Ch 47: Guide to Feeding a Villainous Husband

Yu Jiuque set down the shoe he was working on.

Since spring had arrived, the cotton shoes Fang Rong made were no longer suitable, so Qin Xia had switched back to his old cloth shoes. Although it was normal for a pair of shoes in an ordinary household to last at least a year, Yu Jiuque had already started preparing to make two new pairs for Qin Xia.

However, he was often too busy at the restaurant during the day, only able to stitch a few times before being interrupted. At night, when they returned home, Qin Xia would always say the oil lamp was too dim and that sewing in such light would strain his eyes, allowing him to work for no more than half an hour.

His fingertips were slightly red from the thread cutting into them. He pushed the needlework basket further into the table, glanced at the contract of indenture, then looked at Qin Xia.

“What does my husband mean by this?”

Qin Xia smoothed out the piece of paper.

To be honest, after traveling from the modern world to this one, what he found hardest to adjust to was this old system where people could be sold into slavery.

He had long wanted to take this contract to the local government office to have it annulled, but every time he brought it up, Yu Jiuque would dodge the topic with vague words. This was something that couldn’t be done alone, and one delay led to another until it had dragged on to this day.

Logically, no one would willingly live with a lowly status. Being able to regain a free status was something most people would eagerly hope for.

So, this was the first time he wanted to clearly and explicitly ask Yu Jiuque what he thought.

“Tomorrow, when we go to the employment agency, we’ll also go to the government office to change your status.”

Yu Jiuque rubbed the thimble on his thumb.

“I was bought by my husband, and since we are going to spend our lives together, it doesn’t really matter whether this contract is annulled or not.”

Logically, the days of uncertainty and anxiety should have been over; they had become a true couple in every sense, having shared everything intimately.

But Yu Jiuque knew that despite their seemingly open and honest conversations, there were still lies he had woven into them.

He wasn’t just some random person from Qinan County; there must be another name, a more significant one that he hadn’t yet remembered.

His neatly written characters and his ability to manage accounts and documents came from training in the imperial court’s inner academy.

Although his memories were still muddled, he had at least figured out one thing:

He had likely been an inner attendant in the palace before. For some unknown reason, he was injured, lost his memory, and ended up here, mistakenly becoming Qin Xia’s husband.

This might not sound like a good thing, but to him, it was an immense stroke of fortune.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that as long as the contract of indenture remained unbroken, he would always be the “Ah Jiu” whom Qin Xia had purchased.

This was his selfishness and stubbornness.

In the lamplight, Yu Jiuque’s profile appeared both familiar and somewhat unfamiliar, with a hint of a new, unrecognizable quality.

Qin Xia’s suspicions began to surface again.

After taking medicine for so long, Yu Jiuque’s hidden injuries had mostly healed, leaving only some lingering issues like blood deficiency and susceptibility to cold.

But as for his memory, had it really not returned at all?

Qin Xia lightly tapped the name “Ah Jiu” on the contract with his finger.

He didn’t want to probe Yu Jiuque about it, and he understood the concerns his husband might have if his memory had returned but he didn’t want to share the truth.

He just hoped that his husband wouldn’t keep too much bottled up inside, as that would only further strain his health.

As for the contract of indenture…

Changing it was definitely necessary. Now that their relationship had deepened, Qin Xia could offer a reason that was impossible to refuse.

“The laws of Dayong state that those of lowly status cannot take the imperial examinations or enter officialdom,” Qin Xia said, glancing at Yu Jiuque, whose face was full of surprise. He couldn’t help but smile slightly.

“Of course, we don’t have children yet, and even if we did, there’s no guarantee they would be sons. But… if that were the case, it wouldn’t be good for the child’s future to be hindered by this.”

He looked at his husband with genuine sincerity.

Yu Jiuque: …

He hadn’t expected Qin Xia to use this reason.

This was his first time being “sold,” and with this reminder, he suddenly realized that there indeed was such a law in this dynasty.

“Well… then let’s change it,” he agreed, feeling he couldn’t think of any other reason to refuse, especially with talk of a potential “son,” who wasn’t even a remote possibility yet.

As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Xia’s arms encircled him from behind, pulling him into an embrace.

At first, Yu Jiuque tensed, but he soon relaxed into Qin Xia’s arms, leaning fully against him.

Although his husband was busy in the kitchen all day, the first thing he did upon returning home was bathe and change clothes, so he carried only a faint scent of soap.

