Song Ning fell asleep quickly after running an errand in town. The bedding felt especially comfortable tonight—soft and plush, like lying on a cloud.

Song Ning was happily carrying a basket while buying sesame candy. He beamed as he fed a piece to Wei Hu. Seeing the usually cold-faced man smile at him made him overjoyed.

In the blink of an eye, he was tending the fire in the kitchen to cook. But he didn’t know how to tend a fire, and soon the kitchen was ablaze. Then he tried stir-frying, only to produce a plate of something black and unrecognizable.

His mother-in-law pointed an accusing finger at him, cursing that her family had brought home a useless fool who couldn’t even cook or tend a fire, and that she would kick him out of the house.

Song Ning tried to find Wei Hu, but Wei Hu said he was too clumsy. He went looking for Granny Zhang instead, but no matter how hard he searched, he couldn’t find her. Suddenly, Wei Hu reappeared. Overjoyed, he hugged Wei Hu. But in the blink of an eye, Wei Hu transformed into a spotted tiger with slanted eyes! In one swift bite, it seized his neck!

“Song Ning, Song Ning…”

Hearing the ger’s restless whimpering, Wei Hu rose to light the oil lamp. He found the ger frowning in terror, his forehead glistening with sweat. He called out twice but couldn’t rouse him—clearly frightened by the story his mother had told earlier.

Wei Hu gently nudged the ger, and the little face snapped awake.

“It’s okay now. Did you have a nightmare?”

The moment Song Ning opened his eyes and saw Wei Hu, he flinched again, instinctively pulling the quilt closer and retreating. “Don’t eat me!”

Wei Hu’s outstretched hand froze for a second before he withdrew it. “I’ll go get you a bowl of hot water.”

Wei Hu put on his robe and went to fetch water. Warm water still simmered over the charcoal fire in the kitchen. He poured a bowl and carried it out. The creak of the main hall’s wooden door woke Chen Cuihua in the east room. “Hu-zi, why are you up?” she asked.

Chen Cuihua knew instantly it was Wei Hu. If an outsider had entered their courtyard, Hei Dou and Hua Dou would have already started barking.

“It’s me. I got up to drink some water.”

“Go back to sleep. It’s late.”

“I know.”

Wei Hu handed the hot tea to Song Ning. Song Ning’s heart was pounding wildly; he was genuinely frightened. He didn’t want to be kicked out of the Wei family, nor did he want to be eaten by a tiger.

Song Ning took a couple of sips of water before gradually coming to his senses. Wei Hu took the coarse porcelain bowl back. “It’s still the middle of the night. Go back to sleep.”

Outside, darkness reigned absolutely. Even the bean-sized flame of the oil lamp barely illuminated the room. Wei Hu’s sharply defined features looked almost fierce in the dim light. Song Ning recalled the giant tiger from his dream and quickly burrowed back under the covers.

Wei Hu lay down beside the bed, covering himself with only one corner of the quilt. Song Ning couldn’t sleep now. He wanted to be held, but he was also a little afraid of Wei Hu.

Half of Song Ning’s face was hidden under the quilt as he fidgeted restlessly, unable to sleep.

“Bad dream?”

Song Ning dared not move again. He gave a faint nod, then cautiously peeked his face out from under the covers to take a couple of deep breaths.

“Wei… Wei Hu, I dreamed you turned into a big tiger and were going to eat me.”

“I don’t eat people.”

The man’s voice carried a hint of sleepy hoarseness, making Song Ning’s ears tingle. He didn’t mention how he’d been kicked out for being useless at work.

Song Ning was still scared. He couldn’t even bring himself to look at his own hands. Instead, he held his hand out toward Wei Hu. “Brother Wei Hu, take a look. Is my little finger still there?”

Wei Hu cleared his throat to stifle a laugh. The ger had such thin skin—he’d surely get upset otherwise.

Wei Hu fixed his gaze on the hand before him. The ger’s fingers gleamed like fine jade, not a single callus in sight.

“It’s still there.”

“Then check this hand too—is it still there?”

Song Ning hurriedly extended his other hand. Wei Hu suppressed a smile and replied, “It’s still there, too.”

The moment he finished speaking, he heard the ger beside him exhale a long sigh of relief.

