“Mm, spring isn’t too busy, I’ll be able to come back at night. When summer and autumn come, I’ll stay in the mountains for a few days at a time, and during winter, when the heavy snow blocks the mountain, I won’t go out much.” Wei Qingshan patiently explained to his little husband. He wanted to stay with him every day, but they didn’t have land or a proper house yet, so he needed to go hunting early. In spring, he only hunted small animals because it was the season for animal reproduction, and they couldn’t hunt too much.

Hearing that Wei Qingshan would still return at night, Lin Yu felt a bit more at ease.

After picking the wild vegetables, Lin Yu went to the kitchen to cook. In the evening, he steamed a batch of soft white buns, scrambled two eggs with toon leaves, and made a bowl of cold wild shepherd’s purse salad.

Wei Qingshan really liked the freshly steamed soft buns and ate three of them.

Since Wei Qingshan was going hunting the next day, Lin Yu couldn’t sleep well that night. He remembered what Wei Qingshan had said about the dangerous animals in the mountains, and he felt very worried.

“Qingshan, are there big animals in the mountains?”

“Mm, there are. You have to go deeper into the forest to find them. That year, when I was with my master, we walked into the mountains for five days before we hunted one.”

Lin Yu’s heart tightened upon hearing this. “You don’t have to hunt the big animals anymore. I… I’m scared.”

Lin Yu had heard from the village elders that when the tigers in the mountains were hungry, they would come down to the village. One elder had encountered one when he was young, and the tiger had injured two people.

“Mm, that year, my master’s wife fell seriously ill, and that’s why my master had no choice but to go into the mountains to hunt the big animals. Don’t worry, the deepest part of the forest I’ve gone into was only a day’s walk. I won’t run into any fierce predators.”

Lin Yu felt a little more relieved. “Then come back early.”

“Of course, my little husband will be waiting for me at home.”

Lin Yu moved closer to Wei Qingshan. Wei Qingshan felt warm, and since he slept beside him, he never felt cold. Lin Yu carefully kissed Wei Qingshan’s arm. “Qingshan, do you want it?”

“What do you mean?”

Wei Qingshan didn’t immediately understand, but when his little husband stopped speaking, he realized what he meant. Of course, he wanted it!

Being young and passionate, holding his soft and fragrant little husband every night, but the current conditions weren’t ideal. “Behave and sleep, the bed at home isn’t strong enough.”

Lin Yu became anxious. Does that mean they’d never do it? How else would he give Wei Qingshan children?

Flustered and embarrassed, he stammered, “Th-then, be gentler.”

“No, the bed almost broke yesterday. What if I hurt you?”

The two sentences made Wei Qingshan’s desire flare up. He realized that while Lin Yu was timid about many things, he was surprisingly bold in this matter.

“Then we’ll sleep on the ground.”

Lin Yu had already decided. They couldn’t afford a bed, so they would sleep on the floor, and after they were done, they could sleep on the bed. Since their marriage, Wei Qingshan had been patient because Lin Yu was hurt. He felt bad for him, but he still wanted to give him children soon.

Wei Qingshan felt both excited and frustrated by Lin Yu’s innocent and provocative words. He was burning up inside. “No, the ground is too cold. What if you catch a cold?”

Lin Yu, unable to fulfill his desire, felt embarrassed to the point of wanting to cry. He had already made his best effort. His voice was a little choked. “Then, what should we do? Without a bed, how can I give you children?”

Wei Qingshan finally understood what his little husband was thinking. He pulled Lin Yu into his arms to comfort him, speaking softly in his ear, “Who says we don’t have a bed? I had the carpenter make one for us this morning.”

Lin Yu froze, not realizing what had happened. The bed had collapsed yesterday, and today, Wei Qingshan had already arranged for a new one. What would outsiders think if they knew?

Lin Yu was so embarrassed, his brain turned to mush. The thought of what they had just done made him even more ashamed, and tears started to fall. Meanwhile, Wei Qingshan continued whispering in his ear, “The carpenter said it’ll be ready in a few days. If you’re in a hurry, I can go and hurry him tomorrow when I come back.”

Lin Yu grabbed Wei Qingshan’s sleeve. “No, there is no need to go.”

Wei Qingshan teased his little husband enough and finally calmed down his desire. “Then, as you say, I won’t go.”

Even though Wei Qingshan was thick-skinned, he wouldn’t go and rush the carpenter. It would be too embarrassing. He just wanted to see his little husband embarrassed and flustered.

“How much did it cost? I’ll give it to you.”

“It wasn’t much. I’ll earn it back from hunting these next few days,” Wei Qingshan didn’t tell Lin Yu, fearing he’d be upset about the money. Anyway, they needed a new bed, so it didn’t matter when they spent the money.

“If you don’t have enough, take it from the bag.”

“I know, now go to sleep. I’ll be heading into the mountains tomorrow.”

After their private conversation, the two went to sleep. Wei Qingshan woke up early in the morning, and when Lin Yu heard the movement, he quickly put on his clothes and got up.

“It’s still early, go back to sleep.”

“I’m going to prepare some dry food for you.”

“It’s fine, there are some buns left from yesterday. I’ll heat two and take them with me.”

