Chapter 40 2/2

Huo Shu didn’t say much, and the group of them had breakfast in the hall.

They ate noodles made with preserved pork belly and vegetables left over from yesterday’s feast.

“Now that it’s December, the New Year is just around the corner. The major events in the family have been taken care of. There’s nothing much left to do. Daniao, you might as well go back early this year for the New Year,” Ji Yangzong said to the farmhand at the table. “You can pack up and go back today. There’s plenty of good food left on the table. You spend most of your time away from home throughout the year, and it’s not easy for the family.”

Daniao, who was not from Mingxun Village but from an outside village, was very happy to hear that he could go back early for the New Year. He quickly said, “Thank you, Master.”

He wasn’t from Mingxun Village. He was from a tenant farmer’s family in another village. Because his family had a hard time, he came out to work as a farmhand. He didn’t have many chances to go home for festivals throughout the year. He could only go back once a year, at the end of the year.

In December, the sound of firecrackers could be heard everywhere, making people miss home even more.

After Ji Yangzong finished speaking, he looked at Huo Shu again. “Yesterday, I noticed that your master didn’t come to the feast. I think he’s still upset about what happened before. Since you have some free time, why don’t you go to the city to see him? After all, you’re still working under him, and you can’t just stay silent about it.”

Huo Shu agreed. Even if Ji Yangzong hadn’t mentioned it, he would still have gone.

After breakfast, Huo Shu went to the city.

Ji Yangzong was going to send back the tables, chairs, and stools borrowed from the village, as well as the pots, bowls, and utensils used for the feast.

Huang Manjing picked out some leftover chicken and duck elbows and other intact meat and vegetables to send to Yuan Huiru. She thought it was hard for her to raise her adopted son alone, and now that Huo Shu had come to their house, leaving her alone made her feel guilty.

Now that they were a family, they had to move around more.

After going to Zhao’s house and coming back, Huang Manjing found that Taoyu hadn’t gotten up yet. She prepared another bowl of noodles and knocked on Taoyu’s door.

After a while, there was a rapid sound of footsteps inside the room. After the door was opened, it was quickly closed again.

Huang Manjing was a little dumbfounded when she saw the guy running so fast. After closing the door, she went in and put down the noodles.

“It’s freezing. In the past, I used to come in as I pleased. This morning, I had to open the door myself.”

“You silly child, you’re married now. Can I still come into your room as I please? From now on, you’ll have to come out to have breakfast. I won’t bring it to you again.”

Taoyu quickly put on thick clothes and wrapped herself up before going to the table to slurp up the noodles.

“Yeah, I almost forgot that I’m married now.”

Mainly because after the ceremony, eating, drinking, and using the toilet were all done at home. When she woke up, she was still in her familiar room. There was no alertness to waking up in a strange environment after falling asleep, so she still felt as if she hadn’t gotten married.

Huang Manjing sighed. It was a good thing she hadn’t been married off. Otherwise, how could she bear such a temperament?

She quietly watched her son slurp up the noodles, which smelled delicious. His complexion was rosy, and his spirits were good. Tentatively, she asked, “Are you feeling okay? Your body isn’t uncomfortable, is it?”

Taoyu shook her head earnestly and said, “No, I’m fine.”

Except for being poked a couple of times by Huo Shu last night in their bridal chamber, which hurt a bit, there was nothing else uncomfortable. But it was better after they didn’t continue afterwards.

But, come to think of it, when Huo Shu’s big frame pressed over, he felt a bit breathless. If they had become a couple without wearing masks, he would have been really scared.

Huang Manjing immediately understood the subtlety.

“He really shouldn’t spoil you anymore.”

“Huh?”

Taoyu looked at his mother, puzzled.

“It’s nothing; hurry up and eat.”

“By the way, where is he?”

“He went to the city.”

—

When Huo Shu arrived outside the butcher’s shop, Fang He was just opening the door and was slightly surprised to see him.

“Huo ge, you’re here.”

“Yeah.”

Huo Shu replied, “Has Master Qiao come?”

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a somewhat unpleasant voice behind him: “Oh, the groom has time to come today.”

Huo Shu turned around and saw Qiao Tuzi walking over with his hands behind his back.

His brow furrowed slightly, but instead of arguing with Qiao Tuzi, he followed him into the shop.

