TIPS – Chapter 17

After sending Shen Junxi out of the room, Song Jingwei was left alone. He drank tea and rested for a while before returning to work at his desk.

That evening, Yang Shi went to the vegetable garden to pick some fresh greens. Since there was still leftover meat at home, she didn’t have to worry about that—just a handful of vegetables would be enough for dinner.

As someone used to being frugal, she still felt that eating meat every meal was too extravagant.

The two taels of silver that Song Jingwei had given her in the morning were enough for their family of four to live on for a month. If she continued to be frugal as before, they could even stretch it to three months.

From now on, she would make sure her son and daughter-in-law ate more meat while she and her husband ate more vegetables.

“Sister-in-law Shen, picking vegetables?” The eldest daughter-in-law of the Cao family, who was in the neighboring garden, greeted her from across the vegetable rows. Their family’s garden was right next to the Shen family’s main branch.

Yang Shi looked up and smiled. “Yes, picking some greens for dinner.”

The Cao family’s eldest daughter-in-law clicked her tongue. “Didn’t your daughter-in-law just marry in? And you’re still eating vegetables for every meal?” Her tone was laced with envy and sarcasm.

Yang Shi’s smile faded as she replied, “What does my daughter-in-law entering the family have to do with whether we eat vegetables or not?” She knew the Cao woman was a sharp-tongued person but had no idea why she was being targeted.

“Oh, don’t mind me, I was just curious. A country bumpkin like me has never seen the world.” The Cao woman said self-deprecatingly, then continued, “Isn’t his family very rich? I heard his dowry alone could buy the entire Chashan Village.”

Such a wealthy person, yet he married into the countryside—what a surprise.

Yang Shi didn’t know how to respond. She knew the woman was envious. “Even if someone has money, they still need to eat vegetables, don’t you think? Your family is well-off too, making good money from furniture. And yet, I see your vegetable garden is just as full as mine.”

The Cao woman was momentarily speechless. Switching topics, she asked, “So that land at the foot of Mountain belongs to your daughter-in-law? And what’s this about the long-term labor contract? I heard the workers get thirty taels of silver a year—is that true?”

She had been holding this question in all afternoon.

Her maiden family was from the neighboring Shawan Village, where they made a living by fishing. However, her younger brother had nearly drowned in the water once and could no longer fish. If the long-term labor contract from the Shen family’s eldest daughter-in-law was real, she would definitely bring her brother over.

“I don’t know about this. If you want to find out, you can ask my daughter-in-law yourself,” Yang Shi said indifferently.

The Cao family’s eldest daughter-in-law awkwardly replied, “Your daughter-in-law never steps out of the house. How am I supposed to ask him?” Besides, even though Song Jingwei was a son-in-law, he was still a man.

“Then I can’t help you.” If this were before, Yang Shi might have tried to lend a hand, but things were different now. She could finally show some attitude in front of the village women.

“Hey, you…” The Cao woman watched Yang Shi’s back as she left, angrily pulling out a few blades of grass. She thought bitterly, She’s really looking down on people now that she’s attached herself to wealth. Hmph!

Yang Shi, walking further away, pressed a hand to her rapidly beating heart. So this is what it feels like to turn people away? Not bad at all. In a great mood, she returned home, smiling as she put on her apron to prepare dinner for the family of four.

At that moment, Shen Dongming’s thatched shed was officially completed. Father and son stood below, happily admiring their work. Clapping his hands, he said, “Hurry up and tidy things up.”

After finishing their work, Shen Junxi went into the kitchen to help Yang Shi wash vegetables and assist with cooking.

Yang Shi chatted with her son, “Where’s your wife?”

Shen Junxi gestured, “In the room, writing.” Though, he had no idea what Song Jingwei was writing.

Yang Shi commented, “Your wife is quite the scholar.” She chuckled and added, “That’s good—you like reading too.” Her son’s ability to read had always been her pride. Although it seemed he wouldn’t be taking the imperial exams anymore, literacy was still useful.

Shen Junxi smiled but thought to himself—his wife’s handwriting hardly looked like that of a cultured person.

“What are you smiling about? You look like a fool.” Yang Shi picked through the vegetables as she advised, “It’s good to treat your wife well, but don’t just bury your head in work. You need to talk to him about your thoughts. That’s how relationships grow.”

If neither of them spoke about their feelings, how would the other know they were loved and cared for?

“Mm.” Shen Junxi softly responded, finding her words reasonable.

Yang Shi glanced at him—he actually responded out loud! It had to be because of his wife. She felt a bit jealous. “Alright, go check on your wife. Bring him out for dinner later.”

Shen Junxi chuckled, washed his hands, and left.

It was only then that Yang Shi remembered something important—tomorrow was the third day after the wedding, which meant her daughter-in-law had to return to his maiden home! She quickly put down what she was doing to see if there was anything suitable to send back with him. But after the betrothal and wedding expenses had nearly emptied the household, she was at a loss about what to prepare as a return gift.

Inside the newlyweds’ room, Song Jingwei had just finished working and was lying on the bedding to rest. The quilt beneath him was the same one from last night—he had forgotten to change it.

Just as Shen Junxi quietly entered, Song Jingwei opened his eyes and said, “Go outside and bring in a thinner quilt.”

And just like that, before Shen Junxi had even fully stepped inside, he was sent out again. When he returned, he was carrying a fine silk quilt.

Song Jingwei sat up and tossed the thick quilt to him. “Take this out and wash it.” It would be for Shen Junxi to use in the future, anyway—after all, they would be sleeping separately.

