TIPS – Chapter 50

“……”

They had set off early in the morning and arrived in the county by the afternoon. As dusk approached, Song Jingwei said, “Let’s find an inn to stay in first.” After a day of bumpy travel, he was hungry, sore, and exhausted.

After dinner and a bath, they practically collapsed into bed. Since they were used to sharing a bed at home, they didn’t bother booking separate rooms this time either. When something becomes a habit, it never even occurs to you to resist it.

After a night’s rest, they first visited Zhang Benqing’s residence the next morning. While Song Jingwei and Zhang Benqing discussed matters in the study, Shen Junxi sat alone in the flower hall, sipping cup after cup of tea, feeling a little bored. Occasionally, he glanced toward the door, wondering if they were done talking yet.

Before leaving, Song Jingwei asked Master Zhang, “Who is the most renowned doctor in the county?”

Zhang Benqing replied, “I happen to know one. If you need, I can go with you.”

“That would be great,” Song Jingwei said.

They went with hope, but after examining Shen Junxi, the doctor shook his head and said, “It’s been delayed too long—there’s no cure.”

The doctor explained that a few years ago, Shen Junxi’s voice might have been treatable, but now it was too late.

“Are you sure there’s no way?” Song Jingwei asked in disappointment.

“No matter where you go, the answer will be the same.”

Song Jingwei looked at Shen Junxi, feeling dejected, but he feared Shen Junxi would feel even worse. However, Shen Junxi appeared calm, as if he had never expected a cure in the first place.

“Are you upset?” Song Jingwei asked softly on their way back the next day.

Shen Junxi shook his head and gestured, Not at all. He really wasn’t too upset. He even smiled—when Song Jingwei first mentioned coming to the county to see a doctor, he had thought it was just talk. He never expected they would actually follow through.

He wouldn’t say he wasn’t disappointed at all. When the doctor was examining him, he had held onto a tiny sliver of hope—What if there was a chance? But when the doctor confirmed there was nothing to be done, his heart skipped a beat. Still, the disappointment faded quickly.

After all, his life now wasn’t bad. If his damaged voice was the price for everything he had now, he would rather not be cured.

“Mm…” Song Jingwei wanted to comfort him, but seeing how peacefully he accepted it, he decided against it. Sometimes, repeatedly bringing up someone’s flaw in an attempt to console them wasn’t helpful—it could make them feel worse instead.

By late August, Pei Hongxuan’s sprained foot had healed, so there was no need for daily lessons with Wu Xi anymore. That day, Wu Xi came to find Song Jingwei to inform him that he would be returning to work at the construction site.

“Master Pei’s foot is better now, so I figured I don’t have much to do here. Do you think I should help Uncle Xianggui with the housework, or work on road repairs?” Wu Xi asked.

“Do you want to be a teacher? What do you think of this job?” Song Jingwei looked at him and asked.

Wu Xi widened his eyes in disbelief. “I barely know how to read—how could I be a teacher?” Every day, if Pei Hongxuan didn’t prepare lessons for him in advance, he wouldn’t even know where to start.

“You’ve been doing it for a month, and I think you’ve done well,” Song Jingwei said. “Look, the school only has Pei Hongxuan teaching. Sometimes, it’s too much for him alone. If you’re willing to help, it would make things much easier.”

Wu Xi pressed his lips together in thought. He did want to do it, but… was he really capable?

“Don’t underestimate yourself. You’ve managed for a month, haven’t you? And in the future, Pei Hongxuan can keep teaching you—it’s a win-win,” Song Jingwei encouraged.

“Uh… Young Master Song, I’d like to think it over,” Wu Xi said hesitantly. What if Pei Hongxuan was already annoyed with him and didn’t want to teach him anymore? He decided to ask Pei Hongxuan privately another day.

“Mm, take your time,” Song Jingwei nodded, not forcing the issue. It would be good if Wu Xi stayed at the school, but if he chose not to, that was fine too. He had only made the suggestion out of kindness—after all, someone as thin and frail as Wu Xi doing hard labor wouldn’t be easy.

That day, after Pei Hongxuan finished his lessons and returned, he had just sat down when a cup of tea was placed beside him. Looking up, he saw it was Wu Xi.

Smiling, he said, “Thanks. You’re very considerate.”

After lecturing all morning, he was indeed parched, and Wu Xi’s tea was a timely relief.

“You’re welcome,” Wu Xi said after a long pause. Then, hesitating for a moment, he added, “Master Pei, I have something to ask you.”

Pei Hongxuan swallowed his tea and asked, “What is it? Go ahead.”

Wu Xi looked directly at him, something he had learned to do after getting familiar with people. Song Jingwei had once told him that looking someone in the eye while speaking was a sign of respect.

“Every day, you teach me… do you find me annoying?” Wu Xi asked straightforwardly. In the past, he never would have dared to ask, but now, after spending so much time together, it had become natural.

“What are you talking about? You’re helping me by learning—why would I find you annoying?” Pei Hongxuan said, amused. “Even if you weren’t helping me, I still wouldn’t be annoyed. I’m happy to teach you to read and write.”

Hearing that, Wu Xi felt relieved.

“Alright, then let me tell you something,” he said. Without waiting for Pei Hongxuan’s response, he continued, “You’re a bachelor from out of town, eating alone with no family or even a place of your own. So… how about the two of us living together?”

