The next day, Xie Yuan arrived late, with a satisfied and contented look on his face. Compared to him, Cheng Duo, who had been nudged by Yong Ge all night, looked a little pale.
"Brother Cheng, what's wrong with you…?" It couldn't be, they got along so well, why does Brother Cheng seem to have a dissatisfied expression?
Cheng Duo gave him a cold look and replied, "It's nothing. I was drunk by a drunkard last night, so I have a headache."
"…"
Xie Yuan awkwardly took his seat and was about to ask Yong Ge when he saw Yong Ge coming in with a tray of porridge, side dishes, buns, and steamed buns.
"Cheng Duo, breakfast is ready." When he saw Xie Yuan, Yong Ge hesitated for a moment and continued, "Uh, Xie Shao is here too, have you eaten?"
(T/N: Shao is used to refer to someone of high status. Kind of pinyin for young master.)
Upon hearing this, Xie Yuan felt proud and said with delight, "Yes, I ate. My dear An Ge personally arranged a sour soup with dumplings for me. It's perfect for whetting the appetite, and I had two large bowls!"
"Oh, I made porridge and assorted buns for Cheng Duo, and I also pickled some small salted vegetables myself. Since Xie Shao has already eaten, then we'll just have our own meal." Yong Ge didn't doubt him and used a spoon to stir the steaming porridge before serving Cheng Duo and himself a bowl.
"…Didn't the restaurant kitchen have someone making breakfast? Why did you go by yourself?" Yong Ge couldn't bear to say it out loud. He had spent a long time with Cheng Ge last night, and after sobering up from the alcohol, he felt too embarrassed to show his face, so he hid in the kitchen.
Cheng Duo understood this very well. Seeing that Yong Ge couldn't explain, he reached out and picked up a bun for him, saying, "Eat up. Later, we'll go to the restaurant together."
"Okay." Yong Ge happily bit into the bun and turned around, only to find that Cheng Ge and Xie Shao were discussing the business of the hot pot restaurant.
"With the opening of the hot pot restaurant, we can have a grand opening promotion. If the consumption reaches 88 wen, we can give a vegetarian platter as a gift. If it reaches 188 wen, we can give a meat platter, and so on… In addition, we can also issue a stamp with each meal and use the number of stamps to upgrade the VIP card. The lowest level VIP card can have a discount, and the higher levels can have benefits such as direct access to private rooms or limited dishes. In short, the higher the VIP card level, the more face the customers will get."
Xie Yuan listened attentively and nodded repeatedly. At the end, he showed a thoughtful expression and said, "According to Brother Cheng's plan, we can privately distribute some VIP cards for each level. But the highest level should not exceed twenty cards; otherwise, it will devalue them…"
"That's the idea. You can decide on the specific quantity and whom to give to; I don't mind." Cheng Duo liked dealing with such clever people; they understood everything at once.
After finishing breakfast, the three of them went to the Street again. The person in charge of the hot pot restaurant and some workers were already waiting there. In addition to that, there were also carpenters and other assistants.
The shopfront on Pipa Street was a two-story building. Since it was a collaboration with Cheng Duo, they only used polished yellow wood with a mirror-like surface to write the words "Hot Pot" on it. With a yellow background and black letters, the words were vivid and impressive. Besides, hot pot was a unique food in Daxia, and with just two words, they had basically "snatched" the name.
Cheng Duo had already given some suggestions yesterday, such as having a separate vegetable cabinet for each table, and the workers who added charcoal could only use designated paths to avoid scalding people. Additionally, they had to ensure sufficient windows for ventilation, and so on.
Although Xie's family ran a restaurant, they were indeed unfamiliar with the concept of a hot pot restaurant. Therefore, Cheng Duo explained the reason behind these measures, and Xie Yuan listened attentively and gave directions to the workers on-site for adjustments.
They worked hard for three days, and on the fourth day at noon, the hot pot restaurant finally opened!
Since morning, the entire Pipa Street, including the nearby main road, has been filled with the fragrance of fried chili peppers. The aroma became stronger and spicier, lingering in the air for a long time.
"Achoo! Which restaurant is using so much chili in their cooking? I don't want to eat anything with such a spicy taste in my mouth."
"But honestly, this smell is really delicious. The scorching weather during this autumn heatwave had taken away my appetite, but now I feel hungry again after smelling this."
"Come on, even when you have no appetite, you can still eat three big bowls of food. Don't pretend otherwise!"
Just as the conversation was ending, there was the sound of gongs and drums at the street corner, and there were dragon dances and acrobatic performances on the road. Curious passersby gathered around to watch the spectacle.
They saw the acrobat at the head of the dragon flip gracefully in the air with the help of his companions' hands, landing lightly, and then playfully winked his eyes.
"Bravo!" The crowd clapped their hands and cheered.
"Oh, isn't that Young Master Xie? So this is the new restaurant of the Xie family!"
"What does the restaurant sign say, 'Hot Pot'? What is a 'Hot Pot'? I've never heard of it."
Some potential customers who were hesitating at the restaurant's entrance heard the enthusiastic welcome from the restaurant's staff. "As part of our opening promotion, new customers will receive a glass of iced water upon entry to cool down and quench their thirst!"
"Hot Pot is a delicacy we specially brought in from outside the border. It was created by the same person as the Shao Guang Wine. Once you try it, we guarantee you won't be disappointed."
"The first ten customers to enter the restaurant will receive a fifty percent discount."
"Fifty percent!" Some customers who were eager for good food couldn't resist any longer. Hearing the promise of a "fifty percent" discount for the first ten customers, they rushed inside.
People tend to follow the crowd, and taking advantage of a discount is human nature, not to mention that they would also receive a glass of iced water upon entry. If they didn't go in, they would be losing out!
After entering, they looked at the menu and initially hesitated about ordering more. However, when they saw the first customers inside enjoying their food and heard the staff saying that orders over 88 wen would receive a vegetarian platter as a gift, they didn't hesitate anymore and enthusiastically placed their orders.
"Wow, it's delicious!"
"Although it's a bit hot, it's really delicious. It's even more flavorful with garlic sauce!"
"Hey, hey, don't snatch my meat!"
Compared to the slightly stuffy first floor, the situation on the second-floor private rooms was much better, with a cool breeze blowing and people sipping chilled Osmanthus Flower Wine while enjoying freshly cooked goose intestines. It was simply heavenly!
Xie Yuan's friends came to support, and in addition to them, there were some business associates invited by Xie's father.
Originally, Xie's father planned to invite some officials from the nearby twenty li slope, but the reputation of the hot pot restaurant had not yet been established. Besides, it would be even better to invite them in a month or two when the weather became cooler. Thus, he wasn't in a hurry.
Unexpectedly, Guo Yizhi, who had spent two thousand taels to buy wine from him, also showed up.
As soon as Guo Yizhi saw Cheng Duo, he frowned. "Well, well, isn't it you, Cheng Duo!"
