Ch 58: The Regent’s Farmer Husband

The midsummer heat was already sweltering by the time Jiang Ji and the others returned home, drenched in sweat.

He gulped down two big cups of water, wiped himself with cold water, yet still felt unbearably hot.

In this era, clothes were the same in summer and winter—long sleeves and a tight belt wrapped snugly around the waist. It was suffocatingly warm.

Zhao Ru had gone to tend the cattle. Jiang Ji rummaged through the bottom of the wardrobe and found two old thin summer shirts, grabbed a pair of scissors, and snip snip—cut the sleeves clean off.

Jiang Yan frowned. “What are you doing?”

“Fixing my clothes. It’s too hot,” Jiang Ji replied without looking up, cutting off the other sleeve before stripping off the one he was wearing and changing into his newly made short-sleeved shirt.

Jiang Yan glanced once, then quickly looked away.

Once Jiang Ji had changed, he let out a sigh of relief. “Much cooler.”

Jiang Yan looked over—Jiang Ji’s forearms were now bare, pale on top and tanned below. He frowned. “You’re going out dressed like that?”

“Why not?” Jiang Ji raised an eyebrow.

“People might talk,” Jiang Yan said evenly.

“Let them. Better that than heatstroke.” Jiang Ji looked at him, still buttoned up and proper. “Aren’t you hot? Want me to cut yours too?”

“No need. I’m fine.”

Jiang Ji’s gaze drifted to the sweat beading on his forehead. “…Don’t pretend you’re not. You’re sweating.”

“It’s nothing.” Jiang Yan’s eyes moved to Jiang Ji’s loose, unbuttoned collar that exposed his collarbones and part of his chest. “Your collar’s open.”

Jiang Ji looked down—indeed, it wasn’t just open, he’d even tugged it wider to fan himself with the fabric.

Jiang Yan: “…”

Seeing his expression, Jiang Ji laughed. “It’s hot. If it weren’t daytime and people might drop by, I’d be wearing just a vest and shorts.”

Jiang Yan: “…”

Realizing words were useless, Jiang Yan walked over, reached out, and pulled Jiang Ji’s collar closed, tugging the hem tight to secure it.

The moment Jiang Ji’s neck had finally cooled down, it was covered again.

“…Brother,” Jiang Ji sighed helplessly, “I’m really hot. My head’s spinning.”

He had already drunk some wine at lunch, his body temperature running higher than usual—and now, bundled up like this, he felt even worse.

Jiang Yan said calmly, “You’re dizzy because you drank too much. Go lie down.”

He took Jiang Ji by the arm and guided him up. “Go rest.”

Jiang Ji truly felt lightheaded, so he lay down on the bed, eyes half-closed. “You drank too, don’t you want to rest a bit?”

“I’m not dizzy,” Jiang Yan said quietly. “You sleep. I’ll go check the fields.”

“Oh, fine,” Jiang Ji mumbled, tugging his collar open again and pulling off his belt. The neckline fell wide open, and he let out a sigh of relief.

Jiang Yan’s brow twitched—he reached out and pulled the collar back up.

Still half-asleep, Jiang Ji caught his wrist. “It’s so hot. Don’t pull it up again—I need to cool down.”

Jiang Yan glanced at his own hand but didn’t move it. “At least cover your stomach, or you’ll catch a chill.”

Jiang Ji mumbled, placing a lazy hand over his stomach, his voice growing faint. “Covered…”

A moment later, he went completely still—fast asleep.

Jiang Yan: “…”

After waiting a bit, Jiang Yan carefully withdrew his hand. Seeing the wide expanse of exposed skin at Jiang Ji’s chest, he pulled the fabric up a little, then draped the edge of a bedsheet over his stomach before quietly leaving.

Jiang Ji woke after sleeping for half an hour. When he got up, Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei were already home from school, playing with their friends at the courtyard gate.

The moment they saw their elder brother step out, they greeted him—and froze.

“Brother, where are your sleeves?” Jiang Nan asked, puzzled.

“I cut them off,” Jiang Ji replied.

Jiang Bei blinked. “Why’d you cut off the sleeves?”

“It’s hot. This way’s cooler.” Jiang Ji looked at their flushed faces and sweaty foreheads. “Aren’t you hot, running around like that?”

“Hot,” Jiang Nan admitted, wiping his sweat with his sleeve.

“Then why keep running?” Jiang Ji asked with all the gravity of a philosopher. “Have you done your homework yet?”

Jiang Nan: “…We just got back.”

“Then hurry and do it while there’s still daylight. You can play after.”

Jiang Nan muttered, “By the time we finish, it’ll be dark. How’re we supposed to play then?”

Jiang Ji raised a brow, and Jiang Bei, sensing danger, quickly grabbed his brother’s hand. “We’re going now! Jiang Nan, come on—we’ve already played for a while, that’s enough!”

Jiang Nan: “…”

From behind, Jiang Ji called, “Drink some water and wash your face first.”

