In the morning, he walked from the village to the town carrying thirty catties of vegetables and was busy for most of the day. Now he was hungry, so he nodded.
Jiang Mao’s temporary courtyard was a kind of ordinary or even a little simple and crude courtyard.
Jiang Mao stooped to unlock the door. He had to bow his head to get in, but Su Qingbai didn’t need to. He happened to be able to walk in finely.
Jiang Mao’s courtyard which he dwelled in was surrounded by small courtyards of different heights, so the light here was somewhat dim. Jiang Mao led him into the house and he was invited to sit down. Looking out, he wondered if the light was blocked because the house was surrounded, and it seemed as like the sky was somewhat dusky.
Su Qingbai was a little nervous. He looked up and asked Jiang Mao, “What’s for lunch?”
It’s said lunch, but in a moment, it would be passed lunch time. If Su Qingbai waited for Jiang Mao to finish it as soon as possible, he could go home soon after he finished eating.
Jiang Mao smiled. “Do you have anything you want to eat?”
Su Qingbai swallowed and said to himself: I want to eat meat. But when he thought of the extraordinary price of meat in this place, he said, “Anything is fine, you can make it simple. I’m going home after eating.”
Having heard that, Jiang Mao nodded. “Hn, you’ll be home before dark.” After saying that, his hands movement turned quicker to wash the vegetables.
Jiang Mao did make steamed bread very quickly. In a short time, he also cooked several simple dishes.
Su Qingbai smelled it and directly drooled. As soon as the dishes were on the table, he was impatient to pick up his chopsticks and eat them.
Never did he expected, no sooner had he swallowed the first dish than there was a sudden thunder outside. It didn’t give them time to react, and then it rained like cats and dogs.
“Why did it suddenly rain?” Su Qingbai could not afford to eat anymore. He ran under the eaves, reached out his hand and bawled. With a bitter look on his face, he turned to Jiang Mao and said, “How can I go home?”
Jiang Mao dragged him into the house. “Don’t stay outside with the thunder and lightning.”
Su Qingbai still had an unbelievable face. “It’s just a bright sunny day, and it’s raining in the blink of an eye.”
Jiang Mao secretly thanked the rain in his heart, yet on surface he still comforted him by saying, “Now that it’s like this, let’s have a good meal. I’ll give you another dish in a moment.” As he pulled him inside, he said: “The summer is like this; thunder shower come and go quickly, maybe the rain will stop later.”
In the end, Su Qingbai waited until it was dark but it was still raining and seemed to be getting worse and worse.
Su Qingbai bitterly nibbled on the chicken legs in his holds. Fortunately, he had chicken legs to comfort him. Sigh~ He didn’t know what’s going on at home. Was Su Caicai asleep?
In the evening, after eating and drinking their fills, Jiang Mao invited Su Qingbai to sleep with him.
Remembering that night in the capital, Su Qingbai stood in front of the bed, looking at Jiang Mao defensively.
Jiang Mao was helpless. “Then what to do? There is only one bed at home. It’s not good to lay on the floor. It’s raining heavily tonight and the ground is wet. You are sure to get sick if you lay on the floor overnight.”
Su Qingbai had no choice but to follow Jiang Mao to bed.
Lying in bed, Su Qingbai was too vexed. He didn’t know whether his Lao Zi and Niang would be anxious that he didn’t go home; whether Su Caicai could sleep at night and would make trouble for his Dad and Niang?
Thinking about it, Su Qingbai couldn’t sleep.
As the sky grew darker, Su Qingbai fidgety pulled up the quilt, closed his eyes and forced himself to sleep. However, Su Qingbai’s mind was thinking and he did not feel sleepy. He closed his eyes and listened to the rain for two hours.
After such a heavy rain, the originally hot and dry weather cooled down, and Su Qingbai’s agitation went away a lot. Just when he felt he could fall asleep right away, he suddenly felt a heat source approaching slowly.
Jiang Mao was sleeping with Su Qingbai together. His heart itched to death, how could he sleep? Su Qingbai was not too bad and could be regarded as having beautiful fair skin. Jiang Mao liked men. He had aimed on Su Qingbai after that few days they had associated in the capital, and he had lingered with Su Qingbai for a few nights. After the reunion, he became even more interested after spending a few days with Su Qingbai.
As a matter of fact, he saw Su Qingbai had few disadvantages, but as it happened, he could always be teased till his heart itched by Su Qingbai. He unexpectedly put down his main business and accompanied Su Qingbai for several days.
At this moment, Su Qingbai slept in his bed. He didn’t know how hard it took him to stay away from Su Qingbai.
Now that Su Qingbai seemed to be asleep, Jiang Mao couldn’t help wanting to get close to Su Qingbai and ask for a kiss.
