Chapter 36: Junior Wedding Banquet
Su Shuilian, covered with her bridal veil, was led out by a group of poniang. Immediately after, with the help of Aunt Lao, the other side of the bridal bolt was handed to Lin Si Yao who had hurriedly stepped forward.
The two, with the walked to the table of offerings.
"The auspicious event has begun!" Using his loud voice, Feng Laoliu yelled while also clanking on the gong in his hands.
This quieted the noisy crowd.
"First bow to the Heaven and Earth!"
"Second bow to your elders*!"
(高堂 - honorific for one's parents)
"Pay your respects to each other"
"The ceremony is complete! Bring her to the marital/bridal chamber!"
"Ahaha..."
"Congrats! Congrats!"
"Give birth to a son soon!*"
(早生貴子 - propitiatory compliment to the newly-weds)
During this time, Su Shuilian had felt that everything was so dream-like. With Aunt Lao and Aunt Tian by her side during the ritual, she had almost forgotten how to breathe and could only smell the light scent of the man standing near her. With the veil on her, Su Shuilian was only able to see his black shoes that she had made for him. He had genuinely and closely stayed by her side this whole time. And in the hustle and noise of the surrounding people, Su Shuilian suddenly found herself sitting on the side of the wide Babu bed.
With the veil on her head, she was unable to see the faces of the surrounding people, but from their simple wishes, it sounded heartfelt and genuine.
"Quick, lift her wedding veil so we can see your wife's face!"
"I heard your wife is very beautiful! Big brother* Lin, I am very envious of you ah!"
(大哥[big brother] - polite but friendly term to address a man)
"You lil' brat! So young and already so impatient!"
"Aiyo! Hey! Dad, don't hit my head, I'll become stupid! I'll be thirteen this year, how is that considered little? "
"Hahaha!..."
Su Shuilian also found this funny when she heard this, and her lips curved up under the veil. But with a sudden burst of light, she was forced to squint and only after adjusting to it, she reopened her eyes. Her wedding veil had been taken off by Lin Si Yao and put by the bedside. Quietly standing in front of her, in his hand was After a flash of fleeting amazement, his eyes were filled with tenderness.
"Wow! Big brother Lin, did you marry a fairy? But then again, the fairies at the 7th of Seventh (Lunar) Month weren't as pretty."
Su Shuilian noticed a young kid standing by Lin Si Yao's side, she had accurately guessed that he was that thirteen year old kid who had just spoken before.
When he saw Su Shuilian smiling at him, instead of shying away, he returned an extremely bright smile.
"Ok, enough, the wedding feast will soon begin, everyone scatter, let the couple have a little time for some intimate talk." Seeing Lin Si Yao's face start to sink, Aunt Lao quickly tried to disperse the unknowing crowd who were disturbing the bride.
"Aunt Lao, I still haven't taken a good look at the fairy, why are you rushing us out?" The juvenile complained as he was dragged out by Aunt Tian. As he was being dragged out, the boy did not forget to turn back toward Su Shuilian, "Jiejie*, Fairy jiejie! I'm called Tian Dabao, I'll come see you again later! Ow! Mom, how could you cruelly hit me like that? Aren't I your biological son?"
(Jiejie, 姐姐 - older sister)
---
After everyone left, only Su Shuilian and Lin Si Yao remained in the room. Even the wolf cubs had returned and quietly slept in their doghouse.
Lin Si Yao brought over a basin of warm water, arranging his long sleeves up, he wrung a towel before he sat next to Su Shuilian. He took her sweaty palms and started to gently wipe it.
"A Yao..." Su Shuilian shyly called out in a soft voice.
"Aunt Lao said we have to exchange our cup of wine (ceremonial toast)..." After he wiped her hands, Lin Si Yao got up and brought over two cups of wine and awkwardly explained to the puzzled Su Shuilian.
After the two nervously crossed their arms and drank the wine, Lin Si Yao fed Su Shuilian three of Aunt Lao's homemade 'fertility' dumplings.
"The wedding outfits are very stuffy, change and let's go to the wedding feast." Lin Si Yao said after wiping the perspiration off of Su Shuilian's forehead.
"Eh? But..." Isn't the bride supposed to stay in the chamber and not be allowed to leave? What is he....
"Su Shuilian, I'm not traditional. Plus,I'm worried." After Lin Si Yao quietly said that, his face flashed with an imperceptible flush.
Worried? Su Shuilian blinked her eyes and looked at Lin Si Yao who had opened the closet to look for a change of clothes.
"Is it this set?" Lin Si Yao was not bothered by her expression as he pulled out a pair of maroon color garments. Such festive colors, it should be worn for today.
Su Shuilian nodded and got up to help Lin Si Yao remove his wedding robe, it was very complicated, cumbersome, and indeed very uncomfortable.
"You also change." Lin Si Yao received his robe and gestured to Su Shuilian to also do the same for her beautiful, but heavily layered wedding gown.
