Yize, unaware of the events unfolding in Ling Ling's room, strolled by casually. The sounds drifting from within made her pause, but she quickly shook her head, dismissing what she believed to be a figment of her imagination.
Making her way to the kitchen, she set about preparing dinner, noting that the sun had dipped below the horizon. Once the meal was ready, she made her way to her room, only to find Sheng Er lying on the bed, positioned sideways with his back to her.
Thinking he was asleep, she approached to gently wake him, but the subtle shaking of his shoulders halted her movement.
"Sheng Er?" she called, receiving only the tremor of his shoulders in response.
Without hesitation, she pulled him toward her, and there, under the soft light, she saw his tear-stained face, his eyes swollen from crying. Just moments before, he had been filled with joy. What had caused this sudden change?
"Sheng Er, baby, what happened to you?" Yize asked, concern etching her voice. She reached to touch his face, but he turned his head away from her hand.
"My wife, I'm tired; I want to sleep," he said between hiccups, a sadness washing over him like nothing he had ever shown her before. Deep in his heart, a fear loomed—one that his brother had voiced, threatening to become reality.
"What do you mean sleeping? We're having dinner; you can sleep afterward," she replied, her brow furrowed in confusion. The sudden tears caught her off guard; she had no idea what turmoil had seized him.
Xiao Sheng turned away, refusing to meet her gaze, which only deepened her frustration. "Sheng Er, if you keep ignoring me like this, I'll get angry. You don't want me to be angry with you, do you?"
"No," he answered softly, shaking his head with a weak resolve.
"Then look at me," Yize insisted, and he complied. His puffy eyes met hers, brimming with anguish and vulnerability.
"Why are you crying, my love?" she asked gently, but the more he looked at her, the more tears cascaded down his cheeks, as if merely seeing her brought him unbearable pain.
"My wife, am I useless?" he asked, as if he longed for her to reveal the truth.
"Of course not. Why would you say that?" Yize was taken aback, unable to grasp how he had reached such a conclusion. "You are very special to me. How could you think you're useless?" she continued, gently wiping his tears away.
"But why won't you let me help around the house?" Xiao Sheng inquired, hoping she would allow him to take on some chores, alleviating his brother's concerns for him. In that moment, he understood his brother's intentions and recognized the validity of his worries.
"Is this why you're upset?" Yize questioned, her skepticism evident as her brows furrowed deeper. "You know exactly why I haven't allowed you to."
"My wife, I just want—"
"Enough!" Yize interrupted, her tone firm. "I thought you understood already. Why are you bringing this up now?" She spoke patiently, lowering her voice when she noticed his shoulders shrink seemingly in fear.
He found it difficult to confront his wife, yet after some contemplation, he realized that he could not simply remain silent. "My dear wife, I am genuinely concerned about you. You are working tirelessly while I seem to do nothing but eat and sleep. If I am not as useless as I feel, why not allow me to contribute as a husband?" Fear of provoking her accompanied him, yet this marked the first moment he held her gaze with unwavering resolve.
Yize closed her eyes and took a deep breath. What had come over her Sheng Er?
The determination shining in his eyes unexpectedly quelled her rising anger. She began to question whether she had been in the wrong.
As if summoned by the memory, she recalled the sight of a man she had encountered recently. He had been beaten and publicly humiliated by his wife for resting for a moment. Disappointment washed over her, and she shook her head; she had believed that Sheng Er had begun to open up to her, but it seemed she was mistaken. How could a few days of her kindness alter years of deep-seated beliefs?
Sheng Er had indeed been touched by her warmth, falling for her with surprising ease. However, when Xiao Ling Ling reawoke him to the harshness of reality, his mind became a tumult of confusion once more.
Reflecting on the situation, she realized that it was her differing beliefs that she sought to instill in her family. Rather than offering comfort, her intentions seemed to only foster insecurity and discomfort in him. She suddenly recalled moments when he had tried to assist her but had been met with her resistance and the many times she had seen him lost in thought, boredom shadowing his face. With a soft pinch to her forehead, she sought to relieve the tension that came from the turmoil of her conflicting emotions.