Scalding breath puffed on Su Qingbai’s forehead and Su Qingbai’s face turned red. He knew Jiang Mao was approaching slowly, but he would not open his eyes.
Jiang Mao’s heart was pounding. Just as he was about to kiss Su Qingbai, Su Qingbai suddenly turned over. Jiang Mao… kissed the back of Su Qingbai’s head.
Upon seeing Su Qingbai purposefully grunted, Jiang Mao smiled bitterly and went to sleep.
Jiang Mao fell asleep, leaving only Su Qingbai unable to sleep at all tonight.
Aaaahhhh!
Jiang Mao had such an idea about him, Su Qingbai shouted in his heart.
But he actually delivered himself to his door and went to his bed. What a fool, what a fool!
…
The next day, Su Qingbai was woken up by Jiang Mao. He finally fell asleep last night, but he slept very late.
Opening his eyes, he saw Jiang Mao’s face, which was very similar to Su Caicai’s. Su Qingbai jumped up and dressed.
The meal was already prepared.
Sitting at the dinner table, Jiang Mao broke the awkward ambiguous atmosphere. “Don’t try as hard as you did yesterday. Take fewer loads and don’t tire yourself.”
Su Qingbai pursed his lips. “But besides returning the money to you, I have to support my family.”
Jiang Mao pressed his forehead and then looked deeply at Su Qingbai. “You don’t have to give the money back to me.” Looking at Su Qingbai’s surprised eyes, Jiang Mao repeated, “You don’t have to pay me back.”
Last night, Jiang Mao already broke his mind by Su Qingbai and so he might as well not find any reason and said it straightforwardly.
“How, how can I do that?” Su Qingbai stuttered as he remembered last night.
In the end, whatever Jiang Mao said, Su Qingbai decided to pay it back. He didn’t intend to have anything to do with Jiang Mao. He was uncomfortable with the money.
Su Qingbai was home when it was almost noon.
At the sight of Su Qingbai’s return, Madam Su greeted him happily, and bursting to enquire solicitously about his well-being. After confirming that he was not frozen, she was then reassured.
“By the way, Caicai didn’t make trouble while I was not at home last night, was he?”
Madam Su took Su Qingbai to her bedroom and whispered, “He was, in midnight of last night. You Dad coaxed him for a long time.”
Su Qingbai followed Madam Su’s line of sight and saw Su Caicai lying in Su Lingchuan’s arms while sucking his finger.
Su Lingchuan slept in a weird position. He hunched his body holding Su Caicai in his arms and held Su Caicai’s buttocks in one hand.
Madam Su also laughed as she looked at the pair of grandpa and grandson.
Su Lingchuan suddenly woke up, pulled Su Caicai’s legs apart, and then pulled Su Caicai’s diaper apart, just to see the last bit of water on Su Caicai’s chicken sprinkled on the diaper.
Su Lingchuan looked at his still wet and hot hands and his face blackened. Su Qingbai quickly picked up Su Caicai bare-buttocks, before his Dad got angry. “Dad, you go on sleeping. I’m taking this child away.”
Back in his room, Su Caicai woke up. He rubbed his eyes and felt happy when he saw Su Qingbai. He grinned and a string of saliva came out.
Su Qingbai took him to the heated brick bed. Neither the father nor the son slept well last night, so they went to sleep together.
On the heated brick bed, Su Qingbai took a diaper and put it under Su Caicai’s bottom. Su Caicai had just peed and his buttocks were very white and soft.
====
Exile Chapter 17Su Qingbai went to the county as usual the next day after a day’s rest.
Because Su Qingbai had a day off yesterday and did not earn a coin yesterday, so today Su Qingbai did not listen to Jiang Mao to bring fewer loads. Instead, he carried 32 catties on his back, more than last time which he couldn’t pack it in the basket. He planned to do the same in the next few days. He had to make up for yesterday.
Once in a while he stopped and had a rest. He wiped the sweat. He had slowly adapted to such a life. Su Qingbai rushed back to grow some vegetables as soon as he could after he had sold all of them.
Jiang Mao waited there early in the morning. Upon seeing Su Qingbai’s back was hunched, his face darkened. He handed Su Qingbai the breakfast he had prepared, took Su Qingbai’s basket and started hawking.
Through the end of the sale, he did not say a word to Su Qingbai to express his dissatisfaction.
Su Qingbai was a dim-witted person, he did not notice it all. After noon passed, only a catty or two of vegetables were left for sale. He hesitated again and again and said, “Don’t buy me breakfast tomorrow. You’ve got the money I gave you back, yet you put up to come. You’ve lost a lot of money yourself.” The few meals Jiang Mao invited him to eat were worth more than he sold vegetables in a few days.
