Yuan Heqing entered the study first upon arriving home. Shortly after, Song Jie approached carrying a tray of hot tea. He knocked on the door. Yuan Heqing looked up, his tightly furrowed brows slightly relaxing. “I didn’t lock the door,” he said. “Just come in.”

“Just wanted to interrupt your thoughts,” Song Jie said with a smile as he entered and set down the tea tray. “You came straight to the study without washing up after returning from outside the city, and your brows are furrowed again. What happened?”

Yuan Heqing set down the almanac he was holding. “Earlier, Huangfu Tieniu came to propose marriage. Given his unique background, I wondered if he had some secret he was hiding, which is why he used this excuse of amnesia.”

Song Jie nodded. “I know you’re cautious. I’ve also written a letter to Tingjiang Prefecture to inquire whether the magistrate’s office ever recorded any traces of this.”

It was impossible for them to believe whatever Huangfu Tieniu claimed.

Sometimes, when a local playboy son committed some major offense, his family would pay to smooth things over and send him off to live with distant relatives. But Huangfu Tieniu’s situation seemed both similar and different. What didn’t add up was that Huangfu Tieniu had actually lived a proper life in a remote mountain village for four or five years.

His speech was proper, neither servile nor arrogant—unlike that sort of villain.

The Huangfu surname was uncommon. Combined with the Huangfu clan of Lu Capital, Song Jie knew exactly which family it referred to. When the Taizu Emperor conquered the realm, he commanded four great generals. Beneath these generals served twelve valiant and skilled minor generals, and the Huangfu clan was one of these twelve.

After the empire was unified, the founding emperor bestowed titles and honors. Huangfu was apparently granted the rank of Loyal Martial General, a fourth-grade official. By now, two emperors had succeeded to the throne, and Song Jie had no idea what rank General Huangfu’s family held in the current hierarchy.

Time had scattered the Huangfu branches far and wide, and he couldn’t say which lineage Huangfu Tieniu belonged to. Still, no matter what, a starving camel remains larger than a horse, a thousand times better than being a mere hunter in these mountains.

Unexpectedly, Yuan Heqing said, “I’m not talking about Huangfu Tieniu.”

“It’s not about him?” This time, it was Song Jie’s turn to be astonished.

Yuan Heqing continued, “Before noon, I returned to Fengyuan City from Xucun and went straight to the Tang family.”

Song Jie chuckled. His husband was an impatient man—if something weighed on his mind, he’d want to resolve it immediately. “The Tang family? There’s nothing to discuss there. They’ve done business in the Baxing District for years. They’re old neighbors, easy to ask about. Or are you saying Tang Wu-ger’s earlier claims about Juren Hu were false accusations?”

“That’s not right either. The evidence is solid.” Song Jie added.

Fortunately, he added that, or Yuan Heqing would have lost his temper. Now he said, “Tang Xianling’s situation is even more difficult than I imagined…”

Yuan Heqing sighed deeply, recounting his day’s observations and Mrs. Tang’s desperate longing. “I used to fear acting too hastily—after all, it’s a lifelong commitment. But now I see we must weigh each case separately. Huangfu Tieniu and Tang Xianling are just one example.”

Song Jie massaged his husband’s shoulders, teasing yet earnest. “Minister Yuan, you needn’t beat yourself up. Every match you’ve arranged thus far has been a perfect union. Better safe than sorry, and you’re quick-witted and adaptable. Hearing you speak now, Huangfu Tieniu and Tang Xianling are truly a match made in heaven.”

“A match made in heaven—” Yuan Heqing repeated the phrase, reflecting on the couple’s circumstances. It truly was fitting. He smiled decisively, letting out a sigh of relief. “Then I’ll select this date for them.”

He flipped open the almanac in his hand and pointed to a date.

Song Jie glanced at it, chuckled, and clapped his hands. “An auspicious day! Since it’s a match made in heaven, we should hasten to bring this beautiful union to fruition.”

The auspicious date Yuan Heqing had chosen was just four days away: the twenty-ninth day of the fourth month. Naturally, this was the day for the betrothal ceremony. In common terms, it meant the engagement was formalized, and the bride price was presented, with only the wedding procession remaining.

