Ch 11: Reborn to Raise My Husband

By the time they returned from the county town, it was already noon.

After getting off the ox cart at the village entrance, Qi Beinan carried a heap of items and led Xiao Bao as they hurried home.

By this time, smoke was already rising from chimneys in the village houses, and they hardly ran into anyone along the way. The fields were quiet.

Xiao Hu had been home for a while after selling the game at the manor. He hadn’t seen the two boys return from either direction and had looked out from the yard seven or eight times.

Seeing that it was well past midday and they still hadn’t returned, he had just made up his mind to head into town to look for them when he heard voices outside the courtyard.

“Walk slower, careful not to fall.”

Xiao Hu immediately came out of the kitchen where the fire was burning, just in time to see Xiao Bao, each hand carrying two paper parcels, hopping his way into the courtyard.

Behind him, Qi Beinan followed, holding two rolls of fabric in his arms and a small basket strapped to his back, smiling at the little fellow running ahead.

“Father.”

Xiao Bao saw the man standing under the eaves and quickly slowed his bouncing steps, calling out softly, though the joy in his tone was unmistakable.

Seeing Xiao Bao’s bright eyes, Xiao Hu felt a rush of tenderness—he hadn’t seen the child this happy since his mother had passed.

His heart softened as he hurried forward. “Hungry?”

Xiao Bao shook his head, a bit shy but unable to hide his excitement, and began chattering nonstop.

He couldn’t help but tell Xiao Hu: “Gege bought me roasted chicken leg, candied baoluo, fried sugar threads—so many, many things! I’m not hungry at all!”

Qi Beinan chuckled. “Little glutton, you filled yourself up with snacks on the ox cart.”

Xiao Hu’s eyes also showed delight. He crouched to lift Xiao Bao into his arms and called for Qi Beinan to come inside.

He didn’t ask what the two boys had bought in town. Seeing them return safe and cheerful was enough to satisfy him.

Qi Beinan noticed that his father-in-law wasn’t interested in the purchases. As the father and son took the remaining snacks to the kitchen, he carried the rest of the items into the room, preparing to sort them out.

They had indeed bought quite a bit, and he had even specially purchased a tightly woven bamboo basket at the street entrance to carry it all.

The assorted snacks cost about thirty copper coins. The child-size toothbrush and a box of tooth powder for Xiao Bao cost another sixty—softer bristles for baby teeth drove the price up a bit.

The consultation at the clinic and the medicine came to fifty-six copper coins—not too expensive.

The largest expense was the two bolts of cloth and cotton. The fine silk bolt cost six hundred eighty copper coins.

These days silk prices weren’t high, about four hundred copper coins per jin, but a full bolt of fine silk would still cost over two strings of coins.

However, Qi Beinan had purchased a smaller cut, less than half a full bolt, and had chosen lower-grade silk, so the price stayed under one string.

The rough blue fabric cost sixty coins, and the half jin of cotton was four hundred twenty-five.

Winter garments needed cotton insulation—pricey or not, it had to be bought.

As for the fine silk, it hadn’t been strictly necessary, but Qi Beinan had bought it to make innerwear for Xiao Bao. Clothing worn close to the skin needed to be comfortable.

Xiao Bao’s delicate skin couldn’t tolerate coarse ramie fabric well.

He himself didn’t mind rougher cloth, but he couldn’t bear for Xiao Bao to be uncomfortable—he was always more willing to spend on him.

All in all, the silver tael that Xiao Hu had given him that morning was nearly spent.

Over a string of copper coins was no small sum. Back then, his father had earned a respectable salary—only two strings a month.

Though Xiao Hu was skilled in his trade, hunting in the mountains relied not only on skill but also on weather and luck.

On good trips, he might earn several or even a dozen strings of coins. In bad seasons, he might only bring in a few scraps in months.

Now, although Qi Beinan still had some savings, they wouldn’t last long if he only spent and didn’t earn. He’d have to start being more frugal.

After tidying up, he headed to the kitchen.

Xiao Hu had already washed the rice.

But he wasn’t good at cooking, so he had chopped some radish, pickled mustard greens, and sliced preserved meat, cooking them all together in one pot. The rice steamer was placed on top to steam along with it.

When finished, they’d have both rice and dish in one pot.

Qi Beinan saw Xiao Hu sitting cross-legged at the hearth, tending the fire with one hand, and holding Xiao Bao—who was eating sugar threads—beside him with the other.

They said nothing, yet it was a scene full of quiet joy.

Qi Beinan sat down nearby and casually tested the waters: “Last night the wind and rain sounded strong—I hadn’t realized it was so bad. This morning when Xiao Bao and I went into town, we passed the bamboo grove and saw that someone’s back wall had collapsed.”

Xiao Hu’s expression tightened. “Fang family’s wall collapsed!?”

“Uncle Xiao didn’t know? I heard they were going to ask the villagers to help repair it.”

“Our house is nearby. They should’ve come up here to ask.”

Qi Beinan said, “Could it be that Uncle Xiao went to the manor, and they thought no one was home?”

Xiao Hu replied, “I saw the steward, didn’t linger, and came back early.”

He’d been home long enough to chop firewood and feed the livestock, yet he hadn’t heard about the Fang family’s troubles. No one had come to notify them.

Still, he couldn’t really blame them. News didn’t travel fast these days—if no one said anything, you might not hear for a while.

Feeling uneasy, Xiao Hu stood and gently patted Xiao Bao’s back. “Father’s going to check on Grandpa Fang. Xiao Bao, if you’re hungry, eat with Gege first. Don’t wait for me.”

