Qiantang Village’s terrain is rugged, and it’s quite a walk from the village entrance to Xu Chuang’s small courtyard. Ji Yuchen was filled with guilt, thinking about how Xu Chuang had carried him down and up the mountain, climbing those steps must have been a hassle. The first thing he wanted to do upon arrival was to thank him.
But he never expected a girl to come out of Xu Chuang’s courtyard, calling out “Brother Dali” in such a sweet and sticky voice that it made his teeth ache. He patted Xu Chuang’s shoulder, signaling to be put down. Xu Chuang placed the wild rabbit aside and carefully set Ji Yuchen down on a pile of straw by the grinding stone, letting him sit there for the time being.
The girl ran over, curiously asking, “Who are you?” Ji Yuchen hesitated, wanting to straighten his back and give a strong impression, but he couldn’t even remember a decent name, losing all his momentum.
The girl, intrigued, played with her braided hair, and seeing no response, she whispered to Xu Chuang, “Brother Dali, is he mute?” Her voice was just loud enough for Ji Yuchen to hear, and he rolled his eyes, “You’re the mute.”
He turned his head away, looking difficult to deal with, which startled the girl, making her hide behind Xu Chuang timidly. Xu Chuang put down his things and explained with a smile, “Don’t be afraid, he hit his head and forgot some things, so he’s a bit anxious, but he means no harm.”
The girl peeked out from behind Xu Chuang, cautiously observing the person opposite: his skin was so fair it seemed transparent, with delicate and refined features on his small face. His eyes slightly upturned, resembling a little fox from the mountains. She had never seen a guy so good-looking and was momentarily stunned, staring without blinking.
Ji Yuchen, annoyed by the staring, wanted to jump down and find a more comfortable spot, as the straw pile was not at all comfortable. He shifted around, lost his footing, and stumbled, but Xu Chuang caught him mid-fall, holding him like a child.
“What are you doing? Why are you so careless?” The man frowned, his tone slightly reproachful. Ji Yuchen pouted, “The straw pile is uncomfortable, I want to sit somewhere else.”
He wriggled out of Xu Chuang’s arms, but after a few steps, his path was blocked. The girl apologized timidly, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that, please don’t be mad…” She introduced herself, “I’m Xiang Chun, a friend of Brother Dali. If you need any help, you can ask me.”
Ji Yuchen looked up at her, noting her big, bright eyes. Her other features weren’t particularly striking, but they weren’t wrong either, making her look quite average. He huffed lightly, indicating he didn’t need any help.
Xu Chuang handed a wild rabbit to Xiang Chun, telling her to take it back and share it with Aunt Xin. Xiang Chun thanked him with a smile, and after a few more words, Xu Chuang saw her to the door, only returning after she had left.
While they were talking, Ji Yuchen found a small stool in the corner of the courtyard, dragging it to the center to sit down, limping slightly. He looked around, noticing the brick-paved courtyard wasn’t large. There was a persimmon tree at the entrance, already bearing some green fruit. To the right was a stone mill, with a few bundles of straw beside it.
He hadn’t been inside the flat house facing the courtyard entrance, but from the outside, it looked like an ordinary residence, with at most two or three rooms. Ji Yuchen sat on the stool, lost in thought, wondering what to do next. With no memory, he didn’t know where his home was or how to return. Initially, he thought it wouldn’t be bad to gain a boyfriend from this misfortune, but now it seemed the person already had someone special. Although they weren’t married yet, in the countryside, they might as well be half a child bride, and Ji Yuchen couldn’t bring himself to interfere in someone else’s relationship.
He sulked on the stool, his expression slightly conflicted. Xu Chuang returned to find him sitting there motionless, and he reached out to touch Ji Yuchen’s hair, “What are you thinking about, sitting here so quietly?”
Ji Yuchen turned his head away, not speaking. Xu Chuang crouched down to maintain eye level, patiently waiting. Ji Yuchen glanced back, signaling with his eyes, “Isn’t it tiring to squat like that?”
