dwimmered path

  Chapter 9 “Please. Have a seat, have a seat.” “Madam Guang, your yard is so well-kept. Look how sturdy your chickens and ducks are.” “They're just small things. Madam Zhang, please don't laugh at us.” As soon as Zhang Fangyuan entered the yard, the two women began chatting and laughing as if they were one family. In these matters, he was truly tongue-tied; it really took women to handle the conversation. Asking his aunt to come had been the right decision. He followed obediently behind He Shi, handing over gifts when told, greeting people when instructed; everything was managed very properly. “Shall we have the young lady come out and take a look? It's important for these young people to find each other pleasing to the eye, don't you think, Madam Guang?” After a bit of small talk, He Shi returned to the main topic. Madam Guang was quick to follow suit, calling out towards the house, “Qiu'er!” Zhang Fangyuan waited for her to come out. Judging by Madam Guang's ...

  Chapter 8 “He Ger, why are you back so late?” “If it's raining and there's nothing to do, we should cook dinner early.” “I hurt my leg gathering firewood on the mountain. Getting caught in the rain gave me a chill. I need to wash up.” Xu's mother looked at the person returning with a limp, carrying a half-empty basket, clothes soaked through. He'd been out for most of the day but had only brought back some palm bark. She didn't say anything, but her eyes kept sweeping over the basket, her meaning clearer than if she had spoken outright. “Who doesn't have their share of aches and pains? It's easy to catch a chill in winter. Didn’t your Second Sister cough a bit the other day too? It's all normal, no need to worry.” “Look at you, such a big child, and you still don't know how to chop wood properly? You even fell and hurt your knee, tore such a big hole in your pants. Our family isn't some wealthy, noble household. You should take better care of y...

  Chapter 7 Having been hit, Chen Si indeed stopped pestering Xu He for information about Xu Shaochun. He rubbed his sore chest, hissing sharply, whimpering softly—half from genuine pain, half pretending. The two women on the ox-cart glanced sideways at Xu He, their probing intentions clear in their eyes. Zhang Fangyuan ignored Chen Si, instead frowning fiercely and glaring unkindly at the two women. His hand, resting on his knee clenched into a fist, the knuckles cracking audibly. The women's hearts skipped a beat. They immediately averted their gazes properly, not daring to breathe heavily, and cautiously turned their heads to look elsewhere. Xu He looked at Zhang Fangyuan. Their eyes met briefly across the short distance. Neither spoke. The vest lay peacefully on his lap, blocking most of the cold wind. His hands were covered by the furry vest. The soft, smooth texture was very noticeable on the back of his hands. The rabbit fur was of excellent quality and very warm. His second...