Chapter 51 (First published on Jinjiang Literature City)
Chapter 51
With the year-end approaching, Pei Zan, unusually, did not go out to train troops, but instead allowed the soldiers to rest for five days and return home to reunite with their families.
This year, the weather is cold, and everywhere is covered in snow. The six southern states are close to the sea and have many rivers and lakes. I heard that the ferry docks are covered with thick ice, and some people are even skating on the river and holding ice ball throwing competitions.
Lin Rong listened to the maids chatting about the grand spectacle of the ice skating, and her face was filled with envy.
She told Pei Zan about it, but he didn't allow her to go out. He only stroked Lin Rong's round belly and said to her, "It's too chaotic outside the manor, with too many people and too many eyes. You're pregnant, and some commoners might be too blind to hurt you. It's better to stay at home. If you're feeling bored, I'll have someone come to the manor tonight to set up a stage for ice skating."
To amuse Lin Rong, Pei Zan went to great lengths, hiring people to ice skate on the artificial lake at his residence and perform for her.
After hearing this, Lin Rong's initial joy dissipated, and she shook her head: "No need... I'll watch it next year when I have time."
When Pei Zan heard her mention "next year," a slight tremor ran through him, and he felt a sense of peace that seemed to suggest that these leisurely days could continue for a very long time to come.
Having witnessed many underworld events in his youth, Pei Zan was also disgusted by the open and covert struggles among women and never had any interest in women.
His brief affair with Lin Rong was truly a twist of fate.
But Lin Rong was obedient and did not resist his first plunder.
She allowed Pei Zan to take her under his wing and lock her in a cage.
In that case, Pei Zan should use any means necessary to protect the happiness he has so painstakingly gained.
From now on, Pei Zan will have a wife and children, a peaceful and happy family, and live a long and prosperous life... He is content with this ordinary life.
On New Year's Eve, Pei Zan took Lin Rong out to watch fireworks and admire lanterns.
The streets were packed with people, and to prevent Lin Rong from getting out of the carriage, Pei Zan did not allow her to get out, but only permitted her to lift the curtain and look outside.
The carriage was dimly lit, and the air was thick with the scent of sandalwood.
Outside the car, however, the traffic was heavy, creating a different kind of bustling scene.
The stone bridge has wooden frames with hanging lanterns on both sides, and the New Year's goods bed is also full of small rabbit lanterns and cherry lanterns made of oil paper.
There was also a peddler who lit a lantern with a candle, which was painted with eighteen landscape paintings. As the heat rose, the ink-colored mountains and rivers slowly rotated under the firelight, dazzling the eyes.
"Which one do you like? I'll have someone buy it for you."
Pei Zan's cool voice rang out behind him.
Lin Rong paused slightly, then shook her head: "No need, just take a look."
She doesn't like any of them.
She only enjoyed the lively atmosphere of the lantern festival, but that liveliness was fleeting and would be gone after tonight.
Before long, the noise of firecrackers and fireworks could be heard outside the car.
One after another, the iridescent sparks surged toward the dark blue sky, exploding in the black night and shattering into countless blooming silver lotuses.
Those fireworks, like ripples on a dark pool, bloomed for a fleeting moment and vanished without a trace.
Lin Rong tilted her head back, gazing intently, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes shimmering with the brilliance of fireworks.
Even after the fireworks ended, Lin Rong was still somewhat reluctant to leave.
But the carriage had already headed towards the Pei residence, and the noisy sounds of the marketplace gradually faded away.
Lin Rong had played all day and was sleepy again.
Before she could rest her head on Pei Zan's knees, the man handed her a red envelope.
Lin Rong opened the red envelope and found several heavy gold ingots inside.
She glanced at Pei Zan curiously.
Pei Zan: "The money for warding off evil spirits... pressing it against the foot of the bed can ward off evil spirits. I will prepare two envelopes next year."
Lin Rong understood what he meant. Next year, the family will have a son and a daughter, adding another person to the household, so naturally, two sets of celebratory money should be prepared.
Lin Rong clutched the red envelope, her fingers tightening, unsure of what to say.
A girl who used to love money so much, now that she has received several taels of gold for free, shows no joy on her face.
Pei Zan raised an eyebrow slightly, "Lin Rong?"
"Thank you for the reward, young master," Lin Rong replied haltingly, snapping out of her daze.
Pei Zan did not correct her form of address, but simply asked her in a calm voice, "What were you thinking about just now?"
Lin Rong thought for a moment and said, "I want to go to the mountains to admire the plum blossoms, make some egg pancakes for a snack, and bring a warm rabbit fur blanket so I can take a nap in the woods for the night."
This was something Lin Rong had planned out back in the Pei family's ancestral home.
