19 – Wait for me at home, be good
The next morning, after getting up and having breakfast, Gu Pingtíng sat under the corridor embroidering.
She saw Feng Shan bring out a sword from somewhere. The sword was a bit rusty, so Feng Shan sat by the well sharpening it.
Gu Pingtíng asked him, “Why aren’t you going hunting today? What are you sharpening the sword for?”
“Not hunting today.”
He didn’t answer why he was sharpening the sword. Gu Pingtíng shrugged and didn’t press further, lowering her head to continue embroidering her flowers.
She had bought a plain round fan yesterday and planned to embroider some pretty patterns on it to use for cooling herself on ordinary days.
Feng Shan’s large palm-leaf fan was too ugly, and she didn’t like using it.
Just as she was threading her needle, someone knocked on the small courtyard gate. Gu Pingtíng looked over and saw that Feng Shan had gone inside, so she got up to open the gate.
When she opened it, she didn’t see anyone at first. Gu Pingtíng looked down and saw a little boy with a single tuft of hair tied on his head.
Gu Pingtíng recognized this child—it was Li Mao, the one who had been playing with mud, sticking his bottom up at the village entrance yesterday evening.
Seeing him holding a large plate of steamed buns, Gu Pingtíng was about to ask why he had come, but before she could speak, she heard the child say, “Granddaughter-in-law is home! Here, these are meat buns my mother asked me to bring for you.”
Gu Pingtíng: …
Li Mao shoved the plate into Gu Pingtíng’s hands, turned around, and ran off. Gu Pingtíng watched the child’s small, chubby figure disappear, feeling somewhat speechless.
Turning back into the courtyard, she saw Feng Shan come out of the house and ask her, “Who was it?”
Gu Pingtíng thought for a moment, then chuckled and said, “Your grandfather came and brought you a plate of buns.”
Feng Shan: …
Feng Shan stayed home all day, and Gu Pingtíng didn’t know what he was busy with. In the afternoon, he went out and brought back a little girl, introducing her to Gu Pingtíng.
The little girl was named Zhang Rou, about twelve or thirteen years old, with a round face that looked cheerful and cute.
The little girl was sweet-tongued and spoke pleasantly. Gu Pingtíng gave her some pastries to eat, and the girl happily accepted them before heading home.
That night, as they prepared to sleep, Feng Shan sat by the bed fanning Gu Pingtíng and said, “I have to go on a trip tomorrow. Will you be alright staying home alone?”
Hearing that he was leaving, Gu Pingtíng sat up in bed, worried. “I’ll be scared at night if I’m home alone.”
She was timid, gentle-natured, afraid of the dark and of being alone.
Feng Shan gently touched her cheek. “The little girl this afternoon—I brought her here to keep you company. While I’m gone, she’ll come to stay with you at night and sleep in the same room. Don’t be afraid.”
Gu Pingtíng hesitated slightly. “When will you be back?”
“At least three days, at most five. I’ll definitely return. During these days, Aunt Zhang will bring you meals. Be good and eat what she gives you, don’t be picky, understand?”
Learning that someone would stay with her at night and bring her food during the day, Gu Pingtíng had nothing left to worry about. She lay back down, closed her eyes, and prepared to sleep, replying crisply, “Understood.”
Under the lamplight, her long eyelashes cast deep shadows beneath her eyes. Feng Shan still couldn’t fully set his mind at ease. “If you run into any trouble, just ask for help in my name. I’ll thank them properly when I return, understand?”
Gu Pingtíng hummed in acknowledgment.
“Don’t go near the river alone, and don’t wander off. You’re quite clumsy and don’t know your way around. If you get lost, there are plenty of wild beasts in these mountains.”
Hearing him call her clumsy, Gu Pingtíng immediately grew displeased. She turned over, facing away from him, and said impatiently, “I know, you’re so naggy!”
Feng Shan saw she was unhappy again and smiled, saying no more. He continued fanning her, letting her sleep peacefully.
The next morning.
Feng Shan packed his belongings and prepared to leave, while Gu Pingting was still in bed sleeping in.
Feng Shan pushed the door open and entered. She was sound asleep, her little face flushed with a faint rosy hue from deep slumber, as if lightly dusted with the most delicate rouge.
Her long, thick eyelashes resembled two small fans. The incense in the room smelled pleasant, and she herself carried a sweet fragrance.
Seeing how adorable she looked while sleeping, Feng Shan’s heart softened. He leaned down and gently kissed her.
The sensation beneath his lips was smooth and soft. Feng Shan smacked his lips—it was fragrant and sweet.
But…
Not getting slapped on the mouth felt somewhat unsatisfying.
Feng Shan pondered for a moment, then leaned down and planted a firm, smacking kiss on Gu Pingting!
His movements were rough, deliberately meant to wake her.
Gu Pingting’s little face stung from the prick of his stubble. Startled awake from her sweet dream and already displeased, she grew even angrier upon realizing he had taken liberties with her!
Without a second thought, she slapped Feng Shan twice, hard.
After receiving those two slaps, Feng Shan instantly felt invigorated all over!
Feng Shan laughed heartily, “I’m leaving. Be good and wait for me at home.”
Gu Pingting was too furious to speak. Frowning, she stared at Feng Shan’s smug face. Why did she feel that this foolish man seemed even happier after being hit?
Feng Shan left, carrying his long sword. Gu Pingting lay in bed, too angry to fall back asleep.
If this foolish man truly became happier after being hit, should she hit him in the future or not?
If she didn’t hit him, he’d be happy. If she hit him, he’d be even happier.