"I... I can really go out with you?" Su Shuilian looked up and asked as she helped him button up the lapel of his jacket.
"Naturally, we go together." When Lin Si Yao put on the dark red robe with silver cloud embroidery and tied on a matching belt, he turned to see Su Shuilian still holding her outfit, dazing near the round table.
"Still lost in thought?" Lin Si Yao chuckled and took the clothes in her hands before leading Su Shuilian to the dressing room as if he was to help her change.
"Yah! I'll do it myself." Su Shuilian tugged back her change of clothes in embarrassment. She then pushed him out of the dressing room, provoking a low chuckle from Lin Si Yao.
In turn, Su Shuilian's face became even more red, thinking of the upcoming wedding festivities, Su Shuilian held onto her burning cheeks. Her fast beating heart seemed as if it could almost jump out of her chest.
---
"Just look at that A Yao, he really knows how to cherish his wife." Looking at the couple who arrived side by side with matching outfits, Aunt Lao could not help but nudge Aunt Tian who was beside. But her words were directed at her husband who was behind her, smoking a pipe.
"Yeah, that girl is really lucky." Aunt Tian swept a glance at her unknowing daughter, Tian Niu who made no reaction to the entering Su Shuilian. She helplessly sighed, she hoped that her future husband would treat her well. She only had two children, her son... There was no hope for him, and she wished her daughter would have a smooth future.
Just as she had wanted to call Tian Niu to speak a few words, she heard her senseless son call out, "Big brother Lin, Fairy jiejie! You came! Come, sit here, I reserved two good seats for you!"
Aunt Tian silently kneaded her forehead. The currently twelve year old Dabao fell in the pond when he was nine. He was rescued and displayed no external injuries, but his mind was now stagnated and remained with a mindset of a nine year old. The older he got, the more noticeable it became, ai, she really didn't know what to do in the future.
"Dabao, you little rascal, come over here and sit with your dad." Aunt Tian came up to him, dragging Dabao by the ear, pulling him to the table with Tian Dafu.
"Aiya, mom... mom... I just wanted to ask fairy jiejie a question! I just wanted to know if fairy jiejie had a younger sister.... Ow, hey!"
"Hahaha!..." The surrounding seated villagers all started to laugh.
"Dafu, I say since your Dabao has already spoken, it seems that you should start arranging something for him next year! Haha..."
"Tian sis had always said that Dabao was still small and is still child-like, but I don't think so anymore, it seems Dabao wants his own wife!" He-shi, the wife of Shi House, had an outgoing personality as she jokingly joked with Aunt Tian. This made Aunt Tian heavily blush, in her heart, she silently scolded her inept son.
Come to speak of it, it was quite strange, no other villagers were able to talk to Lin Si Yao directly. Even Feng Laoliu who had gotten close to him recently still feels some tension. But her own uncivilized son, after pestering Lin Si Yao about the two dogs during the ceremony, started to efficiently call him out as "Big brother Lin". However, they don't seem to be previously acquainted. Even at the Wu time (11am-1pm) New House Toast, he wasn't there because he was visiting her family. There was no time for them in between either... Aunt Tian silently lamented.
On the other side, Su Shuilian and Lin Si Yao greeted their village neighbors as they made their way up to the main table.
"Are you and Aunt Tian's son, Dabao, well acquainted?" Su Shuilian saw that even though Dabao had been forced to sit next to Tian Dafu's side, he was still looking at them. When he saw her curiously looking at him, he returned a grin and laughed.
"Don't know him." Lin Si Yao unhesitantly answered, he was a bit sour, knowing that she was not thinking about himself. Immediately he found it laughable, the other was a foolish child almost half his age, why is he jealous of him?
When Su Shuilian heard this, she no longer pestered him, thinking maybe it was because of that child's outgoing personality that he could treat strangers like them so warmly.
"Come, girl, A Yao, Aunt Lao can't drink much, so just this small cup of wine, I toast you! I wish you two old age in conjugal bliss!" Aunt Lao came holding a cup filled with sorghum wine, she smilingly congratulated the two.
Su Shuilian and Lin Si Yao returned the smile as they got up, toasted and drain the cup in one gulp.
"Me too! Me too!" Aunt Tian came up with a small bowl full of wine as her wine tolerance was higher. "Come! I wish you to give birth to a son soon! ....Drink!"
"Aunt Tian..." Su Shuilian was rendered speechless at the small bowl of wine given by Aunt Tian. She could not be more clear of her own alcohol tolerance. Not to the mention the later on-coming toasts of wine, with just this bowl full of high leveled sorghum wine, she was bound to be drunk.
"Aunt Tian, Su Shuilian is not a good drinker, I'll drink for her, ok?"
Lin Si Yao asked the currently smiling Aunt Tian. Reaching his hand out, even before she could answer, he drained the bowl.
"Great! Like a man! Brother, come, we shall continue to drink!" Feng Laoliu already had a fair share of wine as he slurred some words. And therefore, he was no longer tense, bringing over a large bowl of burning liqueur, and wanted to toast with Lin Si Yao.
