BYBOTE Chapter 33: The Worm in the Pot

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Zhang Yangfan reacted quickly and immediately realized that Xi Yanqing was talking about him. But could he say that out loud?! His face darkened as he glared at Xi Yanqing, wondering how on earth he had found out that Jiang Baining had cheated on him. Xi Yanqing, seeing that Zhang Yangfan had figured it out, simply whistled and walked away, looking as smug as could be.

After that, Zhang Yangfan didn’t step outside for a long time.

Throughout history, most petty people have one thing in common: they assume everyone else is just as petty as they are. Zhang Yangfan was constantly worried that Xi Yanqing would spread the news about Jiang Baining’s affair, making the whole village laugh at him. Worse yet, if the rumors reached the town and his classmates, he would be humiliated beyond belief. But in reality, Xi Yanqing had never said a word. He only knew about it because Dr. Liang, who liked him, had told him.

However, by the time Zhang Yangfan realized that Xi Yanqing hadn’t actually spread the news, it was too late—the whole village had already found out through other means. The gossip spread like wildfire.

There were three main rumors:

• Zhang Sheng frequently visited Jiang Baining’s house.
• Qin Guizhi had a falling-out with Bai Lan and announced that their family had revoked Zhang Sheng’s tax-exemption privileges.
• Zhang Yangfan was "inadequate," which was why Jiang Baining left him for a more "capable" man—so maybe the child Jiang Baining had been carrying wasn’t even Zhang Yangfan’s!

The villagers weren’t fools. It didn’t take long for them to piece everything together.

For a long time, Zhang Yangfan felt like everyone was pointing fingers at him and giving him strange looks. Before, he thought they were just questioning his competence, but now he felt they were convinced he was "inadequate," which was why Jiang Baining had cheated on him.

He had always thought highly of himself, believing he deserved respect—especially in Huaping Village, where he was the most educated and had an official title. He looked down on the illiterate farmers who worked the fields, thinking they weren’t worthy of standing on equal footing with him. He wished everyone in the village would speak to him with a slight bow, head lowered in deference.

But now, Zhang Yangfan suddenly realized that what he truly wanted was just to be treated with normal respect and friendliness. The problem was, he could no longer have that—at least, not in Huaping Village.

Only Qin Guizhi still firmly believed that her son wasn’t the problem—that it was that wretched Jiang Baining who had been unfaithful. But that little bit of understanding meant nothing to Zhang Yangfan, who cared deeply about his reputation.

_

After the Dragon Boat Festival, the weather grew even hotter. It was fine in the mornings and evenings, but during the day, the heat was unbearable. Whether indoors or outside, people were drenched in sweat. Luo Fei now firmly believed that air conditioning and electric fans were the greatest inventions in human history.

If he had nothing to do, he could find a shady spot to sit, like under the willow tree in front of his house. But today, that wasn’t an option—Han Xu’s wedding was happening, and he was busy helping out.

"Do we have any more double happiness (囍) symbols, sister-in-law? There’s nothing on the door," Luo Fei asked Han Yang’s wife. "Preferably two big ones for the door."

"We have some! Hold on, I’ll go get them!" Mu Ling hurried inside and brought out a few extra ones. "Are these enough? If not, I’ll get someone to cut more."

"Enough, enough! Sister-in-law, you go ahead—I’ll come help you soon." Mu Ling was busy preparing vegetables for the banquet. Even though the main feast was at the groom’s house, they were also setting up a few tables here, as some of the elderly guests couldn’t travel far to Chen Huazhang’s house.

Right now, there were plenty of fresh vegetables from the fields, so they had picked them early in the morning and were busy washing and prepping them—because fresh ingredients made for the best dishes.

"Han Xu, are you ready?" someone asked Han Xu’s mother. "Brother Yue Li’s is here."

"Uncle Li!" Luo Fei nodded and smiled, remembering that this man had helped comb his hair on his own wedding day.

"Luo Fei, here early to help?" Yue Li chuckled. "Time flies, doesn’t it? It’s been about three months since your wedding, and now Han Xu is getting married too."

