18 – I’m preparing to marry a wife
After leaving the medicine hall, Gu Pingting was still fuming. When Feng Shan tried to lift her onto the little donkey, she refused to let him.
Gu Pingting grumbled inwardly—all that gratitude she had just felt for Feng Shan was wasted on this fool who had no sense of romance!
Gu Pingting walked quickly, but Feng Shan, worried her legs would soon ache, grabbed her arm and said, “Alright, don’t be angry. I was only joking.”
Gu Pingting planted her hands on her hips. “I didn’t like your joke at all.”
In front of Feng Shan, she looked so petite that even with her hands on her hips, she lacked any imposing presence.
But Feng Shan liked her little pouty expression. He lowered his gaze and looked at her gently. “Since we’re already in town, let me buy you some things you like, alright?”
Feng Shan’s voice was deep and rough—when he spoke loudly, it was almost deafening. But when he spoke softly and tenderly, that rich bass tone was quite pleasant.
Gu Pingting’s irritation was soothed somewhat by his voice, and hearing that Feng Shan wanted to buy her things made her happy. She put her hands on her hips again, this time playfully. “Fine. This princess happens to be in need of a few small items.”
Seeing her cheer up, Feng Shan lifted her onto the little donkey and took her into the streets to shop.
When Gu Pingting was a princess, even leaving the palace meant carriages, guards, and attendants. Outings were always cleared of commoners, so in all her years, this was the first time Gu Pingting had experienced the lively bustle of the common folk.
The streets were bustling with people, and the vendors’ stalls were filled with a dazzling array of goods. Gu Pingting, delighted by what she saw, bought many things—food, daily items, toys—whatever she liked, she purchased.
Feng Shan followed behind, one hand leading the donkey, the other paying for her purchases.
By the time they finished the whole street, the bags on the little donkey’s back were stuffed full, and Gu Pingting’s hands were laden with snacks.
Candied hawthorn sticks, sugar figurines, baked flatbreads, rice cakes, preserved fruits…
There were so many treats she could hardly hold them all.
After their shopping, Feng Shan took her home.
Gu Pingting sat on the little donkey’s back, munching on her snacks, utterly delighted the whole way.
Feng Shan watched her little legs swinging on either side of the donkey’s belly and smiled softly.
Gu Pingting had big eyes but a small appetite—with so much food, she couldn’t possibly finish it all. After sampling each item, she was full.
Whatever she couldn’t eat or finish, she handed to Feng Shan for him to eat.
Her favorites were all sweet, sticky treats, which Feng Shan didn’t particularly care for. But holding them was troublesome, so he ate them all in big bites.
After walking for a while, Feng Shan worried the jolting might make Gu Pingting uncomfortable, so he lifted her down to rest by the roadside.
Gu Pingting’s hands were sticky with sugar, so Feng Shan used water from his flask to wash them for her.
Gu Pingting looked at him and asked, “Feng Shan, do you really have three hundred taels of silver?”
Feng Shan also looked up at Gu Pingting and reassured her, “Don’t worry. If I say I have it, I have it.”
Hearing his confirmation, Gu Pingting smiled. The corners of her lips lifted, revealing the dimples by her mouth, making her look sweet and adorable.
Feng Shan’s heart stirred slightly. He reached out and ruffled her fluffy hair, gazing at her with a smile. “But this three hundred taels was originally meant for me to take a wife. Since you’re using it, will you marry me?”
Gu Pingting froze for a moment, then pouted. “Don’t worry, I’ll pay you back. When the time comes, this princess will repay you tenfold, a hundredfold!”
She was unwilling. Feng Shan raised an eyebrow, his large hand sliding down from the top of her head, finally gently gripping the back of her neck. He abruptly pulled her whole body toward himself and said in a low voice, “Gu Pingting, I don’t want money.”
Gu Pingting was pulled right before his eyes. His heavy breath almost brushed against her face, and the two were so close.
Feng Shan even caught the sweet scent in her breath—the clear, sweet fragrance of the sugar figurine she had just licked. This delicate sweetness seeped into Feng Shan’s own breath.
Feng Shan’s eyes darkened as he gazed deeply at Gu Pingting.
He wanted to taste the saliva in her little mouth—it must be sweet too.