Marriage customs among common folk were relatively simple, lacking the elaborate formalities of noble households.

“Alright, it’s settled. I’ll bathe and freshen up first, then return to draft their marriage contract. Afterward, I’ll consult Huangfu Tieniu about suitable betrothal gifts. We’ll compile a list and deliver it to the Tang household.” Yuan Heqing finally smiled.

Song Jie carried tea to his husband’s side, teasing, “Please, Lord Yuan, have some tea—it’s nearly cold.”

“It’s cooled nicely—perfect for quenching my thirst.”

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

Morning brought breakfast sales, while afternoons demanded restocking, especially for pork floss and smoked meat. These were simple to prepare, and Tang Xianling finished them quickly. However, the sun-dried preserved vegetables required a second steaming, and a batch still needed its first steaming.

The work never ended, but luckily, Huangfu Tieniu proved incredibly capable.

Tieniu was incredibly strong. Any heavy lifting became effortless in his hands. Tang Xianling remembered how his own back would ache after lifting steaming dishes for too long, yet Tieniu seemed completely unfazed.

“Does your back hurt?” Tang Xianling asked, fanning himself.

Huangfu Tieniu: “My back? Does yours hurt?”

“I’m asking you!”

“No pain. Nothing hurts, and I’m not tired either,” Huangfu Tieniu said with a laugh, wanting to reassure Tang Xianling that he could handle these tasks.

Tang Xianling fanned him, but the area by the large stove was sweltering with steam. Seeing how hot Tieniu looked while being fanned, he said, “This afternoon, I’ll cook some mung bean porridge. We can also make a cold garlic salad with the deer blood tofu I prepared earlier.”

Huangfu Tieniu hesitated, “Deer blood…”

“What’s wrong? Don’t you like it? I tasted a bit when I made it last time. It wasn’t gamey at all. Trust me.” Tang Xianling winked, implying, Leave it to me.

Huangfu Tieniu could only grunt in response.

He worried: What if Tang Xianling overheats after eating deer blood tonight? But then he thought, having mung bean soup for dinner might help cool him down. That way, he could eat more, preventing Tang Xianling from over-tonifying herself and getting a nosebleed.

Tang Xianling had tasted a bite when he made it before. It was soft and bouncy like milk curd, with a distinct deer blood flavor but no gaminess. Since he had plenty, he even gave some to the neighbors and the couple from the butcher shop. His own family didn’t have much left, so they could finish it today.

“Mom, we’re out of mung beans. Buy some more glass noodles.”

“I’ll go then.” Jiang Yun no longer feared going out. Before, she worried that leaving the house alone would leave her Wu-ger and Tieniu unsupervised, fearing gossip might hinder her son’s future marriage prospects. But now that Master Yuan had come to act as matchmaker, that concern had vanished.

After all, Wu-ger and Tieniu would be married soon enough.

So Jiang Yun slung her basket over her shoulder and headed out to buy supplies.

“Mother, there’s no rush,” Tang Xianling added. A stroll outside was good for the body. What was the point of staring at the same old soup base day after day? Besides sighing after gazing at it too long, it sucked the life out of a person.

“I know.”

Only Tang Xianling and Tieniu remained in the courtyard, but they worked diligently nonetheless. The freshly steamed vegetables were scalding hot. After lifting them from the steamer, they hung them on poles to dry. The two worked silently for a while.

“Weren’t you crying earlier at noon?”

The vegetables were arranged and hung on bamboo poles, with large wicker baskets catching the drips below. In the narrow courtyard, Tang Xianling sat under the eaves of the stove house while Huangfu Tieniu was still clearing the table. Hearing the question, he looked up and gave a soft nod.

“It’s not that I pity you.” In truth, it was a pity for Tang Xianling.

But Huangfu Tieniu also felt that the current Tang Xianling was self-reliant and strong, needing no pity. Tang Xianling was so resilient.

Tang Xianling’s hand holding the fan paused. He looked at Tieniu. Tieniu was a good man. They’d only met a few times, yet he helped him so much and understood him. Most importantly, he seemed cold-hearted yet upright and kind.