The man smiled, ruffling his hair, and lifted him from the stool. Xu Chuang always held Ji Yuchen like a child, just as he had on the straw pile earlier. Facing each other, Xu Chuang’s arm supported Ji Yuchen’s bottom, his palm holding one thigh, while the other hand wrapped around his waist.
He carried Ji Yuchen inside, placing him on the edge of the kang, then sat beside him, half-jokingly saying, “This way, it’s not tiring.” Ji Yuchen thought the man’s appearance and personality didn’t match at all: he had a cold, distant face that kept people at arm’s length, yet he was gentle and attentive, like a large dog that looked fierce but was actually incredibly cute.
Xu Chuang sought Ji Yuchen’s opinion, “How about staying at my place for the night? Tomorrow, we’ll go to the town’s health clinic for a check-up, then report to the police station.” After returning home, Xu Chuang had taken off his short-sleeved cardigan, now wearing just a tank top that highlighted his muscular build.
Ji Yuchen swallowed, thinking it wouldn’t be a loss to stay for a night. After all, it wasn’t like he was refusing to leave; Xu Chuang was the one keeping him. He nodded, pretending to be casual, and asked, “Who was that girl just now? Why do they all call you ‘Dali’? Were you fooling me before?”
Xu Chuang took out a few small medicine bottles from the cabinet, sitting closer to Ji Yuchen, placing his legs on his knees, intending to treat his wounds. As he rolled up Ji Yuchen’s pants, he explained that “Xu Chuang” was a name he adopted after graduating middle school and working in the city. In the village, he was known as “Xu Dali,” and the villagers were used to calling him that.
Ji Yuchen squirmed on the kang like a worm, the wound on his leg had dried blood sticking to his pants, and it hurt with every touch. He inhaled sharply, complaining, “Be gentle…” Xu Chuang softened his movements, and Ji Yuchen, trying to distract himself from the pain, continued the conversation, “So should I call you ‘Xu Chuang’ or ‘Xu Dali’? Which do you prefer?”
The man chuckled, “It’s up to you, ‘Brother Chuang’ or ‘Brother Dali’ is fine, pick one.” This statement was clearly taking advantage, and Ji Yuchen thought, why should he call him “Brother”? The man only looked mature, but spoke like a big kid, and he might even be older himself.
He raised his chin, arguing, “How old are you to make me call you ‘Brother’? Taking advantage, huh?” Xu Chuang sprinkled medicinal powder on the wound, causing the previously confident Ji Yuchen to lose his nerve, supporting himself on the kang, his palms trembling.
He inhaled sharply, his voice intermittent, “What are you applying? Why does it hurt so much…” Xu Chuang gently caressed the skin around the wound, then leaned down to blow on it, saying it was for inflammation, and it would hurt a bit, but he had to endure it.
His actions were meticulous, and his temper was good. No matter how much Ji Yuchen struggled or complained, he coaxed him with kind words. Ji Yuchen lost his temper, looking up at the face that fit his aesthetic, unable to stay angry, only muttering, “Stop treating me like a child…”
Without any identification, Ji Yuchen couldn’t remember his birth year or month. He learned that Xu Chuang was twenty-one by nominal age, just turned twenty, and vaguely felt he shouldn’t call him “Brother.” But he had no choice; under someone else’s roof, he had to bow his head.
He chose the title “Brother Chuang,” mainly to avoid using the same one as the girl earlier. The man agreed with a smile, teasing, “Call me, let me hear it~” Ji Yuchen glared at him, eventually giving in, softly calling, “Brother Chuang…”
He noticed that when Xu Chuang smiled, there was a shallow dimple at the corner of his mouth, sometimes hidden by his hair, making his mature and steady face seem a bit playful. Xu Chuang was delighted, pondering what to call the little guy. Even if he sent him away tomorrow, he couldn’t keep calling him “Hey” or “Hey.”
He asked Ji Yuchen if he had any special impressions or preferences for a name, how should he address him? Ji Yuchen shook his head, deeply feeling what it meant to have a “head like an empty shell, with nothing inside.”
