Dandy Escapes From Marriage - Chapter 59

During the autumn harvest season, villagers were busy in the fields, leaving Shen Ke and Liu Shu the most relaxed in the entire village.

 

Liu Shu slept until late morning, had lunch upon waking up, then leisurely went back to bed.

 

Shen Ke sat under the eaves, playing with  Fugui, with a constant smile on his face.

 

“Brother Ke, here’s a basket of sweet potatoes for you all!” Mrs. Zhu entered the courtyard carrying a basket of freshly dug sweet potatoes, her voice loud and full of warmth.

 

“Thank you, Auntie Zhu.” Shen Ke hurried forward to help unload. When she was about to speak again, he made a hushing gesture, lowering his voice. “Xiao Wu is still sleeping.”

 

“He’s still sleeping at this hour?” Auntie Zhu asked in surprise, lowering her voice. “I heard he’s doing business in town, isn’t that exhausting?”

 

“Yeah,” Shen Ke blinked nervously, thinking of something, and smiled. “It’s quite tiring.”

 

“Well,” Auntie Zhu rubbed her rough hands, a shy expression on her plain face. “It’s a bit embarrassing to ask, but I wanted to inquire if Xiao Wu’s rouge could be sold at a friendly price?”

 

“Of course, I’ll talk to him when he wakes up.” Shen Ke smiled.

 

“I’ve never used that stuff, not sure if it’s suitable.” Auntie Zhu looked a bit uneasy.

 

“It’s suitable, for anyone.” Shen Ke assured her.

 

Auntie Zhu smiled happily. “Alright, please help me ask. Tonight we’re grinding tofu at home. You two can come over in the evening to pick up some, and we’ll also save some tofu pudding for you.”

 

Auntie Zhu had a stone mill at home, and the tofu she made was the tenderest. Liu Shu loved it, especially the tofu pudding, sweet and tender, melting in the mouth.

 

“Thank you, Auntie Zhu.”

 

After Auntie Zhu left, Shen Ke brought all the sweet potatoes into the house. He heard Liu Shu mumbling from bed, “A Ke.”

 

“What’s wrong?” Shen Ke immediately entered the room, sat down beside the bed, and looked down at him. “Did I wake you up? Or is something bothering you?”

 

Liu Shu shifted, resting his head on Shen Ke’s leg, his eyes sleepy. “Accompany me to sleep.”

 

“Alright.”

 

Little did Shen Ke know that as soon as he lay down, Liu Shu’s hands became restless. Liu Shu lifted his head innocently. “Since there’s nothing to do today, why not…”

 

In the evening, a sweaty Liu Shu was carried off for a bath, his eyes losing focus. “Damn it, did I underestimate you?”

 

“Maybe not, you can keep trying.” Shen Ke smiled, scrubbing his back, his gaze falling on the scattered red marks. He bent down and kissed his shoulder lightly.

 

Liu Shu shivered slightly, turned to look at him, chin slightly raised. “I’m not falling for it.”

 

Shen Ke glanced sideways at him, their eyes locking for a long moment.

 

“Alright.” Eventually, Liu Shu was tempted by desire, taking the initiative to kiss him. His hands alternated between gripping the tub’s edge and touching Shen Ke’s body, wetting their clothes until both squeezed into the same tub.

 

As night fell completely, the birds in the mountains chirped incessantly, their calls varying in intensity, never ceasing.

 

Exhausted and hungry after their bath, Shen Ke dressed and went to Auntie Zhu’s house to fetch tofu, returning with a lot of snacks.

 

“Why so much?” Liu Shu lazily sprawled on the bed, unwilling to get up. “I don’t want to move, you feed me.”

 

Shen Ke fed him snacks by the bed. “Met some other people at Auntie Zhu’s place. I took the opportunity to inform them of our engagement. After they recovered from their shock, they gave us these as gifts.”

 

Liu Shu couldn’t stop laughing. “Aren’t you afraid they’ll be scared?”

 

“It’ll have to be said sooner or later. Better when everyone’s around, it’s a good opportunity.”

 

The next day, Liu Shu went to town in the morning, coinciding with market day. Several villagers wanted a ride, so they traveled together.

 

The atmosphere inside the carriage was awkward, everyone stealing glances at each other, waiting for someone to break the silence. Finally, Liu Shu took the initiative.

 

“That’s right, A Ke and I are getting married. Both Beijing and Nanjing are too far from here, so you don’t need to come for the wedding banquet. When we return, we’ll have two tables set up in the village and invite everyone for a meal. You’re all welcome.”

