Chapter 58
Han Shuo is often like this, speaking too bluntly. His words, spoken so early in the morning, were almost unbearable for Meng Yuxiu. He put his arm around Han Shuo's waist, chuckled softly, and buried his face in Han Shuo's neck.
"Alright." Han Shuo stroked his head and kissed his hair. "Get up."
"Mmm." Meng Yuxiu kissed Han Shuo's lips before getting dressed and getting out of bed.
Han Shuo was unusually free of pregnancy symptoms this morning, so after Meng Yuxiu left the room, he slept for another hour.
Until I heard the door open, and then a little thing pounced on me.
"Uncle!" Han Ting couldn't wait to run upstairs to find Han Shuo as soon as she washed her face.
The lively scene of the wedding banquet yesterday excited the little guy so much that he couldn't wait to go downstairs to play in the yard before Han Hong even opened his eyes this morning. Even though none of his new friends from the village were there, he was still able to play happily in the yard by himself.
He only stopped when Han Hong pulled him to wash his face and then asked him to go upstairs to wake Han Shuo up.
Han Shuo saw his rosy cheeks and teased him by tucking his head in his elbow: "You little thing, why are you up so early? Huh? Why don't you let your little uncle go to sleep?"
Han Ting giggled, "Dad said the sun's about to shine on your bottom, Uncle, get up and have breakfast!"
Han Shuo patted Han Ting's butt, then got up and got dressed.
When he led Han Ting downstairs, there were already fried dough sticks, white porridge, and some leftover dishes from yesterday's banquet on the round table downstairs, and Meng Yuxiu helped carry the bowls in and out of the kitchen.
Yesterday was a chaotic day, and Han Shuo was so busy that he didn't feel anything about living in the Meng family's house from now on. After the lively scene subsided and things quieted down, he saw that Meng's parents really looked like a new bride on her first day at her in-laws' house, feeling awkward and stiff.
At this moment, he even thought that even he, with his thick skin, felt a little awkward. If the novel didn't specify the top and bottom characters, and if he were the husband and Meng Yuxiu married into their family, Meng Yuxiu would probably be so embarrassed that he would stay upstairs and refuse to come down.
When Meng's mother saw Han Shuo come downstairs, she went to get him a washbasin and a mouthwash cup.
Han Shuo quickly said, "Auntie, I can do it myself, don't bother."
Upon hearing Han Shuo's words, Han Hongmeng's father and his family all laughed.
Mencius' mother laughed and said, "Look at you, child, why are you still calling me 'Auntie'?"
Han Shuo then realized what was happening. He scratched his head and awkwardly called out to Meng's mother, "Mom..."
Meng Yuxiu came out of the kitchen just in time to hear Han Shuo call out "Mom." He immediately stopped, bowl in hand. The simple word "Mom" added even more joy to his already sweet morning.
He put the bowl on the table, immediately grabbed a teacup and a washbasin, then squeezed on some toothpaste, scooped some water from the water tank, and accompanied Han Shuo to the yard to brush his teeth.
Red firecracker paper scraps still lingered on the ground in the courtyard, and the corners were piled high with spent firecracker casings. Looking up, the doors and windows were adorned with brightly colored stickers, the festive atmosphere of yesterday still strong today.
Han Shuo was brushing his teeth when he saw Meng Yuxiu still standing beside him. With his mouth full of white foam, he said, "Why don't you go in and eat?"
Meng Yuxiu said, "I'll wait until you've washed your face, then we'll go eat together."
"You're such a clingy person," Han Shuo said with a smile as he continued brushing his teeth.
After the family ate breakfast in the house, Han Hong was going to take Han Ting back to Xiaoshi Village. Han Ting hadn't had enough fun yet, and when she heard that Han Shuo wasn't going back to Xiaoshi Village with them, she immediately started crying and making a fuss in the yard.
Mencius' parents persuaded Han Hong to stay a few more days.
Han Shuo, holding Han Ting who was crying uncontrollably, also felt sorry for his brother and advised him, "Yeah, let's stay for two more days, brother."
"Come stay again next time, I have things to do at home." After saying that, Han Hong went to coax Han Ting, "Tingting, be good, go home with Daddy today, we'll come again next time, don't cry, didn't you say last night before going to bed that you were going to take the candy back and share it with your friends in the village?"
