Dandy Escapes From Marriage - Chapter 58

When the wicker looked bewildered, Liu Qiaohui chuckled and said, “Congratulations, congratulations! Looks like your wedding is approaching soon.”

 

Only the wicker, being as dense as he was, thought they were deeply bonded brothers. Every time she encountered these two, they appeared intimate, but she saw through their act of familiarity.

 

“Thank you. When have you decided on?” Liu Shu asked with a smile.

 

“By the end of this month. How about you?”

 

“That’s great! We have to wait until the end of the year; so many things to settle.”

 

“Sigh, ours will be simple. It’s not our first time walking down that path. We’ll just invite both sides of our families and friends to have a meal together and get acquainted. Unlike you, it’s your first time. Oh right, are you planning to do it here in the village?”

 

“Beijing.”

 

“That far? I’m afraid we won’t be able to make it.” Liu Minghui said with regret, “We’ll send the betrothal gifts, but you know, farm work can’t wait. It would take at least half a month for a round trip.”

 

The wicker nodded absent-mindedly.

 

It wasn’t until after dinner when the two returned home that the wicker finally snapped out of it and asked Liu Qiaohui again, “They are getting married?!”

 

“Yes.”

 

“How-how-how-how-how is this possible?!”

 

“Also, didn’t you notice how differently they were dressed today? I used to work as a seamstress, and those two outfits are worth at least a hundred taels each.”

 

“Is that true?!” The wicker exclaimed in astonishment, “Where did they get so much silver?!”

 

“I’ve always thought they weren’t just simple peasants. Farmers don’t have such delicate skin; they don’t have many calluses on their hands. So I suspect their family background is actually quite wealthy. They’re just living incognito here for some reason.”

 

“How-how-how-how-how-how-how is this possible?!”

 

The next day, when Liu Shu got up, breakfast was already prepared. After washing up, he noticed Shen Ke had changed back into rough linen clothes and asked in confusion, “Why are you wearing these clothes again?”

 

“Convenient for work, and not afraid of getting dirty,” Shen Ke smiled.

 

Upon hearing this, Liu Shu glanced at his own embroidered silk attire, then at their humble little house, and immediately went back to change into another outfit.

 

Seeing this, Shen Ke smiled and said, “You don’t have to do this; just be yourself.”

 

“I am being myself now. Besides, these clothes are not afraid of getting dirty or torn, and if they do, you can sew them up for me.” Liu Shu took the peeled egg he handed over. Shen Ke’s cooking skills had improved recently; at least he rarely had stomachaches now, and the eggs were cooked just right, not wrinkled.

 

He took a bite and said with a smile, “This egg today is so tender!”

 

“Okay, then I’ll cook them this way from now on, with this timing and heat.” Shen Ke always kept a small notebook on him, jotting down notes from time to time, even the cooking time and heat for boiling eggs, constantly refining until he found the best method.

 

“Can you handle all this?” Liu Shu couldn’t help but worry, “You have to learn farming, cooking skills, and aim for the top in the imperial examinations. There are only twelve hours in a day!”

 

“I will manage my time properly. Work during the day, study at night. Besides, I’ve been studying for more than a decade; I know it by heart. Don’t worry, I won’t disappoint you.” Shen Ke held his hand and said.

 

“I’m not worried about you failing the exam; I’m worried about your health.”

 

“Then I’ll exercise more. Farming itself is a kind of exercise.”

 

“Well, that makes sense.” Liu Shu fed him the last bite of the egg, “I’ll go to town now. Is there anything you need me to bring back?”

 

“Buy some rice.”

 

“Okay.”

 

After Liu Shu left, Shen Ke began organizing the stacks of books he had brought back, planning to move the rest when he returned to Beijing. 

 

By the time he finished tidying up, it was already noon. As he was preparing lunch, he heard a knock on the door. Turning around, he saw Hui Shang, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, standing at the kitchen door and placing an order, “Make a dish of greens for me. I’ve brought the greens with me.”

 

“Okay.” Shen Ke took the greens Hui Shang pulled out of his cloth bag, which were already a bit wilted. After carefully washing them, he blanched them in water and drizzled some soy sauce over them. Worried he might not be satisfied with just that, he specially steamed a few buns and served them with pickled vegetables.