Seeing the somewhat discordant atmosphere, Fang He frowned and hurriedly followed inside.

“You came at the right time. I just happened to have something to discuss with you.”

Once inside the shop, Qiao Tuzi walked around to the counter as if it were an ordinary matter, took out his knives and tools, and began sharpening them on the grinding stone.

“My shop here is just this small. I don’t have the ability to handle a lot of people in the long term. Now that you’re married, it might not be convenient for you to come to the city every day.”

Qiao Tuzi said, “To be honest with you, I had planned to pass this shop to my son-in-law. Now that Miss has settled her marriage, the shop will belong to my son-in-law.”

Huo Shu could tell that this was an eviction order. Since that was the case, he wasn’t the kind of person to stubbornly cling on. He said, “Alright, then I won’t come over anymore.”

Seeing that Huo Shu showed no regret at all about not inheriting the shop, Qiao Tuzi couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed. Seeing how readily he agreed, he said, “You learn things quickly. It shouldn’t be difficult to start afresh elsewhere. Even if you don’t do this business, your father-in-law is capable enough to find you something else to do.”

Huo Shu ignored the sour words, “Thank you for taking care of me during these days, Master Qiao.”

“What care could I possibly give you? I don’t have that ability.”

Huo Shu had no intention of getting into a verbal altercation with anyone, especially since Qiao Tuzi had treated him fairly before. Instead of listening to him complain here, he simply bowed slightly and said, “I’ll take my leave.”

Qiao Tuzi watched as the person walked away with big strides, feeling stunned. It felt like he had punched cotton.

Clearly, he had kicked the person out, but it seemed as if the person had voluntarily quit.

Qiao Tuzi felt even more uncomfortable. With a clank, he threw the knife onto the chopping board.

Fang He glanced at Qiao Tuzi tentatively and followed him out. “Huo ge!”

Huo Shu, already on horseback, looked at Fang He running out. “What is it?”

Fang He looked apologetic. “Well, about Master’s matter…”

“It’s none of your concern.”

“No, it is.”

Fang He lowered his head suddenly and said, “I only found out after Master came back from the county. He had his eye on you from the beginning. He originally intended to betroth Qiao Qiao to you, so that his skills could be passed down to someone. Master had planned to talk to you about the marriage proposal as soon as he returned, but he suddenly learned about your engagement, and he was very angry. I proposed marriage to him in his anger, and he agreed in a fit of pique. Now, both families are preparing for the wedding.”

Fang He felt increasingly uncomfortable as he spoke, especially since Huo Shu had been driven away today. He felt even more guilty: “At such a moment, I still did this; I feel really sorry.”

Huo Shu’s brow furrowed slightly. “I’m not interested in Miss Qiao, nor am I interested in the shop. It’s a good thing that your engagement can be arranged. There’s no need to feel guilty; these things should have been yours.”

“But… but what will you do in the future?”

Huo Shu said, “There are thirty-six trades. I may still find a way out in one of them. Go back; it’s okay.”

Fang He watched as Huo Shu rode away on his horse and sighed, “Huo ge, come and go often in the future!”

Huo Shu waved his hand and walked away with his horse.

He had never thought of staying in this business forever. But before, his days were occupied with Taoyu’s matters, and he hadn’t thought much about his livelihood.

Even if there were changes, they wouldn’t happen until next spring at the earliest. It was a bit out of sync for the time being.

Huo Shu thought to himself, Could it be that he would be idling around at his father-in-law’s house soon after getting married?

“Huo ge!”

A shout interrupted Huo Shu’s thoughts. He turned his head and saw Ge Liang.

“You just got married, and you’re already out!”

Huo Shu ignored Ge Liang’s teasing and saw that there were two or three other men with him.

“What are you here for?”

“I heard that there’s a wealthy merchant in the city building a restaurant and recruiting workers. I was leading a few guys from the village to apply, but unexpectedly, the announcement came out the day before yesterday, and they had already filled all the positions by yesterday.”

Ge Liang sighed, “Taxes have increased this year, and there are many people looking for work, but there are few jobs available. The wages for workers are lower than usual, and there are still many people eager to work. There are simply fewer job opportunities, but more people looking for work.”

Huo Shu glanced at the men following Ge Liang. Their clothes were patched, and their faces were filled with the despair of not finding work.

