Chapter 25 Chapter 25 "Awu, do you miss him...
Summer heat is scorching, and the sun blazing brightly outside can leave you sweating profusely even for a moment. Inside, however, an ice jar gently delivers cool air, accompanied by chilled fruits and vegetables. This refreshing comfort on a scorching summer day is like living in paradise.
For the servants of the third house, even though Mr. San has gone on a long journey, they live like gods.
After Xie Yi left, Yun Wu noticed the courtyard had become much more lively. The usually quiet servants had emerged, their laughter and noise incessant. She peered out the window and saw the little servant, Chun'er, in full throttle. Like a spirited monkey, she flashed past her, her enthusiasm undimmed even under the blazing sun.
After running around outside, Chun'er came in excitedly: "Third Young Madam, do you want to swing?"
Yun Wu wondered: "Where did the swing come from?"
"Go ahead!" Chun'er said, "Afu said he can do it."
Ah Fu was a servant who swept the yard.
Without the owner's approval, they wouldn't dare touch anything in the yard. But Yun Wu was a very easy-going person. Seeing everyone's enthusiasm, he nodded in agreement. With the approval, everyone enthusiastically set to work on the swings.
They found a long rope and a plank of wood from somewhere, and together they swung the rope around the thick tree trunk. Ah Fu, despite his rugged appearance, possessed a meticulous mind. He hammered away for an entire afternoon, finally constructing a swing with a backrest from the planks. He meticulously smoothed the edges, painted, and waxed it. Once it dried, the new swing took on a unique elegance.
"Third Young Madam, come quickly."
Chun'er couldn't wait to look for someone. As soon as Yun Wu put down the book in her hand, she was pulled out by her and sat on the newly made swing surrounded by a group of people.
Chun'er walked around behind her and said, "Third Young Madam, let me help you." She reached out and gave a gentle push, and Yun Wu began to swing.
Yun Wu's feet were suspended in the air. She grabbed the long ropes on both sides and felt her body flying up all of a sudden. The swing swung high up and then fell down from the highest point. She felt a sense of weightlessness and a breeze blew on her face, making her feel relaxed.
"Only the Third Young Lady would agree to let us do this." Chun'er said with a smile as she helped push the swing, "When Mr. San was around, we wouldn't dare mention this."
Yun Wu felt the same way.
When Xie Yi was around, these servants didn't even dare to show their faces, let alone make swings. They spoke and acted in silence, and were nowhere near as lively as they are now.
She swung for a while, but despite the shade of the tree, she still felt the sun, so she stood up and gave up the swing. Several young maids quickly came over and chattered as they took turns swinging.
This new swing won the favor of many people. The maids were still lingering on the swing until dusk.
At night, the lanterns under the eaves were lit. Yun Wu went to the front yard to have dinner with the Duke's family. After returning, she habitually went into the small kitchen.
She took out a set of medicine from the cabinet, opened it and poured it into the medicine jar. Just as she added water, Chun'er yelled, "Madam San, Mr. San isn't home, you don't have to boil the medicine!"
Yun Wu finally came to her senses.
She looked down at the herbs floating on the surface of the water in the jar and pursed her lips slightly. The herbs could no longer be used after being soaked in water, so they had to be thrown away.
Chun'er looked at her from the side and said, "Madam San, are you missing Mr. San?"
"No." Yun Wu said softly, "I'm just used to it and forgot he left the house."
Having said that, after she took a shower, she sat in front of the dressing table and combed her long, smooth, black hair. She looked behind her in the bronze mirror, but did not see the familiar figure in the familiar position. Yun Wu felt quite uncomfortable.
Unlike other couples, whose husbands would be out and about busy with errands during the day, often only having intimacy at night, Xie Yi was different. He was always there, whether Yun Wu opened her eyes or closed them.
The two have not been married for too long, but they spend every day together. Yun Wu has long been accustomed to him being by her side all the time. Suddenly being alone, she always feels like something is missing.
After she put on her clothes and lay down, she usually left half of the bed empty. Only after closing her eyes did she remember that she would be sleeping alone tonight.
