The oil lamp’s flame flickered like a bean, casting a dim light. Su Wanwan rubbed her eyes, confirming she hadn’t misread the situation. Her voice carried a mix of surprise and delight, “Husband, you… you’re awake?”
Her smile bloomed like a flower, vivid and dewy, yet it felt strikingly out of place in this room.
Pei Changfeng felt somewhat uncomfortable and averted his gaze slightly, resisting the way she addressed him.
During his coma, he had occasionally regained consciousness, faintly hearing voices from the outside world. He knew that a woman had been by his side recently, often chattering about trivial household matters.
Such idle talk was something he rarely heard, but perhaps because Su Wanwan’s voice was pleasant, Pei Changfeng didn’t find it annoying.
Su Wanwan had already moved closer to Pei Changfeng, fussing over him with concern. “Husband, are you thirsty or hungry? Would you like some water?”
“I…” Having not spoken for a long time, Pei Changfeng’s voice was hoarse and strained.
Su Wanwan thoughtfully brought over a cup of water. “Husband, let me feed you. It’s hot outside, so the water is lukewarm.”
As she drew near, Pei Changfeng stiffened and closed his eyes.
“Husband? Husband?” Su Wanwan called out to him twice, unsure what was wrong. Thinking he might be uncomfortable after just waking up, she said, “I’ll go fetch a doctor for you.”
As she spoke, her sleeve was tugged. Pei Changfeng opened his eyes, shook his head slightly at her, and said, “Clothes.”
After saying this, he closed his eyes again.
Su Wanwan looked down. Indeed, she was only wearing a Dudou and knee-length trousers, but they were husband and wife—did they really need to stand on ceremony over this?
She muttered softly under her breath before wrapping herself in her clothes. “It’s hot wearing clothes.”
Seeing Pei Changfeng remain unresponsive, Su Wanwan loosely tied the sash of her clothes. “There, I’m dressed now.”
Pei Changfeng opened his eyes and, noticing her displeased expression, said nothing. His gaze shifted to the water.
Su Wanwan handed him the cup. “Husband, can you only open your eyes now, or can you move? Are you feeling unwell? Wait here in the room, and I’ll go fetch a doctor for you.”
Her concern was so evident. After drinking the water, Pei Changfeng’s throat felt slightly better. “No need, thank you, Miss Su.”
“Miss Su?” Su Wanwan pointed at herself, her face filled with disbelief. “You’re calling me Miss Su?”
A cold gleam flickered in Pei Changfeng’s eyes. “Yes.”
After working so hard to care for him all this time, only to receive such words, Su Wanwan felt as if her heart had been twisted, aching with pain. She said angrily, “We’re married!”
“I was unconscious at the time, so the marriage doesn’t count,” Pei Changfeng replied calmly.
Her fury was so intense that Pei Changfeng expected her to storm off in anger. However, after a long silence with no response, he looked over and saw the woman slightly lowering her head, her slender shoulders trembling faintly as if she were crying.
“You…” Pei Changfeng hesitated.
Su Wanwan wiped her tears fiercely and turned to glare at him. “I don’t care! I’ve already married you, and if you try to drive me away again, I’ll dash my head against the wall and die!”
As she spoke, she seemed both deeply wronged and unwilling to admit defeat, her eyes brimming with tears. “Anyway, you’re not allowed to say such things again!”
Pei Changfeng felt stung by her gaze and lowered his eyelashes. “I’m sorry, I was presumptuous.”
After saying this, his pale lips pressed together lightly as he turned away, no longer looking at her.
Pei Changfeng did not want Su Wanwan to stay; he hoped she would leave.
Su Wanwan wiped away her tears in a few quick motions, then climbed to the inner side of the bed and lay down, pressing herself closer to Pei Changfeng. With a tearful voice, she said to him, "We are husband and wife. Can we please not say those things anymore?"
Not only had she not brought misfortune upon Pei Changfeng, but she had even revived him. Su Wanwan truly believed they were a match made in heaven. Moreover, Pei Changfeng was, after all, a Xiucai. If his health recovered, he could still take the Kekao. If he passed, she would have hit the jackpot.
With teary eyes and genuine reluctance, Su Wanwan gently leaned against his shoulder, her voice soft and sweet. "Husband."
Pei Changfeng had never been close to a woman before, and her intimacy made him feel extremely uneasy, a psychological sense of helplessness.
