Song Bo woke up just as the sky began to turn gray. Perhaps because he remembered he had to go to the docks for work, his body’s biological clock naturally set his wake-up time.
Listening to the slow, steady breathing behind him, Song Bo raised his left arm, intending to lift the quilt and get out of bed. The moment he moved his arm, a sharp pain flared in his shoulder. His shoulder was definitely bruised; otherwise, the pain would not have intensified overnight instead of fading.
Enduring the pain, Song Bo got out of bed anyway. He could not afford to abandon the short-term job he had just secured after only one afternoon of work. The boat owner was a businessman with extensive connections; if Song Bo earned a bad reputation now, it would be difficult to find work in the future.
Song Bo turned around. Jiang Jinxi was sleeping soundly, facing him. His closed eyes did not diminish his beauty; instead, the tranquility added a touch of softness. Song Bo tucked the quilt in. Up close, he noticed that Jiang Jinxi’s eyelashes were long and curled. He was truly a born beauty.
However, Song Bo remained clear-headed; Jiang Jinxi’s beauty had nothing to do with him. It belonged only to the story’s protagonist.
After ensuring no draft could reach under the covers, Song Bo turned and left the room. He went to the kitchen, splashed some fresh water on his face to wash up, and set off for Chuanfu Town.
Before leaving, he stopped by Song Chazai’s house and asked her to help deliver meals for one more day.
Song Chazai agreed quickly, but before Song Bo left, she cautioned him, “Do not push yourself too hard.”
Song Bo did not take a carriage today either. He bought two buns and ate them as he walked. By the time he reached the docks, his timing was perfect.
The boat owner was not surprised to see Song Bo arrive on time. Based on Song Bo’s performance the previous afternoon, the owner knew he was not someone who gave up easily.
The owner scanned the crowd and said, “Everyone is here. Let’s get to work.”
At the command, everyone began moving. Li Wu walked over to Song Bo and, just like yesterday, helped him lift a bag of goods onto his back. As the load settled on his shoulder, Song Bo winced, his features contorting in pain.
Seeing Song Bo’s grimace, Li Wu asked anxiously, “Are you alright?”
Song Bo clenched his teeth and forced himself to endure. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead as he replied, “I am fine. Just keep moving.”
Moving cargo was not a job for the faint of heart. After a full day of labor, the injury on Song Bo’s shoulder worsened.
Today, Song Bo worked himself to exhaustion. Even though his legs felt as heavy as lead, he only earned twenty-seven coins. Still, he was satisfied. After finishing work, he went to the market Li Wu had recommended and bought some leftover lettuce. Although the vegetables did not look perfect, they were cheap. Under his current circumstances, he could not afford luxury, but he could ensure balanced nutrition for three meals a day.
Under a star-filled sky, Song Bo clutched his vegetables and walked home. From a distance, he saw the candlelight flickering in his house. Jiang Jinxi was sitting on a stool by the door.
Even though Jiang Jinxi was not his actual spouse, the feeling of coming home to a bright light and someone waiting for him was undeniably different.
Song Bo stepped inside and asked, “Why are you waiting at the door? Aren’t you cold?”
“I am not cold,” Jiang Jinxi replied. Looking at the vegetables in Song Bo’s hand, he asked, “Are those for Great Aunt?”
“Why would I give them to her?” Song Bo asked in return.
“I, I do not know how to cook,” Jiang Jinxi said.
In this world, gers and women usually handled domestic affairs, and most families taught them how to cook. Jiang Jinxi was different. He had been the pearl of his family’s eye, protected so fiercely that they never would have allowed him to be withered by the smoke and grease of a kitchen. Therefore, even though Jiang Jinxi was sixteen and had reached adulthood, he still did not know how to start a fire or cook.
“What are you doing?” Song Bo glanced at him. “I will do it.”
Kitchens were often filled with intense heat and grease, and because the slaughter of livestock occurred there, the space was associated with blood. Consequently, society generally believed that men should not enter the kitchen to be tainted by such energy. Jiang Jinxi was completely stunned that Song Bo, a man, was willing to cook.
Seeing Jiang Jinxi’s dazed expression, Song Bo changed the subject. “Did Great Aunt come by today?”
Since he had only bought one bundle of greens today, he had not spent much time at the market and returned earlier than yesterday.
Jiang Jinxi snapped out of his daze and answered, “Not yet.”
Speak of the devil; Song Chazai arrived with dinner. She was startled to see Song Bo standing in the room. “You returned so early today?”
Song Bo nodded. “Great Aunt.”
Since Jiang Jinxi no longer needed to stay in bed, Song Chazai placed the food container on the wooden table. As the three of them sat down, Song Chazai said, “Return early tomorrow. We are holding a clan meeting.”
The Song family had many descendants, and in this generation, Song Chazai acted as the head of the family. A clan meeting was held every three months to reunite the family and see if anyone needed assistance.
