Dandy Escapes From Marriage - Chapter 10

In the afternoon, Shen Ke went up the mountain to gather herbs, while Liu Shu slept for a while before getting up to sow seeds.

 

When buying seeds this time, he repeatedly emphasized not to buy chili seeds, so this time he bought some real vegetables.

 

“What are you planting?” Hui Shang watched him scatter seeds and casually asked.

 

“Cilantro.”

 

“…It seems you’re really racking your brains to avoid my almsgiving.”

 

“Don’t you like cilantro?”

 

Hui Shang nodded, thinking he had a change of heart. However, Liu Shu smirked, “Who cares? I like it!”

 

Next, they needed to plant tomatoes, radishes, cucumbers, and more.

 

“So tired!” After working the whole afternoon, only two plots of land were planted. Thinking about the vegetables he used to casually taste and then discard, Liu Shu felt a pang of regret. “If only I had eaten a few more bites earlier, planting vegetables wouldn’t be so troublesome!”

 

“Plowing the fields under the midday sun, sweat drops onto the earth,” Hui Shang sighed.

 

“Move your butt; I’m counting to five.” Liu Shu gritted his teeth.

 

“…”

 

After the sun set, Liu Shu returned home and saw that Shen Ke had also returned, sitting upright in the yard. However, upon closer inspection, Liu Shu noticed his calf muscles were shaking.

 

“What happened?” He quickly squatted down to check.

 

“It’s nothing, just slipped a bit on the mountain path. I walked too fast, a little rest will be fine.” Shen Ke gasped.

 

“You didn’t fall?” Liu Shu couldn’t help but worry.

 

“No.” Shen Ke waved his hand, supporting himself to stand up, “Are you hungry? I’ll cook.”

 

“Don’t move; rest well.” Liu Shu pressed him back into the chair, “Tonight, Steward and I will cook. Steward, let’s go.”

 

Steward: “…Do you remember I’m just a monk here to beg for alms?”

 

“I’m not as easygoing as him. If you don’t cook, go beg for alms elsewhere.” Liu Shu said sternly.

 

“I’m coming, sir.” Steward readily followed.

 

Soon, the kitchen echoed with clattering sounds. Shen Ke rubbed his calf, listening to the noise inside, and turned his head to see Liu Shu waving a spatula, directing Steward. He silently smiled.

 

It seemed like the house was really becoming lively.

 

Here was different from the capital. In this wilderness, even the nearest neighbor required a walk.

 

Although he didn’t like noise, every time night fell, sitting alone in the yard, he occasionally felt the loneliness spreading in the dark.

 

“I’ve told you to add salt, why did you put sugar, bald donkey!”

 

“This is obviously salt. If not, I’ll twist my head off for you to use as seasoning!”

 

“Don’t say that; it’s making me want to drink.”

 

The kitchen erupted into a quarrel, mingling with the sizzling sounds from the pot, easing some tension from Shen Ke’s tired body. He got up and walked in, smiling slightly, “The pot is about to burn.”

 

After the meal was served, facing the deathly silence, Liu Shu poked the dark pancake, “Alright, no one say anything. Let’s just make do with it.”

 

Shen Ke nodded approvingly, lowering his head to silently eat the pancake.

 

“I’ll go see if there’s anywhere to beg for alms.” Steward stood up.

 

“Bald donkey.” Liu Shu called him with a helpless tone.

 

“Understood, I’ll beg some for you too!” Steward waved without looking back.

 

“Very sensible, Master.” Liu Shu turned to look at Shen Ke, and both burst into laughter.

 

Steward left again, leaving only two people in the yard, yet it didn’t quiet down.

 

“Chirp chirp chirp~”

 

Shen Ke put down his book, opened the window, and watched Liu Shu crouching in the yard, playing with the little chicks in the coop. He smiled, “Still not planning to rest?”

 

“Chirp chirp chirp.” Liu Shu called for a while, seeing the chicks ignoring him, he came to the window, looking distressed, “So boring, no one wants to play with me except the chicks.”

 

In this remote wilderness, there was no concept of nightlife. After being well-behaved for just a few days, Liu Shu couldn’t resist the temptation and had an intense desire to indulge in alcohol and pleasure.

 

“Is there anything fun to do here?”

 

“Fun?” Shen Ke pondered, “Reading?”

 

Liu Shu raised his hand and promptly closed his window.

 

Shen Ke chuckled from inside.

 

“I’m going out to have some fun.”

 

He strolled around aimlessly, unknowingly arriving at Xiang Jie’s courtyard again. There were lively conversations and occasional sounds of cracking sunflower seeds. Were they talking about him again?

