Ch 33: Transmigrated to become a Koi Husband

A drop of ink fell onto the paper, slowly spreading into a small blot.

Qin Zhao lowered his gaze, hiding the hint of a smile in his eyes.

Qin Zhao, being incredibly astute, immediately pieced everything together after Chen Yinan let slip some details.

This little fish wasn’t really angry today; he had started worrying about how to fulfill Qin Zhao’s wish after learning that Qin Zhao didn’t like women or the shuang’er.

Qin Zhao couldn’t help but find it amusing.

He had been concerned that the little fish might be upset due to the villagers’ unnecessary actions, so he specifically went to clear the obstacles for him. But this person… this person had been busy playing matchmaker for him at home.

… This silly fish.

The little fish was completely frightened, nervously pursing his lips, barely daring to look up at Qin Zhao’s expression.

Did Qin Zhao figure something out?

Or did Chen Yinan say something to him earlier?

“Helping your brother find a man? And even asking him directly what type he likes?” The scent of medicinal herbs lingered in the air as Qin Zhao’s voice drifted down from above, “How come I didn’t know you had a brother?”

Jing Li: “…”

He’s not letting that fat guy off the hook!

“I…” Jing Li stammered, “I was just joking with him.”

“Just joking?” Qin Zhao asked softly.

That tone sent chills down Jing Li’s spine. He nodded with difficulty, saying, “Yes, just joking.”

After speaking, he shrank back, looking even smaller than usual, as if desperately trying to hide the fact that he was lying.

How could Qin Zhao bear to give him a hard time? He sighed silently and straightened up, saying, “Never mind.”

He rolled up his sleeves and walked over to the stove, asking, “I bought a chicken for you. Do you want it stewed or roasted?”

“Either is fine,” Jing Li replied, gathering his courage to glance at him. Seeing that Qin Zhao didn’t seem angry, he added quietly, “It’d be best if… half were stewed and half roasted.”

“…” Qin Zhao looked back at him and nodded, “Alright.”

Not long after they finished dinner, it indeed began to rain.

This rain was unlike the gentle spring drizzles; it came down fast and hard, with lightning streaking across the sky, illuminating the gloomy heavens as if it were daylight.

Qin Zhao looked toward the horizon, his expression tinged with concern.

Jing Li happened to catch this look and asked, “Qin Zhao, what are you thinking about?”

“About the rain,” Qin Zhao replied.

Jing Li didn’t understand.

Qin Zhao explained, “Linxi Village is built along the creek. In the three years I’ve been here, the village has suffered from floods twice. Now, with it raining so heavily before June has even arrived, I fear that this year…”

“But isn’t Linxi Village upstream?” Jing Li asked.

“That’s precisely the problem,” Qin Zhao said. “Several villages downstream have been heavily affected by floods in recent years, so the government has raised the dikes and assigned people to monitor the water levels. But Linxi Village isn’t included in that.”

Linxi Village’s elevation is neither high nor low, and although it isn’t in the most flood-prone area, any rise in the creek’s water level would inevitably damage the fields along the banks.

The damage, though significant to the villagers, isn’t enough to draw the attention of the government, which won’t dispatch resources or manpower for relief. However, for the common people, each flood brings devastating losses.

Qin Zhao said, “The first year I came to the village, it was hit by a severe flood. The village chief, out of desperation, went to the county to request aid from the magistrate but was turned away.”

“Isn’t that a dereliction of duty by the government? How can they just ignore it?” Jing Li frowned, angrily exclaiming, “That must be a corrupt official.”

Qin Zhao shook his head without answering.

As the rain intensified, he stood up to close the windows, preventing the heavy rain from blowing inside. “I hope I’m just being overly cautious, and besides…”

He didn’t finish his sentence but instead glanced thoughtfully at the boy sitting at the table.

With the little koi around this year, perhaps they could indeed bring some good fortune and ward off disasters.

Jing Li blinked, asking, “Besides what?”

“Nothing,” Qin Zhao replied, changing the subject. “How’s your practice coming along?”

“I’ve finished writing!” Jing Li proudly handed over the paper he had been working on.

Jing Li had spent the entire evening practicing calligraphy.

