MFBOWSBTMT Chapter 117

The sky outside was already bright when Qin Yu slowly woke and he got up in a hurry.

 

Ever since entering the Qiao family, he had often slept late, but neither Qiao Ruifeng nor Qiao Suiman ever came to wake him up. If this had been his previous home, he would have long been dragged out to work.

 

Qin Yu pulled the quilt over half his face, his cheeks slightly warm. Last night, Qiao Ruifeng was very gentle, asking if he felt any discomfort every time he moved. Recalling that deep, husky voice, Qin Yu couldn’t help but rub his legs together.

 

He took a deep breath, and the cool breeze made him sober up. After putting on his outer clothes, he left the room.

 

Qiao Ruifeng was not there. Qiao Suiman was in the yard, staring intently at two round bundles. Qin Yu laughed, “Xiao Man, what are you looking at? Where did your brother go?”

 

“He went to the mountain to cut bamboo.”

 

Qiao Suiman’s eyes curved into crescents, then he added, “Qin Yu-ge, Da-ge said one of these bundles is cabbage seeds, the other is radish seeds.”

 

Qiao Suiman lifted his head, his eyes sparkling, “Are we going to plant vegetables?”

 

Qin Yu’s eyes also lit up. He didn’t expect Qiao Ruifeng to remember what he said before. He nodded happily, “Let’s loosen the soil today and fertilize it for two days. Then we can plant the crops. We’ll have food to eat by New Year’s.”

 

Qiao Suiman kept nodding happily, “Mn!”

 

Around noon, Qiao Ruifeng returned, dragging four thick bamboo poles with a few wild ginger and garlic plants in hand.

 

He tossed the bamboo into the yard and said with a smile, “We’ll fence it off before planting so we won’t forget where we planted. I also dug up some ginger and garlic on the mountain. We can plant them by cutting them into pieces.”

 

Qin Yu smiled, revealing his neat teeth. Seeing his fulang happy, Qiao Ruifeng also grinned widely, then quietly asked, “Are you sore anywhere?”

 

Qin Yu quickly glanced at Qiao Suiman. Seeing he was playing happily and not paying attention to them, he relaxed and whispered in a half-scolding tone, “Why ask that in broad daylight! N-no, I’m not sore anywhere.”

 

Qiao Ruifeng scratched his head, also feeling that the timing of his question was wrong, and said with an embarrassed laugh, “That’s good.”

 

It took them three days to prepare the vegetable plot in the front yard. Taking advantage of the good weather and no rain, they quickly planted all the seeds.

 

The front yard was divided into two sections, with the fence as the boundary. The left side was for cabbage, the right for radishes, and the area against the wall was for ginger and garlic.

 

Looking at the two fenced plots, Qin Yu felt very satisfied.

 

“From now on, we’ll have vegetables at home and can pick them whenever we want to eat,” Qin Yu said with a smile.

 

“If we have too much, we can even take them to town to sell like Uncle Ping and the others,” Qiao Suiman said.

 

“Mn,” Qin Yu said, “After spring comes, we’ll clear the backyard too and plant wax gourds and beans. Then we won’t have to worry about not having vegetables to eat.”

 

As Qin Yu looked at the land at home and made plans, Qiao Ruifeng’s heart swelled. He knew Qin Yu considered this his home now.

 

Time flew by, and the sun rose in the east and set in the west. Spring passed and autumn came, cold departed, and heat arrived. Qin Yu has already been in Xiahe Village for three years.

 

The vegetable plots in the front and back courtyards were taking shape. There were vegetables and gourds to eat all year round. Apart from Qiao Chengfu coming back to cause trouble every now and then, there were no other troubles.

 

If there was something to complain about, well, there is.

 

Qin Yu sighed and looked down at his stomach. Over the past three years, he and Qiao Ruifeng had been intimate quite a few times. Qiao Ruifeng would pull him into mischief every few days. This happened even more during the winter when there was no work at home or in town.

 

Judging by other ge’rs in the village, he should’ve had two children by now. However, he still showed no signs of pregnancy.

 

Qiao Ruifeng finished washing and entered the room. Seeing Qin Yu with his head down and looking unhappy, he knew he was overthinking again.

 

Qiao Ruifeng climbed onto the bed and wrapped his arms around Qin Yu from behind. He rested his head on his shoulder and said softly, “You’ve been overworked these past few years. Once I earn more and you can truly rest, the child will come.”

 

Qin Yu relaxed and leaned back, still feeling down. “It’s all because I didn’t take care of myself before and weakened my body.”

