TTLJDFL Chapter 33

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Li Jin looked at the boy and suddenly wanted to ask a once-viral internet question—

"Were you raised on pure cuteness?"

But in the end, he held back and simply pulled the boy up, went inside, and cut some bamboo leaf paper. Then, he had the boy cut it into the same shape as the fan.

Li Jin went to the kitchen and mixed a bit of warm water and flour paste. Once the boy finished cutting the paper, Li Jin evenly applied the paste onto the fan ribs and stuck the bamboo leaf paper onto it.

Though he had never made a fan before, his family used to paste Spring Festival couplets this way, so he simply adapted the method.

Bamboo leaf paper was thicker than xuan paper and had a smooth surface—making it suitable for fan surfaces.

The boy gazed at the finished product, his mouth slightly agape.

Since he was so close, Li Jin could hear him whispering in awe, "This looks just like the fans I’ve seen before!"

Li Jin found it amusing. But it wasn’t Qin Muwen’s fault—after all, the craftsman had only taught him part of the process and never showed them the final products. So Qin Muwen had simply believed it was normal for a fan to only have its ribs.

Li Jin placed the fan on the windowsill to dry. The sun was no longer too harsh, and at that moment, Li Erniu and Li Dazhuang came over to help him finish repairing the roof.

Li Dazhuang said, "I heard from Erniu that you want to install a heated kang bed. Once your study is built, we’ll move your table out and get started."

Li Jin replied, "Alright."

Just then, the baby started crying. Li Jin picked him up naturally and expertly.

The little one rested in his arms, gazing at Qin Muwen, who was busy in the kitchen not far away.

Instantly, he quieted down.

That was unbelievable—Li Dazhuang was utterly shocked.

“Wow, my daughter cries every time she sees me. It’s gotten to the point where I’m afraid to even show up in front of her.

Your kid is much better behaved.”

Li Jin thought to himself, That’s because you haven’t seen my little Bun grinning like a flower in his dad’s arms. But in my arms? He just stays silent and motionless.

Truly a bitter pill to swallow.

Li Erniu teased, “You rarely hold your daughter, so of course, she’s not close to you.

Look at Li Jin—he clearly takes care of his child often. Just look at how skilled he is.”

Li Dazhuang didn’t say anything, but he thought to himself, Whoever married Li Jin really hit the jackpot.

Feeling a bit regretful, he said, “If I had known you were this good, I should’ve told my father to marry my sister off to you.”

Li Jin quickly turned to look—his young husband was still in the kitchen cutting vegetables, seemingly unaware of the conversation.

Li Jin said, “Dazhuang, don’t joke around like that. If my fulang (spouse) hears it and cries, I’ll have to kneel down and apologize.”

He spoke the words kneel down and apologize in such a serious and upright manner, without a trace of cowardice.

A man like this—if his good reputation had spread earlier, which girl in the village wouldn’t have wanted to marry him?

Li Dazhuang and Li Erniu exchanged glances, seeing the same regret in each other’s eyes.

If they had known that having a child would make Li Jin settle down, they would have definitely tried to marry their sisters to him!

Li Jin wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but he thought he heard the chopping sound in the kitchen pause for a moment.

Later, the two men measured the space across from the kitchen, roughly marking a few lines. Once the mud bricks arrived in a couple of days, they could start building.

Qin Muwen prepared a meal for the four of them—minced pork with eggplant, shredded potatoes, a cold wild vegetable salad, and roasted corn.

Finally, he warmed up some pumpkin buns and cooked mung bean porridge.

He didn’t join them at the table, opting to eat his meal alone in the kitchen.

Li Jin, busy cradling the baby, didn’t have time to eat properly. He could only hold a bun in one hand and take occasional bites when he had a free moment.

When his fulang offered to hold the baby, he refused. “You eat first, then we’ll switch.”

By the time he finished watering the plants, practicing calligraphy, doing push-ups, and taking a bath, the night sky was already dotted with countless stars.

Li Jin lay in bed wearing only his inner robe, but after a while, a warm body snuggled up beside him.

It wasn’t the baby’s swaddle—it was his young husband.

The boy didn’t dare get too close, only cautiously reaching out under the blanket to find Li Jin’s hand.

Li Jin then realized that earlier, the baby had been moved to the innermost side of the bed.

So, did this mean the boy had taken the initiative…?

He couldn’t quite figure out the meaning behind those ellipses.

Li Jin turned his hand over and grasped the boy’s. “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

The boy didn’t answer, but he held Li Jin’s hand in return. Not long after, exhaustion won over him, and he drifted off to sleep, his head resting against Li Jin’s shoulder.

Earlier that afternoon, Qin Muwen had actually heard their conversation. The courtyard wasn’t that big, and those men hadn’t bothered lowering their voices—of course, he had heard them.

Fortunately, he also heard Li Jin’s firm rejection.

As for the part where Li Jin said, If he cries, I’ll have to kneel down and apologize, that was the moment Qin Muwen had really wanted to cry.

Now, listening to the boy’s steady breathing, Li Jin finally filled in the missing part of his earlier thought.

The boy had probably had a nightmare and just wanted to hold onto someone for a sense of security.

The next morning, Li Jin was woken up by the most natural alarm clock—his baby’s cries.

His husband also woke up at the same time.

The young boy blinked his sleepy eyes, looking even more adorable than usual.

Outside, the sky was already beginning to brighten. Normally, at this time, Li Jin would be feeding the baby rice porridge.

But at this moment, the baby’s cries were growing hoarse, while his two fathers were still holding hands, unaware of the weak cries.