He had just been downstairs when he heard the staff shouting about the hot pot being created by the same person as the Shao Guang Wine. Unable to resist the temptation, he entered the restaurant and barged into the private room where Cheng Duo and the others were.
"Mr. Guo, why have you come?" Xie's father saw Guo Yizhi and quickly greeted him, feeling a slight sense of unease when he saw him glaring at Cheng Duo.
Could it be because of that bottle of wine? Is Mr. Guo unhappy about it?
Of course, Xie's father did not think that the Shao Guang Wine was unworthy. In their restaurant, it sold for two hundred taels per cup, and some people were willing to pay even more. Besides, anyone who knew their stuff recognized the superb skill involved in brewing this wine.
However good the product may be, it doesn't stop some people from acting like big spenders to save face, regretting their decisions later, and attempting to return the goods. After running his business for so many years, Xie's father knows well that some people make impulsive purchases but then resort to various tactics when they run out of money.
Even though Guo Yizhi comes from a prestigious family, two thousand taels is not a small amount for him. There are many children in the Guo family, and not everyone can spend money lavishly.
"Mr. Guo…" Xie's father was about to say a few words, as Cheng Duo is now in business partnership with his son. Xie Yuan had just introduced Cheng Duo to the customers, and he couldn't just stand by idly.
Moreover, Cheng Duo is not easy to provoke. Xie's father believes that if he joins the military, he will achieve great things sooner or later.
Offending either side is not a good idea, so he can only try to mediate.
Cheng Duo also felt a bit guilty; he swindled Guo Yizhi out of two thousand taels with a bottle of white wine… Shouldn't he compromise a little?
"Didn't you tell me that there's only one bottle of Shao Guang Wine? Then, what did you sell to the Xie family?" Guo Yizhi said angrily, feeling that the Xie family was using his reputation to create momentum.
"Brother Cheng," Yong Er quickly held Cheng Duo's hand. He wasn't foolish; Xie's father respectfully addressed Guo Yizhi as "Mr. Guo," and they definitely couldn't afford to offend his identity.
"It's okay," Cheng Duo patted his hand, then looked at Guo Yizhi. "Mr. Guo, when did I say that there's only one bottle of Shao Guang Wine? I initially said, 'To produce this one bottle, we use one hundred times more ordinary materials in the brewing process.' It obviously has two meanings."
Guo Yizhi carefully recalled and realized that Cheng Duo did not indeed say there was only one bottle. He then turned to confirm with Xie's father, who awkwardly nodded.
Xie's father was much shrewder than Guo Yizhi. Although Cheng Duo didn't explicitly say there was only one bottle, he implied it in his words.
Seeing that Guo Yizhi froze, Cheng Duo decided to take the initiative, "Mr. Guo, do you think that the wine is not unique and, therefore, not worth it? Do you want to return it to me?"
"Th-that's not it," Guo Yizhi stammered. The wine was the best he had ever tasted, and he had originally wanted to take it back to the capital to share with friends and family. However, after getting carried away while reading and drinking, he wrote a splendid article and had another drink… By the time there wasn't much left, he told himself that there wouldn't be enough to share anyway, so he might as well drink it all himself. "…"
Now, let alone the wine, he had already used the bottle several times, so what could he return to Cheng Duo?
"Then, is Mr. Guo considering buying more wine from me?" Cheng Duo pretended to be clueless and asked, extending an olive branch before Guo Yizhi could respond. "To be honest, I've sold two more bottles to the Xie family, and now I really don't have any left. But this hot pot is delicious too. You can try it out; why not join us and taste it together?"
Just then, Xie Yuan arrived and chimed in, "Although we don't have the Shao Guang Wine here at the hot pot restaurant, our chilled Osmanthus Flower Wine pairs exceptionally well with hot pot. Mr. Guo, please have a seat, and I'll pour you a drink."
Seeing the offered hospitality, Guo Yizhi had a way out, wine was poured, and a seat was available. What else was there to hesitate about? He sat down and gave it a try.
Xie's father had initially wanted to take Guo Yizhi to their private room, but seeing that Xie Yuan had persuaded him to stay, he didn't insist and gave him a look of "treat him well" before leaving.
Guo Yizhi is an experienced connoisseur of wine and also appreciates good food. Looking at his love for strong liquor, they can tell that his taste is not light.
Naturally, after trying the hot pot, he immediately fell in love with it. He asked Cheng Duo, "Is this hot pot also a recipe you obtained from outside the border?"
"Sort of. This hot pot has gone through many people's improvements to achieve the taste that most people like today."
"I see…" Guo Yizhi slowly chatted with Cheng Duo and was surprised that no matter what he said, Cheng Duo could always hit the nail on the head with meaningful responses.
As they had a few more rounds of drinks, they became more familiar with each other. With Xie Yuan's witty remarks, the atmosphere at the table became quite pleasant.
The only thing that bothered Guo Yizhi was that Cheng Duo, such a bold and unrestrained man, turned out to be someone who revolved around his husband! Look, he was helping him pick dishes and pour water, and he even neglected their conversation.
"Please forgive Cheng Duo, Mr. Guo. That's just how he is. Yong Ge once saved his life," Xie Yuan explained with a smile.
Guo Yizhi nodded at the explanation, thinking that if that was the case, Cheng Duo was indeed a righteous man who knew how to repay kindness.
However, just as he was nodding in agreement, Cheng Duo refuted, "Of course not. My feelings for Yong Ge are mutual. I respect and cherish him not only because he saved my life."
"My experiences may be hard for you to understand, Mr. Guo, but during your travels around the world, have you ever encountered someone who was willing to die with you? Someone who's willing to accompany you through life and death?"
Guo Yizhi, nearly forty and still single: "…"
Cheng Duo held Yong Ge's hand and continued, "Once you've experienced death, nothing else matters. What's face compared to being with Yong Ge? I don't care about face in front of him."
Xie Yuan: Damn it, he lost again!
While Cheng Duo was busy showing affection, on the second floor in a corner private room, Shen Anyue and his servant were happily feasting together.
Shen Si scooped out the meat from the hotpot, moved to tears by its deliciousness. No wonder their young master used the soup to mix with rice; it was incredibly tasty! Not to mention using it for rice, he could gulp down two bowls of the broth alone!
"Young Master, are we coming here again tomorrow?" Shen Si looked at his young master eagerly, wishing to stay in the restaurant forever.
Shen Anyue cleared his throat and said, "Let's come back in a couple of days. The hotpot restaurant has just opened, and there are too many people around. We can't keep troubling our husband to arrange the backdoor access for us all the time."
When they entered the restaurant earlier, they almost bumped into the officials' entourage. He quickly pulled Shen Si to hide behind the neighboring store's flag, avoiding being seen.
"Then let me serve you at home, Young Master! As long as you ask, I'll gladly do everything for you," Shen Si pouted. He had observed how devoted the husband had been to their young master these days. His husband had stayed in their young master's room for several days straight, making Shen Si feel even more superior. He started ordering the Shen family's servants around, feeling very important.
