Ch 33: Guide to Feeding a Villainous Husband

The Joy of New Year’s Eve

As the old year gave way to the new, the sound of firecrackers echoed across the land.

Furong Alley was no exception.

The booming sounds mixed with the laughter of children and adults alike, forcing the two on the bed to part, both panting as they hastily fixed their disheveled clothes and hair.

Qin Xia managed well enough, but Yu Jiuque was another story—his hair was in disarray, and his lips were red as cherries from being pressed too hard.

His collar, with several buttons undone, revealed two new marks on the side of his neck. Whether it was from forgetting to breathe during the kissing or something else, Yu Jiuque now felt a bit dizzy, struggling to button up his clothes.

A pair of slender, well-proportioned hands reached out from the side, gently picking up the small fabric buttons on his front.

“Let me help you.”

This made Yu Jiuque’s face turn as red as a cherry.

After Qin Xia helped him straighten his clothes, he used his fingers to smooth Yu Jiuque’s hair, filling the air with the clean scent of soapwort.

Midway through, he couldn’t resist leaning in again to peck the young man on the cheek, then laughed, “Weren’t you quite bold earlier? Why are you so shy now?”

Yu Jiuque fanned himself, hoping to cool his burning cheeks, averting his gaze as he muttered, “It’s different now.”

Who would have thought that the usually courteous Qin Xia would be so “assertive” once he figured things out?

He had no chance to fight back, being directly pinned to the bed, completely at Qin Xia’s mercy.

Even though they had only kissed and cuddled without doing anything “inappropriate,” it was still enough to leave him overwhelmed.

Thinking about this, he couldn’t help but turn to study Qin Xia.

Qin Xia noticed him staring and asked, puzzled, “What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”

Yu Jiuque coughed twice, as if to clear his throat.

“Nothing.”

He had been wondering why Qin Xia seemed so skilled in matters of intimacy. Could it be that during his wilder days, he had flirted with other young Ge’ers or women?

But then he thought, why bother with such thoughts? He trusted Qin Xia’s character, and that was enough.

Qin Xia assumed Yu Jiuque was still feeling shy. After the latter finished fixing his hair, Qin Xia grabbed his outer coat and put it on, saying, “I’ll go boil the dumplings and set off the firecrackers. Do you want to come with me?”

This was a question that hardly needed asking—Qin Xia might be willing to be apart, but Yu Jiuque certainly wasn’t.

“I’ll go with you.”

The two of them donned their cotton coats and, passing through the main hall, noticed that Da Fu, nestled in its new cotton bed in the corner, had been woken by the firecracker noise. As soon as it saw its owners, it chirped and rushed over, rubbing against Qin Xia’s and Yu Jiuque’s pants.

Yu Jiuque knelt to hug it.

“We can’t take you out right now; we’re going to set off firecrackers.”

Da Fu poked its head through Yu Jiuque’s loose hair, resting it on his shoulder, looking like it had no intention of letting go.

Yu Jiuque, worried that the firecrackers might scare it, reluctantly pulled it off.

“Be good and wait for us inside.”

Stepping outside again, they found the snow had lessened but still hadn’t stopped.

A layer of white covered the ground, and with the occasional flash from firecrackers, it felt almost as if dawn had already arrived.

“If it keeps snowing through the night, the snow will be even thicker tomorrow. We can build a snowman in the courtyard,” Qin Xia said.

Although the city where Qin Xia lived in his previous life was also in the north, it didn’t snow heavily every year.

This snowfall in Qinan County tonight was something he found quite fascinating.

Yu Jiuque exhaled a breath of white air, a smile touching the corners of his eyes.

He wasn’t sure if he had ever had a companion in the past with whom he could build a snowman on a snowy day. Given the unpleasantness that his dreams often revealed, it was likely that he hadn’t. This made him cherish Qin Xia’s presence even more.

After retrieving a long bamboo pole from the woodshed, they attached the red firecrackers to it and opened the door. The ground in the alley had already been cleared, with red paper scraps piled up—no doubt the work of the Wei family, who had come out earlier than they did.

Qin Xia raised the bamboo pole. As the old saying goes, the longer the pole, the better the luck for the coming year, so the old bamboo pole they were using was indeed quite long.