Xu Chuang didn’t press him, glancing at the calendar on the door, thinking for a moment before turning to say, “How about calling you ‘Jiu’er’? Today is the ninth, for good luck.” In the countryside, the ninth of each month is often considered auspicious because it’s the largest single-digit number, symbolizing the highest status and the most abundant yang energy. Additionally, “nine” sounds like “long-lasting,” symbolizing longevity and good fortune, making it a good day.
Ji Yuchen didn’t know the significance behind it, only thinking it sounded nice when Xu Chuang called it, so he agreed. Xu Chuang said, “You should take a bath later, I’ll cook. What do you want to eat?” As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Yuchen’s stomach growled several times, as if responding to a signal, making them both laugh.
They discussed the menu, and Xu Chuang asked if he liked ribs, and suggested making spicy rabbit cubes with the rabbit they caught today. Ji Yuchen suddenly remembered the rabbit Xu Chuang had carried all the way, feeling a bit guilty after thinking it over. He didn’t say anything, so Xu Chuang assumed he had no objections, lifting him from the kang and taking him to the bathroom, saying he wanted to show him the way.
The place called a bathroom was actually just a partitioned area with a faucet and a drain, a cement floor, and a plastic bucket about a meter high by the wall. Xu Chuang went to heat water, telling him to change his clothes and wash up later.
Ji Yuchen hummed in agreement, and after Xu Chuang left, he stood at the bathroom entrance, observing the small dwelling: the house had two rooms, with a narrow hallway at the entrance, not really a room, with one room on each side for living. The room they were in earlier was probably the master bedroom, with a thin summer quilt on the kang, and a wardrobe in the corner, from which Xu Chuang had taken clothes for him.
The other room, which Ji Yuchen hadn’t entered, seemed to be a storage room, with no one living there. Ji Yuchen thought Xu Chuang probably lived alone, as there were only traces of his life in the room. The man quickly heated the water, carrying two warm water bottles from the courtyard, and seeing Ji Yuchen still standing at the door, asked why he hadn’t undressed yet.
Ji Yuchen instinctively tugged at his collar, and Xu Chuang laughed, “We’re both guys, what’s there to be shy about? Want me to help you undress?” This statement had zero impact on a straight guy but was nearly 100% effective on Ji Yuchen, who quickly retreated to the wall, shaking his head like a rattle.
The man poured the hot water into the bucket, mixed it with cold water, and adjusted the temperature, telling him to try it. Ji Yuchen reached out to test it, his fingertips touching the water surface, and he flinched from the heat. Xu Chuang thought it shouldn’t be too hot, but considering Ji Yuchen’s tender skin, unlike his own rough skin, he figured it might be reasonable.
He added more cold water, instructing him to scoop it for washing, being careful not to touch the wound. Ji Yuchen shooed him out of the bathroom, closing the door, and sighed at the plastic bucket in front of him. The conditions were really too basic. Although Ji Yuchen couldn’t remember where he used to live or his living conditions, it shouldn’t have been this poor. He had the impression that a bathroom should have a shower and a bathtub, but now it was just a faucet and a plastic bucket, indicating Xu Chuang was really poor.
He took off the clothes sticking to him, glanced at the dirt on them, balled them up, and tossed them into the corner, starting to scoop water. The temperature Xu Chuang had adjusted was just right, pouring it over his head felt refreshing. Even though it was summer, a warm shower was still beneficial for relaxation.
Ji Yuchen took nearly an hour to shower, and by the time he came out, it was dark. He wore Xu Chuang’s clothes, the top like a dress, and the pants even worse, needing to be held up to avoid falling. He held up his pants, limping to the front room, seeing a small table on the kang with dishes covered to keep them warm.
Ji Yuchen sneakily lifted the cover, revealing a fragrant pot of braised ribs and a plate of stir-fried vegetables. He moved to the door, catching the spicy aroma wafting from the courtyard corner, unable to resist going over. In the northeast corner of the small courtyard, there was a stove, a large iron pot used in the countryside, with firewood underneath, providing strong heat.
