought, he picked up the wooden comb resting at an angle in the needlework basket.

“Let me comb your hair for you.”

To tell the truth, Yan Qi felt rather ashamed about this.

When he first came to the Huo household, his hair was infested with lice. It was only because he’d slept with his hair wrapped up that night that they hadn’t spread to the kang. That was precisely why he’d rushed to wash his hair the next morning.

Ye Suping had even gone out of her way to ask around other families in the village for a special powdered remedy. She sprinkled it into his hair roots, let it sit for a while, and after rinsing it out, dead insects floated on the water.

Beyond that, she trimmed his ends, cutting out stubborn tangles along with dead hair, then wrapped the scraps in cloth and burned them.

The family who provided the medicine was surnamed Sun. Their son-in-law’s family earned a living gathering herbs, so they knew a bit about medicinal plants. They claimed this powder worked wonders, eliminating every last one in a single application.

Yan Qi remained uneasy, continuing to comb his hair meticulously twice daily with a fine-toothed comb.

Huo Ling, aware of this habit, saw an opportunity and offered to assist.

Yan Qi found it awkward to refuse outright—as husband and husband, declining would feel unnatural. Thus, he lowered his head slightly, allowing Huo Ling to take charge.

Huo Ling took the comb, loosened Yan Qi’s hairband, and began combing section by section from the crown down. The waist-length hair took ages to comb through.

The ger’s hair remained somewhat coarse; one careless tug could snag it, making it impossible to smooth.

Huo Ling was careful, but he still snagged it a few times. Hearing the ger’s pained gasp, he felt bad. He awkwardly rubbed the spot on the scalp, making Yan Qi feel ticklish.

“When the peddler comes to our village next time, I remember he sells fragrant hair oil. And my sister-in-law has some. If you see it, buy some too. Use it regularly, and the hair will become black and shiny.”

He hadn’t thought of that until now. Yan Qi had no silver, and if he went up the mountain, the ger wouldn’t be able to buy anything he needed.

He set down the comb and rummaged through the bag he’d brought down from the mountain. He pulled out a string of copper coins, not bothering to count them—roughly fifty or so wen coins.

“Take this money.”

Yan Qi felt the weight of the coins pressed into his palm by Huo Ling.

“This is far too much.”

Back home, he’d never handled such a large sum. His family wasn’t wealthy; their money was always locked away in his mother’s money box.

He’d only ever had seven or eight coins—enough to buy a hair ribbon from the peddler or two pieces of rock candy, which made him incredibly happy.

“It’s not much. A small bottle of hair oil alone costs twenty coins.”

Huo Ling added, “Most of my silver is stored up on the mountain. I didn’t bring much down.”

Between the lines, he still felt he hadn’t given enough.

Yan Qi had nowhere to put the money, but that was easily solved. He took some leftover fabric scraps from sewing and soon stitched a small pouch. Turning it inside out hid the seams, then threading a thin strip of cloth through the opening and pulling it tight sealed it shut.

Huo Ling had never truly watched anyone sew before. Yan Qi’s nimble hands held his gaze, making him unable to look away.

“My pouch is large, but sometimes I feel the coins aren’t quite secure inside. It seems a small pouch would be more practical.”

Hearing this, Yan Qi didn’t hesitate. He quickly handed him the newly sewn pouch.

“Use this for now. I’ll make another for myself—I don’t carry silver with me anyway.”

He pursed his lips again. “This was a quick job. It’s not very pretty. Don’t mind it.”

“Not at all. I think it’s lovely. It matches your new tunic perfectly.”

As if afraid Yan Qi might change his mind, Huo Ling snatched it away. The pouch seemed large in Yan Qi’s hands, but in Huo Ling’s palm, it looked dainty and delicate.

Truthfully, it couldn’t hold many coins—only fifty or sixty wen at most—but Huo Ling was still delighted.

“Then I’ll use it.”

With the pouch secured and his hair thoroughly combed—Huo Ling’s firm strokes leaving the ger’s scalp tingling—he felt drowsiness creeping in after a long session of needlework.

Country folk rose at the second or third crow of the rooster, their days beginning at dawn. To conserve lamp oil, they retired early.

Huo Ling watched Yan Qi squint and yawn, then led him outside to fetch water for washing.

They brushed their teeth together, dipping toothbrushes into powder. Sharing a basin of water, they dampened cloths to wipe their faces before carrying the basin indoors to soak their feet.

Slices of old ginger were added to the water to ward off the cold, so only Yan Qi used it.

The water was slightly hot, releasing the pungent ginger scent that filled the entire room. It was indeed effective; after soaking, their whole bodies felt warm and toasty.

Not only did Yan Qi feel comfortable, but Huo Ling was also drawn in by the warmth.

Truth be told, he’d already felt the heat rising downward while combing his hair earlier, but his loose clothing had concealed it.

Now, after the lamp was extinguished and they climbed onto the kang, he lay face-up for only a short while before finally turning over. He stretched out his arm and pulled the boy beside him close.

Yan Qi froze, unable to move. It was Huo Ling who sensed his tension, raising his hand to gently soothe the boy’s back.

The boy was frail, his frame a hard-edged skeleton that felt like it might shatter with the slightest pressure. Huo Ling handled him with utmost care, instinctively drawing him closer into his embrace.

Knowing full well that this moment would come sooner or later, Yan Qi silently took two deep breaths. He collapsed his body, following Huo Ling’s motion, burrowing into the warm, toasty bed beside him. His head gently nestled against the man’s shoulder.

This time, it was Huo Ling who stiffened. He’d been pondering how to tell the ger about removing one blanket, but before the words left his lips, another body had slipped beneath the covers.

He knew Yan Qi had misunderstood.

His voice was hoarse as he spoke.

“I just… wanted to be closer to you. Not for that sort of thing, at least for now.”

But to speak of restraint—a man in the prime of his vigor, having abstained for years, now holding his husband in his arms—it was indeed difficult to resist.

If he hadn’t reacted, that would have been cause for a doctor’s visit.

Yan Qi, untouched by such matters, hadn’t fully grasped it at first. Only when certain parts became impossible to ignore did he gradually understand, his face flushing crimson like a freshly steamed bun.

Just then, Huo Ling drew closer still. Such a towering man, yet he buried his chin in the hollow of Yan Qi’s neck, whispering something hoarsely in a voice strained with restraint.