BYBOTE Chapter 19: A Kiss

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Luo Tian and Li Yuehua had initially worried that Luo Fei would end up crying to come home just a few days after marrying into the Xi family. But to their surprise, he had settled in comfortably. Even though their homes were so close, he hadn’t returned once.

Li Yuehua had thought about visiting the Xi family to check on Luo Fei, but Luo Tian stopped her.

“It’s only been a few days,” Luo Tian said. “Just wait until the proper return visit. According to Yu Qing Kingdom’s customs, there are three official return visits: the sixth day after the wedding, the sixteenth, and the twenty-sixth. The idea is to have all the ‘sixes’ in a month, symbolizing a smooth and prosperous future. Some people do return home earlier, but it often leads to gossip—either that the bride’s family doesn’t trust the husband’s family or that the marriage isn’t going well. It’s best to follow tradition. After all, six days isn’t that long.”

“Fine. I just… I just worry about whether they’re eating well. You know Erbao has never been good at cooking, and Xi Yanqing just came back from the war. He probably isn’t great at it either. What if…”

“Why are you worrying so much?” Luo Tian shook his head. “Didn’t you see how Xi Yanqing looks at Erbao? He cherishes him—there’s no way he’d let him suffer. I ran into Xiao Zhou in the fields today, and he told me he saw them working together, chatting and laughing. Later, when Aunt Zhou mentioned that newlyweds should be careful with their health, Xi Yanqing immediately stopped Luo Fei from doing any more work.”

“Erbao really is like a little bird that’s flown away. Once he left home, I couldn’t even keep hold of him.”

“Li Yuehua, are you being unreasonable? You were afraid he’d come back too soon, and now you’re upset that he hasn’t? You’re impossible to please.”

“Well, excuse me for worrying!” Li Yuehua glared at him. “I’m just concerned. You know how his plum blossom birthmark is so faint it’s barely visible? If what Qin Guizhi said is true, I’m really worried that Erbao…”

“Children have their own destinies. No need to overthink it. Go to sleep.”

“If you want to sleep, sleep by yourself!” Li Yuehua turned away, continuing to fret about Erbao. She counted on her fingers—it seemed like he wouldn’t be back for another two days. That suddenly felt like such a long time.

But some people just can’t stop thinking about things, and the more you think about them, the sooner they happen.

After another round of failed meals—including undercooked fried pancakes, half-raw potato chunks, and mashed potatoes boiled to mush—Luo Fei had had enough.

He figured if he kept eating like this, he’d get a stomachache. So, after discussing with Xi Yanqing, he decided to go back to his parents’ house to learn how to cook from Luo Ru.

Xi Yanqing even made a deal: if Luo Fei learned well, not only would he not deduct any wages, but he’d even give him a raise.

So, on a bright morning, Luo Fei took out his little stash of money, went to Zhao’s Tofu House in the village, bought two pieces of tofu, and headed back to his parents’ house.

For Luo Fei, returning home wasn’t a big deal. In his mind, he could go back whenever he wanted, and Xi Yanqing wouldn’t stop him. He just hadn’t gone back because he didn’t see the need. Besides, now that he was officially working for Xi Yanqing, he had to be professional—it wouldn’t look good to take time off right after starting a job.

But today was an exception.

“Dad! Mom! Big Brother! Sanbao! Sibao! I’m home!” Luo Fei shouted as he stepped inside. “Are you guys home?”

“Oh my, it’s Erbao!” Li Yuehua ran out, wiping her hands on her apron. “Erbao, why are you back today? Let Mom take a look at you!”

“Hehe, I just missed you guys, so I came back.” Luo Fei handed over the tofu. “Mom, I just bought this—it’s still warm.”

“You didn’t need to bring anything.” Luo Tian asked, “Where’s Yanqing? Didn’t he come with you?”

“He did, but he ran into Han Yang and Chen Huazhang on the way, so he’s chatting with them for a bit.” Luo Fei walked into the house. “Where’s Sanbao?”