Finally finding something to occupy himself with, he had pestered Qin Zhao to teach him many characters, and now several sheets of paper were filled with dense writing.

“Once I get better, I can help you copy books!” Jing Li said earnestly.

Since the house only had one desk, Qin Zhao had been relegated to sitting on the edge of the bed to read. Hearing this, he simply smiled lightly, not taking it too seriously.

The little one was still caught up in the excitement of learning something new, but how long that enthusiasm would last was uncertain.

Seeing Qin Zhao’s reaction, Jing Li emphasized, “I can do it, don’t doubt me.”

“Alright, I believe you.” Qin Zhao considered for a moment before adding, “If you’re serious about practicing your writing, I’ll go to town one day and buy you a ‘Thousand Character Classic.'”

The Thousand Character Classic is a primer used in this era to teach children how to read. Jing Li found the name surprisingly familiar and blinked, saying, “Heaven and earth are mysterious and vast, the universe grand and boundless?”

Qin Zhao paused in his reading, surprised, “You know this too?”

Jing Li flashed him a proud smile.

These were common knowledge in modern times. Although Jing Li hadn’t formally studied classical Chinese, he had no trouble reciting the first few lines.

Qin Zhao was so talented; he must appreciate knowledgeable people.

Jing Li thought this and resolved to work even harder. He lowered his head and continued practicing his writing.

The sound of rain was shut out from the house, and the flickering lamplight cast the shadows of the two onto the window.

A few days later, the house was finally completed.

The same afternoon the house was finished, Fang Tianying’s furniture was delivered to Linxi Village and moved directly into the new home.

—Qin Zhao didn’t even know how this young master got the news.

“This set is made from top-quality elm wood. I personally selected the pieces and supervised the workers for ten days to get it made. Hey, you there, be careful with that! Don’t scratch it!” Fang Tianying said, giving Qin Zhao a rundown of the furniture while directing the workers who were moving it in.

Qin Zhao watched with some helplessness as several sturdy men carried piece after piece of furniture into the house.

He had originally told Fang Tianying they only needed a bed, a wardrobe, and a small table, but this person had gone far beyond that, providing everything from a small desk and a dressing mirror to even a small bed with soft cushions in the outer room!

Once the furniture was arranged, the once simple mud-brick house was instantly transformed into a charming country residence.

“Why did you build such a large pond in this small courtyard? It takes up so much space,” Fang Tianying remarked, as he and Qin Zhao stood on the stone bridge in the courtyard, surveying the surroundings. “The bridge is nice, though. You scholars sure have a sense of elegance. With this bamboo fence and this little bridge, it would look even better if you planted some lotus flowers.”

Qin Zhao shook his head, “I’m not planting lotus flowers in this water.”

To keep lotus flowers alive, the pond’s bottom would need to be covered with a thick layer of silt.

His little fish didn’t like dirt.

Fang Tianying asked, “Then why did you build this pond?”

As soon as he finished speaking, he failed to notice a flash of red darting through the crystal-clear water.

Qin Zhao withdrew his gaze and calmly replied, “To raise fish.”

Fang Tianying: “…”

The matter of the koi had mostly died down in the village, but outside, it was still a hot topic. Lately, Fang Tianying had been preoccupied with the koi situation, so the word “fish” immediately caught his attention.

He gave Qin Zhao a complicated look, wisely deciding to drop the subject.

“Hey, this chair is pretty nice!” Fang Tianying spotted something else interesting and quickly walked off the stone bridge.

Next to the pond, there was a bamboo lounge chair.

The chair was big enough for a person to lie on with room to spare. The bamboo was polished smooth and cool to the touch. Fang Tianying didn’t lie down but stood behind it, giving it a little shake. He then looked at Qin Zhao with a knowing expression. “Brother Qin, you’ve got some taste.”

Qin Zhao: “?”

Fang Tianying glanced around the house, making sure no one was watching, and then lowered his voice. “The latest volume of Spring Boudoir Secrets features a chair just like this. I’ve always wanted to try one out but never had the chance. But wow, I didn’t expect Brother Qin to be into that kind of thing too.”

Qin Zhao: “???”

Qin Zhao replied honestly, “I’ve never seen it. What is it?”

