After the two of them finished breakfast, they loaded the dried medicinal herbs onto the cart. Lin Heng locked the courtyard gate, climbed onto the driver’s seat, and drove toward Datong Town with Qingqing.
It was June now, and the weather had already grown somewhat hot. There were plenty of people on the road, all heading in the direction of the town.
It was not the busy farming season, so many people were going to town to find odd jobs and earn a little extra money to supplement their household expenses.
Lin Heng had also considered finding some temporary work, but Qingqing refused to let him.
They were not so poor that he needed to do odd jobs, and she couldn’t bear to let him go out and work as a laborer.
They still had plenty of silver. Even if they did nothing at all, they had enough to last them the rest of their lives. Why suffer needlessly?
Besides, occasionally going into the mountains to hunt and gather a few medicinal herbs was enough to cover their living expenses.
Once they entered the town, the two of them went straight to the pharmacy. They first had the medicinal herbs weighed and collected their payment, then had the physician take Lin Heng’s pulse.
“Not bad. You’ve recovered better than I expected. You don’t need to take any more medicine. The poison has been completely cleared!”
“Really, Doctor? Then there won’t be any aftereffects from the poison?”
“No. Your body is in excellent condition now. Very strong and healthy!”
“That’s good. Thank you, Doctor.”
“There’s no need to thank me. If you want to speak, you need to open your mouth and practice more. Given enough time, you’ll recover completely.”
“All right. Thank you for your trouble. Here’s the consultation fee.”
Qingqing happily pulled Lin Heng out of the pharmacy.
“Husband, we made one tael of silver today. What would you like to eat? Let’s go buy it.”
Lin Heng shook his head.
“There’s nothing you want to eat?” Qingqing asked in confusion.
“Then let’s buy some meat and grain. It’s June now, and I’m afraid the rainy season will arrive in July.
“Once it does, going out and entering the mountains will be inconvenient. Let’s stock up on some grain first. Then we won’t have to worry even if it rains.”
Lin Heng nodded. His wife really did think far ahead.
Still, when it came to grain, it was always better to be prepared.
The two of them drove the cart to buy some meat and large bones first. Qingqing said she would stew the bones into soup for him and make braised pork as well.
Then they went to the grain shop and bought fifty jin of rice, fifty jin of flour, and some other coarse grains.
By the time noon approached, the two of them arrived at a wonton shop in town and ate a bowl of wontons and some meat-filled pancakes.
Lin Heng ate two full bowls of wontons and four pancakes!
Qingqing even laughed and called him a big-bellied glutton.
He became a little embarrassed.
After all, he hadn’t eaten properly during those days in the mountains, and breakfast had long since been digested.
After finishing their wontons, the two of them wandered around the streets for a while. They heard a vendor say that there would be a lantern festival that evening.
They didn’t know what occasion it was for, and such an event was rarely held. The two decided to watch the lantern festival before returning home. It wasn’t as if they had anything else to do.
They left the cart at a place specifically designated for parking carts. After paying the attendant some copper coins, they gave him a few extra and asked him to keep an eye on the things in the cart.
Holding hands, the two of them walked through the bustling marketplace, wandering aimlessly as they looked at the sights around them.
“Husband, look over there! It looks like they’re setting something on fire over there.”
Qingqing pointed toward the lights in the distance, which flickered brightly and dimly in a particularly beautiful display.
Lin Heng looked in the direction she pointed. Just then, a firework burst open in the sky, its red and green colors especially beautiful.
“Boss, I’d like one skewer of candied hawthorns.”
“All right, Madam. Three copper coins!”
“Here.”
“Take care, Madam.”
Qingqing linked her arm through Lin Heng’s, while her other hand held the skewer of candied hawthorns as she nibbled at them.
“Husband, do you want some? They’re really sweet.”
Lin Heng shook his head.
Qingqing bit off one bright red hawthorn, then pulled her arm free from his and grabbed him by the collar. She tugged him toward her, leaned forward, and brought her lips close to his.