“He’s in the vegetable garden,” Luo Ji replied. “How have things been?”

“Ah, pretty good.” Luo Fei had initially wanted to say “so-so,” but he didn’t want his family to think Xi Yanqing wasn’t treating him well. So, he used a more positive word—after all, Xi Yanqing really had been good to him.

“Er-ge, why are you back today?” Luo Ru asked as she and Luo Yi came out from the backyard, dusting off their sleeves.

“To learn how to cook from you, so I don’t keep wasting food,” Luo Fei admitted bluntly. “Everything else has been great—except mealtimes, which have been a nightmare. You know I never liked cooking before, and now I’m suffering for it.”

"Alright, then I'll teach you how to make something delicious. Don't worry, I guarantee that after a few days, you'll be able to eat well!" Luo Ru patted her chest confidently. She felt that her second brother was quite smart—he just didn't like dealing with the kitchen and cooking in the past, which was why he had always avoided it. But if he was willing to put in the effort to learn now, there shouldn’t be any problem.

"Then it's settled. I'll learn from you every day."

"Every day? Are you planning to move back home?" Li Yuehua frowned. She missed her son, of course, but she didn't want a married child moving back in—that wouldn't be good for either him or his in-laws.

"Well, I'll just come over whenever I have time. Yanqing agreed too," Luo Fei said. "Otherwise, the two of us won’t be eating well. Mom, what did you make for breakfast? Is there any left? Yanqing and I tried making pancakes in the morning, but they didn’t turn out well, so we barely ate anything."

"I just made some porridge in the morning and had it with dried eggplant in sauce, but there's nothing left now." Even in spring, when food was relatively more available, there was never anything left over. Even in autumn, when food was more abundant, they barely had enough to fill their stomachs. Li Yuehua looked at Luo Fei with concern. "If you're hungry, I can make you some dough drop soup—it’s quick."

"No need, Mom. Xi Yanqing knows how to make that. We've been eating it for the past couple of days, and I’m already sick of it."

"You're already married, so why are you still calling him by his full name?" Li Yuehua flicked Luo Fei on the forehead. "That’s not good—change it."

"Second Brother, Second Brother, is Brother Xi good to you? He must be, right?" Luo Yi laughed.

"He is. He even climbed the mountain and found five bird eggs, and he gave them all to me." Luo Fei was wondering why everyone’s first concern was always how he addressed his husband. These people sure had strange priorities. But it seemed like he really did need to change the way he addressed him.

Luo Fei didn’t want dough drop soup, and aside from porridge, there wasn’t much else to make. Kneading and making dough-based food would take too long. In the end, Luo Ru noticed the tofu Luo Fei had bought, so she sliced it into finger-thick pieces and lightly sprinkled some salt over them. By the time she lit the fire, the tofu had absorbed the seasoning. Then, she fried it in lard until it was crispy on the outside and tender inside. It smelled incredibly good.

Initially, Luo Fei planned to dip the tofu in soy sauce, but after tasting the fried tofu, he found it delicious enough on its own. He decided to learn how to make it from Luo Ru. In fact, there wasn’t much to learn—he had watched the entire process, and it was simple enough that he picked it up right away.

Luo Ru fried the whole block of tofu, and Luo Fei ate half, saving the rest for Xi Yanqing. However, with such an enticing aroma, it was hard for anyone to resist. Luo Fei noticed Luo Yi sneaking glances at the food, so he fried another batch. Yes, this time, he fried it himself, with Luo Ru supervising from the side.

"I knew it! As long as you set your mind to it, Second Brother, you can definitely do it. Needlework is so much harder, and you mastered it—cooking is nothing compared to that!" Luo Ru was pleased as she took a bite of fried tofu, smiling brightly.