“You haven’t seen it?” Fang Tianying’s eyes widened in surprise. “It’s the most popular story right now. Aren’t you helping the bookstore in town with copying books? How could you not know about this?”

Qin Zhao: “…”

Fang Tianying thought for a moment. “Well, I guess the bookstore wouldn’t hire people to copy such stories.”

Qin Zhao could somewhat guess what Fang Tianying was referring to, feeling a rare moment of embarrassment.

Just then, Fang Tianying’s men finished arranging the furniture inside and came out.

Fang Tianying had other matters to attend to, so he couldn’t stay long. Qin Zhao walked him to the gate. Unable to resist, he explained, “I made that lounge chair because there was leftover bamboo from the fence, not for the reason you’re thinking.”

Fang Tianying waved it off with a smile. “Well, as they say, truth is stranger than fiction. It’s good that nothing went to waste!”

Qin Zhao: “…”

He escorted Fang Tianying to the village entrance and watched as the ox cart departed before turning back to the courtyard.

When he opened the bamboo gate, he saw Jing Li wrapped in the pomegranate-red robe, curled up on the bamboo lounge chair, gently swaying. His bare toes idly played with the pond water.

Seeing him return, Jing Li looked up and curiously asked, “What was Fang Tianying talking about, making the best use of things?”

Qin Zhao: “…”

“Nothing important. Put your clothes on properly and come help me pack up the small house.”

“Got it… Hey, why are your ears red?”

“…They’re not. You’re imagining it.”

…

According to the village customs, when a new house is completed, many neighbors and relatives come by with gifts and stay for a cup of tea to share in the good fortune.

In this remote mountain village, where most farming families are not well-off, they can’t afford more elaborate offerings. In wealthier places, it would be customary to host a banquet for friends and family.

Qin Zhao originally thought he didn’t have many acquaintances in the village, so there wouldn’t be many visitors. However, starting the day after moving in, people came continuously for three days, keeping him too busy to do anything else.

“I can go by myself, don’t worry!” Jing Li said, holding a bucket and standing at the courtyard gate.

Qin Zhao had been swamped these past few days, and with no rain, the vegetable garden hadn’t been tended to for several days and needed weeding and watering.

Qin Zhao initially planned to hire someone to help, but Jing Li volunteered to take on the task himself.

There were still guests inside, so Qin Zhao couldn’t leave for long. Jing Li said, “You should go back inside; don’t keep Uncle Li and the others waiting.”

“But you by yourself…”

“I can really do it.” Jing Li winked at him and added, “When the man of the house is busy, isn’t it the husband’s role to take care of these things?”

Qin Zhao was momentarily stunned.

“I want to help you out sometimes too.” Jing Li insisted, pushing Qin Zhao back inside. “Go back to the house; I’ll be back after I water the plants. I’d like to have some egg pancakes for dinner!”

With that, he picked up the bucket and ran off along the path.

In truth, Jing Li didn’t know much about farming.

Before this, he had no experience living in the countryside, and it was only recently that he began to learn intentionally.

He wanted to do more for Qin Zhao.

He wanted to help relieve some of the pressure on Qin Zhao, so he could have more time to do the things he wanted.

This was the conclusion Jing Li had reached after many days of reflection.

All along, Qin Zhao had been too good to him.

He never let Jing Li worry about food or clothing and even built such a large pond for him, always accommodating him in every aspect of life. But the more Qin Zhao did this, the more Jing Li felt that Qin Zhao only liked him as a pet.

If he could help Qin Zhao more, Qin Zhao might not just see him as a pet fish.

Maybe… Qin Zhao would like him a little more.

With this in mind, Jing Li quickly reached the field outside the village, but someone was already there.

It was late summer, and the evening light still lingered, casting a red glow over the countryside.

The field Qin Zhao had rented was flourishing, with the seedlings lush and green. In the middle of the field, a man dressed as a farmer, wearing a straw hat, was bending over, doing something with his back to Jing Li.

Jing Li frowned slightly, a bad feeling rising in his chest. “Who are you?”

The man jumped in fright at his voice, straightened up, and bolted toward the edge of the village.

It was only then that Jing Li saw what the man had in his hand.

It was a few seedlings.

The man had been pulling up the seedlings from Qin Zhao’s vegetable field.