"Here." Han Hong shook the bag full of candy and snacks in his hand. "There's so much stuff. Why don't you take it back for your classmates? We can come back another time, okay?"
Han Ting frowned and continued to mutter.
Han Shuo felt sorry for his nephew and whispered to Han Hong, "Brother, stay another day."
Considering that Meng's parents were present, Han Hong said in a low, indistinct voice, "Oh, goodbye, we'll come again later. You can also come back to Xiaoshi Village to stay when you have time."
In truth, Han Shuo was well aware that he was already married, and as the eldest brother from his wife's family, he did not want to cause trouble for his younger brother.
Perhaps Meng's parents and Meng Yuxiu wouldn't think that way, but Han Hong was a reasonable person with his own set of principles that Han Shuo couldn't stop.
Finally, Han Hong coaxed the pouting Han Ting onto the tractor.
Han Shuo stood at the village entrance, watching the tractor drive further and further away, watching Han Hong wave to him, telling him to go back, and watching Han Ting with his little head drooping.
It's only a half-hour drive from Xiqiao Village to Xiaoshi Village, and he could go back anytime, but at this moment, the sadness of parting still overwhelms him.
The tractor disappeared at the intersection, but Han Shuo stood there for a long time without moving.
Seeing his reddened eyes, Meng Yuxiu said softly, "If you miss them, I'll ride my bike and take you back to live with them sometime."
Han Shuo nodded and said, "Okay."
He looked into the distance and sighed deeply. "I'm just a little sad. I feel so sad even though we're not far apart now, seeing my brother and nephew leave... Sigh, I don't even want to think about what it will be like when we really leave."
Meng Yuxiu remained silent and turned his head to look at the small courtyard not far away.
In the courtyard, Meng's mother, wearing an apron, was chatting and laughing with the neighbors, while Meng's father, carrying a snakeskin bag, was bending over and tidying up the firecracker casings in the corner.
As the morning coolness dissipated and the sunlight grew stronger, Han Shuo felt sleepy after having a full breakfast. He and Meng Yuxiu stood at the intersection for a while before heading back.
In the morning, Han Shuo was a little awkward around Meng's parents, but after spending the day together, he was no different from when he was in Xiaoshi Village, and was even more at ease than Meng Yuxiu, his son.
Meng's parents also liked Han Shuo's personality; he was outspoken and said what he thought, unlike their own son who was always silent.
After lunch, Han Shuo went upstairs for a nap. When he woke up, he found Meng Yuxiu sitting next to him, picking at the blanket with his fingers.
"What's wrong?"
Meng Yuxiu pointed it out to Han Shuo, "It got on the blanket last night."
"Damn!" Han Shuo also reached out and scratched the blanket, only to find that there were several more spots on it.
He asked Meng Yuxiu, "Then why don't you go wash up?"
Meng Yuxiu stood up and looked out the window. Then he returned to Han Shuo and said, "I'll go out to shower later."
Han Shuo asked, "What's wrong?"
Meng Yuxiu smiled and said, "There are people under the tree in front of my house. They talk a lot."
Han Shuo understood immediately and laughed, "Hahaha, that's true. We just got married. If they see you carrying a blanket, they'll probably laugh at you."
“I’ll go when they’re making dinner,” Meng Yuxiu said.
"Okay, I'll go with you then."
As evening approached, Meng's parents began preparing dinner. Meng Yuxiu took a large basin, piled the blanket and the clothes he and Han Shuo had changed out of the day before into the basin, and then took it downstairs.
Meng Yuxiu had never washed clothes in the 21st century. After he came into this world, although his parents were strict, he didn't have to lift a finger in his daily life.
When Meng Yuxiu came down the stairs carrying a large basin of clothes, his mother instinctively said, "Xiaoxiu, you can leave them in the yard. Your parents will wash them after dinner."
Meng Yuxiu said it wasn't necessary.
Mencius' father went over and saw the blanket in the basin. He frowned and asked, "This blanket is brand new. Why do you need to wash it?"
Meng Yuxiu and Han Shuo were momentarily speechless with embarrassment.
Meng Yuxiu stammered, "Uh..."
He turned to look at Han Shuo, who replied, "Uh..."
It was Mencius' mother who realized this, and she gently nudged Mencius' father, "Tsk, our son is already married, why are you, as his father, asking so many questions?"
"What did I do? Didn't you say that blankets would tear if washed too often?"