Not only was the bed hers alone, but the bedding was hers too, allowing her to stretch out freely without worrying about touching anyone. The summer night heat was still lingering, but without the scorching heat of a stove beside her, her sleep felt much cooler.
Yun Wu closed her eyes again and fell asleep awkwardly.
On the second and third day after Xie Yi left, Yun Wu was still a little uncomfortable.
Although he didn't make any noise when he was around, and often stayed quietly by the side, his presence was strong. After he left, Yun Wu habitually walked lightly for fear of disturbing him.
After walking around the room for a while, I remembered that he was not there.
The next thing I'm not used to is meal time.
The only custom in the Zhenguo Mansion is to have dinner together, and the other two meals are eaten in each person's courtyard. There are few people in the third room, and after Xie Yi left, Yun Wu was the only one left.
If other things don't seem lonely enough, eating alone seems particularly lonely.
After lunch, Chun'er muttered to herself, "Why does Third Young Madam eat as little as Third Young Master?"
Yun Wu looked at the small amount of rice left in the bowl and said casually, "It's just that it's hot, so I don't have much appetite."
After hearing this, Chun'er asked, "Would Third Young Madam like to have an ice bowl to cool down?"
Yun Wu nodded and agreed.
An ice bowl is a bowl of crushed ice with fresh fruit juice or a spoonful of milk poured on top. It is sweet and refreshing. It is a great way to enjoy such a cool drink in the hot summer, and it will make you feel comfortable from the tip of your tongue to your stomach.
Ice was a rare commodity. Back when she was at the Yun family, her monthly allowance was limited and she had to budget carefully. Yun Wu would have had to save up money for many days just to enjoy a bowl of ice, unlike now, when she could enjoy it daily. She wasn't a glutton, so she only used a small bowl before putting it down.
Chen Qiutang brought Sister Nuan to visit. When she saw the remaining ice in the small bowl in front of her, she said repeatedly, "Good Chun'er, bring me a bowl of ice too."
Chun'er brought a full bowl of ice and poured a large spoonful of juicy and sweet fruit pulp on it. Chen Qiutang picked up a spoonful of fruit pulp with a spoon and fed it to Nuan Jie'er's mouth. The little girl happily held the cool fruit in her mouth, her cheeks puffed up, and she leaned on her mother happily.
Chen Qiutang also scooped a large spoonful himself, saying, "Sister Nuan heard you had a swing here, and she insisted I bring her over to ride on it. I said it was just a swing, and her father could make one too. But what happened? He found an excuse to run away early this morning! How could he be such a father?"
She bit the broken ice in her mouth fiercely, making a crunching sound, as if she wished she was biting Xie Fei herself.
Yun Wu was curious: "Can Second Brother really do this?"
Chen Qiutang was speechless for a moment, hesitating: "I think so..."
It turned out that she didn't know whether it would happen or not. If she boasted on her husband's behalf first, wouldn't Erlangjun have to run away early in the morning?
Yun Wu couldn't hold back her laughter, and asked someone to call Ah Fu over and ask him to go to the second room to help make a swing.
Before the new swing was ready, Nuanjie raised her hands and asked the maid to carry her onto the swing. The maid gently pushed her from behind, and her little feet hung in the air, slowly swinging, and soon she could hear her giggling.
The two sisters-in-law sat under the shade of the eaves, watching Nuan Jie'er playing over there. Chen Qiutang was holding a bowl of ice, and the broken ice made a clinking sound as it hit the wall.
She stared at the child out of the corner of her eye and chatted with Yun Wu about family matters: "Sanlang is really something. He goes to Jinyun Temple every year. He says he goes there to recuperate, but he used to live alone. Now things are different. Why did he leave you alone at home?"
"I'm fine." Yun Wu said softly, "His health is more important."
"That's Jinyun Temple. There aren't any miraculous doctors there. What can we do there? It's nothing more than reading Buddhist scriptures, listening to sermons, and cultivating our character." Chen Qiutang put down his empty bowl, still wondering, "You said Sanlang was going, why didn't he take you with him?"