Shen Anyue frowned upon hearing this. "Shen Si, it was my misunderstanding that allowed you to be so outspoken. Our husband has a good temper and doesn't mind, but don't forget he is the head of the Xie family. We can't treat him lightly or disrespectfully."
"But Young Master is still the young master of the Shen family in the capital. Given the Shen family's nobility, it's already a compromise for him to marry into a common merchant family. Why can't our husband accommodate him a bit?" Shen Si argued.
"Is that what you think?" Shen Anyue looked shocked.
"Isn't it? I heard from Madam that she almost arranged a marriage for the young master with someone related to the imperial family. Unfortunately, things changed, and the plan was abandoned," Shen Si sounded regretful.
"Enough!" Shen Anyue's expression finally changed. He instinctively glanced towards the entrance and secretly breathed a sigh of relief, not seeing Xie Yuan coming in.
"Shen Si, do you really think I thought that way?" Shen Anyue's eyes were full of surprise.
"Shen Si, I have never regretted marrying our husband. Whether he's a businessman's son or a commoner, meeting him is my fortune. I'm no longer the noble young master of the Shen family. Forget your previous attitudes in the Shen family, or else, if you offend our husband again, I won't protect you anymore." Shen Anyue wiped his face.
He felt he had been wrong. What did Shen Si mean? Did he think that if he had married a noble person in the capital, he would have shared in their prosperity?
Not to mention he was a ge'er,even if he were a girl, there were many cases of noble families falling and being abandoned after marriage. After their Shen family fell into trouble, many married young mistresses were sent back, some of them with children.
High-ranking families also had the mentality of seeking good fortune and avoiding disaster. Did Shen Si think everyone was as good as their husband and treated him as a treasure?
"Young Master, how can you belittle yourself? Shen Si's actions were all for your own good!" Shen Si protested.
"What belittling? Do I need to remind you that the Shen family has already fallen?" Shen Anyue said coldly. "It seems you've forgotten the hardships we've endured since our exile. Since you miss the Shen family so much, I'll send you back to your parents tomorrow. You can reflect on things there."
"Young Master…" Shen Si finally felt fear, but Shen Anyue had made up his mind. Regardless of Shen Si's pleas, the steward sent him back to the Shen family.
His parents and uncles were currently farming on the poor and barren borderlands. Despite Xie Yuan's care, their life was still far less prosperous than that of the Xie family.
When Xie Yuan returned to the main residence, he heard about the matter and hurriedly went to Shen Anyue. "What happened? Why did you suddenly send Shen Si back to the Shen family?"
"What, do you really not want to part with him?" Shen Anyue turned and looked at him, feeling relieved instantly.
Though he wasn't used to sending Shen Si away, seeing Xie Yuan's current state, he felt he had done the right thing.
Shen Si's temper was too high. A few reminders wouldn't correct him. When he couldn't see, who knew if he would again defy Xie Yuan with rude remarks? Shen Anyue felt guilty and didn't want Xie Yuan to suffer any more grievances.
As for whether to let Shen Si return, it depended on how he would change in his parents' care. Though his father was not well-educated, his mother was an excellent steward. She had warned him back then when he wanted to bring Shen Si. However, Shen Si was quick-witted, and there weren't many legitimate descendants left in their family, so eventually, Shen Si stayed.
"I don't have any attachment to him!" Xie Yuan's handsome face tightened. He wasn't foolish enough to like a little attendant who was constantly getting in the way between him and his husband, even daring to be disrespectful to him.
In truth, Xie Yuan's temper wasn't very good. As a prominent businessman, he dreaded losing his reputation, so their Xie family had strict rules.
If Shen Si were from the Xie family, he would have disposed of him long ago. Unfortunately, Shen Si was brought along by his husband as a companion… His husband was cold and aloof. There was only this person who could accompany him and chat. How could Xie Yuan bear to get rid of him?
Shen Anyue lowered his eyes and took the initiative to hold his husband's hand. "I should have sent him away earlier."
Xie Yuan carefully looked at him. "Did you really voluntarily send him away?"
"Of course, if I didn't send him away, wouldn't he continue to make you uncomfortable?" Shen Anyue smiled and gazed at him.
"Uncomfortable? Not at all uncomfortable…" Xie Yuan grinned; his An Ge cared for him so much!
"But with Shen Si gone, who will serve you now?"
"We have many servants in the Xie family. The steward can arrange another one." An Ge glanced at him with a playful smile.
Xie Yuan was elated by that glance, but after calming down, he realized it wouldn't work. Xie's family members might still follow his parents' orders. He decided to find someone he could trust. He and An Ge had just reconciled, and he didn't want anyone to interfere again.
Xie Yuan hadn't forgotten that his parents recently wanted him to divorce An Ge and remarry.
Thinking about his parents, Xie Yuan noticed that An Ge also recalled Xie's mother's warning. He gently reminded him, "My love, you've been staying with me for several days now. Shouldn't you go somewhere else tonight?"
"Why? Do you think I'm being too active? Then I'll sleep by your side tonight and do nothing, is that okay?" Xie Yuan's face blushed faintly; he had just reconciled with An Ge, and after suppressing his passion for three years, he suddenly couldn't control himself these past few days. He felt he might have gone too far.
"No, it's not that." An Ge's face also reddened, and a faint blush appeared on his cold eyebrows, almost stunning Xie Yuan. "My love, you're not young anymore, but you still have no children. I feel deeply ashamed."
As ger, it was commonly known that gers rarely had children easily, and it had been three years without any results… An Ge had already accepted his fate. He couldn't cling to his love and prevent him from going to other courtyards. He couldn't bear to see his husband's line severed just because he couldn't bear children.
(T/N: Just a reminder that ger are males who can concieve, fragile than men but stronger than females.)
Xie Yuan turned pale: "An Ge, don't you believe me? I have never touched anyone else!" Worried that An Ge might misunderstand, he leaned closer and whispered, "Did my mother say something to you again? Think carefully with your clever mind. How many times have we been together in the past three years? Every time, you were unwilling, and I couldn't force you…"
As he spoke, he began to act aggrieved. This was something he would never have done before, but now… he felt it was quite effective!
"I won't ask for it anymore!" An Ge couldn't bear to see him like this and made a promise without hesitation.
Then he remembered something else, "You really haven't been with anyone else? What about the two concubines given by your mother…"
"They are just for show. I have already talked to them privately, and in a few years, I'll find them good families. They are willing, you see, they haven't disturbed you for the past two years, right?" In truth, the two concubines were unwilling, but after being threatened by him and with his family's influence, they had no choice but to agree; otherwise, their lives in the Xie family would be even more difficult.
Of course, Xie Yuan couldn't tell An Ge these blunt truths.
"… " It was the first time he saw a man giving himself a green hat, but he couldn't deny that An Ge was overjoyed in his heart.
"My love, you must be tired after a day of work. Shall I have someone prepare water for your bath?"