 

“I’m in!” Sister Xiang slapped her thigh. “It’s been ages since I attended a wedding banquet.”

 

Others also opened up about their affairs, discussing their regulations due to regional customs, causing the conversation to wander. However, the atmosphere soon returned to normal.

 

That evening, Liu Shu returned to the village, followed by a carriage.

 

Shen Ke was in the yard shelling peas. Curiously, he turned his head and saw several craftsmen getting down from the carriage behind, carrying a large bed into the courtyard.

 

“I’ve been saying this bed needed to be replaced.” Liu Shu flicked the jade pendant at his waist, looking very pleased.

 

Shen Ke couldn’t help but smile wryly.

 

Autumn didn’t last long before the cold swiftly invaded winter. Within a month, everyone was wearing winter clothes.

 

Shen Ke learned from the villagers that it was time to plant potatoes. He bought a basket of potatoes, cut them into evenly sized pieces, and dug holes in the field to plant them. He didn’t plant many, mainly wanting to witness the entire growth process firsthand. Therefore, it wasn’t particularly tiring. Whenever he had free time, he would record and read. Time passed even faster when Liu Shu returned at night.

 

Business at Liu Shu’s shop also became more prosperous. Recently, Zhang Moyang and his sister came back specifically to open another shop. After discussion, Zhang Moyang went to look for a new shop.

 

One day, a distinguished guest arrived at their home.

 

The guest hesitated outside the door for half a day, then hesitated in the yard for another half a day before finally hesitating inside the house for another half a day in disbelief.

 

“You live in this rundown place? I thought at least you’d find a decent house in town. How did you end up like this?” Lu Yueju exclaimed in surprise.

 

“Didn’t I tell you before? We live in the village,” Liu Shu helped her sit down, “Aunt, why did you suddenly come?”

 

“I came to see you.”

 

“Aunt, please have some tea.” Shen Ke brought the brewed tea to her.

 

Lu Yueju finished the tea but still couldn’t believe the scene before her eyes, a shabby house with nothing to catch the eye except for that brand new big bed.

 

“No, I can’t just watch you live in such a place.”

 

“But A Ke’s potatoes are halfway planted. We can’t move,”

 

Madame Lu’s efficiency was exceptionally high. The next day, she brought a large group of craftsmen to start building a new house next to the old one. She then sent an experienced steward to supervise the work and gracefully returned to Jinling to conduct her business.

 

Every day, the villagers passing by the road would look up and sigh in admiration.

 

Seeing that a large and beautiful house was about to be completed, Shen Ke and Liu Shu also needed to return to the capital.

 

The Shen family was involved in court affairs, and during the Lunar New Year, there were many tasks in the palace, so it was not suitable for them to leave the capital. Therefore, they discussed holding the ceremony directly in the capital.

 

In the twelfth month, heavy snow fell, and the carriage headed north.

 

Wrapped in a blanket, Liu Shu held a hot water bottle and still shivered, “Is it always this cold? Winters in Jinling aren’t this cold.”

 

Shen Ke opened his arms and pulled him close, rubbing his hands, “Is this better?”

 

“Mmm.” Liu Shu blinked, then said, “My lips feel like they’re freezing too. Can you think of something?”

 

“What can I do?” Shen Ke chuckled.

 

Knowing he was teasing, Liu Shu grabbed his collar and kissed him quickly. After a moment, Shen Ke covered his hand, kissing him tenderly while patiently warming his fingers.

 

When lively voices outside the carriage became audible, Liu Shu’s face flushed as he asked, “Have we arrived?”

 

“Yeah.” Shen Ke lifted the curtain, looking at the familiar streets, unable to suppress a smile. “We’re in the capital.”

 

“I want to go out and take a look.” Liu Shu got out of the carriage, gazing at the sights of the capital.

 

“Let’s walk around.” Shen Ke took out a large cloak and draped it over him, suggesting.

 

“Okay.”

 

The roads in the capital were wider than those in Jinling, bustling with more pedestrians, and the shops were taller and larger. It was a scene of prosperity with many people dressed in red and green.

 

Occasionally, officials and soldiers patrolled the streets, maintaining order in the city, solemn and dignified, unlike the relaxed atmosphere of Jinling.

 

Liu Shu looked around with a mixture of curiosity and caution. The capital had always impressed him with its majesty, as if one wrong move could mean trouble.

 

Sensing his discomfort, Shen Ke held his hand and whispered, “No need to be afraid. The capital isn’t a place that devours people.”