Seeing this, Su Shuilian worriedly tugged on Lin Si Yao's sleeve.
Lin Si Yao turned and gave her a smile, assuring her not to worry. He turned back to receive the bowl and proceeded to drink it.
"Good!"
"Good!"
"Like a man!"
"Ok ok ok, now it's my turn."
"Me too, don't forget me...."
"Don't rush, one at a time! We have the wine! Dabao, go home with Uncle Liu (Feng Laoliu) to bring more wine!"
Chapter 37: Bridal Chamber and Flickering Candles
NSFW warning~
"Uh, Dafu, do you think we drank too much? How come the moon looks so round?"
"Uhh..." Tian Dafu burped. When he heard Lao Youkun say that, he also looked up at the round, bright moon on the eastern horizon.
"Brother Kun, why are there three moons up there?" Tian Dafu boldly asked, staring blankly before scratching his scalp.
"Are you two finished yet? Huh? Who let you drink so much? Everyone else left a long time ago, yet you're still here, loitering around!"
Aunt Lao and Aunt Tian, having stayed after the feast to tidy up, came out to see their husbands still squatting outside on the stone block under the big tree, looking at the moon.
"Aren't you ashamed of yourselves? A Yao barely looked the slightest bit tipsy, but look at you two! Still insisting on continuing to drink, and in the end, it is you digging your own grave!" Seeing her husband stumbling around, Aunt Lao could not help but add a few more remarks. Because Aunt Tian was a few years younger than her, she could not say anything more, so she secretly snickered behind Tian Dafu instead.
"You women... burp... are just so boring... we men are just... drinking wine... burp... you nagging!" With a sudden burst of liquid courage, but also worried that his wife would become furious, Lao Youkun yelled with his neck stretched and tongue sticking out. Aunt Lao found this both frustrating and comical. It had been awhile since her husband had acted this haughty.
---
Su Shuilian wrung a warm towel and placed it on Lin Si Yao's forehead, "Are you sure you are not uncomfortable?" Her heart pained for him as she watched him down cup after cup of several kilograms of burning liqueur.
"I'm fine." Lin Si Yao shook his head. When he could no longer handle the alcohol, he used his inner force to eject the alcohol out of his body. But the villagers of Fan Hua Town could really drink... When their prepared sorghum wine ran out, they were willing to take out their own cultivated burning liquor meant for the cold winter to drink.
He smiled, as he looked at his little woman working hard for him. Taking advantage that she had yet to take back her hand from his forehead, Lin Si Yao grabbed and pulled her into his chest.
"Ah!" Su Shuilian, surprised by his sudden actions, grabbed onto his lapel. And with that, she loosened Lin Si Yao's outer robe. Whether to let go or to hold onto it, Su Shuilian instantly reddened as she bit her lips, conflicted at what to do.
"Shuilian..." Lin Si Yao sighed, he lifted her chin toward his face.
Su Shuilian looked up with her reddened face, her arms resting on his broad chest.
"Don't be afraid." Lin Si Yao raised his hand to her burning cheeks. With it, he traced from her eyebrow to her nose, until his index finger reached her soft lips. Then, instead of his finger, Lin Si Yao used his hot lips as he gently sucked on hers.
"A Yao..." Su Shuilian helplessly called out his name, her trembling voice sounded almost as if she was choking.
"Shuilian.. Don't be afraid... you are not allowed to be scared of me..." Lin Si Yao said as he gently kissed her willowed brows, her long butterfly lashes, her delicate nose, and back again at her tender red lips. He silently confessed his deep love for her. However, in the throbbing, there was a faint thread of uncertainty. Anyone could fear him, only Shuilian was not allowed to. So, in the midst of their breathing, again and again his murmured comforts resounded in her ears.
Su Shuilian naturally understood his intentions, but this man... They were already in this kind of situation, yet he still worried that she feared him because he was previously an assassin? If she truly had feared him, how could she have been willing to settle down with him in Fan Hua Town, and agree to marry him?
Su Shuilian's body trembled in pain, prompting Lin Si Yao to lift her up. They looked at the Babu bed that was sprinkled with jujubes, peanuts, and other dried fruit. Su Shuilian shyly picked out the fruits and moved them to the bedside. She did the same for Lin Si Yao, causing him to chuckle.
Su Shuilian wasn't given any time to ask him why he was laughing, as she saw Lin Si Yao taking off his robes and covering her body.
"Silly girl, I have no need to lie on the bed just yet." Lin Si Yao said, poking at her nose as he laughed.
Su Shuilian was stunned, and could only say a single phrase: "A Yao, you look very lovely when you laugh."
Lin Si Yao raised his brow. Lovely? Can a man's appearance be described as that? But, since she said it, then it can. However, he soon stopped ignoring the woman under him as he leaned down to taste her sweet flavor.