Qin Xia rested his chin on Yu Jiuque’s shoulder, their hair brushing together, creating a moment of intimate closeness before he suddenly asked, “Ah Jiu, why are you reluctant to change your status?”

Yu Jiuque’s heart skipped a beat.

He quickly reviewed his actions, reassuring himself that he hadn’t given anything away before replying softly, “It’s just me being stubborn.”

Qin Xia chuckled, gently pinching his pale, jade-like earlobe.

Nowadays, it was common for both women and ger to have pierced ears, but Yu Jiuque’s earlobe had only a barely noticeable dot.

According to him, it had been pierced when he was young, but after a life of hardship without any jewelry to wear, it had closed up over time. And since palace eunuchs didn’t adorn themselves with such things, he never bothered with it again.

“Are you afraid I might abandon you, Ah Jiu?”

Yu Jiuque’s heart began to race even faster.

“How could I think that? I know you’re not that kind of person.”

But he had been trying to escape his memories, unwilling to face the truth.

Qin Xia, however, had begun to sense a part of Yu Jiuque’s inner thoughts.

He pulled him closer into his embrace.

“Tomorrow, we’ll first go and change your status, then we’ll visit the employment agency, and after that…”

Qin Xia suddenly had an idea.

“And after that?” Yu Jiuque couldn’t help but ask.

“You’ll find out then,” Qin Xia replied, deliberately keeping it a secret to maintain the surprise.

Yu Jiuque didn’t press further, letting Qin Xia turn him around in his embrace.

The result was that the already slow progress on the shoe he was making would be delayed yet again.

Before he knew it, he felt a lightness all over, and when he came to his senses, he found himself pinned down on the bed.

A night of rain on the sea of flowers…

…

The next morning, before the restaurant opened, Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque went to the county office together.

The household registration office managed land, household registration, taxes, finances, and other miscellaneous affairs, with a group of clerks busy all day long.

They stood in line for more than a quarter of an hour before it was their turn.

Qin Xia took out the indenture and presented it, giving the required ten wen for ink fees as per the rules. He briefly explained their purpose.

Yu Jiuque was his bought husband, not a servant, so they not only needed to change his status but also have Yu Jiuque’s name officially added to the Qin family’s household register, making him liable for household taxes going forward.

The clerk glanced at the indenture, verified the official seal and the stamp from the employment agency, and without much surprise, began processing the paperwork.

It didn’t take long before a ledger was pushed toward them.

“Can you read? If you can, sign and stamp; if not, just stamp.”

Learning that both of them were literate, the clerk pointed to a somewhat frayed brush, clearly not interested in saying more than necessary.

Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque each signed their names. Qin Xia noticed that Yu Jiuque deliberately changed his handwriting, making his two-character name look awkward and poorly written, as if the pen were hard to handle.

After they both pressed their thumbprints, the clerk tore up the indenture in front of them, tossed it aside, took a sip of cold tea, and waved them off.

“It’s done, next.”

As they left, Qin Xia glanced back. Qinan County was large, with more towns than you could count on both hands and countless scattered villages. In just a short time, the line behind them had grown even longer, winding like a snake.

Meanwhile, there was only one lonely clerk in the household registration office, which explained why he wore such a grim expression. Clearly, “frontline service” in Dayong wasn’t an easy job.

As they exited the county office, Qin Xia took Yu Jiuque’s hand again.

“I heard Ganyuan Zhai has some new pastries. Let’s take a detour on the way back and buy a box to try.”

Yu Jiuque followed closely beside Qin Xia as they descended the steps, listening as his husband listed the exact number of each pastry to buy. At the same time, he wondered silently: What could the surprise Qin Xia didn’t mention be?

He didn’t have time to ask more. After a busy morning at the restaurant, they headed to the employment agency in the afternoon.

Before leaving, Yu Jiuque noticed Qin Xia speaking to Fang Rong, who nodded and then smiled in his direction.

Yu Jiuque’s instincts told him this might have something to do with him, but since he couldn’t guess, he decided not to think too hard about it. If his husband wanted to keep it a secret, he would wait patiently.

In the city, they arrived at the Shao family employment agency.

This agency was one of the larger ones in town, handling various types of business.

In the afternoon, the place was even busier, with people coming and going. Some came to buy servants or hire porters, others were there to trade goods or act as intermediaries, and some simply sat at the entrance, hoping to pick up odd jobs, craning their necks to look for employers.

All kinds of people gathered there, and Qin Xia, protecting Yu Jiuque, stepped over the threshold of the employment agency.

