Chapter 18:  Husband, Are You Jealous?

Zhao Chunhua’s hand froze, and her voice became sharp. “You dead girl! It’s just a pair of shoes. Why can’t you give them to me? You came from my womb. Why can’t you give your mother something when you come back for a visit?”

“These shoes aren’t mine. They’re my mother-in-law’s,” Chu Yue said. “Yesterday, I went to the fields, and my shoes were stolen from the field bank, I don’t know by whom. My mother-in-law gave me a pair of hers to wear temporarily.  After all, I’m coming back for a visit. I can’t go without shoes. People will say the Lu family is abusing their daughter-in-law.”

Seeing that Zhao Chunhua was still staring at her shoes, Chu Yue continued, “I have to return these shoes to her. If I give them to Mother, what will I use to return them?  Things are already difficult enough for me at the Lu family. Mother, please don’t make things harder for me.”

Seeing that she couldn’t get anything from Chu Yue, Zhao Chunhua impatiently waved her hand.

“Alright, alright. Your husband should be rested by now. You should go back early, so you don’t have to walk at night.”

Chu Yue nodded and left Zhao Chunhua’s room.

As she came out, Lu Xinghe was standing under the eaves of the main hall, waiting for her.

He hadn’t intentionally eavesdropped on the conversation inside. Their voices weren’t particularly hushed, and his hearing was naturally sharp, so he couldn’t help but hear what was being said.

He understood that Chu Yue was deliberately playing the victim to avoid Zhao Chunhua’s nagging.

He also felt a pang of sympathy for her. Her situation in the Chu family had been so difficult.

Seeing her come out, he picked up the basket beside him and said, “Let’s go home.”

Chu Yue hummed in agreement and looked towards the entrance of Xiao Tao’s room. She saw the little girl standing at the doorway, biting her lower lip, her face full of reluctance.

Chu Yue didn’t say anything, but she smiled at her and quickly followed Lu Xinghe out of the courtyard.

“Yueyue.”

As Chu Yue and Lu Xinghe walked side by side, they heard a familiar voice.

She turned her head and saw Wu Yong, the boy who had grown up as Chu Yue’s childhood sweetheart next door.

While not particularly handsome, he was clean and neat.

“Wu Yong?  Weren’t you learning carpentry in Liushu Village? Why are you back?”

The young man didn’t answer Chu Yue immediately. He glanced at the tall and handsome man beside her, then refocused his gaze on her.

Wu Yong was two years older than Chu Yue, sixteen this year.  Originally, he wanted to take advantage of his youth and learn carpentry skills early so that he could propose to Chu Yue in two years, when he turned eighteen, and spend the rest of his life with her.

But when he heard the news, she had already been sent to Banpo Village by the Chu family father and son.

He wanted to go to Banpo Village and bring her back, but his mother stopped him.

She said that Chu Yue had already been at the Lu family for a day, and the deed was already done.  If he did that, he would only ruin her reputation, so he reluctantly held back.

Today, he heard she was coming back for a visit.  He didn’t even eat lunch and waited outside the courtyard just to see Chu Yue come out.

“I heard you’re married?”

The young man’s expression was gloomy and suppressed, a stark contrast to his usual sunny and cheerful demeanor around her.

Chu Yue had never seen Wu Yong with this kind of expression, leaving her feeling a bit flustered, as if she were a heartless and unfaithful person.

But she was now married, and some things couldn’t be left open to fantasy.

She gathered her courage, pulled Lu Xinghe’s slightly rough hand, and nodded. “Yes, I’m married. Let me introduce you. This is my husband, Lu Xinghe.”

Lu Xinghe felt the soft touch of her hand in his large palm and held her hand back.

Looking at their hands clasped together, a hint of hurt flashed in Wu Yong’s eyes.

After a moment, he forced a smile. “Congratulations.”

Chu Yue nodded.

“Thank you.” Her face held a hint of apology. “But I’m afraid I can’t chat with you for long. Otherwise, we’ll have to walk back in the dark.”

Wu Yong smiled. “Go back quickly. Be careful on the road.”

Chu Yue nodded and hurriedly pulled Lu Xinghe to turn and leave.

But they had not taken ten steps when they heard Wu Yong call out again, “Lu Xinghe.”

Lu Xinghe’s brow furrowed slightly, and he turned to look at Wu Yong.

“What is it?”

“Treat my little sister well, or I’ll come and snatch her back.” He finished with a raised fist, pretending to be fierce.

Looking at the boy, who was acting tough, Lu Xinghe suddenly found it a bit amusing.

He tightened his grip on Chu Yue’s hand.

“Don’t worry. You won’t have that chance.”

With that, he pulled Chu Yue away.

Wu Yong watched their retreating figures until they completely disappeared from sight. Then he turned and walked towards his own home. As he left, he kept wiping his face with his sleeve.

…

In the courtyard.

Watching the two figures disappear from the gate, Chu Xiao Tao went to Zhao Chunhua and held out a copper coin towards her.

“Mother, this is the money Sister gave me. Xiao Tao is afraid she can’t keep it well.  Mother, you should keep it.”

Zhao Chunhua smiled and took the copper coin from Xiao Tao’s palm.

“Xiao Tao, you’re so sensible.” She squatted down and looked at Xiao Tao. “Your sister only gave you one copper coin?”

Xiao Tao nodded obediently. “Sister said she’s not having a good time now. Brother-in-law only gave her one copper coin, because it’s so little, she couldn’t give it to Mother, so she told me to use it to buy snacks.”

A five-year-old child wouldn’t lie.

Hearing Xiao Tao’s words, a hint of guilt rose in Zhao Chunhua’s heart.

It seemed that her life at the Lu family was indeed difficult. Maybe she had been wrong to blame her.

…

After leaving Wu Yong’s sight, Chu Yue felt a bit embarrassed and wanted to pull her hand back, but she found that Lu Xinghe was holding her hand tightly.

She had no choice but to let him continue holding her hand.

They walked hand in hand past many houses in Niutou Village. Many people cast ambiguous glances at them, and some whispered.

“I thought that after what Chu Youqian did, Er Ya’s life wouldn’t be easy after marrying into that family. Look, her husband is so attentive to her.”

“Yeah, they’re even holding hands while walking.  The young couple is so loving.”

“It’s truly enviable.”

Hearing everyone’s chatter, Lu Xinghe’s lips curved slightly upward.

Chu Yue was a bit embarrassed by all the attention and wanted to leave as soon as possible.  With that thought in mind, she quickened her pace.

Once they left the village of Niutou and headed towards the mountains, Lu Xinghe released Chu Yue’s hand.  He noticed that she seemed a little embarrassed.

“You mentioned earlier that your neighbor, Uncle Wu, is a traveling doctor.  Is that Wu Yong his son?” Lu Xinghe asked as they walked, keeping an eye on Chu Yue’s expression.

Chu Yue nodded. “Yes. He’s two years older than me. He always took good care of me.”

There was nothing improper between her and Wu Yong, so there was no need to hide it.

Lu Xinghe hadn’t been with Chu Yue for long, but he knew her well enough to not think too much about it.

“You should keep some distance from him in the future.”

Hearing this, Chu Yue tilted her head and looked at Lu Xinghe.

“Husband, are you jealous?”