After walking a while, the two arrived at the Shen household. The moment Shen Yun saw Wen Xi, his heart filled with delight, and he grabbed his hand, chattering away nonstop: "Xiao Xi, what brings you here? Did you come especially to play with me?"
Wen Xi gave a shy smile and said, "I came to buy some embroidery thread for my sister-in-law."
"Wait right here, I'll have my brother get it for you." With that, Shen Yun called into the house, "Shen Liang, Xiao Xi needs embroidery thread—bring some out quickly."
Before long, a tall, well-built man emerged from the house. He handed the embroidery thread to Yan Feng'an while scowling at Shen Yun: "No sense of propriety all day long—not a bit of proper ge'er behavior. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"
Shen Liang had spent long periods traveling for work, so his skin was rather dark, and when he pulled a stern face, he was quite frightening. Wen Xi instinctively edged closer to Yan Feng'an, only to see Shen Yun stick out his tongue at him and say, "See how fierce my brother is? No wonder he can't find a wife."
Shen Liang deliberately teased him: "With such a bratty little ge'er in the household, who would dare marry me?"
Shen Yun stomped his foot in irritation: "So annoying!"
He pulled Wen Xi aside and complained in a low voice, "He just finds me an eyesore, that's why he's deliberately marrying me off to someone."
Anyone with eyes could see the brothers were just bickering, so Wen Xi didn't call it out. He only asked, "Have you already been matched with someone?"
Shen Yun shook his head: "How could it be that fast? After listening to your advice, I'm still taking my time choosing. These things can't be rushed."
He was shy and demure when out and about, but at home he was utterly unruly. Watching Yan Feng'an's smiling expression, Shen Liang said, "My younger brother is somewhat willful and rude. Forgive the embarrassment, Scholar Yan."
It was merely acting spoiled because he was doted on, so Yan Feng'an didn't think anything of it. He said, "It's perfectly normal for a ge'er his age to have a bit of a temper. Being like this, he's actually adorably childish."
One was a peddler, the other a scholar—they weren't familiar with each other, so after exchanging a polite word or two, there was nothing more to say.
Wen Xi exchanged a few words with Shen Yun, then asked, "How much for the embroidery thread?"
Shen Yun waved his hand: "What's our relationship? Could I possibly take your money? If you need it, just take it and use it."
Shen Yun didn't have any particularly close friends in the village, and it was rare for him to get along so well with Wen Xi. For such a small amount of embroidery thread, Shen Liang had no intention of charging them either.
However generous the brothers were, Wen Xi felt embarrassed to take it for free, but he was clumsy with words and didn't know what to say. He instinctively glanced at Yan Feng'an and heard him say, "Ordinarily we shouldn't make such a fuss over a little money and be so formal with you, but the household has been making clothes lately, and my two sisters-in-law may take on some embroidery work soon. There will be plenty of use for embroidery thread then—if we kept taking yours for free, we'd feel too uneasy about it."
He took out some copper coins from his sleeve and handed them to Shen Liang, gesturing for him to accept.
Shen Liang couldn't be bothered to bicker with them over such a small sum, so he took the coins and said, "I go to the county town every few days. If there's anything you need me to bring back, just say the word."
Yan Feng'an nodded, then smiled at Shen Yun: "If you ever feel bored, you're welcome to come to our home anytime to keep Xi-ge'er company."
Shen Yun said happily, "You mean I really can come play with him at your house anytime?"
"Of course it's true."
Yan Feng'an wasn't just being polite. He felt that having a peer to stay by Wen Xi's side, chatting with him now and then to relieve his boredom, would be a good thing.
Wen Xi had a bit more freedom now than before, and Shen Yun truly wanted to go find him to play every day. Previously, he'd had some reservations about Yan Feng'an, afraid of displeasing him, but hearing him say this, Shen Yun was genuinely delighted.
He hadn't had much contact with Yan Feng'an before. He'd run into him from a distance a few times and thought the man was cold and aloof, somewhat looking down on village folk like them. Later, when he learned that Yan Feng'an was engaged to Wen Liu, Shen Yun's opinion of him grew even worse.
