That, however, was impossible.
Gu Yun and Lin Yue returned home. The aroma of food filled the courtyard; everyone was already eating dinner.
They also planned to cook for themselves. Ingredients had been bought in the afternoon, and there was firewood too.
Lin Yue said the remaining firewood from the bridge shelter was too little and inconvenient to transport to town, so he gave it to an old man selling bamboo goods.
The firewood they now used was bought from a travelling woodcutter, who delivered it personally after receiving payment.
Gu Yun had already mentally rehearsed how to cook over fire several times.
He only knew how to make egg and spring onion noodle soup on a stove. He had only seen the process of cooking over wood fire vaguely in films and dramas. But he did not think it would be difficult.
He would ask locals for advice; as long as it was cooked through, taste did not matter. It would not poison anyone anyway.
After returning, he washed the pot and was thinking of how cooking might be used to delay matters and reduce Lin Yue’s interest in marital affairs.
Then he saw the cook Lin Yue had hired.
Gu Yun’s plan died before it could even begin. He looked at Lin Yue unhappily. “What do you mean?”
Lin Yue stood aside watching the cook. “I’m afraid you’ll set the kitchen on fire.”
Gu Yun: “…”
“I can cook,” he said.
Lin Yue glanced at him.
He clearly did not believe it. Not only did Gu Yun fail to recognise many ingredients, he had even secretly asked merchants how much rice to cook for two people, how much water to add, and how long to cook it.
Although Lin Yue himself was no expert, he had once handled a pot and shovel and felt completely unfamiliar with them.
But that did not stop him from concluding that Gu Yun would burn the kitchen down.
Lin Yue did not respond, but his silence was more cutting than words.
Gu Yun was left speechless. After a while, he stubbornly went to stand beside the cook and watched her movements closely to prove he could cook.
After watching for a while, he fell silent. Imagination and reality were different.
He turned to Lin Yue and said firmly, “I will be able to cook in the future.”
Lin Yue replied, “Mm.”
Gu Yun turned back again.
The cook, unfazed, worked steadily and efficiently. She prepared two simple dishes, a pot of corn porridge, and several bean flour pancakes.
After finishing, she wiped her hands, took the payment, reminded them to eat while hot, and left quickly. She did not appear as calm as she seemed.
This cook was brought from a small eatery by Lin Yue. She was the owner’s daughter and usually helped with simple dishes. This time, she was paid twelve wen.
The dishes were stir-fried shredded radish and pork cracklings with spinach. Together with porridge, pancakes, and firewood, the meal cost twenty-nine wen.
It seemed a lot, but after accounting for labour and the fact it would be split into two meals, it was cheaper than eating out by about two wen, and had oil too.
Originally, Gu Yun wanted to reduce costs further to five or six wen per meal, but Lin Yue refused. Since Lin Yue earned the money, he naturally made the decisions.
With no space to eat in the kitchen, they carried the food back to their room like everyone else.
Homework was packed away. The writing tools given as gifts were placed on top. The table was cleared and ready.
Gu Yun was in a phase where everything tasted good, so despite his worries, he focused on eating dinner properly.
After the meal, his worries returned.
He placed the untouched leftovers for the next morning into a basket, covered them with Xuan paper, then took over washing the dishes, urging Lin Yue to bathe and rest early.
The cook had finished preparing the meal, and the two of them took advantage of the embers still burning in the stove to set a pot of water over it, boiling a pot of warm water.
Although the sun had come out today, the water was much colder than usual. It was unclear whether this was because it had rained recently or because the weather was turning colder.
Upon hearing this, Lin Yue immediately carried the water inside to bathe in the house.
Inside the room, there was a wooden bathtub placed in a corner, with a worn and somewhat dilapidated bamboo curtain hanging at the corner.
After bathing, one would scoop the used water into a bucket and carry it out to pour into the drainage ditch. Although it inevitably splashed some water onto the ground, leaving it muddy and filthy.
Gu Yun, sitting in the kitchen, finished washing the bowls and chopsticks and carried them into the room, only to run straight into Lin Yue coming out of the bath, carrying a water bucket and still wrapped in warmth and steam.
He was still wearing his old clothes. That day they had been busy purchasing necessities, so neither of them had bought new clothing.
Lin Yue raised his eyes to look at him and said, “Do you want your washing water hotter or colder?”
Before bathing, he had added firewood to the stove and boiled another pot of water.
Gu Yun immediately felt a layer of goosebumps rise on his back. He understood why the other party was urging him to bathe. It was precisely for that boring matter.
He maintained a calm expression. “I am not dirty, I do not need to bathe. While the landlord’s family is still awake, I will return the firewood we borrowed yesterday.”
Lin Yue grabbed his arm. “I will go.”
Gu Yun forced a smile. “I will go instead. You should hurry and sleep.”
Lin Yue said, “Do they not know who I am? Why must you be the one to return it?”