She was finally his. Intertwined with her lips and tongue, Lin Si Yao let out a satisfied sigh.
---
From afar, the first sound of a rooster could be heard. This is the end of Yin time (3-5 am) right? Su Shuilian struggled to get up. She rubbed at her sore waist, as well as her swollen and painful lower body.
Enduring the soreness, Su Shuilian shyly crossed over Lin Si Yao. Using a small candle as a light source, she pulled out a wooden basin, and snuck into the dressing room to urinate. No longer feeling sleepy, Su Shuilian put on the outer robe that she had not known was hung, then quietly made her way to the window and opened up a corner of the window curtains. There was a bit of a white glow outside as the crescent moon hung on the south-west side of the sky. With the occasional crows of the rooster, it seemed that dawn in Fan Hua Town was approaching.
She then turned around to look at the wax in the holders, and saw it was at its last cut. Her mouth curved as she walked to the rounded table, and with a wooden stick, she picked at the wick. Following the sound of crackling, the flicking fire grew bigger in size.
Su Shuilian zoned out looking at the new flame. Was she too a new woman now? It was a common ritual for the newly married wife to wake up early to prepare a meal for the in-laws, and heat up water for her husband to bathe in... So now she should go to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, right? Su Shuilian turned red when she thought about heating up water for Lin Si Yao to clean his face and body with. Oh heavens! As she thought back to last night and the things that he did to her, Su Shuilian's face burned so hot it almost blew out steam.
"What's making you so lost in thought?" Lin Si Yao's low, mellowed voice suddenly sounded by her ear. In an instant, the arms of the body behind her pulled her into a warm embrace.
"A Yao!" Su Shuilian, shocked because she hadn't turned around, but when she realized it was him, she calmed down and allowed him to hug her.
"Why are you up so early? Aren't you... tired from last night?" Lin Si Yao frowned unhappily as he brought her back to bed.
"I... Aren't I supposed to... start making breakfast?" Su Shuilian shyly asked him.
Not to mention, she, originally the eldest legitimate daughter of the Su Household, had never done these chores. Even if she were to marry, with her background, as the wife of the young master, with the fate of a wealthy wife, she did not have to care to remember any of these. She, Su Shuilian, since birth, had been only taught one thing; two words: Su embroidery.
But now, this was different from the past. She was no longer of the Su House, and she was wed to A Yao; she was neither a rich lady nor a wealthy wife. There were only the two of them in this house. Since it is said that a man should stay far away from the kitchen, it should be her job to cook.
"... It's still early." Lin Si Yao hugged her as he went back into the bed, holding her in his embrace as he continued to sleep. Last night was the first time he had such a satisfying sleep, and he didn't want to wake up just yet.
"But..." Seeing that Su Shuilian was no longer sleepy and wanted to say something, Lin Si Yao turned and placed his body on her, and leaned down to kiss her. Since she didn't want to sleep, let's do something else. He also wanted to continue.
"Mm.... A Yao..." Su Shuilian, finding it hard to breathe from his kiss, managed to separate from his lips and took several deep breaths. Lin Si Yao's hands had wandered around her sensitive body, causing her to moan out.
"Shuilian..." Every part of Lin Si Yao heated up. Looking at her delicately lying under him, at her light, frail moans, his desire did not just grow one size, it swelled.
He had never thought that he would marry and have kids like a normal man, nor did he ever imagine that the woman he was to grow old with would be so feminine and delicate. He was originally destined to die alone as a death bringer. Perhaps, he had to thank the incompetent Feng Qingya who had ordered the assassins to chase after him. Thanks to him, he was able to find such a lovable, blooming treasure that was currently under him.
Chapter 38: New Woman
Slightly NSFW
When she woke up again, the sky was bright... And the previous rising sun was also up in the sky. Outside, on the branches of the cherry tree, the birds chirped loudly, as if greeting the first morning of this new house.
The man by her side seemed to have woken up early and gotten up, leaving the other half of the bed cold.
When Su Shuilian recalled the fire-hot scenes earlier with him, she quickly pulled the thin cotton blanket over her reddened face. Heavens! She... during the climax... actually fainted. A Yao... he wouldn't think that she was useless right? But... then, in the depths of herself, she felt an unfamiliar yet comfortable feeling. A hot rolling wave churned in the depths of her lower abdomen. And with that, she, Su Shuilian fainted powerlessly into Lin Si Yao's arms.
Oh... Su Shuilian hid deeper in her covers.
Only until the sounds of the wolf pups' whimpering, did Su Shuilian remember that she had to get up to make breakfast.
Supporting her sore body up, Su Shuilian finally noticed that her originally pink outfit was changed into a clean, white robe. Her lower body seemed to have been cleansed as well, it felt clean and dry. If not for the obvious pain in that secret place and the strawberry pink marks on her two soft mounds, she would have thought that she had just woken up from an embarrassing spring dream.
