Chapter 49

The next morning, the rooster crowed in the courtyard. Tao Yu subconsciously turned over, preparing to continue sleeping, but his waist was suddenly held tight, and he was quickly sat up.
He was confused, his eyes half-closed and hazy, his voice still half-asleep, “What are you doing?”
“Get up and practice boxing with me.”
Tao Yu’s upper body was out of the quilt and felt a bit cool.
Hearing this, he couldn’t help but open his eyes, his mind still a fog, “Huh? Boxing?”
“Mmm.”
Huo Xu got out of bed and walked to the coat rack by the cabinet. “If we’re going on a long trip, we need to train our bodies.”
Tao Yu’s voice was still thick with sleepiness, leaning against the quilt as if he could fall back asleep.
He buried his head in the quilt, almost falling asleep again. “Haven’t Mom and Dad agreed yet? If they agree, you don’t even need to say it, I’ll get up myself.”
“No, if they see you still sleeping in, they might change their minds even if they agreed.”
Tao Yu found this reasoning somewhat familiar.
“The preparations are almost complete. We’ll set off in the second month. Figure out how many days you have left. What if they agree on the last day?”
Hearing Huo Xu say this, Tao Yu laboriously lifted his head from the quilt.
He thought it made sense, he really needed to break his habit of oversleeping.
With his eyes half-closed, he leaned out from the curtain, about to ask Huo Xu to bring him his clothes. Suddenly, he saw the person with his back to the curtain had taken off his upper garment and was only wearing a pair of shorts that reached above his knees.
Seeing this, Tao Yu’s sleepy eyes immediately gained some energy.
The white waistband outlined Huo Xu’s slender waist. In the dim morning light, his bronze skin seemed to be coated with a layer of warm luster.
As he rummaged through his clothes, the muscles in his shoulders and arms gently flexed. Tao Yu thought of something, and his face felt hot.
Huo Xu sensed the gaze from behind him. He turned his head and looked at the weak little Tao Yu on the bed, peeking out from behind the curtain, his cheeks still flushed with a strange redness.
No need to ask, they all knew this young man was thinking about all sorts of wild things again.
“Where are my clothes?”
“Find them yourself.”
Tao Yu saw Huo Xu’s scrutinizing gaze and quickly lowered the curtain. “You always know how to throw things around. Where do you take off your clothes, you just throw them wherever it’s convenient. Clean and dirty clothes are all mixed together, so even when I haven’t washed clothes, I have to wash all the clean ones again.”
Huo Xu turned back to the bed, grabbed the curtain, and looked down at the young man sitting on the bed. “Tell me where they are, and I won’t throw them around anymore.”
Tao Yu raised his head. He was completely enveloped by Huo Xu, which felt a bit dangerous.
He turned his head away, still pursing his lips and refusing to answer.
“You’re not afraid of the cold anyway, so just go practice boxing like this.”
Huo Xu suddenly reached out and grasped Tao Yu’s chin, narrowing his eyes and looking at the person forced to meet his gaze. “Your lips are usually so soft when I kiss them, why are they so hard when you talk?”
Tao Yu’s face turned even redder. He weakly pushed Huo Xu away and quickly said, “If you keep this up, I really won’t tell you where your clothes are.”
Huo Xu didn’t argue. He just suddenly leaned closer to the young man, so close that Tao Yu could clearly see the scars on the muscles of his abdomen.
Tao Yu realized that his ointment was quite effective. The mottled scars were indeed much lighter than when he first saw them.
If he continued to apply the ointment like this, the shallower wounds would likely heal significantly.
However, Huo Xu found applying medicine troublesome. If he didn’t help him apply it, he would pretend it didn’t exist.
“Are you getting up or not?”
Tao Yu retreated a little, only to fall directly onto the quilt. Before he could get up, Huo Xu had already followed him.
The two were pressed very close together. Huo Xu’s body heat made Tao Yu feel like he was holding a warm stove, and he no longer felt cold.
But…
Huo Xu was only wearing shorts. The thin layer of fabric made the sensation undeniable.
His cheeks burned. “You, why are you like this so early in the morning!”
Although he said this, Tao Yu couldn’t help but let his gaze drift downwards.
It was true that he was shy, but his curiosity was also irresistible.
Speaking of which, they had used everything, but he still didn’t know the true appearance.