A broker came out to greet them and asked about their needs. Upon learning that they were looking to hire a worker for their restaurant, the broker inquired further, asking whether they wanted a man, a woman, or a ge’er, if they had any age requirements, and what skills were necessary.

For instance, if they needed someone to work at the front of the restaurant, running tables and serving food, they would need someone with a smooth tongue and a decent appearance. If they were looking for someone to work in the kitchen, the candidate would need to know some basic cooking skills. And if they were looking for a rough servant or a maid, someone strong and reliable would suffice.

Qin Xia wanted someone to assist in the kitchen, but the person didn’t need to be exceptionally skilled—just able to help with chopping and preparing ingredients at first. After understanding their needs, the broker pulled out a notebook, flipped through it, and then led them inside to look at potential candidates.

After looking around, they settled on a ge’er named Zhuang Xing, who was twenty-one years old. He had no family and no property in Qinan County, making a living by working as a servant for others.

He wasn’t particularly striking in appearance, with a dark birthmark near his temple that stood out even though it was partially covered by his hair. At his age, most ge’er would have been married, but he was still alone, possibly because of the birthmark.

His hands showed signs of someone used to hard work, and he himself said he wasn’t afraid of hard labor.

“I’m plain-looking and not fit for a proper household; no one would want to take me as a husband. I’ve come to terms with this and only hope to learn a trade that can support me. Even if you don’t pay me, as long as I have food and shelter, I’m willing to work.”

He spoke earnestly, sounding like someone who understood his situation. The broker confirmed that he had some basic cooking skills.

“This ge’er used to work as a kitchen servant in the Liu household, doing tasks like pounding rice, tending the fire, and chopping vegetables. But when the Liu family, who were related to a disgraced official, were implicated, many of their servants were sold off, and he was one of them.”

Given this, Qin Xia asked the broker to fetch a cutting board, knife, and a withered radish from the agency’s kitchen. The radish wasn’t good for eating but would do for testing his knife skills.

“Cut half into thin slices and the other half into shreds.”

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Xing got to work. He quickly peeled the radish and began slicing it.

While his movements weren’t particularly skilled, and the slices and shreds he produced weren’t as fine as what Zheng Xinghua could do, they were decent enough for a beginner.

After consulting with Yu Jiuque, who nodded in agreement, Qin Xia told the broker, “We’ll take him.”

Zhuang Xing’s face lit up with joy, and he bowed deeply to both Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque.

They brought Zhuang Xing back to the restaurant, where he was introduced to everyone.

Standing in front of the group, Qin Xia said, “Given the size of the restaurant, we probably won’t be hiring anyone else for a while. So, I hope everyone continues to do their jobs well. My husband and I will make sure you’re all treated fairly.”

The four of them, including Zhuang Xing, responded in unison.

From that day on, Zhuang Xing moved into the remaining room in the back of the courtyard.

He only brought a small bundle with him, containing two sets of clothes and some personal items.

Qin Xia signed a contract with him, offering him thirty wen per day for the first month. If both parties were satisfied, the pay would increase to fifty wen per day.

Even thirty wen exceeded Zhuang Xing’s expectations. When he worked as a servant in the Liu household, he only earned three qian a month, which averaged out to about ten wen per day.

Many large households appeared well-off from the outside but were often struggling financially on the inside, and the servants were the first to feel the pinch.

Zhuang Xing felt he had found the right place and worked diligently over the next two days.

His hard work even made Qiu Chuan feel a sense of competition, and he redoubled his efforts to attract customers, shouting so much that he nearly lost his voice. Qin Xia had to go to the pharmacy to get him some loquat to soothe his throat, advising him to take it easy and not damage his voice.

The boy was nearing the age when his voice would start to change, and Qin Xia didn’t want him to end up with a hoarse voice.

With the team complete, Qin Xia finally felt some relief.

However, sometimes when people suddenly find themselves with free time after being constantly busy, illness can creep in.

Qin Xia lay on the couch, complaining of a heavy head, occasionally coughing.

Yu Jiuque placed his forehead against Qin Xia’s, mumbling, “Seems like there’s no fever.”

Then he added, “I should still get a doctor to come and check on you, husband. It’s probably because you were too exhausted recently, and now your body has weakened, making you catch a cold.”

“No need,” Qin Xia replied. “I know what it’s like when I catch a cold. It hasn’t reached that point yet. A good sleep will do the trick. Don’t call the doctor—I don’t like drinking bitter medicine.”

He turned over and pulled the blanket up.

Yu Jiuque couldn’t help but laugh, “Husband, you’re being so stubborn. This isn’t like when you were coaxing me to take medicine.”