"Yeah. But once he’s married, visiting him will be a hassle—it’s farther away." Luo Fei was a little frustrated. Although Chen Huazhang also lived in Huaping Village, it was quite a distance from his house. Before, he could reach Han Xu’s place in three to five minutes, but now it would take at least ten to twenty minutes to visit.

"What’s the hassle? Just visit me more often!" Han Xu called out from inside. "Good morning, Uncle Li!"

"Why don’t you come visit me instead?" Luo Fei stuck a happiness symbol on the door. "It should be fair—one visit each!"

"Deal!" Han Xu replied. "That settles it!"

"These two, bickering first thing in the morning," Han Xu’s mother laughed, welcoming Yue Li inside. "Come in, Brother Li."

After finishing with the happiness symbols, Luo Fei went to help Mu Ling wash vegetables. The well water was ice-cold, making his fingers numb. But working together made the atmosphere lively and cheerful. In modern times, Luo Fei had rarely experienced this kind of community spirit. Though there had been moments of teamwork, they never felt as pure as this.

Each era had its own charm.

Han Xu sneakily ate a piece of pastry and mumbled, "He got me the design. Luo Fei, you should meet him. This is my cousin, Tian Wenyu, my second aunt’s son."

Tian Wenyu smiled and said, "It’s an honor to meet you, Brother Luo Fei. I’ve often heard my cousin mention you. You’re as skilled as you are good-looking."

Luo Fei snatched a piece of pastry from Han Xu and noticed Tian Wenyu looking on enviously. "Brother Wenyu, you’re too polite. When you get married someday, I’ll design an even better wedding veil for you than I did for your cousin!"

Tian Wenyu thanked him, while Han Xu nudged Luo Fei. "Why are you putting me on the spot right now? Hurry up and tell me what’s going on outside! Is everything ready?"

Luo Fei gave a brief update on the situation outside before reaching for more pastries, only to have his hand slapped away by Han Xu. "Do you even have a conscience?! In a bit, you’ll be outside feasting on meat, while I’m stuck in here sneaking bites of pastries, and you’re still fighting me for them!"

Tian Wenyu couldn’t help but laugh. Luo Fei said, "Fine, fine, I won’t fight you for them. I’ll just help you eat your share outside later. Oh, by the way, I brought you a wedding gift. Hold on a sec. When I arrived earlier, you were still asleep, so I asked Sister Lingling to put it away for me."

Luo Fei had been thinking about the mandarin duck ornaments for a while. Aside from Xi Yanjing and the Luo family, Han Xu was his closest friend in the village, so he had to give him something special.

T/N:Mandarin Ducks are the symbol of eternal love, devotion and affection.

Mu Ling retrieved the red cloth-wrapped mandarin duck ornaments for Luo Fei. He handed them to Han Xu, who felt them and said, "Ducks?!"

Luo Fei was speechless. "Ducks?! These are mandarin ducks! Why would I give you ducks on your wedding day?!"

Han Xu thought about it and laughed, realizing Luo Fei had a point. He eagerly unwrapped the cloth and found a pair of mandarin duck ornaments made from pale gold satin fabric, stuffed with cotton. Each duck was about the size of an adult’s fist, with intricately embroidered heads in shades of peacock blue, white, and deep red. Their necks gradually transitioned from orange to golden hues, with feathers meticulously stitched to create a lifelike appearance. The craftsmanship was so exquisite that the feathers looked almost real.

Even Tian Wenyu was stunned—he had never seen embroidery this detailed before!

"I spent a lot of time on these. Hang them in your room, and I guarantee you and your carpenter husband will be loving and happy together for a lifetime," Luo Fei teased. "Do you like them?"

"Like?! I love them! My goodness!" Han Xu admired them closely. The embroidery on the neck feathers alone must have taken an incredible amount of effort.

"No wonder my cousin always praises you. Brother Luo Fei, your skills are truly amazing," Tian Wenyu remarked. "Something like this—money couldn’t even buy it. No wonder my cousin considers you his best friend. Who else would go through this much effort for a wedding gift?"