"Okay." Xie Yuan didn't suspect anything; An Ge was fond of cleanliness. After a day outside covered in dust and sweat, he indeed needed to wash up.
However, when he entered the water completely naked and An Ge personally came to bathe and massage his back, Xie Yuan was dumbfounded. "An Ge…"
An Ge lowered his eyes and said, "I heard that other husbands serve their partners during their baths."
He seemed entirely willing, which put Xie Yuan's mind at ease. He asked, "Who are these other husbands?"
"… " Silence followed, but the back-massaging actions didn't stop.
Xie Yuan mentally did a process of elimination – aside from An Ge, this "other husband" could only be Yong Ge!
While Cheng Duo showed off in front of him, Yong Ge showed off in front of An Ge. Were these two trying to compete to see who could spoil their partner more?
But there was no denying that Xie Yuan preferred Yong Ge to show off a little more, because in the end, the benefits would be his!
At the same time, Yong Ge was indeed "serving" Cheng Duo during his bath. However, unlike An Ge who was outside the bathtub, Yong Ge was in the water with the majority of the hot water already spilled. He was half-leaning over the edge of the bathtub and found this "task" to be more tiring than usual.
Of course, it was natural, as they didn't have a bathtub at home. How could soaking in the water be the same as being outside it?
"Cheng Duo…" Yong Ge's limbs were weak, and he panted in the heat. Seeing this, Cheng Duo promptly interrupted their playful game in the water and carried Yong Ge into the room.
After the stormy passions, Cheng Duo held Yong Ge in his arms. "Yong Ge, shall we get a bathtub made when we go back?"
Yong Ge, feeling drowsy, snuggled into his embrace and yawned. "Hmm, but this one is too small. We need a bigger one."
"It's a bit cramped, and not sturdy enough. I'm afraid of breaking it." Cheng Duo intentionally misunderstood his meaning.
Yong Ge blushed with embarrassment and bit him. "I meant you're too tall and big."
"Hmm, you're getting bold, daring to bite me?" Cheng Duo lifted Yong Ge's chin; he particularly loved seeing his little wife with peach blossoms on his face. The gray eyes sparkled and turned bluer, like a bright sunny sky.
Yong Ge's eyes curved, and he sat up, using his gaze to depict Cheng Duo's cold, profound, and handsome face. Then he slowly lowered his head, saying, "Then let me also bite Cheng Duo…"
After buying some things and bidding farewell to Xie Yuan, Cheng Duo and Yong Ge rode their horses back to Yang Village the next afternoon.
Everything in Yang Village was as usual. Not only did Aunt Qian clean up Cheng's courtyard thoroughly with his son and daughter-in-law, but she also didn't allow anyone to enter the main house where Cheng Duo and Yong Ge were supposed to stay. Instead, they stayed in a side room for these past few days.
Yong Ge had initially wanted to treat Aunt Qian to a hotpot, but Cheng Duo reminded him. In the end, they gifted Aunt Qian a pack of oil-paper-wrapped hotpot base, a smoked chicken, and two kilograms of pork, teaching them how to eat it.
It wasn't that Cheng Duo was being stingy, but hotpot was known to cause excessive internal heat when consumed in large quantities. During their stay at twenty li Slope over the past seven or eight days, Cheng Duo avoided letting Yong Ge eat heavy and spicy food after they were intimate.
Although Yong Ge enjoyed eating hotpot, he was evidently more willing to avoid it when compared to being close with Cheng Duo.
Aunt Qian was overjoyed when he received the gifts and couldn't stop smiling. He had only helped with the house for a few days; there was no need for him to receive these items. However, since Yong Ge insisted on giving them, he declined for a while but eventually accepted.
In truth, Aunt Qian also wanted to taste the delicacy that the young master of twenty li Slope admired, a food that the village people talked about with awe, claiming that when they smelled its aroma, everything else would lose its taste.
To Yong Ge's surprise, on the day Aumt Qian's family had hotpot, Yu Ge personally invited Liu Shusheng.
When Yong Ge came out to go to the outhouse, he happened to overhear it. He saw Liu Shusheng getting scolded and then walking away, rubbing his head. Yong Ge poked his head out and asked Yu Ge with a smile, "Did Aunt Qian really ask you to invite him?"
Yu Ge was taken aback and stuttered, "O-of course, it was m-mother's request… since my elder brothers were working with him, during their free time, Liu Shusheng taught them some simple arithmetic, and I sometimes went to listen too, it's quite interesting."
Though he said that, his face turned red.
For such an occasion of treating someone, his elder brothers or even second brother could have handled it, but his father wanted him, a little brother, to be the one to call him. Yu Ge felt that his father might be up to something, but on the other hand, he thought he might be overthinking it.
After all, lately, there were many girls and young men who came to his father to act as matchmakers, and not all of them were for him. Since Liu Shusheng found a job as an accountant in the brick and tile factory, he became a highly sought-after person in the village. Cheng Duo even advanced him his wages, so he didn't have to worry about food and clothing anymore. Liu Shusheng's behavior also became more restrained, and being literate, he became the target of admiration for many people. Wasn't it natural for someone to start having ideas about him?
Yu Ge didn't dare to think further. For some reason, he couldn't control his temper whenever he was with Liu Shusheng. Despite being not particularly brave, sometimes when he saw Liu Shusheng's inflexible and unchanging demeanor, he couldn't help but want to scold him awake.
Maybe it was because Liu Shusheng seemed even more delicate than he did, causing Yu Ge to subconsciously not see him as a man. Today, he had agreed to invite Liu Shusheng to sell a good image, but who would have thought he couldn't hold back… Yu Ge felt a little embarrassed. "Don't be like my father, liking to meddle in others' love affairs."
"I didn't say anything yet, why are you acting so guilty, Yu Ge?" Yong Ge teasingly shook his head.
"I-I'm not telling you anymore, I need to go make mud bricks," Yu Ge, unable to argue further, slipped away.
"What are you secretly laughing about?" Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind. Yong Ge turned around to find it was Cheng Duo.
Yong Ge wanted to share with someone, so he happily told Cheng Duo about what happened earlier.
Cheng Duo, however, was less optimistic, shaking his head and saying, "Liu Shusheng's preferences are not something that can be changed easily."
It was obvious that Liu Shusheng was into appearance, and he had also admired Yong Ge. Moreover, most educated people tended to like gentle and tender individuals who were skilled in conversation. Yu Ge was simple-minded and not the type who was good at understanding men's thoughts.
As Cheng Duo had anticipated, after the hotpot feast, Aunt Qian didn't mention Liu Shusheng again. Instead, Yu Ge went about his usual business and occasionally went to listen to Liu Shusheng's lectures.
Feeling that it wasn't appropriate for him to inquire further, Yong Ge refrained from doing so. He didn't want to spread any unfavorable gossip that might harm Yu Ge.
Once the new courtyard was almost ready, Cheng Duo found an auspicious day and officially moved in, inviting familiar people for a feast.
After the banquet, Yong Ge lay on the heated bed in the new room, still a bit dazed.