Huo Xu looked at the young man’s gaze. “You want to see?”
His secret thoughts were suddenly exposed, and Tao Yu’s face turned completely red.
“I, I…”
His guilty words turned around in his mouth, and then he became indignant, “What’s wrong with looking?”
Huo Xu was silent for a moment after hearing this, and then he couldn’t help but let out a laugh. He lowered his head and rubbed his nose against Tao Yu’s neck.
The soft and delicate skin was irresistible.
Just like this person.
Tao Yu blinked at the canopy. He was still a thin-skinned person. Huo Xu rarely laughed, and when he did, it was to mock him.
He felt a little embarrassed and puffed out his lips, weakly pushing him away.
Huo Xu said considerately, “If you don’t want to get up and move, then stay here.”
As soon as the words fell, Tao Yu felt a familiar movement around his legs, and then he was hanging around the man’s lean waist.
For a moment, the sensation was much more obvious than before.
Tao Yu’s thoughts returned, and he immediately became nervous.
It was up to Huo Xu what he wanted to do. It was early in the morning. Who wouldn’t want to get up to cook, go to the fields, or maybe sleep a little longer? Who would wake up before dawn just to do this?
He refused at night, and he couldn’t do it now!
Fortunately, his hands were not yet restrained. He hurriedly hugged Huo Xu’s neck and begged, “I’ll get up, I’ll get up now, don’t…”
Huo Xu said, “Don’t you want to see?”
“It’s still early, and the room is dim. If you stay like this for a while, when it’s bright, you’ll be able to see clearly. You’ll see everything.”
Tao Yu’s face turned red, and he buried his head in Huo Xu’s chest, feeling ashamed and on the verge of tears. “I, I was just saying it casually, you don’t need to take it seriously.”
Huo Xu said, “I am your husband, and it is only right for me to show you.”
Tao Yu regretted that his mouth could say anything. He knew that trouble comes from talking.
“Ne, next time.”
“It will be daylight soon, and Mom and Dad will be awake.”
Huo Xu heard the voice in his arms almost crying. There was amusement in his eyes, and he finally let go, no longer teasing him.
When the sky was about to brighten but not yet, it was a murky gray color, with heavy mist.
Everywhere was shrouded in a hazy mist.
Tao Yu covered his blushing cheeks, which had not faded for a long time. He stood under the eaves, his legs weak, leaning against a pillar, looking at the man practicing horse stance in the courtyard, wearing only a thin inner garment, with a resentful expression.
After a set of punches, Huo Xu was already getting warm. He beckoned to the person under the eaves. “Come here.”
“No, it’s cold.”
Huo Xu stepped forward to take his hand, coaxing and pulling him before finally bringing him into the courtyard.
“A little movement and you won’t be cold. Stretch your muscles, and I’ll teach you boxing.”
Ji Yangzong glanced at the two people practicing boxing in the windy courtyard from the doorway. He had his hands behind his back, his brows furrowed so tightly that a fly could be caught.
Even though he had unfolded, his brows were still deeply wrinkled.
“Brother Tao! Brother-in-law!”
Tao Yu was practicing horse stance, and in less than two blinks of an eye, his legs went soft.
Huo Xu had been coaxing him at first, but as soon as he saw him getting into character, he immediately became serious.
Once a husband becomes a master, there is no room for sentimentality.
He gritted his teeth, unwilling to let Huo Xu think he was too weak. If Huo Xu regretted it, then there would be no hope.
Just as he was gritting his teeth and his vision was about to go black, Wen Liang actually arrived.
Da Niu went to open the door for him.
“What is Brother Tao doing?”
Tao Yu, in a horse stance, replied, “Can’t you see I’m strengthening my body?”
“Brother Tao has started exercising too. The day before yesterday, Brother taught us a set of punches, and I practiced it this morning. I felt refreshed and didn’t feel cold even in the early morning.”
“Wen Liang is here?”
Ji Yangzong’s voice sounded from under the eaves.
Ji Wenliang quickly called out, “Sixth Uncle.”
“Have you eaten breakfast?”
“Yes, I have.”
Ji Wenliang said, “I came to find Brother-in-law to go to Hongli Village together.”
Ji Yangzong said, “Your Brother-in-law hasn’t eaten yet. Your Sixth Aunt has also finished cooking. Come and eat something together.”
“What did Sixth Aunt make!”