“Mm.” Shen Junxi turned to leave, holding the quilt, and bumped into Yang Shi.

Yang Shi asked in confusion, “What’s wrong? Is the quilt dirty?” Was it what she was thinking?

Shen Junxi, hands full, couldn’t explain, so he just shook his head.

Seeing this, Yang Shi pulled him aside and whispered, “Let me ask you something—have you and your wife… consummated your marriage?”

The moment she finished speaking, she saw her son’s face turn red—clearly still a clueless young man. She sighed, “Traditionally, after a wedding, river water is prepared… But we heard he drank it already and that you two… you know. Tell me, is that true?”

She had never doubted her son or Song Jingwei, but with so many people talking, she couldn’t help feeling uneasy.

Without hesitation, Shen Junxi nodded seriously, his expression firm.

Yang Shi let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good. It’s been a month now. You and your wife should discuss when to have a doctor check his pulse.”

If he wasn’t pregnant, she would need to start preparing river water at home.

Shen Junxi vaguely nodded at the idea of getting a doctor’s checkup, then tried to leave with the quilt.

Yang grabbed him again, “One more thing—your wife is returning to his maiden home tomorrow. Talk to him and see what his plans are.”

Since her daughter-in-law was independent-minded, it didn’t seem right for them to make arrangements on his behalf.

“Mm.” Shen Junxi quickly walked off with the quilt.

But Yang Shi still felt uneasy. After dinner, she spoke directly to Song Jingwei, “Xi’er’s wife, do you have any plans for tomorrow?”

Song Jingwei looked confused. “Plans for what?”

After Yang Shi explained the tradition of returning to the maiden home, he finally understood. So there was such a custom? This wasn’t something people did in modern times.

“I don’t need to bring anything back—they don’t lack anything.”

When Shen family members heard his straightforward response, they couldn’t help but feel a bit uncomfortable, as if he was looking down on their possessions—even though it was the truth.

What they didn’t realize was that Song Jingwei wasn’t siding with the Song family at all; he was entirely thinking of the Shen family’s well-being. The Song family had ulterior motives in arranging this marriage with the Shen family. The shameful aspects of it were better left unsaid—any talk of family ties was pure pretense.

Song Jingwei didn’t want the Shen couple to humble themselves and invite ridicule. Song Man clearly looked down on them yet still pretended to be kind and friendly—it was disgusting.

As the Shen family sat in silence, Song Jingwei stood up, intending to take a bath. As soon as he moved, Shen Junxi followed closely behind, tugging at his sleeve and pointing toward the bathing room.

“Yes, I’m going to take a bath,” Song Jingwei said casually.

Shen Junxi nodded, then pointed at himself and then at the kitchen—he was going to heat water for him.

“Go ahead.” Song Jingwei entered the room to find a change of clothes, completely unaware of something—he and Shen Junxi were now communicating effortlessly.

This was likely the result of gradual influence. After all, Shen Junxi was adapting to his ways, and with time, he would become even more accustomed.

So, when he finished bathing and saw Shen Junxi once again taking his clothes to wash, Song Jingwei wasn’t even surprised. He wasn’t someone who enjoyed housework, especially doing laundry. As an adult, he rarely even washed his own underwear.

In the past, Song Jingwei had thought that a man who cooked and did laundry lacked masculinity—that such a person wasn’t a real man. But now, he had encountered someone who could cook, do laundry, feed pigs and chickens, work in the fields, and even build a thatched roof. His feelings about this were… complicated.

On one hand, he still couldn’t quite respect this kind of man. On the other hand, he found Shen Junxi’s way of doing things surprisingly natural and not entirely off-putting.

…What a contradiction.

When Shen Junxi returned from washing clothes, he climbed into bed. Tonight, they had switched to a thinner quilt, which didn’t seem as warm as the one from the night before.

In his sleep, the man inside quietly moved closer.

Song Jingwei assumed Shen Junxi was doing it on purpose. He opened his eyes and observed him carefully, only to realize that he was sound asleep.

So, he shifted away slightly. But a short while later, Shen Junxi moved closer again.

“Is it really that cold?” He frowned, thinking.

As a man who had never compromised for anyone, Song Jingwei’s approach was straightforward—he shoved Shen Junxi further inside.

Shen Junxi woke up in confusion, realizing that he was now pressed against the wall—covered in a pile of blankets…

By the time they woke up again, the sun was already high in the sky.

Today, they were going to Lihua Town to visit the Song residence. Shen Dongming and Yang Shi were both quite nervous, and even Shen Junxi seemed a little uneasy. Only Song Jingwei remained calm and composed. He reminded them in advance, “We’ll just take a quick look around and come right back.” They might not even stay for a meal at the Song residence.

“You’re finally going back—shouldn’t you stay a little longer?” Yang Shi hesitated, suggesting. After all, Song Jingwei only had one father and one sister left. She had heard that his little father had passed away early—such a poor child.

Song Jingwei shook his head. “I have things to do when I return.”

As he spoke, Shen Junxi and Shen Dongming came back, having borrowed an ox cart. Song Jingwei, empty-handed, stepped outside.

Seeing the borrowed cart, he turned to Shen Dongming and Shen Junxi and said, “Since we’re going to town, let’s buy an ox cart of our own.” After thinking for a moment, he added, “And let’s get a wolfdog to guard the house.”

Shen Dongming agreed. “A wolfdog is a good idea. We have a lot of silver at home now—better to be cautious in case someone gets greedy.”