Once they found the right spot, Yu Jiuque, holding a long incense stick, reached out and lit the fuse. The sparks crackled, and he quickly covered his ears and ran back to Qin Xia’s side. After a moment, realizing that Qin Xia’s hands were occupied holding the bamboo pole, Yu Jiuque reached up to cover Qin Xia’s ears instead.

Qin Xia couldn’t help but smile at his antics.

The long string of firecrackers hung from the top of the bamboo pole all the way to the ground, and they went off for what seemed like ages before finally stopping. But as soon as theirs finished, other families’ firecrackers started up.

This was the nature of New Year’s Eve—the intermittent noise would go on for nearly an hour, making it impossible to sleep.

When the firecrackers were done, Qin Xia put away the bamboo pole. Yu Jiuque’s ears were buzzing from the noise, but Qin Xia’s large hand covered his icy ear, warming it.

“Come on, let’s go cook the dumplings,” Qin Xia said.

The plump dumplings, like little ingots, floated on the surface of the boiling water once they were cooked.

Fifty dumplings filled three large plates, and they also served two big bowls of dumpling soup, not forgetting the pickled garlic they had started on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.

“I wonder how it turned out,” Yu Jiuque said as he carefully brought out the jar, opening it with anticipation.

With Qin Xia around, the pickled garlic was, of course, perfectly prepared. The cloves had turned a bright green, and the vinegar they were soaked in had absorbed the garlic’s aroma, making it the perfect accompaniment to the dumplings.

As they brought the food back to the room, the warmth of the steam immediately made them relax. Da Fu wandered around under the table, seemingly confused about why its owners were eating another meal after they had just finished one.

For Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque, this meal of dumplings felt like a turning point.

When they were making the dumplings, they were both full of their own thoughts, but by the time they were eating them, the unspoken tension between them had already been broken.

No matter whether the dumplings were filled with three different fresh ingredients or eight, they all tasted a little sweeter tonight.

And some of the dumplings were literally “sweet.”

“I got one with a date in it,” Yu Jiuque said, showing Qin Xia the half-eaten dumpling, revealing the golden jujube inside.

A little while later, Qin Xia found one with a peanut inside.

After that, they started picking out dumplings from the plates, trying to guess which ones had a hidden “prize” inside, taking bites to see if they guessed correctly.

After finishing three plates of dumplings and a bowl of soup, Yu Jiuque let out a rare burp, feeling content. He patted his slightly rounded belly and thought about the next day when they had plans to visit Wenhua Temple with the Wei couple to pray for a child.

He couldn’t help but wonder when he would finally have a child with Qin Xia in his belly, instead of just various foods. The thought made him realize just how long and challenging the journey ahead would be.

…

The Next Day, at the Fifth Watch.

As the old saying goes, “One night sees the passing of two years; the fifth watch divides the years.”

According to tradition, the fifth watch on New Year’s Day marks the end of staying up late on New Year’s Eve.

That being said, not everyone—especially children—actually stays up until this hour. Most would sleep soundly, even if they went to bed fully dressed.

Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque were no different.

But before they went to bed, they had done something else.

Qin Xia might have been fine, but Yu Jiuque found it hard to look at their hands directly.

After last night, he finally fully understood what Cao Ashuang had been hinting at in those private conversations.

All that can be said is…

Some things truly live up to the phrase “the joy of the boudoir.”

That word “joy” is quite fitting.

Yu Jiuque felt his cheeks burning all the way from last night until this morning, as if his face was about to turn as hot as the fire-heated brick bed beneath him.

Just as he was about to get up, the person next to him pulled him back down.

“Why not sleep a little longer? There’s no one else at home, and we don’t need to get up early.”

Yu Jiuque turned over in Qin Xia’s arms. “I’m not sleepy.”

He spoke honestly, “I see that it’s quite bright outside. I want to go and see the snow.”

As soon as Qin Xia heard the word “snow,” any lingering sleepiness vanished. He listened carefully and, hearing no wind outside, figured it probably wasn’t that cold. “Then let’s put on our new clothes and go build a snowman.”

The new clothes they had bought before the New Year were meant to be worn on New Year’s Day.

Besides the cotton-padded clothes they bought from the shop, Fang Rong had also made them cotton shoes, which had been delivered long ago.

Since they were meant to be worn today, they had taken them out of the chest yesterday and placed them on the warm brick bed. Yu Jiuque sat up and reached under his pillow.

