Chapter 23: Return to the Village

Meanwhile, on this side, the originally intimate wife and husband, after sitting on the ox cart, immediately let go of each other’s hands.

Pei Yuanshao inconspicuously moved towards the outer side of the ox cart, but regrettably, the cart was packed full of items. He straightened his back, squeezed among a pile of miscellaneous objects.

Liu Changning didn’t pay attention to him either, instead greeting the cart woman who had her back turned.

The cart woman raised her long whip, shouting “Go!”

The ox cart left deep wheel tracks on the street paved with blue stones.

The cart moved slowly, leaving the town and entering the country road.

The country road was uneven, causing the ox cart to bump up and down.

Liu Changning was tossed back and forth, almost vomiting up the buns she had eaten at the hour of Chen.

She leaned on the wooden railing of the ox cart, turning her head to see her convenient husband sitting calmly on the cart board.

His lips curved up in a smile, looking like a normal person without any injury, showing no discomfort at all.

She gave him a cold glance, her face pale.

Perhaps sensing her gaze, Pei Yuanshao turned his head, his eyes falling on her pale lips, his sword-like eyebrows slightly furrowing.

The mole at the corner of his eye quivered, and after some inner struggle, he finally said in a low voice: “It will take another half hour to reach the village. If you’re not feeling well… if you’re uncomfortable… you can lean on my shoulder and rest for a while.”

Liu Changning raised an eyebrow, glancing at him sideways.

On the sharp-featured profile of the man in red clothes opposite her, a very faint blush appeared.

Meeting her inquiring gaze, he added coldly: “Don’t misunderstand, this is entirely to repay your kindness for accompanying me in the act earlier. If you’re unwilling, there’s no need to force…”

“I want to!”

Liu Changning promptly sat over, resting her head on his shoulder, almost her entire weight pressing on him.

Pei Yuanshao straightened his back. The breeze stirred the long hair by his ears, and his round earlobes turned a sunset-like red.

He had originally thought his heart would extremely dislike the closeness of a strange woman, but when the faint, not astringent scent of herbs from her body entered his nose, he couldn’t help but become absent-minded again.

He heard her weak laugh by his ear: “Relax a bit, I won’t eat you. After a few days together, with your intelligence, you must have seen that I have absolutely no delusions about you.”

“You!!” Pei Yuanshao’s body stiffened, but he laughed instead of getting angry.

“Be good, don’t move, let me lean for a while.” Liu Changning coaxed softly. Seeing the person beside her become even more tense, she changed the subject: “Let’s chat. Was that noble lady in black clothes earlier an old acquaintance of yours?”

He neither confirmed nor denied, but then seemed to think of something. His brows furrowed deeply, and his raised lips pressed down three degrees.

His eyes looked straight ahead, but his tone became somewhat serious: “That person’s scheming is even beyond my own. You should remember, she’s very dangerous. In the future, if you encounter her, stay far away.”

“Oh?” Feeling her convenient husband relax his posture a bit, she continued to make conversation: “I observed she’s talented and full of nobility. What could be the problem? Could it be that you’re harboring resentment because of love?”

Pei Yuanshao angrily twisted his mouth, meeting her smiling watery eyes. His heart stalled, his heartbeat pounding like a drum.

He turned his gaze away in embarrassment, his voice low and deep: “Anyway, remember that person is not someone you can provoke. Although I’m usually a bit out of line, even I can’t move that person. She originally likes wom… forget it, what use is there in saying these things to an incapable woman like you?”

“Hm? Incapable?” Liu Changning looked at him in surprise, asking: “What does incapable mean?”

“Incapable means incapable, why do you care what it means? Why do you have so many questions today? Can’t you just lie down quietly?”

Her convenient husband frowned in disdain and closed his mouth. His eyes looked straight ahead, as if he no longer wanted to talk to her.

Liu Changning was completely confused. Well, she had originally wanted to help him relax his tense body, but it seems she had thought too much. This person didn’t have the chastity views that husbands of this world should have.

As such, she could also be at ease, borrowing a shoulder to lean on peacefully.

In several lifetimes as a human, in the past with a flying sword in hand, she could travel a thousand miles in a day. Later, with an Audi, she could travel several hundred kilometers in a day. When had she ever suffered such bumpy torment?

Liu Changning closed her eyes, and in a half-asleep state, she didn’t forget to ask with concern: “Your act earlier was a bit fake, how could that woman believe you?”

When this question suddenly came to his ear, he was about to answer carefully. But the woman on his shoulder had already fallen into a deep sleep with even breathing.

Pei Yuanshao looked down, her dense and curled eyelashes were clearly visible in the sunlight. Seemingly uncomfortable with the direct sunlight, her hand unconsciously covered that plain and ordinary face.

Pei Yuanshao pressed his lips together, hesitated for a moment, then inconspicuously reached for the bamboo basket nearby, took out an oil paper umbrella, opened it, and shielded her from the blazing sun.