“As I said, I don’t need that little money. You don’t have to pay it back.” Jiang Mao pointed at him. “I haven’t settled with you about your thirty-two catties of vegetables today.”
Speaking of this, Su Qingbai also felt much entangled. If he owed others money, others would say that he didn’t have to pay it back. He would like to be debt-free. But this man was Jiang Mao. He really had the feeling of selling himself.
“I am the man in my family. I have to work hard to support my family.” He really had no way other than to sell vegetables. At present, he had no skills, so he could only sell vegetables. He had just started these days. If possible, he would like to load more vegetables.
Looking at Jiang Mao, Su Qingbai thought about it, and said what he thought in his heart, “I know what you want, but… That’s absolutely impossible.”
“Impossible?” Jiang Mao approached him. “Why not? Can’t you try it?”
Su Qingbai was scared just by thinking about it, “My Lao Zi will kill me.”
To be honest, he didn’t care if his future partner was a man or a woman. Before Su Caicai was born, he did not develop very well. All his energies were devoted to two things: gambling and hiding from his Lao Zi. He hardly thought about women usually.
Before Su Caicai was born, Su Qingbai was quite self-aware. He knew that he could not find a wife by himself, which he could only rely on his Lao Zi.
After Su Caicai was born, Su Qingbai was even busier and had no time to think about it.
So at present, the only requirement for him to find a wife was by obtaining his Lao Zi’s satisfaction.
As for Jiang Mao, don’t be joking, his Lao Zi must beat him to death.
Jiang Mao was speechless when he saw Su Qingbai was frightened by his Dad. He had heard that Prime Minister Su was a gentle and kind man. He was once the third scorer in the imperial examination. He was the gentlest scholar. He was also very polite usually. Jiang Mao hadn’t heard that he had a hobby of hitting people casually.
Without mentioning Su Lingchuan’s impression in Jiang Mao’s mind, Jiang Mao listened to Su Qingbai and asked him, “What if your dad doesn’t beat you?” Looking at Su Qingbai, Jiang Mao didn’t care at all that they were in the vegetable market. He stooped close to Su Qingbai and almost kissed Su Qingbai. Then he asked, “What about you? What do you think of me, regardless of your dad’s opinion?”
Su Qingbai blushed and without thinking said, “Impossible!” How could his Dad not beat him? He thought at that time about how his Dad reacted when he learned that he had Su Caicai. He still remembered that there was the kind of feeling that after calamity, he got renewed life.
As for the second question, Su Qingbai selectively ignored it. He looked at the man who was always feeding him and threw down a sentence, “I’m still busy this afternoon. I’ll go back first.” Without another breath, he escaped.
Jiang Mao looked at Su Qingbai’s fleeing figure, and at Su Qingbai’s remaining two catties of vegetables; he rubbed his temples with a headache. Finally, with a sigh of helplessness, he picked up the two catties of vegetables. Today, he got to taste Su Qingbai’s vegetables.
When Su Qingbai got home and embraced Su Caicai, he remembered that he had forgotten to give half of money to Jiang Si today.
…
Lying in bed at night, Su Qingbai looked at the roof and thought about Jiang Si. He thought of his rejection to Jiang Si. Jiang Si was a tactful person, he should not be entangled with him again, right?
Sure enough, Jiang Mao did not come the next day.
Su Qingbai breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time, his heart was somewhat inexplicably tart. Jiang Si actually did not come just because he said so; he had too weak of perseverance.
Today was better than yesterday. Forty-two catties were sold by noon.
Su Qingbai rubbed his hungry rumbling stomach, while not being happy at all.
Today, he brought thirty-two catties of vegetables to sell. He was tired to death, and nobody talked to him.
For the next few days, Jiang Si never appeared again.
Su Qingbai felt that Jiang Si didn’t look up to the money in his hand anyway. Jiang Si must have left after being rejected by him that day without hope.
Su Qingbai always knew that Jiang Si was not from this side of town.
Su Qingbai felt indescribably empty thinking about this possibility. He didn’t know Jiang Si’s specific information, but only his name was Jiang Si.
This name was not his real name. He didn’t like Jiang Si at that time and he didn’t want to interact with him too much. So, even though he knew it was a pseudonym, he didn’t intend to ask.
Su Qingbai’s heart felt tart. He regretted it. If he had known it earlier, he would ask clearly, even if he only knew his name.
Now he only knew his surname, Jiang. The sky and earth were so big. Would they have a chance to meet again?
It’s really hard for a person to struggle alone. Su Qingbai himself knew the pain and tiredness.
Slowly, his enthusiasm for selling vegetables passed. Every day he worked hard and was tired. Every time he saw someone waiting for him at home, Su Qingbai would feel that all this was worthwhile.
