Fu Yuanshan was startled by the words "Goodbye" and squatted on the ground for a long time without saying a word.
The wind outside the window swirled fallen leaves against the window paper, making an annoying rustling sound.
"What nonsense are you talking about?" He finally spoke, his voice hoarse as if he had swallowed sand. "I have nothing to do with her, don't think the wrong thing."
"Innocent?" Jiang Jianhua looked up abruptly, tears streaming down his face. "Did you say you were innocent yourself?"
Fu Yuanshan's Adam's apple bobbed, and he pulled out a cigarette case from his pocket, shaking it for a long time without managing to pull out a single cigarette.
"I'm just resentful because she's now the housekeeper."
Fu Yuanshan didn't know why he was explaining; he thought the other person wouldn't bother with it.
"Pah!" Jiang Jianhua spat on the ground. "Her man is right in front of her, why do you need to worry about him? I think you just want to do something dirty to show off your abilities as the second brother!"
"You're being unreasonable!" Fu Yuanshan suddenly stood up, causing his chair to fall to the ground with a thud.
He pointed to the door and said, "I'm too lazy to argue with you, you can have this room!"
"Go on! Don't come back if you dare!" Jiang Jianhua was desperate. He grabbed the sugar jar from the kang table and smashed it on the ground. The rock sugar shattered all over the floor, like a handful of stars.
"Go try going to Yun Tangyin! See if Fu Yucheng doesn't break your legs! And see if Mom doesn't kick you out!"
Fu Yuanshan had just stepped into the doorway when he heard these words and stopped.
He glanced back at the scattered candy, then at Jiang Jianhua who was sobbing uncontrollably. His chest felt like it was being crushed by a boulder, making it hard to breathe.
"I'll say it one last time, I have no other feelings for Yun Tangyin." His voice was as deep as well water. "If you don't believe me, I'll go and explain it to Acheng right now."
"What did you say? That you looked at your sister-in-law like a hungry wolf eyeing meat?" Jiang Jianhua wiped his face and suddenly laughed, a laugh that was more like a grimace.
"Fu Yuanshan, do you think Fu Yucheng is a fool? He saw through it a long time ago!"
Fu Yuanshan's face turned pale instantly.
He did remember that meal; Fu Yucheng smiled openly, but the light in his eyes was as cold as ice.
"He's saving face for you," Jiang Jianhua continued, "and also for me. Do you think I'm the only blind person in the family?"
These words hit Fu Yuanshan like hailstones. He staggered backward, his back hitting the door frame. He winced in pain, but didn't utter a sound.
"I..." He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found his throat blocked.
"Don't say anything more." Jiang Jianhua stood up and spread the quilt on the kang. "From now on, you sleep on the east side and I'll sleep on the west side. We'll just live together as roommates. If you still want to live a good life, stay away from Yun Tangyin. Otherwise... I'll tell Mom about that."
Fu Yuanshan turned around abruptly, his eyes blazing with fury: "You dare!"
"What wouldn't I dare to do?" Jiang Jianhua retorted, "Don't forget I have something on you!"
"You're absolutely insane!" Fu Yuanshan was trembling with anger, but he didn't take another step forward.
He knew Jiang Jianhua's temperament; he was as stubborn as a mule, and if pushed too far, he was capable of doing anything outrageous.
Fu Yucheng's voice suddenly came from the courtyard, with a smile: "Is Second Sister-in-law here? Yinyin made some osmanthus sugar buns, I'll bring you two."
Jiang Jianhua and Fu Yuanshan exchanged a glance but neither spoke.
The footsteps outside the door grew closer, and Jiang Jianhua quickly wiped his face and tugged at his clothes.
When Fu Yucheng pushed the door open, he saw Fu Yuanshan standing with his back to the door, Jiang Jianhua making the bed, and there were broken rock candies on the floor.
The smile in his eyes faded slightly as he placed the sugar packet on the table: "It's fresh out of the oven, still warm."
"Thank you." Jiang Jianhua forced a smile. "I was just talking to your second brother."