 

Watching him bustling around, Hui Shang asked, “You’re going back to Beijing?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Xiao Wu also went back to Jinling. Did you know?”

 

“I knew.”

 

Hui Shang opened his mouth as if to say something more, but stopped himself, standing aside and watching Shen Ke dish out the food, then helping to serve the rice.

 

During the meal, Shen Ke asked with concern, “How’s the temple renovation going?”

 

“It’s almost finished. They’re going to engrave the names of the donors on the merit plaque,” Hui Shang said, hesitatingly glancing at him. His plain and unassuming attire, his frugal and diligent demeanor, his willingness to take on any task—thinking about how Liu Shu would definitely live a comfortable life again once he returned to Jinling, yet Shen Ke still wouldn’t even buy himself a new set of clothes!

 

Hui Shang couldn’t keep hiding it any longer, but he had promised Liu Shu and couldn’t bring himself to say it aloud.

 

“Yeah? Who’s the donor?” Shen Ke asked casually.

 

“Liu Shu,” Hui Shang immediately replied.

 

Shen Ke raised an eyebrow, “Oh? I…”

 

“Wait a moment, I just had an idea!” Hui Shang suddenly exclaimed, jumping up and rushing to his room. Shen Ke was startled by the sight of the room full of books but didn’t have time to ask about the details. Instead, he followed and found Hui Shang grabbing a pen from the table and quickly writing a line.

 

“What’s going on?” Shen Ke asked, confused, as Hui Shang held up the paper in front of him.

 

There was only one line written on it—

 

Xiao Wu is Liu Shu!

 

It’s written, not spoken!

 

Shen Ke: “”

 

Hui Shang quickly added, lowering his head to write again, “Liu Shu is from Jinling, his family is the wealthiest in Jiangnan.”

 

“The wealthiest.”

 

“Yeah, the wealthiest.” Hui Shang finished writing the last two words, then suddenly paused, lifting his head to look at Shen Ke with a shocked expression. “You knew!?!”

 

“Yeah, I found out recently too. When did you know?” Shen Ke asked.

 

In the evening, after Liu Shu had driven the carriage back, he saw smoke rising from afar and hastened his pace. Upon reaching the courtyard gate, he couldn’t wait to call out, “Ah Ke, I’m back! Come help me move the rice!”

 

The first person to come out was Hui Shang. “Long time no see, Young Master Liu.”

 

“It has been a while. How have you been? Come help me with the rice.”

 

Moments later, Shen Ke hurried out from the kitchen. Seeing the dozen or so bags of rice in the carriage, he exclaimed, “Why so much?”

 

“Since we need to buy it, might as well get a lot at once.”

 

The three of them gradually carried the rice into the house, panting and exhausted, collapsing into chairs to catch their breath. Shen Ke stood for a moment, then hurried back into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

 

Liu Shu caught sight of Hui Shang and remembered something. “You can tell him that I am Liu Shu.”

 

“Okay.”

 

“Why haven’t you gone yet?”

 

“I already did. I wrote it to him.”

 

“Clever, clever.”

 

“Not as good as you at playing games.”

 

After dinner, Shen Ke washed some grapes Liu Shu had bought from town, and the three of them sat in the yard chatting.

 

As autumn set in, mornings and evenings were cooler, and the air was less humid than before.

 

Hui Shang wanted to hear their stories after returning to Beijing and Jinling, especially curious about how they met in Jinling.

 

When Liu Shu mentioned Shen Ke deliberately painting his face black and acting silly, Hui Shang laughed. When Shen Ke mentioned meeting Liu Shu at the brothel, Hui Shang frowned. When they talked about disclosing their true identities to each other, Hui Shang smiled. But upon hearing about their impending marriage, Hui Shang became sorrowful.

 

“Why the long face? We’re getting married, not attending a funeral,” Liu Shu teased.

 

“Ah, once you two are married and back in Beijing, I’m afraid it’ll be hard to see each other again.”

 

“No, we’ll at least stay here for another three years,” Shen Ke reassured.

 

“Really?!”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Well, that’s great then. Come on, continue telling me your stories,” Hui Shang turned his sorrow into joy.

 

“But, it’s almost midnight. Aren’t you planning to go back?” Liu Shu asked.