 

“A-Yu.”

 

Qiao Ruifeng frowned and said seriously, “You suffered a lot in the past and it wasn’t easy. Don’t blame yourself. If anyone is to blame, it’s me for not being able to provide a better life for you and Xiao Man yet.”

 

Hearing this, Qin Yu felt displeased. “What nonsense are you talking about? Life at home is much better now than before.”

 

Qiao Ruifeng smiled softly. “We will get better and better. Don’t keep thinking about it, alright?”

 

As he spoke, he rubbed Qin Yu’s waist.

 

Since they wanted a child, certain processes certainly couldn’t be skipped.

 

Qiao Ruifeng pressed him down onto the bed. “A few more times, and we’ll have one.”

 

“You…” Qin Yu’s words of refusal were cut off, and soon he was shattered by the impact.

 

With every rise and fall, all his worries slipped away. All he could do was surrender to the overwhelming pleasure Qiao Ruifeng was giving him.

 

The bodies hidden under the quilt were occasionally exposed during the movements. Qin Yu shivered. Qiao Ruifeng quickly pulled the quilt back over them and moved even more intensely.

 

When it was finally over, Qin Yu gasped for breath and softly scolded, “You’re as strong as an ox! We still have to go sell drinks tomorrow!”

 

Qiao Ruifeng coughed lightly. “Xiao Man and I will go tomorrow. You rest at home.”

 

“Hmph.”

 

Qin Yu snorted coldly, then smiled secretly. He was getting more and more skilled at throwing tantrums at Qiao Ruifeng.

 

“A-Yu,” Qiao Ruifeng held him close. “Did someone say something?”

 

Qin Yu opened his mouth but then closed it. After a long while, he said, “I heard some gossip from Aunt Lin and Old Lady Li. I know I shouldn’t care, but I can’t help remembering it.”

 

“Those two shrews.”

 

Qiao Ruifeng said fiercely, “I’ll deal with them sooner or later.”

 

But they didn’t expect the opportunity to come so quickly.

 

Just after New Year and the beginning of spring, Lin Xiuhua came to their door and insisted on matching Qiao Suiman with her good-for-nothing nephew. Both Qin Yu and Qiao Ruifeng were furious. Qin Yu even grabbed her and gave her a thorough beating, finally venting some anger.

 

By the time they returned home, they were both disheveled. Qiao Suiman looked at them with concern. Qin Yu smiled and reassured him, “Don’t worry, we gave them a good beating. I feel much better now.”

 

Chen Xuesheng looked at him with admiration. Qin Yu waved his hand and went back to the room to treat the wound on Qiao Ruifeng’s forehead.

 

He wiped the blood from Qiao Ruifeng’s head and asked worriedly, “Are you really okay?”

 

“I’m fine. I’ve been in so many fights. I know what I’m doing.”

 

“Damn her to hell.”

 

Qin Yu cursed as he applied the herbs Qiao Suiman had found, wrapping them tightly with a cloth strip. Finally, he gently stroked Qiao Ruifeng’s face. “If it leaves a scar, I’ll go scratch her face.”

 

Qiao Ruifeng chuckled. “Alright, A-Yu can vent my anger for me.”

 

Qin Yu smiled. Over the past few years, Qiao Ruifeng had indulged him in almost everything. His own temperament had gradually revealed itself completely, but Qiao Ruifeng liked it, and he enjoyed occasionally acting domineering in front of Qiao Ruifeng too.

 

“I should have slapped him a few more times!” Qin Yu recalled what Lin Xiuhua said and couldn’t help but get angry again.

 

Xiao Man is so well-behaved, sensible, and clever. If he had been born into a better family, people would fight to have him as their fulang. That woman Lin Xiuhua actually dared to have such disgusting intentions.

 

“Hmph,” Qiao Ruifeng also snorted coldly. “She won’t get away with it.”

 

Then Qiao Ruifeng comforted him in a low voice, “Don’t do that again in the future. What if you hurt yourself?”

 

Qin Yu pursed his lips, knowing Qiao Ruifeng was referring to him pounding his chest earlier, and whispered, “I know. But there were many people watching so we had to put on a show.”

 

Besides, he was truly angry.

 

Like Qiao Ruifeng, Qiao Suiman is the closest family in his heart. He and Qiao Ruifeng had always wanted to find a good family for Qiao Suiman. If they really couldn’t find one, they would continue living like this.

 

But not long after, he noticed something unusual.