Fu Yuanshan turned around abruptly, his face grim: "It's nothing, tell her not to overthink it."
Fu Yucheng didn't reply, but picked up a packet of candy, broke it open, and handed it to Fu Yuanshan: "Second sister-in-law said you like sweets, so Yinyin specially added extra osmanthus."
The steam from the sugar packet hit Fu Yuanshan's face. Looking at the honest light in Fu Yucheng's eyes, Fu Yuanshan couldn't help but squint.
He took the sugar packet, took a bite haphazardly, and found it cloyingly sweet, but couldn't taste any osmanthus flavor at all.
Fu Yucheng looked at Fu Yuanshan's tense profile and tapped the candy packet lightly with his fingertips: "Second brother, this candy packet must be eaten while it's hot, it will get stiff when it cools down."
Fu Yuanshan paused, not turning around, but he could hear the weight in Fu Yucheng's voice.
“It was Yinyin’s first time making this, and she was clumsy; she put in too much sugar,” Fu Yucheng said casually. “She said my second sister-in-law is very good with words and asked me to ask her how much less sugar she should put in next time to make it taste right.”
Jiang Jianhua quickly replied, "Not too little, not too little, just the right amount of sweetness."
Fu Yucheng smiled, his gaze sweeping over the broken rock sugar on the ground. He bent down and picked up a piece: "This rock sugar looks familiar. Wasn't it the one Mom used to stew pears for Second Sister-in-law the other day? How did it get broken?"
Fu Yuanshan's Adam's apple bobbed: "I accidentally knocked it off."
"Oh." Fu Yucheng tossed the rock candy back onto the table. "Second brother, be more careful next time. This stuff is precious; it would be a shame if it broke."
He patted Fu Yuanshan on the shoulder, the force neither too light nor too heavy, "I'm going back first, Yinyin is waiting for me to read the newspaper to her."
The moment the door creaked shut, the bag of candy in Fu Yuanshan's hand fell onto the table with a "thud".
In the courtyard, Yun Tangyin was sitting on a stone bench picking vegetables. When she saw Fu Yucheng come out, she waved the grapes in her hand and asked, "Second brother and sister-in-law, have you accepted them?"
"Hmm." Fu Yucheng walked over, wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, and rested his chin on the top of her head. "I heard a noise inside. Are you alright?"
"What could possibly be wrong?" Yun Tangyin snuggled closer to him. "They probably just had another argument, but they'll be fine in a bit."
She turned around and pinched his cheek. "You were inside for so long, you didn't say anything harsh, did you?"
"Am I that kind of person?" Fu Yucheng chuckled, casually popping a grape into her mouth. "I'll just praise you for making good candy buns, so your second brother can learn how to pamper his wife."
Yun Tangyin squinted at the sourness: "What kind of younger brother are you?"
"I'm just standing up for my second sister-in-law." He gently pinched the tip of her nose. "Besides, it's only natural for me to dote on my wife. What's wrong with making him a little envious?"
Just then, Yu Xia passed by carrying a laundry basin, laughing and teasing, "Are you two being all lovey-dovey again? Be careful someone doesn't see you."
Yun Tangyin's face flushed red, and she pushed Fu Yucheng away, saying, "I'm going back."
Fu Yucheng grabbed her hand and wrapped it around the red string on his wrist—a peace knot that Yun Tangyin had made for him. "Want to go for a walk by the river tonight? I heard there's a moon tonight."
“Go!” Yun Tangyin’s eyes lit up. “I still want to wear your military overcoat to keep out the wind.”
"I'll do whatever you say." He lowered his head and kissed the back of her hand, the silver ring brushing against her skin, cool and sweet.
After returning home, Yun Tangyin was making the bed when Fu Yucheng leaned against the door frame and looked at her. Suddenly, he said, "The way Second Brother looked at you just now was much more restrained."
Yun Tangyin paused, her knife still in her hand: "You figured it out a long time ago?"
“My wife is so wonderful, it’s not surprising that someone has designs on her.” He walked over and hugged her from behind. “But if anyone dares to have any ulterior motives, I’ll break their legs.”
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