Su Qingbai rushed to the heated brick bed as soon as he got home that day. He had to catch up on his sleep quickly so that he could grow vegetables and water the field in the afternoon.
It was another hard day.
In the evening, Su Qingbai came home and found that his family was still awake. Su Caicai was hugged by his mother and fed rice soup.
Su Caicai was now at an age where he could eat solid food. His dairy sheep did not have a long milk-producing period. So Su Qingbai consulted with his parents and decided to let Su Caicai adapt slowly to other foods while they waited for the sheep to no longer produce milk, and not after Su Caicai’s sudden weaning. He wouldn’t adapt to it.
“That’s right.” Su Lingchuan looked at Su Qingbai, who was so tired that he could not hide the distress between his eyebrows. He handed him a stool while feeling heartache and asked him, “How’s the vegetable sale these days?”
In front of his parents, Su Qingbai did not hide his money. He excluded the money he planned to pay Jiang Mao back, and poured all the copper coins onto the table.
So far, Su Qingbai had not given up paying Jiang Si. He divided the money into two parts and hid half of it.
Father Su looked at the copper coins in front of him. In fact, Su Qingbai earned a lot less than ordinary people in the village who worked as small laborers. But Su Qingbai spent too much energy on it. Every day he came back from the town tired. In the afternoon, he had to grow vegetables and water them.
Su Lingchuan thought it was worthless to work so hard but earn some money. He frowned and said, “It’s too tiring. Tomorrow I’ll go to your great grandfather’s house to see if he has any lighter jobs and introduce you to do them. It doesn’t matter if you have less money. Don’t sell vegetables tomorrow. Although you earn a lot, it’s not worth it if you burn yourself out for money.”
Having heard that, Su Qingbai stood up and pulled out a smile. “Dad, it’s not tiring, not tiring at all, I can do it.” If he didn’t sell vegetables, he couldn’t go to the county.
Su Lingchuan looked at his persevering face; he was somewhat not adapted to it. When did Su Qingbai become so good and so progressive?
Su Qingbai couldn’t be persuaded, so Su Lingchuan had to compromise. “Alright, just don’t be too tired. In the future, plant less and sell less every day.”
One must knew, Su Ni also sold vegetables with him, but the other girl did not cut such a sorry figure as Su Qingbai himself. She sold only a little bit every day, then returned home early, and often played with those girls in the village in her spare time.
Su Qingbai nodded and agreed, but when he left the next day, Su Lingchuan was still sleeping, no matter how many vegetables he took, Su Lingchuan would not know.
After selling the vegetables, it was rare for Su Qingbai not to rush back. He bought a sesame seed cake on the street.
After working for a long time, he hadn’t relaxed for a long time. Su Qingbai felt itchy.
After thinking about it, he asked the uncle, who was familiar with him and sold wonton at the side, to help him look after his basket.
The uncle was a very enthusiastic person. Su Qingbai had doing business at the stall here for some time. He could see that Su Qingbai really worked hard and stuck to it until noon every day. He was so impressed to Su Qingbai that he agreed without thinking about it.
Su Qingbai felt in his pocket for the thirty-two coins he earned today, and then went to the casino with familiarity.
What he didn’t notice was that somebody who rushed to see him not far away saw him leave and caught up with him.
Before going to the casino, Su Qingbai looked at the plaque and told himself that he could only played once. He just worked long hours and only occasionally relaxed.
Su Qingbai didn’t have much money with him, only thirty-two coins, so he didn’t dare to play too much. As soon as he entered, he went straight to the table which was relatively shabbily dressed.
Su Qingbai was a frank and straightforward man. He quickly paid for the bet and then stared nervously.
Suddenly, he was patted on the shoulder.
Su Qingbai was too devoted to it, so he didn’t take it seriously, only thought the place was too chaotic, someone must have accidentally bumped into him.
He did not expect that his shoulder was patted again. Su Qingbai looked back impatiently. When he saw the other’s face, his impatience turned into a pleasant surprise. “Jiang Si, why are you here? You’re not leaving?”
Jiang Mao looked at him with a sneer. “I haven’t seen you for a few days. You’re very capable ah.”
====
Exile Chapter 18“Follow me!” Jiang Mao pulled Su Qingbai out with a black face.
There were laughing winners, crying losers, and there was a lot of noise. No one noticed their little action here, only a deskmate shouted for Su Qingbai. Su Qingbai did not answer back. He then squeezed into the gambling table again, ignoring Su Qingbai.
Although Su Qingbai was really surprised to see Jiang Mao again, he had not forgotten that his copper coin was still pressing on the table, so he threw Jiang Mao’s hand aside. “Wait first. Wait until I finish this game. I’ll be quick.” Then he turned around, went towards the gambling table.