He had a habit of keeping a wooden hairpin under his pillow that wouldn’t easily break if pressed, so he could quickly pin up his hair in the morning for dressing and washing.

But today, when he reached out, he found something else.

“What’s this…”

His fingertips touched something cold and familiar. When he pulled it out, wasn’t it just a string of copper coins like the hundreds he handled daily at the market?

The difference was that this string of coins was threaded together with a brand-new red cord, tied off at the end with a somewhat clumsily made Ruyi knot.

“It’s your New Year’s money.”

Qin Xia had been waiting for this moment all night. To ensure Yu Jiuque wouldn’t discover it early, he had waited until the little husband was groggy from being worn out the night before to sneak it under the pillow.

Yu Jiuque gripped the string of coins tightly, feeling a bit guilty. “But I didn’t prepare anything for you.”

Qin Xia chuckled, “You weren’t supposed to. When have husband and wife ever exchanged New Year’s money? I gave it to you because I’m older than you. I specifically went to the bank to exchange for new coins, sixty-six in total, symbolizing ‘double six, great success.’ You can spend them or keep them—it’s up to you.”

As Qin Xia spoke, Yu Jiuque noticed that the coins in his hand were indeed new and shiny, unlike the worn coins they usually collected, many of which had weathered inscriptions and grime in the crevices.

“I wouldn’t want to spend them.”

He lovingly turned the small string of coins over and over, feeling its weight before placing it back under the pillow.

“Maybe if I keep it here… I won’t have nightmares anymore.”

Qin Xia took his hand and gently kissed it.

“Alright.”

He also hoped that this New Year’s money would truly live up to its name, warding off evil and ensuring safety.

The courtyard was draped in a blanket of snow.

The few trees that had shed their leaves in the winter were now covered in glistening white snow, and the ground sank underfoot with every step.

Worried that Yu Jiuque might catch a cold, Qin Xia told him to stay indoors for a bit, suggesting that he play with a handful of snow near the doorstep first and come out after freshening up.

But when Qin Xia returned after boiling some water, Yu Jiuque had already seriously lined up a row of small snowballs.

Qin Xia smiled and carefully avoided the pile of snowballs as he walked over, calling Yu Jiuque to brush his teeth and wash his face.

“We’re almost out of tooth powder; I forgot to buy some before the New Year,” Qin Xia remarked a moment later, shaking the nearly empty tin of tooth powder.

With the toothbrush in his mouth, Yu Jiuque mumbled, “We’ll buy it today.”

Qin Xia understood him just fine and nodded, “After we finish praying, we can take a stroll through the temple fair.”

Tooth powder at that time often contained several medicinal ingredients, leaving a fragrant and slightly spicy taste in the mouth after rinsing. But after so long, Qin Xia had grown used to it.

Since they had gotten up early and hadn’t been awake for long since their last meal, neither of them was hungry. They each grabbed a piece of pastry from Ganyuan Zhai to tide them over, then eagerly headed out to play in the snow.

With a shovel at home, Qin Xia picked a spot and first shoveled snow to build the body of a snowman. Then, together with Yu Jiuque, they rolled a head for the snowman.

They went back inside to pick out two round coals from the brazier to use as eyes, stuck in a carrot for a nose, and added two sticks for arms. Soon, a silly-looking snowman was completed.

Even after that, they were still not satisfied.

Using the small snowballs that Yu Jiuque had made earlier, they stacked them one on top of another, using leftover orange peels for hats and date pits for noses, creating five small snowmen standing in a row as if they were holding hands.

Qin Xia stepped back with satisfaction, admiring their work from different angles.

Yu Jiuque joined in, and as he looked, he began to laugh.

The sunlight reflecting off the snow was enough to dispel any lingering gloom from their hearts.

It’s customary to offer incense early on the first day of the New Year, so just after the Hour of the Dragon (7-9 AM), the couple living across the street joined them.

After exchanging greetings, Cao Ashuang warmly linked arms with Yu Jiuque.

“Jiu Ge’er, is this your new coat? It’s so beautiful, and it makes you look as white as the snow!”

Instinctively, Yu Jiuque tugged at the hem of his coat and smiled softly, “It’s just a simple outfit. Your yellow-green one is more unique.”

Cao Ashuang’s dimples deepened as she smiled, quickly glancing at Wei Chao before whispering, “I said this color would show dirt easily, but he insisted on buying it for me. He even got scolded by his mother-in-law for it. But despite her words, she still helped me line it with cotton and reminded me to wear arm covers when working.”