Pei Hongxuan was stunned. Weren’t they just talking about studying? How did it suddenly turn into this…? But then, he actually started considering it. A bachelor and a bachelor—maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea…

“What do you think? If you agree, I can bear children for you,” Wu Xi said with a serious expression. He had received marriage proposals before, but the other party had insisted that he bear children, and he had refused back then.

“…Not bad…” Pei Hongxuan murmured, still dazed. Children—what a distant thought. But Wu Xi was saying he could give birth to his?

“Does that mean you agree?” Wu Xi’s eyes instantly lit up. Excitedly, he said, “That’s great! Let’s pick a date and get married right away. After that, you can live in my house—you won’t have to stay in borrowed lodgings anymore.”

“Right away? We’re getting married just like that?” Pei Hongxuan felt like he was in a daze. Wasn’t this too fast? “I…”

“I’ll go tell Young Master Song and ask him to help us choose a date,” Wu Xi declared, immediately heading off to find Song Jingwei. He also told him that he was willing to stay and work as a teacher.

Song Jingwei responded, “Alright, I’ll check in with Pei Hongxuan about it later.”

Wu Xi waved his hand dismissively. “No need. I already talked to Master Pei—he agreed to teach me. Also, we’re getting married!”

Song Jingwei froze on the spot. It took him a while to process the news, and even then, he could only maintain a surface-level seriousness. “…Why so sudden?”

Pei Hongxuan and Wu Xi? He had considered the possibility before, but he never expected it to happen so quickly.

“It’s not sudden! We’re both in our twenties, and he’s even older than me,” Wu Xi said with a grin. “The sooner we get married, the better. So, I came to ask you to pick a date—preferably in September.”

Song Jingwei thought for a moment. It was already mid-September. He rubbed his forehead and said, “How about September 26th?” That was pretty soon.

“Sounds good! But I don’t have money for a wedding… Can you lend me a little in advance?” Wu Xi asked shyly, though the joy on his face made him look radiant.

“Money isn’t a problem,” Song Jingwei said as he immediately handed over fifty taels. Since Wu Xi and Pei Hongxuan were getting married, he wasn’t worried about getting the money back.

“Thank you, Young Master Song! You’re truly a good man!” Wu Xi gave him a thumbs-up, sincerely believing that Song Jingwei was the best person he had ever met.

Song Jingwei had always thought that getting married—whether in ancient times or modern times—was a complicated affair. The preparations alone could drive a person crazy. But in Wu Xi and Pei Hongxuan’s case, things clearly didn’t follow the usual rules.

The Shen family quickly caught wind of the upcoming wedding.

“Hongxuan and Xi are getting married? That’s great! I think they’re a good match,” Shen Dongming said, slapping his thigh with a hearty laugh. It was a joyous occasion.

Yang Shi smiled knowingly. “So that’s what was going on between you two! I was even thinking about finding a match for Xi before.” In the blink of an eye, the two of them had already made it official, and everyone was genuinely happy for them.

With everyone pitching in enthusiastically, the preparations progressed at lightning speed.

Out of everyone, Song Jingwei was the most relaxed. He didn’t have to do anything—nor did he want to. He simply prepared a “dowry” for Pei Hongxuan to take with him when he left. It wasn’t much, but for people in the village, it was quite generous—enough to make sure Pei Hongxuan wouldn’t be struggling financially.

For Pei Hongxuan, who had once lived in wealth, money wasn’t the main concern. What mattered to him was Song Jingwei’s loyalty. This man was usually cold and distant, but when it counted, he always lent a helping hand. It was frustrating yet touching at the same time.

“What did you say? This is a dowry?” Pei Hongxuan reacted with strong protest. “Listen, between Wu Xi and me, he is the one marrying into my family—not the other way around! Get it straight!”

Song Jingwei shot him an indifferent glance. “In your situation, even if it’s not called ‘marrying out,’ it’s still basically the same as becoming part of his family. Call it whatever you like.”

It was all the same in the end. If Pei Hongxuan had a problem with it, he could build his own house. When Song Jingwei’s new house was completed, Shen Junxi’s family would be moving in with him, and he would be in a similar situation himself—basically taking a husband.

No matter how he saw it, people would always perceive it in their own way. He might as well get used to it.

“Just wait and see,” Pei Hongxuan muttered. Once Wu Xi has my child, people will understand. That was what he thought. But life is unpredictable. Who could say for sure who would end up having the child?

On September 26th, Pei Hongxuan and Wu Xi got married. They held the wedding banquet at Wu Xi’s house.

They didn’t invite many guests—just enough to fill five tables. Most of them were friends they had made at work.

Wu Xi’s older brother and sister-in-law also showed up, bringing a small red envelope and two kids who ate a lot. They were indifferent toward Wu Xi, and Wu Xi treated them with the same superficial courtesy. As long as they didn’t cause trouble, that was enough.

“Come on, let’s drink!”

“Drink! Drink! Drink!”

“Wishing you two a long and happy marriage—and lots of children!”

“Hahaha! But who’s going to give birth?” someone teased.

Judging by their builds, it was probably Wu Xi. Although he and Pei Hongxuan were the same height, Wu Xi still had the frame of a young man—tall but not particularly sturdy.

“Of course, it’ll be Wu Xi!”

The crowd burst into laughter, grinning from ear to ear. After all, it was a day worth celebrating.