Sister-in-law at night
“It’s my fault,” Zhang Chunfeng continued, his eyes falling on Li Xiuman’s hand hidden in the water, and he suddenly remembered the feeling of holding Li Xiuman’s hand.
"From now on, my relationship with my sister-in-law will only be that of aunt and sister-in-law. I will not disturb your peace any longer." Zhang Chunfeng spoke very quickly, as if she would change her mind if she stayed by Li Xiuman's side for even a second longer.
After Zhang Chunfeng left, Li Xiuman continued to wash the dishes and pots and tidy up the stove with her head down.
Before the wedding, Aunt Liu asked him to take two out of the twenty copper coins given to him by the Zhang family to buy the new clothes he was wearing. Although they were new clothes, they were actually made of coarse, grayish cloth, and the tailoring was so bad that he had to alter the waistline overnight to make them barely fit.
Even so, he is now very careful when cleaning the stove, making sure his clothes don't get dirty.
Emerging from the stove, he caught a glimpse of Zhang Chunfeng, whose silk embroidered robes fluttered as she walked quickly, and of the jewel-encrusted sedan chair standing at the doorway.
Li Xiuman felt that Zhang Chunfeng had only put some effort into cooking, and he could smell a faint fragrance at the tip of his nose.
She was no ordinary woman, but a celestial being, while he was merely a penniless bachelor. Their relationship was never meant to be; what was he even thinking?
Lee Soo-man dried his hands, clutching the faded handkerchief tightly. He had never harbored any lustful thoughts towards her, never.
For three consecutive days, Zhang Chunfeng went to the magistrate's residence early in the morning and did not return until late at night. Sometimes Li Xiuman felt that her sister-in-law was avoiding her, but then she found her own thoughts ridiculous. There was nothing wrong with her, so why was she avoiding her?
Zhang Chuntian also slept in Zhang Chunfeng's room for the past three days. He cherished the time he spent with his sister. Although he also liked his beautiful wife, Li agreed with what Zhang Chunfeng said.
Logically, it should take at least forty-nine days after an ancestor's passing for their soul to find peace in the underworld. Zhang Chunfeng didn't mention forty-nine days, only requesting thirty-one days, which was considered passing this important juncture. Because of this, Li Shi had also instructed Li Xiuman that even if Zhang Chunfeng caused trouble, the two should not sleep together.
Although he didn't sleep at night, Zhang Chuntian kept pestering Li Xiuman during the day. He had heard it many times at the village entrance: other people saying things like, "It's so good to have a wife," and "You have to treat your wife well."
In the past, Zhang Chuntian would go to work in the fields and wouldn't come back at noon, but now he always makes sure to come back to see Li Xiuman. Every time he comes back, he carries a large pile of fruit that he has picked from who-knows-where. Sometimes, he will also give Li Xiuman any stones, leaves, or even dying crickets or small birds that he finds on the road, as if they were precious treasures.
Li Xiuman had told Li Shi that he could also work in the fields. However, Li Shi refused, saying that they hadn't even returned to their parents' home yet, so how could a newlywed bride be expected to do chores?
Li Xiuman had no choice but to stay at home and help Li Shi sew shoe soles for Zhang Chuntian.
Li was amazed that a man could do such good needlework, so she simply handed over Zhang Chunfeng's shoe soles to Li Xiuman.
“Chunfeng is often out and about, and she meets many important people, so the soles of these shoes need to be carefully crafted,” Li explained. The same soles that Zhang Chuntian could finish in a few days would take Zhang Chunfeng at least half a month.
During the day, Li Xiuman either sews shoe soles or keeps Zhang Chuntian company. Now that it's summer, Zhang Chuntian's evening washing and grooming duties have also been entrusted to Li Xiuman.
Normally, Li would wash Zhang Chuntian directly. If Li didn't care, Zhang Chunfeng would insist that Zhang Chuntian wash for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
Lee Soo-man hadn't decided whether to wash him himself or not. He felt that since they were both men, he could just treat Jang Chun-tian like his younger brother, and there was nothing wrong with washing him.
But the thought that the two of them had been married and that she was his wife made Li Xiuman feel awkward.
He only brought water and told Zhang Chuntian to wash herself first.
In the Zhang family, only Zhang Chunfeng's room was spacious enough to fit a bathtub, and she was the only one who bathed in her own room. Everyone else had set up a shed in a corner of the backyard, with a wooden door made of randomly picked sticks. Therefore, although this wooden door served to conceal them, there were huge gaps between each piece of wood, allowing a clear view inside if one were to look.