Su Shuilian reached out to grab the two piece orange dress and put it on neatly. She turned around, folded the blanket, and put it at the end of the bed. After that, she smoothed out the pillowcase and pillow towel; but where was the red-stained white handkerchief? Su Shuilian searched around, but when she realized that there was a high possibility that Lin Si Yao had it, her cheeks could not help but burn.
Sitting in front of the dresser table, she lightly patted her cheeks, trying to calm herself down. From today on, she was his wife... With this thought, the corners of Su Shuilian's lips could not help but lightly lift up.
She did her hair into a that she had learned to do a few days ago from Aunt Lao and put on the white jade earrings that Lin Si Yao had exchanged for with his jasper thumb ring. Unlike her previous hairdo with her hair down, covering her ears, her current high hairstyle made her ears with the earrings softly glow.
She then got up and pulled on the lapel of her then pulled up the curtains and walked out of the house. When Xiao Xue saw this, she quickly came up to her and started to whine, "Woowoowoo," and rolled on the floor. Su Shuilian found this comical and asked, "How come it's just you, Xiao Xue? Where is A Yao and Xiao Chun?"
Xiao Xue whimpered a bit in response, seemingly aggrieved. Su Shuilian patted her head and said, "Ok, how about you accompany me to make food?"
When the wolf cub heard there was food, she quickly jumped ahead of Su Shuilian and headed toward the kitchen.
Su Shuilian laughed while shaking her head. These two wolf pups were really like humans. She did not know where A Yao took Xiao Chun. With this thought, Su Shuilian followed the wolf pup's steps and also made her way to the kitchen.
Eh? A Yao made porridge? When Su Shuilian took the lid off of the large stove pot, she found a smaller pot full of steaming, white rice porridge. On the side, there were even in the steamer.
This is? Su Shuilian blinked a few times; were these all made by A Yao? But she remembered he had said that he was not good at cooking... Or maybe... In the midst of her thoughts, Su Shuilian saw Xiao Xue spring out of the kitchen. From her excitement, she guessed Xiao Chun was back, then A Yao...
Su Shuilian also hurried out of the kitchen, and saw Lin Si Yao in a smoky-green robe holding a bunch of droopy-headed wild animals in his hands, leisurely following behind the high-spirited Xiao Chun and making their way into the red courtyard gates.
Lin Si Yao had just walked into the yard when he saw his beautiful wife shyly smiling at him. The corner of his lips lifted.
"A Yao.... You took Xiao Chun with you to hunt?" Nearing Lin Si Yao who had dropped the wild animals onto an open space in the courtyard, Su Shuilian had realized that the animals were still barely living hares and pheasants.
Lin Si Yao shook his head. Receiving a wash basin from her, he placed it on the brick ground and washed his hands as he smiled and explained: "I only took him to train. All of these..." pointing at the wild animals, "were all of his hard work."
"Xiao Chun? ...He must really want to eat meat." Su Shuilian squatted down and patted the wolf pup's head while Xiao Chun rubbed his head on her arm. Thinking back to the food in the kitchen, Su Shuilian looked down and shyly asked, "Did you... wake up really early? ...Was breakfast also made by you?..."
After Lin Si Yao washed his face and wiped his hands, he pulled her up by his side and whispered in her ears, "The dry food was brought by Aunt Lao. When she heard that you were asleep, she left. As for me... I didn't continue to sleep after that..."
When Su Shuilian heard this, she flushed red from her face to her ears and neck. Her lowered head lowered even more. Only when she had felt the trembling of Lin Si Yao's chest and heard a low chuckle did she look up with an aggrieved face. About to vent her anger, she stopped when she met up with his eyes full of tenderness.
"Shuilian..." Lin Si Yao called her name in a low voice, and stole a quick kiss from her lips. Only then did he let go of her, smiling, he said, "Let's go, Aunt Lao will be here soon."
Su Shuilian then remembered that she had yet to wash after waking up this morning. She glared at Lin Si Yao with both embarrassment and frustration, and in his funny action of rubbing his nose, she quickly ran back into the kitchen.
---
Sure enough, right after Su Shuilian had finished cleaning herself, Aunt Lao had made her way and knocked at the courtyard doors.
Su Shulian looked at Lin Si Yao suspiciously; people who practiced martial arts had really good hearing. Was he aware when Aunt Lao left her house?
Lin Si Yao poured her a bowl of porridge, and as it cooled in front of her, he gave her a freshly cooked spring roll for her to eat first. He found it funny looking at her expression. He did have good hearing, but he had only guessed this because Aunt Lao had told him she would come again after the morning meal.
The current Lin Si Yao did not live like his previous life, when he was always on guard. Especially after yesterday, he had started to live freely as a regular man in the town of Fan Hua. If not for the enthusiasm of the villagers and over drinking, he would not have used his inner force. Most of the time, he had forgotten his previous identity.
Of course, he had brought Xiao Chun out early this morning to train. He had decided to train the wolves; after all, if they were to lose their previous wolf-like nature, they would be no different from domestic dogs. How would they be able to protect their home? With that thought, he had decided that he would rotate everyday in bringing a wolf cub out to train.