 

“It’s already this late? Well, I guess I’ll stay here overnight.”

 

“You? Stay overnight? You never used to stay unless something’s up,” Liu Shu teased.

 

“Isn’t it because I want to hear your stories? We haven’t seen each other for so long. Let’s have a late-night talk,” Hui Shang eagerly suggested.

 

Liu Shu was tired, so Shen Ke intervened, “Let’s leave it for tonight. We can talk more tomorrow.”

 

“Alright.” Hui Shang took the initiative to lay out his bedding, but just as he had unpacked his blanket, Shen Ke promptly sent him back.

 

“The floor is cold now, easy to catch a chill. You should stay in Xiao Wu’s room.”

 

“But where will he sleep?” Hui Shang hadn’t finished asking when he quickly changed tack. “Look at me, my mind must be thinking he’s sleeping here with you.”

 

Shen Ke chuckled lightly.

 

“You’re quite cheeky, not shy at all!”

 

After Liu Shu finished washing up, he first glanced at his own room, confirmed that Hui Shang had already lain down, then smirked and headed into Shen Ke’s room.

 

The two chatted quietly for a while. As Liu Shu got up to get some water, he lazily took a few steps and accidentally bumped his knee on a corner of the stool, crying out in pain.

 

“Does it hurt?” Shen Ke hurried over to check on him.

 

“It hurts so much, wuwuwu.” Tears welled up in Liu Shu’s eyes.

 

“Let me see.” Shen Ke lifted him onto the bed, rolled up his trouser leg, and gently pressed on his knee. “Does it hurt?”

 

“It hurts, it hurts, be gentle, wuwuwu.”

 

Shen Ke eased off the pressure, gently massaging the injury. He leaned down and softly blew on it. “I’ll go get some medicine for you.”

 

As he got up and opened the door, he saw Hui Shang sneakingly unlocking his door. “What are you doing?”

 

Hui Shang turned back with an uneasy expression. “I, I was thinking I should just go back. I have to ring the bell tomorrow and can’t be late. You two carry on, goodbye!”

 

Before Shen Ke could say anything, Hui Shang dashed out like a cat.

 

“A Ke, don’t bother, he’s gone. It’s fine now, come back quickly.” Liu Shu called from inside the room.

 

Shen Ke reluctantly locked the door again and returned to the room. “Forget about him, it’s better this way. It won’t interrupt our time alone.”

 

Shen Ke chuckled and sat at the foot of the bed, holding Liu Shu’s ankle and continuing to massage his knee.

 

“Ah, it feels so good.” Liu Shu lay back on the bed, starting to enjoy the familiar touch. He playfully kicked his other leg onto Shen Ke’s waist, occasionally letting out sounds of pleasure, soft and lingering.

 

“This is really nice, A Ke, you’re amazing!” Liu Shu half-closed his eyes, praising him.

 

As Liu Shu was enjoying himself, suddenly Shen Ke pinched his ankle firmly. He looked up in confusion at Shen Ke, who remained silent, seemingly just accidental.

 

Liu Shu leaned back, his other leg comfortably brushing across the bed, finding it amusing. By accident, he touched Shen Ke’s waist. He paused subtly, then suddenly sat up, staring at him fixedly.

 

Shen Ke slowly raised his gaze. “Does your knee still hurt?”

 

Liu Shu shook his head, still staring at him, then smirked knowingly.

 

“Are you that excited?” Liu Shu tapped his foot down.

 

Shen Ke released his grip, placed both hands beside him, and leaned forward slowly and restrained, planting a light kiss on his lips.

 

Like the calm before a storm, a few drops of rain fell first. Before he could react, a torrential rain suddenly poured down. The stormy kiss fell on him, leaving him feeling thoroughly soaked, lost in this erratic rain.

 

“Wait, why do I feel like something’s wrong?” Liu Shu felt as if he had been caught in a rainstorm, his eyes filled with mist, cheeks flushed as if running in the rain. He panted and looked at Shen Ke, feeling that something was amiss. According to his expectations, the person in the rain should have been A Ke, right?

 

“What’s wrong?” Shen Ke pulled back a bit, asking.

 

The mist in Liu Shu’s eyes grew thicker instantly. He hugged Shen Ke’s neck, afraid he might slip away. “Nothing, nothing’s wrong!”