Jiang Mao hadn’t seen Su Qingbai for a few days, and Su Qingbai went into this place as soon as he met him. Now he couldn’t even talk to Su Qingbai. Jiang Mao looked at Su Qingbai’s figure. It was a close call for him not to hit Su Qingbai on the buttock.
Gripping his hands in clenched fists, he took a few steps forward. Before Su Qingbai approached the table, he grabbed Su Qingbai’s collar, lifted him and pulled him out of the casino.
Su Qingbai was furious, and pointed at him. “That’s good, I’ve put ten coins into it, and it’s all drifting away.”
Jiang Mao turned around and left, ignoring him.
Su Qingbai was only half angry, but Jiang Mao ignored him and left.
Looking at Jiang Mao’s back, Su Qingbai put down his finger. He was nursing a grievance! … But he still followed.
Jiang Mao was taller, with longer legs and better physical strength. Su Qingbai, a small man, ran all the way behind him.
Passing the market, Su Qingbai took the basket and continued running after Jiang Mao. In the end, he couldn’t run and grabbed Jiang Mao. “Is this your attitude of wooing people? Huh?! I’m not going with you. I’m going home.”
Jiang Mao looked at him and unhurriedly said, “Now I have to think it over. I’m afraid when I married you [as a wife] and took you home, what if you ruin our family?”
Su Qingbai stepped back and looked at him as if he was a madman. “Marry [as a wife]? I will only marry other in my life, and I will not be married [as a wife] by other.” He still had the impudence to marry him [as a wife]?
Jiang Mao stared at him and said nothing.
Onto this issue again.
Su Qingbai had been very angry, but he was a little embarrassed when Jiang Mao looked at him. He coughed and his voice became very quiet, explaining the gambling problem. “I don’t go very often either. It’s the first time I went in today.” There was no money before. At most, he only looked at it a few times.
Jiang Mao listened to him and looked at him. Suddenly he smiled. “You’re well-behaved.” He pinched Su Qingbai’s face and took him to his place.
Was this considered good? Su Qingbai followed him awkwardly.
As Su Qingbai walked and looked at Jiang Mao, he felt that Jiang Mao’s smile just now was not sincere. Jiang Mao was disgusted with his going to the casino and his repeated rejection of Jiang Mao disappointed Jiang Mao and made Jiang Mao angry.
When Jiang Mao looked back at him gently, he felt freaked out.
Although Jiang Mao acted as a, as a… Well, let’s considered him as a friend, but he had no right to be angry about it. But Su Qingbai didn’t have the heart to refuse him and obediently followed him.
When they arrived at Jiang Mao’s place, Jiang Mao opened the door and waved to him, “Come here.”
Su Qingbai went over, and Jiang Mao unloaded the basket for him.
Then Su Qingbai noticed Jiang Mao taking him to a cart and put his hands on the handles on both sides.
Su Qingbai blushed and asked knowingly, “What is this?”
Jiang Mao looked at him with a smile and said, “Run it for a few laps and see how you feel, whether it’s convenience.” After that, he looked at the rein wrapped around the handle, untied it, and wrapped it around Su Qingbai’s neck.
Su Qingbai’s head flailed about uncooperatively, and he threw the reins aside. “I don’t want it. I look like a mule.”
“It’s more labor-saving.” Jiang Mao persuaded.
No matter what, Su Qingbai was unwilling.
Jiang Mao helplessly said, “Alright, if you don’t want it then don’t want it.” He was going to put the rein on the two handles of the handcart again.
Looking at the handcart, Su Qingbai was quite satisfied. After thinking about it, he put his hand down on the cart, then put his hand in his clothes, pulled out the money, and took out twenty-two coins. “If it’s not enough, I’ll give you more later.”
Jiang Mao leaned against the door and came over languidly, completing his rare self-esteem.
After Su Qingbai gave the money, he pulled the cart and ran. Jiang Mao looked at him and called him, “Sigh ―― with this cart, you can save a little effort and time. What are you rushing back for?”
Su Qingbai was full of fighting spirit at the moment. “I’m going to open a few mu of land, plant a variety of vegetables. In due course, you will set up stall in the east; I will set up stall in the west. Let’s make a fortune together.” After saying that, Su Qingbai put on a face of “I’m quite optimistic about you” and patted Jiang Mao’s hand.
Jiang Mao held out his other hand and it froze in mid-air, wondering why he should stop Su Qingbai.
At first, he had thought that Su Qingbai could spare some time, accompany him to eat and have a stroll on the street. During this time, he would hold his hands, hug his waist, and then they would drink a little wine from time to time, he would take him home afterwards.
He never expected that Su Qingbai was going to set up separate stalls.
He was never counting on selling vegetables to make a fortune. Now Su Qingbai wanted to do business separately from him, but he neither wanted to make much more money.