"Sanbao, how about this? From tomorrow on, I’ll come over just before lunch every day. Whatever you cook, I’ll learn from you. Sound good?" Luo Fei thought that coming over early in the morning would be too much, but lunch seemed like a good option. Midday meals tended to be more varied, so he might have a chance to learn more.

"Sounds good! Why not?"

"Alright, it's settled then." Luo Fei looked around and saw that Xi Yanqing hadn’t arrived yet. The tofu was getting cold, so after a moment’s hesitation, he said, "I’ll go check on him." Good food was hard to come by in this place. Fried tofu wasn’t exactly a delicacy, but it was tasty enough that he didn’t want to eat it cold. Once the lard cooled, it would solidify.

Xi Yanqing had arranged to meet with Chen Huazhang to take measurements for making furniture and had just entered the Xi family’s yard. However, he ran into Luo Tian outside and got caught up in a conversation.

Having spent some time in Huaping Village, Xi Yanqing had been making plans. When he went up the mountain earlier, he had noticed some medicinal herbs he was familiar with. However, at the time, he was focused on cutting trees, so he hadn’t had a chance to collect them. Later, when he went up again to gather some thin wooden poles for fencing, he took a closer look and confirmed that there were indeed some herbs worth cultivating at home.

Spring had only just begun, and many plants were just starting to sprout, so he had only identified a few perennials—like sand ginseng. In late autumn, the vines of this plant would dry up, and some would rot away, but some would remain entwined around tree trunks, making them easy to spot. Its roots could be used as medicine and were also edible. While Xi Yanqing didn’t know how to prepare them, he had eaten a dish before where they were marinated and pan-fried—it had a soft yet chewy texture. If he could cultivate it at home, it wouldn’t just provide another dish for the table, but it could also be sold at the pharmacy. Though it wasn’t a rare medicinal herb, there were other valuable ones he could grow.

That was why Luo Fei had asked about the empty plot in the vegetable garden—it was reserved for transplanting and experimenting with medicinal plants.

Xi Yanqing had made up his mind: he couldn't just sit around and do nothing.

Even if they had money, they couldn’t afford to be idle. If they wanted a better life here, they had to stay busy.

Luo Fei brought out a plate of fried tofu for Xi Yanqing, who accepted it happily, smiling as he said, "Feed me. I haven’t washed my hands."

How shameless!

Luo Fei glared at him. "Xi Yanqing, stop being so smug! Be grateful you have food—eat it yourself!"

Li Yuehua immediately smacked Luo Fei on the head. "Brat! I told you to change the way you address him!"

Luo Fei sulked and withdrew the plate. Change what? He couldn’t possibly start calling him "Big Tiger," right? And "husband" was even more impossible!

Luo Yi laughed. "Hahaha! Second Brother, you’re getting smacked more than me lately! But Mom, maybe don’t hit him in front of  Xi -ge—Xi-ge will just feel bad for him."

Luo Fei paused. That’s right! Luo Yi called him "Xi-ge," so he could just call him "Qing-ge" too. After all, Xi Yanqing was older than him!

He cleared his throat and handed the plate back. "Qing-ge, eat."

"Mm." Xi Yanqing smiled as he took the plate. He ate the tofu, but his eyes were mostly fixed on Luo Fei. After finishing, he wiped his mouth and said, "In the afternoon, Chen Huazhang and Han Xu should be coming over to take measurements. Before then, think about what kind of dish rack you want so it’ll be easier to discuss."

"Okay, got it."

"Also, once we finalize that, we’ll start planting dryland crops tomorrow. Do you want to come?"

"Sure, why not?" Luo Fei figured there wouldn't be leeches in dry fields. It’d be good to know where their land was—so he wouldn’t get lost delivering meals in the future. "What are you planting?"

"Corn intercropped with soybeans."

"What the heck?!"

"It’s a mixed cropping method that increases yield." Xi Yanqing smiled. "You’ll see once I plant it."

