After settling their plans, the three returned to their respective rooms to rest.

Shen Linchuan stretched out his arm and pulled Zhou Ning closer, who now understood. Nestling his head, Zhou Ning voluntarily lay his face against Shen Linchuan’s chest. Though it felt a bit uncomfortable, Shen Linchuan’s skin was fair and smooth, making it bearable.

Shen Linchuan stroked his husband’s hair. “How did you and Father manage to get by before? You must have been bullied to death.”

“Father’s too straightforward.”

Zhou Da had that kind of temperament—a bit rough around the edges. He found it hard to refuse things outright, which is why the second son’s family and those deadbeats took advantage of them so often.

“We can’t let that happen anymore. Didn’t we also support Zhou Youcheng’s education back then?”

Zhou Ning nodded. “We gave them silver, half for each family. Second Aunt said the Zhou family only had that one scholar. Since I will marry out anyway, my father still needed their support.”

Shen Linchuan felt like he could spit blood. He tugged at Zhou Ning’s cheek. “Sucker! All that silver saved up could’ve bought a mule! Look at Dad, pushing that cart every day to collect pigs and sell meat. Those things weigh two or three hundred pounds! When he gets older in a few years, will he still be able to do this? His body will wear out from the strain sooner or later.”

Zhou Ning nuzzled against Shen Linchuan’s chest, its smooth skin against his skin. “Shen Linchuan, you’re so kind.”

Shen Linchuan sighed in exasperation. This father and son pair were something else. A few kind words and they’d practically give their hearts away. He’d never met such gullible souls. If they’d fallen into the hands of someone with ulterior motives, they’d be completely duped.

Shen Linchuan gently poked Zhou Ning’s nose. “Why are you so naive? Never listen to flattery from outsiders.”

“I know. I only listen to you and Father.”

Shen Linchuan embraced his husband contentedly. After a full day of labor—carrying water, tilling the soil, helping slaughter a pig—he was thoroughly exhausted. His right arm ached, and now his husband was sprawled across him, leaving him numb and stiff.

Shen Linchuan shifted, using his strength to roll Zhou Ning over. But halfway through the motion, Zhou Ning collapsed straight onto him.

Zhou Ning hummed in confusion before scrambling into a sitting position. “Well then, let’s get to it. Have a baby soon—Father would be happy.”

Without another word, Zhou Ning began peeling off Shen Linchuan’s inner robe. Shen Linchuan flustered, “Wait, wait, I just wanted…”

The rest of the words died on his lips. Lying there, he simply surrendered to the sensation. The room was dim, and he couldn’t make out the expression on the face above him. He tried rolling over a couple of times to pin Zhou Ning down, only to be held firmly in place by Zhou Ning’s hands on his shoulders. “Just lie still,” Zhou Ning said. “I’ve got plenty of stamina.”

Shen Linchuan rolled his eyes inwardly. Fine, he was genuinely tired today. He couldn’t let his husband run wild like this in the future. What kind of husband rides his man every single day?

Shen Linchuan rose at the crack of dawn, determined to reclaim his dignity!

Zhou Ning was still asleep on top of him, his brow furrowed in restless slumber. Shen Linchuan didn’t wake him, instead leaning down to kiss his husband’s forehead before dressing.

Shen Linchuan froze. Had he and Zhou Ning never kissed before?

The realization felt like the sky collapsing. Zhou Ning kept talking about having children with him. Shen Linchuan’s face darkened. This wouldn’t do. He had to make his husband understand the gravity of this issue!

Shen Linchuan felt his performance yesterday showed improvement—at least he’d gotten up today, while Ning-ger still slept. He strode off again, bucket on his shoulder, to fetch water.

The household needed water for many tasks—washing clothes, cooking meals, slaughtering pigs. Yesterday’s barrel was nearly empty. Shen Linchuan found water-carrying a good chore: it helped the household while also exercising his body.

Having carried water yesterday, Shen Linchuan was much stronger today. He walked steadily, back straight, buckets balanced.

Auntie Wang was also coming to fetch water. Shen Linchuan had seen her yesterday and remembered her. He greeted her, “Auntie Wang, you’re here to fetch water too?”

“Oh, you’re quite early.”

“Not early at all, not early at all. The sun is almost up.”

Auntie Wang was carrying a bucket. After filling his own, Shen Linchuan casually drew a bucket for her too. Auntie Wang beamed, “Thank you.”

“I should be thanking you, Auntie Wang, for looking after my family.”

This remark made Auntie Wang’s smile grow even wider. A scholar’s words were indeed pleasant to hear.

Rumors swirled around the village, claiming scholars were too lazy to even work the fields, which was why the Shen family had driven him out. Clearly, those rumors were unfounded.

Just look at the Zhou family’s son-in-law. Though he seemed a bit bookish, he got up early to fetch water. Yesterday, he didn’t shy away from the dirty work of slaughtering a pig. He rolled up his sleeves and helped Zhou Da scrape the pig’s hair off. He’s quite industrious.

The two headed home together. The water barrel by the kitchen door was huge—it would take nearly ten trips back and forth to fill it. Shen Linchuan carried the water out and then turned back to fetch more.

When he returned, he saw Auntie Wang watering her vegetable patch with a gourd scoop. Judging by the leaves, they were likely pumpkins or gourds. At this tender stage, all the seedlings looked remarkably similar, barely an inch tall, delicate and fresh, a delightful sight.

A patch of vegetables grew densely in front of Auntie Wang’s house, with four or five seedlings sprouting from each hole. Shen Linchuan felt his heart warm at the sight—these pumpkin and gourd seedlings were thriving.

Carrying his water bucket, he stood watching. “Auntie Wang, do you need to thin these seedlings? They seem a bit crowded.”

