“I shouldn’t have told everyone you were a government slave I bought that day when I returned to the village.”
Qin Xiao regretted it deeply.
“Because of that, my mother and my brother keep using it against you. They look down on you because of it.”
That day, Ma San had pestered him with endless questions. Irritated, Qin Xiao had blurted out the truth just to get rid of him.
He had to admit that, at the time, the words of the brothel keeper and that other slave girl had influenced him somewhat.
They had made him look down on Qinghe.
But after spending several days with her, he realized she was nothing like what they had described.
In front of him, she was as docile as a little quail.
Every night, if he didn’t touch her, she would quietly sleep against the wall, never taking the initiative to provoke him even with a single finger.
Whenever he used the excuse of applying medicine to look at her body, she would blush from head to toe like a boiled shrimp.
How was that the behavior of a seductress?
He had met noblemen’s concubines before.
Their mannerisms were completely different from Qinghe’s.
The very night he brought her home, his mother had come knocking at his door.
By now, the entire village probably knew her background.
Qinghe almost blurted out the words:
Then marry me.
According to the law, as long as one was not a criminal’s family member sent to the imperial pleasure houses, a slave sold by the government like her could regain commoner status through marriage to a free citizen.
Over the past few days, she had come to see that Qin Xiao was genuinely a good man.
When he first bought her, he had clearly desired her.
Yet after learning about her injuries, he had restrained himself.
For days afterward, aside from occasionally using the excuse of applying medicine to steal a glance at her body, he never crossed any boundaries.
She was willing to marry a man like him.
But marriage required his parents’ approval.
His family clearly disliked her.
They would never agree to let him marry her.
Would he really be willing to oppose his family for her sake?
Qinghe bit her lip.
The question rose to her throat, only to be swallowed back down.
Instead, she changed the subject.
“It’s alright.”
Her thick lashes lifted slightly.
Within her moist eyes lay both shyness and a hint of testing curiosity.
“I was a criminal slave to begin with. People can say whatever they like. Their words won’t make me lose a piece of flesh.”
She paused.
“As long as Young Master Qin treats me well and doesn’t let me fall into the dust of the pleasure quarters, I’ll already be deeply grateful.”
Qin Xiao’s heart softened into a ball of cotton.
How could she be this kind?
After following him, she was insulted every few days, yet she never voiced a single complaint.
He had bought her, yet couldn’t even protect her properly.
That was hardly the behavior of a real man.
He stood up.
His tall figure blocked the sunlight pouring through the doorway, plunging the main hall into shadow.
As though reaching some important decision, he spoke firmly.
“Don’t worry.”
“I’ll treat you well.”
“If they come again in the future and I’m not home, you don’t even need to open the door.”
“No matter what happens, I won’t blame you.”
The statement came so unexpectedly that Qinghe was momentarily confused.
What did he mean by no matter what happens?
What exactly could she do?
Was he saying that even if she offended his family, he would stand by her?
And besides…
What was the use of merely treating her well if he wasn’t going to marry her?
Lost in thought, she failed to manage her expression.
Her lips pouted slightly.
Her delicate brows knitted together.
Even the little tuft of hair on top of her head seemed to droop.
Watching from the side, Qin Xiao smiled.
So obedient.
So adorable.
He crouched down in front of her again, looking up at her slightly.
The eyes that usually appeared fierce whenever he glared at someone were now filled with gentle admiration.
“Qinghe.”
“How did you come up with those scholarly arguments that left him speechless?”
“Have you studied before?”
Qinghe pursed her lips.
“I have.”
“When I was twelve, I spent two years as a study companion for a young lady of the prince’s residence.”
Until she turned fourteen.
By then, her beauty had begun to emerge.
One day, a young master exchanged only a few words with her.
Someone happened to see it.
For no reason at all, she was punished with thirty strikes to her palms.
She lost her position as a study companion and was reassigned to menial labor in the rear courtyards.
She worked there for four years.
Fortunately, she had always been well-behaved and never tried to attract the attention of her masters.
The head stewardess liked her and had even intended to marry her to her own son.
As a result, she arranged lighter duties for Qinghe, such as tending incense and keeping night watch.
Unfortunately, before the stewardess could secure permission from her masters, the prince’s residence was confiscated.
Qin Xiao felt as though he had discovered a treasure.
His mouth stretched into a broad grin, exposing a row of dazzling white teeth.
Just look at that.
His Qinghe had only spent two years as a study companion, yet she had completely silenced Qin Yue.
What did that prove?
It proved Qin Yue was nothing more than an empty-headed fool.
Books were luxuries farming families could scarcely afford.
In the entire history of Zuohe Village, not a single successful scholar had emerged.
Supporting one student often plunged several families into poverty.
For ordinary farming households, even in years of good weather, when nobody fell ill and taxes weren’t increased, saving three taels of silver annually was already an accomplishment.
Yet Qin Yue spent two taels every month on tuition alone.