Since he and Xi Yanqing were staying for lunch, they ate at Luo’s house before heading back. Li Yuehua packed several fried pancakes for Luo Fei, and Luo Ru kindly made some stir-fried potatoes for them to eat with the pancakes.

That evening, Luo Fei reheated the pancakes and potatoes, making it a rare, satisfying meal.

After finishing the pancakes, Luo Fei cleared the table and scratched his back.

Since getting married, he hadn't taken a bath. As the days got warmer, with him cooking, cleaning, and tidying up the yard, he got dirty very quickly. He had wanted to bathe for a while but couldn't lift enough water for the bath. The tub was so heavy and tall that there was no way he could manage to fill it on his own. Even if he had the strength to pour the water in, he’d have no energy left to actually bathe.

At this point, he had to ask Xie Yanqing for help.

Xie Yanqing was outside, sorting some roots, though Luo Fei couldn’t tell what they were. As he hesitated, Luo Fei scratched his mouth nervously—he had this habit when unsure.

“Is something wrong?” Xie Yanqing turned and asked.

“I want to take a bath, but I can’t move the tub,” Luo Fei admitted in a way that sounded almost pitiful. He really seemed like a little puppy now instead of his usual self.

“I’ll help you lift it,” Xie Yanqing replied gently, looking at him. “You go find some clean clothes.”

“Thanks so much!” Luo Fei, relieved by Xie Yanqing’s quick response, hurried inside. He opened the cupboard, pulled out a clean undergarment, and then took a piece of cloth, not to clean, but to use for the cabinet curtain.

Tomorrow, he had to check the dry field, so there wouldn't be time to do any sewing. He planned to work on it before bed when his hair dried. He wouldn’t cut the cloth yet but planned to stitch something on it first.

Xie Yanqing finished tidying up the herbs and went to fetch the water for Luo Fei. The hot water was already boiled, so he just had to add some cold water. There was a big water tank in the kitchen that Xie Yanqing would fill every morning. He fetched the water from the tank, poured it into the bath, and adjusted the temperature.

“This water might not be hot enough,” Luo Fei said. “Why not just pour the fresh water directly into the tub to save you some effort?”

“The fresh well water is too cold. Adding the two pots of hot water will balance it out, and it won’t be too hot. This water has been in the room for half a day, so it’s warmer than outside. It’s a bit of a hassle, but it’ll be more comfortable for you to bathe,” Xie Yanqing explained, finishing the preparations. “Go ahead, I’ll go back inside and sort out some things.”

“Okay.” Luo Fei hesitated for a moment, then said, “Thank you, Qing-ge.”

“No need to thank me,” Xie Yanqing smiled and went back into the room.

“Are you sure you don’t want any back-scrubbing services, Madam?” he suddenly asked, turning to face Luo Fei.

“No!” Luo Fei’s face turned red, and he quickly shouted, “Don’t come out unless I call you!” It was a playful tease that quickly turned into an awkward moment.

As Luo Fei undressed, he glanced at the door, worried Xie Yanqing might come out. However, Xie Yanqing stayed inside, and Luo Fei couldn’t stop thinking about him until he was finished with his bath.

What was Xie Yanqing even doing in there?

Luo Fei dried off, changed into clean clothes, and was still wiping his hair when he walked back into the room. Little did he know, his face was flushed, his eyelashes were wet, and his whole body radiated a soft, watery glow, likely making Xie Yanqing's heart skip a beat.

Hearing the sound, Xie Yanqing turned and forgot to breathe.

Luo Fei, oblivious, sat on the bed and pointed at the piece of cloth in his hand, trying to act casual. “What is this?”

Xie Yanqing didn’t respond immediately. After a moment, he walked over, gently took the cloth from Luo Fei, and lifted his chin.

“What's going on?” Luo Fei asked, confused.

Xie Yanqing didn’t answer. He just stared at him for a long moment before suddenly bending down to kiss Luo Fei.

—

Tl Notes:

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