Chapter 12: The "Irritable" Wife Loves Tenderly (12)

"Mm."

Yun Zimu responded obediently. Only then did Su Qiruo notify Qian-shi and leave with peace of mind.

"Look at your wife; she acts as if she's afraid I’ll let you suffer any grievances. This is the first time I’ve seen a woman who protects her husband like this!"

Qian-shi smiled as she pulled Yun Zimu’s hand to sit down, a hint of envy flickering in the depths of her eyes.

Yun Zimu’s pretty face flushed red. He lowered his gaze without replying, but his heart felt sweet.

Ever since the day his wife promised she would no longer bully him, she had truly seemed like a different person. Everything she did was impeccable, making him feel as if he were living in a dream.

"Is this the clothing you’re making for your wife?"

Looking at the fabric in Yun Zimu’s basket, a smile crossed Qian-shi’s eyes.

This young man might not say it out loud, but he had Su Qiruo in his heart. It wasn't in vain that Su Qiruo doted on him so much.

"I want to make a pair of shoes for my wife..."

Yun Zimu said softly. Once he finished the shoes, he would make clothes for her; he knew how to do all of these things.

"Using such good material for shoes? That’s really too extravagant."

Qian-shi clicked her tongue, stood up, rummaged through her own cabinet, and pulled out a piece of white cotton cloth to place in Yun Zimu’s hands.

"Using this cotton for the soles is soft and sturdy. Just keep your fabric for the uppers; it’s not worth it to use that for the soles."

"Then how much silver do I owe you for this cotton? I’ll bring it to you tomorrow, Brother-in-law."

Yun Zimu felt embarrassed to take things from Qian-shi and spoke up in a hurry.

"You’re being too much of a stranger by saying that. Your wife and my wife are like sisters. It’s just a piece of cheap cotton; just take it and use it."

Qian-shi knew that the five taels of silver Lu Dasheng had brought home a few days ago had come from Su Qiruo, and he had kept that in mind. Now, it was just a piece of cotton for Yun Zimu; he didn't care about a few copper coins.

"No, no. If Brother-in-law won't take the money, I cannot accept the cloth."

Yun Zimu wasn't close enough to Qian-shi to accept things casually, so he had to refuse.

"Then just use it for now, and pay me back whenever you have it."

Seeing that Yun Zimu wouldn't accept it, Qian-shi had to change his tune.

He then brought out Lu Dasheng’s shoe pattern for Yun Zimu to use, and the two exchanged tips on the steps for making shoes.

Perhaps because they had found common ground, when Su Qiruo came to pick up Yun Zimu that evening, she clearly felt that he and Qian-shi had become much closer.

On the way home, Yun Zimu told Su Qiruo about the cotton cloth Qian-shi had given him. Su Qiruo simply told him to keep it for now, and that she would buy more fabric when she went to town later to return the favor.

Only then did Yun Zimu feel at ease starting on the shoes and socks for Su Qiruo.

The house had been repaired, the new *kang* (heated bed) was built, and a stove had been added to the outer room specifically for heating the *kang*. It could be used for boiling water daily, and if it felt cold in the winter, they could even cook a simple meal right there without having to run to the kitchen.

Looking at the large *kang* that could fit seven or eight people, and the newly renovated house, Yun Zimu felt his heart brighten.

"We’ll live here for the next two years. Once I earn enough money, I’ll buy a courtyard in town so you can live in a bigger, more beautiful house. Of course, if you want to go to the city, we’ll go to the city to buy a house and settle down."

Seeing the joy on Yun Zimu’s face, Su Qiruo said happily.

"This is already very good."

Yun Zimu whispered, pursing his lips. He was content just to be able to live in such a spacious and clean house.

"That small room outside is a washroom built just for you. You like cleanliness, so you can bathe there every day."

Pointing to the newly built small structure outside, Su Qiruo added,

"Don't worry, I definitely won't go over there."

She wouldn't do something as lewd as peeking at someone bathing, but she had to let Yun Zimu know!

Yun Zimu glared at Su Qiruo with a flushed face, causing her to chuckle softly. The relationship between the two seemed to have taken another step forward.

The little guy even dared to glare at her now; it seemed he was growing bolder.

"Zimu, if there is anything else you want, just tell me. I will satisfy all of your wishes."

Su Qiruo wanted to be good to Yun Zimu, but she always felt it wasn't enough.

"I want to build a chicken coop in the corner of the west wall. I want to raise some chickens and ducks like Brother-in-law Lu..."

Yun Zimu, who never made requests, looked at Su Qiruo with expectant eyes for the first time as he voiced his wish. How could Su Qiruo bear to refuse?

"Alright. Once I go into the mountains again and return to build the wall, I’ll build you a chicken coop."

Su Qiruo had always remembered that she needed to replace the fence with a high wall. Yun Zimu was timid and always afraid when he was home alone; building the wall and replacing it with a sturdy gate would save him from being too scared to sleep at night.

"Wife... please don't go into the mountains anymore, okay?"

Yun Zimu envied how other families could raise chickens and ducks and collect eggs every day to change up their diet, but he didn't want Su Qiruo to take risks.

Thinking of how Su Qiruo had returned from the mountains covered in blood last time still left him terrified; he was so afraid he would never see her again.

Their lives had finally gotten a little better; he didn't want anything to happen to her.

They still had two acres of land at home. As long as they worked diligently, they would always have enough to eat; there was really no need to take risks.

"I promise you, this time I will only go into the mountains to gather herbs and won't touch those big beasts. If I run into any, I’ll definitely climb a tree and hide, I promise I won't get hurt again."

Seeing her little husband finally learning to care for someone, Su Qiruo felt a sense of relief.

It wasn't in vain that she had been good to him.

Yun Zimu still looked worried, but after Su Qiruo coaxed him for a long time, he finally nodded in reluctant agreement.

Although it was still hot, Su Qiruo still heated the *kang* for an hour. After extinguishing the fire, Yun Zimu blinked in confusion as he watched the steam rising from the *kang*.

Su Qiruo wiped the sweat from her face and smiled: "I need to steam the moisture out of the earthen *kang* so that it won't be bad for your health when you sleep on it."

She used a feather duster to dust off the newly bought *kang* mat, spread out the soft quilt, and then pulled Yun Zimu onto the *kang*.

"From now on, you sleep on the head of the *kang*. I plan to order a small low table from the carpenter to put at the foot of the *kang* so you can sit there and embroider or read..."

When she mentioned reading, Su Qiruo suddenly paused.

"Zimu, are you literate?"

A child from a wealthy family like him, even if he were a servant, should be literate. Yun Zimu must have learned a little, right?

Yun Zimu’s hand, which was smoothing the quilt, stopped. He pinched the corner of the quilt and nodded faintly.

When his father was alive, he had taught him to read and write, but after his father passed away, he never dared to hope that he would be able to read again.

To his surprise, Su Qiruo clapped her hands excitedly and sat down beside Yun Zimu, smiling: "Then I’ll buy some books in a few days, and we can read them together."

Su Qiruo was literate because of her mother, so even if she bought books, no one would be suspicious.