Chapter 37: The New Clothes of the Seedling

The seedling walked behind the man and spread out the clothes, holding them up against his shoulder for comparison, murmuring, “Just right.”

She then shook out the pants, comparing the length, muttering, “The length is also just right.”

“Seedling, are these clothes made for me?” the man turned around and asked. Seeing that the clothes she was holding were made of dark blue fabric, he recognized it as the fabric bought in Pingzhou.

“Yes, I made them based on your old clothes,” the seedling replied. “I should be able to finish them the day after tomorrow.”

“And what about your own clothes? Are they done?” Ah Xun asked, eager to see how the seedling would look in her new clothes, sure that she would look particularly beautiful.

“Not yet,” the seedling shook her head. “I thought your clothes were too worn out, and you only had two sets to rotate, so I prioritized making yours first.”

Ah Xun was a little surprised. He remembered how much the seedling cherished that light green fabric and how, on the way back from Pingzhou, she had taken it out several times, admiring it. She had even gone to Jufang’s house the next day. He hadn’t expected her to make clothes for him first.

This girl never showed her feelings openly. It was only through the little things she did that he realized how much she cared. These simple, everyday actions moved him more than any confession of love. It was subtle, but it stirred him deeply, making him willingly fall for her.

“Seedling,” the man gazed at her deeply, his tone calm but with a hint of testing. “If it wasn’t me that you found back then, would you have treated anyone else the same way?”

“Huh?” Seedling looked up, puzzled. “But it was you that I found, wasn’t it? How could it have been anyone else?”

Upon hearing this, the man suddenly realized how absurd his thoughts were, imagining an imaginary rival for no reason and feeling jealous. He smiled and said, “Right, it can only be me.”

The next day, Ah Xun carried the wild boar to the house of Hu, who knew how to butcher pigs. In the village, it was always Ah Xun who handled the butchering, and to their surprise, they were able to eat wild boar meat—a rare treat!

Since He Feng’s death, the villagers hadn’t had wild meat. Seedling and He Xiangxiang eagerly awaited it, while Jufang’s two children also bounced around, clamoring for roasted boar meat. The courtyard was bustling with activity, almost like a festive celebration.

Hu was busy sharpening his knives, while Seedling and Xiangxiang rushed to find an open space.

Ah Xun helped them gather firewood, and Zhang Guihua and Jufang prepared the seasonings. Together, they quickly got the fire going to roast the whole pig.

After bleeding and skinning the wild boar, cleaning its insides, it was put on a spit over the fire to roast.

Before long, the pig was golden and crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside. The aroma of the roasted meat filled the air, and it was sliced into pieces, the crispy skin adding extra flavor. It was so tender and juicy, and dipping it in different seasonings made it even more delicious.

The scent of the roasted boar wafted far, drawing in nearby villagers. When they saw the wild boar, they immediately knew it was from Ah Xun’s hunting, and they were all amazed, praising it repeatedly.

Some villagers who were close to the He family were invited to try a piece, while others, who weren’t as familiar, couldn’t bring themselves to join but secretly watched and sniffed the air, feeling envious.

Qin Hu’s wife, Chen Granny, and Bai Auntie also arrived, having smelled the fragrance. These three had once visited Seedling’s house to persuade Ah Xun to move away, but now they seemed to have changed their minds.

“Seedling, I misjudged Ah Xun,” Qin Hu’s wife said earnestly. “At first, I thought he was cold and indifferent, with no house, no money, and no clear background. But now, I don’t think so anymore.”

Chen Granny added, “Seedling, listen to me. Don’t mind if he seems distant with others; as long as he treats you well, that’s what matters. Men like him are usually the ones who will cherish their wives, they’re faithful, don’t have tricks up their sleeves, don’t like to wander, and they’re hardworking and obedient. In the future, if you tell him to go east, he’ll never go west.”

Bai Auntie also chimed in, “Yes, he’s even better looking than Qi Shao! If my Bai Shu weren’t with Qi Shao, I’d definitely want to marry her to Ah Xun!”

He Xiangxiang rolled her eyes, thinking to herself, “Even if I want to marry, it still depends on whether his family will accept me!” But she was too busy eating the meat to respond.

Qin Hu’s wife then asked, “Seedling, I heard you went to Pingzhou recently. Did you find out anything about Ah Xun’s family?”

Seedling, already full, wiped her mouth and replied, “No, Qin Hu’s wife.”

“Then, why hasn’t he remembered anything after such a long time? He still can’t find his family…” Chen Granny continued, pausing thoughtfully before leaning in to whisper to Seedling, “Why don’t you marry him and have a few children? That way, even if he remembers his family later, he won’t want to leave you.”

Seedling’s face turned crimson, and she nervously twisted the corner of her clothes. Just as she was about to reject the idea, she heard He Shun’s serious voice: “No. Until Ah Xun’s identity is clear, I won’t agree to anything between him and Seedling.”

He Shun was concerned about the possible truth of Iron Pillar’s words, and if Ah Xun was truly a remnant of the Song family, it could cause trouble later if his true identity were revealed. He didn’t want Seedling to be dragged into it.

Although Seedling didn’t agree with Chen Granny’s suggestion, hearing He Shun’s firm opposition still made her uncomfortable, especially with Ah Xun standing nearby.

The summer bonfire was blazing hot, but Ah Xun seemed to be surrounded by a cold, bone-chilling breeze, as if a cold wind was blowing through him.

The conversation was abruptly cut off by He Shun, and not long after, the roasted wild boar was reduced to bones, which the villagers took home to feed their dogs.

Thus, the impromptu village feast ended, with some happy and others sad.

After receiving the bow and arrows, Ah Xun went hunting in the mountains every day. Seedling had finished the clothes she made for him, but he was reluctant to wear them.

Because the forest was dense with bushes and branches, he was afraid the clothes would get damaged while tracking prey. So, he only wore them when he was resting at home or going into town to sell the game.

Seedling continued to make clothes at Jufang’s house. After a few more days, she had finished two sets of clothes—one was a narrow-sleeve short outer shirt with pants, and the other was a dress, both simple styles.

As soon as she finished, she couldn’t wait to go home and change into the dress. She twirled around in the yard, admiring herself, then went out with He Xiangxiang, both wearing their new dresses, taking a walk around the village. They even went to the river to take pictures, both extremely satisfied with their new clothes.