Either way, he’d be happy. Ugh, how utterly annoying!
Gu Pingting lay in bed, stewing in frustration for a while, then got up to wash and dress. Feng Shan had already drawn the water for her. Gu Pingting did her hair and makeup.
Breakfast was also prepared by Feng Shan, kept warm in the pot.
Feng Shan had cooked millet porridge and steamed buns for her, shaping the buns into little rabbits. However, with his clumsy hands, the rabbits ended up looking terribly ugly.
Gu Pingting picked up a bun and first bit into the rabbit’s ear.
Hmm, sesame sugar filling—her favorite.
After finishing breakfast, Gu Pingting sat under the corridor to embroider. As the sun rose and it grew hot outside, she moved indoors to continue her needlework.
Gu Pingting embroidered with such focus and dedication that she lost track of time. It wasn’t until her eyes grew tired and her neck stiff that she realized it was already noon.
Just as Gu Pingting was rubbing her shoulders and neck, she heard someone call from the courtyard, “Feng Shan’s wife, are you home? Auntie brought you lunch.”
Gu Pingting frowned. Feng Shan’s wife? Was that meant for her?
Gu Pingting stood up and went outside, opening the courtyard gate to find a middle-aged woman standing at the entrance with a basket.
Gu Pingting had seen this middle-aged woman before. On the day she regained consciousness after Feng Shan rescued her, this woman had come to change her clothes.
Gu Pingting was beautiful, with delicate and elegant features. Paired with her apricot-red waist-tied butterfly-embroidered gauze dress, she stood there like a fairy.
Aunt Zhang took an instant liking to Gu Pingting upon seeing her, secretly sighing to herself: We both gave birth to daughters, so why didn’t I have one as fresh and lovely as this?
Gu Pingting smiled and said, “Please come in, Auntie.”
Gu Pingting welcomed Aunt Zhang into the house. As soon as she entered, Aunt Zhang exclaimed in surprise, “Oh! It’s only been a few days since I last visited. When did this room become so beautiful?”
There was an exquisite dressing table, a tall wardrobe, a bright red satin-covered goose-down quilt on the bed, and small white porcelain teacups with blue glaze on the table. Incense was burning in the room, filling it with fragrance as soon as one stepped inside.
Aunt Zhang placed the bamboo basket on the table and busily wandered around the room. First, she touched the wardrobe—sturdy, attractive, with a glossy lacquered surface.
When she opened the wardrobe, it was filled with Gu Pingtíng’s fine clothes. Aunt Zhang couldn’t help but reach out and stroke them, sighing, “Such fine fabric—beautiful to wear and comfortable, far better than the coarse linen we have.”
After inspecting the wardrobe, Aunt Zhang walked over to the dressing table. Seeing hairpins, jewelry, rouge, and powder arranged on it, she picked them up to examine, exclaiming with envy, “Such lovely things—how much silver must they cost? It just goes to show how capable and wealthy Feng Shan is, getting you so many nice things.”
Gu Pingtíng didn’t respond. These were just ordinary items, after all. If they were in the palace, they wouldn’t even catch her eye.
Remembering her purpose, Aunt Zhang spoke up, “You should eat first. The food is in the basket. Eat quickly before it gets cold.”
Gu Pingtíng nodded, lifted the cloth covering the basket, took out the food, and sat down to eat slowly.
She had expected the meal not to suit her taste—she preferred sweet flavors and couldn’t tolerate even a hint of spice—but surprisingly, the food was quite good.
After looking over the dressing table, Aunt Zhang moved to inspect the bedding on the bed—extremely soft quilts that clearly promised a comfortable sleep.
On the bedside table were many snacks and trinkets. Aunt Zhang sighed after seeing them, “Oh my, Feng Shan really knows how to pamper someone! Food, drink, playthings, daily necessities—all prepared for you, complete and exquisite.”
Seeing Gu Pingtíng focused on her meal, Aunt Zhang walked to the table and sat across from her, sighing, “You’re such a lucky girl! Pretty and blessed with a man who knows how to care for you. Tsk, tsk! Even when Feng Shan goes on a long trip, he arranges everything perfectly for you. Not only did he ask me to bring you meals, but he also insisted on making your favorite dishes. He even thanked me profusely for putting up with you not liking to wash dishes.”
Gu Pingtíng kept her head down, eating quietly. No wonder the food suited her taste.
Seeing Gu Pingtíng unresponsive, Aunt Zhang asked again, “Feng Shan must have spent a lot of money on all these things for you, right?”
Gu Pingtíng thought for a moment, “I don’t know. I’ve never asked.”
Money was something Gu Pingtíng had never lacked, nor ever used. She had no concept of what it meant.
She only knew that whatever she liked or wanted, Feng Shan bought for her. He probably wasn’t short on money.
Noticing Gu Pingtíng’s reluctance to engage, Aunt Zhang stopped asking further.
Aunt Zhang could tell that Gu Pingtíng was likely a young lady from a wealthy family who had ended up here. Such girls tended to be delicate and proud, not fond of chatting with others.
After Gu Pingtíng finished eating, Aunt Zhang collected the bowls and chopsticks, then left cheerfully.
After seeing Aunt Zhang off, Gu Pingtíng returned to her room for an afternoon nap. The weather was hot, and with Feng Shan away today, no one was there to fan her. Feeling restless, Gu Pingtíng picked up a round fan and fanned herself.
On the fan, she had embroidered a pair of butterflies. As the fan fluttered, the butterflies seemed to dance, vivid and lifelike. Before long, Gu Pingtíng fell asleep.