Wei Chao doted on his wife, and Ge Xiuhong doted on her daughter-in-law.

In the past, Yu Jiuque might have felt a twinge of envy at the open affection between Cao Ashuang and Wei Chao.

But after last night…

He no longer needed to envy anyone.

As they walked, they had already covered several yards.

Qin Xia and Wei Chao, wanting to give the two behind them some space to chat, purposely walked ahead. However, they couldn’t help but glance back now and then, concerned about the pair following them.

Each time their eyes met, they would see Yu Jiuque and Cao Ashuang with their heads close together, chatting like two little sparrows, and then laughing as they glanced in their direction, leaving Qin Xia and Wei Chao completely puzzled.

Unable to figure it out, they decided not to bother. The two men exchanged a helpless smile and continued their previous conversation.

Wei Chao wanted to order a batch of marinated duck goods from Qin Xia to present as gifts to the purchasing manager and two chefs at the Song family residence and to keep some for his own family to enjoy.

“My little brother is always out on the road for months at a time. Sure, he’s gaining experience, but there’s nothing like the comfort of home after enduring rough meals and harsh conditions. The three of us rarely get to have a drink together, and when we do, we start craving something tasty! Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother you with this during the New Year.”

Given the Song family’s connections, they were used to the best, and ordinary gifts wouldn’t impress them. But Qin Xia’s culinary skills were exceptional, making his dishes highly sought after, even though they were hard to come by.

Though the ingredients were just duck parts, Wei Chao believed they would make a fine gift, something that wouldn’t diminish in value when presented.

Qin Xia already knew how much duck Wei Chao wanted—not a small amount—and the price was clear and fair.

He had planned to make another batch of marinated duck to give to friends and satisfy cravings, so this worked out perfectly. Whether he made one pot or two, it was all the same effort, and he could make a little money on the side. Why not?

“We’ll be busy with New Year’s visits today and tomorrow, but we’ll have time on the third and fourth,” Qin Xia said.

He and Wei Chao agreed that Wei Chao would bring the fresh duck goods on the third, and Qin Xia would prepare them by the evening of the fourth. The ducks would marinate overnight, ready to be given as gifts on the fifth, without delaying anything.

As they turned out of the alley and onto the main road, the two men instinctively looked for their partners.

With more people and carriages on the road, and despite the street workers having cleared some of the snow, there was still a risk of slipping.

Cao Ashuang clung tightly to Wei Chao’s arm, and Qin Xia similarly motioned for Yu Jiuque to stay close to him.

Slowly, they helped each other along and finally reached the vicinity of Wenhua Temple after more than two quarters of an hour.

After climbing the steps and reaching the temple gates, they found the place crowded with worshippers, as bustling as the fair in the town below.

Wei Chao and Cao Ashuang, familiar with the temple, led Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque to the incense stall.

For two coins, they could buy three sticks of incense. After making offerings along the temple’s central axis, they would place the incense sticks in the censer in front of the main hall. Those wishing to make additional offerings inside the hall would need to purchase more incense.

Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque each bought three sticks of incense and followed Wei Chao and Cao Ashuang into the temple.

Although Wenhua Temple wasn’t an ancient temple, it did have a few old trees that had stood since the temple was first built.

In the back courtyard were two ancient ginkgo trees, while in the front courtyard stood two towering ancient pines, their green needles strong even in the depths of winter.

The group admired the scenery as they walked along.

“I heard that when asking for blessings, you should silently recite your name and birth date.”

Cao Ashuang was quietly sharing this tip with Yu Jiuque. Qin Xia overheard and couldn’t help but think that some things remain the same across time.

However, as soon as Cao Ashuang finished speaking, she realized her slip of the tongue. Yu Jiuque didn’t even know his real name, let alone his birth date.

She immediately covered her mouth with her hand, feeling regretful. “Jiu Ge’er, I’m just rambling. Please don’t take it to heart!”

Yu Jiuque smiled gently. “It’s okay. I’m already here. Buddha and Bodhisattva above must know my origins better than I do. Sincerity is all that matters.”

His words only made Cao Ashuang feel more foolish about her comment. Embarrassed, she quickly used the excuse of wanting to pray for a child and hurriedly pulled Wei Chao towards the Guanyin Hall.