However, Su Qingbai seemed to have been neatly laid out by his brain imagination of bright future in which his brain imagination made his blood boiling. It would be hard for him to stop Su Qingbai, afraid that he couldn’t. Even if Su Qingbai could be stopped, it would probably take a lot of thoughts and time. Furthermore, it was not known what Su Qingbai would do to make money.
Rather than like that, it’s better to…
Jiang Mao called Su Qingbai, “That, Qingbai, do you have enough people to take care of so many fields? Why don’t I help you?”
Su Qingbai paused and turned his head around. He watched Jiang Mao vigilantly and shook his head wildly. “No way.”
Seeing Su Qingbai was taken aback and looking at him warily, Jiang Mao guessed what he was afraid of and continued to coax him. “Then we’ll tell your Dad that I’m your friend, and I’ll pay attention to my behavior at your house. Your Dad won’t find out about our relationship.”
Su Qingbai was deeply aware that this Jiang Mao person was shameless, and he could really talk to himself, “We are just friends. Our relationship? What is our relationship? We have nothing to do with each other.”
Even if they were in a relationship, he could not hide it from his Dad. Cough! Of course, even if there was not a relationship, his Dad would make connection when he looks at Jiang Mao’s face, which was similar to Su Caicai’s.
Jiang Mao’s plan to go to the next level failed.
Pulling the handcart back home, Su Qingbai went to the vegetable field to have a look.
The green vegetable seedlings gently shook its leaves in the wind, how lovely.
Looking at these lovely vegetable seedlings, Su Qingbai blew the cool and refreshing wind of summertime at dusk and sighed with feeling, “It’s all money!”
====
Exile Chapter 19Su Qingbai worked hard in the field for a while and pulled the handcart home.
“Qingbai, you are back.” His mother was busy working in front of several bamboo cages when she saw Su Qingbai come back and shouted at him.
Su Qingbai walked over and saw his mother feeding chickens. Su Qingbai asked her, “Niang, where are the chickens coming from?”
Madam Su laughed and said, “Your Dad had nothing to do at home, so he took over the copying work and bought some chickens. Caicai is about to wean, and when it is time, he can have steamed egg custard to eat.”
In the middle of talk, Su Lingchuan came out with Su Caicai in his arms.
Su Lingchuan felt very helpless. Since Su Caicai was born, he had expressed his dislike for this child without any disguise. The family knew this and seldom brought Su Caicai’s news to him at ordinary time, only in the case when there was nothing could be done.
Others knew, but Su Caicai was a baby that couldn’t read other people’s face. He didn’t know. Since Su Qingbai went outside to support his family, Su Caicai had been thrown to Madam Su.
Madam Su was also busy all day, cooking and doing laundry. Because she had just started doing all the chores, some of the chores were not easy, she would inevitably slow down, and each time it took a lot of time.
Madam Su would put Su Caicai on the heated brick bed, which when he was smaller, it didn’t matter. He could lie alone for a day. But since he slowly grew up, he could roll and climb, so he could not be taken care as before.
Seeing Su Caicai’s nimble calves and crawling around, Su Lingchuan couldn’t watch Su Caicai climb up and down from such a high heated brick bed, could he?
After taking care of Su Caicai once or twice, Su Caicai stayed with him. Now, besides Su Qingbai, Su Caicai’s favorite person was Su Lingchuan.
“Where does this handcart come from?” Su Lingchuan saw the handcart and asked him.
Su Qingbai took Su Caicai, smiled at Su Lingchuan and said, “I just bought one because I thought it would be easier and efficient to use a handcart.”
Su Lingchuan nodded, he did think likewise.
In the evening, the family of four ate together. Su Qingbai held Su Caicai and fed him steamed egg custard.
Su Lingchuan bought an old hen and three little chickens. The old hen had laid eggs.
“Dad, Niang.”
While eating, Su Qingyang and Su Dsao came in, and Su Dsao was carrying a basket in her hand. “This is the mushroom we are picking today. You can try it, Dad, Niang.”
Su Qingbai made room for them to eat together.
Su Dsao laughed and waved. “We’ve all eaten. I’ll put down the mushroom. Dad, Niang, you all eat leisurely.”
Su Qingbai was a little embarrassed. Dge’s family was not much better than him, but they often give them something.
Su Qingbai had to send vegetables to Dge’s house from time to time.
Madam Su refused for them to leave. Da’er was several years older than her second son. When she had not had her second son, she had no less affection for Da’er than her youngest son. After days of not having dinner with her son, Madam Su sat down with the Su Qingyang couple and had a meal together.
For several days, Su Qingbai did not pick too many vegetables to sell as planned, even took less than usual, and came later than usual.
The reason was that Su Er-sao was pregnant.
