Chapter 9 Newlyweds Fall Asleep
As dusk fell, the mountains and waters blended into one color. The dark blue hills were covered by a layer of silvery moonlight, and the sounds of insects and birds drifted through the fields, creating a peaceful and tranquil scene.
This night was considered Du Wanchun and Zhou Ruiyuan's wedding night.
Du Wanchun chatted with Aunt Zhou for a few minutes, then packed her things to go inside and rest.
Aunt Zhou took her hand and patted it gently, saying, "Wanchun, if you don't want to, you can sleep in the same room as your mother."
After she finished speaking, she lowered her head and said, "The reason you came in so poorly today is not only because our family has no money, but also because Ruiyuan's intention is that his leg is not healed and he does not want to go through the wedding ceremony with you, and does not want to delay you."
Du Wanchun smiled gently, her eyes crinkling. "Mother, my husband has told me about this. I know what he means. I'm willing to wait for his leg to heal, but how can a newlywed leave her husband alone in the bridal chamber? If outsiders find out, they'll laugh at us. Don't worry, I don't care. It just so happens that my husband needs someone to take care of him tonight."
After hearing this, Aunt Zhou was very moved. After giving a few instructions, she invited Du Wanchun into the room.
"Good child, remember to call your mother if you need anything at night."
"I understand, Mother."
Du Wanchun lifted the curtain and entered the room with a smile.
Both of them knew perfectly well that Zhou Ruiyuan had a leg injury, and if Du Wanchun was unwilling, he naturally couldn't do anything he wanted to do.
However, once they stepped through that door, their fate as husband and wife was sealed. It wouldn't be so easy to back out now.
Du Wanchun walked into the house without hesitation. Whether it was to repay a debt of gratitude or to fall in love at first sight, from the moment she saw Zhou Ruiyuan, she knew that he was the husband she would spend her life with.
Inside the new house, Zhou Ruiyuan was still awake. He was sitting at the table reading by candlelight, but the book in his hand had changed; it was another one that Du Wanchun had never seen before.
Du Wanchun walked to his side and softly called out to him, "Husband, are you still awake?"
Zhou Ruiyuan was slightly surprised to see her suddenly enter. "Why are you here...?"
Before he could finish speaking, Du Wanchun interrupted him, saying, "We are newlyweds today, why can't we come?"
Having witnessed her sharp tongue before, Zhou Ruiyuan didn't argue with her further. He pushed the chair he was sitting on, went to the bedside, picked up a quilt, and prepared to leave.
Du Wanchun quickly stopped him, "Husband, if you take the quilt out tonight, I will be labeled as an abandoned wife tomorrow."
She was right. The young wives in the village were most afraid of the gossip at the village entrance. If Zhou Ruiyuan really left her alone tonight, who knows what those people would say about Du Wanchun tomorrow.
Especially her maternal family, her stepmother and stepsister just couldn't stand to see her doing well.
Zhou Ruiyuan stopped and didn't insist on going out anymore. He put down the blanket, pushed the chair back to the table, and said, "You go to sleep first, I'll read for a while."
Upon seeing this, Du Wanchun smiled.
She put the blanket back on the bed, then divided the bed in two, covering each bed with one blanket—one for herself and one for Zhou Ruiyuan.
Du Wanchun took off her shoes and socks, climbed into the bed, and quietly lay down under the covers.
Zhou Ruiyuan kept his eyes glued to the book, his fair fingers gently turning the pages. The room was so quiet that the only sound was the rustling of the pages turning.
Du Wanchun huddled under the covers, secretly watching him.
Under the dim yellow light, his well-defined face appeared even more somber than during the day, with a hint of melancholy and ambition in his eyes.
Du Wanchun then noticed that there were many calligraphy and paintings hanging behind him, the calligraphy was excellent and the paintings were lifelike.
She stared at him for a long time, then couldn't help but ask Zhou Ruiyuan, "Husband, you are literate, so why haven't you participated in the imperial examinations?"
Zhou Ruiyuan stopped turning the pages of his book, remained silent for a long while, and then slowly said, "I don't want to enter officialdom."
Du Wanchun frowned slightly, puzzled, and asked, "If one doesn't enter officialdom, how can one rise above others?"
Zhou Ruiyuan returned to normal and continued flipping through the book, replying as he read, "The path to officialdom is complicated; it's best to avoid getting involved in trouble."
Du Wanchun, who only half understood, thought for a moment and then smiled and said, "It's alright, my husband. If you want to stand out from the crowd, you don't necessarily have to enter officialdom. There is always a path that suits us, whether it's scholars, farmers, artisans, or merchants."
After she finished speaking, she closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
She had experienced so much today, she was really exhausted, and felt sleepy as soon as she lay down in her comfortable bed.
The quilt was a new one that Aunt Zhou had bought; it was soft and much better than the thatched bed she used to sleep on at the Du family's house.
Moreover, the quilt had a faint fragrance, just like the one Zhou Ruiyuan wore.
Seeing that she had stopped moving, Zhou Ruiyuan slightly raised his eyes to look at her.
Du Wanchun was huddled under the covers, with only her small, round face showing.
It's strange. She's a little girl who's so thin she's practically just skin and bones, but her face looks chubby, especially when she's asleep. She looks like a little doll in a temple, and you just want to take a bite out of her little face.
Zhou Ruiyuan was momentarily lost in thought, but after a long while, he quickly looked away and put down the book in his hand.
The book in his hand is called "The Book of Lord Shang," which mainly discusses the methods of governing the heavens and the art of governing a country and using troops, and has nothing to do with whether he enters officialdom or not.
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