15 Chapter Fifteen
◎“You should call me husband, sister-in-law.”◎
Chapter Fifteen
Upon seeing Xie Lang, Liu Qingqing smiled and generously scattered all the fish food in her hand into the water. The fish splashed and scrambled for the food, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
She took the handkerchief and wiped her hands, then stepped forward to greet Xie Lang.
"Has the adult seen your sister?"
"Mm," Xie Lang responded softly.
Liu Qingqing was preoccupied with other things when she asked, and didn't notice Xie Lang's rather complicated expression. She continued, "What kind of gifts should we prepare for the two little ones?"
Xie Lang lowered his eyes: "It's up to you, Madam, to make the decision."
He paused slightly and then said, "With a father like that, they have everything they need, so don't worry too much."
The two returned to the outer room. Estimating that there was still some time before dinner, Xie Lang sent someone to bring the official gazette, and Liu Qingqing called on Granny Li to help make tiger-head dolls.
It just so happens that there's still some brocade left in the dowry, enough to make two tiger-head dolls. The brocade is delicate and won't scratch the skin, perfect for the little dolls to play with.
Liu Qingqing was engrossed in sewing and didn't notice Xie Lang's glances. However, Li Mama, with her sharp eyes, noticed and quickly stepped back so that the adults could see more clearly.
Look at them! How gentle and virtuous these young ladies are!
Only after Liu Qingqing finished sewing the last stitch and examined it closely did Xie Lang finally notice the trace and look away.
Liu Qingqing took it to Xie Lang to see, and Xie Lang said it was good. What could Wei Mingzhao's child lack? The thought was enough.
Just then, the old lady sent someone over; the eldest and second masters had already returned home.
The Second Master was absent from the last family reunion due to other commitments, but he generously gifted Liu Qingqing a pair of cloisonné enamel jewelry, a box of gold melon seeds, and a pair of exquisite concentric bracelets. That box of gold melon seeds was quite heavy.
The gift was almost as generous as that from her father-in-law, and Liu Qingqing felt the goodwill emanating from it. Therefore, she was quite curious about her second uncle, who was taciturn at home, had a low profile, and was very generous.
She had tentatively asked Xie Lang if the gift was too extravagant and whether she could truly accept it. Xie Lang replied that her second uncle was cold on the outside but warm on the inside, and that he had also contributed a considerable dowry when her sister got married. Only then did Liu Qingqing feel at ease accepting the gift.
When the two of them arrived, everyone else had already arrived, and Xie Wanyan was whispering to the old lady.
The two uncles were both quiet and reserved, but one of them was holding a baby in his arms and patiently coaxing him. One was teaching the baby to play with a Luban lock, while the other was feeding the baby tangerines, carefully removing the white pith from the tangerines first.
Upon seeing the newlyweds enter, the old lady immediately ordered food to be served, and the eldest and second uncles also took their seats while holding the baby.
Dinner was sumptuous, with roasted mutton, fish slices in cream sauce, golden chicken leg rolls, mountain delicacies with spiny dragon sprouts, eight-treasure rabbit meat, prawns, and a few other dishes that Liu Qingqing couldn't quite make out.
Everyone took their seats, and the baby was taken away by the wet nurse to eat the food prepared especially for them.
The Xie family is not large, and there are even fewer women. During the war, women were given priority, and now even more so.
Although the Xie family is now a noble household, they still live a simple life behind closed doors, and they do not have their wives and maids standing aside to serve the dishes.
To make things easier, the old lady arranged for Xie Wanyan and Liu Qingqing's favorite dishes to be placed in front of them, mostly to take care of her granddaughters-in-law and prevent the newlyweds from feeling embarrassed to take food.
Because the men in the family were all taciturn and did not put on airs or act like elders in front of the younger generation, Liu Qingqing was nervous, but the meal went relatively smoothly, and her father-in-law and second uncle took good care of her.
When she accidentally got a sore throat from chili peppers and started coughing incessantly, it was her second uncle Xie Pan who placed water in front of her, Xie Lang who patted her back to help her breathe, and her father-in-law who sent someone to bring her some milk to help her cool down. The old lady and Xie Wanyan were both concerned and asked her if she was alright.
Even the two babies took out candies from their arms and offered them to her to sweeten her mouth.
The whole family was taking care of her. This was the first time Liu Qingqing had received such attention, and her ears turned red.
After dinner, everyone returned to their own courtyards.
Her father-in-law and second uncle didn't say much to her because of the difference between men and women, but they both brought her gifts.
"Thank you, Father-in-law and Second Uncle."
Liu Qingqing bowed, glanced at Xie Lang, then lowered her eyes shyly and said, "I will definitely live a good life with you, sir."
The two elders didn't say much upon hearing this, but Xie Wanyan smiled.
"You're already married, why are you still calling me 'sir'? There are so many 'sirs' in the capital, who knows which 'sir' you're calling?"
Seeing that she blushed, Xie Wanyan showed no mercy and teased her, tilting her head, "You should call me husband, sister-in-law."
Liu Qingqing quickly glanced around and saw that the elders were all smiling at her and did not refute Xie Wanyan. Just then, Xie Lang caught the baby who had just run away.
Seeing everyone gathered together, and just as he was looking on with confusion, he suddenly heard Xie Wanyan say something to his wife. His wife immediately blushed, and her eyes, which she glanced at, seemed to be filled with tears.
Then suddenly she was heard to whisper "husband".
In an instant, Xie Lang seemed to be frozen in place. If it weren't for his eyelashes still moving, he would have looked like an ice man.
