Chapter 8: Serving Tea and Calling Her Mother

In truth, she didn't want to sleep in the same bed as him either, but the problem was that she didn't want to sleep on the ground.

The ground was packed with earth, both damp and cold.

Who could stand sleeping on the ground without a mattress for padding?

If she slept wrapped in a quilt, not only would the quilt get dirty, but seeing how narrow it was, it wouldn't be enough to wrap them both.

Fortunately, there were two quilts on the bed. Compared to sleeping directly on the ground, having one quilt each was somewhat acceptable.

Seeing that he wasn't responding, and fearing he might insist she sleep on the ground, Yan Funing steeled herself and picked up a bedsheet. "We can use the sheet to make a curtain in the middle of the bed. That way we're separated and won't infringe upon each other. Is that okay?"

Fu Ciyi's expression tightened slightly.

Infringe upon each other?

During the day, she had said he was destined for greatness.

This woman was illiterate, yet the words she spoke...

Seemed to possess a bit of refinement.

Perhaps it was because the Yan family was wealthy, and the Yan family members were accustomed to practicing elegant pretension in their daily lives.

Yan Funing took a piece of rope, tied it tightly across the center of both ends of the bed frame, and hung the sheet over it.

The sheet hung straight down, and she used thin strings to tie it at both the head and the foot of the bed.

"It's quite sturdy." She gave the sheet a slight shake. "What do you think?"

Her eyes were like water, the corners of them holding a hint of a smile, as she stared at him without blinking.

Fu Ciyi lowered his gaze indifferently and lay down to sleep.

Yan Funing froze for a moment, then circled to the other side of the bed and climbed in as well.

After blowing out the lamp and undressing, she lay down quietly.

The mountain wind howled outside the window.

Fu Ciyi's brow furrowed; he disliked having another person in his bed.

However, the two-year term was his own decision, so he would endure it for now.

Currently, the family lacked food and money. For a pampered girl like her, such days might feel novel for a day or two.

But as time went on, it would become an immense torment for her.

He wanted to see what she would do after a few more days.

——

The next day, as the first light of dawn appeared, the crowing of roosters rose one after another.

Hearing the sound, Yan Funing stretched, her arm hitting the hanging sheet, which startled her awake.

Seeing that someone's clothes were no longer at the foot of the bed, she assumed he had already gotten up.

Exhaling softly, she hurried out of bed.

Living under someone else's roof, she couldn't afford to be lazy. Today she had to go to town to sell wild oyster mushrooms, and the earlier the better.

By the time she reached the kitchen, Fu Ciyi had already filled the water vat.

They had been famished last night, having finished all the steamed buns and chicken, leaving quite a bit of chicken soup.

Yan Funing washed two handfuls of oyster mushrooms, tore them up, and boiled them with the chicken soup for breakfast.

After breakfast, Wan Niang took Yan Funing's hand and smiled while stroking her face.

Yan Funing was puzzled.

Fu Nanyao smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, Mother is asking you to serve tea."

Fu Ciyi said indifferently, "Mother, there is no tea in the house. The tea ceremony can be waived."

"How can you speak like that? I've been waiting for my daughter-in-law to call me 'Mother'."

Wan Niang "looked" toward her eldest son, her gaze vacant and unfocused.

Yan Funing knew that this man did not view her as a wife; just as he did, she did not view him as a husband.

But they were husband and wife in name, and regardless of what the future held, serving tea was the proper thing to do.

Yan Funing used warm water instead of tea to serve the tea and called her "Mother."

Wan Niang was delighted and slipped a jade bracelet onto Yan Funing's wrist.

"This is too precious, I cannot accept it."

Yan Funing tried to take the bracelet off, but Wan Niang pressed it back down.

"This bracelet is mine. Wear it with peace of mind."

"Thank you, Mother!"

When the supporting female character had broken off her engagement, she had said many inappropriate things; at this moment, Yan Funing couldn't help but feel guilty.