Qin Xia coughed a couple of times, looking somewhat guilty. “It’s just that if I can avoid it, I’d rather not take it.”

Seeing Qin Xia insist and after confirming that he indeed didn’t have a fever, Yu Jiuque temporarily set aside the idea of calling a doctor. He went to the kitchen, brewed some ginger tea to help Qin Xia sweat and dispel the cold, and then planned to go to the restaurant himself.

“Sister Zheng can handle the simple stir-fries, and as for the other dishes, we can just say that without you, there’s no one else who can cook them. I’ll close up the shop early and come back to keep you company.”

Qin Xia nodded, seemingly wanting to be close to Yu Jiuque but hesitating out of concern for spreading his illness.

Yu Jiuque stayed with his husband in bed for a while longer before getting up, changing into his outdoor clothes, and heading out alone.

On his way, he kept worrying about Qin Xia, his mind full of concern. Little did he know that shortly after he left, the sickly Qin Xia suddenly leaped out of bed like a carp flipping in water.

It was obvious to anyone that Yu Jiuque was distracted today. His movements with the abacus were slower than usual, and at one point, he even gave the wrong change. Luckily, the customer was a regular, and upon hearing that Qin Xia was sick at home, they joked about how the young couple was so affectionate that they couldn’t bear to be apart for even half a day. The customer wasn’t upset, but Yu Jiuque still felt guilty and insisted on offering two complimentary dishes the next time the customer came by.

Despite closing the account books, Yu Jiuque’s thoughts were still with his husband at home. On one hand, he reasoned that Qin Xia was strong and probably wouldn’t fall seriously ill; on the other hand, he worried about what would happen if Qin Xia developed a fever while he wasn’t home.

The thought of only having Da Fu the goose at home, and how it couldn’t possibly bring water to Qin Xia, only made him more anxious.

As these thoughts spun in his mind, he found it even harder to sit still.

By mid-afternoon, only a couple of tables remained, with customers leisurely enjoying their food and conversation. Yu Jiuque assessed the situation and decided that it wouldn’t cause any issues if he left early to check on Qin Xia at home. He called Qiu Chuan over.

“Xiaochuan, I’m worried about your boss’s health, so I’m thinking of heading home early today. You and your sister can watch over the counter. Once those two tables are done and have paid, just close up the shop. You’ve both been working hard recently, so take tonight to get some good rest.”

Just as Yu Jiuque was about to leave, Qiu Chuan suddenly slapped his forehead and said, “But, Little Boss, I just overheard Sister Zheng mention that a butcher is supposed to come by later to settle accounts with our shop.”

“Oh right, I almost forgot about that,” Yu Jiuque said, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Since they had opened the restaurant, they had arranged with the butcher they knew, Guo, to supply their meat. Butcher Guo had connections with many rural households and could source fresh pork, and occasionally lamb, chicken, and duck. Since they made daily purchases and the amounts were significant, they had agreed to settle the bill every seven days.

According to the arrangement, the settlement was originally scheduled for the next day, but due to some issue on Butcher Guor’s side, it was moved to today. Yu Jiuque, preoccupied with thoughts of Qin Xia, almost forgot about it.

As a result, Yu Jiuque had to stay at the shop for nearly another hour. Finally, after seeing off Butcher Guo’s wife, he couldn’t wait any longer.

Leaving the restaurant, Yu Jiuque didn’t go straight home. Remembering Qin Xia’s cough, he detoured to the pharmacy to buy a jar of loquat syrup. He also thought about the fact that he would have to cook dinner, and since his cooking skills were limited, he wanted to prepare something soft and easy for Qin Xia to digest.

With these thoughts in mind, he picked out a few items from the roadside vegetable vendors.

Carrying the items, it didn’t take long for Yu Jiuque to return to Furong Alley. He freed a hand and knocked on the door.

To his surprise, after knocking several times, there was no response—not even from Da Fu.

Yu Jiuque’s heart tightened, and he pushed the door open forcefully, only to be stunned by what he saw.

The once familiar courtyard had undergone a transformation in just half a day. Red cloth was draped over the small tree in the yard, and two festive red lanterns hung under the eaves of the main house.

Just then, Da Fu, who had been silent, rushed out from some corner, now adorned with a big red flower around its neck.

“Quack! Quack!”

The goose spread its wings and joyfully circled around him.

Amidst the loud quacking, several people suddenly emerged from the once uninhabited side room.

“Godmother, Aunt Wei, Sister Shuang?”