“Thinning is necessary, thinning is necessary. I just planted a few too many. After watering, I’ll thin them out. I’ll leave only the two strongest seedlings per hole. Otherwise, too many seedlings will actually hinder the pumpkins from setting fruit properly.”

Auntie Wang explained in detail, wary that Shen Linchuan—a scholar who’d never set foot on a farm—might not understand farming. After all, the villagers said he was the sort who wouldn’t even step over a field boundary, and might not even tell weeds from crops.

Shen Linchuan perked up. He’d planned to buy seeds when he went to town, but here they were—ready-grown and already so tall!

“Auntie Wang, could I have the seedlings you’re discarding? I’d like to plant some in my own yard.”

“Sure thing. I’ll dig them up for you right now.”

Since they were unwanted anyway, there was no need to be stingy. Auntie Wang headed into her yard to fetch a shovel, while Shen Linchuan carried his water home, planning to return shortly to collect them.

When Shen Linchuan returned, he saw smoke rising from his kitchen. Peering inside, he saw his father stoking the fire. “Father, you’re up.”

“Ah. Where’s Ning-ger?”

“Still asleep. He stayed up late last night.”

Zhou Da didn’t press further. Staying up late? What else could it be? They were a young couple, that’s all. He had to go to town to sell meat today. Seeing no one cooking, he’d just heat up yesterday’s leftovers.

Shen Linchuan poured himself some water and stepped outside. Just as he entered the main hall, he encountered Zhou Ning emerging from the bedroom looking rather listless. Shen Linchuan approached with a smile and planted a kiss on Zhou Ning’s lips.

Startled, Zhou Ning jerked back and pushed Shen Linchuan away. Shen Linchuan, lost in the moment of sharing their first kiss with Ning-ger, hadn’t meant anything by it. In broad daylight, he’d simply wanted to make up for their missed first kiss!

He’d only intended a light peck before stepping back. So soft, with a hint of warmth… Before Shen Linchuan could savor the moment, Zhou Ning shoved him hard, sending him tumbling backward onto the floor.

Shen Linchuan yelped as he landed. From the kitchen came Zhou Da’s voice, “Linchuan, what happened?”

“Father, it’s nothing.”

Zhou Ning’s ears flushed red as he hurriedly pulled Shen Linchuan up, staring blankly and asking, “Why’d you kiss me?”

Shen Linchuan’s face darkened. His ger just didn’t get romance…

But his blank expression was kind of cute.

Shen Linchuan leaned in and whispered softly, “I just wanted to kiss you. I didn’t mean anything by it. We’ve done that thing, but we’ve never kissed.“

Zhou Ning walked away with his hands and feet moving in unison, muttering, ”You’re such a rogue.”

Shen Linchuan’s mouth twitched. Fine, he was a rogue. But who had been riding him these past two days?

Feeling quite pleased after kissing Zhou Ning, Shen Linchuan picked up the water bucket and headed out to fetch more water.

Zhou Ning saw his father tending the fire and stepped in. “Dad, let me handle it.”

“Alright.”

Zhou Ning sat before the stove, stoking the flames. Lifting the pot lid, he saw yesterday’s leftover pickled cabbage stewed with pig’s blood. He’d also fried a few crispy pancakes in oil—golden brown and quite fragrant.

Shen Linchuan was drenched in sweat from fetching water. Though he’d become steadier carrying the buckets today, his frail frame struggled with the repeated trips. He needed more practice. Gritting his teeth, he filled the water jar.

Auntie Wang had just called him over, saying the seedlings were ready for him to take. Shen Linchuan thanked her, then hurried to fetch them after filling the water barrel. There were quite a few—Auntie Wang had thoughtfully wrapped each pair of seedlings together in mud balls, making about ten in total.

Seizing the moment as the sun peeked over the horizon, Shen Linchuan grabbed a shovel and planted the seedlings along the sun-facing wall. He planned to let the vines climb up once they grew larger.

Shen Linchuan brushed the soil from his hands and stood up, gazing fondly at the seedlings fluttering in the breeze. He scooped up more water and gave them a good soaking.

Zhou Ning brought out the prepared meal. Seeing Shen Linchuan standing by the wall, seemingly lost in thought, he mustered his courage and called out, “Shen… Shen Linchuan, dinner’s ready.”

“Coming!” Shen Linchuan smiled at Zhou Ning. “Ning-ger, look—I got some pumpkin and gourd seedlings from Auntie Wang. Soon, we’ll have enough to feed our family.”

Hearing Shen Lichuan mention the vegetables, Zhou Ning set down the food and walked over. Row upon row—quite a lot of them.

“Then we’ll have to keep the chickens in the coop, or they’ll peck the seedlings to death.”

The Zhou family had five chickens—one rooster and four egg-laying hens. The yard wasn’t planted with much, and with both father and son busy daily, they rarely had time to tend to it, so the vegetable patch remained sparse.

Shen Linchuan had dug up such a large patch of land and planted so many seedlings today. The chickens definitely needed to be confined.

“Alright, after we eat, I’ll build a chicken coop.”

Shen Linchuan emerged from the wall, washed his hands, and sat down in the courtyard to eat breakfast. Ning-ger’s scallion pancakes were surprisingly tasty.

Zhou Da ate two pancakes before preparing to head to town. His ger was getting married, and he hadn’t been to town to sell pork for several days. Pork sales were best at the early market when business was brisk, so he planned to leave right after breakfast.

“Ning-ger, you don’t need to go to town with your father today. I can manage alone.”

Zhou Ning had previously assisted with the pork sales, helping collect coins or cut meat during busy times. Since he needed to collect coins from the villagers today, he wouldn’t be going.

Zhou Ning acknowledged the instruction. Zhou Da pushed out the half side of the pork.