He had clearly already told Su Wanwan to leave. Once she was gone, whatever happened afterward would have nothing to do with her and would not implicate her.
"Miss Su," Pei Changfeng sighed softly, "I am a cripple. The Keju is already beyond hope. In the future, even if I exhaust all my efforts, I might only barely manage to make ends meet. Being my wife is not a wise decision for you."
"Since when does being husband and wife require considering what is wise or not?" Su Wanwan said firmly. "What we have is fate, something that cannot be compared to those superficial things."
She refused to believe in this talk of being a cripple. Even if she had to sell everything she owned, she would find a way to cure Pei Changfeng. Even if he couldn't be cured, Pei Changfeng could open a school and become a teacher. Being with him was far better than being with anyone else.
Su Wanwan clung to Pei Changfeng's arm. "I don't care. In life, I am yours; in death, I am your ghost!"
"Miss Su…" Pei Changfeng tried to pull his arm away, but his strength had not yet returned, leaving him no choice but to let Su Wanwan hold onto him.
He felt helpless toward Su Wanwan. His physical exhaustion left him with no energy to think further. He instructed her, "Do not mention to anyone that I have woken up."
"Understood," Su Wanwan rubbed her tears against his inner garment. "I won't tell anyone."
Her tears were damp and carried a slight chill. Pei Changfeng gave her one last look before sinking into a deep sleep.
…
The sunlight was warm and comforting, free from the familiar gloom and dampness. The air carried the dry, warm scent of soap pods. Outside, the sound of laundry being washed could be heard, a gentle, rhythmic patter—so ordinary yet so cherished.
Pei Changfeng stared at the canopy above, momentarily wondering if he had fallen into an illusory dream before death.
He rarely returned to the village. After the age of ten, he had lived at the Shuyuan, coming back only once a month for a single night before leaving again. After his parents passed away, home had become an elusive concept in his memory, reduced to nothing more than thin walls and old furniture.
Pei Changfeng closed his eyes, struggling to prop himself up into a sitting position. But his body was too depleted; merely opening his eyes and waking up had already exhausted all his energy.
The door was slightly ajar, offering a faint glimpse of Su Wanwan's graceful figure as she moved about. She struggled to carry a large wooden basin filled with dirty clothes and a few of Pei Changfeng's old summer garments.
It was only when Su Wanwan shook out her peach-pink Dudou and hung it up to dry that Pei Changfeng averted his gaze.
A knock sounded at the door. Pei's Eldest Aunt arrived carrying half a winter melon, greeting Su Wanwan with warm enthusiasm. "Wanwan, dear, I saw you heading to the Village Chief's house early this morning. What were you doing there? Is it because you have no vegetables left at home? Look, I brought you this big winter melon specially."
Su Wanwan accepted the melon with a sweet smile. "It's nothing much. I just asked the Village Chief to help me fetch a doctor from town to examine Changfeng."
"Has Changfeng improved at all?" Pei's Eldest Aunt probed cautiously.
"Yes," Su Wanwan lowered her voice, "he's already awake."
Pei Changfeng clenched his fists, his arms trembling faintly from the excessive force.
Pei's Eldest Aunt's heart skipped a beat, her voice involuntarily rising. "Awake?"
Su Wanwan smiled. "Last night, I even dreamed that he passed the Juren examination. Auntie, do you think that's a kind of omen?"
"A dream?" Pei's Eldest Aunt retorted irritably. "You dreamed he was awake?"
"Yes, but it's only a dream," Su Wanwan muttered. "At the time, my mother didn't tell me he wouldn't wake up. I'm so anxious—how can a household manage without a man? How am I, a woman alone, supposed to survive?"
Her gaze settled on Pei's Eldest Aunt. "Auntie, you said you'd treat me like your own daughter. Now that I'm in such a state, shouldn't you lend a helping hand?"
Pei's Eldest Aunt's still-swollen face twitched. She hurriedly replied, "It's not that I don't want to help, but Yaozu isn't married yet either. Ah, let's not talk about this now. I'll come see you again in a few days."
With that, Pei's Eldest Aunt fled as if escaping.
Su Wanwan continued hanging the laundry, unable to suppress the smugness in her heart. Indeed, aside from resorting to force, borrowing money was the best way to distance oneself from troublesome relationships.
She hummed an unknown tune, sweet and lighthearted.
Pei Changfeng watched quietly, an indescribable feeling stirring within him. Just moments ago, he had thought…