She was freed from slavery and lived freely outside, able to do whatever she wanted.
These things are trivial and not difficult, even simple, but she has never been able to do them. Now that she is pregnant, she can't afford to be careless.
Why would someone insist on going up the mountain to play in the snow on such a cold day?
Pei Zan was worried that she might catch a cold, so he frowned slightly.
Pei Zan had consulted with his generals and subordinates, and he knew that pregnant women were prone to overthinking and speaking without a clear plan, often jumping from one topic to another.
Previously, when General Li's wife was pregnant, she cried, made a scene, and even threatened to hang herself, demanding the stars in the sky. This forced the dignified military general to carry a ladder and climb the wall, freezing on the eaves for an entire night.
But Lin Rong was obedient and never asked for much; she was easier to please than the women in other households. As long as you reasoned with her, Lin Rong would never force anything.
Pei Zan pondered for a moment and said to her, "You are pregnant and should not be exposed to the cold. After you give birth and recover, I will take you to the mountains to admire the plum blossoms when the opportunity arises."
Sure enough, after Pei Zan said that, Lin Rong fell silent.
Lin Rong thought about the phrase "in the future" and felt it was inexplicably far away, not knowing when that would be.
Feeling listless, she covered her mouth and yawned, then said to Pei Zan, "I'm sleepy, let's go back to the manor to rest."
"Mmm." Pei Zan pulled her into his arms, letting Lin Rong rest peacefully against his chest.
Lin Rong was not asleep; she kept her eyes closed, her mind preoccupied with thoughts.
If she hadn't gotten pregnant, if she hadn't stayed by Pei Zan's side, would she have been spared the thought of waiting for "someday"?
Lin Rong didn't need anyone's company, and she didn't need her husband's permission to go out for a stroll. She lived alone, and she could go into the mountains to admire plum blossoms, pick wild fruits, and sleep outdoors, sitting on the ground at any time...
Instead of being like this now, wearing luxurious clothes, eating exquisite delicacies, being pampered by the powerful and wealthy, and being served by servants, yet still feeling unsatisfied and depressed all day long.
Was she too greedy, asking for too much?
Lin Rong couldn't explain it.
She seemed trapped in a dense, impenetrable spider web.
-
The next day, after Lin Rong had her supper, Pei Zan took a blank sheet of paper and handed it to her.
The paper contained a few lines of bold, elegant calligraphy, all of which were the names of the children.
Perhaps worried that Lin Rong wouldn't know the origin of her name, Pei Zan patiently explained the origin and story of the name to her.
Lin Rong silently recited the name a few times before choosing one: "Young Master just said that Jia Shu comes from 'Nine Chapters: Ode to the Orange,' meaning a beautiful and lush forest. Let's go with this one; it's suitable for both boys and girls."
She hopes her child can grow up freely and resiliently, like mountains and lakes, every flower and leaf, every blade of grass and tree, and all things in the world.
Pei Jiashu.
Pei Zan pondered the name for a moment. Although it was a bit gentle, he was destined for misfortune and his hands were stained with blood. A name that was too strong and could easily break his child would be better. It would be better to give his child a name that contained the earthy energy of plants and trees, which could protect his children's health and safety.
"The name is good. After the child is born, we will find a god or Buddha to be the child's godparent and light a lotus lamp in the temple to ward off evil spirits."
Pei Zan did not believe in ghosts and gods, but when other people's children were born, they would pray for the protection of gods and Buddhas and go to the temple to offer lamps.
What others have, his children should naturally have too.
"When the children grow up, I will personally teach them, regardless of gender, they can learn martial arts and literature..."
Pei Zan is happy to guide his own child, so Lin Rong doesn't need to worry too much about his upbringing.
It's strange, though. In the past, when Pei Zan went to his deputy general's residence to discuss matters, his youngest son would cry three times in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, making Pei Zan feel annoyed and causing him to frown frequently.
If he weren't so well-mannered, he would have really taken the cloth strip and stuffed it into the child's mouth.
Now, when I think about my own child crying and fussing, I don't feel angry at all. Instead, I feel calm and think I can still tolerate it.
Children are all so energetic and lively when they are young, but they become more settled when they grow up.
As Lin Rong listened to Pei Zan casually recounting these parenting tips, she couldn't help but be surprised: ...He really does like children, and perhaps Pei Zan can really take good care of their child.
The room was steamy and warm, and Lin Rong was almost asleep.
Just as Lin Rong was about to faint, Pei Zan looked down at her and asked, "Lin Rong, what were you like when you were young?"
Lin Rong was like a child who had dozed off in class but was suddenly woken up by the teacher's slap on the back.
She was stunned by the question and stammered for a long time before finally saying, "An extremely ordinary girl."