However, most people in the village shower directly in their courtyards. Having a wooden door to provide some shelter is already a luxury.
Lee Soo-man stood outside the door waiting for Jang Chun-chun to take a shower.
In the summer, Zhang Chuntian sweated a lot and worked in the fields all day. His knees, between his toes, and the back of his neck were covered in sand.
Zhang Chuntian picked up a bucket of water, splashed it on himself, and was about to come out.
“In spring, you must wash carefully. Don’t forget that spring breezes love cleanliness, and you and she share a room, so you must keep it clean,” Li Xiuman reminded her.
Zhang Chuntian pointed to his head, "Head, head."
Only then did Li Xiuman realize that Zhang Chuntian had to wash his hair once every three days. He could wash his body himself, but he couldn't wash his hair, so Li had to do it for him.
After thinking for a moment, Li Xiuman had no choice but to fetch water again, take off his outer clothes and shoes, and go into the shed.
Fortunately, it's late at night, and the moonlight makes it difficult to see clearly.
Li Xiuman made Zhang Chuntian squat down and poured water onto Zhang Chuntian's hair spoonful by spoonful. After it was thoroughly wet, he took out a soap pod and gently rubbed it. He massaged Zhang Chuntian's scalp with all ten fingers, pressing only with the pads of his fingers.
Although Zhang Chuntian was mentally challenged, he could still feel both comfort and pain. He immediately smiled and said, "Wife, it doesn't hurt. Mother is in a lot of pain."
Lee Soo-man sighed, roughly understanding. Every time Lee washed Zhang Chuntian's hair, it hurt him a little. Over time, Zhang Chuntian hated washing his hair and taking a bath, but he had no choice but to obey.
“I’ve been washing you for twenty-six years. Even the most patient mother would eventually run out of patience. Don’t blame me,” Li Xiuman said, putting herself in your shoes.
Zhang Chuntian didn't understand what he was saying, but he just smiled comfortably and happily.
After rinsing Zhang Chuntian's hair with water, Li Xiuman began to scrub the dirt off Zhang Chuntian's body, his hands brushing across Zhang Chuntian's neck, back, and chest.
The weather was really hot, and even though Zhang Chuntian showered every day, there was still mud on her body. Zhang Chuntian squinted her eyes and hummed comfortably, repeatedly calling out, "Wife, wife."
After washing his upper body, Li Xiuman looked down at Zhang Chuntian's legs, gritted his teeth, squatted down, and washed Zhang Chuntian's legs.
He kept reminding himself to treat Zhang Chuntian like a ten-year-old brother. But when his hand accidentally touched Zhang Chuntian, he suddenly came to his senses.
Zhang Chuntian was indeed twenty-six years old. Feeling so comfortable, a certain part of him even stirred slightly. Even though they were both men, a sense of unease still swept over them.
Li Xiuman stopped, told Zhang Chuntian to squat down and rub his feet properly, and then left the shed.
Even bathing someone of such a large size made Lee Soo-man sweat profusely. He then fetched another bucket of water, thinking he would bathe himself after Zhang Chuntian finished.
To his surprise, just as he brought the bucket of water to the entrance of the shed, he saw Zhang Chuntian standing naked at the door, completely soaked.
The moonlight is lovely tonight; things that were barely visible inside the shed are now crystal clear outside.
Li Xiuman blushed instantly, and he quickly put down the bucket and tossed the clothes that had been prepared to Zhang Chuntian.
"Springtime, hurry up and wear it, how can I bear to be seen like this?"
Zhang Chuntian replied with a grin, "Mother only said that my sister can't see it, she didn't say that my wife can't." His answer was quite clever.
Lee Soo-man shook his head, "From now on, no one is suitable, not even in front of your mother. Your age is also inappropriate."
Zhang Chuntian nodded quickly, "Yes, Dazhu said he should listen to his wife."
After everyone had dressed, Li Xiuman, worried that the water droplets from Zhang Chuntian's hair might drip into Zhang Chunfeng's room, helped dry Zhang Chuntian's hair and escorted her to her room.
This was Li Xiuman's first time in Zhang Chunfeng's room. A complete set of elegant mahogany tables and chairs, a carved bed, candlelight everywhere, and a landscape painting and calligraphy by an unknown calligrapher hanging on the snow-white walls. Li Xiuman had learned to read with his adoptive mother when he was young, and although he had never formally attended school, he could still recognize characters used in daily life.
He couldn't understand the calligraphy in Zhang Chunfeng's room, nor did he dare to stare at it directly.