When he was young, his family also relied on a few acres of thin fields to make a living, so he knew how difficult life could be under layers of exploitation.

“What about the docks?”

Ge Liang shook his head. “Those ships already have their own strong labourers. They hardly need to hire extra workers.”

“If we can’t find any casual work by the end of the year, we won’t have any free time next spring. We’ll have to spend most of the year in the fields, with no additional income. According to the taxes, life will be very difficult.”

Huo Shu didn’t mention that he had just lost his job earlier.

“Let’s keep looking.”

“Alright.”

Ge Liang nodded. “In a few days, let’s have a drink together. We’ll see if there are any jobs available while we still have time.”

Huo Shu bought a bag of candied chestnuts from a street vendor on his way back. When it started raining, he hurriedly rode back, arriving at the entrance of the Ji family’s courtyard. From afar, he saw Taoyu pacing back and forth under the eaves.

“Welcome back! Did you get caught in the rain?”

Taoyu happily ran over when she saw the person leading the horse.

Huo Shu quickly grabbed her and pulled her back under the eaves. “It’s okay; the rain isn’t heavy.”

With that, he took off his cloak and pulled out the chestnuts he had bought from his chest.

Taoyu took the still-warm chestnuts, her eyes shining. But when she noticed the sugar frost on Huo Shu’s head and the slightly red nose that the wind had blown, she put the chestnuts in the side pocket of her herbal bag and stretched out her arm to touch Huo Shu’s face, which was still warm from being covered.

Huo Shu’s brow relaxed. “Not cold.”

The two of them walked into the house together.

Seeing Taoyu holding a long cloak in one hand and chestnuts in the other, Ji Yangzong said, “Welcome back.”

Taoyu turned to Huo Shu and said, “I’ll take the cloak to dry.”

“Did your master say anything?”

Huo Shu said straightforwardly, “He said to find another way to make a living.”

He briefly explained what had happened today.

Ji Yangzong slapped the table with a bang. “That old Qiao, big-headed but small-minded! Even if he can’t become family, isn’t he still a fellow villager? How outrageous!”

“Well, it’s a good thing that Master Qiao found a new son-in-law.”

Ji Yangzong frowned. Although Huo Shu had learned the butchering skills quite well, he could still start over on his own.

But halfway through, without Master’s guidance and introduction, others wouldn’t recognise him as a butcher. Even if there were jobs available, they would still prefer those two well-known and familiar butchers.

“Butchering isn’t a desirable occupation anyway. Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye out for other jobs. Let’s just have a peaceful New Year first.”

Although he said so, Ji Yangzong couldn’t help but worry about the current job market. He, as the village head, knew the situation better than anyone else.

If there were no jobs available, they could just focus on peeling chestnuts for him, and he would pay them wages.

Seeing Huo Shu returning from his conversation with her father, Taoyu noticed that he was peeling chestnuts for her while sitting, but his mind seemed elsewhere, and his expression was somewhat serious.

She was worried that Huo Shu might feel uncomfortable because of Master Qiao’s matter.

“Hire on a daily basis, and I won’t delay payment.”

“How much money do you have to give me?”

Huo Shu raised an eyebrow and looked at the pouting Taoyu.

“Besides my own savings, my in-laws also gave me some money when I got married, and my parents gave me some too.”

Taoyu counted on her fingers, “My husband also gave quite a bit. We have enough to spend. Don’t worry, we can afford to pay for your services for the time being. Just focus on your work.”

Huo Shu couldn’t help but smile at her words, and his gaze softened.

Seeing this, Taoyu stood behind Huo Shu and patted his back, intending to be a considerate little cushion for her husband, who had been working hard all day.

But some people’s shoulders and backs were too hard, all muscle and tendon, and her hands became sore from patting.

“If it really doesn’t work out, I can go diagnose people and make medicinal ointments to sell to street vendors. We can still get by. You…”

Before she could finish her sentence, she felt a tightness around her waist, and suddenly she was pulled into Huo Shu’s arms.

Looking at Huo Shu’s slightly stubbled chin, her heart couldn’t help but beat faster.

She blinked, not yet reacting, when the stubble brushed against her chin and then grazed her cheek.

Taoyu’s face turned crimson, and her breath quickened. Although she was sitting securely in Huo Shu’s arms, she still felt a bit unsettled and grabbed onto his clothes tightly.