Edited by Relendria
Early in the morning, Hong Jia Yi got up much earlier than Liang Meng Yao, as usual.
It wasn't that Liang Meng Yao was a heavy sleeper, it was just that his never felt so comfortable sleeping. Usually he'd be really exhausted but he would be awakened by an angry grandfather who would throw things at him or whack him with a cane while calling him lazy. For Liang Meng Yao there was no peace for him to sleep. Even after getting rid of the dead weight that was his grandfather, he had a lot to catch up on with his studies. So he would stay up late studying and get up early to work. He barely had any time to relax, much less sleep.
Hong Jia Yi looked at the square shaped cakes. Curiosity struck him. He expected it to be jelly like but it was a square and solid. This was an entirely new food. Jia Yi couldn't be patient any longer, he was too curious! His husband might get angry but he just had to know. So he broke a piece of the cake, which was a bit hard, and put it in his mouth to chew.
It tasted rather funny and not at all nice. A weird foam started to come from his mouth, then a bubble popped from his mouth when he exhaled.
Liang Meng Yao was stretching as he entered the kitchen. He froze for a moment at the funny sight of his wife foaming at the mouth. He couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Hong Jia Yi was embarrassed and he didn't know why, but another bubble popped out of his mouth.
"This cake is not tasty," Hong Jia Yi said sullenly.
Liang Meng Yao only laughed harder until he was holding his stomach from the pain of overuse. Finally he calmed and wiped away the tears that were threatening to fall.
"Jiajia, you greedy thing! Couldn't you be patient enough to wait until I tell you what it is?" Meng Yao said teasingly.
Hong Jia Yi blushed as Meng Yao picked up one of the square shaped cakes, holding up in front of Jia Yi.
"This is ~soap~. It's for cleaning," he explained, still smiling with amusement.
"Clean?"
"Let me show you."
Meng Yao took a little water and rubbed the soap between his hands.
"Don't open your eyes," he ordered Jia Yi before rubbing the lather on his hands over Jia Yi's face. After he rinsed the soap off and dried Jia Yi's face, he told his wife it was safe to open his eyes. Then he washed his own face as Jia Yi watched.
"This smells lovely," Jia Yi noticed, "and your face is so clean!"
"Yes, that's what soap is for. You can use it to wash your face, body, and even to wash your hair."
Jia Yi stared at Meng Yao at little blankly but his eyes sparkled with amazement and delight. Meng Yao couldn't help but smile at his cute wife.
"Mr. Liang!"
"Aiya, our workers are here!"
Their tender moment was interrupted by the arrival of the other men.
"I've got to fetch water," Hong Jia Yi said to his friends.
"I'll come with you," Xin Yi instantly offered.
"No need," Jia Yi protested.
"Of course, there's no need," Xin Yi agreed with a smile, "but you've done nothing but help us. We must return the favor."
Hong Jia Yi nodded then and Xin Yi took a jug and left with him. On their way to the river there were a lot of whispers and gossip. Of course, it was always like this but today there were more whispers than ever.
Xin Yi was curious but just stayed close to his friend without asking anything as Jia Yi filled the jugs.
"Ah- Hong Jia Yi, good morning!"
Hong Jia Yi looked up and saw a delicate boy. After Enlai, he was the prettiest in the village.
"Good morning," Hong Jia Yi replied politely.
"You seem well," he smiled, blushing.
"I'm fine. How are you and your son?"
The boy held his mouth then used his finger to tap his lips while thinking.
"He is fine," he finally replied with a grin.
Han Ge Ming, despite being only eighteen years old, has a one year old son and is a widower. His husband didn't survive the winter, leaving him pregnant and alone. However, Ge Ming wasn't in a dire situation like another might be. His parents and in-laws took good care of him.
Han Ge Ming and Fa Enlai were around the same height and both were super popular in the village. After all, they were both beautiful. Fa Enlai had black hair and dark gray, icy eyes. His lips were a luscious pink and his face was round with baby fat still on his cheeks. He had long eyelashes that he fluttered appealingly. His complexion was pale and smooth like mutton fat jade; Fa Enlai was too beautiful for words.