As for the wild animals, indeed it was Xiao Chun who had hunted them. During that two-hour time, he stood on a bamboo top and meditated. After he smoothly broke through his bottleneck of the ninth level, Fengyun Arts to Mid-peak, Lin Si Yao saw that it was getting late, so he called Xiao Chun and rushed back.
Chapter 39: Limited Time Embroidery
Aunt Lao arrived in hurried steps. When she saw that the gates were closed, she understandingly knocked a few times while calling out Su Shuilian's maiden name* before making her way into the courtyard.
*(Su Shuilian's maiden name would be Su. Some of you may know that in China, surnames are placed in front.)
Once she entered the courtyard, she was shocked by the mountain of wild animals. In her heart, she shouted: brilliant! When she came here earlier this morning, this was not here. With only a little time in between, he was able to catch so many wild animals! It seemed that Lin Si Yao was indeed an extraordinary person. As she internally praised, Aunt Lao made her way to the kitchen. However, what she didn't know was that her praises should be directed at the wolf cub who was napping under the autumn sun.
"Aunt Lao, sit here. Have you eaten yet?" Su Shuilian sweetly smiled as she said. She had thought back to when Lin Si Yao had told her that she had visited once before today while she was deep in sleep. This made her a bit ashamed.
Aunt Lao also took notice of Lin Si Yao's care for Su Shuilian. She could not help but enviously praise him in her heart. No wonder whenever Tian House's poniang mentioned him, the envy in her words were so clear. She really hoped that her daughter could have a husband that was just as thoughtful.
Which house's daughter would not want such a husband!? Aunt Lao suppressed her own prayer for her daughter, Xicui, as she smiled and said, "Su girl, I actually came here to discuss something with you."
When Su Shuilian heard this, she put down her chopsticks and smiled at Aunt Lao, who displayed a complicated face, and cheerfully said, "Aunt Lao, no need to be restless. You helped us on multiple occasions and we had yet to thank you for that. If you have something that we can help you with, please do tell; there is no need to hold back."
"Saying it like that, girl, I am very ashamed of myself." Aunt Lao was embarrassed, she internally scolded herself; why did she have to come at this time to discuss such a thing? These people were just newly wed, wasn't she here to ruin their happy atmosphere?!
"Aunt Lao?" Seeing that Aunt Lao had dazed out, Su Shuilian gave Lin Si Yao a puzzled glance.
"Drink some porridge first." Lin Si Yao lifted his chin, pointing at the already cooled porridge.
"Ok." Su Shuilian nodded her head. She brought the bowl up to her mouth and took small sips. She thought to herself, they can slowly discuss this after breakfast. Indeed, it was because she was raised in a noble household, but Su Shuilian was not used to talking and eating at the same time.
---
"Aunt Lao, so this is the problem that you were having difficulty with?" After she heard Aunt Lao's hesitant explanation, Su Shuilian realized why she had visited twice today.
Two days ago, her family's daughter had visited the city and managed to land a large project. Once completed, she would earn three silver taels. Xicui, who had never held more than one tael, quickly agreed. But because she was counting her chickens before they hatched, only after she entered the Embroidery House did Xicui find out the reason why the reward was so high. It was because it was in urgent need and had to be completed in three days. And with that, Xicui, who had loudly boasted, was unable to deny the request. She could only bring home the provided embroidery items and cry.
"Girl, I know about your amazing skills in embroidery, but to finish such a large piece in three days... I'm afraid..."
"Aunt Lao, didn't you already say it wasn't just me? Xicui is also helping. It is possible with two people." Su Shuilian assured Aunt Lao as she patted her back. A two meter tall and wide embroidery piece of two phoenixes*. Presumably, it was used as a screen in one's main house. It should be enough to finish it in three days.
*(鳳求凰, Feng Qiuhuang - A male phoenix chasing its mate)
"Su girl!" Listening to the confidence in Su Shuilian's voice, Aunt Lao no longer acted pretentiously and thanked her profusely, "Ok then, I'll go home and have Cui'er* tidy up and come with embroidery... Or do you want to come to my house?" Thinking that it has yet to be three days, wouldn't it be rude to bring the large embroidery fabric in this newly furnished house?
*(Xicui's pet name)
"Not to worry Aunt Lao. A Yao and I are not strict. Moreover, such a large piece, using an would be more convenient." Su Shuilian had guessed Aunt Lao's reason for hesitation as she shook her head, indicating for her to not fret.
In this world, neither she nor Lin Si Yao have their parents. It was thanks to the help of their welcoming neighbors. Even if some things were not done out of a selfless will, that was not strange. To her, it was already enough that they had received their help.
---
"What happened?"
When Lin Si Yao saw Aunt Lao quickly greeting him before rushing home, he immediately made his way to check on Su Shuilian, thinking that something may have happened. He stopped cleaning the wild animals and washed his hands before making his way to the bedroom. He could not help but ask her when he saw Su Shuilian sitting at the round table with her hand to her chin in a daze.
