There was only one innkeeper, a woman with a simple and honest look. Perhaps due to the geographical location, the business in Kashag Town was not very good. When she saw a guest coming, bonus with Tunshe Nalin offered a sky-high price as well, she diligently brought a charcoal basin and hot wine and hurriedly cooked a few of her signature dishes.
Butter fruit, baked barley steamed buns, mushroom soup, and hand-pulled lamb chops are all authentic specialties of southern Jiangsu. It can be said to be the most sumptuous meal I have had since coming to southern Jiangsu. After just one sip of the mushroom soup, the delicious flavor immediately rushed to my head, making me sigh that I had unearthed a treasure in this remote town. My appetite was immediately whetted, and I buried my head in eating. I ate half full, and when I looked up, I found that Tunshe Nalin had not touched his chopsticks at all.
“Why don’t you eat again? It’s delicious!” I picked up two lamb chops and poured a bowl of soup for him. I looked at him eagerly. Only then did Tunshe Nalin pick up the bowl, take a sip, and eat half a lamb chop.
“You have such a small appetite, yet you are so tall and so strong. Are you a cultivator?” I muttered, took a bite of the baked bun, and felt a little thirsty. I glanced at the porcelain bottle of wine soaking in the basin of hot water next to it and went closer to smell it. A rich and refreshing fragrance mixed with milk wafted to my nose. I saw that the wine inside was milky white, and there were some plant-like things soaked in it. I felt curious and greedy.
“This is our Fanshan Cuo. Xiao Ah Lang looks like a foreigner. You probably have never drunk it, right?”
“Fanshan Cuo?” I took a sip, the sweet milk and rice aroma lingered on my lips and teeth, the aftertaste lingered. I was suddenly amazed. “This is too delicious! What kind of wine is it?”
“I grew this barley myself and mixed it with milk tea to cook. It’s perfect for keeping warm in the winter.” The proprietress held her head high with a proud look on her face. “We are the only family in this town that can brew this!”
I drank several mouthfuls in a row and handed the other jar to Tunshe Nalin: “Nalin, you try it too.”
Tunshe Nalin took the jar and took a sip.
I stared at him, a little dazed. His way of drinking was incredibly graceful—a jar of rice wine, a small table of food, and somehow, he managed to drink like that of the ancient royal feasts.
“Why are you looking at me like that? What are you thinking?”
Hearing his voice, my ears flushed with heat, I bumped the wine jar into his, and I laughed, saying, “Cheers!”
“……” His wine jar hung in mid-air, clearly unsure of the meaning.
“It means toast, it’s to celebrate… our first day of being together.” I tapped his wine jar again, then pulled my hand back and took another sip. Noticing the faint curve at the corner of his lips, I could tell I had made him smile. Slightly tipsy, I propped my chin on my hand, gazing at him with curiosity. “Hey, can you drink? Have you ever drunk before?”
He put down the wine jar, as if thinking about something: “I have.”
“When have you ever drunk?” I thought to myself that with the strained relationships he had with his own kind, he didn’t seem like someone who would drink with others. Of course, it was possible he had drunk sacrificial wine during rituals.
“It was a long time ago.”
My heart moved, and I tried to ask, “Could it be that you drank with your old lover?”
“Do… you mind?” He asked back.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Am I that petty?” I tapped his wine jar again. “Since you’ve fallen for me and decided to be with me, then you’re mine from now on. I have a future with you—why bother getting hung up on the past? We’re both adults; who hasn’t had a few past?”
“A few past?” His brow furrowed slightly. “You’ve had… a few?”
Here it comes—the dreaded question from my boyfriend. I straightened my back. “Haven’t I told you about this before… before you, there are only two. One at seventeen and another at twenty-one. Just two.”
“Seventeen… that young… and you already had a lover?”
“Aiya, I was young and naive back then. Early relationships are quite common in the city. Nowadays, kids even start dating in elementary school.” I took a sip of my drink, changing the subject. “When we get to the city, there will be so many new things to see. I’ll show you everything—good food, good drinks, and fun things to do. Oh, and by the way, Saibang and Masuo are eager to go to the city too. I’ll have someone bring them out when we get back.”
“You like… those two kids?”
I nodded. “They’re quite adorable. But is there a rule in your village that forbids villagers from leaving? Who made that rule? The tribe leader? It’s such a pity to keep such young kids trapped in the mountains.”
He was silent for a moment, then said, “Afterward, I’ll send the transportation official… to arrange for the kids to be taken out.”
“That’s great!” I smiled, happy for the children. Since the tribe leader held such reverence for him, his words would surely be effective. I tapped his jar again. “So you’re the first to break the old customs in your village. How great, Tunshe Nalin. I must toast to you.”
I tilted my head to drink, only to realize that the jar was already almost empty.
“Qin Ran, stop drinking… your… face is really red.”
I put down the wine jar, only then realizing I felt a bit dizzy. My cheeks were burning. The wine was sweet and smooth, going down easily, but I hadn’t expected it to have any strength—seemed like the aftereffect was starting to kick in.
“Aiya, I forgot to tell the gentlemen. This wine goes down easily, but it has a strong aftertaste. The snow outside is getting heavier, and it looks like the mountain will be closed off tomorrow. How about you spend the night upstairs?”