Wei Qingshan thought that it would be enough to just roast two steamed buns by the fire and bring two more when leaving. That’s how he did it when he lived alone and had to take care of himself. Moreover, Lin Yu’s steamed buns were better than his; his own were always tough.

“I can’t sleep, I’ll get up and make some for you,” Lin Yu said.

Lin Yu hurriedly put on his clothes. The night sky was still ink-colored, with stars clearly visible. The village was so quiet that there wasn’t even a sound of people. Lin Yu hadn’t expected that Wei Qingshan would have to leave so early in the morning. He felt a little regretful; perhaps he should have prepared the dry food the night before.

Worried about delaying Wei Qingshan from entering the mountains, Lin Yu quickly cooked a few pancakes. Wei Qingshan ate two mouthfuls with hot water, already feeling content with the hot meal.

Lin Yu also reheated the sliced meat he had stir-fried with oil that day, wrapped three pancakes for Wei Qingshan to take, and filled his bamboo tube with hot water. At this time, the sky was just starting to brighten, enough to see the path underfoot.

Lin Yu sent Wei Qingshan out the door. “Come back early.”

“Mm, go back inside, it’s cold outside.”

Wei Qingshan walked off with his tools and dry food, also bringing two hunting dogs. He had to return every day. Lin Yu had nothing to do at home, so in the summer when he didn’t return from the mountains, Lin Yu would have Baixue keep him company, or they would adopt a regular local dog just for guarding the house. Lin Yu kept watching Wei Qingshan until he couldn’t see him anymore, and only then did he turn around and head back home.

Lin Yu had a pancake for breakfast. The weather was nice today, so he brought the blankets outside to air them. While cleaning the house, he noticed Wei Qingshan’s old clothes, which seemed too small for him, were left there unworn, with some even having holes.

Lin Yu tidied up their bedroom and grabbed a basket of old clothes to take out and wash.

Just as he closed the wooden door, He Dongdong came over with an embroidery basket. “Yu-ger, are you going out?”

“Mm, are you going to wash clothes?”

“No, I begged my mom for a long time to let me come find you to embroider, and she finally let me out. Oh, you’re going to wash clothes. Well, you go ahead, I’ll follow you and embroider.”

“Alright.”

He Dongdong was happy now, and the two of them walked toward the small river near the village entrance. The land was flat, and a few elderly women had already occupied the spots with stones. Seeing that there was still a place, though a bit risky, that was unoccupied, Lin Yu and He Dongdong went there to sit.

As soon as Lin Yu appeared, the women started whispering. “Look, Qingshan’s new husband is out today.”

After all, Lin Yu had just married into the village, and many people hadn’t seen him. Whether friendly or just curious, many people were looking in his direction.

Lin Yu knew this, but he was shy and didn’t like talking, so he silently started washing clothes in his basin.

The river water was a bit cold at first, but it was better than before. Lin Yu suddenly remembered Wei Qingshan’s suggestion to heat water for washing. Today, the river water felt slightly cool, but he thought it wouldn’t have much of an effect and continued washing.

He Dongdong sat beside him, embroidering. With He Dongdong here, Lin Yu felt much better.

Lin Yu’s basin was filled with dark green clothes, clearly belonging to Wei Qingshan. One of the women whispered to her companion, “This Qingshan’s new husband is hardworking. It’s only been a few days since they married, and he’s already washing clothes for his husband.”

“Yes, yes, look how quick his movements are.”

“What’s the use? They’re still poor, aren’t they? They don’t even have a field. Life will be hard in the future.” One of the women replied.

“That’s not necessarily true. Qingshan is out hunting. You see, in less than two years, he managed to save up ten taels of betrothal silver. They shouldn’t worry about life being hard.”

“That’s right, their family is so poor they don’t even have decent furniture. The new husband has been here for just a few days, and he’s already doing chores.”

Hehua came over with a basin and sat in the crowd.

He Dongdong, who was already frustrated with embroidery, couldn’t get the flowers right. The women nearby kept looking at them, and some of their comments were unkind. Among them, Hehua was the most unbearable!

He Dongdong, angry, stood up quickly. “Look, look! What are you looking at? What’s wrong with being poor? Are we eating your rice? Your family is rich, so why not just mind your family!”

Although many of the people were older than him, He Dongdong wasn’t afraid and kept talking.

Lin Yu tugged at He Dongdong’s sleeve. “Dong-ger.”

Xia Hehua stood up with a cry, “Dong-ger is here too. Dong-ger, you’re not young anymore, you can’t be so rude. You’ll get a reputation for being hot-tempered, and that’s not good for matchmaking.”

He Dongdong snorted, “My mom hasn’t said anything. Hehua, you’re interfering too much.”

“You!” Hehua was speechless, and someone in the crowd laughed. Hehua, angry, snapped, “What are you laughing at!”

Lin Yu tugged at He Dongdong’s sleeve. “Dong-ger, Dong-ger.”

Hehua was right. If an unmarried ger developed a reputation for being hot-tempered and lazy, it would be hard to arrange a marriage for him, especially if his reputation wasn’t good.

He Dongdong didn’t mind, though. “It’s fine, you keep washing.”