"Hey, Luo Erbao, I mean it—you’re way better than those so-called experts outside," Han Xu said. "I once went to the county town with my parents and saw the embroidery there. I’m telling you, none of it was as good as yours. If any came close, it was only because they used expensive materials, but their craftsmanship couldn’t compare."

"Really?" Luo Fei thought his embroidery was decent, but he still felt inferior to his grandmother, who was a nationally recognized folk artist.

"Why would I lie? Just look at this—it looks real!" Han Xu grinned. "Thanks, buddy. I knew you wouldn’t treat me like an outsider."

"As long as you like it, that’s all that matters. I’ll be heading out now. Just wait for your carpenter husband to come pick you up," Luo Fei said, patting Han Xu’s shoulder. He smiled at Tian Wenyu before leaving.

"How are you holding up? Exhausted?" Xi Yanjing, who had been helping Chen Huazhang, returned and habitually ruffled Luo Fei’s hair. "You’re sweating so much."

"I’m alright. It’s not too hot yet. Are you finished?"

"Yeah. The groom should be arriving soon. Let’s take a walk outside—there’s not much left to do." The Chen family’s tables and chairs were set up, the borrowed tableware was ready, and all the ingredients were prepared. Now it was up to the cooks.

Luo Fei had been up since early morning and was starting to feel the fatigue. He yawned.

Han Xu’s mother noticed and said, "Erbao, do you want to take a nap? Zhuangzhuang is sleeping right now. If you’re tired, you can rest in his room for a bit. You’ve been helping all morning—you must be exhausted."

"No need, Auntie. The groom will be here soon, and I want to see the excitement."

"Oh, come on. You’re just in the courtyard—when you hear the firecrackers, you can still come out in time. Go lie down for a bit."

"Alright, then, Auntie. I won’t be polite." Luo Fei and Xi Yanjing went to Han Yang’s house and found Zhuangzhuang sleeping. Luo Fei sat quietly on the edge of the heated brick bed, observing. "This little guy is so chubby."

"He is pretty adorable," Xi Yanjing said, gently touching Zhuangzhuang’s cheek. "He used to call me ‘Pig’ because he couldn’t pronounce ‘Uncle’ properly. Today, he finally got closer."

"He can say ‘Uncle’ now?"

"Not exactly. Today, he said ‘Coo.’ But honestly, I think he’s doing it on purpose." Xi Yanjing had noticed that every time he corrected Zhuangzhuang, the boy would laugh mischievously—like he was playing a game.

"You like kids a lot, huh?" Luo Fei noticed the warmth in Xi Yanjing’s eyes as he looked at Zhuangzhuang.

"Yeah, I guess," Xi Yanjing murmured. "I didn’t have many playmates when I was young, so I always wished for kids to play with. But later, I stopped liking them so much."

"Why?"

"I don’t think I ever told you—I grew up in an orphanage until high school. Have you heard about how people who adopt from orphanages usually prefer younger kids? They’re easier to bond with. When I was taken to the orphanage, I was even younger than Zhuangzhuang, but I was weak and sickly, so no one wanted to adopt me. By the time I got healthier, I was already past the prime adoption age. So, for a while, I kept watching kids younger than me get taken home one by one. It’s hard not to feel envious. Back then, I wasn’t too fond of kids. But as I got older, I stopped minding so much. Now, I think they’re pretty cute. Look at this guy—he’s even smacking his lips in his sleep. Must be dreaming about food."

"Yeah, probably eating something delicious in his dreams." Luo Fei sighed. "Compared to you, I really should count my blessings. When my parents divorced, I went through a rebellious phase, thinking I was the most miserable person in the world. Looking back, I was really just being dramatic."

"Everyone has different levels of tolerance for hardship at different stages in life. You weren’t being dramatic—you were just more sensitive back then." Xi Yanjing gently pinched Luo Fei’s cheek. "Are you sure you don’t want to nap?"

Just as Luo Fei answered, firecrackers exploded outside. Good thing he hadn’t fallen asleep, or he would’ve been jolted awake!