Lin Heng unconsciously opened his mouth, and the sweet-and-sour flavor spread through his mouth.
“Good?” Qingqing asked.
She looped her arm around his again, her voice as sweet and cloying as the candied hawthorn he had just tasted.
“Mm.”
Lin Heng’s face grew slightly hot.
This woman was doing such an intimate thing in public. She really had no shame.
As night gradually fell, the lights along the streets grew more numerous. Lanterns of every shape and color hung all along the streets.
Lin Heng and Qingqing walked through the lively market, eating as they browsed. It was the first time either of them had ever visited a night market, and they both found everything especially novel.
Whenever there was something delicious, they had to try it. Anything that wasn’t delicious ended up in Lin Heng’s stomach.
By the time they had finished exploring the entire street, it was completely dark.
Lin Heng held Qingqing’s hand as they prepared to return to the cart yard and retrieve their cart for the journey home.
“Husband, the market was so lively today. If there’s another one like this in the future, can we come again?”
Qingqing clung to his arm without letting go. She kept rubbing her face against the man’s chest, clinging to him like a little cat and making soft, contented sounds.
A certain place in his heart suddenly grew warm. Looking at her bright eyes, he nodded.
After retrieving the cart, Lin Heng helped Qingqing climb aboard. Unexpectedly, she stood there without moving.
She stared at him for a long while. Then a smile spread across her face, and she said in a soft, sweet voice,
“Husband, carry me…”
Lin Heng helplessly shook his head, bent down, and picked her up, placing her inside the cart. He then climbed onto the driver’s seat, took hold of the reins, and prepared to head home.
Once Qingqing had settled herself, she saw Lin Heng climb onto the cart as well. She reached out with both arms, wrapped them around his waist, and leaned against him.
And so, the two of them returned home nestled against each other.
Qingqing went to heat water for a bath, while Lin Heng sorted the grain, vegetables, and meat and put everything away in its proper place.
After the two of them bathed and returned to the room, they changed into their wedding clothes and lit the wedding candles.
Qingqing recited the wedding vows, and the two of them completed the simple ceremony and drank the nuptial wine.
Then Qingqing dragged Lin Heng off to bed. She was terribly sleepy.
The June nights were a little warm, and Qingqing was not used to sleeping while wearing clothes.
The man beside her, however, was still dressed from head to toe, which made her uncomfortable. After a few quick movements, she stripped off his clothes.
“Mm. This is much more comfortable.”
Sleeping beside her, Lin Heng couldn’t help but let his thoughts wander.
“Husband, husband… Qingqing likes you. Do you like Qingqing?”
Lin Heng only felt warmth against his lips. He saw Qingqing lift her head and kiss him.
“Sleep… now!” Lin Heng said, somewhat helplessly.
If she kept teasing him, he wouldn’t be able to hold himself back.
“Husband, I want…”
Want… what?
Lin Heng was somewhat confused.
Qingqing looked at the dazed man before her and wondered if he really didn’t understand.
Then again, the first time, Qingqing had drugged him. He had been groggy and probably didn’t remember much of it.
After thinking it over, Qingqing took the lead and slowly guided him, exploring step by step.
Little by little, Lin Heng finally understood what she wanted…
This woman…
No, he couldn’t take it anymore. He was losing his mind.
He picked the woman up and continued what they had been doing.
Before long, deep, heavy sounds came from inside the room.
The moon emerged from behind the clouds, casting a faint glow through the window.
This was the chest she had longed for day and night.
“Husband, husband…”
Qingqing lay against Lin Heng’s ear and called softly.
Lin Heng was so thoroughly bewitched by her that it was as if he had lost all sense of himself.
Only his heavy breathing and murmured sounds remained.
The night grew deeper and deeper, yet the sounds from inside the room did not cease.
No one knew how much time had passed. Qingqing had already fallen into an exhausted sleep, but Lin Heng was still not satisfied.
Only after everything finally ended did he get up to draw water and clean himself. Then he returned to the bed, gathered the sleeping woman into his arms, and finally fell asleep contentedly.