16 – You’re arbitrarily raising prices
After lunch, Gu Pingting took a nap, and Feng Shan fanned her.
When the heat subsided a bit, Feng Shan went up the mountain to hunt. By evening, when he returned with his catch, Gu Pingting was nowhere to be seen in the yard.
Feng Shan entered the house and saw Gu Pingting curled up on the bed.
Feng Shan hurried over and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Gu Pingting frowned slightly and whispered, “My stomach hurts.”
“Why would your stomach hurt out of nowhere? Are you sick? Come on, I’ll carry you to see a doctor.”
As Feng Shan spoke, he was about to pick her up, but Gu Pingting said, “I’m not sick. It’s… it’s…”
Too embarrassed to say it outright, she added, “Anyway, I’m not sick. Do we have brown sugar at home? I couldn’t find any this afternoon. Can you get some for me to brew in hot water? Drinking brown sugar water will make me feel better.”
Upon hearing this, Feng Shan immediately turned and strode out. “We don’t have any at home. I’ll go to Aunt Zhang’s and ask for some.”
Gu Pingting lay on the bed for a short while before Feng Shan returned with the brown sugar. He brewed a large bowl and brought it to her to drink.
Watching her drink it, Feng Shan said, “I asked Aunt Zhang. Crabs are cold in nature, and since you’re on your period, eating too many crabs naturally causes stomach pain.”
Gu Pingting choked on her drink and whispered, “How could you… discuss such things directly with others…”
“Aunt Zhang helped deliver me. In this village, she watched me grow up bare-bottomed. It’s nothing.”
Gu Pingting’s face flushed slightly, and she lowered her head to drink the brown sugar water.
After finishing the drink, Gu Pingting lay down to rest again. Feng Shan said, “Aunt Zhang said you’ve caught a chill and told me to warm your lower abdomen with my hands. It’ll make you feel better.”
As he spoke, Feng Shan reached out to place his hand on her lower abdomen. Gu Pingting quickly rolled further into the bed, avoiding his touch, and said unhappily, “Men and women should keep their distance. Why would she tell you to warm my stomach? Don’t try to take advantage of me!”
Feng Shan’s dark, obsidian-like eyes fixed on Gu Pingting as he said in a low voice, “Who in this village doesn’t know you’re my wife, Feng Shan’s? Aunt Zhang telling me to warm your stomach is perfectly reasonable.”
Hearing this, Gu Pingting became completely displeased. She sat up angrily and said, “You must have gone out and said that, right? Who’s your wife? I’m not your wife. Don’t go around spreading nonsense.”
Feng Shan replied without changing his expression, “No, I didn’t say anything. The villagers just think we’re a good match and started spreading it themselves.”
Gu Pingting’s face flushed completely red, and she said in embarrassment and annoyance, “Pah! Who’s a good match with you?”
Feng Shan grinned.
Gu Pingting suddenly sat up, and another wave of cramping pain shot through her lower abdomen. Feng Shan quickly helped her lie back down.
Feeling unwell, Gu Pingting didn’t feel like arguing with Feng Shan anymore. She closed her eyes to rest and, before she knew it, fell asleep.
Her lower abdomen ached faintly, and at first, Gu Pingting slept restlessly. Later, she felt a warm heat resting on her lower abdomen, warming it comfortably. Her whole body relaxed, and she fell into a deep sleep.
Having skipped dinner, Gu Pingting woke up hungry in the middle of the night. When she opened her eyes, the room was dark, with only moonlight slipping in through the window.
Feng Shan was leaning over her bedside, his large hand warming her stomach, radiating warmth.
Feng Shan seemed to be asleep, motionless by the bed. Tall and broad, his figure loomed heavily in the dark room, like a large monster crouching by the bed.
But Gu Pingting wasn’t afraid of him.
Gu Pingting stirred, and Feng Shan woke up, asking, “Does it still hurt?”
Gu Pingting shook her head. “Not much anymore.”
Feng Shan got up and lit the lamp in the dark, instantly filling the room with warm light. He asked her, “You haven’t eaten dinner yet, are you hungry?”
Gu Pingting nodded.
“Then I’ll go make you something to eat. Wait here.” With that, Feng Shan went out.
Gu Pingting’s stomach no longer hurt, so she sat up and stared blankly, feeling bored. She picked up the Luban lock to play with again.
This one was new, bought for her by Feng Shan the day before yesterday.
This new Luban lock had a new structural mechanism. Gu Pingting fiddled with it for a long time, and even after Feng Shan finished cooking, she still hadn’t solved it.
Gu Pingting sighed, placed the Luban lock by the bedside, got out of bed, and went to eat.
Feng Shan had cooked millet porridge for her, adding red dates to it. It was fragrant and sweet. Gu Pingting ate two bowls, and after finishing, she went back to solving the Luban lock.
Feng Shan cleaned up the dishes and, seeing that she couldn’t solve it, said, “Bring it here, I’ll teach you.”
Gu Pingting handed him the Luban lock, and Feng Shan taught her step by step how to solve it. Only then did Gu Pingting brighten up.
Seeing her smiling eyes and faint dimples, Feng Shan couldn’t help but feel restless again. He stared intently at her and said, “Willing to smile at me now?”
Gu Pingting snorted. If it weren’t for the fact that he had stayed by her bedside late into the night and cooked for her, she wouldn’t have paid him any attention.
Seeing her smile at him again, Feng Shan’s heart raced. He reached out, cupped her small face, and planted a firm kiss on her lips!
Gu Pingting’s smile froze on her face. She then wiped the saliva from her mouth and shouted angrily, “Feng Shan!”
Gu Pingting gritted her teeth almost to the point of breaking them. This man—you simply couldn’t give him a friendly look!
He was always quick to take advantage, pushing his luck at every opportunity!
Gu Pingting was truly furious now. She glanced over and saw Feng Shan looking utterly smug.
Gu Pingting absolutely despised this man, Feng Shan. In her rage, she slapped him twice across the face!
Feng Shan, being a thick-skinned and rough man, didn’t feel much pain, but he exclaimed in surprise, “You’re raising the price! We agreed on one slap for one kiss. Why are you giving me two slaps for one kiss now?”
Gu Pingting’s face flushed red, almost as if it were about to bleed. She warned him, “I’m telling you now, if you dare to take liberties with me again, I’ll really hit you!”
Feng Shan laughed. “As long as I can kiss you, I’d willingly die even if you beat me to death!”
With that, Feng Shan hugged Gu Pingting and kissed her again. So sweet!!
Gu Pingting was furious and no longer indulged him. She raised her hand and slapped him twice more, hard!
Feng Shan clicked his tongue and rubbed his slightly stiffened cheek. Though he didn’t want to admit it, why did he like it more the more Gu Pingting hit him?
Feng Shan wasn’t entirely sure, so he kissed her firmly again. Sure enough, Gu Pingting slapped him twice more!
After receiving two more slaps, Feng Shan was now certain! He liked it when Gu Pingting hit him!
This feeling… was truly exhilarating!!
Feng Shan enjoyed being hit but didn’t dare show it. If this little woman knew he was enjoying it doubly, she’d probably cry herself sick…
Feng Shan kissed again, and Gu Pingting hit again.
Feng Shan kissed once more, and Gu Pingting hit once more.
…
Thus, in the quiet courtyard, the sounds continued unabated.
These two sounds seemed somewhat abrupt in the silence and darkness, standing out distinctly from the croaking of frogs and chirping of insects in the mountains and fields.
That night, Gu Pingting’s hands swelled from all the hitting.
But Feng Shan was overjoyed…