"Go to sleep, don't touch the candlelight, spring breeze will be back soon," Li Xiuman said, noticing that the quilt Zhang Chuntian had placed on the ground was quite thick, so even if the ground was cold at night, it shouldn't chill her to the bone.
After settling Zhang Chuntian in, Li Xiuman took off her clothes and went to wash up.
No one was home at the time. Li liked to stroll around the village entrance in the evening to cool off, and Zhang Chunfeng had been returning home late at night these past few days. So he stopped covering himself with a cloth over the door, which clearly showed his body.
With his black hair loose, Lee Soo-man quickly washed himself, his head and body covered in soap.
As soon as Zhang Chunfeng entered the courtyard, she smelled a faint scent of osmanthus. She sniffed and wondered why there was such a fragrance when it wasn't osmanthus season yet.
Just then, a loud splashing sound rang out. She turned her head in the direction of the sound and saw Li Xiuman standing in the shed with her back to her, rinsing her hair with spoonfuls of water.
The shed door offered little protection; one could see through the large gaps.
The deep moonlight slanted onto Lee Soo-man's shoulders. As he lowered his head to shave, the water flowed over his shoulders and gently down the curve of his back.
Zhang Chunfeng had long known that Li Xiuman had a good physique, but he never expected that he would be this good-looking today.
Lee Soo-man had very little flesh on his body, with prominent bones in his shoulders, which flowed smoothly like a soft line. His back, long hidden under his clothes, was exceptionally fair, wider at the top and tapering to a leaner shape at the waist. The curve of his back was so smooth that one wanted to touch it and feel if it was as smooth as the finest white jade.
Zhang Chunfeng had drunk some wine tonight; the Shaoxing wine was fragrant and had a long-lasting effect. He had been riding back on horseback and had sweated a lot, so he was already thirsty, but now he felt even thirstier.
Further down, Zhang Chunfeng almost dared not look, only feeling the straight, jade-like legs flickering in and out of the shadows, extremely irritating.
"Spring Breeze, you're back." Madam Li walked in from the doorway.
Zhang Chunfeng quickly came to his senses, took a few steps toward Li Shi, and the two talked at the door.
"Didn't Mother send someone to tell me to come back early today? What's the matter?"
Li and Zhang Chunfeng crossed the courtyard and headed towards the main hall in the center.
Upon hearing Li's voice, Li Xiuman shuddered. He hurriedly grabbed his clothes and hastily put them on. Seeing that Zhang Chunfeng and Li had already entered, Li Xiuman burrowed deeper into the shed, afraid of being seen.
Fortunately, neither Zhang Chunfeng nor Li noticed him. After the two entered the house, Li Xiuman hurriedly came out and went to his own room.
In the main room, after a moment's hesitation, Madam Li spoke: "Tomorrow is Man'er's homecoming day, Mother is thinking..."
“There’s no need to ride a horse for the homecoming; you can do it yourself, brother,” Zhang Chunfeng immediately retorted, her mind still haunted by the image of Li Xiuman bathing, her tone naturally carrying a hint of impatience.
Madam Li smiled apologetically, "I know you've been busy lately, but there are many formalities involved in the wedding ceremony, so we have to go early. We ate lunch at Man'er's place and will return in the afternoon. Since no one is home at Man'er's house, we'll eat at Aunt Liu's house next door. But tomorrow is also the seventh day after Man'er's adoptive mother, Madam Shen's, death. Normally, this should be a grand celebration, but since it's not appropriate for a newlywed couple to hold such a ceremony, we still need to have Man'er go to the grave to pay her respects."
The whole process was indeed troublesome. On the way, we had to bring a return gift to Aunt Liu's house, have lunch at Aunt Liu's house, go to Li Xiuman's family home, and then visit Li Xiuman's adoptive mother.
There was always some small talk at each stage.
"You can't stay outside even for a day in spring," Li reminded him. "Last time, he only went to the market day, and then..."
Because he ate too much, he needed to go to the toilet in the afternoon, but couldn't find a suitable place and pooped in his pants.
Zhang Chunfeng looked at Li Shi's expectant eyes, then glanced at Li Xiuman's face with a beauty mark on the tip of her nose, and finally nodded.
"Well, if that's the case, then let's do it that way."
Seeing that Zhang Chunfeng had given her a mouthful, Li immediately shouted for Li Xiuman to come over.
Lee Soo-man had just changed his clothes in his room, and hadn't even had time to dry his wet hair when he heard Lee's urgent call. So he had no choice but to let his wet hair hang loose and hurry to the main room.
As soon as Li Xiuman entered the courtyard, she bumped into Zhang Chunfeng, who was coming out of the main room.
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