 

He swiftly hid behind the courtyard gate, eavesdropping with his ear pressed against the door. Faintly, he caught keywords like quarrel and running away from home. His heart skipped a beat.

 

Ah! They’re cursing me behind my back again!

 

He wanted to listen to what they were saying about him this time.

 

“What are you doing here?” A rough voice sounded behind him, startling him. His steps faltered, and he stumbled into the courtyard.

 

Instantly, it fell silent inside, and everyone turned to look.

 

Liu Shu finally saw the person clearly; it was the bamboo craftsman. He coughed twice, unfazed, and said nonchalantly, “I came to play. What about you? Why were you sneaking behind me?”

 

The bamboo craftsman remained silent, handing something to Liu Shu before turning to leave.

 

Liu Shu looked down and found a large chicken coop. Already done so quickly?

 

He opened his mouth to ask, but the bamboo craftsman had disappeared into the darkness without a trace.

 

“Could he have overheard something?” The people inside came to the door, surveying the surroundings. Not finding any sign of the bamboo craftsman, they murmured.

 

“Probably not, right? It would be awkward if he did.” Auntie Zhu looked complicated.

 

“Whatever, let it go. Anyway, we’re just stating facts.”

 

“Was what you were talking about… related to him?” Liu Shu asked.

 

Auntie Zhu nodded, “Yes, his wife and him argue every day, and she ran away from home.”

 

“Clearly, she ran away with a wild man. I’ve seen that wild man lying injured on the roadside. The bamboo craftsman saved him, but unexpectedly, that man repaid kindness with enmity and ran off with his wife.” Xiang Jie spat, “Unlucky, but I hope that wild man’s life goes downhill forever.”

 

The others burst into laughter, and Liu Shu felt an arrow pierce his chest. Putting on a fake smile, he laughed a few times before carrying the chicken coop back home.

 

“A’Ke, A’Ke, do you know what I just heard?” As soon as Liu Shu entered the house, he couldn’t wait to share the gossip with Shen Ke.

 

“Yes, I know.” Listening, Shen Ke picked up his book again.

 

“Is that it?” Seeing his indifferent reaction, Liu Shu’s enthusiasm diminished. Pointing to the chicken coop, he asked, “This thing looks quite sturdy. Should we change the nest for the chicks now?”

 

“Okay.”

 

The two of them put the chicks into the coop one by one, placing it in the yard. Afterward, they went to wash up and sleep. However, it rained heavily the next day.

 

Liu Shu first heard the sound of raindrops hitting the window. Thinking that today would finally be cooler, he suddenly remembered the chickens in the yard. Sitting up in a hurry, he rushed outside and saw Shen Ke busily carrying the wet chicken coop into the house, his body soaked.

 

He quickly grabbed an umbrella and held it over Shen Ke, taking the wet chicken coop from him. Looking up at the dripping wet Shen Ke, raindrops rolled down his face, and his white clothes clung to his body, faintly revealing some skin texture. He was momentarily stunned, slowly widening his eyes – Could it be? Could it be? Some people might appear gentle and frail on the surface, but hidden beneath their clothes could be quite a bit of muscle!

 

“Go change your clothes first to avoid catching a cold. I’ll handle this. Later, we can chat about muscle matters.” Liu Shu succinctly suggested, his eyes slightly wide.

 

“Uh… huh?”

 

Liu Shu glanced at the tightly closed door before returning to his room to fetch his tattered clothes. Due to being torn by bandits, they were no longer suitable to wear. He decided to use them as rags to dry the chicks one by one, continuously blowing air to make them dry thoroughly.

 

After the rain, they went up the mountain to gather herbs. Sitting in the house, they entertained themselves with the chicks for a while and then rested around the chicken coop.

 

“I think I’ll read a book,” Shen Ke suggested.

 

“I’ll go play with grasshoppers.”

 

“?” Shen Ke asked, “Where are there grasshoppers?”

 

“Oh right, you don’t have any grasshoppers at your place. Sigh, not even a single grasshopper.” Liu Shu propped his chin on his hand, looking bored as he turned the tea cup.

 

“No grasshoppers, but there are flies. Want them?” Shen Ke offered.

 

“…Thanks, but no thanks.”

 

“All right, let’s get to the point. Honestly, where did you get those muscles?” Liu Shu suddenly pointed to Shen Ke’s waist and abdomen.

 

Following his gaze, Shen Ke lowered his head to take a few glances before replying, “Didn’t I tell you? I was persuaded by my parents to exercise when I was a child, and then… I just got used to it.”

 

“Used to it?”

 

“Yeah, I wake up early every day and run along this road for a while.”

 

“Nonsense, I haven’t seen it.”

 

“Because you don’t wake up early.”

 

“…Oh!”