"My wife?" Xiao Sheng waved his hand in front of her, a nervous gesture that revealed his growing anxiety. The silence from her was unsettling, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he had truly upset her.
Regret began to engulf him as he bit his lip, fear constricting his heart. The tears he believed had dried up surged forth once more, tracing familiar paths down his cheeks.
"My wife," he called out again, his voice thick with sobs.
Yize finally shifted her gaze towards Xiao Sheng, her expression remaining neutral. She noted his tendency to cry at the slightest provocation. Under different circumstances, she might have found some amusement in his display of emotions. But in this moment, she simply perceived him as someone pouring out his grievances before her.
After a moment of contemplation, "Alright. I'll think about it," Yize finally responded with a weighty tone, wiping the tears from his cheeks. She rose to her feet and turned, saying, "Let's have dinner."
Xiao Sheng was left puzzled about her intent. It seemed as if his wife had come to terms with what he had just said. If that was the case, perhaps he should set aside his regrets, yet an unsettling feeling lingered within him. He dabbed at his tear-stained face with the back of his hand and followed Yize, feeling somewhat awkward.
As Yize approached the next room, she knocked and called out, "Ling Ling, come out for dinner."
When Ling Ling opened the door, Yize paused and raised an eyebrow upon seeing his face. He, too, bore the signs of tears, his eyes as puffy as Sheng Er's, indicating that he had been crying as well.
She began to piece together the reasons behind Xiao Sheng's sudden outburst, but after a moment of reflection, she chose to disregard it. Accepting the situation, she decided to let the two men be. Turning her back to them, she made her way towards the kitchen, appearing oblivious to the tension that lingered in the air.
Xiao Sheng, trailing closely behind her, sensed that something was amiss. He walked with his head down, his silence mirroring that of Ling Ling, who followed in a similar manner.
Meanwhile, Yize watched the two brothers with a quiet detachment, opting not to intervene. She found herself reflecting on the complexity of men, believing it to be greater than that of women. Even after they had finished their dinner, the brothers remained silent, neither speaking nor making eye contact.
The moon and stars illuminated the dark, tranquil night, providing the only light visible in the stillness. Yize stepped outside her house and settled onto the bench beneath a tree in her courtyard. Leaning back, she closed her eyes and inhaled the fresh air that enveloped her.
In that moment, memories from her past life surged to the forefront of her mind—times filled with boredom that led her to drag racing before nights out at clubs, along with her involvement in underground escapades. Although her current life was regarded as respectable, society had branded her a failure. The irony of it all was unmistakable.
Suddenly, Yize heard footsteps approaching her. She opened her eyes as the presence of someone drew near. Standing before her was Xiao Sheng, his gaze fixed on her, the moonlight casting a mesmerizing allure that stirred something deep within her.
"Come here," she commanded in a low voice.
With some hesitation, Xiao Sheng moved closer to her. Yize tugged him down onto her lap, wrapping her arms around him from behind. They remained in that position for several moments.
"My wife?" Sheng Er whispered gently.
"Hmm," she responded softly in his ear, her voice barely audible. "Let's stay like this for a while."
Xiao Sheng nodded slightly, sensing the peculiar change within her. He leaned in closer, attuned to the comforting rhythm of her heartbeat, hoping to dispel the unsettling feelings that had surfaced unexpectedly.
Ling Ling happened upon this tranquil scene and found himself momentarily conflicted, feeling emotions he did not quite understand. Quietly, he retreated to his room, lying on the bed as his mind churned with thoughts. It was only when he heard the sound of a door opening and closing from the other room that he began to find clarity, eventually drifting off into sleep.
The first light of morning found Xiao Sheng awakening for the first time since arriving in this house. He glanced to his side, but Yize was not there; she had risen before him, a fact that stirred no concern within him.
"Good morning, my wife," he greeted when he discovered Yize busy arranging the firewood in their kitchen.
"Hmm," she replied, giving him a brief glance before returning her focus to her task.
Xiao Sheng busied himself in the kitchen, and for the first time, Yize did not intervene. Although a sense of loss lingered within him, he chose to keep himself occupied and prepare a simple breakfast.