“Actually, Wu-ger is already dead. I am Tang Xianling,” Tang Xianling murmured softly, adding silently in his heart: I come from another world. He continued, “You sympathize with his fate. He wouldn’t be unhappy about it, and neither am I.”

Huangfu Tieniu looked over. Tang Xianling sat on a small stool, his clothes washed to a grayish hue, revealing slender, gaunt limbs. His eyelashes fluttered lightly, like a butterfly. For a moment, Huangfu Tieniu felt Tang Xianling didn’t belong here.

It was as if someone had said he didn’t seem like someone from Xucun, or like a hunter.

“Finished drying? We’re having glass noodles with vegetable filling in thin vegetable rolls for lunch. I’ll go knead the dough.” Tang Xianling’s moment of sadness quickly passed. He stood up. “Tieniu, you’ve never told me what you like to eat!”

That fleeting glimpse of vulnerability seemed like a misperception.

Huangfu Tieniu followed her into the kitchen and said, “Tang Xianling, ever since I met you, you’ve always been Tang Xianling.”

“I know.” Tang Xianling’s heart skipped a beat.

Huangfu Tieniu smiled too, answering honestly, “I used to eat anything just to fill my stomach, but I never liked cilantro. “

Cilantro is coriander.

Tang Xianling: ”Got it. I won’t put it in your food from now on.“

”Your cooking is delicious too,“ Huangfu Tieniu said.

Tang Xianling: …Couldn’t help but let the corners of his mouth turn up.

”Then today, I’ll load up the deer blood tofu with cilantro and poison you!“

”Fine.”

“Whatever floats your boat. Fine, I won’t add it.” Tang Xianling muttered, his face still beaming. “I’m the chef. The chef decides.”

“Then I’ll defer to the chef’s arrangements.”

Tang Xianling: …Huangfu Tieniu, you really have no principles whatsoever!

Today’s evening meal was finally served at dusk. The sky hadn’t yet darkened, and it was still quite bright. Tang Xianling steamed a basket of vegetable rolls. The dough was stiff, the wrappers thin, revealing the green vegetable noodles inside. He rolled them into a single long strip without cutting them before steaming—a dish called “vegetable dragon.”

He prepared the dipping sauce: garlic paste, vinegar, sesame oil, and a touch of soy sauce.

He placed them on a bamboo tray and sliced them into pieces as long as Huangfu Tieniu’s palm! Tieniu really had huge hands.

The main dishes were just these two: the vegetable rolls and the mung bean porridge. The vegetable side was a cold salad of deer blood, tossed with garlic chives and garlic paste, with a splash of ginger water for a spicy kick. You scooped it up with a spoon—it had a satisfying, springy, chewy texture.

There was also smoked pork from leftover egg pancake scraps, stir-fried with vegetables.

Today’s evening meal was surprisingly light on meat, mostly vegetarian. But with the heat rising, plus Tang Xianling and Huangfu Tieniu spending the whole afternoon in the kitchen steaming dishes and smoking pork to make pork floss, this table full of food now made her appetite soar.

Jiang Yun was also hungry. She took a sip of the mung bean porridge first. The beans tasted refreshingly clean, without any hint of that beaniness.

“Wu-ger, you usually add cilantro to these cold dishes. Why not today? Did we run out at home? I should’ve gone buy some,” Jiang Yun remarked.

Today’s dishes, including the dipping sauces, contained no cilantro—only chopped scallions or garlic shoots.

Huangfu Tieniu glanced over and couldn’t help but let the corners of his mouth turn up slightly. Tang Xianling, caught off guard by Jiang Yun’s remark, felt a flicker of embarrassment. He couldn’t very well say Tieniu disliked cilantro—

Though there was no reason he couldn’t.

“I find cilantro a bit overpowering. We’ll add it next time,” Tang Xianling said before glaring at Tieniu. What are you laughing at!

Huangfu Tieniu: “The chef decides.”

Smart move. Tang Xianling huffed and withdrew his ‘sharp’ glare.