“No need, we still need to head back to the city.” I stood up, but my head spun for a moment, and my body swayed. I also felt a slight pressure in my lower abdomen, already starting to feel the urge to pee.
“Proprietress, do you have a bathroom?”
“There’s one in the rooms upstairs. No one’s staying there, so Xiao Ah Lang can choose any room to use.”
I took the key and was about to head upstairs, but my steps felt unsteady. I nearly missed a step on the narrow, steep wooden staircase when Tunshe Nalin caught me just in time. “I’ll help you up.” He said.
“En.”
He half supported and half carried me up the stairs, and I staggered into the bathroom. My feet probably froze from stepping on the snow, and I slipped and fell on the ground. I cried out in pain.
“Ah, my butt!”
The wooden door behind me made a “bang” sound, and a pair of hands reached under my underarms and picked me up.
I leaned on Tunshe Nalin’s solid and broad chest and whimpered dizzily, “It hurts…”
He was silent for a moment: “Let me take a look.”
“Hmm?” My brain was a little out of sorts, and before I could come to my senses, I felt my fur coat being lifted up and rolled up to my waist, my trousers belt loosened, and my outer pants slid down to my knees. I felt a chill at the end of my spine, and I shuddered, and then I came to my senses. When I opened my eyes, I saw myself and Tunshe Nalin behind me reflected in the rusty mirror in front of me—I was wearing the traditional southern Jiangsu costume that he had changed for me… I had no underwear inside.
My cheeks were burning hot, and I hurried to grab my pants, but he grabbed my wrists.
“Don’t you want to use the toilet? You can’t stand steadily.”
“You don’t have to…” My voice trembled with a mix of embarrassment and alcohol, but Tunshe Nalin said nothing, simply lifted my legs and carried me to the bathroom. This posture was like holding a child to pee, which made me feel ashamed. I felt it was more embarrassing than vomiting on him. I felt so embarrassed in front of him that I twisted my waist and struggled, “I don’t need your help, I can do it myself…”
“Ranran, be good.”
He put his lips on my ear and spoke in a deep voice, which was aggressive but also very sexy.
My ears felt numb, and I felt the urge to urinate. I couldn’t help but urinate three thousand feet down.
After a long pee, I couldn’t help but shiver. Realizing that I was actually held by my muse while peeing, I was extremely embarrassed. I struggled to get out of his arms, tied my belt, and staggered out, but my wrist was grabbed, and my body swayed, and I was carried to the sink.
His cold, slender fingers lifted up my face, forcing me to look up at him in embarrassment.
But there was no light in the bathroom, and his face was hidden in the shadows under the backlight, so I couldn’t see his expression clearly.
“Are you angry?”
I shook my head. “I’m, I’m not angry.”
“What if I do something else?”
My mind was confused, and my thinking was slow: “What do you want to do?”
I didn’t hear a response, and in the next moment, my lips were suddenly covered. The fur coat was pushed up to my waist, and cold fingers gripped my waist firmly.
“Umm!?”
The kiss left me dazed, and the heat on my back felt like it had plunged into a field of snow. My fur coat slid off my shoulders, and a few sharp clicks came from the front—buttons snapping open. When the falling snow invaded my chest, my alcohol-paralyzed brain was awakened by the only remaining shred of reason. I pushed him subconsciously, but he grabbed my hands and clasped them above my head. He was very strong, and I couldn’t help but be frightened and bite his lips.
My wrists were then slowly loosened.
I panted rapidly and looked down.
Between the open garments, the bridal mark on my chest was more and more luscious due to the effects of the alcohol, as if they were wildfires that could burn up the mountains.
This is a symbol that I’ve dressed up as a goddess consort and married the Corpse God. How could Tunshe Nalin not feel disappointed after seeing this? I hurriedly buttoned my clothes and fastened my pants, not daring to look at his expression when I pushed him away: “It’s, it’s time to go. Tunshe Nalin, I don’t want to stay here overnight.”
I had been drinking, and my body couldn’t withstand his attack. If I really had to spend the night here, I would definitely not be able to hold onto the line that I didn’t want to cross with him.
After a moment of silence, he spoke in a hoarse voice: “Wait for me a moment.”
I nodded, ran out of the door, and closed the toilet door for him.
After waiting for a long time downstairs, he finally came down.
Only when I saw that he looked normal and didn’t seem angry did I dare to hold his hand.
I couldn’t help but marvel at how good-tempered he was. If it had been Ming Luo, he would have stormed out. I had never had to soothe Ming Luo because I knew he would always return once he had calmed down. But with Tunshe Nalin, I couldn’t quite figure him out. He was too deep, too mysterious, like a still underground river. Just by looking at the surface, I couldn’t tell if there were hidden currents or whirlpools beneath. All I could do was feel my way through, trying to understand him.
After this, I was sober, and as I walked out holding his hand, I glanced at his lips. The tooth mark I bit was still clearly visible. Fortunately, he had a problem with blood coagulation; otherwise, he would have bled. I felt a little guilty: “I’m sorry, I bit too hard.”
“It’s no problem.” He whispered, his voice still a little hoarse, and held my hand tighter.
“Does it hurt?” I stopped and touched his lips.
My wrist was grabbed: “Qin Ran, if you keep teasing me like this, don’t even think about leaving tonight.”