“Okay, got it!” Jiang Bei replied.

Just then, Zhao Ru came back driving the ox. Seeing Jiang Ji’s short sleeves, she exclaimed, “Xiao Ji, did your clothes tear?”

“I cut them. Too hot,” Jiang Ji said, taking the rope from her hand to lead the ox back to the pen. “Mother, make me a few short-sleeved shirts, please. I want to wear short sleeves.”

Zhao Ru glanced at the uneven cut and dangling threads, laughing. “You cut off too much! Who wears clothes like that? You’ll be laughed at if you go out like this.”

“Let them laugh. Better than getting heatstroke.” Jiang Ji shut the pen. “It’s getting hotter every day. I don’t want to faint from the heat. I’ve seen the dock workers wearing sleeveless vests when they’re hauling cargo.”

“Then don’t wear it outside. At home’s fine,” Zhao Ru said, heading into the kitchen to make dinner.

In the courtyard, Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei were doing their writing. Jiang Nan overheard and shouted, “Mother, I’m hot too! I want short sleeves too!”

“Alright, alright, I’ll make you some.”

After dinner, Jiang Ji drew a design. “Make it like this, with these buttons, an open-front shirt—it’s cooler and saves fabric.”

Zhao Ru studied the sketch. “That’s easy enough, but aren’t these sleeves a bit too short?”

“I think they’re still too long,” Jiang Ji said, covering his arms to demonstrate. “Also make two sleeveless ones. And the pants—make them knee-length, just about here. Easier for fieldwork, no need to roll them up.”

Zhao Ru immediately shook her head. “No, no, those are underpants! You can’t wear those outside.”

“Aw, Mother, the immortals wear them all the time. It’s only us mortals suffering in this heat all wrapped up like dumplings. The fairies walk around in vests and shorts.”

Zhao Ru: “…”

Jiang Yan: “…”

Jiang Xia: “…”

Jiang Nan’s eyes went wide with wonder. “Brother, really?”

“Really.”

“I want shorts too!” Jiang Nan declared.

Jiang Bei whispered, “I… I want them too.”

Seeing their enthusiasm, Jiang Ji grinned—he had found allies. “Alright, I’ll let you two try some tonight.”

“How?” Jiang Nan asked curiously.

“You’ll see.”

Jiang Ji ran back to his room, opened the system’s exchange shop, and found the clothing section—specifically the sleepwear category.

He hadn’t used any modern clothes before since the weather had been cooler, but now, with no fans or electricity, he couldn’t stand the heat any longer.

He exchanged two sets of pajamas for everyone in the household—short-sleeved shirts with matching shorts, button-up style, modest enough not to shock anyone.

When he came out carrying the pile of clothes, Zhao Ru and the others were used to his “mystery items” by now, though they still looked curious.

“Here—Mother, this one’s yours; this one’s for Xia’er; these are for Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei, pick your favorite color; this one’s for Jiang Yan; and this one’s mine.”

He handed them out. “These are called pajamas—you wear them for sleeping.”

Jiang Nan picked up a blue shirt with cartoon designs and gasped, eyes wide. “Wow, there’s a picture on it!”

Jiang Bei peered at it. “What’s the picture?”

Jiang Ji glanced over—it was a cute little dinosaur. “They’re adorable little animals. You don’t recognize them?”

“Never seen them,” Jiang Nan said honestly.

Jiang Bei fiddled with a button. “Brother, how do you wear this?”

“Like this. You undo it through the little hole, see? Just like our shirts.” Jiang Ji demonstrated.

Zhao Ru touched the fabric and said, “This material’s so soft—it feels wonderful.”

Jiang Ji smiled. “Of course. Worn by immortals.”

Jiang Yan: “…”

Jiang Yan held up a pair of shorts, stretching the waistband experimentally. It expanded and snapped back. “What’s this waistband made of?”

Zhao Ru gasped, picking up her own pants and trying it. “Oh! So you don’t even need a belt with these?”

Jiang Ji chuckled. “Yeah, that’s called an elastic band. The way it’s made is actually pretty complicated—we can’t produce it right now.”

Everyone gathered around the new clothes, fascinated. Zhao Ru was studying the fabric and the elastic, trying to figure out how the patterns were woven and how the stretchy band was made.

Jiang Nan was already so excited he could hardly sit still. “Brother, I’m gonna take a bath! Can you fetch water for me?”

“I wanna wash too!” Jiang Bei shouted.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Jiang Ji fetched water for the two little rascals, and after they bathed and changed into their new pajamas, they ran excitedly into the main hall.

“Look! Our new clothes!” Jiang Nan called, striking a pose with his hands on his hips. “Do they look good?”

He wore a dark blue set, while Jiang Bei’s was light blue. Both had cute cartoon prints, and the two of them looked absolutely adorable.

At first, Zhao Ru and the others weren’t used to the sight—but after looking for a while, they admitted it did look nice.