Jiang Yun was getting older, but her eyesight was still sharp. Seeing the Wu-ger and Tieniu exchanging glances, she paused silently, then urged them to eat without asking more questions.

After dinner, before dusk fell, Huangfu Tieniu went to fetch water. Tang Xianling began clearing the pots and bowls. Jiang Yun offered to help, but Tang Xianling had mostly finished. Shaking the water from his hands, he said, “Then I’ll go fetch water with Tieniu.”

What water was he going to fetch? He was just going to cause trouble.

Jiang Yun smiled and said, “Go ahead.”

Wu-ger had been busy all day. Since Tieniu arrived, at least someone was around to chat with Wu-ger and keep him company. Before that, Wu-ger had been working nonstop.

Tang Xianling hurried to the well. Tieniu was waiting in line. Seeing Tang Xianling approach, Huangfu Tieniu set down his water bucket and walked over. “Why are you here? Is something up?“

”Nothing. Just the boss checking up on you.“ Tang Xianling saw the neighbors by the well, pricking up their ears to eavesdrop and peek over. He deliberately acted like a boss, showing off his authority, ”See if you’re slacking off, if you’re fetching water properly.”

Seeing Tang Xianling like this, Huangfu Tieniu thought he looked incredibly imposing and majestic.

He stifled a laugh inside. How could Tang Xianling be so adorable? He obediently replied, “I’ve fetched water. I’m waiting in line.”

“Good.” The imposing Tang Xianling nodded, and then both of them secretly smiled.

This charade couldn’t go on much longer.

“Young Tang, how much does your helper charge per day? Wu-ger, where is this young man from? How old is he? He looks quite handsome. I hear he’s from your sister-in-law’s family? Then he must come from a respectable household, too.”

Tang Xianling grew uneasy as he listened. Why were these aunts trying to poach his wall? Whether as a helper or a potential match!

“I—” he began.

Huangfu Tieniu spoke up, “I’m already betrothed. I’m working to earn the betrothal money.”

Tang Xianling raised an eyebrow.

“Such a fine young man—how old were you when you got engaged?”

“Seventeen, almost eighteen,” Huangfu Tieniu replied.

Someone remarked, “Oh my, that makes him a few months younger than the eldest son from the steamed bun shop! Lu Dalang hasn’t even gotten engaged yet, and you’re moving so fast.”

Another chuckled, “This young gentleman is quite handsome. He must be in high demand. If you don’t secure him early, he’ll be gone.”

“Is your betrothed a lady or a ger?”

Huangfu Tieniu: “A husband.”

Tang Xianling’s face flushed for some reason. He muttered to himself, dodging the question: They asked yes or no, and you said “or.”

It wasn’t quite like that. “Ger” and ‘husband’ were the same—one unmarried, one wed. But the neighbors by the well didn’t think to twist the meaning. They figured once betrothed, you’d call him “husband.” How intimate! Same idea.

“So what does your husband-to-be look like? What’s his family like?”

“He’s handsome and kind,” Huangfu Tieniu answered truthfully. After a moment, he added, “His father is a bit fierce and doesn’t treat him well, but it doesn’t matter. We’ll make a good life together.”

The aunts and older women all laughed—a kind, warm laugh.

“Though young, this lad speaks with such reliability.”

“Your husband truly found a treasure by marrying you.”

Tang Xianling thought: It’s Huangfu Tieniu who found such an outstanding treasure by marrying me!

Ah, well, let’s just say we both found each other.

They’re both wonderful!

As dusk fell, Tang Xianling’s ears burned crimson. Avoiding eye contact, he lifted his head to study the great locust tree. The little tyrant persona he’d just played vanished, replaced by pure admiration. What a splendid tree.

“Young Tang fancies locust blossoms?”

“If you want some, I’ll fetch a bamboo pole to gather them.”

“Ermao, go fetch the bamboo pole.” An auntie called her grandson to run an errand.

Another voice chimed in: “Usually, just mention picking locust flowers and the old lady gets all worked up. Her ears are sharp as a tack, not deaf at all. Why hasn’t she come out today?”

Everyone else covered their mouths to stifle their laughter—they were talking about the Zhao family’s old lady.

