Late in the evening, Song Wenqing led Doctor Li and his wife into the house. The villagers, having nothing to do after dinner, liked to drop by each other’s homes to gather and chat. Seeing the few of them hurrying past, they discussed it in low voices.
“Why would Doctor Li and his wife be rushing toward Brother Wen’s house with him?”
A fulang replied, “Could it be that Young Master Jin is sick?”
The man who had just asked smiled and said, “Then why would Doctor Li’s wife need to follow along?”
“That is also true.”
Hearing their banter, the village chief also laughed along for a bit.
Song Wenqing was worried, so his pace was relatively fast, and Doctor Li, holding his wife’s hand, managed to keep up with great difficulty. When entering the house, he was startled by the large apparatus placed in Song Wenqing’s courtyard.
Doctor Li took the handkerchief handed over by his wife and wiped the sweat from his forehead in astonishment, saying, “Brother Wen, what is this object?”
Song Wenqing stopped, turned his head, and said, “This is what I use for brewing wine, and later it will also be used in medicine.”
“Medicine?” A smile appeared on Doctor Li’s face, “How can this thing be used in medicine?”
Song Wenqing did not continue to answer him. It was not that he was entirely intent on hiding his skills, but rather if he were to say right now that this distillation apparatus could purify alcohol to be used later in surgical operations that involved opening the abdomen, he feared Doctor Li would think he was mad.
“Doctor Li will know in the future,” Song Wenqing said with a pursed smile, opening the door to enter the house.
Pei Jinrong was sitting in the wheelchair, raising his eyes to look at him upon hearing the sound. The candlelight flickered inside the room, and the youth sat there obediently waiting for him, making Song Wenqing’s heart feel restless. The string that the little boy had kept taut had finally loosened, and he was sleeping incredibly soundly in Pei Jinrong’s arms, his clothes already changed.
Seeing this scene, Doctor Li and his wife both harbored doubts in their minds: how did Young Master Jin look like the one who stayed at home to look after the children?
Song Wenqing said in a low voice, “Ma’am, the little girl is in the inner room. I will have to trouble you to help change her clothes.”
Mrs. Li nodded, lifted the curtain, and went inside. Song Wenqing did not stay idle either, taking Jiang Yao from Pei Jinrong’s arms into his own. Fortunately, when Pei Jinrong married Song Wenqing, fearing he might wrong him, he had been unwilling to sleep together with him initially, so he had bought an extra bed to place in the side room. Song Wenqing had frequently complained that it occupied too much space, but he did not expect it to come in handy now.
After he went out, only Doctor Li and Pei Jinrong were left staring at each other.
Doctor Li keenly perceived that once Song Wenqing went out, Pei Jinrong seemed to shed his disguise entirely; even without speaking, sitting there made one feel terrified.
He pulled up his sleeve to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, subconsciously moving a bit further away from Pei Jinrong.
Fortunately, before long, Song Wenqing brought in two cups of tea, handing one to Doctor Li, “The conditions at home are poor. If the hospitality is inadequate, please forgive me, Doctor Li.”
Doctor Li hurriedly shook his head, uttering polite words with a smile, “You are too polite, too polite.”
Song Wenqing placed the other cup in his hand onto the table. Before he could walk over, Pei Jinrong pushed his wheelchair forward, saying softly, “Ah Wen, let me massage your hands.”
Song Wenqing smoothed his brow and said with a smile, “I am not tired.”
Although he said this with his mouth, his body was actually exhausted. He had conducted consultations for an entire day today, and since returning, his mind had been entirely occupied with Jiang Zhi’s illness, so he had not eaten much before heading out. Now his back ached and his legs hurt. However, Song Wenqing was accustomed to keeping such matters to himself, so he naturally would not tell Pei Jinrong the truth.
Pei Jinrong’s eyes curved into a smile as he insisted, “Let me massage them for you.”
Looking at the affectionate young couple beside him, Doctor Li silently moved even further away. He raised his head, suppressing the shock in his heart, and could not help but steal another glance at Pei Jinrong.