"Waaah…" Sure enough, Zhuangzhuang woke up in a panic, saw his mother wasn’t there, and started bawling.

Xi Yanjing quickly picked him up. "Zhuangzhuang, don’t cry. Uncle will take you to find your mom."

Zhuangzhuang clung to Xi Yanjing’s neck, still crying. "Uncle…"

See? He was totally saying "Coo" on purpose before!

Xi Yanjing handed Zhuangzhuang to Mu Ling, who soothed him with some food. Meanwhile, the groom had arrived. Dressed in red and riding a white horse, he entered Han’s home. Not long after, Han Xu emerged. Luo Fei took one look at Chen Huazhang’s expression and grinned.

"Hey, you didn’t seem this silly when we got married! Look at you now, laughing like a fool," Luo Fei said, without any malice. He just found Chen Huazhang amusing. He was probably too happy—his grin looked a little goofy.

"Back then, how could I afford to smile like this? I had to maintain my best image and do my utmost to charm you," Xi Yanqing said, unconsciously wrapping an arm around Luo Fei as they walked towards the Chen family, laughing as they went.

People attending the wedding saw them and couldn't help but feel that this couple had an enviable bond. How many men could still remain so calm after three months of marriage without their wife being pregnant? In ancient times, that was a big deal. But Xi Yanqing never seemed concerned. Whenever someone asked, he would simply say that he hadn’t had enough of just enjoying life as a couple with Luo Fei and wasn’t in a hurry to have children.

Some people thought that was just an excuse to save Luo Fei’s dignity, but others believed Xi Yanqing genuinely cared for Luo Fei. And that alone was enough to make those who suffered in their marriages envious, wasn’t it?

The Han family was celebrating a wedding, but no one from the Jiang family showed up. However, Jiang Baining heard the sound of firecrackers and couldn’t resist coming out to take a look. He saw Chen Huazhang riding on horseback to fetch Han Xu—just like the day of his own wedding. The difference was that their marriage had gone smoothly from the start, whereas his had been questioned from the very beginning.

Zhang Sheng liked Jiang Baining, but Zhang Sheng’s parents despised him. Over the past two years, their family had finally managed to cultivate all their farmland properly. This year, they had planted plenty, and if the weather was good, they expected a great harvest. But then Zhang Yangfan refused to exempt them from land taxes. What would they have left? They had even planned to save up for a new house in two years, and now they had no idea when that would happen!

And to top it off, Zhang Yangfan was at least a scholar and was set to take the provincial exam this year. If he passed, as fellow clansmen, they could have benefited. But now? All because of Jiang Baining, everything was ruined!

Zhang Sheng’s father was stubborn and unreasonable. He never considered whether his son might be at fault; he only blamed Jiang Baining for all their troubles. With that in mind, how could he allow Zhang Sheng to marry Jiang Baining?!

The first time Jiang Baining went to Zhang Sheng’s house after leaving Zhang Yangfan, he was chased out with a broom by Zhang Sheng’s father. Zhang Sheng’s mother even declared that unless she died, she would never accept Jiang Baining.

Zhang Sheng was a stubborn person, but he was also a filial son. This was evident when he remained silent while Zhang Yangfan married Jiang Baining. He found himself torn—he wanted to be with Jiang Baining but also couldn’t go against his parents. In the end, all he could do was secretly visit Jiang Baining from time to time, never bringing up marriage.

At first, Jiang Baining still held onto some hope, but now, seeing Zhang Sheng’s hesitation, he realized Zhang Sheng was unreliable. Not only had Zhang Sheng failed to marry him, but his reputation had worsened because of it.

Seeing the situation, the Jiang family also began guarding against Zhang Sheng and stopped hoping for anything from him.

Jiang Baining had lost a lot of weight since his wedding, while Luo Fei, in contrast, had somehow gained weight despite the summer heat.

Xi Yanqing sat with Luo Fei at the same table, helping him pick out fish bones one moment and placing meat into his bowl the next, as if worried Luo Fei wouldn’t eat well. The people at the table found it amusing.