Because the meeting time was fixed, everyone cleared their schedules and rarely missed it without a vital reason.
After Song Bo’s parents died, he was the only one left in his branch of the family. Song Chazai had invited the original Song Bo before, but he had never taken it seriously and never attended. Originally, Song Chazai had stopped asking him, but seeing his improvement over the last two days, she decided to try again.
“What time tomorrow?” Song Bo asked. He was always punctual and needed the specific time to plan his day.
“Roughly at the beginning of the hour of the Dog,” Song Chazai answered.
Because some members lived far away and traveled slowly, the start time could vary, but it was usually around 7:00 PM.
“Alright,” Song Bo agreed.
This time worked well; it gave him enough time to come home, eat, and then go to Song Chazai’s house.
With tomorrow’s plans settled, Song Bo and Jiang Jinxi picked up their bowls and began dinner.
Song Chazai, having a moment of leisure, glanced at the vegetables on the table and asked Song Bo, “And these?”
“I plan to cook for myself starting tomorrow so I do not have to trouble you anymore,” Song Bo said. Even though Song Chazai was his aunt, it was not right to keep making her run back and forth.
“Don’t you have to go to work?” Song Chazai asked.
“I will simply wake up earlier,” Song Bo replied.
Song Chazai knew his work schedule. He had to spend an hour walking to town and then time cooking; he would have to wake up incredibly early. As an elder, she felt sorry for him. She said, “Do not go through all that trouble. I will take the vegetables, and Jinxi can just eat at my house tomorrow.”
“That would be too much trouble for you, Great Aunt,” Song Bo said.
“Yes,” Jiang Jinxi echoed.
“How much harder is it to cook for a few more people?” Song Chazai slapped the table, making the final decision. “It is settled. You both come to my house to eat tomorrow.”
Since she had put it that way, Song Bo felt it would be disrespectful to refuse again. He replied, “Yes, thank you, Great Aunt.”
After eating and taking his medicine, Jiang Jinxi left the room with Song Bo and Song Chazai. Since he had to go to Song Chazai’s house by himself tomorrow, they were showing him the way.
This was the first time he had stepped outside since arriving at this home. The night was as dark as ink, and Song Chazai led the way with a small lantern.
With the help of the moonlight and the lantern, Jiang Jinxi walked without much trouble.
Seeing the light, Song Bo thought he should buy a lantern when he went to town tomorrow. He did not mind the dark, but if Jiang Jinxi needed to go out at night, he would need a light to see the path.
As Song Bo was thinking, he suddenly heard a scream, and his left arm was grabbed.
The sudden force made Song Bo feel as if his left shoulder was being ripped off. The pain was intense. He brushed off Jiang Jinxi’s hand and asked, “What is it?”
“What happened?” Song Chazai, walking ahead, was also startled by the scream. She turned around, the candlelight illuminating their faces.
“I, I saw a mouse,” Jiang Jinxi said. He was terrified of mice. A fat mouse had just scurried past his feet, frightening him.
“I see.” Song Chazai turned back to lead the way. “There are many mice in this village. If you do not bother them, they will not bother you.”
“Okay,” Jiang Jinxi said, though he was still shaken. He stayed much closer to Song Bo, almost brushing against his sleeve.
“It was just a mouse,” Song Bo grumbled, maintaining his “scoundrel” attitude, yet he moved closer to Jiang Jinxi and walked half a step ahead. This way, if another mouse appeared, he would see it first and could kick it away.
Protecting Jiang Jinxi in this manner, they finally arrived at Song Chazai’s house.
The courtyard was brightly lit. Song Chazai extinguished the candle in her lantern and set it by the door. She asked Jiang Jinxi, “Jinxi, do you remember the way?”
Having grown up in an official’s family, Jiang Jinxi was well-educated and intelligent. A path that took only fifteen minutes to walk was no challenge for him. He bowed slightly and said, “I remember it.”
“Good,” Song Chazai said.
The purpose of the trip was to familiarize Jiang Jinxi with the route. Now that he knew it and Song Bo had nothing else to discuss, Song Bo turned to lead Jiang Jinxi home.
“Wait,” Song Chazai stopped him.
Song Bo turned back, looking confused.
“Come in and apply some medicine,” Song Chazai said.
Since Jiang Jinxi had been resting at home all day, she clearly was not talking about him. Song Chazai must have noticed Song Bo’s stiff movements. Song Bo replied, “There is no need. It is just a minor injury.” He figured the bruise would fade in a few days and did not want to waste ointment.
Song Chazai did not argue. She simply stepped forward and pressed her hand firmly onto Song Bo’s left shoulder.
“Hiss!” Song Bo could not help himself. He clutched his shoulder and crouched down in pain, shouting, “Great Aunt!”
Jiang Jinxi, standing close by, was startled by the sudden movement. He reached out to support Song Bo, his eyes filled with panic. “What, what happened?”
Song Chazai withdrew her hand. “The toughest part of you is your mouth.”