Chapter 8: Husband, I Really Miss You

After three days of recuperation, Ah Xun’s injuries had slightly improved. He could move around a bit near the courtyard and didn’t feel weak or unwell after sitting for a while.

However, He Miaojiao noticed the man’s pale lips and began to calculate the ingredients she had at home to provide for him. They were mostly rice and vegetables, and the most nutritious thing was just one egg laid daily by the old hen in the backyard. She felt that if this continued, Ah Xun’s nutrition would definitely fall short.

Now that the man could eat food other than rice soup and noodles, it was necessary to give him a good supplement.

That morning, before dawn, He Miaojiao got up to make dough and steam buns.

She had made an appointment with Jufang, the wife of Da Hu, to go to Xie Shui Town together for the market, so she thought she’d get up early to prepare some buns.

This way, while she was away from home, Ah Xun would have enough food for the day, and she could also bring something to eat on the way.

Although the restaurants in town weren’t expensive, He Miaojiao was still reluctant to spend that money.

In the early morning, Ah Xun, due to his injuries, had been sleeping deeply lately.

The sounds of He Miaojiao busy steaming the buns in the courtyard did not wake him; it was the enticing aroma that roused him.

As he opened his eyes and pushed open the door, he saw the rising smoke, and the smell of the buns wafted through the air.

Dressed in azure clothes, He Miaojiao was busy moving among the wisps of white steam, looking like a scene from a peaches and plums paradise.

At that moment, the man felt utterly enamored with the sight before him.

If he could have such a beloved companion for life in this mountain village, it wouldn’t be bad at all.

“Ah Xun, good morning! Did you sleep well last night?” He Miaojiao smiled brightly as she picked buns from the plate.

“Yeah, I slept really well,” the man replied, then went to fetch water to wash up.

“I’m going to be back a bit late today, so if you’re hungry, just eat these buns. They’re filled with mushrooms and cabbage, and they’re really tasty. Remember to boil some water to heat them before lunch; just don’t eat them cold.”

He Miaojiao took a clean cloth, stuffed a few buns inside, and wrapped it up. “I’ve arranged to meet Jufang at the village entrance, so I can’t stay to have breakfast with you.”

“Okay,” the man nodded, a bit disappointed, as he had hoped they could at least have breakfast together today.

Ah Xun loved watching He Miaojiao eat; she had such a cute way of eating. She wasn’t overly delicate, but also didn’t gobble down her food. Her sparkling eyes looked earnestly at her meal, and when her tender little mouth chewed, her cheeks would puff up a bit, making her endearing to watch.

He Miaojiao then went into the house, brought out a bag, packed the buns she had just prepared, took a basket of mushrooms, and cheerfully told Ah Xun she would see him later.

The man stood outside the courtyard watching her until she was out of sight, feeling a bit downcast.

However, thinking about seeing her later made him feel a mixture of sweetness and sourness in his heart.

***

Xie Shui Town was not far away. He Miaojiao and Jufang took Da Hu’s donkey cart and arrived in half an hour.

They first found a spot in the market to sell the mushrooms and mountain goods they brought to exchange for some money.

Living near the mountains, they could pick wild foods whenever they wanted, but people in town were not in the same situation.

The mushrooms He Miaojiao collected were giant umbrella mushrooms, which only grow for a few days after the rain. They are particularly meaty, aromatic, and have a higher price. He Miaojiao had picked these carefully the day before to sell at the market, selecting only the big, well-shaped ones.

Plus, she was sweet-natured, making her appealing to buyers, and in no time, they all sold out, earning over a hundred coins.

Jufang also sold her own picked mushrooms and some mountain goods.

By the time it was around noon, the two planned to eat before starting their shopping.

The market was bustling with activity, with an array of goods on display, especially food, which was rich and varied.

The air was filled with a mix of aromas: fried, stewed, and soups, everything one could imagine was available.

He Miaojiao felt her mouth watering as she stood in front a lamb soup stall, unable to move her feet.

Xie Xi Village was situated in the mountains and lacked large plains. The fields were difficult to cultivate and needed to pay taxes, which meant that although they wouldn’t go hungry, the villagers weren’t wealthy. They usually only had chicken or fish occasionally, and they would only have pork during festivals.

The lamb soup was fresh and delicious; a bowl cost twenty-three coins, which He Miaojiao couldn’t quite bring herself to spend.

“Jufang, let’s eat here at noon. I brought the buns I made this morning; they’re filled with cabbage and mushrooms. You should try them,” He Miaojiao suggested, finding a shaded spot near the lamb soup stall, hoping to savor the soup aroma while eating her buns.

Jufang laughed, noticing how eager she was and feeling a sense of affection. “Sister, if you want to eat this soup, it’s my treat. Let’s order a bowl and enjoy it with your buns and some bread; that should be enough to fill us.”

Although Jufang’s family wasn’t wealthy, Da Hu was the only adult laborer, with old and young to feed. They weren’t much better off than He Miaojiao, who only had herself to care for.

“No, it’s fine, sister. I didn’t mean to push for a meal, and you still have a lot of things to buy this afternoon, right? Save your money and don’t spend frivolously; you borrowed a lot of clothes for Ah Xun from Da Hu, didn’t you?” 

Saying this, He Miaojiao felt that she should actually be treating Jufang! “Sister, how about I treat you?”

“Sister, don’t be so formal with me. Your life is also tight…”

In the end, after some back and forth, they decided not to buy the lamb soup and exchanged dumplings and buns for their lunch instead.

***

In Xie Xi Village.

Ah Xun was alone at home, feeling quite bored.

Today, without the company of He Miaojiao to chat and laugh with, and not seeing her figure dancing around before him nor hearing her sweet and clear voice buzzing in his ear, the world felt incredibly quiet.

What he had once thought to be a beautiful countryside now seemed less appealing without her. He felt empty inside and couldn’t muster any interest in anything.

At noon, following the method He Miaojiao had taught him, he warmed up the buns.

Though they were simple cabbage buns that he had already eaten in the morning, he still found them delicious and could eat them for dinner without getting tired of them.

Every time he heard footsteps approaching the courtyard wall, the man would perk up his ears to listen closely.

He hoped to hear her push open the courtyard door, eager to see her charming smile and to hear her sweet voice calling out, “Ah Xun, brother!”

In the afternoon, as the man lay in bed, feeling a bit sleepy, his memories and thoughts gradually drifted away.

“Ah Xun, brother! You’re back!” As he pushed open the door, he saw He Miaojiao calling out to him with a beaming smile.

She ran towards him, leaping into his embrace.

Her delicate white arms wrapped around his neck, and she stood on tiptoes, pressing her lips against his.

With her eyes closed, he could see her trembling eyelashes and felt her floral scent wafting toward him.

Ah Xun clasped her tiny waist in his broad palm and responded passionately.

After a moment, this dreamy, long kiss came to an end, and He Miaojiao lowered her gaze.

The man looked down and saw her cheeks flushed with shyness, and her slightly swollen lips quirked up for a moment, followed by her soft and timid whisper, “Husband, I really miss you…”

His breath caught, and he swept her off her feet, carrying her toward the bed.