The man in front of the stove had his hair tied in a small bun, and from the back, his muscular lines moved, with veins on his arms visible as he stirred the pot. Ji Yuchen stood behind the man, admiring the sight of a macho man cooking, until Xu Chuang called him over, asking if he felt comfortable after the shower.
Ji Yuchen nodded, and Xu Chuang told him to wait inside, the last dish was almost ready. Ji Yuchen didn’t want to freeload, so he held up his pants and limped over, asking if there was anything he could help with. Xu Chuang added another layer of chili to the spicy rabbit cubes, asking, “Can you handle spicy food?” Ji Yuchen shook his head, saying he didn’t know.
He peeked over the man’s shoulder, looking at the rabbit cubes in the pot, and threw away the thought of eating rabbit being cruel, because it smelled so good! Xu Chuang quickly finished the spicy rabbit cubes, pouring them into a plate, and Ji Yuchen volunteered to carry the dish inside. Xu Chuang stayed at the stove to serve rice and pick the steamed corn into a bowl.
Ji Yuchen was already slow due to his limp, and holding up his pants made his movements even more awkward. When Xu Chuang caught up, he thought Ji Yuchen might have an undiscovered injury, checking him over on the kang. Ji Yuchen was ticklish, hugging the quilt and begging for mercy, saying there were no other injuries, just the pants, the pants were too big.
He lifted his shirt, revealing a flat stomach, the waistband hanging loosely, enough to fit another half a person. Xu Chuang didn’t say anything, and Ji Yuchen asked, “Do you have an elastic band or something? This is too big, I can’t wear it…” The man was silent for a few seconds, and Ji Yuchen measured how much needed to be taken in to fit.
Xu Chuang said, “Let’s eat first, I’ll alter it for you later.” He walked to the opposite side of the small table, kicking a stool on the way, making a “clatter” sound. Ji Yuchen’s attempt was fruitless, so he folded the waistband twice, covering it with his shirt, and picked up chopsticks to eat.
Xu Chuang said his left arm was broken, though he wasn’t sure if it was true. It hurt when he moved it, but not unbearably so, and he could still use it to hold a bowl. He ate a few bites of vegetables, gnawed on two ribs, and finally focused on the brightly colored spicy rabbit cubes. This stuff smelled amazing…
Ji Yuchen was eager to try, but he thought he might not have eaten it before, and it looked very spicy. Xu Chuang encouraged him to try, and Ji Yuchen took a bite, finding the crispy surface and firm meat soaked in spicy seasoning delicious. He took one bite after another, unknowingly finishing half the plate, stopping only when his mouth was too spicy, making him want to cry.
Ji Yuchen opened his mouth, inhaling, his bright red tongue moving uncontrollably, as if unsure where to place it. Xu Chuang quickly poured him water, and Ji Yuchen drank five cups before the fire in his throat subsided a bit. His mouth was burning, his ears felt like they were on fire, and his nose and eyes were red, only able to say “spicy” repeatedly.
Xu Chuang watched the person in front of him, looking like he had been soaked in water, his fair skin glowing with a bright red sheen, his eyes wet, as if he had done something indescribable. He was lost for a few seconds, quickly snapping back, and gave Ji Yuchen some vegetables.
Ji Yuchen didn’t eat much after that, only finishing half a bowl of rice, and didn’t touch the rabbit cubes again. After the meal, he leaned on his arm, rubbing his belly, feeling he wouldn’t be hungry until noon the next day. Xu Chuang asked, “Are you full already? Why did you eat so little?”
He was worried about Ji Yuchen being hungry, coaxing him to eat more, but Ji Yuchen started hiccuping, leaning by the window, saying he couldn’t eat another bite. Only then did Xu Chuang take his leftovers, mixing them with the remaining dishes and meat, cleaning the plate.
Ji Yuchen was amazed at Xu Chuang’s appetite, at least five or six times his own. Their bowls were different sizes: Ji Yuchen’s was a bowl, Xu Chuang’s was a basin. He not only finished his own but also cleaned Ji Yuchen’s leftovers, including the pot of ribs and the two corns Uncle Zhou gave them on the way back.