“Seems she went out yesterday.”

“Where to?”

“No idea. I asked when buying sugar-coated pancakes. Her eldest daughter-in-law said she went back to the countryside to visit relatives.”

Huangfu Tieniu’s ears perked up. He recalled his aunt mentioning that the sugar-coated pancake vendor’s grandmother wanted to arrange a match for Tang Xianling. Just as Tang Xianling had said, he hadn’t guessed wrong.

This family had no good intentions.

So they called for Ermao’s child to fetch a bamboo pole. The women looked at each other, wondering who would strike it? None of them was very tall. Huangfu Tieniu set his water bucket aside, rolled up his sleeves, and said, “I’ll do it.”

“Agreed!”

“Here we have a tall, sturdy young man ready to help.”

“Someone as tall as you is indeed a rare sight.”

Tang Xianling thought it was indeed rare. He watched as Tieniu took off his outer garment and handed it to him. Tang Xianling:? He quickly caught on. “You hit it. I’ll catch it.”

The two worked together.

Huangfu Tieniu was exceptionally skilled at knocking down locust blossoms—his strikes were swift, fierce, and precise. Tang Xianling ran beneath the tree, catching them. Occasionally, Huangfu Tieniu would lower his head, and in the dim night, white locust blossoms would fall onto both their heads.

“Enough, enough!” Tang Xianling lifted his eyes, sparkling with excitement. “We’ve got enough to eat!”

Huangfu Tieniu stopped and looked at the aunts, asking if they wanted more. The aunts chuckled happily, saying it was settled, it was settled.

Truthfully, eating this mouthful of locust blossoms wasn’t a big deal. It was just that they couldn’t stand it—the locust tree in the alley, which belonged to everyone, was always monopolized by the old lady from the sugar-oil pancake shop. When to eat it was decided by the old lady from the Zhao family. What kind of nonsense was that?!

Today, they finally got their revenge.

So that evening, with the cool breeze carrying the scent of locust blossoms, everyone headed home—some carrying buckets, some cradling blossoms tucked in their clothes, others wielding bamboo poles.

Huangfu Tieniu carried a water bucket, while Tang Xianling held Huangfu Tieniu’s outer robe in his arms.

“You picked so many. I’ll steam locust blossom rice tomorrow at noon.”

Huangfu Tieniu looked straight ahead and said, “I did it on purpose. I needed to vent.”

“Hahahaha!” Tang Xianling laughed heartily. “I thought I’d guessed wrong.”

They weren’t exactly the honest types.

“That old lady treasures this tree so much. When she comes back and sees we picked all the flowers to eat, I can’t imagine how furious she’ll be.” Tang Xianling’s smile spread to his ears. “Just thinking about it makes me feel so satisfied.”

Huangfu Tieniu: “Mhm.” His voice carried a hint of amusement.

He loved getting up to mischief with Tang Xianling.

The locust blossoms were brought home and spread out to dry on a bamboo tray. Tang Xianling washed his hands and face. Huangfu Tieniu helped pluck the blossoms from his hair. For a moment, Tang Xianling felt…

…embarrassed.

Oh my, why was he blushing? Why was he being such a wimp!

Huangfu Tieniu plucked the flowers off, then spread his palm. “Here are the locust blossoms.”

Tang Xianling knew that was the case, but he looked at Tieniu and started talking again. “In this kind of atmosphere, in those storybooks, we’d both have to kiss, you know?”

“Huh?” Huangfu Tieniu flushed, unable to meet Tang Xianling’s gaze as he spoke.

Tang Xianling: Hehehehehe.

He was still quite formidable.

“Alright, alright. You should go now. Don’t get caught after curfew.” Tang Xianling emerged triumphant from this round of flirtatious banter!

Huangfu Tieniu nodded and hummed in agreement. As he led his mule out, his movements were still a bit awkward.

He was still thinking about Tang Xianling’s lips.

If they were going to kiss, he’d have to wait at least until after the engagement ceremony.

Tang Xianling seemed to really like him and really wanted to kiss him.

Well, well, he might as well listen to Tang Xianling.