Then there were writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.
Madam Qin also insisted that he dress well and eat well.
Every expense came from Qin Xiao’s earnings.
The more he thought about it, the more determined he became to separate from the family.
“Your hand is injured.”
Qin Xiao gently rubbed the top of her head.
“Don’t do any more work. Stay home and rest.”
Then he headed back outside.
Building a fence was indeed beyond Qinghe’s abilities.
Seeing that the day was already growing late, she remained at home, holding one finger awkwardly aloft while tidying the house and preparing dinner.
She swept the courtyard, wiped down the tables and benches, and then remembered that Qin Xiao had requested noodles for supper.
Carrying a basin, she went into the storage room to measure flour.
Just as she closed the storage room door, a young girl appeared at the entrance.
She looked about fifteen or sixteen years old.
Dressed in short work clothes, her hair tied high behind her head, she carried two wild rabbits in her hands.
Her healthy, sun-kissed skin gave her a vibrant appearance.
Her eyes were bright and lively, and when she smiled, two tiger teeth peeked out.
She was both spirited and charming.
“Are you the new sister-in-law Brother Qin married?”
The girl grinned.
“My name is Zhou Sui. I’m the younger sister of Zhou Ye, who is sworn brothers with Brother Qin. That makes him my brother too.”
“Sister-in-law, Brother Qin said your cooking is incredible. I caught these rabbits myself today, so they’re all yours.”
Seeing Qinghe standing there in a daze, Zhou Sui stepped inside and led her toward the western side of the courtyard.
She pointed toward the newly reclaimed vegetable garden nearby.
A man dressed in blue work clothes was helping Qin Xiao build a fence there.
The two chatted and laughed naturally together.
Clearly, they were close friends.
“See?” Zhou Sui pointed.
“That’s my brother, Zhou Ye.”
“He brought some good wine and says he wants to have a few drinks with Brother Qin tonight.”
“Sister-in-law, sorry for imposing on you.”
Being called sister-in-law over and over again left Qinghe unable to hide the melancholy in her eyes.
How could she possibly be a sister-in-law?
At most, she was merely a slave Qin Xiao had purchased.
A sour ache spread through her chest.
When she spoke, her smile was somewhat forced.
“Of course.”
“Braised rabbit is delicious, but I don’t know how to skin rabbits.”
Zhou Sui seemed thoroughly familiar with Qin Xiao’s home.
Bounding toward the kitchen, she waved a hand.
“I’ll take care of that. Sister-in-law, you just focus on cooking.”
Looking at the basin of flour, Qinghe’s face immediately fell.
“What noodles?”
“Why should I make noodles just because he wants noodles?”
“I want rice.”
“Hmph.”
That annoying Qin Xiao.
Did he really think he was some prince?
No more pampering him.
Absolutely not.
That was what she told herself.
But of course she couldn’t actually do that.
Although she abandoned the idea of making noodles, she soaked dried bamboo shoots, dried mushrooms, and dried fiddlehead ferns.
She even cut a full half-jin of cured pork.
And for drinking?
Nothing paired better with wine than fried peanuts.
This was the first time guests had ever come to Qin Xiao’s house.
She had to showcase her best cooking.
“Zhou Sui, do you eat spicy food?” Qinghe asked while preparing the dishes.
Zhou Sui was busy poking firewood into the stove.
“Of course! The mountains are damp. Eating something spicy and sweating it out feels wonderful.”
“Alright.”
“Keep the fire strong. I’m about to blanch the rabbit meat.”
The kitchen became a flurry of activity.
The air filled with the sharp aroma of chilies and the irresistible scent of cooking food.
From time to time, Zhou Sui’s excited exclamations rang out.
“Wow! That smells amazing!”
“Sister-in-law, add more fermented grain mash to the fiddlehead ferns!”
“The peanuts are so crispy!”
“The rabbit is full of flavor! Sister-in-law, your cooking is incredible!”
At that moment, Qin Xiao arrived at the courtyard gate.
His chin was raised high.
Taking a deep breath of the delicious aroma drifting from the kitchen, he proudly declared to the man beside him:
“She’s studied before too.”
“I know, I know.”
Zhou Ye rolled his eyes.
“How many times have you already told me?”
He had spent half the afternoon helping Qin Xiao work.
And all afternoon, Qin Xiao had done nothing but ramble on about how wonderful Qinghe was.
It was exhausting.
Yet despite finding the bragging annoying, Zhou Ye was genuinely happy for his friend.
A quick glance around the courtyard revealed how different the place looked now.
Everything was spotless.
Every item had been neatly arranged.
So what if she had once been a criminal slave?
Anyone could tell at a glance that she was the sort of woman who knew how to build a home.
From everything he had heard, she was beautiful, diligent, obedient, and hardworking.
Most importantly, she wholeheartedly stood up for Qin Xiao.
“If you like her that much,” Zhou Ye asked while setting down his hunting gear, “when are you going to marry her?”