He turned his gaze away, looking into the distance. After a while, he said coldly to himself: “You don’t understand, Jing Huan has always been inconsistent in her words and actions, she has always been deeply wary of me. This time catching Cousin Mo, no matter how I disguise, I can’t fool her. The act was just for the people of the Guan Chen clan to see. The battlefield between Jing Huan and me has always been face-to-face, not retreating to a corner. This time avoiding the eyes and ears of the capital, being exiled to the north, when I deal with the matters in the northern desert, when the undercurrent surfaces, there will inevitably be a life-and-death battle between her and me.”

The even breathing of that person came to his ears, the cart woman raised her whip, whipping the old ox. The ox’s hooves clattered forward.

A daze appeared in Pei Yuanshao’s eyes, the coldness on his body completely faded away. Before his eyes were old vines and trees, small bridges and flowing water, a simple ox cart, two people leaning close, truly a scene of peaceful years. But such peacefulness brought a hint of anxious panic.

He was just a passerby, how could he feel such eager yearning of a returning person.

—

The ox cart arrived at West Qiao Village at noon. At this time, the sun was blazing, and cicadas were tirelessly chirping.

The village women carrying hoes were returning home, walking in groups of three or five, scattered on the narrow ridges between fields.

An ox cart suddenly appearing at the entrance of the village was extremely eye-catching.

West Qiao Village was not in the south, but the weather was good. The crops in the fields were growing well, and every household had coarse rice to eat.

Because this place was in the north, there was less rainfall, and droughts were frequent.

Therefore, except for a very few households of village women who had extra money, most villagers lived frugally. Usually, having a meat meal was already very tight.

Very few villagers would hire an ox cart and buy a cart full of food and supplies.

After all, the food from their own fields was enough for self-sufficiency, and the needed supplies were used sparingly. Only during festivals would some village women be willing to add one or two quilts or long robes.

At this moment, seeing Liu Changning and her charming husband return from town, buying a cart of groceries, everyone showed surprise.

The ox cart passed through from the village entrance, and all the village women stopped to look.

Liu Changning, due to the bumpy journey, looked weary and closed her eyes to rest, leaning on her convenient husband’s shoulder.

Pei Yuanshao had always been the focus of crowds, accustomed to being the center of attention. At this moment, being stared at by the villagers, he remained calm and indifferent.

At the mouth of the Xiao Qing River, Liu Tian Shi was cursing and scolding his youngest son Liu Xia all the way.

“You money-losing goods, I told you to wash the clothes, but you were chatting privately with Liu Da’s third son by the river. Always lazy and slippery, wait till I tell your mother today…”

Liu Tian Shi pulled his youngest son’s ear and scolded fiercely.

“Ouch! Father, be gentle, be gentle!”

Liu Xia covered his ears, his eyes rolling around. Suddenly his gaze stopped, and while dodging, he pointed at the village women discussing in the distance and said: “Father, Father, stop scolding me first. Look ahead, what’s happening in our village? Why aren’t the aunts going home for lunch today, but standing on the village road so lively?”

Liu Tian Shi put down his hand that was pulling the ear, looking ahead suspiciously. Indeed, it was lively.

He always liked to gossip with people, and never missed any excitement. He had returned to his father’s home a few days ago, just came back to West Qiao Village last night, and today there was big excitement to see in the village.

His eyes rolled, and he pulled his son’s hand, heading towards the most lively crowd.

Unexpectedly, he only saw the shadow of an ox cart when he stretched his neck, and got a mouthful of flying dust.

Since when did West Qiao Village have a household more wealthy than his family? Hiring an ox cart to return home when it’s not even a festival.

Liu Tian Shi looked curious, pricking up his ears to listen carefully. His narrow eyes lit up with the incoming news.

The villagers were talking all at once.

“Liu Yuan Shi is really rich, look at this cart full of food and supplies, she’s even willing to buy.”

“Indeed, it seems the two spouses have reconciled, perhaps Changning will have great fortune in the future.”

“Sigh, what fortune or not. Liu Yuan Shi is so restless, even if she were as beautiful as a celestial maiden, how could the fool from the Liu family control her?”

“But you all saw today, niece Changning was leaning on her husband’s shoulder, seeing is believing. It seems that although her husband’s behavior is somewhat frivolous, he still cares for her.”

“That’s quite something, this Liu Yuan Shi has been with the noble people in the county for who knows how many years, I heard she has quite a bit of money? Changning is going to enjoy a good life with her husband!”

…

Liu Tian Shi squinted his eyes, smiling as he asked: “Aunt, is what you’re saying true? Following a big shot from the county can bring in so much silver, even more than what a male escort earns?”

“It’s true, my boy is a servant in a wealthy household in the county, he wrote to us in a letter a few days ago. He’s now serving beside the mistress kept by a noble in a separate courtyard, and that young man’s daily food, clothing, and expenses are no worse than the masters in the main house!”