Then, as if a battle had begun, Li Jin hurriedly picked up the baby to feed him while his husband got dressed and rushed to the kitchen to cook.

In the process, he fumbled with his belt at least three times. Li Jin wanted to find a hole in the ground and hide in it.

The baby finally got his porridge, but his teary eyes still stared accusingly at his father, as if silently questioning: Where did my dad’s conscience go?

Li Jin met his gaze, as if saying, Your dad has no conscience.

The baby’s little face crumpled, about to cry again.

But… he was still so hungry.

Fine, he’d eat first, then cry later.

A day later, the mud bricks were delivered to Li Jin’s house. After paying the remaining balance, he truly felt the weight of his family’s poverty.

However, the mud bricks were much larger than modern bricks, making construction easier.

In just three days, a small study was built. Li Jin and Li Dazhuang moved a desk inside.

Li Dazhuang suggested, “We could add a wooden bed here. When the baby grows up, he can sleep here alone.”

Li Jin was sipping water when he heard this and immediately choked.

Li Dazhuang asked, “Did I say something wrong?”

Li Jin waved his hand. “No, you’re absolutely right.”

“I think so too.”

Li Jin didn’t want to continue the conversation.

He genuinely saw the young boy as his younger brother, a close companion.

Someone Qin Muwen’s age would still be in high school in modern times—it was completely normal for him to share a bed with his older brother.

His main goal now was to take care of two children.

The little one just needed to be fed.

The older one not only needed food but also had to be nurtured into a more cheerful person. The first step was making sure he wasn’t afraid of Li Jin anymore.

Li Jin felt that things were already heading in the right direction.

Later, Li Dazhuang and Li Zhuzi installed an earth dragon heating system in the house. By winter, as long as the kitchen fire was burning, the warmth would spread throughout the rooms.

Safe and cozy.

Li Jin also made plans with Chen Xiran to have him over for a visit at the end of the month.

This would be the last of the month. Starting next month, Li Jin would begin his medical apprenticeship at the clinic.

Li Jin also mentioned this matter to the young man, who dimples appeared as he smiled, "Mm, I'll make more delicious food."

Seeing his high spirits, Li Jin didn't stop him.

After all, it was just the three of them, making four dishes at most—it wouldn't be too tiring.

On the day of the rest day, Li Jin first went to the mountains to gather herbs. As he expected, the herbs at the foot of the mountain were almost entirely picked.

He climbed a bit higher and was still able to dig up quite a few.

Li Jin thought that next time he came, it might already be raining, so he decided to gather as much as possible this time and stop relying on herb collection as a livelihood in the future.

In the end, Li Jin filled his entire bamboo basket to the brim. The herbs further up the mountain looked promising, but for the sake of his life and limbs, he chose not to risk it.

He estimated that this batch of herbs could fetch at least one tael of silver.

He first went to Xinglintang to sell the herbs. Li Jin said, "Doctor Wu, this is my last time gathering herbs. You can waive the extra ten wen."

Doctor Wu calculated the price and said, "That works. With the large amount of herbs you've gathered, it'll last us quite a while."

Xinglintang naturally had other channels for acquiring herbs, but that was an industry secret.

Finally, Doctor Wu carefully tallied the amount and tapped his abacus before saying, "The total comes to 1,360 pennies."

Hearing the amount, Li Jin felt a pang of regret for giving up herb collection.

However, the problem was that the herbs at the foot and middle of the mountain were nearly depleted. If he wanted to continue, he'd have to climb higher. The mountain paths were steep and slippery, and the further up he went, the fewer people there were. There was also the danger of encountering wolves and wild boars—one wrong step, and he could lose his life.

Considering all factors, Li Jin had no choice but to abandon this source of income.

Doctor Wu gave him one tael of silver, then counted out 260 wen from a string of coins.

"I won't keep you any longer today, Li Jin. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow."

Li Jin smiled and agreed.

He put the silver and coins into the money pouch that the young man had sewn for him, then went to buy two stacks of rough-edged paper and one stack of bamboo-leaf paper. The shopkeeper recognized him.

"These two ink sticks are my gift to you, little brother. If you can go through two stacks of paper this quickly, I wish you success in the imperial exams!"

Li Jin said, "Thank you, boss."

The bamboo-leaf paper cost 200 wen, and the rough-edged paper cost 40 wen per stack. In total, Li Jin spent 280 wen.

After paying, as he stepped out of the shop, he saw Chen Xiran squatting by the roadside, eating what looked like five or six meat buns.

Today, Chen Xiran, like Li Jin, was dressed in short clothes instead of his usual scholar's long robe.

Li Jin wore short clothes for convenience while gathering herbs, but as for Chen Xiran… his short clothes were made of silk, making him look like a young master experiencing rural life.

Still, Li Jin thought it was commendable that Chen Xiran was willing to dress like this.

When Chen Xiran saw Li Jin, he handed him a meat bun.

"Let's eat together."

Li Jin didn't refuse and ate as they walked.

To this day, Li Jin had never asked what business Chen Xiran’s family was in. He just thought Chen Xiran was a good friend.

For once, they had plenty of time to chat on the way back.

Chen Xiran said, "My father used to be a constable at the yamen. Later, my mother complained that he was too poor, so he switched to doing business."

"The sachets you brought over earlier were all part of my mother's efforts to flaunt our wealth."

Li Jin said, "Your mother has refined tastes."

Chen Xiran suddenly laughed. "If my mother heard you praise her like that, she’d be delighted."

Then, he leaned in close to Li Jin's ear and whispered, "You must keep your husband very happy."

Tl Notes:

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