"You child, being so polite to Mother." Wan Niang smiled, then turned to the fraternal twins. "Nanyao, Beimo, you two go out first. Mother has words for your brother and sister-in-law."

The siblings complied and left the main room.

Wan Niang took her son's and daughter-in-law's hands, one in each of hers, and whispered, "You are already husband and wife. Two nights have passed—have you consummated the marriage?"

She was blind; even with a bridal veil, she could not see.

Nanyao was still unmarried and could not be made to watch, so the mother could only ask herself.

Yan Funing froze on the spot.

Fu Ciyi remained silent for a moment, then said with an expressionless face, "Mother, your son is focused on the imperial examinations and has no interest in other matters."

Wan Niang wanted to persuade him, but Yan Funing hurriedly said, "Mother, it's getting late. I must sell the mushrooms as soon as possible."

"Right, right, right." Wan Niang repeated. "Ciyi, go with her."

"No need, I can go alone," Yan Funing declined politely.

If she could, she would rather stay as far away from him as possible.

Although she didn't know the way to town, she could ask people.

Wan Niang was uneasy about a young girl going out alone, so she sternly required her eldest son to accompany her.

Yan Funing went back to her room to change into a set of plain clothes, then returned to the kitchen to pick up her basket. Just as she stepped out of the kitchen door, she saw that the man had also changed into a set of plain long robes and was waiting for her at the courtyard gate.

After telling the family goodbye, they left the house, one following the other.

Fu Beimo waved: "Sister-in-law, come back early."

Yan Funing turned her head and responded with a smile.

Fu Nanyao couldn't help but ask, "Why didn't you tell Brother to come back early?"

"Sister-in-law watched ants with me yesterday." Fu Beimo's gaze followed the silhouettes of his brother and sister-in-law, muttering, "Brother isn't a real man; he didn't help Sister-in-law carry her basket."

Wan Niang laughed upon hearing this. "Beimo has grown up."

Fu Beimo said discontentedly, "Yesterday on the cart, Sister-in-law said she was in pain, and Brother didn't even help her blow on it to soothe it."

Wan Niang's smile deepened.

——

A quarter of an hour later, Yan Funing followed Fu Ciyi out of the village.

On the road to town, many ox carts and donkey carts passed by.

A driver shouted at them, "Hey, want a ride? Five copper coins per person to town!"

Fu Ciyi did not say a word and simply kept walking.

Yan Funing waved her hand. "No, thank you."

They didn't have a single copper coin, and the ox and donkey carts were slow, with the boards already crowded with people.

The driver flicked his whip. "No problem if you don't ride. Business next time."

A young woman on the cart sneered, "Look at the quality of their clothes; they can't even afford an ox cart."

The man sitting beside her pulled out a few copper coins and gave them to the driver. "This is the fare for our return trip. Use those extra two coppers to reserve these two seats in front."

This action drew a round of praise from the people on the cart, all saying she had married the right man.

The young woman smiled shyly. She saw that the pair walking by the roadside were both quite handsome, but the man walked ahead, completely ignoring the young girl carrying the basket behind him.

With such a comparison, the young woman felt even more that her husband was wonderful, and her body leaned a little closer to him.

Though the ox cart was slow, it was still faster than walking.

Once the cart had moved far away, Yan Funing quickened her pace, wanting to catch up to Fu Ciyi.

Fu Ciyi did not want to be too close to her; sensing her quickening pace, he also quickened his.

Yan Funing frowned. Even though she sped up, she still couldn't catch him, so she began to jog.

"Can you please wait for me?"

Her tone was soft, carrying a hint of unconscious coquettishness.

Fu Ciyi's face remained unchanged, but his pace slowed down considerably.

Yan Funing finally caught up to his stride.

She considered her height to be quite tall among women, but this man was a head taller than her; walking beside him gave her an inexplicable sense of pressure.

"I can go by myself, you can go back."

He didn't like her, and she wanted her future days to be easier; there was no need to be obnoxious right now.

(End of Chapter)