RMCF: Chapter 61

 

Chapter 61

Zhang Fangyuan's lips curved upward. He leaned against the doorframe, letting Xu He examine the silver in the bundle carefully. The irregular ingots were heavy and solid, and confirming they were real only made it more unbelievable.

“I earned this running back and forth these past few days.”

Xu He looked at the smug man. So this was why he'd asked for so much money earlier..

He couldn't hide his delight, but he didn't dare show too much joy without getting to the bottom of it. “This isn't a few hundred wen—it's over a hundred teals of silver. How could you earn that in just a few days? Don't tell me…” 

Zhang Fangyuan straightened up. “Don't worry. It's definitely not through any shady dealings.”

He reached out and pulled Xu He closer. “A while back, I ran into a peddler selling perfume. He had good stuff but didn't know their value, so he sold them to me for twenty-two wen per bottle. I took them to the pleasure house and sold them. The top courtesan there offered five teals each to buy the whole lot.”

Xu He was stunned. He was once again shocked at how extravagantly brothels spent money, paying over a hundred taels for perfume. That was a hundred taels, not a hundred wen.

“No wonder I've been catching a faint scent on you lately. It must have rubbed off when you were handling the perfume.” At the time, he had thought it was from visiting the brothel, but hadn't mention it.

Hearing this, Zhang Fangyuan lifted his arm and sniffed. These days, with perfume coming and going, the strong scents had overwhelmed his nose, and he could barely detect the light fragrance on himself. “Does it smell good?”

Unable to smell it himself, he leaned close to Xu He's nose, only to have his hand swatted away.

“I kept a few bottles at home. If you like it, keep them for yourself.”

“Such precious things? A farm household using them would be like a wild pheasant trying to pass as a phoenix.” Xu He said, “Since they sell for so much, why didn't you sell them all? Why keep some back?”

“They have their uses.” Zhang Fangyuan smiled. “I originally kept them for you. If you don't want them, I'll sell those too.” 

“You decide.” Xu He had verified the source of the money and felt relieved. He actually quite fond of money, always feeling that having silver gave him autonomy. But faced with so much now, he wasn't in a hurry to celebrate. His mind was clear. “Even so, why didn't you tell me before?” 

Zhang Fangyuan saw his eyes narrow, his expression dangerous, as if he were a husband hiding money to run away. “I wasn't sure I could sell them for that much. I wanted to wait until things were settled before telling you. Originally, I planned to take you to collect the money tomorrow, but things changed, and I could get it today.”

Xu He nodded slightly.

Then asked, “You sold it to the top courtesan at Yunliang Pavilion?!”

“Yes. She meets many people every day, knows plenty of wealthy folks, and as a woman, she has more ways to move goods than I do.”

Xu He nodded again. “You're that close with her?”

Zhang Fangyuan laughed. “Are you unhappy?” 

Xu He immediately denied it. “No. I just heard from Ao Er that the top courtesan is very beautiful. I haven't met many people. The prettiest person I've ever seen is my Second Sister.”

“That brat. Said he didn't talk nonsense to you.” Zhang Fangyuan said, “I used to work there, so of course I know the top courtesan. We have some acquaintance, nothing more.”

“Then, what does she look like?”

Zhang Fangyuan didn't find Xu He's questions annoying; he was quite happy to answer. “The women and ger in the pleasure house all wear heavy makeup, painted up like fancy roosters all day. I've never looked closely. They all look about the same.” 

Xu He was dubious, but thought it possible. Sometimes Zhang Fangyuan was very sharp, other times quite oblivious.

The truth was, he just didn't understand why, among so many attractive people outside, Zhang Fangyuan had ended up choosing him. 

“Because no matter how many different people I met before, not one of them made me want to make them happy.”

Zhang Fangyuan leaned close to Xu He's ear and whispered a few moving words, making Xu He's ears burn, so hot they seemed to heat his lips. Just as he was about to nibble, “A-Yuan, what did you call He Ger away for? Come out, it's almost time to eat!”

Zhang Shiyue's voice sounded outside the door. Xu He quickly stepped away.

“Ai, will be right there.”

Zhang Shiyue relaxed upon hearing this; seeing how aggressive the man had been earlier, she had worried they might be arguing.