"Oh. A Yao, I may be busy for the next few days." When Su Shuilian realized Lin Si Yao walked in, she quickly recapped what had happened to Xicui and her tight deadline embroidery commission with an apologetic look on her face.
With these kinds of tight scheduled embroidery works, Su Shuilian was quite familiar with them. In the past, she had participated in the annual Su Embroidery Contest. Other than showing off any piece of their choice, the participants also had to complete a piece with a specific topic given by the judges in an allotted time. With that kind of nerve wrecking assignment, not only did she not have time to eat her three meals, even the tea and desserts on the side of the table were helped to by her maids. Her hands, once they started embroidering, she would not stop to do anything else. She was scared it may be stained by oil marks, water marks, or anything that could ruin the embroidery piece.
Although she had told Aunt Lao there was no problem, she felt guilty for Lin Si Yao. After all, these next three days, all of the chores would be pushed to him.
"Three days? You want to sew non-stop?" Lin Si Yao frowned as he asked.
"Nm." Su Shuilian nodded her head, "Sorry to push all of the home chores to you."
"You don't have to worry about that. But your eyes, if you continuously sew, won't you get tired?" Lin Si Yao helped her up and accompanied her out of the bedroom.
Although the early autumn's sun was somewhat scorching, by sitting on the bench under the cherry tree, there was no need to worry about sunburns.
Two people sitting on the bench chatting, by their feet were the two wolf pups; it was a picturesque scene.
"Those..." Su Shuilian shyly leaned on Lin Si Yao's chest as she pointed at three rabbits and four pheasants tied to a rope, randomly jumping and tripping, "Are we going to raise them?"
"Nm, We should get ready for winter." Lin Si Yao's head was on her shoulder as his voice sounded by her ear, as if trying to hypnotize her, "Two of these rabbits are female, one is even pregnant, it should give birth in a few months. Two of the pheasants are also female, so we can keep them for their eggs. As for the males, we can raise them for a few months and then slaughter them for the New Years."
"A Yao..." Su Shuilian turned to look at him, as she said cheerfully, "It was lucky of me to have met you."
Yes, although she had saved him out of pity, after that, she had always relied on him. Without him by her side, with her weak temper and lack of any life skills, living this kind of blissful and peaceful life would be almost impossible.
"I am too." Lin Si Yao replied back with a low sigh. He buried his face into Su Shuilian's neck, his face with an obvious flush. However, because of his quick action, she did not notice.
Chapter 40: The Phoenix Pair
Xicui brought with her a two-meter squared, double layered silk brocade and a golden color sketch of the two phoenixes. As for the embroidery thread and needle, it was not provided by the Embroidery House and had to be self-provided.
"Shuilian jie*." Xicui softly said with her head down, clearly ashamed.
(jie, 姐 - older sister; a polite term of address for a female slightly older than the speaker)
"It's ok, three days should be enough. Come, let's go into the embroidery room, we should start immediately." Su Shuilian grasped onto Xicui's hands and had her put her basket of embroidery items to the side before leading her to the kitchen to wash their hands.
When Xicun saw that Su Shuilian did not blame her, she quickly sorted out her feelings. After she fixed her skirt and washed her hands, Xicui followed Su Shuilian into the embroidery room.
Su Shuilian then lit a sandalwood incense, and opened the basket that contained Zicui's embroidery.
"From the appearance of the embroidery piece, the gold thread was the main color for the phoenixes with a silver thread at the ends. The background seemed to be dark green coiling branches, an azure lake, and a crescent moon that will be mainly silver with (a) golden circumference."
Su Shuilian placed the silk onto the embroidery frame while taking each color thread as she divided the work with Xicui: "Xicui, I will start on the phoenix and you can work on the branches, this way, we won't overlap."
Xicui nodded in contentment, she picked up the needle and was about to begin.
"Don't be anxious, take your time and try hard not to make any errors." Su Shuilian softly soothed. When they began, if any mistakes occurred; it would take even longer to finish; and may even affect the finished product's overall appearance.
Although she did not ask about how much the fee would be for an incomplete or unsatisfactory work, from both Aunt Lao's and Xicui's looks; she could guess it was not a small amount.
---
This was her first time embroidering such a big piece since coming to The Country of Dahui.
Previously she had embroidered mandarin ducks on a celebratory blanket, pillow cases, pillow towels and wedding veil. She also embroidered the four noble plants: plum flower, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum on both Lin Si Yao and her own clothes. The most complex needlework she did was the single-sided . But those were made on her own accord, and there was no pressure in making them.
*(雙套繡/双套绣 - I'm actually not 100% sure how it's done, from researching it should be the long and short stitch in combination with the satin stitch)
However, this time it was different, this Paired Phoenix Embroidery had to be . Compared to the single sided embroidery, this was much more difficult. According to the sketch, the two flying phoenixes under the crescent moon, beside the coiling branches, must have slender, yet clearly-in-motion feathers.