But seeing him today, he felt the man wasn't as disagreeable as he'd imagined.
Shen Yun winked at Wen Xi and said playfully, "Now I finally have an excuse to pester you every day."
Wen Xi was happy too, though his happiness wasn't as outwardly displayed as Shen Yun's. Still, if you looked closely, you could catch a hint of it on his face.
Just as the two left the Shen household and were about to head back, a hesitant, aggrieved voice suddenly called out from behind them: "Feng'an…"
The Shen and Wen families lived very close to each other, and before leaving the house, Wen Xi had been wondering whether they might run into someone from the Wen family.
He had been bullied by that family so badly that the mere thought of the three of them made his hair stand on end. Hearing Wen Liu's voice now, his face changed drastically and he froze.
Yan Feng'an hadn't been sure whether the person behind them was calling him, but seeing Wen Xi's reaction, he understood everything at once.
Turning around, he saw Wen Liu with eyes brimming with tears, gazing at him with delighted surprise: "It really is you. Feng'an, you've really… recovered?"
For an unmarried ge'er to address another man's husband in such a way—Yan Feng'an suppressed his smile and said sternly, "In broad daylight, in public, I'd advise you to conduct yourself with some propriety."
Wen Liu wiped away his tears and said weakly, "I'm sorry. Seeing you recovered, I was so happy I forgot myself. I didn't mean to put you in a difficult position."
Yan Feng'an said flatly, "If you knew it was improper, you shouldn't have greeted me at all."
Wen Liu, choked by his words, switched to sobbing: "After everything I did to you, it's only right that you hate me. But do you know I had my own difficulties?"
Yan Feng'an met his gaze calmly: "I have little interest in knowing your difficulties."
Wen Liu pretended not to notice his coldness and took a step forward, as if to get closer to him. Yan Feng'an's brow furrowed slightly. He was displeased but didn't lash out immediately, merely shifting his body toward Wen Xi's side.
"Feng… Scholar Yan, let me explain."
"Go ahead. My husband and I are both listening."
Yan Feng'an's expression was somewhere between a smile and not, his tone carrying a faint mockery. Wen Liu's carefully cultivated emotions were interrupted yet again, and he said agitatedly, "You acknowledge him as your husband?"
The question was laughable. Yan Feng'an said, "We exchanged birth-date horoscopes and performed the wedding rites. Why wouldn't I acknowledge him?"
Wen Liu hadn't expected him to accept Wen Xi so easily. Furious and resentful, his lips trembling, he said, "How is he worthy…"
Yan Feng'an cut him off: "I like him. That makes him worthy."
Wen Liu broke down and shouted, "But the one you loved was clearly me!"
Fortunately, there was hardly anyone around, or else everyone would surely have been shocked by such shameless words.
Yan Feng'an was, after all, a scholar of some standing—how could he spare the time to argue over such things? But he knew some matters needed a clean break.
Thinking this, he said, "Since the wedding, I haven't taken Xiaoxi to visit your family yet. Today you go home and tell your parents that tomorrow I'll be coming to your house. Didn't you say you had some hidden grievance? Well then, I'll hear you out in full."
Hearing that there might be a chance, Wen Liu's mood softened a little, and his voice turned gentle: "Good. You'd better come." He knew Yan Feng'an couldn't bear to let him go. Out here, neither of them could save face, but tomorrow, behind closed doors, he would pour his heart out to Yan Feng'an—ideally coaxing him into rekindling what they had and divorcing that little slut Wen Xi.
Thinking this, Wen Liu shot Wen Xi another smug glance. After all these days apart, the little tramp had actually dressed herself up a bit prettier. But what did a bit of looks matter? A pheasant would always be a pheasant. Did she really think Yan Feng'an would treat her well? Dream on. Tomorrow he would knock the tramp back down to where she belonged.
