I Am A Husband Curser, And You Are A Wife Curser. - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: The Return Visit

After changing his inner garments, Yang Tongchuan used the remaining water to wash himself, added a few pieces of charcoal to the brazier, and slid into the quilt. Holding the exhausted Xiangxi, the satisfied Yang Tongchuan fell into a deep sleep.

Xiangxi, however, felt as though he had only just closed his eyes when the sky began to brighten. His biological clock, tuned by years of childcare and early labor, made sleeping in an impossibility. There was already slight movement in the courtyard—it sounded like Yanzi preparing breakfast.

Not wanting to be lazy, Xiangxi moved to get up and help. The moment he stirred, Yang Tongchuan pulled him back. Yang had woken up the moment Xiangxi opened his eyes, but he was tired from the night before and truly didn’t want to move.

“Close your eyes for a bit longer, there’s no rush,” Yang Tongchuan said, tucking the quilt tighter around Xiangxi.

“I can’t keep my in-laws waiting.” Xiangxi feared that being late would displease them.

“It’s fine. When the time comes, Yanzi will come to call us. It won’t be too late to get up then.” Yang Tongchuan remembered that his elder brother and sister-in-law hadn’t risen early on their first day to serve tea either.

“Is that… appropriate?”

“If you aren’t sleepy, then let’s go again. I’m feeling a bit ‘uncomfortable’ right now anyway.” Yang Tongchuan’s hand grew restless on Xiangxi’s. A man in the morning is easily stirred; his physical reaction was as swift as a dried sea cucumber soaking in water.

Terrified, Xiangxi immediately squeezed his eyes shut and pretended to be asleep.

“Little coward.”

Yang Tongchuan chuckled. He decided he wouldn’t call Xiangxi a “quail” anymore; he’d call him a “quail egg.” After all, where would you find a quail that white? Stripped of feathers and seen by the faint moonlight, he was so tender he almost glowed. Thinking about it now made Yang’s mouth water.

“Second Master, it is time to rise.” Yanzi dutifully placed the hot washing water outside the door.

“Understood.” Yang Tongchuan climbed out of bed lazily.

Xiangxi followed suit. His feet felt soft and his calves lacked strength, but he forced himself up, wanting to help Yang dress.

“No need, I’ll do it myself. Put your own clothes on first; it’s cold in the morning.” Yang Tongchuan tossed the new clothes prepared for Xiangxi onto the bed from his wardrobe, then proceeded to dress himself.

Xiangxi looked at the bed full of new clothes and the matching thick vest. His heart felt soft and a little tingly.

“What, do you need my help?” Yang Tongchuan had already washed his face and saw Xiangxi still sitting on the bed, staring blankly at the thick vest.

“No, I can manage.”

The outer garment was made of light blue cotton, stuffed with thick padding, paired with a dark vest embroidered with colorful silk threads. For the first time, Xiangxi realized that one’s back didn’t have to be cold in the winter.

After dressing and washing quickly, Xiangxi moved to pour out the dirty water.

“Leave it. Just put it there; Yanzi will clear it when it’s time to eat.” Yang Tongchuan was used to being served, and Xiangxi would have to get used to it too.

“Okay.” Xiangxi followed Yang Tongchuan to the main hall.

His parents-in-law, brother, and sister-in-law were already there. Following the instructions of the wedding coordinator, Xiangxi knelt properly and served tea to the elders. His body was uncomfortable, making it difficult to stand back up, but Yang Tongchuan secretly gave him a supportive hand.

His mother-in-law gave him a silver hairpin suitable for a ger; it was solid and heavy. His sister-in-law gave him several bolts of fabric in colors that suited him well. Setting the gifts aside, the family sat down for breakfast.

The rules in the Yang household were not strict. Mother Yang did not mistreat the juniors or enforce grueling etiquette. The atmosphere was harmonious. Xiangxi didn’t dare reach for distant dishes, eating only what was directly in front of him. Yang Tongchuan didn’t care for such restraint; there were still chickens, ducks, and fish left over from the banquet that wouldn’t keep long in February.

Yang Tongchuan reached out and placed a duck leg in Xiangxi’s bowl. “Eat up. We have to go for the Return Visit shortly.”

A duck only has two legs; the eldest brother gave one to his wife, and the other ended up in Xiangxi’s bowl. Xiangxi was so startled he didn’t dare bite.

“What, don’t you like duck? How about shrimp?” Yang Tongchuan added a large shrimp to his bowl. The Yang family’s lifestyle was average for the East Market—they didn’t have meat every day, but they certainly weren’t lacking.

“No, I… I like it.” Xiangxi lowered his head and nibbled the duck leg. His appetite wasn’t large; after one duck leg, he was nearly full.

Father and Mother Yang were old and didn’t care for greasy food; seeing their sons living well was better than eating any number of duck legs. After breakfast, the sister-in-law directed the two main laborers to load the return gifts onto the donkey cart.

“Second Brother, here is the gift list. Check it one more time.” Ming Le was very reliable in her work.

“I trust your handling, Sister-in-law. No need to check.”

Yang Tongchuan had returned the borrowed horse and carriage yesterday. For the Return Visit today, they used a common donkey cart.

“Your sister-in-law started preparing these half a month ago,” the eldest brother, Yang Tongshan, joked while lifting the last basket, sweating from the effort. “She checked it every day. I tried to grab a handful of dried fruit to eat, and she wouldn’t even let me.”

“I have to head to the shop. Safe travels, brother and brother-in-law.” The eldest brother hurried off to the pawnshop.

Yang Tongchuan drove the donkey cart back to the Xiang house with Xiangxi. There were many items, requiring Xiang Qiang to make several trips to carry them inside. Curious neighbors in the alley came out to watch, showering Xiangxi with praise for marrying so well. Xiang Qiang’s smile broadened as he listened.

Lunch at the Xiang house was lavish, and Xiangxi ate until he was stuffed to the brim. After the meal, his brother loaded the cart with return gifts: eggs, longans, and red dates. His sister-in-law gave Xiangxi a small silver pendant; it looked old and was hollow, likely a personal treasure she had kept. Xiangxi had never seen her wear it.

“Live well. Constable Yang is a good man,” she whispered to him.

On the way back, Yang Tongchuan ran into colleagues patrolling the streets. He asked them to help drive the donkey cart back home while he got off to take Xiangxi for a stroll to help with digestion.

Xiangxi rarely visited the market except to work. Yang Tongchuan took him to the street specializing in fabrics and jewelry, walking from the west end to the east. He ordered several sets of clothes for Xiangxi—not just padded winter wear, but thin clothes for the coming spring, even matching shoes.

They eventually reached a jewelry shop Yang Tongchuan frequented—the same one where he’d bought the silver bracelet. Before leaving home today, he had specifically told Xiangxi to wear it.

“You won’t have to do heavy labor anymore, so keep that bracelet on,” Yang Tongchuan said. He wanted Xiangxi to have everything others had.

The shop owner, seeing a regular, greeted them warmly. Xiangxi rarely wore accessories and didn’t know how to choose. After a turn around the shop, he was drawn to a string of burgundy wooden beads on a table.

“Young Master has a sharp eye,” the shopkeeper chirped. “These are sandalwood beads, 108 in total, corresponding to the 108 worries in Buddhism that one must cast away. Smell the fragrance—wearing this can calm the spirit. It can be worn around the neck or the wrist.”

Xiangxi didn’t listen to much of the pitch, but he liked the scent and thought it would be nice to wear. The beads were smaller than soybeans and felt light.