Hearing her footsteps fade, Zhang Fangyuan tried to move closer again, only to be pushed away. 

Zhang Fangyuan protested, “Crossing the river and burning the bridge, killing the donkey after grinding!”

Xu He just focused on tying up the silver, ignoring the sulking big oaf, preparing to carry it home later.

“If you hide things from me again, I won't give you any more money.”

Ten-odd jin of corn felt like nothing to carry, but the same weight in silver felt extraordinarily heavy.

He felt a little lightheaded. Having never handled so much silver before, for a moment, he didn't know how to react.

Their business brought in only two or three hundred wen a day. Over time, that would add up, but it was a gradual increase. A sudden windfall like this felt overwhelming. 

Zhang Fangyuan knew Xu He must be happy, so he said, “Think it over. What do you want to do with this money? It's all yours to manage.”

“Just earned it and you're already thinking of spending it.”

“Use money to make money. If it just sits there, it'll always be the same amount, and after daily expenses, it'll only shrink.”

Xu He pursed his lips. “Let's eat first. Think about it at home.”

“Okay!”

Neither of them showed their joy too obviously, but their eyes sparkled with happiness. Something good had clearly happened.

They didn't know how long they'd been inside, but when they came out, Zhang Fangyuan noticed the sky had darkened. The wind howled and surged toward them in waves. 

This was no longer the pleasant coolness of a night breeze. It had the force to destroy crops and homes.

Since the tea stall was built under a banyan tree, which caught the wind, it was even stronger here.

“Looks like a heavy rain is coming. All the customers have left. Eat quickly, and you two head home early tonight.”

Zhang Fangyuan nodded at Zhang Shiyue's words. He took down the awnings and carried all the tables and benches inside. “We haven't had much heavy rain this summer. Good thing it's coming late at night. If it hit at noon, with everyone's corn spread out to dry, many villagers' crops would be ruined.”

“Yes, summer weather is so unpredictable.”

That night, the four of them ate a simple meal together. Zhang Fangyuan instructed, “Even though the wind is strong here, this stall is newly built and sturdier than our house. It should be fine.”

“Don't worry, I can handle it.” Village folk had always lived in thatched huts and mud-brick houses; they knew how to deal with summer rainstorms.

Lightning began flashing on the horizon. The wind filled their sleeves like sails. 

Right after the meal, without lingering to prepare the next day's tofu, Xu He picked up the bundle Zhang Fangyuan had brought home and got on the cart. They hurried Little Black home as fast as they could, afraid of being caught in the rain.

The wind raged fiercely. Tree branches along the road were tugged like kites, yanked wherever the wind blew. Xu He buried his head against Zhang Fangyuan's side. Even though the wind battered them, his heart felt steady.

Little Black ran fast, but the rain came faster. As they entered the village, raindrops the size of fingertips began pelting the open fields from the grey-black sky. At first sparse, then as the sky flashed white and a thunderclap made them flinch, the rain thickened. Instantly, the downpour roared. 

Zhang Fangyuan quickly pulled off his own clothes and draped them over Xu He. Bare-chested, he hurried the horse onward. The raindrops stung his bare skin. “Tonight's rain is too heavy.”

Xu He pulled the clothes back a little to cover Zhang Fangyuan too. “Rain is bad enough. I hope it doesn't get too windy.”

It only took a quarter of an hour to reach home in the rain, but by the time they entered the courtyard, they were both soaked through.

The chickens and ducks that hadn't been shut in had been sensible enough to go back to their coop on their own. But one foolish duck had lost its way and was wandering aimlessly in the yard, its usually white feathers now muddy and gray. Seeing the humans return, it flapped its wings and quacked even louder. 

Xu He quickly put down the silver, braved the rain to grab the duck and shut it in the coop, then fed the poultry.

Zhang Fangyuan led Little Black to the small stable they had recently built in the back. It wasn't very spacious, so Little Black didn't like sleeping in there. But tonight, the downpour seemed to have frightened him, too. Once he was led into the stable, he stayed put obediently.

“He Ger, don't fuss anymore. Hurry inside and change clothes, take a bath, or you'll catch a fever tomorrow.”

Zhang Fangyuan called for Xu He to come inside while he started a fire in the kitchen to heat water.

Fortunately, they had stockpiled firewood under the stove, or they'd have nothing to burn.