As he spoke, Ji Wenliang darted towards the kitchen.
“She rolled dough and made dumplings.”
“What a good day to eat dumplings, I’ve come at the right time!”
Huo Xu and Tao Yu heard that the meal was ready, so they went in together.
“Isn’t your Brother-in-law going on a long trip? Who knows when he’ll be back after this trip. While he’s still home, let’s make a couple more good meals.”
The plump dumplings in the large pot were flipping over. The filling was abundant.
“Scallion and fresh meat filling, eat more, Wen Liang.”
“Thank you, Sixth Aunt!”
Seeing that everyone had gathered, Huang Manjing scooped the dumplings with a large slotted spoon and poured them into a large open bowl that had already been prepared with lard, soy sauce, chopped scallions, and blanched cooked vegetables. She added a little vegetable soup, and a bowl of dumplings was ready.
Tao Yu held the hot dumplings and ran into the main hall with Ji Wenliang, jumping with joy.
“These two children are still like they were when they were little.”
The chopsticks lightly mixed them, and the lard melted with the heat, turning into little oil droplets floating on the water surface, making even the dumpling soup delicious.
Ji Wenliang blew on it and took a bite of the dumpling soup.
“Aunt Sixth’s dumplings are the best. Once we leave, we won’t be able to eat them for a while.”
“Don’t mistreat yourself when you’re out. If you want to eat, ask your Brother Tao to make them.”
Ji Yangzong suddenly said.
Tao Yu’s hand holding the dumplings paused, and he immediately looked at his father.
“Uncle Sixth, you’re joking. Brother Tao has good culinary skills, but I won’t be able to eat them on the road.”
Ji Wenliang was still happily eating dumplings.
At this moment, Huang Manjing said, “When you’re out on the road, you can’t all take care of your daily lives. If Little Tao accompanies you, he can help you if you get a headache or a fever.”
“Ah?”
Ji Wenliang was stunned and looked at the people in the room in disbelief. “Uncle Sixth, Aunt Sixth, you’re not joking, are you? Brother Tao…”
He looked at Tao Yu’s eager gaze and swallowed back the part about how his body couldn’t possibly travel.
He was afraid that saying too much would bring bad luck.
“Dad, Mom, you… have you agreed?”
Tao Yu still couldn’t quite believe it was true, and he asked again tentatively.
“It’s more reassuring for me if you two cousins travel together.”
Ji Yangzong said with a serious face, “Wen Liang, you need to take care of your Brother Tao.”
Although they hadn’t directly answered, saying it this way was considered an agreement.
Tao Yu was so happy he almost wanted to jump up, and he quickly shook Huo Xu’s hand.
Seeing the dark circles under his parents’ eyes, he knew they had stayed up all night worrying about him.
He felt a pang of guilt.
From the beginning of this matter, it was destined for someone to worry.
Ji Wenliang responded, understanding the situation clearly but not entirely.
Huo Xu saw this, and his brow furrowed slightly. This way, it saved him more effort.
After breakfast, Ji Wenliang and Huo Xu went to Hongli Village to find Ge Liang.
“When you are out, you must not catch a cold. There are many illnesses outside, so pay attention to your health.”
“Get along well with people, and don’t make enemies when you’re outside.”
Tao Yu listened as his mother gave him advice for a long time. He knew all of this, but knowing their worries, he didn’t show any impatience and listened obediently to his mother’s instructions.
Huo Xu returned from Hongli Village and set the departure date for the eighteenth of next month.
This meant there was only about half a month left until departure.
The goods were mostly prepared. Huo Xu had spent most of his time training his men.
Tao Yu prepared food, clothing, and supplies for the trip.
In the midst of their busy preparations, it quickly became the tenth day of the second month.
Tao Yu and Huo Xu went to the city and picked up some medicinal herbs from Huang Yinsheng’s medical clinic, also to say goodbye.
After the twelfth, Huo Xu brought his men to bring the livestock and carriages back home and transport the cloth and tea back to the village to keep in his own hands.
On the fifteenth, all the goods were brought back.
Ji Yangzong saw that all the more than ten people had gathered and invited everyone to have a meal.
“Everyone gathering together today to do business with my son-in-law, I am grateful for your trust. I, Ji Yangzong, toast you all.”