Xiao Bao had long since gotten used to being left at home to watch the house by Qin Niazi. When adults needed to go out, he never fussed or insisted on tagging along. He simply nodded obediently.

Qi Beinan watched Xiao Hu leave in a hurry and wondered whether his father-in-law truly knew the reason for the coldness from the Fang family.

He said nothing about it and decided to wait and see what Xiao Hu would say upon returning.

Withdrawing his gaze, he turned to look at Xiao Bao, who was sitting on the small stool by the stove, carefully folding up candy wrappers.

“Not eating anymore?”

Xiao Bao re-tied the candy wrapper packet and said to Qi Beinan, “Saving some for Chao Ge’er.”

Qi Beinan felt a warmth in his heart. He reached out to ruffle Xiao Bao’s hair. The child truly held no grudges.

Even though Chao Ge’er had scared him and told lies, he still remembered to share his snacks.

“Chao Ge’er and Qin Niazi probably won’t be back for a while.”

Xiao Bao lowered his head, giving nothing away in expression. “Mm, I know.”

Qi Beinan saw that he wasn’t throwing a fuss or asking for them, and let out a small breath of relief.

It seemed the little one wasn’t overly dependent on adults.

Some time later, the food was ready.

Qi Beinan called for Xiao Bao to bring the fire basin so he could scoop some embers from the stove into it—just enough to keep the dish from drying out while they ate.

Afterward, a bit of fire could remain in the stove to warm the portion they would set aside for Xiao Hu.

Just as he was scooping the coals, Xiao Hu unexpectedly returned.

Qi Beinan was surprised and thought he had forgotten something, but it turned out Xiao Hu had been turned away by the Fang family.

When Xiao Hu went down earlier, the village head had already gathered some of the villagers, and the Fang family’s back wall had been repaired.

When they saw him, the Fang family members acted surprised and greeted him politely, claiming they hadn’t known he had come down from the mountain.

How could they not know? The village head had sent someone up to call him. He had even gone to their house today.

Xiao Hu didn’t look pleased. He was baffled—before, whenever the Fang family had any issues, they always sought his help. Even if he was up in the mountains, Eldest Fang would come find him.

He didn’t know when it had started, but the Fang family gradually stopped coming around. Even passing by on the road, they treated him like a stranger.

He didn’t interact much with others, but even he could see that something had changed.

When Xiao Bao’s mother was still alive, the two families were close—almost like relatives. After she passed, even when he was away in the mountains, Xiao Bao stayed at the Fang household.

He had offered them money, but they had firmly refused.

Everyone in the village knew how close the two families used to be. He didn’t know how it had all come to this.

Still thinking of the kindness the Fang family once showed, Xiao Hu, unwilling to let it go, reached for the strip of cured meat hanging above the stove. “They didn’t serve a thank-you meal to the villagers who helped fix the wall. I’ll bring them some meat.”

Qi Beinan, after hearing Xiao Hu briefly explain the past relationship, was now certain the two families had once been on excellent terms.

He stopped Xiao Hu. “They avoided troubling you when fixing the wall. If you show up with a gift, they likely won’t accept it.”

Xiao Hu’s hand paused. What Qi Beinan said wasn’t wrong—it would probably be another wasted trip.

He let out a long sigh, unsure what to do next.

“Uncle Xiao, why don’t I take Xiao Bao over later? They probably won’t turn us away if it’s a child. I’ll take the chance to greet the neighbors too.”

Xiao Hu looked at him and nodded. “That works.”

“Oh, I ran into the village head earlier. He wants you to visit him.”

The village head liked scholars. He always asked after the studies of any child who read books. Still, Xiao Hu was surprised that the village head was so fond of Qi Beinan, even inviting him to his home.

“If you get the chance, go. He’s not a bad man.”

“Alright,” Qi Beinan agreed.

After the three of them finished lunch, Xiao Hu went to visit the tenant farmers who rented their land to discuss next year’s lease.

Qi Beinan warmed some water and helped Xiao Bao wash his hands, feet, and face, then applied the frostbite cream they had bought in town.

When he opened the jar, a faint bay leaf scent filled the air.

Xiao Bao, soaking his feet, leaned forward to sniff and his round eyes lit up. “It smells nice!”

Qi Beinan dabbed some on the wind-burned skin of his cheek and gently rubbed it in. “Mm. Apply it regularly and you’ll become a fragrant little treasure, and the frostbite will heal faster.”

“Mm! Xiao Bao will remember!”

Afterward, Qi Beinan had Xiao Bao take a nap.

The little one claimed he wasn’t sleepy, but he had spent half the morning outside and was already tired. Children needed more rest to begin with, and now that his feet were warm and cozy, he was soon fast asleep under the covers.

Qi Beinan lowered the bed curtain and returned to his room. He opened his trunk, took out ink and brush, and began to write for a while.

He was a scholar after all—these habits were ingrained and couldn’t be shaken.

The new year was just days away. He planned to buy some red paper, write a few spring couplets, and paste them up to bring festive cheer to the house.

If the weather was good, he could even set up a stall in town offering to write couplets. He might earn a few copper coins that way.

Xiao Bao slept for nearly an hour. When he woke, still bleary-eyed, he sat on the bed for a while in a daze.

Sliding off the bed, he trotted off to find Qi Beinan.

Seeing that the little one had woken up, Qi Beinan packed up the bolt of blue rough linen cloth they had bought that day and took Xiao Bao with him to the Fang household.

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