The Comments Section Said She Was My Wife - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

◎ Squeeze her arm to see if she truly has such strength ◎

Xia Shi had mentioned going up the mountain to pick fruit, but she hadn’t forgotten that her household was lacking vegetables.

Originally, she had planned to slip down the mountain while it was still early, before Chu Tang woke up, to trade for some vegetables with the villagers. She spent her days running through the mountains, and she was quick on her feet; a trip like this wouldn’t delay her at all.

However, the next morning, before dawn had even broken, she had just begun to rise stealthily when the person beside her was startled awake.

Chu Tang had been resting well over the past few days, and her depleted body was recovering quite nicely. Naturally, her spirit had regained much of its vitality. Furthermore, she remembered what Xia Shi had said about going up the mountain yesterday, so as soon as she sensed movement beside her at dawn, she sat up as well.

It was still dark in the room before dawn, so Xia Shi instinctively lowered her voice: “It’s still early. You should sleep a bit longer.”

Chu Tang was already quite awake after sitting up. Hearing the implication in Xia Shi’s words, she immediately responded: “I won’t sleep. You’re up so early, what are you planning to do?”

The two had been living together for several days now, and since there was only one bedroom and one bed in the house, it wasn’t the first time they had slept in the same bed. Therefore, Chu Tang knew very well that Xia Shi didn’t have a habit of rising early. If she was up this early today, she definitely had something to do.

Xia Shi had no choice but to light a lamp and explain: “Didn’t we agree to go into the mountain today? I plan to head down the mountain early first.”

Chu Tang realized she was going to buy vegetables. To be honest, she was tired of drinking porridge all day, and she cared even less for the smoked meat at home, so she didn’t intend to stop her. Not only did she not stop her, she wanted to go down the mountain and see for herself, so she began to dress and rise: “I’ll go with you.”

Xia Shi hesitated for a moment, wavering: “It’s too early, and I’m afraid the road won’t be easy to walk.”

Chu Tang, however, had already put on her shoes and stood up: “Since the road is hard to walk in the dark, then we’ll just wait until it’s bright before we go.”

Xia Shi belatedly realized that since Chu Tang wanted to go with her, there was no need to worry about the time.

Relieved, she dressed and washed as usual, then took advantage of the early hour to squeeze some goat’s milk and boil it for Chu Tang to drink. As for breakfast, both of them were sick of porridge; Xia Shi had half a bowl of goat’s milk to pad her stomach and wasn’t in a rush to cook.

By the time everything was tidied up, the horizon had gradually begun to stain with the white of a fish’s belly, and the night color was slowly being replaced by the gray-blue light of dawn.

Xia Shi looked up at the sky, estimating that it would be fully bright in another fifteen minutes, and then instinctively looked at Chu Tang. Chu Tang looked at the sky and then the ground, where the mountain path in front of the door was already vaguely visible, so she said: “The path can already be seen clearly, we can leave now.”

After closing and locking the door, the two left and followed the mountain path down.

Yunwu Mountain was actually a continuous mountain range, full of fierce beasts. Therefore, even though Shitian Village was built along the mountain, the villagers only operated at the foot of the mountain and rarely went up.

Xia Shi was the only one living in Yunwu Mountain, so this mountain path was only ever walked by her. The path was overgrown with weeds, not to mention some sections that were so steep they were difficult to traverse.

Chu Tang had once been a pampered young lady, she had never walked such wild mountain paths. Thus, she hadn’t gone far before she was being led by the hand by Xia Shi. Even so, the journey was treacherous, and their speed down the mountain was as slow as a snail’s pace.

Xia Shi didn’t mind the slow pace, but seeing Chu Tang struggling, she couldn’t help but say: “Otherwise, let me…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Chu Tang slipped while walking downhill and fell. Fortunately, the two were holding hands, and Xia Shi’s reaction was quick; she immediately spread her arms and caught her in a full embrace. The words she had said halfway through transformed into: “Are you alright? Is everything okay?”

Chu Tang’s heart was beating very fast, and her small face was deathly pale. She instinctively hugged Xia Shi tightly. It wasn’t until the palpitations passed that she found her voice: “No, I’m fine.”

Although she said that, her hands clutching Xia Shi did not let go, as if she could only draw a sense of safety from her.

The mountain path was very steep, and they hadn’t even reached halfway down the mountain. If she had really tumbled all the way down, the person would likely have been done for by the time they reached the foot of the mountain. Therefore, Xia Shi didn’t think Chu Tang’s reaction was overly timid; instead, she hugged Chu Tang’s shoulders and patted her back gently for comfort.

After another moment, Chu Tang finally recovered completely and finally released Xia Shi: “Sorry…”

Xia Shi interrupted her before she could continue: “Why say sorry to me? Isn’t it only natural for you to hug me?”

The two had established their position from the beginning. Even without a marriage ceremony, in Xia Shi’s heart, Chu Tang was already her wife. So she raised Chu Tang, took care of Chu Tang, slept in the same bed as Chu Tang, and even that hug just now was a matter of course.

