Heartthrob of the ’80s: Taming a Rough and Charming Hunk!
Heartthrob of the ’80s: Taming a Rough and Charming Hunk! Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Striving to Raise a Wife

While the man went to gather firewood and start the stove, Xia Li spread a thin cloth on the ground and cleaned all the star grass, laying each stalk out in the sun to dry.

As noon approached, both of them were hungry, so they killed some fresh fish and cooked a large pot of fish soup.

The aroma wafted through the air, and the man was overjoyed, almost beside himself with excitement.

His lips curled up in a smile, and his tall figure eagerly waited by the stove, swallowing hard.

He was inhaling the rich fragrance that filled the house while keeping an eye on the wife he had chosen.

He watched Xia Li’s snow-white profile as she focused on the soup, her soft braid cascading over her shoulder, long eyelashes slightly curled, and her delicate nose perfectly shaped, making him feel delighted just by looking at her.

Her slender hands moved skillfully and casually in front of the large iron pot, seasoning and cooking without any rush.

It didn’t seem like she was cooking; rather, it felt like she was brewing tea or painting, leisurely and content, completely unaffected by the man’s presence nearby.

He couldn’t help but admire her: his wife was amazing! She looked weak, thin, and short (compared to him), yet she could magically turn fish into delicious fish soup so quickly. He really liked and admired his wife!

Unlike him, who could only catch fish or chase after wild chickens and end up breaking their bones, he felt utterly useless.

Thinking of this, his handsome brows furrowed with determination.

He would also work hard to become impressive; he would strive to raise his wife!

(ง •̀_•́)ง

The man caught a total of twelve fish.

Xia Li cooked three, pickled one, and had eight left, which she planned to take to the market to sell.

Of course, it was to exchange for money to buy herself a suitable outfit and see if she could get some disinfectant alcohol and cotton.

Since there were no bowls at home, she found a few old porcelain jars and filled one with fish to send to the neighbor, Old Lady Cui.

After all, she had indeed disturbed the neighbors’ rest last night, and Old Lady Cui and Xie Shuangxiu had been quite fierce, which indirectly helped her.

It took Old Lady Cui a long time to open the door. When she heard Xia Li explain her intention, she peeked through the crack of the door at the thick, fragrant, and delicious fish soup in the jar.

Her wrinkled yet spirited face said nothing, trembling as she reached out and quickly took the jar inside.

“Um…”

Xia Li found her hands empty and saw that the old lady was about to close the door, so she hurriedly said, “If you have some southern tofu at home, adding a bit of tofu to the soup would make it even tastier…”

Okay, the door closed.

After they finished their meal, they took a bucket of live fish and headed to the town market.

The man carried the wooden bucket with his strong arms, his body tall and straight, long legs striding confidently, following closely behind his wife.

The outline of his face under his short black hair was sharp, and his lips were pressed together in a serious and indifferent manner. Even if he deliberately glanced aside, one could still notice his presence.

In the village, a familiar woman greeted Xia Li with a smile and, curious, pulled her aside to ask, “Li Zi, who is this?” She looked at the man, finding him unfamiliar.

Xia Li replied frankly, “He’s a distant relative from my mother’s side.”

The woman looked at the man with a sense of novelty, but when she noticed him coldly sweeping his gaze over her hand holding Xia Li’s, her expression turned even more severe.

“Li Zi, the fish are going to die.”

Xia Li glanced at the wooden bucket, where half a bucket of water was still sloshing around.

Hearing the man’s rough, cold voice, the woman felt awkward and exchanged a hesitant smile with Xia Li.

Xia Li helplessly explained, “His temperament is cold on the outside but warm on the inside; he may seem a bit fierce, sorry about that.”

Upon hearing this, the man looked at Xia Li in surprise, slowly furrowing his brows.

As they continued down the road, they encountered two familiar faces greeting them.

He remained silent, allowing various gazes to fall on him without caring.

After walking a distance, he finally cleared his throat and asked in a muffled voice, “Li Zi… do you think I’m fierce?”

Xia Li was about to take the wooden bucket from his hands and alternated her grip. “Not really; it’s just that you could be a bit gentler when dealing with others…”

“But it’s up to you; that’s your choice. As long as you don’t hurt others, you can do as you like.”

She didn’t want to deliberately “guide” him to be kind and amicable, as how he socially interacted ultimately depended on his own personality.

Even if someone loses their memory, their core personality doesn’t change much.

Xia Li had a feeling that before his head injury, he must have been a reserved and cold person who wouldn’t enjoy mingling with acquaintances.

The man firmly gripped the wooden bucket in his large hand, not giving it to her.

Xia Li bent slightly and lifted her gaze.

They were close to each other, and his other hand reached out quickly, grabbing Xia Li’s hand and holding it tightly—his palm warm and dry.

It was as if he was holding a piece of sweet jelly; he squeezed it tightly before gently letting go while still keeping it in his broad palm.

“Li Zi’s hand can only be held by me.”

He said in a muffled voice, his low tone carrying a subtle hint of allure: “Li Zi, I’m not fierce at all; look, my strength is light, I would never hurt you.”

But…

His wife’s hand was really so smooth and soft.

A suspicious warmth surged on the back of his ears.

@ apricity[Translator]

Immerse yourself in a captivating tale brought to life through my natural and fluid translation—where every emotion, twist, and character shines as vividly as in the original work! ^_^

Leave A Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

@

error: Content is protected !!