Feng Shan had sharp eyes, usually fierce and domineering, but now they were heavy with desire, as if brimming with ambition, wanting to devour Gu Pingting in one bite!
Gu Pingting’s face flushed, and she snorted, “In your dreams!”
As she spoke, Gu Pingting pushed Feng Shan with her hands. Feng Shan chuckled and released her.
By the time the two returned to the village, it was already evening. Smoke rose from the chimneys of every household, and the deep mountains were quiet, bathed in the golden-orange glow of the sunset.
The small mountain village was as peaceful and serene as a painting.
Children gathered at the village entrance to play games. Seeing the little donkey loaded with goods, they curiously crowded around to look.
Feng Shan took out the candies he had bought that day and distributed them to the children. Each child received some, hopping and skipping as they thanked Uncle Feng.
Feng Shan said, “Don’t thank me. Thank your auntie.”
Gu Pingting was taken aback, then heard the children say to her, “Thank you, Auntie.”
The children were innocent and cheerful. Though her face flushed slightly, Gu Pingting still said, “You’re welcome. Take them home to eat.”
Hearing this, the children happily ran home.
Gu Pingting glanced over and saw Feng Shan looking at her, his face full of smugness. She pretended not to notice, turning away shyly.
As she turned, Gu Pingting noticed a little boy still squatting under a big tree, playing with mud. All the other children had taken candy, but he hadn’t come to get any.
Gu Pingting said, “Feng Shan, do you have any candy left? Give some to that child too.”
Hearing this, Feng Shan looked over. When he saw the child, he rummaged in the bag of goods for a while, pulling out a large handful of candies and also taking a box of osmanthus cake as he walked over.
Feng Shan crouched down and said to the child, “Li Mao, these candies are for you. Take this osmanthus cake home to your mother.”
Li Mao put down the mud in his hands, wiped his nose, gathered the candies in his clothes, took the osmanthus cake, and said, “Thank you, great-grandson.”
Gu Pingting: ??
This child named Li Mao was so rude!
After saying this, the little brat Li Mao ran home with his things. Gu Pingting said to Feng Shan, “That child deserves a spanking.”
Feng Shan rubbed his nose. “By seniority, he really is my grandfather.”
Gu Pingting: …
When the two returned home, Feng Shan unloaded the things they had bought that day and then took five catties of wild boar meat to return Uncle Li’s little donkey.
All the items bought that day were things Gu Pingting liked, so she busied herself tidying and organizing them one by one in the house.
She had bought storybooks and a Go set to pass the time, needles and thread for embroidery, hairpins and hair clasps, and a pair of pretty shoes.
After tidying up, Gu Pingting realized that the candies she had bought were all gone. She felt a bit regretful—she hadn’t even tasted a single one.
She wondered what flavor they were.
After tidying up her things, Gu Pingting tried on her newly bought shoes. They fit perfectly, and she was just walking around in them when Feng Shan returned.
Gu Pingting lifted her foot to show him. “Do they look good on me?”
Feng Shan stared for a moment. Her feet were small and delicate, and so were the shoes. On the magenta surface of the shoe was embroidered a flower Feng Shan didn’t recognize. He wasn’t good at giving compliments, but he knew they looked good on her.
Feng Shan nodded. “Mm.”
He only gave a simple “mm.” Gu Pingting pouted. What a fool, he doesn’t even know how to flatter someone.
Gu Pingting lowered her small foot and was just admiring her new shoes when suddenly Feng Shan’s large hand appeared before her eyes, holding a few pieces of candy in his palm.
“Here, you haven’t tried this candy yet.”
Gu Pingting’s heart stirred slightly. She looked up at Feng Shan. “This candy… did you save it especially for me?”
Seeing she hadn’t taken it, Feng Shan unwrapped one and fed it to her. “Mm, when I was sharing them out, I hid a few on purpose, just for you.”
It was peanut brittle candy, with large crushed peanuts wrapped in syrup. It had a coarse, rough texture, but it was really, really sweet…
Feng Shan saw her eyes sparkle and leaned down with a smile. “Is it good?”
Gu Pingting was taken aback for a moment, then lowered her head and said proudly, “It’s not good at all!”
Feng Shan knew she was being contrary. He pinched her little cheek and laughed heartily.