Seeing the young couple's appearance, everyone laughed.
Seeing that Xie Wanyan had made her granddaughter-in-law's face turn as red as a monkey's bottom, the old lady picked up her dragon-headed cane to hit her. Xie Wanyan, being very perceptive, ignored her own children in Xie Lang's arms and quickly retreated, yet remained gentle and graceful.
Everyone shook their heads. Xie Pan didn't want to get involved in the family's merriment. He bowed and left first.
He turned away from the hustle and bustle and walked alone into the desolate night.
The voices faded into the distance, and only when Xie Pan returned to the courtyard gate could one faintly hear them if one listened carefully.
Xie Pan's courtyard was right next to Xie Dang's courtyard.
This was arranged by the old lady when they were young, so that the brothers could take care of each other. It also had the meaning of fostering their relationship.
From this perspective, one cannot help but admire the old lady's foresight.
Therefore, although Xie Pan was a son of a concubine, his courtyard was quite large, with his own small side courtyard. If they did not separate their residences after marriage, it would be enough for him to live in.
Unlike his elder brother, his courtyard was very quiet, with few servants. Except for official duties that required cooperation with others, he preferred to be alone.
When he was a boy, he planted bamboo around the yard, and now it is taller than the wall.
The rustling of bamboo leaves kept out some of the noise from outside.
Xie Pan carefully closed the courtyard gate, locked it, and then walked back.
Gently push open the door to his bedroom, and you'll see the woman on the bed fast asleep.
Xie Pan walked over lightly, squatted down gently, and lingered his gaze on her fair cheek with restrained tenderness.
He, who was usually known as a taciturn person, suddenly had a lot to say.
“Sister-in-law, Wanyan came back to the manor today. I went to see her for you. Wanyan is doing very well and is still the same as before. The two children are chubby and look very well raised. Lang-ge’s new wife is also kind and gets along well with Lang-ge and Wanyan. I think Lang-ge is quite fond of his new wife, but it seems he doesn’t know it yet.”
"During dinner, Lang kept secretly watching his new wife. If she glanced at a dish, he would put food on her plate. The two of them were too shy to look at each other, their ears turning bright red, thinking that no one had noticed."
Xie Pan sat on the wooden couch by the bed and quietly recounted everything he had seen and heard that day to her.
"I couldn't go on the day of the wedding because you were sick, but I still delivered the gift. I noticed that the young couple seemed to have developed feelings for each other. Today, Lang-ge's gaze towards his bride was different. I also delivered a gift for you today, the same one you gave me back then."
Xie Pan was completely unlike his cold and taciturn demeanor during the day; the fact that the person on the bed was still asleep did not stop him from talking.
"Sister-in-law, since you are unhappy with my brother, I will treat you well from now on and do whatever you want. I will never do what my brother did. Can you please not leave?"
After drinking half a pot of Shaoxing wine, perhaps the warmth of the dinner had made him dizzy, and he actually uttered words that had been hidden in his heart for many years.
Suddenly, a low groan escaped Xie Pan's spine, and he immediately stopped talking.
Turning my head, I saw her bright, pearl-like eyes, and my heart softened. Then my heart tightened, and I swallowed hard, asking nervously, "Just woke up? Did I disturb you?"
He clenched his jaw, his eyes fixed on her, afraid she might have heard something, yet also afraid she hadn't.
The frail woman on the bed shook her head gently, her face pale: "I didn't hear you clearly, but I did hear you buzzing like a bee, and I did smell the aroma of Eight Treasure Rabbit Meat."
Upon hearing this, Xie Pan's face lit up with joy. He turned around, breathed a sigh of relief, and quickly got up to get the lunchbox.
Taking advantage of Wanyan's return today, he ordered the kitchen to cook another dish of Eight Treasure Rabbit Meat.
Normally, he wouldn't dare to alert the enemy, because he never used to eat this dish.
Both the eldest brother and Brother Lang are as shrewd as foxes. A sudden change in taste might attract their attention, so it's better to avoid trouble.
That day, he found his sister-in-law on a mountain not far from the city gate. After rescuing her, he discovered that she had injured her head and could not remember her past. After she thought he was her husband and rushed into his arms, Xie Pan could no longer subdue his inner demons.
Hiding someone under the noses of the father and son for over a year was the limit of what he could do, especially considering that his sister-in-law had been in a coma for almost the entire time and only recently regained consciousness.
He hesitated a lot at first, thinking that if his sister-in-law woke up and wanted to go home, he would reluctantly let go.
But when she woke up, she mistook him for her husband and softly took his hand.
He could no longer let go on his own.
His sister-in-law loved Eight Treasure Rabbit Meatballs, and he secretly had someone learn how to make it. He even secretly made it twice himself, but it never tasted quite like the one made by the chef at home. Now, seeing the satisfied smile on her face, Xie Pan couldn't have been more content.
If only life could be like this forever.
"Husband"
Xia Ru suddenly spoke, and this soft call made Xie Pan's scalp tingle, and he stiffened his neck, not daring to look at her.
"What is it?" Xie Pan lowered his head, hiding his burning eyes.
Suddenly, there was a rustling sound of fabric, and soft arms wrapped around his lean waist. "Why is my husband always so far away from me?"
Xie Pan immediately tensed up and dared not move.
Meanwhile, on the other side, separated only by a wall.
In the study, for some reason, Xie Dang suddenly became irritable and could no longer concentrate on reading official documents.
[Author's Note]
Next chapter preview:
Listening to Xie Lang's commotion, all he could think about was wanting to devour him!
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