Su Qingbai was very happy for his second brother, who had been looking forward to such a child for a long time.
His mother was happy, his Dad was happy, and the family forgot their unhappiness. They all put down the things in their hands and circled Er-sao.
It’s like there was no dividing up family property and living apart.
“How come you are late?” Jiang Mao had been waiting there all the time. Su Qingbai was coming later than before. Jiang Mao wondered if the handcart was not working well.
Su Qingbai laughed and said, “Er-sao is pregnant, so I’m a little late.”
Jiang Mao calmed down and helped him move the vegetables. He was relieved to find that the vegetables were even not much. It seemed that there was no need to separate the stalls for the time being.
After they sold out and distributing the money, Jiang Mao handed him the basket which had been put aside early in the morning.
The basket was covered with a piece of cloth. Su Qingbai took it over. It was heavy. It had to weigh ten catties.
“What is this?”
Su Qingbai uncovered the cloth and saw there was a half of a young wild boar that had already been process.
Jiang Mao looked at him with a smile and explained, “Yesterday, I was lucky to meet this little injured wild boar. I can’t finish eating it by myself, so I bring it to you.”
Su Qingbai sighed. He really was not feeling good at receiving people’s things. After thinking for a long time, he thought about a reason: “My mother’s cooking is not good, she can’t do it, and it’s a waste to give me.”
Jiang Mao sighed and took back the wild boar again.
Su Qingbai breathed a sigh of relief and said goodbye to Jiang Mao.
Pulling the handcart back, Su Qingbai ran into Su Ni. “Su Ni, why haven’t you gone home yet?” Su Ni usually went home early.
The little girl bit her lip and cried, “Qingbai…”
Su Qingbai put down the handcart and helped her up. “What’s the matter?”
Su Ni slowly stood up with his help. “My feet twisted and I couldn’t walk anymore.”
In the end, Su Qingbai pulled Su Ni back in a handcart. Where Su Qingbai couldn’t see, Su Ni looked at the person who was hurrying to this side not far away. She put her hands on Su Qingbai’s shoulders virtually, seemingly affectionate. The figure running in this direction stopped immediately and did not follow.
Su Qingbai didn’t know all this.
Su Qingbai took Su Ni home.
When he returned, his Lao Zi was copying a book with Su Caicai in his arms. Madam Su was surrounded by Su Er-sao, tenderly inquiring her about something.
Then Su Qingbai listened to Su Er-sao loudly said, “Niang, you don’t have to stir-fry it, yours don’t taste good, you let Dsao stir-fry it, I want to eat which Dsao made.” The tone of dislike was so obvious that Madam Su’s face suddenly froze.
Madam Su’s cooking was terrible, as the family all knew, but even so, every time Madam Su cooked, most people were happy to eat the food clean.
Su Er-sao’s voice was so loud that everyone in the courtyard heard it. It was awkward for a while.
Su Qingbai, however, was a little unhappy. He went over to his embarrassed Lao Niang and said, “Niang~ I want to eat your noodles.”
Madam Su stroked her youngest son’s face and smiled reluctantly.
Ultimately, Su Er-sao’s food was fried by Su Dsao.
In the afternoon, Su Qingbai took Su Caicai with him when he went to the field. He was afraid that Su Caicai was too wild and ran into Su Er-sao.
Su Huai followed.
Three people came to the field. Su Caicai was placed on the quilt-covered handcart by Su Qingbai. Su Huai followed Su Qingbai to learn how to pick vegetables. He quickly learned how to pick vegetables. Soon, he was even more skilled than Su Qingbai.
They picked vegetables together. Su Huai stooped down to work and complained, “Second Aunt has been pointing at my Niang since she was pregnant. Why? My Niang is her Dsao, not her servant.”
Seeing that Su Qingbai listened to him carefully, he said, “When Second Aunt is pregnant, she feels that she was the person who has rendered outstanding service for the whole family.” He could not help but add a sentence, “She is not the only one in the family that can have children.”
Hearing that, Su Qingbai nodded comprehensively and patted him on the shoulder. “Just bear with it. It’ll be all right when Er-sao has the baby.”
Exile Chapter 20The two men soon finished their work, bundled up the vegetables on the ground, and found Su Caicai lying asleep in the handcart.
His face was flushed by the heat of the sun, his fists were beside his head, and his hands were half-grasped unconsciously. From time to time, the small hand was stretched out on his face and waved away a fly that was making a restless buzzing sound near his face.
Su Huai quickly picked him up and pinched him. He looked at Su Qingbai and said, “I haven’t hugged him for a while. He’s really heavy.”
Su Qingbai looked at Su Caicai, who was sleeping like a piggy, and said, “You go back with Caicai in your arms, and the rest of it, I can do it alone.”