Only, she had obviously misunderstood the meaning of Chu Tang’s apology. The latter’s face turned red upon hearing her words: “I didn’t…forget it, let’s continue down the mountain.”

Xia Shi heard her speak halfway and wanted to ask, but looking at Chu Tang’s blushing face in the morning light, she suddenly didn’t want to speak again. However, she didn’t wait for Chu Tang to continue the difficult descent, instead, she walked around in front of her and squatted down: “Come, let me carry you down the mountain.”

Chu Tang stepped back half a step upon seeing this, then looked at Xia Shi’s back, which wasn’t particularly broad, and was even less willing to be carried: “No. The mountain road is dangerous. If I let you carry me, what if we both fall together?”

Xia Shi didn’t stand up, but turned her head and laughed: “Don’t worry, you won’t fall.” After saying this, fearing Chu Tang wouldn’t believe her, she added: “How much do you weigh? I can carry a deer down the mountain and into town, carrying you is even less of a challenge.”

Chu Tang paused, seeming to recall this. A deer weighed at least a hundred catties, and an adult male deer would be even heavier. Yet Xia Shi could carry a hunted deer from the mountain to the city by herself. Was her strength much greater than that of an ordinary man?

At this moment, Chu Tang didn’t want to let Xia Shi carry her, but she really wanted to squeeze her arm to see if she truly possessed such strength.

But before she could reach out, Xia Shi, who had been waiting impatiently, moved first. With one pull and one tug, she dragged Chu Tang onto her back, and then, without waiting for Chu Tang to resist or struggle, she stood up and trotted toward the foot of the mountain.

Xia Shi was extremely familiar with the path she had trodden herself; not only could she run, she could jump.

Chu Tang, on her back, was terrified by this hare-like movement. She hadn’t wanted to be carried, but now she hurriedly wrapped her arms around Xia Shi’s neck. For a moment, her arm strength was so great she nearly choked Xia Shi, but fortunately, before Xia Shi could warn her, she realized it was improper and slightly loosened her grip, yet she still kept her arms around Xia Shi’s neck, afraid to let go.

Just like this, Xia Shi carried Chu Tang and rushed down the mountain path. The journey that might have taken Chu Tang over half an hour was completed in less than fifteen minutes. When they reached the foot of the mountain and she was set down, Xia Shi was still unfazed, but Chu Tang’s legs went soft the moment her feet touched the ground, and she nearly lost her footing.

Xia Shi hurriedly reached out to steady her. Seeing that the other’s complexion was poor, she could only dryly laugh twice to cover the awkwardness.

Fortunately, Chu Tang didn’t take it to heart and only glared at her: “The mountain path is dangerous, be careful. If you always do this and fall, what will you do?”

This was mostly concern, and since Chu Tang was born with beauty, that look of mock anger was not repulsive, but rather made one’s heart itch. Xia Shi couldn’t help but reach out and hook her finger, shaking it lightly as an apology.

Of course, once Xia Shi held her hand, she never let go, leading her wife directly into the familiar village.

At this time, it was just fully bright, and the golden morning light lazily bathed the village, plating everything she saw in a layer of gold. But when the two stepped into Shitian Village, this small village had already awakened—the autumn harvest wasn’t over, and in order to avoid the intense midday sun, the farmers had gone out to work before dawn. Therefore, when the two walked into the village, they immediately saw the villagers busy in the fields.

However, not many people saw them because everyone was busy bowing their heads to harvest rice, not even having time to look up. It was a little girl delivering food to the fields who was the first to see Xia Shi, shouting joyfully: “The meat-trader is here!”

This shout really made quite a few people look up, but when the villagers saw Xia Shi’s empty hands, they lost interest and continued to bow their heads to harvest the rice.

Xia Shi awkwardly touched the bridge of her nose and turned her head to explain to Chu Tang: “I always brought hunted meat to trade for things during the autumn harvest in the past. The little girl has seen it a few times, so she probably thought I was here to trade meat this time, which is why she shouted like that.”

Chu Tang had known this long ago, but upon hearing this title, she still secretly curved the corners of her lips, only to return to a solemn expression when Xia Shi explained: “Hmm, I know, it’s nothing.”

As the two spoke, the little girl ran over, looking around Xia Shi, and finally said disappointedly: “Why didn’t you bring meat?”

Xia Shi unceremoniously rubbed the little girl’s head: “Little girl, you’re only thinking of meat.” Before she could wait for the little girl to angrily swat away her hand, she said: “I’m here for something else this time. Sanhua, is your family’s vegetable garden big?”

Sanhua was small but clever; with a roll of her eyes, she knew Xia Shi was asking about the vegetable garden to buy vegetables—this hunter entering the village was either trading things or buying things, and she was already used to it—for a farming family, if they couldn’t trade meat, trading for a few copper coins was also good. So Sanhua patted her small chest and said enthusiastically: “Don’t worry, my family’s vegetable garden has a lot of vegetables.”

After she finished speaking, she turned and walked toward her home, turning back to greet them as she walked: “Come quickly, I’ll take you there.”