The house was spacious and bright, and the heated bed was large and sturdy. He couldn't have dreamed that one day he would live in such a courtyard.
Cheng Duo came in and saw the "sleeping beauty" on the heated bed. He leaned in and kissed him on the face. "How does it feel? If you can't get used to it, we can continue sleeping on the bed, and we'll switch to the heated bed in winter."
Their bedroom was large enough to accommodate a bed as well. Besides, there was a lounge by the window where they could sleep if they wanted to.
Yong Ge quickly sat up and said, "Cheng Duo, this heated bed is so big. Shall we… shall we share the same bedding?"
If Cheng Ge said they would share, he would say that he wasn't used to it and request to continue sleeping on the bed.
Cheng Duo chuckled and pinched his nose, saying, "We just moved into the new house, and you already want to share the bedding with me?"
"No, I don't want to share the bedding!" Yong Ge quickly shook his head. "If we share, what if I sleep restlessly and roll away, I might catch a cold."
"Haha!" Cheng Duo burst out laughing. It was still warm autumn, and Yong Ge was already worried about catching a cold in winter.
"Got it, we won't share the bedding. Come on, let me make the bed."
"I'll do it!" Yong Ge quickly got up.
The two husbands worked together to make the bed, experiencing the sturdiness of the large heated bed. Finally, they confirmed that the bed was indeed sturdy, no matter how they tossed around, it wouldn't collapse.
After planting the winter wheat, Yang Village collectively joined the ranks of chopping firewood to earn money. Some even went to other villages to collect firewood and sell it in their own village.
With the villagers making money and seeing Cheng Duo's beautiful large courtyard, some relatively affluent villagers also had some ideas, whether it was to live in a big house before they were buried or to think about the house for their sons' marriage. As a result, the brick and tile factory had several more transactions.
As a result, several families in the village gritted their teeth and bought ox carts or donkey carts, which were useful for both collecting firewood and transporting bricks and tiles.
After a few autumn rains, the weather gradually cooled down, and several red-brick houses stood tall in Yang Village. Although they had built the houses, they weren't willing to decorate the interiors much. However, compared to the low and dim earth and grass huts, these newly built houses made these families stand out in the village.
On this rainy night, Cheng Duo and Yong Ge washed up early and sat on the heated bed. They set up a small table and an oil lamp, ready to begin their daily study session.
At first, Yong Ge listened attentively, but gradually, his eyes wandered to Cheng Duo. His husband knew so much!
How did he manage to memorize so many characters?
Moreover, his voice during the lectures was pleasant, deep and low. Yong Ge especially liked the sound of his chest vibrating when he held him close…
Oh, did Cheng Ge just furrow his brows?
Yong Ge quickly sat upright, looking innocently at Cheng Duo, pretending that he wasn't lost in thought just now.
"Did you remember the two passages I taught you just now?" Cheng Duo asked.
Yong Ge, with a stiff smile, replied, "I remembered…"
"Then read it out loud."
Yong Ge reluctantly started reading, stumbling along, "Jade uncut, cannot make vessels. If people don't learn, they won't know, there-therefore…"
Cheng Duo rubbed his forehead, saying, "I think you'd better not continue, or there might be an accident."
"Cheng Duo, I know I was wrong, don't punish me…"
He remembered a time when Cheng Duo was teaching him to read, and Yong Ge blushed at the memory. He was about to act coquettish, but Cheng Duo's expression changed rapidly.
"Don't say anything."
Cheng Duo gestured to silence him and then blew out the oil lamp. He quietly got off the bed.
After getting off the bed, Cheng Duo immediately picked up Yong Ge. Their big heated bed was by the window, and if someone attacked, the thin window wouldn't offer much protection.
Cheng Duo took out his iron spear from the space and also gave Yong Ge his bow and arrows. The footsteps of the intruders outside were well-trained, and he feared that he might accidentally let someone in. It was good for Yong Ge to have some means of defense as well.
In the blink of an eye, the room became pitch-dark and silent. Wei Ling knew well that Cheng Duo had already discovered them.
He was aware of Cheng Duo's combat power and didn't want both sides to accidentally hurt each other in the dark, so he raised his voice and said, "Cheng Duo, Yong Ge, it's me, Wei Ling."
After speaking, Wei Ling glanced helplessly at his pale-faced uncle Wei Zhenyuan, who was sitting on the slide. Although the slide had a rain cover, it couldn't block the heavy rain, and both of them were soaked, with Wei Zhenyuan still holding on with great effort.
"Wei Ling, I remember we have no grievances or grudges, right? Why did you bring so many people and barge into my house without even knocking on the door? What do you want?" Cheng Duo tightened his grip on the iron spear in his hand. If Wei Ling couldn't give him a good reason, he wouldn't hesitate to act.
"Cheng Duo, you misunderstand, we have no ill intentions. My uncle should be Yong Ge's biological father, and he came specifically to see him for the last time after suffering serious injuries."
As for why they entered stealthily, it was because Wei Zhenyuan had heard that Yong Ge got married and wanted to see how he was doing. Otherwise, he would have trouble dying in peace.
Wei Ling felt embarrassed as well. It was late at night… Luckily, Cheng Duo and Yong Ge were diligently studying, otherwise, even if his uncle closed his eyes immediately, the indignant Yong Ge probably wouldn't easily accept him!
The room rustled for a moment, and soon Cheng Duo lit the lamp again and opened the door.
He was tall, and his face couldn't be seen clearly due to the backlight, but holding the iron spear in one hand made him look imposing. However, there was someone who refused to believe that and charged at him with a knife.
Cheng Duo raised his hand to block, and the heavy sound of metal piercing through the rain curtain resonated, spreading far away in an instant. A flock of birds fluttered in the forest, and the sound of insects seemed to stop.
"Uncle!" Wei Ling was startled and turned his head, just in time to see his uncle's right hand falling.
Meng Ji simply didn't dare to look. He was afraid that Cheng Duo would kill each of them with a spear. But if he were to step forward, he wouldn't dare either, cowering at the back.
Seeing Cheng Duo kicking away the leader of the black-clad men and preparing to pierce another person's chest with his spear, Wei Ling panicked and hurriedly shouted, "Cheng Duo, don't hurt them, we really have no ill intentions!"
Then he turned to his uncle urgently and said, "Uncle, if you don't want them to die in Cheng Duo's hands, tell them to retreat quickly!"
Cheng Duo hesitated for a moment, slightly adjusted the direction of the spearhead, and knocked down another agile opponent with a stick. The person clutched his chest and convulsed for a while, but from the sound of it, his bones shouldn't be broken.
Cheng Duo showed restraint, but the other black-clad men were still relentless, raising their knives and surrounding them.
"Tell them to stop, or I'll shoot an arrow through your neck!" Yong Ge tensed the bowstring, and his fingers holding the arrow turned slightly pale.
It was his first time aiming an arrow at someone, and this person might be his biological father.