Yun Wu was stunned: "Take me?"
Chen Qiutang: "Yes, the Jinyun Temple is located in the mountains. You have been there. The scenery is beautiful, but it is boring to stay there alone. There is no fun. If he goes there, he will just be chanting sutras to the monks all day. It is better to take you there. Just treat it as a tour. There are people to talk to, so it won't be boring."
Yun Wu thought for a moment and said, "If he felt bored, he wouldn't go there every year."
Chen Qiutang choked, and after a moment, he said, "You two are both introverted and can stay indoors without going out. But I can't do that. I can't stay idle."
As she spoke, she stood up and walked towards the swing: "Sister Nuan, please move aside and let me sit on it!"
Nuan Jie'er obediently sat aside. Fortunately, the swing seat was spacious and the mother and daughter could squeeze in together. Chen Qiutang hugged his daughter and ordered the strong maid to push it, insisting that the swing must swing high.
There was endless laughter over there, and the birds in the birdcage under the eaves also chirped loudly. The laughter and the birdsong were entangled together, one after another.
This bird had been brought back from the second house a long time ago. Now that Xie Yi was not around, not only did the servants become lively, but it also became talkative, chirping from morning to night without stopping all day long.
Fortunately, no one mind its noise now, so it stands under the eaves, shakes its feathers every day, and calls louder and louder.
Yun Wu held her chin, listening to the chirping birds beside her ears, thinking of Xie Yi in the distance.
He has been out for three days. I wonder if he has taken his medicine properly during these days?
She knew that Xie Yi didn't like taking medicine. Once he left home and without her watching, she wondered if he would secretly pour out the medicine.
Chen Qiutang had had enough fun and ran back to sit down. He saw her staring straight ahead, as if she was looking at something strange. When he followed her line of sight, he saw nothing but a clump of weeds growing out of the cracks in the bricks.
Chen Qiutang laughed and said, "Awu, are you missing Sanlang?"
Yun Wu came back to her senses and immediately muttered, "Second sister-in-law..."
"I miss him, it's nothing shameful." Chen Qiutang said frankly, "You two are married, but you still want to live alone? What's the point? If you miss him, just go find him."
"Looking for him?!"
"yes."
Yun Wu subconsciously said: "This is not good..."
"Jinyun Temple is so close, you can go there and back in a day. If you miss him, go and see how he's doing. Is there anything wrong with him?"
Yun Wu was somewhat moved by her words. Apart from anything else, she was very concerned about how Xie Yi was recovering and whether he was taking his medicine properly.
But she still shook her head: "Forget it."
Chen Qiutang wondered: "What's wrong?"
Yun Wu: "The mountain is quiet and peaceful. He went to Jinyun Temple to recuperate. If I went there, I would bother him."
Chen Qiutang glanced at her and asked, "Does he think you're noisy?"
Yun Wu shook her head: "No."
"Why not?"
Yun Wu whispered again, "He didn't mention it."
If Xie Yi was interested, he would naturally take her with him. If he was not interested, Yun Wu would certainly not go up to him and make herself unhappy.
Chen Qiutang was puzzled: "If he didn't mention it, you could have taken the initiative to bring it up. You clearly wanted to go too."
Yun Wu paused: "Take the initiative to bring it up?"
"That's right."
"Is this okay?" Yun Wu hesitated: "What if he gets angry?"
"Why not?" Chen Qiutang said earnestly, "Awu, you have to learn to act like a spoiled child to Sanlang!"
behave in a spoiled manner?
Yun Wu felt a little uncomfortable, and her toes twisted awkwardly in her embroidered shoes.
Second sister-in-law doesn’t know that she is the worst at acting like a spoiled child.
The last time she acted coquettishly, Xie Yi seemed to not want to pay any attention to her.
If she really did as her second sister-in-law said and went to Jinyun Temple to see him without saying goodbye, Xie Yi would definitely be angry, right?
He said he would be back soon...so she should just wait a little longer.
-----------------------
The author has something to say: Not only is he not angry, he will be so happy that he will die!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