Yu Jiuque felt his mind spinning, unable to comprehend what had happened at home.

In a daze, he was “escorted” into the side room.

The scene inside was even more surprising. On the freshly cleaned kang lay a wedding dress, and on the table were a bronze mirror and a dressing box.

The box was open, revealing a brand-new set of head ornaments, along with powder, rouge, and other items.

Yu Jiuque was seated in front of the mirror, and it was then that he finally began to piece things together.

Sure enough, the two elders and Sister Shuang, who were helping him with his makeup, soon confirmed his suspicions.

“Xiao Xia said that the previous wedding ceremony couldn’t be counted. Now that you’ve had your status changed to a good commoner, he wanted to hold another banquet and distribute wedding money so that everyone in the neighborhood knows you are now the legitimate wife of the Qin family, a clean and respectable person. No one can look down on you anymore.”

Yu Jiuque thought Qin Xia was being ridiculous.

“We’ve been married for months; why do we need these formalities?”

Fang Rong laughed, “Who says we don’t? I said the same to him, but you know how he is—once he’s made up his mind, not even eight horses can pull him back.”

Besides, others might not know, but Fang Rong was aware that because Yu Jiuque had been “bought,” the previous wedding banquet hadn’t been properly done.

Back then, Qin Xia was still a brash young man, inviting a bunch of drinking buddies to boast and brag at the table, which even made Fang Rong, who had been a guest, leave early out of frustration.

“He says it’s to make up for the previous ceremony, but since you’re already married, we won’t go through all the formalities with the three letters and six rites or banging drums. Just think of it as dressing up, putting on new clothes, and enjoying a happy meal with family.”

Then she looked at Ge Xiuhong and added, “See, your Aunt Wei is the most renowned ‘blessed person’ in Furong Alley. Xiao Xia specifically invited her to do your hair!”

At this point, Yu Jiuque didn’t even think to ask if Qin Xia’s illness had gotten better; it was obvious that his husband had been faking it all along to prepare for this.

On one hand, Yu Jiuque was annoyed, but on the other hand, he couldn’t help but smile uncontrollably.

When the new clothes and head ornaments were all put on, and Sister Shuang carefully painted a flower mark on Yu Jiuque’s forehead with rouge, everyone in the room fell silent, lost for words.

“Our Jiu Ge’er really is a celestial beauty!” Fang Rong admired her godson’s wife with great satisfaction.

Once again, she thought to herself that with looks like Jiu Ge’er’s, any family would be lucky to have him, and it would be a match for any son-in-law. But with her godson Qin Xia, it was truly a match made in heaven.

As dusk settled, Yu Jiuque finally learned that Qin Xia had even gone as far as consulting a fortune teller to select an auspicious hour for the ceremony.

When the door to the side room opened, Liu Douzi and the Wei brothers surrounded Qin Xia, and Yu Jiuque finally saw him.

Under the much more elaborate veil than before, Yu Jiuque firmly grasped Qin Xia’s hand.

…

At the banquet, not only were the people from the restaurant there, but even Xing Yiming and his family showed up, bringing congratulatory gifts.

It was then that Yu Jiuque realized that everyone else had known about this, and he was the only one kept in the dark.

Qin Xia had prepared two large tables of dishes and opened several jars of good wine, which were soon flowing freely.

Amidst the clinking of cups and laughter, Yu Jiuque married Qin Xia all over again.

Later that night, after the guests had left and the celebratory feast had ended, Zheng Xinghua and Zhuang Xing, along with the Qiu siblings, helped clean up the leftover food and dishes before heading back to their own homes.

Yu Jiuque, who had drunk a few glasses of wine, was feeling a bit drowsy as he sat on the edge of the kang, the wedding veil having slipped back into place.

When Qin Xia entered the room, what he saw was his little husband, hands resting on his lap, sitting obediently and waiting for him.

He carried a small wooden tray with a wine pot and two cups.

After setting the tray on the kang table, he took another look at Yu Jiuque, whose face was still covered by the veil, before finally reaching out to lift the red cloth.

Under the dim light, the young man’s eyes sparkled with warmth.

In the next moment, Yu Jiuque glanced at the wine pot and cups.

“We haven’t yet drunk the nuptial wine.”

Qin Xia resisted the urge to kiss his husband immediately and poured two cups of clear wine, handing one to Yu Jiuque.

Their arms intertwined as they drank the wine to the last drop.

The scent of alcohol grew stronger.

In the dim candlelight, someone pressed their lips to the crimson birthmark on the pale white neck.

And gently bit down.