"Are you Yong Ge?" Wei Zhenyuan's voice was hoarse, but he quickly coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"… "Yong Ge didn't hesitate and reiterated, "Tell them to stop!"
In the time it took them to exchange these words, Cheng Duo had kicked out three more people in the midst of the battle, showing no sign of weakness. If he hadn't held back, he would have already broken through the encirclement.
Seeing that his purpose had been achieved, Wei Zhenyuan coughed while waving his hand.
The ten or so black-clad men who were about to attack retreated as if they had been saved, helping their injured comrade off the ground.
Cheng Duo returned to Yong Ge's side, and Yong Ge quickly positioned him behind himself, still holding the bow and arrow firmly.
Wei Zhenyuan furrowed his brow, seeming a bit dissatisfied. But since this made it convenient for him to talk to Yong Ge, he didn't say anything, focusing on observing Yong Ge's facial features, as if trying to find traces of another person in him.
After a while, he seemed to have confirmed something and said contentedly, "Yong Ge, I am your father."
Wei Ling: "…Now you realize you're his father? Though you wanted to test Cheng Duo and earn the admiration of your subordinates, have you considered that Cheng Duo might not want to go down this path at all?"
"Oh, how do you know you're my father?" Yong Ge was almost infuriated. This person brought people to attack his beloved husband and dared to claim to be his father?
Wei Zhenyuan was unconcerned. "Wei Ling said you have a tiger bone whistle?"
"No!" Yong Ge was about to hide the whistle, but Wei Zhenyuan continued, "That whistle was made from the bones of the first big prey I hunted when I was sixteen. I personally carved a 'Wei' character on it. You can take it out and see for yourself."
"Ha, that's easy to say. Maybe you're just tricking me because you know I can't read." Yong Ge hesitated for a moment, lowered his bow and arrow, and handed the whistle to Cheng Duo. "Cheng Ge, can you take a look?"
In fact, he already believed it. He had been wearing the tiger bone whistle for so many years; how could he not know there were characters on it? But he couldn't read, and he didn't dare to show it to anyone else.
As for Cheng Duo, didn't Wei Ling borrow the whistle from him earlier? He was afraid Cheng Duo might feel unhappy about it, so he didn't mention it at all.
As for confirming what he was going to do, of course, it was to return the whistle to his deadbeat father. He thought it was his mother's keepsake, but it turned out not to be!
"Yong Ge, don't!" Seeing Cheng Duo confirming its authenticity, Yong Ge snatched it back, tossed it to Wei Zhenyuan with disdain, and Wei Zhenyuan hurriedly stood up to catch it.
However, due to his injury, he sprayed out a mouthful of blood while grabbing the whistle, then collapsed in pain.
"Uncle!" Wei Ling and the others rushed to surround him.
"Young Master, why do you have to do this? The general's internal injuries are severe, and the military doctor said there's no cure…" A black-clad man looked worried.
"Cheng Duo." Yong Ge felt at a loss. He only wanted to return the whistle to him, and he never expected him to recklessly catch it…
Cheng Duo was a bit annoyed with Yong Ge's biological father. If he died like this, wouldn't it make Yong Ge bear the burden of patricide?
But seeing how anxious Yong Ge was about a whistle, Cheng Duo felt there must be more to the story of his biological father.
"Forget it, bring him inside." No matter what, he had to save him first, and even if Wei Zhenyuan was going to die, he couldn't die at their home!
Wei Zhenyuan, truly living up to his title as a general, displayed astonishing resilience. He only lost consciousness briefly and soon woke up again, lying on the window-side couch. "Hmm… Wei Ling? Where's Yong Ge?"
Yong Ge replied, "…"
If he hadn't really coughed up blood, they would've suspected he was using a ruse to trick them into opening the door!
However, even under these circumstances, Yong Ge didn't approach. Instead, he pulled his family's Cheng Duo back a few steps, clearly on guard.
Wei Zhenyuan turned his head and followed Wei Ling's gaze to see Yong Ge, his eyes pleading. "Yong Ge, I have something to tell you."
Yong Ge remained unmoved, standing at a distance. "What do you want to say?"
Wei Zhenyuan signaled the leader of the black-clad men to leave with the others. The leader hesitated, glancing at Cheng Duo, but Wei Zhenyuan shook his head. Thus, the leader led the group out, and when it was Meng Ji's turn, he took a glance at Wei Ling remaining in the room and obediently went out as well.
Struggling, Wei Zhenyuan sat up with Wei Ling's support. His abdomen was soaked with blood, forming a spreading pool of blood on the couch, staining his outer robe.
Wei Zhenyuan once again motioned for Yong Ge to come closer. "Yong Ge, I have something that your father left behind. I want to give it to you in person."
Yong Ge's gaze was complex, but he still didn't move.
Wei Zhenyuan had no choice but to say, "Your father left something behind at that time. I want to personally hand it to you. If you want to blame someone, blame our main branch."
Cheng Duo spoke up, "… So he's Yong Ge's older brother!"
Yong Ge impatiently opened the envelope, only to find that it wasn't the letter he had expected. Instead, there was a square, intricately patterned map.
"Cheng Duo, take a look." Yong Ge stared at it for a while, feeling more and more familiar with the map. He handed it to Cheng Duo to examine it together.
Cheng Duo said, "This is a treasure map."
Wei Zhenyuan's gaze also shifted to Cheng Duo, wanting to see his reaction.
Cheng Duo continued, "Legend has it that in the former dynasty, there was a wealthy lord named Hu Gong, who was as rich as a nation. When he passed away, he took a great fortune, as well as his wives and concubines, with him underground."
"Rumors of Hu Gong's treasure map have been passed down through the ages. Later, one of these treasure maps ended up in the borderlands and was stolen by an unknown thief. He escaped to Tule City with the map but was later trapped inside by several different ethnic groups, all eager to find the treasure. The relentless pursuit led to the extermination of many small tribes in Tule City, including your father's Wuhu tribe."
"What happened to my father?"
"Because of his beauty, the barbarians spared his life, using your swaddled form as a hostage to threaten him into serving the then-chief of the Yu Hun tribe. However, your father wasn't one to be trifled with. He drugged the chief's drink and dealt him a fatal blow, then stole the treasure map that had just fallen into the chief's hands."
Wei Zhenyuan recalled the cunning and crafty outsider of those years, his expression somewhat proud yet tinged with loss. "Whether you believe it or not, at that time, I wanted to marry your father. But when I returned to the West Ridge Camp, many things happened, and I had to leave…"
At that time, he was just a green youth, venturing outside the borders for the first time, and encountered Jin Ti, who played him around in circles. He wanted nothing more than to catch Jin Ti and teach him a lesson, retrieving the money he was deceived of. But as time went on, he found it difficult to act against him.
Later, by chance, he ended up in a certain place. Although he regretted it, the joy of being intimate with his beloved was indescribable. He still remembered the excitement and happiness he felt at that time.
"What could be more important than my father? You just didn't want to take responsibility!" According to him, he was born during the massacre of the city. What could delay him for a whole year?