“Go to sleep. It’s still early.”

Song Ning still couldn’t bring himself to sleep. Swallowing his embarrassment, he asked, “Wei… Brother Wei Hu, could you hold me while I sleep?”

Though the ger’s voice was faint, in the silent night Wei Hu heard it clearly. He chose to pretend he hadn’t.

But then the ger shifted closer, his warm arm brushing against Wei Hu’s. Wei Hu stiffened, then quickly pushed him back inside.

Pushed away, Song Ning was still dazed. Why push him?

His voice dripped with hurt, “Wei Hu, hold me. I’m scared.”

“No.”

After speaking, Song Ning felt less shy. Instead, he plucked up the courage to ask why not.

Wei Hu was caught off guard by the ger’s direct question, at a loss for words. “No means no.”

“But we’re married now. Please hold me.”

Song Ning tried to move closer, only to be pinned down by Wei Hu’s hand on the quilt. Feeling slighted, he rolled over and refused to acknowledge him.

Wei Hu sighed helplessly, glancing at the ger beside him. All he saw was the ger’s round, plump back.

“You sleep. I’ll keep watch.”

The only response Wei Hu got was the ger yanking the quilt hard. Wei Hu chuckled—this was the first time he’d seen the ger throw a tantrum.

Wei Hu didn’t blow out the oil lamp. He simply closed his eyes without falling into deep sleep. At first light, he rose and headed into the mountains to chop firewood. Chen Cuihua also got up early. Country folk were diligent and rose early. Even though it was the off-season for farming, everyone got up to either gather firewood or cut some dry grass.

Chen Cuihua shouldered her wooden rack, preparing to go into the mountains to cut vines. “Has Ning-ger not gotten up yet?”

“Mhm. He stayed up a bit late last night.”

Chen Cuihua felt a flicker of joy. It was only natural for this young couple, full of youthful vigor, to stay up late. Getting up in the middle of the night must have been to fetch hot water. He’d even tricked her into thinking he was pouring tea, but she didn’t buy it for a second.

“Then let Ning-ger sleep a little longer. Don’t let him tire himself out.”

Wei Hu hummed in acknowledgment. “I know, Mother.”

Chen Cuihua added softly, “When I got up last night, I saw the lamp still burning. Oil is so expensive—how can you keep it lit all night?”

Chen Cuihua was pained by the waste of lamp oil. She hadn’t minded Wei Hu spending several taels of silver on cotton and cloth for Song Ning yesterday, but burning oil all night long? That hurt her frugal heart.

Chen Cuihua simply believed in saving where she could and spending where she must. Frugality was second nature to her. Country folk were poor; no one dared keep their oil lamps burning too long. Meals were cooked while there was still daylight, and after eating, with little else to do, everyone retired early.

Wei Hu cleared his throat. “Mother, your story scared Ning-ger yesterday.”

“Oh dear, then I won’t tell it again.”

The two set off into the mountains separately. The sun hadn’t risen yet; the eastern sky was still a patch of rosy dawn. But villagers were already up and working. If they weren’t diligent, they wouldn’t gather enough firewood. In the dead of winter, they’d just have to freeze.

Chen Cuihua, carrying a wooden rack, headed out to gather vines. Along the way, she met villagers heading into the mountains for firewood. “Cuihua, why are you alone? Where’s your husband? Why isn’t he with you?”

“Ning-ger is home cooking.”

Chen Cuihua exchanged a few casual words before hurrying off to her tasks.

Li Guifen overheard and muttered to her daughter Li Xiaolian, “What cooking? I just passed her house, and there wasn’t even smoke coming from the kitchen.”

A young woman nearby covered her mouth and giggled, “Newlyweds! Who gets up that early? Auntie Guifen, you’re just worrying about nothing.”

Qiu-ger overheard and chuckled, “Exactly! Aunt Guifen, why are you always watching them?”

Li Xiaolian, still an unmarried girl, stamped her foot. “Mom, what are you talking about? I’m going back!”

With that, Li Xiaolian grabbed her basket and left. She’d heard that her brother Hu-zi had married someone from town—she was determined to see what he looked like.