"Xi, you’re really spoiling your ‘Erbao’! Isn’t he going to end up running wild?" said Chen Huazhang’s eldest cousin.

"If he does, I’ll just rebuild it. Tiles can always be earned back, but I only have one wife," Xi Yanqing responded without a care, continuing to dote on Luo Fei.

"I give up! You win!" Han Yang chuckled, shaking his head. He thought he spoiled his wife enough, but compared to Xi Yanqing, it was nothing.

Luo Fei was delighted and happily ate his fish. Afterward, he went to see Han Xu. By this time of year, farm work wasn’t as busy as in the spring, so people had more time to eat and chat.

Xi Yanqing rarely drank, but he had a bit at the wedding. Though he felt slightly tipsy, he still stayed behind to help Chen Huazhang and Han Yang clean up before leaving.

On the way home, Xi Yanqing held Luo Fei’s hand. "Yesterday afternoon, I noticed the nightshade berries in the backyard looked ripe. Did you try them?"

"Huh?" Luo Fei blinked. "I didn’t see any ripe ones. Are they really ready? Hurry, hurry! I want to go home and taste them!"

He had never eaten nightshade berries before!

Xi Yanqing, feeling a little lightheaded, was half-dragged home by Luo Fei. Surprisingly, he found the sensation rather pleasant.

As soon as they got home, Luo Fei pulled Xi Yanqing to the backyard. They squatted down like two little hamsters waiting to eat, except one was burly, and the other was smaller.

"Hey! They’re really ripe!" Luo Fei picked one and tasted it—sour and sweet, delicious! He plucked a small bunch for Xi Yanqing. "You eat some too! I’ll go get a bowl."

Xi Yanqing hummed in response, munching on the berries while watching Luo Fei’s back.

A moment later, a scream shook the entire courtyard:

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Xi Yanqing jumped in fright and rushed to the front yard, only to be tackled by Luo Fei.

Luo Fei clung to him tightly, wrapping his arms around Xi Yanqing’s neck. "There’s a bug! A bug! A bug!"

Xi Yanqing looked over Luo Fei’s shoulder. "Where?"

"In the water jug!" Luo Fei pointed behind him, face pale.

Xi Yanqing let out a long breath of relief. "You scared me to death. Don’t worry, I caught that one."

"Huh?" Luo Fei was dumbfounded. "You caught it?"

"Yeah," Xi Yanqing patted his back. "Yesterday, I went to check on the soybeans in the field and found a lot of bugs. We don’t have pesticides, so I had to pick them off by hand to protect the crops. Then I thought, since I already caught them, instead of wasting them, why not bring them home as a snack for the chicks? I meant to feed them yesterday, but I forgot after putting my tools away. Sorry for scaring you."

"Ugh, I just wanted to soak the nightshade berries in cool water, but now I definitely won’t!" Luo Fei wiped his sweat. "What kind of bugs were they? They were wiggling! So gross!"

"Aren’t they fun to watch? Besides, your fright sent you straight into my arms. If I’d known, I should’ve brought a jug of bugs to find you in my past life—maybe you would’ve jumped into my arms back then too," Xi Yanqing teased, playfully squeezing Luo Fei’s backside. "Come on, I bet you threw the jug away, didn’t you?"

"Mm-hmm." Luo Fei got off him, feeling a bit embarrassed. He wasn’t afraid of bees or grasshoppers, but wriggly things? No way.

Xi Yanqing checked the front yard—sure enough, the bugs had crawled out and scattered everywhere. With no other option, he shut the gate and let the chicks out to peck them up.

Watching the chicks gobble up the bugs, Luo Fei found them less scary. He sat in the shade, eating nightshade berries while watching the little chickens run around.

Seeing this, Xi Yanqing grinned mischievously, caught a bug, and brought it close to Luo Fei.

"Honey, look—"

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The courtyard instantly erupted into chaos, with chickens flapping and ducks quacking—what a lively scene!

T/N: Please give support on my ko-fi page, it's a big help, thank you🌰🌰🌰