 

Liu Shu nodded, trying to relax. At that moment, Shen Ke led him into a shop and said, “I want to buy some clothes for my parents. Can you help me choose?”

 

“Sure, no problem!” Liu Shu quickly got into action, selecting several pieces of clothing in the store. “Madame Shen has a gentle temperament, so these simple and clean clothes suit her. Actually, she’s so beautiful that brighter colors would complement her complexion. As for your father, he doesn’t prefer flashy attire, so let’s take this dark one. It looks understated overall, but the embroidery on the cuffs is quite special, clearly done by a skilled embroiderer.”

 

Shen Ke watched him talk confidently and smiled gently, “Alright, I’ll go with your choices. And for my sister-in-law, would you help pick something for her too?”

 

“I haven’t met her. What kind of person is she?” Liu Shu asked curiously.

 

“She has a calm appearance but her temperament doesn’t quite match her looks,” Shen Ke chuckled.

 

“Oh?” Liu Shu picked out another set of clothes, a thin layer of plain gauze covering a vivid red shirt inside, both striking and restrained.

 

Originally intending to divert his attention, Shen Ke found that Liu Shu had a keen eye for clothing. At a glance, he could gauge the skill of the embroiderer, feel the quality of the fabric, recognize the style’s origin, and pick the most suitable clothes for each person.

 

After leaving the shop, Shen Ke asked, “Does your family own a cloth shop?”

 

“We actually started from a cloth shop,” Liu Shu replied.

 

“Would you like to open one?”

 

“I’ve thought about it, but the Liu family’s cloth business is already quite large. Why should I start anew? If my father is willing to hand over the business to me someday, I wouldn’t refuse,” Liu Shu said.

 

“Have you refused before?”

 

“Yeah, I was more interested in having fun back then. I didn’t want to flatter officials like my father did everywhere. Even if the business grew big, I would still have to flatter officials to sell.”

 

Finally understanding why he had been resistant to becoming an official, Shen Ke asked, “So why wouldn’t you refuse now?”

 

Liu Shu glanced at him and smiled, “Now I have you. Besides, your brother and father are good officials. You’ll definitely be better than them in the future! Not all officials are only interested in power and wealth. Just thinking that there might be more officials out there who genuinely care about the people makes me less afraid.”

 

Shen Ke smiled and gently touched his cheek, about to say something when Liu Shu suddenly interrupted.

 

“Oh no, I should be the one paying for these silvers! How could I forget to buy gifts! No, I must go buy some more.” Liu Shu turned around and hurried back into the shop.

 

Saying he would buy a few, he came out with both hands full of boxes, leaving the shopkeeper delighted.

 

Not satisfied, he ran to several more shops in succession.

 

Shen Ke ended up with arms full of things, almost unable to see the road. He had to find a sedan chair, load everything inside, and when he turned around, he realized Liu Shu was nowhere to be seen.

 

“Mom, why is that big brother buying rouge too?” a little girl asked.

 

The woman holding her was picking something with her head down. Hearing this, she replied without looking up, “Because the shopkeeper welcomes everyone to buy things when the door is open. Anyone can buy things, regardless of age or gender.”

 

“I see, Mom, I want to buy too.”

 

“You don’t need it.”

 

“Waaah, you lied to me! Didn’t you say anyone can buy?”

 

“You’re not a person.”

 

“Eh?”

 

“You’re a fairy, fairies don’t need these things.”

 

“Wow, I’m a fairy!”

 

Liu Shu chuckled and couldn’t help but glance back at the mother and daughter, catching the little girl’s tearful expression turn into a smile.

 

“Mom, that big brother is really handsome.”

 

“Don’t always look at men when you go out. Be careful your dad gets jealous.”

 

“Waaaah, I miss Dad. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him. And Uncle, where did they all go?”

 

The little girl started crying again. Just then, a piece of walnut pastry appeared in front of her. She looked up at the big brother with confusion, “Is this for me?”

 

“Yeah, if you eat it, you won’t cry anymore. Okay?”

 

“Why?” The girl asked innocently.

 

Liu Shu was caught off guard by the question and wasn’t sure how to answer.

 

“Because if you eat something from someone, you’ll be inclined to soften your heart.” The woman smiled.

 

Liu Shu: “Is that so?”

 

“If you eat Big Brother’s walnut pastry, promise not to cry today. Do you still want to eat it?” The woman asked again.

 

“I want to.” The girl wiped her tears and shyly took the walnut pastry from him, “Thank you, Big Brother. I won’t cry today, I promise.”

 

So adorable!