 

That young man from the Lu family in the west of the village definitely had something in his eyes when he looked at Qiao Suiman.

 

During the market day, Qin Yu smiled slightly and asked Qiao Suiman to give Lu Dongqing some advice. Seeing Qiao Suiman’s righteous expression, he couldn’t help but shake his head and laugh silently.

 

That young man would have to put in more effort.

 

When Qiao Chengfu accidentally fell to his death, the three of them were busy for several days before finally finishing the funeral arrangements. It felt like a mountain had finally crumbled off their backs. Qin Yu felt much lighter, and the weather seemed brighter.

 

At night, Qin Yu sat by the bed while Qiao Ruifeng applied medicinal ointment to his knees. After thinking for a moment, he said, “That young man from the Lu family in the west of the village, I think he is sincere about our Xiao Man.”

 

Qiao Ruifeng sighed. “Xiao Man probably has feelings for him too, but I’m worried.”

 

“Are you worried that he’ll treat Xiao Man badly?”

 

“I was worried before when we hadn’t found anyone, but now that there’s a candidate, I’m even more worried.”

 

Qiao Ruifeng said softly, wiping his hands and burying his head in Qin Yu’s arms. “I’m worried he won’t have a good life after marrying, worried he’ll be bullied. From the moment he was born until now, he’s never been away from me. Thinking of him living in someone else’s house makes me sad.”

 

Qiao Ruifeng is very tall, but nestling in Qin Yu’s arms, Qin Yu found it amusing yet felt a slight ache in his heart.

 

That’s right. In the few years he had been here, he watched Qiao Suiman grow from a thin, small child into the handsome young man he is today. Even he was so reluctant to let go, let alone Qiao Ruifeng, who has been both father and mother to him since childhood.

 

Qin Yu threaded his fingers through Qiao Ruifeng’s hair, gently massaging to relax him, and said softly, “There’s still time. Even if that Lu family’s young man is sincere, he’ll have to wait until we’re past the mourning period. We can see what kind of person he is during this time.”

 

“Mn.”

 

Qiao Ruifeng quickly cheered up. Now, most of the money he and Qin Yu had painstakingly saved has been used to pay off Qiao Chengfu’s gambling debts. They needed to earn money quickly.

 

“In the next few days, I’ll go work in town. We only need to weed the fields, you keep an eye on them.”

 

After speaking, he lifted his head and kissed the corner of Qin Yu’s mouth, then pulled him into his arms.

 

“I know.”

 

Qin Yu smiled happily from the kiss and rubbed his face against Qiao Ruifeng’s chest. “From now on, we will have a good life every day.”

 

There were only the three of them left at home. They have good relationships and are all hardworking. Just thinking about such a life made it feel promising.

 

Qin Yu was happy and clung to Qiao Ruifeng and refused to let go. Their playfulness led them tumbling onto the bed. Qin Yu wrapped his arms around Qiao Ruifeng’s neck, pressed his face against his neck, and said, “Now that I think about it, I feel so lucky to marry you.”

 

“A-Yu,” Qiao Ruifeng’s voice turned hoarse, “It’s me who’s the luckiest to spend my life with you.”

 

Qiao Ruifeng wrapped his arms around Qin Yu’s waist, letting him lie on top of him. “Tomorrow, I’ll buy some meat and stir-fry it for dinner. There are still bamboo shoots in the kitchen. We’ll stir-fry them together. You love those.”

 

Qin Yu initially wanted to refuse. There wasn’t much money left at home so how could they afford meat?

 

But Qiao Ruifeng looked at him with bright eyes. Not wanting to dampen his spirits, he softly agreed, “Six wen is enough. Don’t buy too much.”

 

“Understood.” Qiao Ruifeng chuckled, his chest vibrating. He turned to let Qin Yu lie down. “Go to sleep. We’ve been tired for several days.”

 

Time passed quickly when asleep. Qin Yu faintly heard some movement and sat up while rubbing his eyes. “Going to town?”

 

“Mn. It’s not dawn yet. Sleep a bit more.”

 

“I’ll heat up the steamed buns for you.”

 

Qin Yu lifted the quilt as she spoke. How could he sleep soundly while his husband goes to work?

 

The steamed buns heated up quickly. Qiao Ruifeng quickly ate two and stuffed two more into his clothes before leaving.

 

Qin Yu watched Qiao Ruifeng walk away. At the fork in the road, Qiao Ruifeng turned back. Their eyes met, and both of them smiled.

 

 

 

 

 

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