Jiang Xia nodded. “It’s cute.”

“Come here and let me see,” Zhao Ru said.

The boys ran up to her, and she turned them around to inspect the fit. “Comfy?”

“Super comfy,” Jiang Nan grinned. “Doesn’t itch at all.”

Jiang Bei chimed in, “Feels like I’m not wearing anything!”

Jiang Nan pulled at his waistband, let it go, and it snapped back with a thwack. “And you don’t even need a belt! So convenient!”

Zhao Ru laughed. “Nice and cool, huh?”

“Very cool,” Jiang Nan nodded eagerly. “Mother, you should all go wash up and put yours on too!”

“We’ll wear them for bed,” Zhao Ru said with a smile, patting their heads. “Now go to sleep.”

Jiang Bei shook his head. “Let’s play a bit longer! I wanna see big brother’s and Brother Jiang Yan’s clothes.”

Jiang Ji came over, carrying the last basin of water. “I’ll wash later. Xia’er, you go ahead.”

“Okay.”

The boys didn’t get to see their older brothers’ new outfits; by the time Jiang Ji and Jiang Yan finished washing and changing, the two little troublemakers were fast asleep.

Jiang Ji was reading a travelogue when Jiang Yan entered, still wearing his long sleeves. “Why aren’t you changing into your pajamas?”

“They’re inside,” Jiang Yan said, closing the door.

Jiang Ji laughed quietly—so modest that he had to change in private.

Jiang Yan walked over to the bed. Jiang Ji lay sprawled out in light gray short sleeves and shorts, arms and legs stretched out comfortably.

Jiang Yan’s gaze swept briefly over the exposed limbs before he turned away, undressing silently. When he turned back, he was in a dark gray pajama set.

“How does it feel?” Jiang Ji asked, looking up. “Cooler now?”

“Yes. The fabric’s very comfortable.” Jiang Yan folded his clothes neatly and sat on the edge of the bed. “Shall I blow out the lamp?”

“Wait.”

Jiang Yan turned back to him.

Jiang Ji’s eyes flicked toward his shorts, and he tilted his chin. “Don’t you feel… kind of empty?”

Jiang Yan frowned. “What?”

Jiang Ji grinned. “Here—something good for you.”

He pulled out a few pairs of men’s underwear. “These are called briefs. Wear them—it’s hot, don’t wear two layers. This keeps your lower parts protected.”

Their usual undergarments were long and heavy—basically two layers in summer. Without pants, it’d be awkward, but with them, too stuffy.

Since Zhao Ru often made inner clothes, Jiang Yan recognized what it was—but the fabric was clearly different from anything they could make.

It stretched and contracted without any ties.

“This fabric also uses elastic?” Jiang Yan asked.

Jiang Ji shook his head. “Uh, no—it’s made from a stretchy material. We can’t make this yet.”

Jiang Yan glanced at him, nodded, then picked up a black pair. Lighting a small oil lamp, he started toward the door.

“What are you doing?” Jiang Ji asked. “Just change here! Why go out?”

Jiang Yan paused, turned back. “Then turn around.”

Jiang Ji arched an eyebrow. “What, shy?”

Jiang Yan said nothing, just stared at him quietly.

Jiang Ji sighed, turning away. “Alright, alright, I won’t look. Hurry up.”

Jiang Yan blew out the lamp and set it back on the table before changing.

The faint rustle of fabric came from behind.

“You know how to wear it, right?” Jiang Ji asked.

“Yes.”

After a while, the sounds stopped.

“Done?” Jiang Ji asked.

“Done.”

Jiang Ji turned around and sat up without looking at him. “How’s it fit? The size okay?”

“Fits.”

“Comfortable?”

Jiang Yan’s voice dropped low. “Mm. Very comfortable. Thank you.”

“Good. Remember to wash the others before wearing them.”

Jiang Ji got up and slipped on his shoes.

“Going to the latrine?” Jiang Yan asked.

“No, I’m switching with Jiang Bei.”

Jiang Yan froze, eyes tightening slightly. “Why switch?”

“It’s too hot. Two grown men sleeping together is unbearable.”

Jiang Yan stood there silently, watching as Jiang Ji walked to the other bed, carefully lifted the sleeping Jiang Bei, moved him to the far side of Jiang Yan’s bed, adjusted the pillow and blanket, then lay down in Jiang Bei’s old spot himself.

With his eyes closed, Jiang Ji murmured, “Alright, blow out the lamp.”

Jiang Yan stood still for a while, then quietly blew out the flame and lay down.

In the darkness, he stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep.

For months now, he hadn’t had trouble sleeping—until tonight.

The other side of the bed was empty. The familiar scent and sound of breathing were gone.

No one would suddenly roll over and bump into him in the middle of the night. He should have slept better.

But instead—he couldn’t sleep at all.

🌾🌾🌾🌾🌾

Thandar: now that’s what we call cut sleeve lol