It was only when Mrs. Li came out carrying a pile of clothes that Doctor Li breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted. Unexpectedly, when Mrs. Li saw the scene before her upon coming out, she instead fiercely shoved the clothes into his arms.
Doctor Li looked confused.
Song Wenqing released Pei Jinrong’s hand, raising the tea on the table with both hands, “Thank you for today, Ma’am.”
Mrs. Li accepted the tea, waved her hand, drank it in one gulp, and said, “It is nothing. However, that little girl has quite a few injuries on her body; it looks as though she was beaten with a whip. She must be properly cared for in the future.”
Song Wenqing nodded, and the two of them bid him farewell. Mrs. Li was a person of genuine temperament, pulling Doctor Li’s ear as they walked out the door. Even after a long time, Doctor Li’s continuous pleas for mercy could still be heard, “Wife, wife, I was wrong.”
“You dead ghost, after being married to you for so many years, have you ever massaged my hands?”
Song Wenqing did not know whether to laugh or cry, his heart softening as he looked at Pei Jinrong working busily by the stove.
He readily brought two stools over, wanting to take the cattail leaf fan used for fanning the fire from Pei Jinrong’s hand, but he was refused by the youth.
Pei Jinrong raised his hand high, his eyes filled with heartache, “You have been tired all day today; go lie down on the bed and rest quickly. I will call you after I finish decocting the medicine in a moment.”
Song Wenqing was slightly startled, shaking his head after a moment with a smile, “Then I will stay here to keep you company.”
He thought to himself that after so many years, the feeling of having someone care for him was quite novel.
Pei Jinrong knew that Song Wenqing was incredibly stubborn; since he said this, he was set on accompanying him. The two of them sat shoulder to shoulder, the furnace fire glowing crimson and the flames leaping vigorously, casting their shadows onto the wall behind them like a newlywed couple whispering intimately.
It was only when Song Wenqing’s head fell heavily onto Pei Jinrong’s shoulder that Pei Jinrong went completely stiff. With steady breathing spilling against his neck, Pei Jinrong’s prominent Adam’s apple rolled up and down as he clumsily supported Song Wenqing’s head, drawing him into his arms. If anyone were to see this, they would certainly think that Song Wenqing was lying in Pei Jinrong’s embrace.
A bubbling boiling sound came from the medicine pot, concealing the youth’s emotions and love that he could barely suppress.
His expression was obscure, madness flashing in his eyes as he murmured softly, almost obsessively, “Brother must always like me.”
When Song Wenqing woke up, the sky outside was already bright.
He was the only one left on the bed in the side room; Pei Jinrong and Jiang Yao were already nowhere to be seen. He reached out to feel the other side of the bed; there was no residual warmth.
Lying on the bed, he felt somewhat remorseful. Last night he had told Pei Jinrong that he would keep him company, but he did not expect that he would still be the first to fall asleep. Looking at the situation, it should be that Pei Jinrong carried him in after he fell asleep.
Song Wenqing put on his clothes slowly; he had nothing much to do today.
“Ah Wen, it is time for lunch,” Pei Jinrong said with a smile, having set out the bowls and chopsticks upon seeing Song Wenqing emerge from the side room.
Song Wenqing responded, but did not wash up first, standing in the courtyard to look around.
“Yao Yao and Huiqiu found it boring and went out to play; they are right outside the door.”
Hearing Huiqiu’s familiar whimpering, Song Wenqing finally set his mind at ease. After brushing his teeth with a willow branch, he asked, “Did Jiang Zhi wake up this morning?”
Jiang Zhi did not suffer from any major illness; she had merely fainted due to a lack of nutrition. While Pei Jinrong was decocting the medicine last night, he had mixed a bowl of sugar water for the little girl to drink, so reasonably speaking, she should have awakened by now.
If she still had not awakened, Song Wenqing could not think of any good method to get her to eat. Sugar was extremely expensive here, costing three hundred copper coins for a small piece; this sugar was what Pei Jinrong had bought the last time he was sick.
Pei Jinrong said, “She woke up once this morning. I boiled some porridge for her to drink, and now she has laid back down to sleep.”