Wei Ling had the most say in this matter, and he said with some shame, "It's not like that, Yong Ge. Actually, it was my father… your eldest uncle. He deliberately procrastinated. At that time, there were fierce conflicts within the West Ridge Camp. Marrying an outsider like your father would be harmful and not beneficial to the Wei family. Moreover, he had some misunderstandings about your father… you know, the Wuhu tribe's reputation outside wasn't good."
"Later, a major war broke out. Second Uncle, Third Uncle, and Fourth Uncle died in succession, and my father was also seriously injured. He could only ask the youngest uncle to take the spirit back to the capital. But before he left, he repeatedly urged and instructed him to pick you up and even sent a letter to the border… Unfortunately, my father didn't follow through. When you father came looking for him after the incident, he didn't even see him once and just had someone drive him away."
That person was from the Wei family, who knew the truth and was afraid he would come back to cause trouble, so he directly told him that his younger brother had already gone to the capital to get married.
"Yong Ge, don't blame the youngest uncle. After he learned the truth, he had a big argument with my father, and the brothers almost broke off relations. It wasn't until shortly before he died that the youngest uncle said 'let it go.'"
The scene at that time was both amusing and sad. His father couldn't bring himself to apologize, but he refused to close his eyes while looking at his youngest uncle. As for his youngest uncle, he couldn't let go of his beloved, who was nowhere to be found, but on the other hand, he was his own elder brother…
In fact, his father had regretted it long ago and secretly asked him to find his youngest sister-in-law and apologize. He really didn't know that his youngest sister-in-law had given birth to his son, and the person who returned with the news didn't mention it because his youngest sister-in-law went alone.
Later, his youngest uncle asked many people in Tule City and gradually pieced together the truth from back then. He dug up the treasure map under the tree in the yard where they lived, but because of the treasure map, his youngest sister-in-law didn't dare to show herself, and his youngest uncle naturally couldn't find her.
Cheng Duo and Yong Ge: "…"
"Unfortunately, this treasure map has two copies. The one left by Jin Ti is an internal map of Di Ling. Even after going through all the ancient books, I still haven't figured out which mountain it points to." Wei Zhenyuan spoke with some regret. Jin Ti left this copy for him, probably wanting him to find their son with it, but he couldn't do it. He had held it in his hands for eighteen years, and it was nothing more than a useless piece of paper.
Cheng Duo and Yong Ge: "…"
The two looked at each other with complicated expressions.
Wei Zhenyuan didn't notice their strange looks and continued, "Yong Ge, after I go, I intend to hand over the Wei family's army to you and your eldest brother. You're still young, and you might not be able to control people, but Cheng Duo can do it on your behalf. In the army, strength speaks, and I hope you won't blame your father."
At this point, Yong Ge had no reason to hold a grudge against his father anymore and could only stammer in refusal, "I… I don't want the Wei family's army…"
As he spoke, he looked up at Cheng Duo, seeing his approval, which made him happy.
Wei Zhenyuan sighed, "Yong Ge, it's very likely that General He Kuntai has already joined the barbarians. If he turns a blind eye to the barbarians' incursion and plunder, the West Capital will soon fall into chaos."
Wei Ling looked shocked, "What? General He as well… Isn't it just Yuan Kui?"
Wei Zhenyuan shook his head, "Yuan Kui doesn't have that kind of ability to place spies within our Wei family's army." If it weren't for the inside traitor, how could they have been defeated so quickly…
"So you didn't let me return to the camp to report the news. Instead, you hid the remaining troops, making people think that our Wei family's army was completely annihilated?"
Wei Zhenyuan nodded. In fact, ever since Meng Ji brought back the list of traitors and collaborators, He Kuntai had been acting very strangely. He repeatedly tried to stop him from investigating further. At that time, he should have realized why He Kuntai was so insistent on seeing the account book. It was just an excuse to delay!
After explaining everything, Wei Zhenyuan seemed to have exhausted all his strength, weakly leaning back on the bed. "Yong Ge, tell me honestly, is your father… already…"
Yong Ge nodded silently. "Yes, he fell seriously ill and passed away when I was three years old."
Wei Zhenyuan had already guessed this, but he couldn't help but redden his eyes. "We… have been separated by life and death for sixteen years?"
He hoped that Jin Ti would slow down and wait for him.
"Yong Ge, have you forgiven me?" Wei Zhenyuan's eyes turned dim. "Father really wanted to be buried together with your father. I want to go and explain to him personally…"
His poor father spit up blood again, and Yong Ge was about to cry. He was about to nod, but Cheng Duo stopped him, "Wait a moment. If I heal you and help you kill that General He, do you have the confidence to control the West Capital Camp?"
"Can you cure my uncle? Wait, you say you can cure him without even looking? Are you joking?!" Wei Ling didn't know whether to be happy or angry, but as long as there was a glimmer of hope, he didn't want to give up. So after reprimanding Cheng Duo, he looked at him hopefully.
Yong Ge was the same. His own father seemed quite pitiful, and he didn't want him to die either…
Cheng Duo patted his head. "Let's try everything we can. I can't guarantee anything."
Wei Ling: "…"
Although Cheng Duo said that, he turned around and went back to the room, taking out many good things from his space. He was about to tell Wei Ling to have someone boil some hot water, but when he looked at Yong Ge, he changed his mind. "Yong Ge, you go to the kitchen and boil some more hot water."
Yong Ge didn't doubt him and immediately nodded, "Okay."
After speaking, he hurriedly ran out.
Cheng Duo brought out the IV drip and hung it on Wei Zhenyuan first. With so much blood loss, he definitely needed fluids, but unfortunately, he couldn't perform a blood transfusion… Once again, it was a matter of trying everything they could.
Wei Ling watched helplessly as Cheng Duo inserted the needle into his younger uncle and handed him a strange bottle, asking him to hold it up high.
"What, what is this?" It was the first time he saw someone injecting fluid into another person's body. Was this really life-saving or was Cheng Duo trying to kill his younger uncle prematurely?
Cheng Duo glanced at him. "Don't worry, Yong Ge and I want to live peacefully for a while." Then he looked at Wei Zhenyuan. "If you want to make it up to Yong Ge, the best way is not to die. Otherwise, how will you tell his father that you haven't taken care of Yong Ge for a day?"
"!!!" Can this son-in-law be any more demanding?
However, Cheng Duo was right. If he died, he would leave Yong Ge with a mess. Yong Ge was the only bloodline he and Jin Ti had, he couldn't die!
Cheng Duo was satisfied. "Very well, no matter what I do next, you can't pass out."
He took out a specially designed trauma surgery knife and disinfected it. This was from Cheng Zhao's small medical kit. In their post-apocalyptic world, such items for treating injuries were very common, and when necessary, they even had to cut off their own flesh.
Cheng Duo was afraid of infection, so he meticulously soaked the knife in white wine. Smelling the strong alcoholic scent in the air, Wei Zhenyuan suddenly became spirited. "What wine are you using? Give me a sip too!"