Having sent Wen Liu off, Yan Feng'an took Wen Xi's hand again. It was a little cold, but at least it had stopped trembling. Afraid he might misunderstand, Yan Feng'an explained, "Tomorrow I'll make things clear with him. Do you want to come with me?"
Wen Xi shook his head and lowered his eyes. "I don't want to go."
He truly didn't dare set foot in that house again.
Seeing his face had gone a bit pale, Yan Feng'an gently coaxed, "That's all right. If you don't want to go, then don't."
The two took the colored threads home. Not long after they entered the courtyard, Yan Feng'an called Chen Lanfang into his room, and mother and son murmured together—about what, no one knew.
Seeing that neither of the couple looked well, Li Wan couldn't help asking, "Xiaoxi, did something happen after you went out with Third Brother just now?"
Wen Xi paused, then said, "I ran into my brother on the way home."
He Jin had already guessed as much and asked with concern, "Did he humiliate you again?"
Wen Xi shook his head. Going by what had just happened, it was actually Yan Feng'an who had embarrassed Wen Liu. He was in low spirits now because he was thinking about Yan Feng'an going to the Wen household tomorrow.
Feeling troubled and at a loss, Wen Xi thought that since he got along fairly well with his two sisters-in-law, he might as well tell them about it. Then he asked, "Do you think I should go along tomorrow?"
"Are you stupid? Of course you should." He Jin was always blunt. "He dared to say those things right in front of you. Tomorrow, with just him and Third Brother alone, who knows how he'll twist the truth. You and Third Brother have only just grown a little closer. If Third Brother listens to his sweet talk and forgives him, what will you do then?"
Li Wan also said anxiously, "Xiaoxi, if only for your own sake, you'd better keep a close eye on Third Brother."
It was true the two of them disliked Wen Liu, but their concern for Wen Xi was genuine. If Yan Feng'an really rekindled things with Wen Liu, what would this poor child do then?
A trace of bitterness rose in Wen Xi's heart. Was keeping a close watch on Yan Feng'an really going to help with such a thing? He had seen for himself how loving Wen Liu and Yan Feng'an used to be. In barely a month's time, could Yan Feng'an truly forget that past?
Wen Xi thought glumly to himself: actually, it didn't matter that much to him who Yan Feng'an held in his heart or whom he liked. What mattered was whether he could go on living in the Yan household for a long time to come.
Yan Feng'an's family was warm, and his family members were kind. Wen Xi liked it here very much.
If Wen Liu and Yan Feng'an were left alone together, who knew how many lies that man would make up. Wen Xi had finally gotten to live the life he had now, and he absolutely could not let Wen Liu ruin it.
After tossing and turning all night, the next day Wen Xi took the initiative to tell Yan Feng'an that he wanted to go with him to the Wen family.
Yan Feng'an had guessed from his sleeplessness the night before that something was weighing on his mind, so when Wen Xi changed his mind, he wasn't surprised. He only comforted him gently: "Don't be afraid. When we get there, you won't have to do anything. Just stay quietly by my side and listen to what I say."
Wen Xi nodded, then watched him pick up a sheet of paper with writing on it from the desk. He was curious, but didn't ask.
Even though it had been agreed they would go to the Wen family, Yan Feng'an showed no sign of setting out all morning. Instead, in a rather leisurely mood, he called Wen Xi over and took out a primer, the Three Character Classic, to teach him to read.
Wen Xi's mind was restless, and he barely managed to learn a few characters before Yan Feng'an lightly tapped his head. "A student like you would get caned by the teacher in any school."
At those words, Wen Xi instinctively hid his hands behind his back and said aggrievedly, "How am I supposed to focus at a time like this?"
"Everyone else isn't anxious, so what are you anxious about?"
How did he know everyone else wasn't anxious? Wen Xi lifted his gaze, his tender, expressive eyes gazing at him softly and timidly—saying nothing at all, yet as if everything had already been said.
Yan Feng'an turned his head away to avoid his gaze and sighed. "Fine, you really are too much for me. After lunch, I'll take you over."