She moved so quickly that Yu Jiuque couldn’t stop her, leaving him to sigh as Qin Xia approached him.

“I truly didn’t think much of it. I hope Sister Shuang doesn’t either.”

Qin Xia replied, “You know her personality. By the time we go down the mountain and buy some snacks, she’ll have forgotten all about it.”

Yu Jiuque chuckled, “That’s probably true.”

Although the comment was made offhandedly and Yu Jiuque didn’t mind, Qin Xia, who heard it, was more thoughtful about it.

Yu Jiuque might not know his birth date, but Qin Xia certainly knew his full name.

Holding three incense sticks, Qin Xia bowed and made a simple yet heartfelt wish for the young man beside him.

He wished that in the coming year, everything would go smoothly for him, free of illness and trouble.

After leaving the Great Buddha Hall, they found themselves near the Guanyin Hall.

The people coming and going there were clearly all couples, whether husband and wife or husband and husband, seeking the well-known blessings for children.

“Shall we go over?” Qin Xia asked Yu Jiuque.

Yu Jiuque hesitated for a moment before saying, “Maybe we should wait.”

Since they hadn’t formally consummated their marriage, praying for a child might even puzzle the Bodhisattva.

Qin Xia smiled slightly.

“Then let’s skip it for now.”

In Qin Xia’s eyes, regardless of whether there really were gods and buddhas watching over them, health and safety were far more important than carrying on the family line.

Of course, not going to pray for a child was something they shouldn’t mention to Wei Chao and Cao Ashuang.

They reunited under the ancient pine tree at the mountain gate. When Cao Ashuang saw Yu Jiuque, she was still somewhat reserved, not as natural as before.

After a moment, she pulled something out of her sleeve, lowered her head, and walked over to Yu Jiuque, handing it to him.

“Jiu Ge’er, this is a talisman I got for you, to protect your health. I really apologize for my earlier thoughtless words.”

Yu Jiuque hadn’t expected Cao Ashuang to prepare an apology gift. He sincerely said, “We’ve known each other for some time now, you should know I’m not someone who holds grudges.”

At this point, Wei Chao chimed in, “Jiu Ge’er, just accept it. Otherwise, Ashuang might not sleep well tonight. She was just telling me how much she regretted it, she even stomped her foot in frustration!”

With the conversation reaching this point, and it being the first day of the New Year, it would be inappropriate not to accept it. Yu Jiuque glanced at Qin Xia, who subtly blinked in encouragement, prompting Yu Jiuque to reach out and accept the talisman.

It was a small item, not particularly elaborate, but it was likely infused with the scent of sandalwood from the temple, bringing a sense of calm when held.

“Thank you for your kind gesture. Let’s not bring up the earlier matter again.”

He carefully placed the talisman close to him, and Cao Ashuang, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders, breathed a sigh of relief.

By the time they reached the foot of the mountain, the two had returned to their earlier closeness.

“Sweet candied hawthorns! Big and sweet candied hawthorns!”

In the bustling temple fair, an old man pushing a cart was loudly hawking his wares. Observant passersby would notice that besides hawthorn skewers, his cart also carried something dark and unfamiliar.

Curious onlookers would ask, and the old man would cheerfully reply, “These are candied yam bean skewers, just two coins a stick! Soft on the inside, sweet on the outside. For those who don’t like the sourness of hawthorns, give these a try!”

Candied yam beans were unique to Qinan County. However, everyone knew yam beans were cheap, and on their own, they could be a bit scratchy to the throat. What would they taste like covered in sugar?

It was hard to imagine, but some people, wanting to try something new for the New Year, or enticed by the promise of a sweet alternative to the sour hawthorns, thought, “It’s just two coins, why not? With a sugar coating, how bad could it be?”

So, one by one, people bought the skewers, and as it turned out, those who tried them said they were delicious!

The old man grinned from ear to ear, feeling his increasingly heavy money pouch, and continued pushing his cart. As he walked, he suddenly spotted two familiar faces.

He thought he might be mistaken, so he squinted for a closer look. Upon closer inspection, he was certain—he hadn’t been wrong!

The young gentleman who had given him advice before, along with his handsome and tall husband, stood out like phoenixes in a flock of chickens.

He quickly raised his hand and called out, “Young gentleman ahead, do you still remember this old man?”