 

Feeling awkward, Liu Shu walked to the doorway, staring at the water dripping from the eaves. He noticed a figure in the rain curtain, carrying two large baskets on a shoulder pole. Intrigued, he remarked, “Even in such heavy rain, someone is still out working?”

 

“Forced by life,” Shen Ke sighed.

 

“Hey, it looks like that person fell!” Liu Shu picked up the umbrella hanging on the wall and hurried outside.

 

When he got closer, he realized it was the bamboo craftsman. He was struggling to get up from the muddy ground, covered in mud. Even his fearsome appearance seemed somewhat pitiful.

 

“Are you okay?” Liu Shu approached, holding the umbrella over him.

 

The bamboo craftsman shook his head, picked up the sweet potatoes that had fallen on the ground, threw them into the basket, and continued walking with the pole on his shoulder.

 

“It’s pouring like this, and you’re still working. Come to our place to rest. We’ll wait until the rain stops before you go,” Liu Shu suggested.

 

“No need.” The heavy burden on the bamboo craftsman made his already rough voice sound even deeper.

 

“How are you going back like this? Leaving sweet potatoes soaked in the rain isn’t good,” Liu Shu asked.

 

The bamboo craftsman hesitated.

 

“Come on, let’s go. There’s no woman in our house; you don’t need to be shy.” Liu Shu urged.

 

The bamboo craftsman said, “…I’m not shy.”

 

“Then what is it?”

 

“…A bit nervous.”

 

“?” Complimenting is one thing, but don’t use that expression, come on!

 

“Hurry inside.” Shen Ke waited at the courtyard gate. As they approached, he went forward to help the bamboo craftsman with his burden. Unprepared, he almost strained his waist. 

 

“Uh—ah!”

 

“Heavy,” Liu Shu empathized, recalling how he tried to help earlier and ended up with a split.

 

Shen Ke nodded awkwardly.

 

The two baskets of sweet potatoes were placed under the eaves. The three of them sat inside, creating a somewhat peculiar atmosphere. The bamboo craftsman looked like a child who had done something wrong, keeping his head down and remaining silent.

 

“Xiao Wu, your clothes are wet. Go change,” Shen Ke said, then turned to the bamboo craftsman with a smile. “Big brother, did you already send the letter?”

 

Only then did the bamboo craftsman show some movement. He nodded slowly and mumbled, “Thank you.”

 

“If you need to send letters in the future, feel free to come to me anytime, or I can teach you how to write?” Shen Ke offered.

 

“No need, no need. I’m a rough guy, can’t learn that stuff,” the bamboo craftsman waved his hand.

 

Listening to them chatting outside, Liu Shu decided not to interrupt and instead tried on the new clothes Shen Ke had bought for him. It wasn’t until the rain outside gradually stopped that he puzzledly opened the door, asking, “Did he leave?”

 

“Yeah,” Shen Ke responded, casting a meaningful glance at him.

 

“What’s on the table?”

 

“The sweet potatoes he gave us.”

 

“He seems like a good person,” Liu Shu commented as he went out to get some water.

 

Shen Ke coughed, glanced at him with a hesitating expression, and said, “You’re wearing my undershirt.”

 

Liu Shu looked down and realized it was true. Their clothes, left to dry in the courtyard, might have gotten mixed up when collected. He quickly took off the outer garment.

 

“Go change inside,” Shen Ke advised, supporting his forehead.

 

“Oh right, you wait.” Liu Shu hastily returned to the room, changed out of the undershirt, and when he came back, his face was flushed with embarrassment. “I didn’t mean to.”

 

“Yeah, I know.” Shen Ke watched his blushing cheeks and couldn’t help but smile.

 

Due to the rain, nobody went up the mountain or worked in the fields that day. Consequently, more people gathered in the evening, and this time, Liu Shu brought Shen Ke along. As they entered the courtyard, they overheard the women continuing yesterday’s topic, discussing the bamboo craftsman’s tragic experiences.

 

“This story is so outdated. Why are we still talking about it?” Liu Shu walked in cheerfully. “I brought a storyteller for you. Let’s listen to a real gossip! Something thrilling!”

 

“Does Brother Ke also tell such stories?” Aunt Zhu asked curiously.

 

“What kind of stories can these scholars have? They’re probably reciting poems and composing essays. We wouldn’t understand that stuff anyway,” Sister Xiang said confidently.

 

Liu Shu smirked mysteriously, humming, “It’s a story about three women and a hundred and five men being together! How about that? Do you want to hear it?”

 

The audience was momentarily stunned, then the melon seeds were passed around, the stools were brought, and everyone collectively turned their gaze to Shen Ke, their eyes shining with anticipation.