Huangfu Tieniu paused. Tang Xianling was opening the shop door to let him pass. When he turned back, Tieniu was staring intently at him. He opened his mouth, managing only the syllable “you” before Huangfu Tieniu lowered his head and drew close…

Deep into the night, the mule’s clatter faded into the distance.

Jiang Yun, wrapped in her robe, called out from the courtyard: “Wu-ger? Has Tieniu gone back yet?”

Tang Xianling snapped out of his daze, clattering shut the shop door with a bang. He bounced in place like a firecracker. Oh my!!! That naughty bull Huangfu Tieniu actually ambushed him!!!

He kissed him.

Tang Xianling touched his lips. They felt soft, so he pressed against them again.

Even a dumb ox wouldn’t kiss like that.

Tang Xianling thought.

This wasn’t some childish flirtation, just a fleeting touch of lips—

“Wu-ger, what’s wrong? Why are you blushing?” Jiang Yun approached with a candle, concern in her voice. Seeing his flushed face, she gasped in alarm: “Could you have a fever?”

“No fever, Mother,” Tang Xianling insisted stubbornly, feigning calm. “It’s late. Go back to bed. I’m sleepy too. I’ll head to my room first.”

Even after lying down, Tang Xianling’s cheeks still burned. He rolled over, cupping his face in his hands, and mumbled indistinctly: Don’t be a love-struck fool, Tang Xianling!

Hehehehehe~

Deep into the night, he drifted off without realizing it. Tang Xianling dreamed of his modern self. Aside from a fairly handsome face, he bore a strong resemblance to his Wu-ger. His family background was ordinary and unremarkable. After graduating from high school, his parents told him they were divorcing.

He thought back to the past—everything made sense now.

His parents fought behind his back, suppressing their anger.

One was always away on business trips, and they hadn’t shared a bed in ages.

After he entered university, they paid his living expenses on time at first. Later, payments sometimes came late because both parents had started new families, their expenses grew, and the money for him got delayed.

Actually, all that was manageable. When the apocalypse struck, and life hung in the balance, none of it mattered anymore.

His parents were gone.

Tang Xianling, bereft of kin, scraped by alone in the apocalypse. His special ability proved useless, a useless gimmick. With no friends by his side, mutated plants and animals preyed upon him. Out in the glacial snowfields, living in solitude, he felt like a tiny, helpless plant…

Tang Xianling had dreamed this many times before—a bleak, cold, lifeless dream that made him think, ‘Maybe this is it,’ that death would be an escape. Yet despite the familiar scenario, this time the scene felt different.

Huddled in a dark basement awaiting death, someone kicked open his door.

“Captain, there’s a survivor here.”

Tang Xianling opened his eyes. The light from the newcomer was blinding. When he finally made out the other’s face, he closed his eyes again, muttering a complaint: “Huangfu Tieniu, did your apocalyptic ability come with a built-in spotlight to light your own way? That light on your head is scorching!”

Then somehow, Huangfu Tieniu was holding him, and he wrapped his arms back around him.

They kissed on that sofa he’d been so careful with, the kiss growing intense. Both of them sank into the cushions, and Tang Xianling still found time to wonder: Would the sofa break?

But his thoughts quickly vanished. This wasn’t just lips meeting lips—it was lips and teeth intertwined, a kiss that drew audible sighs. He felt so hot, tugging at the collar of his shirt. Huangfu Tieniu’s chest muscles were defined beneath his clothes, leading down to his abs. This kid looked seventeen or eighteen, tall and lanky in clothes, but his physique was surprisingly well-built.

The other guy was incredibly strong, effortlessly lifting him up.

His legs wrapped around the other’s waist—

He couldn’t take it anymore.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

When Tang Xianling woke up, his face was still flushed, his eyes glazed with desire, his legs clutching the quilt. The dream and reality were separated by just a split second.

The electric light bulb of Huangfu Tieniu was gone, leaving only the dark, slightly damp west room.

Tang Xianling shamefully pulled his legs slowly away from the quilt, then his face froze—

He had to rub his pants!

It was all Huangfu Tieniu’s fault!