 

Liu Shu smiled and crouched down to chat with her, “What’s your name?”

 

“I’m Ning’er. Big Brother, what’s your name?”

 

“I’m Liu Shu. You can also call me Xiao Wu.”

 

The woman suddenly paused, glanced at his smiling profile meaningfully, and asked, “Young sir is buying rouge, are you planning to give it as a gift?”

 

“Yes,” Liu Shu replied.

 

“Young sir is very talented. I wonder which lucky girl will receive such a carefully chosen gift from you?”

 

“I actually haven’t met her,” Liu Shu smiled awkwardly.

 

The woman’s smile faltered slightly, “Oh? You don’t know who she is, yet you’re buying rouge for her?”

 

“Yeah, I haven’t given any other girl gifts before. I lack experience. Could you please advise me on what gifts girls in the capital like?” Liu Shu asked earnestly.

 

The woman was silent for a moment before saying, “Then let me ask, who is this gift for? Is it for someone special?”

 

“No, no!” Liu Shu quickly shook his head, “It’s for my sister-in-law.”

 

The woman paused, her eyes flickering, then smiled, “You’re going to meet her family?”

 

“Yes, it’s our first meeting, and I’m not sure what would be a good gift, so I came to look at rouge.” Liu Shu smiled awkwardly.

 

As he finished speaking, the woman suddenly handed him the selected rouge. He looked at her in confusion, and she smiled, “Then buy this one. She’ll definitely like it.”

 

“Really?” Liu Shu asked uncertainly.

 

“Yeah, let’s go pay.”

 

“Okay.” Liu Shu reluctantly went to pay, picked up the box as he passed by them, and bid farewell, “Thank you, miss. Until we meet again.”

 

“Until we meet again,” the woman smiled.

 

“Goodbye, Brother Xiao Wu!” The little girl waved her hand while munching on walnut pastry.

 

Liu Shu briskly walked out of the shop, looking around until he bumped into Shen Ke.

 

“Where did you go?” Shen Ke asked anxiously.

 

“I went to buy some rouge for your sister-in-law,” Liu Shu replied.

 

Shen Ke chuckled, “Let’s go, or we’ll miss lunch.”

 

“Alright.”

 

The two of them sat in the sedan chair, with Liu Shu constantly lifting the curtain to look at the scenery outside. After passing through several main streets, shops and pedestrians became sparse, but there were more mansions around.

 

“Wow, everything looks so grand?” Liu Shu exclaimed as he looked at a row of majestic buildings, feeling both shocked and envious. “Is this really the capital?”

 

When the sedan chair finally stopped, he followed Shen Ke out and immediately saw the mansion ahead. The plaque read solemnly “Shen Mansion”, and servants were bustling in and out. This must be it.

 

“We’re here,” Shen Ke said, turning to pick up their things.

 

Just as Liu Shu was glancing around, he spotted a mother and daughter walking towards him. He ran up to them excitedly, “What a coincidence, I see you again!”

 

“Yeah, what a coincidence,” the woman smiled.

 

“Xiao Wu, I want to eat walnut pastry again. Do you have any left?” Ning’er looked up and asked.

 

Liu Shu gave her the last one he had and said with a smile, “I’ll ask another big brother to get you some later. He brought a lot!”

 

“Wow!!”

 

Liu Shu chuckled and patted her cute head, asking, “Where are you two going?”

 

“Back home,” the woman replied.

 

“Oh, okay. I won’t keep you then, please go ahead,” Liu Shu quickly stepped aside to let them pass.

 

The woman smiled at him, then suddenly patted the girl’s shoulder and pointed ahead, “Ning’er, look, who’s that?”

 

Ning’er turned her head and immediately ran forward, opening her arms wide, “Ah, it’s Uncle! Uncle!!!”

 

Liu Shu: “?????”

 

Shen Ke had just stabilized the things in his hands and turned around at the sound, delightedly saying, “Ning’er.”

 

Ning’er hugged his thigh and shook it, “Hug me.”

 

After Shen Ke put down his things, he lifted her up, “Did you miss me?”

 

“I did, I missed you every day, almost cried every day, wuuu…” Ning’er’s eyes welled up, but upon seeing Liu Shu approaching, she held back her tears, “I-I promised Xiao Wu I wouldn’t cry today.”

 

“Do you know Xiao Wu?” Shen Ke asked incredulously.

 

Liu Shu was equally astonished, “You-you-you-you… you’re family?!”

 

The woman turned her head, smiling gently as she corrected him, “Yes, we are.”