Song Wenqing sat on the stool, supporting his head with his hand as he said with a bright smile, “It is good that she woke up.”
Nearing mealtime, Jiang Yao returned home with Huiqiu. Seeing Song Wenqing, he happily wanted to throw himself into his arms, but he ultimately restrained himself. Only after washing his hands did he let Song Wenqing hug him, “Brother Wen, you are truly amazing; sister really woke up this morning.”
“That is of course; Brother Wen will not deceive you,” Song Wenqing pinched Jiang Yao’s chubby face, “Who taught you to call me brother this way?”
Jiang Yao pointed at Pei Jinrong and said, “Brother Jin taught me. He said that only he can call you brother, and only he can call you Brother Ah Wen. I had no choice but to call you Brother Wen.” The child’s tone carried a hint of regret, presenting the appearance of a little adult.
Hearing this, Song Wenqing raised his head to look at Pei Jinrong, and their gazes intersected before each of them hurriedly looked away. Song Wenqing instantly felt as if his heart were being burned by fire, the restlessness spreading to his fingertips, and a faint pink blush coated the base of his ears.
Pei Jinrong was somewhat flustered, letting out a light cough before fleeing in panic.
Yet, Jiang Yao, relying on his innocent childhood words, feigned ignorance and asked, “Brother Wen, Brother Jin, your faces are both so red.”
Song Wenqing and Pei Jinrong were left speechless.
In the end, the three of them finished their meal in a bizarre atmosphere, and Song Wenqing lightly tapped Jiang Yao’s forehead with his index finger, “I will take you to the market to buy new clothes in a moment; go play with Huiqiu first.”
After sending the little mischievous child away, Song Wenqing lowered his eyes to clear the bowls and chopsticks from the table. His finger accidentally brushed against Pei Jinrong’s, and Song Wenqing slowly retracted his hand, raising his eyes to look at him with a red face.
Pei Jinrong blinked his large eyes and said gruffly, “Brother has not kissed me at all these past few days,” his tone even carrying a bit of resentment.
Song Wenqing had no choice. After ensuring that Jiang Yao would not suddenly burst in, he stood on his tiptoes with a look of resignation, closing his eyes to touch Pei Jinrong’s lips.
Once the bowls were washed, Song Wenqing told Jiang Yao to wash his hands clean, saying, “Brother Wen will take you to the market to play.”
Upon hearing that they were going to the market, Jiang Yao nodded enthusiastically in excitement. Song Wenqing then held his hand and headed outside.
It had been raining frequently of late, so the ground in the fields was very wet, making a lot of farmwork impossible to do. People from several villages thus crowded together to browse the market. Jiang Yao looked around curiously at everything, and Song Wenqing patiently accompanied him as they walked everywhere.
The two of them browsed for an hour before finally buying the new clothes.
With more than a month still remaining before the Mid-Autumn Festival, mooncakes were already being sold at the market. Song Wenqing suddenly thought of something, squatting down to ask, “Yao Yao, do you want to go down to the field to catch mud snails?”
Jiang Yao had never tried it, and upon hearing Song Wenqing speak of it, he immediately nodded with jubilation, “I do!”
The older and the younger hurriedly brought the clothes and rushed home. Song Wenqing fetched a bamboo basket from the woodshed, called out Pei Jinrong’s name, and then vanished.
The meat of mud snails at this time was at its plumpest and most delicious, and there was no need to worry about getting a mouth full of tiny snails. At that time, he would catch a bamboo basket full of mud snails, let them spit out the mud and sand for two days, wash them clean with scalding water, extract the snail meat, and rub and wash it with salt. After removing the fishy odor, he would first blanch it and scoop it out of the pot.
Pouring an appropriate amount of oil into the wok, once the oil was hot, he would toss in chopped scallions, ginger, garlic, and dried red chili peppers to stir-fry until fragrant, pour in the snail meat to stir-fry evenly, add some additional ingredients, and stir-fry over high heat for two minutes. When his grandmother made it in the past, he could consume several bowls of rice with it at one go.
Song Wenqing was not good at cooking, but with Pei Jinrong at home, unconsciously, he had actually begun to gradually rely on him.