After Mencius' father finished speaking in bewilderment, he saw Mencius' mother wink at him, and only then did he realize what was going on.
As a result, Principal Meng's serious face immediately stiffened.
Meng's mother smiled and tried to smooth things over for Meng Yuxiu: "That's true, now that you're married, I won't wash your clothes for you anymore. And Xiao Shuo is pregnant, so you'll have to wash them together from now on, you know?"
Meng Yuxiu nodded and said he understood.
"Go ahead, wash up early and come back for dinner."
Thinking about how their parents almost exposed them, the two breathed a slight sigh of relief as they walked out of the yard. Han Shuo grinned mischievously and bumped Meng Yuxiu's shoulder with his shoulder, causing Meng Yuxiu to tilt to the side while holding the basin.
"Eh~" Han Shuo teased him with a wink, "How embarrassing, hahaha."
Meng Yuxiu chuckled and snorted, "It's not mine anyway."
Han Shuo: "Anyway, I'm not afraid of being embarrassed!"
"Why didn't you say anything when my dad asked you that?"
"Then I'm embarrassed for you, aren't I?" Han Shuo chuckled and patted his arm. "Let's go, little wife, time to do the laundry!"
There is a stream at the entrance of Xiqiao Village. Meng Yuxiu deliberately avoided washing clothes under the big tree when there were people. However, he did not expect that in the summer evening, this was the time when everyone gathered to wash clothes.
The small stream was almost entirely filled with people. Women were washing clothes, men were washing their hoes after returning from the fields, and children were playing in the water with their bare bottoms exposed. It was incredibly lively.
Meng Yuxiu and Han Shuo had already come this far, so going back would seem strange. What's more, when everyone looked over, they discovered that the person next to Meng Yuxiu was his newlywed wife from yesterday, which made them even more excited.
Everyone teased and joked with the young couple, while the elderly mother-in-law leaned over to examine the pretty and tall new daughter-in-law.
"Xiao Xiu, taking your wife out to do laundry?"
While Meng Yuxiu nodded with a blush, Han Shuo smiled at them generously.
Meng Yuxiu led Han Shuo to an empty spot, put down the basin, and then the tall man squatted down on the bank.
Seeing his stiff body as he hesitantly pulled the blanket from the basin into the water, Han Shuo squatted down and whispered, "It's alright, you've already taken it out, just wash yours and don't worry about others."
Meng Yuxiu nodded, his ears turning bright red, and then said to Han Shuo, "Don't squat anymore, find a rock to sit on."
Xiaoshi Village rarely has streams, let alone a stream as clean and clear as the one in Xiqiao Village. Since it was hot, Han Shuo put on his flip-flops and went into the water.
"Don't slip," Meng Yuxiu said anxiously.
"Don't worry." Han Shuo didn't need Meng Yuxiu to tell him; he was being cautious himself.
Seeing this, Meng Yuxiu focused on washing clothes. However, when he rubbed the soap onto his and Han Shuo's underwear, he couldn't help but turn to the side, afraid that someone would see and tease them again.
Even so, Meng Yuxiu's mother-in-law, who had watched him grow up, came over and chatted with him with a smile.
The mother-in-law watched Han Shuo walking around in the water, patted Meng Yuxiu's arm and whispered, "Xiao Xiu, you're so lucky! Your new wife is so beautiful, she's a perfect match for you!"
Meng Yuxiu glanced at the tall and long-legged Han Shuo, and a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.
He nodded and said, "Yes, he even got into university."
Upon hearing this, the mother-in-law clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Wow, she's that amazing!"
Meng Yuxiu nodded again, grabbing the brush and scrubbing Han Shuo's underwear.
Seeing this, the mother-in-law smiled and asked again, "Xiao Xiu, are you happy to have a wife?"
Meng Yuxiu smiled subtly and nodded repeatedly.
The mother-in-law was also amused. After chatting for a while, she went back and chatted with the others with a smile.
The newlyweds were doing laundry here, and naturally, the conversation revolved around them.
The mother-in-law clenched her hands and smiled as she said to the others, "I just asked Xiaoxiu if he was happy to get married, and he got embarrassed."
The others laughed, "Of course he's happy! Xiao Xiu didn't used to smile much, but now that he's married, his face is beaming with joy!"
"Ha ha ha ha!"
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