“Chief Ji, you are too polite. It is our good fortune to travel with Brother Huo. We are confined to our small plots of land, and we see no hope for our lives. If it weren’t for Brother Huo, we wouldn’t have this opportunity to go out and explore. We should be the ones to toast Chief Ji and Brother Huo!”
After Ge Liang finished speaking, everyone stood up.
Ji Yangzong quickly waved his hand. “Look at this Little Ge, you’re so eloquent. Come, let’s all have this drink together.”
After drinking the toast, Ji Yangzong invited everyone to sit down. “Don’t be so stiff, eat the dishes, eat the dishes.”
After a few rounds of drinks, the people from the two villages were no longer strangers and became more open.
Huang Manjing fried two more hot dishes and put them on the table.
Seeing the situation, Ji Yangzong asked Da Niu to bring out a bamboo basket of flatbreads.
“My son has been weak since he was little. Since he is accompanying his husband on this business trip, he will undoubtedly trouble you all. As a father, I have nothing else to offer but to prepare some travel expenses for everyone as an apology.”
Ji Yangzong of his own village had already given prior notice, so there was no unusual reaction. However, a few men from Hongli Village paused slightly upon hearing this, their drinking movements halting.
They secretly looked at Ge Liang.
“The Chief’s love for his son is heartwarming. We are also fathers and sons, and we will naturally take care of Mr. Ji.”
Since Ge Liang had said so, the others could only agree.
Huo Xu raised his cup. “I toast you all.”
“Come, come, Brother Huo.”
Tao Yu listened to the conversation in the room from outside the door and let out a sigh of relief.
It was difficult for his father to make arrangements for him in advance to avoid being looked down upon on the road.
He felt a strange emotion, and felt even more guilty towards his parents. He was already married, yet he was still making the elders worry so much.
He retreated with a somber expression.
After the meal was over, when it dispersed, a few sparse stars had already appeared in the sky.
The men from Hongli Village were somewhat drunk. Under the influence of alcohol, some of them expressed their dissatisfaction.
“What does this Huo Xu mean? We signed a life-or-death waiver and entrusted our lives to him, yet he’s bringing his husband with him. He didn’t explain it clearly beforehand, and now this has suddenly come up.”
“It’s one thing if it were ordinary people, but who doesn’t know about the Ji family’s son?”
The man grumbled, “I originally thought Huo Xu was a reliable person, which is why we agreed to follow him. With him doing this, he’s just someone blinded by lust.”
“Just say a few words. They are newlyweds, only married for a few days, and it’s natural that they can’t bear to be apart.”
“If you were asked to go on a long trip right after getting married, and wouldn’t be back for a year or half a year, would you be willing to leave your wife and children?”
Ge Liang said displeasedly, “Everything is prepared, and they just want everyone to come along. What more do you want? Chief Ji has also prepared some travel expenses for everyone. Besides, it’s not bad to have a young man to help take care of their food and daily life, and he knows medicine.”
“What kind of half-baked doctor? He can’t even cure himself, so how can he cure others? It’s only because you, Ge Liang, have a good temper that you agree with whatever they say. We’re going out for business and to make money, not to be bodyguards for the two of them on their travels!”
“Tian Fu, you’re getting out of hand!”
Ge Liang’s face darkened. “We’re about to set off, so don’t cause any trouble. You’re all grown men, how can you not tolerate a young man, and have no generosity at all!”
“Tian Fu has had a few drinks and isn’t speaking properly. Ge Liang, don’t take it to heart.”
The other few people, seeing that the situation was not good, tried to mediate and finally quelled the rising anger.
After the banquet dispersed, Ji Yangzong had drunk a lot with these young men. As he was getting older, his alcohol tolerance was not as good as that of the younger generation, and he was already finding it difficult to cope.
Huang Manjing quickly helped him to the room to rest. Tao Yu cooked some hangover soup for Ji Yangzong and Huo Xu.
Huo Xu didn’t seem drunk, but his body smelled of alcohol. He took off his clothes and took a bath.
He didn’t waste Tao Yu’s ginger soup and drank it all in one go.
Then, he and Tao Yu cleaned up the table of bowls and plates together.
“You should go to sleep early. We’re leaving soon, so get plenty of rest these two days.”
Tao Yu said, “It’s fine, washing dishes doesn’t take much time.”
Huo Xu didn’t say anything more. The two of them washed the bowls and chopsticks together.
A few days later, it was finally the day of departure.