He did not want to listen any further. He poured out the water, brought fresh water, mixed in cold water, adjusted it to a suitable temperature, and said, “Bathe.”
Gu Yun: “……”
“My medicine has not been brewed yet…”
“I have already started brewing it for you,” Lin Yue said, then turned and went out to return the firewood.
Gu Yun: “……”
He considered pouring the water away, but remembering that it had been heated with money, he held back.
He took off his clothes and soaked in the bath, washing himself thoroughly. After hearing Lin Yue go in and out twice and then fall silent, he finally climbed out of the water.
His skin was not wrinkled by the water, but his hands were.
He picked up the newly bought dry cloth placed on top of his clothes that day, wiped the water from his body, and put on his inner and outer garments as well as his shoes.
The shoes were new straw sandals bought that afternoon.
He had originally worn cloth shoes after bathing. He also wore cloth shoes during the day, and although they were washed frequently and not dirty, they inevitably felt slightly uncomfortable. Moreover, once washed, they had to be dried by the fire for an entire night, so without a spare pair it was inconvenient.
Thus that afternoon, he had first bought a pair of straw sandals.
Straw sandals were breathable and light, but the soles were somewhat hard, and slightly prickly on the feet. Lin Yue did not notice this, but Gu Yun did. However, at present he adopted a policy of “making do”, and did not complain, simply buying them anyway.
After putting them on, Gu Yun stepped a few times and felt much more comfortable.
He moved lightly and carefully, intending to go out and fetch the bucket to pour away the used bath water.
But just as he stepped out, he discovered that Lin Yue had not gone to bed at all. The other man was sitting at the table, reading a book by the light of an oil lamp.
Gu Yun froze in place.
“I thought you had fallen into the bath,” Lin Yue said. He put down the book, stood up, and walked over to him. “The water, I will pour it. Go and take your medicine. It has already been brewed. If it were not kept warm on the stove over a low fire, it would already be cold by now.”
Gu Yun, utterly bewildered, gave a slight nod.
The medicine was thick, both sweet and bitter. Gu Yun pinched his nose and drank it in one gulp, rinsed his mouth with clean water, then sat on the edge of the bed.
He rolled up his trouser leg, took out the medicinal plaster prescribed by the doctor, warmed it in his palm as instructed, and applied it to his knee. The small room was instantly filled with the bitter scent of medicine.
Lin Yue finished dealing with the bathwater, closed the door, put away the book, lay down on the bed, and watched Gu Yun apply the plaster. Gu Yun kept his hands pressed on his knees for a long time.
Lin Yue chuckled. “Are you planning to keep pressing them all night?”
Gu Yun turned his head to look at his cheap husband. Under the dim lamplight, the other man looked especially sinister.
Gu Yun tried to salvage the situation. He washed his hands, walked to the bedside, and looked at him pitifully. “Husband, I do not want to do that kind of thing right now. Could we postpone it, and make it up later?”
Lin Yue said, “Why do you not want to now? The doctor already said it is fine as long as it is not too intense.”
“I have a headache, I think I have caught a chill,” Gu Yun sniffed.
“Is that so?” Lin Yue reached out and touched his forehead. “It is not hot. Do you really have a headache?”
“Yes.”
“Shall I take you to see a doctor?” Lin Yue sat up.
Gu Yun immediately said, “The curfew is about to start.”
Lin Yue said, “It does not matter. I know the county magistrate. Even if we break curfew, I will not be sent to prison.”
Gu Yun fell silent for a moment. “Must you really do this?”
Lin Yue looked at him in surprise, then suddenly gave a cold laugh. “So you do not have a headache anymore?”
Gu Yun nearly said, “If you dare lay a hand on me, I will scare you to death.” He pursed his lips. “I am unwell. In any case, I do not want to do it.”
Lin Yue said, “Am I very ugly?”
Gu Yun shook his head.
Lin Yue blew out the lamp and lay back down. “I did not marry a wife to keep as decoration. Come up. I will consider whether we do it tonight. If you do not want to listen to me, you can leave.”
Darkness fell over them completely. Gu Yun could not see his expression. He gritted his teeth, took off his outer robe, climbed onto the bed, and lay at the very inner side, almost pressed against the wall.
A hand then rested on his waist.
Gu Yun’s body stiffened, every nerve tightening. He was like a falsely accused loyal official, desperately awaiting the emperor’s trust. One second, two seconds passed. Time dragged on endlessly. Gu Yun estimated it was likely deep into the night, yet there was still no decision.
Gu Yun: “……”
He removed the hand. There was no response. He turned over and reached out to touch the other man’s face. The breath under his palm was steady.
He was asleep.
Gu Yun suddenly understood.
He sat up abruptly, like a wronged ghost who had been dead for half a year, staring fixedly at the sleeping Lin Yue.
After staring for a while, he raised both hands.
Lin Yue, I am going to strangle you.