After racking my brains for a moment, I added, "Perhaps I'm a little craving something sweet?"
Pei Zan sensed something was amiss and a slight smile played on his lips: "What are you craving?"
Lin Rong recalled her childhood, thinking of the fragrant pork cracklings simmering on the stove and the brown sugar and egg soup stewed during festivals. Those foods were only for her younger brother, and he would never share them with Lin Rong, who could only watch longingly.
My younger brother is young and spoiled rotten by his family.
During holidays and festivals, when relatives came to visit, they would watch the children eat meat and deliberately use words to persuade the younger brother to give Lin Rong a piece of pork crackling the size of a fingernail.
The younger brother refused, clutching the meat tightly. Then he remembered that the older sister next door would carry her younger brother up the mountain to chop firewood. He then asked Lin Rong to squat down so he could ride on her back, only then would he give up the food in his hand.
Lin Rong answered honestly, "Malt candy, pork cracklings, meat patties... I want to try everything my brother eats."
Although Pei Zan was wicked, he was exceptionally intelligent.
Lin Rong's brief remark was enough for him to discern the truth.
Lin Rong wasn't greedy; she was just envious that the men in her family had an extra portion of food.
It's not scarcity that's the problem, but inequality. Lin Rong, a useless girl, was neglected by her family since childhood, which is why she couldn't forget that food.
Pei Zan remained silent for a moment, then casually picked up a piece of lactose from the table, peeled off the paper coating, and stuffed it into Lin Rong's mouth.
Lin Rong tasted a sweetness on her tongue, opened her round almond-shaped eyes, and looked at the man with a puzzled expression.
Pei Zan gently pinched Lin Rong's chubby cheeks and watched her quietly.
Considering that Lin Rong was sold to slave traders by her family when she was young, she must have hated her relatives very much.
Pei Zan's long eyelashes trembled slightly, and his thin lips parted slightly, his words full of seductive meaning: "Since your family is not good... I'll help you find them, and we'll kill them all, how about that?"
Lin Rong froze as she bit into the candy, a chill running down her spine as she was stunned by Pei Zan's sudden surge of murderous intent.
After a long silence, she hurriedly shook her head: "No need, no need... it's all in the past."
"Is that so? Then so be it." Pei Zan felt a little regretful, but he didn't insist. In small matters, he could simply go along with Lin Rong's wishes.
Lin Rong continued chewing the candy, the milky aroma spreading across her tongue before she swallowed it all.
She belatedly realized... Could Pei Zan's act of giving her candy just now be compensation for her regret of not being able to eat candy when she was a child?
When did Pei Zan become so kind?
-
In the middle of the night, Lin Rong was half asleep when she was suddenly awakened by the rustling sound of clothes scraping against each other.
Before she could get up to investigate, she suddenly realized that her hand had been grabbed.
He was still holding a boiling hot iron in his palm.
He is a fierce and imposing young master.
Pei Zan suddenly moved.
Lin Rong couldn't hold on tightly, and her palms became sweaty.
The fire tongs were burning hot on the palm of my hand.
Lin Rong was startled and quickly stopped.
Pei Zan pressed down harder, covering her hand with his own and making her sit even more firmly.
Lin Rong felt a burning sensation in her ears.
The veins were bulging and throbbing, and there was an undeniable heat emanating from them.
She vaguely understood what Pei Zan was doing under the covers.
"Lin Rong...would you like this child?" Pei Zan asked her softly, suppressing his barely suppressed desire.
The room was dimly lit. Lin Rong looked at the long-haired man beside the bed and said, "This is the child I carried for ten months. Why don't you like it?"
That's the truth. Since Lin Rong is going to have a baby, she will naturally love and care for her child.
“Hmm…” Pei Zan pursed her lips and remained still.
He seemed comforted and actually came out.
Lin Rong tightened her grip, stunned and speechless.
A moment later, she realized that she could finally feel her palms again, and her fingers were tingling.
It was covered in a lot of wet rain and dew.
Lin Rong was utterly helpless.
She lay back down to sleep, then reached out her hand to Pei Zan.
He brought over the drained handkerchief...
Wipe the sticky residue back into the handkerchief, little by little.
Author's note: I might continue updating without interruption, or I might continue updating daily as usual.
I'm not trying to defend Pei Zan, but I can explain the differences between him and his father.
The story of his father won't be elaborated on, but in reality, his father was the kind of powerful person who was lustful at first sight.
Lin Rong's first gift was out of gratitude, but she was unwilling to accept it afterwards, which led to the current situation...
In short, the protagonist acts according to his own logic. I'll continue writing now =3= I won't spoil it, it'll be more interesting to read on yourself~
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