Li Guifen shot Qiu-ger a glare. “Why are you up so early? You just got married not long ago.”

Qiu-ger flushed bright red, but he wasn’t one to back down. He shot back, “Aunt Guifen, if you don’t want to get up, just snuggle up with your husband and sleep in!”

“You!” Li Guifen was so furious she couldn’t speak. What husband did she have? That good-for-nothing man of hers had drunk himself to death two years ago!

Qiu-ger ignored her. Just the other day, his father, Dazhuang, had asked him to go play with Hu-zi’s husband.

When Song Ning woke up that morning, he was alone in the house. Even the two small dogs were gone, likely having followed the others out.

After washing up, Song Ning didn’t know what to do. He paced the courtyard a few times. Wei Hu and his mother had gone out to work, and they’d need to cook when they returned. So, he decided to make some porridge.

Song Ning rinsed some rice and poured it into the pot. He planned to make congee—a simple breakfast of porridge and pickled vegetables.

He struggled to light the fire. Yesterday, Wei Hu had done it effortlessly. He blew several times on the fire starter, but the thick smoke billowing from the stove base choked him into a coughing fit, tears welling in his eyes.

As he fussed about, soft laughter drifted from the kitchen doorway. He looked up to see a young woman leaning against the doorframe, watching him. She wore a slightly worn, dark red dress, her face slender with narrow eyes.

She set down her basket and approached, deftly helping him stoke the fire. “You must be Brother Hu-zi’s husband. This is the first time I’ve seen you.”

Song Ning nodded. “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. My name is Li Xiaolian. I live not far from your home. I grew up with Brother Hu-zi since childhood.”

Song Ning hummed in acknowledgment. He wasn’t sure why she brought this up, but he was grateful nonetheless. Without her help, he wouldn’t have managed to get the fire going.

“Don’t you know how to cook? I heard you’re from the town?”

“Mhm.”

“If there’s anything you don’t know how to do in the future, come find me. I’ll help you.”

“Thanks.”

Li Xiaolian had come today just to see what Wei Hu’s husband looked like. Everyone in the village said he was handsome, but to her, he was nothing special.

Li Xiaolian said a few words and left. If her mother saw her, she’d scold her again. Her mother disliked her running over to Brother Hu-zi’s house all the time. Really, what did it matter to her, Li Xiaolian, that Aunt Cuihua and her mother didn’t get along?

When Li Xiaolian got home, she saw her sister-in-law sitting in the front hall, cracking sunflower seeds. She rolled her eyes inwardly—cracking seeds this early in the morning, wasn’t she afraid of choking? “Xiaolian, you’re back so early! I’ll boil an egg for your nephew when I make dinner.”

“Got it, sis.”

Li Gui’er poked his head out from the house, too. “Xiaolian, boil one for your brother too.”

Li Xiaolian was so annoyed that she tossed the basket she was holding. “Brother, you’re perfectly fine! Why do you need an egg?”

“Your brother here strained his back yesterday. What’s wrong with eating an egg? You’re such a brat.”

Xiaolian went to the thatched shed to cook. Her brother and sister-in-law were clearly at home, yet they insisted on waiting for her to return to prepare the meal. If she hadn’t come back, would they have starved to death? And eggs? Why not just eat chicken shit instead!

Song Ning was quite pleased to have the fire lit. He carefully added wood, afraid the flames might boil the water dry. He’d only made congee, so it should be fine.

Wei Hu had deliberately cut firewood in the mountains and returned early to avoid his mother scolding Ning-ger for idling. From afar, he spotted the kitchen hut emitting smoke. Could his mother already be back? Wei Hu quickened his pace toward home.

Carrying a bundle of wood on his back, he peered into the kitchen and saw Song Ning sitting on a small stool tending the fire. The ger spotted himself and his eyes lit up for a moment, “Wei Hu, you’re back!”

Wei Hu set the wood down by the door. “What are you doing?”

“I’m cooking porridge!”

The ger’s voice was full of excitement. Wei Hu couldn’t help but curve his lips. “Let me see.”

Wei Hu lifted the pot lid and added another ladle of water. “There’s not enough water. Do you want some pumpkin or sweet potatoes? We have some in the cellar.”

“Yes, please!”