Considering that Su Qingbai used to do this by himself, Su Huai went home first with Su Caicai in his arms.
It was dark when Su Qingbai returned.
After dinner, he was going to sleep directly but Su Huai came to him and said with a smile, “Little uncle, take me to town tomorrow.”
Su Qingbai looked at him warily. “For what are you going with me?”
Su Huai sat on the edge of the heated brick bed. “I’ll help you. You can also relax.” Seeing Su Qingbai still had no intention of relaxing, he said frankly, “Fine! I think it’s too annoying to stay at home. I want to go out and relax.”
Without thinking about it, Su Qingbai refused, “No way! If you want to relax, just go by yourself. Why do you have to follow me?” No kidding. If he bumped into Jiang Si, what’s to do?
Next moment however, Su Huai pleaded, but Su Qingbai refused to let him go with him together.
In the end, when Su Qingbai refused to agree at all, Su Huai turned his eyes around and pretended to be disappointed. “Forget it, I’ll go by myself then.” After that, he left.
Watching Su Huai’s back leaving, Su Qingbai breathed a sigh of relief.
Somehow, however, his eyelids jumped suddenly.
…
The next day, Su Qingbai went to town as usual.
Su Qingbai just got up, and in the dark of the night, a man followed him.
Yes, this person was Su Huai.
Touching his chin, Su Huai followed. Little Uncle refused to let him go with him yesterday, no matter how he pleaded.
Selling vegetables was not a shameful thing, why would he avoid people?
He felt that something must be wrong.
Did Little Uncle gamble again?
When Su Qingbai arrived at the county, Jiang Si had been waiting.
They arranged the vegetables together tacitly, and then they hawked together, one to greet the customers, one to collect the money. In a short time, they were busy.
The money was divided.
Su Qingbai hesitated and asked what had been hidden in his heart for a long time. “Jiang Si, aren’t you from the border town?”
Jiang Mao paused and nodded.
Sure enough, Su Qingbai asked, “Are you here for business?”
Jiang Mao looked at him and said, “Yes.”
“You come with me to sell vegetables every day. What will you do about your business?”
Jiang Mao smiled and said, “You can rest assured that my business won’t be delayed.” After thinking about it, he said, “I stayed here to find someone.”
Su Qingbai was even more surprised: “You are looking for someone? How can you find a person, while selling vegetables with me every day?”
Jiang Mao’s heart dimmed when he heard this. He thought that from the capital city to here, the unidentified people had chased him all the way. Those people always knew his whereabouts very accurately and chased him all the way, until he arrived here. After he separated from Lin Feng, the pursuit of those people stopped.
Was this a coincidence?
Jiang Mao was afraid to think about it. After all, Lin Feng had been with him for seven years.
But there’s no other way to explain why the assassins always knew his whereabouts accurately.
Let’s wait and see.
“Jiang Si, Jiang Si?” Su Qingbai watched Jiang Mao stare at him, his eyes constantly changing. He thought that Jiang Si had a hard word to say, so he said, “If it’s not convenient for you to say, I won’t ask.”
Jiang Mao laughed when he heard this. “No inconvenience. I’m not in a hurry to find him.” With that, he reached out and wiped Su Qingbai’s sweat on his forehead and invited him, “How about going to my house for lunch today?”
Considering the strange atmosphere at home since Er-sao became pregnant, he nodded, “Alright.”
Jiang Mao took his hand and asked, “What would you like for lunch today? I’ll do it for you.”
Su Qingbai thought about it with his head tilted, then ordered without hesitation.
Needless to say, this Jiang Si guy’s craftsmanship was very good. The food he cooked was almost the same as the food in the new restaurant opened not long ago in the capital. Su Qingbai had been there once and it was very expensive.
Jiang Mao smiled. Of course it tasted the same. He owned that restaurant.
They were delighted to discuss what to eat at noon, and not in the least knew that not far away was Su Huai, who was stricken dumb with amazement.
Su Huai’s eyes rested on the two men holding hands. He never expected that little uncle would not let him follow him no matter what, for the sake of meeting his sweetheart.
Su Huai was shocked and did not respond until they left.
The uncle who sold wonton laughed and said to the stunned Su Huai, “Those two guys are a couple.”
Su Huai looked at him with his mouth wide opened.
Watching Su Huai opened his mouth in surprise, Uncle Wonton smiled again. “How strange is it? The two guys are a couple. Every morning, I tell you, the tall one come here first, buy breakfast and wait for the short one. After the short one finish eating, they sell vegetables together. It’s been a while.”
He looked at Su Huai and stressed, “Although they are all men, their feelings are much better than some couples. Every day they sell vegetables together, the husbands get along with each other, lovingly, embracing and cuddling. The bored me want a wife.”