Ji Yuchen was speechless, “You eat so much… didn’t you have lunch?” Xu Chuang scratched his head, laughing, saying he always had a big appetite, and he usually didn’t cook meat, so he couldn’t waste it when he did. After dinner, Xu Chuang went to the courtyard to clean up, and Ji Yuchen started running to the toilet repeatedly. He had drunk a bellyful of water after being spiced, and now he just wanted to pee, asking Xu Chuang where the toilet was.
The man pointed to the corner of the courtyard, where there was a curtain-covered area. It’s said that rural dry toilets aren’t particularly clean, and Ji Yuchen was prepared, but he found it wasn’t too bad, with a simple drainage system, not as primitive as he imagined.
After several trips to the toilet, he finally settled down, and Xu Chuang returned from the courtyard, pulling out an elastic band from the storage room, saying he would alter the waistband for him. Ji Yuchen had no other clothes to wear, but luckily the shirt was long enough to be a dress, covering him decently.
He sat on the edge of the kang, legs clamped together, not daring to move because he was commando underneath, pulling the quilt over his legs. Xu Chuang worked on the sewing methodically, which seemed a bit mismatched with his rugged appearance. Ji Yuchen marveled, “You can do this too…”
The man smiled, saying that living alone meant he had to know a bit of everything, or he’d be at a loss when something happened, and he’d have to learn eventually. Ji Yuchen watched from the side, observing him threading the elastic, making small talk, asking why he lived alone and not with his parents.
Xu Chuang’s smile faded, and after a moment, he said, “They passed away a couple of years ago, had an accident in the mountains, and by the time I got back, they were gone. So I didn’t go back to the city, staying here to keep them company…” It’s said that when parents pass away, one should mourn for three years, and Ji Yuchen thought this tradition was long gone in modern society, making the situation a bit awkward.
He pursed his lips, apologizing, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know…” Xu Chuang was easygoing, not dwelling on it, and just as he finished sewing the pants, he held them up, stretching them, and compared them to Ji Yuchen’s waist, telling him to try them on.
Ji Yuchen took the pants, asking Xu Chuang to step out. Xu Chuang didn’t understand why but complied, stepping into the courtyard. Ji Yuchen quickly put on the shorts, stretching the waistband, still a bit loose, but at least they didn’t fall down.
After tidying up, it was already night, and outside, apart from the scattered village lights, it was pitch black. Ji Yuchen sat on the kang, watching Xu Chuang busying himself: Xu Chuang first changed the bed sheets and covers, then took a pillow from the cabinet, telling him to sleep there tonight.
Ji Yuchen asked, “Where will you sleep? There’s only one bed here.” He was used to calling the kang a bed, probably out of habit. Xu Chuang said, “There’s a small bed in the other room, I’ll tidy it up and sleep there.”
He said this and went to the other room, and Ji Yuchen slid off the kang, leaning on the door frame to watch. The small bed Xu Chuang mentioned was a foldable wire bed, with a blanket thrown on it as a makeshift arrangement.
Feeling guilty, Ji Yuchen mumbled, “That thing must be uncomfortable… and I should be the one sleeping on it…” His voice trailed off because he really didn’t want to sleep on that wire bed, nor did he want Xu Chuang to.
He leaned on the door frame, suggesting, “Can’t we both sleep on the big bed? It looks spacious enough…” Xu Chuang said he snored at night and didn’t want to disturb him. Ji Yuchen was carried back to the kang, or rather, Xu Chuang saw him struggling to walk and lifted him by the armpits, carrying him back.
He said he would take a bath first, telling Ji Yuchen to sleep if he was tired, as they had to catch a bus to town early the next day, and it would be a long day. After Xu Chuang left, Ji Yuchen sat on the kang, dazed, preparing to pull the quilt over himself.
The rural kang was built against the wall, with two sides against the wall and one side against the window, with pillows and bedding placed in the corner. Ji Yuchen casually pulled the quilt, and suddenly something “whooshed” out, and he looked closely, seeing a creature on the wall…
“Ahhhhh—-!!! What is that!!!”
[Author’s Note]
Please bookmark and give a star! Next week, we’ll update to 30,000 words.