The needle in Su Shuilian's hand remained motionless as she was deep in thought. When Su Shuilian saw Xicui had already started on the branches, she curved her lips and lightly suggested: "Xicui, if you use the (旋針) or the (長短針), the colors will be more realistic." After all, the embroidery sketch on the paper had a very realistic ink painting on it. If the finished piece did not have the charm or grace portrayed in the sketch, their wages may be deducted.
When Xicui heard this, she clearly looked ashamed and said; "Shuilian jie, I... I'm afraid we don't have enough time..."
"We have enough time. We have to split the work; so we can make it on time." Su Shuilian nodded at Xicui: "If we don't make it on time, I will compensate you for your loss. But since I made this promise, we should both put in our best effort." Su Shuilian felt an inexplicable sense of respect and dedication. If it was just to cope, she would rather pay than to not embroider. And because of that, Su Shuiyan would always overtly and subtly call her stubborn and inflexible.
Flexible? She was indeed not flexible. For her to transfer a pleasant freehand ink painting onto a large and expensive embroidery silk. To embroider using simple and easy techniques instead of the complicated and realistic stitches, she, Su Shuilian, could not bear to do such a thing. And it is because of that, she was able to keep the five-year consecutive title of "The Chief Representative of Su Embroidery" and reputation of a first-rate maiden embroider. This was why Su Shuiyan was unable to achieve this. But now, Su Shuiyan should be representing Su House on her behalf during this year's widely prestigious Su Embroidery Contest.
Su Shuilian shook her head, refocusing herself and began to embroider on the silk.
Xicui felt calmer after listening to Su Shuilian. She took out her previous stitches and picked a more complicated, but more detailed-abled stitch. After finishing a few stitches, Xicui wanted to get a broader look at the stitch. However, when she looked up, she was enchanted by Su Shuilian's concentrated look.
A beautiful yet not gaudy face with a tranquil expression, the needle in her hand moved quickly with no hint of impatience. Under the sunlight that had shone through the crevices of the rolled down curtains, the image was extremely moving. Not to mention men, but an unmarried girl like her (Xicui) was shocked by this scene. No wonder her aging mother; Aunt Tian, and the other poniang were always endlessly admiring her... This kind of woman, who would not want her to be married into their house to keep and pamper?
Xicui's heart was full of praise, unconsciously she straightened her back and tried to imitate Su Shuilian's posture and action. In her heart, she had already decided that before she got married, she would spend more time with Su Shuilian. It would be beneficial to learn from her impressive needlework or her ladylike posture. She had to make sure that her future husband would be like how Lin Si Yao treated her.
---
Aunt Lao entered carrying a basket of food , when she saw Lin Si Yao watering flowers, she smiled and asked: "A Yao I'm here to deliver food are they still at it?"
Lin Si Yao put down the wooden watering can and turned around before nodding: "Take it back, they've already ate mantou for lunch." Lin Si Yao reported as per Su Shuilian's request before she entered the embroidery room.
"Ah? How can that be, it's better to eat some rice and vegetables. Look, I've even had Cui'er's father buy a kilogram of meat from the city and made pork stew with it." Aunt Lao raised the basket in her hand. She paid no heed to the wolf puppies that had heard the word 'meat' and were drooling while circling around her legs.
"This was Su Shuilian's idea, she was afraid that they would waste time eating." Although Lin Si Yao's face displayed indifference; internally he was impatient. They had just gotten married and their early days were ruined by those meddlesome poniangs. Although Aunt Lao had really helped them multiple times, he would rather have paid them some silver taels as thanks. But it was a pity the current him was penniless; all of the spending money was paid with Su Shuilian's savings. So he could only swallow his displeasure.
"A... A waste of time? So they do not plan to eat lunch?" When Aunt Lao realized the meaning of Lin Si Yao's words, she could not help but repeat in a low voice.
Lin Si Yao nodded his head and then walked into the kitchen. He was about to prepare the mantou and bring them in.
"Then... ai, A Yao, I'll just leave the food here. Whenever they come out is when they can eat it so they don't starve, okay?" Aunt Lao said as she handed the basket to Lin Si Yao. However, when she saw that he had no intention of receiving the basket, she directly put it into his arms and continued: "Then, I'll go back now and come back later today..." She quickly turned around and exited the yard.
Aunt Lao felt guilty. Thinking about it, it was because of her recklessness. From Lin Si Yao's chilling aura, she had guessed he had blamed her. But of course, their GuiNing* Day has yet to pass and they were already pulled into the mess that her daughter had caused. Anyone else would not be in a great mood either!
(归宁, GuiNing Day - The day that the married woman and sometimes her husband visit her family. This is usually the second or third day after marriage.)
Aiyo! She really had no brain! Aunt Lao hit her forehead and she mumbled as she quickly made her way back home.