Unbeknownst to him, Yize was making a concerted effort to suppress her instinct to reprimand him, holding her composure with great care. After observing his serious dedication to the task at hand, she resolved to allow him the freedom to work, as long as what he did was neither heavy nor difficult.
"Sheng Er, after breakfast, you should get ready with your brother. We're heading to town later," Yize reminded him casually.
"Hmm," he responded with a soft hum.
She then stepped outside to retrieve the firewood she had chopped earlier that morning, bringing it into their small storage room. Yize felt the urgency of preparing firewood, knowing she wouldn't have time in the coming days, especially with winter approaching. Today's trip to town was important; she intended to check on her tavern and make necessary improvements as soon as possible.
The future remained uncertain, yet Yize felt a lingering intuition that something significant was on the horizon.
"My wife, it's so costly to ride. Why not just walk there? We can save the money," Xiao Sheng suggested, but Yize dismissed his words, choosing not to respond any further.
"My wife," Xiao Sheng said, gently tugging at her sleeve in an attempt to persuade her.
"No," Yize replied firmly, standing her ground like a statue.
This outing marked the first time Yize had taken him out. Xiao Sheng, who typically preferred walking out of a reluctance to spend money on rides, felt that Yize's decision to ride was an unnecessary expense.
He stood quietly to the side, feeling dejected.
Xiao Sheng had never considered that the daily meals he enjoyed and the gifts he received from her far outweighed the cost of a simple ride measured in just a few copper coins.
Yize couldn't help but feel a sense of amusement as she glanced at his defeated expression. From the moment they had been waiting at the village entrance, he had been insisting that he could walk to town, claiming it wasn't too far.
Yet, how could she possibly allow him to make that trek? Four miles was no trivial distance, and even she, as a woman, wouldn't subject herself to such a long walk. It wouldn't be right for her man to endure it, either.
"Yize, are you heading to town?" At that moment, a bullock cart emerged from the village entrance, and Yize breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yes, Aunt Liu. How much is the fare for three?" Yize inquired after the three of them had settled into the cart.
"Still the same. Four copper coins each," Liu Zi An responded.
Xiao Ling Ling felt a pang in his heart as he watched Yize nonchalantly pull out twelve copper coins from her bosom. It was enough for two days' worth of meals, and yet she gave it away without a second thought.
Just earlier, Xiao Ling Ling had considered advising Yize to walk to save money, but he realized there was little he could do when even Xiao Sheng seemed unable to alter her decision.
"Here," Yize said as she handed the coins to Liu Zi An.
"Yize, which of these two did you marry last week?" Liu Zi An inquired, her curiosity piqued. She had attended Yize's wedding last week, but the resemblance between them was so striking that she couldn't tell which young man had been part of the ceremony.
"Ah, it's Sheng Er, Aunt Liu," Yize replied, gesturing toward the man beside her. "And this is his brother, Xiao Ling Ling," she continued, introducing the other young man next to Sheng Er.
"I heard you've purchased this man. Are you planning to hold a wedding for him as well?" Aunt Liu inquired, her mind drifting to Xiao Sheng's recent wedding. She recalled that Yize had done something unconventional before, hosting a wedding for someone considered merely collateral. Given that she had acquired another, it seemed likely that history might repeat itself.
Xiao Ling Ling perked up at Aunt Liu's question. He still remembered what his brother had mentioned the other day, but he was eager to hear Yize's confirmation directly.
"Oh yes. You must come to my wedding next week, Aunt Liu," Yize responded quickly, a hint of awkwardness evident as she scratched her head instinctively.
"Hahaha. Absolutely. I wouldn't miss it for the world," Liu Zi An replied earnestly. "How could I let such a momentous occasion go by?"
The two women engaged in lively conversation during the ride, their laughter and chatter filling the air, while the two men remained quietly reserved. Their silence enveloped the ride until they finally reached town.
Yize wasn't particularly grateful about the absence of other passengers; rather, she felt a sense of relief that her men wouldn't have to crowd together, sparing them from the discomfort of limited space.