It was a while before Xu He came in. Not only was his whole body soaked, but water was streaming from his hair. The wind and rain raged outside. In no time, the eaves were pouring water like small streams, cascading straight down. The patch of ground under the eaves would surely be pocked with puddles by tomorrow.

They were both drenched. When the water was hot, Zhang Fangyuan carried two large buckets to the washroom and insisted they bathe together.

Xu He watched the well-defined muscles on Zhang Fangyuan's shoulders and back as he carried the buckets and was about to object, but Zhang Fangyuan scolded him, “If you wash one at a time, it'll take forever. Do you want to get sick?”

So he shut his mouth, fetched clean clothes for both of them, and took them inside. Zhang Fangyuan seemed to know he would bring the clothes; in a flash, he was already undressed. 

Xu He's face reddened. He set the clothes aside, turned his back to remove his own heavy, soaked garments. A ladle of hot water poured over his head revived him like a drowning man finding air. Even though it was summer, getting caught in such heavy downpour was still terribly cold.

“Can you reach your back to wash? Need me to help?”

“I can!”

Xu He answered immediately.

“Perfect. I can't reach mine. Come help me.”

“…”

No sooner had he spoken than Zhang Fangyuan came over to Xu He with a bucket, scooped up some water and poured it over his back.

Xu He shot him a glare. Before, when they bathed separately, he could reach his back fine. Yet now that they were bathing together, he suddenly couldn't manage. Strangest thing. 

Afraid Xu He might not be able to scrub his back properly, Zhang Fangyuan obediently sat on a stool, turned his back, and let Xu He wash him.

He waited patiently. Before long, a hand touched his back—slim, with long, elegant knuckles. The calloused palms tickled as they moved, sending a tingling sensation from his back straight to his heart, making his mind wander wander to certain thoughts.

He half-closed his eyes, about to sigh contentedly, when suddenly his back felt a bit raw. That was some aggressive scrubbing.

“You're using a loofah sponge!”

Xu He smiled innocently. “At the tea stall, we scrub the tables with loofah sponges and soapberries.”

Zhang Fangyuan's shoulders were broad, tapering down to a narrow waist. Xu He propped one hand on his back and scrubbed with the loofah sponge in the other. He felt that Zhang Fangyuan's back was so wide, scrubbing it was no different from washing a table.

“You're treating me like a table?”

Zhang Fangyuan turned around and grabbed Xu He's wrist, intending to discipline him. But looking at the wet, bedraggled man before him, he relented, only splashing a little water on his face.

They washed for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. Outside, the rain showed no sign of letting up. Inside, they closed all doors and windows tightly, but the candle flame still flickered from drafts slipping through the cracks.

Zhang Fangyuan held Xu He and carefully dried his hair. Washing on a rainy night like this, it wouldn't dry quickly. But it was still early, so Zhang Fangyuan lit a small charcoal brazier to dispel the dampness. 

Xu He sat on Zhang Fangyuan's lap, feeling hands moving over his head. He could sense the man behind him was getting a little excited. But warmed by the fire, Xu He felt drowsy and didn't want to pay it any mind, as was often the case.

Half-closing his eyes, he leaned against Zhang Fangyuan and yawned. 

Zhang Fangyuan had planned to dry his hair then do other things. He looked down at the person in his arms. It didn't seem like an act. He touched Xu He's cheek, warmed by the fire. “Already sleepy?”

“Mm.” Xu He turned his head, rubbing his cheek against Zhang Fangyuan's neck. “A-Yuan, I want to sleep.”

Zhang Fangyuan couldn't resist Xu He's soft pleading. Though he’d handed over a large sum today and had hoped to collect some reward, seeing this, he simply said, “All right. Sleep. I'll dry your hair and carry you to bed.” 

“Mm…”

Xu He's reply was already thick with sleep. Before long, his breathing became even. Zhang Fangyuan held him tighter. 

Who would have thought—he would sleep until nearly noon the next day. Zhang Fangyuan paced around the room anxiously, not even going to set up his stall.

 

***

 

T/N 

i love these ordinary domestic scenes, they feel so cozy 

 („• ֊ •„) ♥︎

also, not gonna leave you on a cliffhanger so here's a double update ~

 

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