Cheng Duo thought about it and fed him some wine. Since he didn't have anesthesia, it was better to numb the pain with alcohol rather than cutting the flesh and causing unbearable pain.
"Good wine, let me have another sip!" Wei Zhenyuan felt it was worth it. He could still drink such good wine before he died.
Then Cheng Duo saw him use a clean cloth dipped in white wine to disinfect, and he secretly thought it was a pity. If only he hadn't been injured, Cheng Duo was so generous that at another time, he would have been willing to serve his father-in-law with good wine!
Wei Ling: "…" Uncle, please be more reserved. Cheng Duo is really not that kind-hearted; he's about to cut open your belly!
Little Master." Meng Ji, who was waiting outside the door, saw Yong Ge coming out of the room and quickly straightened his body to greet him.
The leader of the black-clothed men, who was also Wei Zhenyuan's trusted general, Wei Li, gave him a sideways glance. This person might not be good at charging into battle, but he was quite clever and resourceful!
Wei Li also stepped forward and said, "Little Master, why did you come out? Does General need us to do something?"
"No, I'm going to the kitchen to boil some water." Yong Ge felt uncomfortable being called that by them, but even after asking them to change the way they addressed him, they insisted on doing so.
He glanced at the densely packed black-clothed men standing outside in the rain and said, "I'll open the eastern side room, you can go in and take shelter from the rain, don't stand outside…"
"No need to trouble Little Master, we can handle it ourselves. Just point us in the right direction." Wei Li easily took control of the situation, arranging for the others to enter the room while having Meng Ji go with Yong Ge to the kitchen to boil water.
Although he found Meng Ji a bit slippery, compared to the other dull and inarticulate soldiers, Meng Ji was indeed more suitable for the task.
As for himself, Little General was calling him from inside, and he immediately went in.
Once inside, Wei Li was taken aback. General was lying shirtless on the bed, his abdomen soaked with blood from the broken arrowhead. There was even a transparent tube inserted into one of his arms, and he was holding a strange bottle in his hand.
Wei Ling handed the medicine bottle to Wei Li, "You hold this."
"?"
Weren't they here to bid farewell to Little Master for the last time? Why did it suddenly turn into treating injuries? Could it be that this young master, who was skilled in combat, was actually a more formidable doctor than the military physician?
Wei Li was puzzled, but he still took the medicine bottle and looked at the silver-shining, sharp-edged willow leaf knife in Cheng Duo's hand.
It was the first time he had seen such a finely crafted willow leaf knife. Its surface seemed to be plated with silver, and the blade was sharp and powerful, making it look more impressive than the tools used by military physicians.
However, the person Cheng Duo was going to use the knife on was General himself. Wei Li didn't know whether he could trust Cheng Duo or not. He instinctively glanced at Wei Ling, "Little General, is this… Is this going to work?"
The military physician had said that once the broken arrow was removed, General would inevitably die from severe bleeding.
To Wei Li's surprise, before Wei Ling could speak, Cheng Duo, whose mouth and nose were covered with a cloth, spoke first, "Don't talk. There are bacteria in people's saliva, and it can cause infection if it splashes into the wound."
Bacteria and infection… What were those? Wei Ling and Wei Li were both at a loss, but that didn't stop them from understanding Cheng Duo's meaning.
So, he meant that their saliva was toxic? No wonder he covered his mouth and nose with cloth.
Both of them fell silent and watched Cheng Duo's operation attentively. They saw him carefully cut open the area around the arrowhead that was stuck in General's body. With a very delicate pair of tweezers, he quickly stopped the bleeding, then carefully cleaned the skin and flesh around General's wound, removing the necrotic tissue, applying medicine, and stitching it back up…
Among them, the most heartbreaking was General himself. His muscles kept spasming and twitching, clenching and loosening his fists, but he never made a sound.
"Alright, next, give him two more bottles of anti-inflammatory medicine and some antibiotics. He might have a fever tonight, but it shouldn't be a problem. You just need to make sure he doesn't move and reopen the wound. Also, when the hot water is ready, wash him up and change into clean clothes…"
After everything was done, Cheng Duo put away his tools and calmly gave instructions while looking at Wei Zhenyuan, who was covered in cold sweat and had a pale lip color, seemingly on the verge of unconsciousness.
His composure made Wei Ling and Wei Li believe in him for the most part. Mainly because they didn't understand many things Cheng Duo said, and the things he took out looked formidable and unfamiliar to them. They had never seen such tools before, and his wound treatment was cleaner and more decisive than that of the military physician.
If they couldn't heal General this way, they believed that no one in this world could do it.
At this moment, Wei Ling looked at Cheng Duo with a strange expression. He had felt a sense of peculiar contradiction from Cheng Duo before, and now it was even more pronounced.
Fortunately, he was Yong Ge's husband…
Wei Ling felt fortunate at this moment. In order not to let his youngest uncle lose confidence in living, he had told him about Yong Ge as soon as he woke up from the arrow injury.
And as he had expected, his youngest uncle was determined to hold on until he saw Yong Ge. He originally thought that was the most he could do for his youngest uncle, but unexpectedly, there was a turnaround, and Cheng Duo actually had this ability!
Cheng Duo was a bit uncomfortable being looked at by the two of them with such strange gazes. "You two keep an eye on him. I'll go to the kitchen and check if Yong Ge's water is ready."
He entered the kitchen and saw Meng Ji standing by the stove talking to Yong Ge. His tongue was nimble as he continued with vivid gestures, "You didn't know, that supply team leader tried to deceive us, but General slashed the bag open, and the stale food mixed with stones rolled out."
Yong Ge seemed to be captivated by the story. "What happened next?"
"Afterward, all the brothers in our camp came out, and when they saw these things they were trying to pass off to us, everyone was outraged. If General hadn't stopped them, the supply team leader and his men probably wouldn't have been able to leave the gate of the Hangu Pass camp. But General didn't let them off easily; he stripped them clean, leaving nothing for them except their military uniforms!"
Yong Ge laughed, "That's the way it should be. These people are really despicable."
"Cough" – Cheng Duo felt a bit uncomfortable seeing the two of them chatting so happily, especially with Yong Ge looking so lovely when he smiled. He seized the opportunity to interrupt, "Yong Ge, is the water ready?"
Yong Ge immediately stood up and lifted the lid of the pot. As the steam filled the room, his voice came through faintly, "Yes, it's ready."
Cheng Duo turned to Meng Ji and gestured, "Take a basin of hot water to Wei Ling in the room. He needs it urgently."
"Understood, I'll go right away…" Meng Ji felt a chill down his spine from Cheng Duo's gaze and quickly fetched hot water, then hurriedly left.
Cross my heart, even though Little Master was pretty and easy to deceive, he didn't dare to entertain any improper thoughts. The first time he met Cheng Duo, the latter effortlessly beheaded two people right in front of him. He wasn't foolish enough to risk his life!
Only now did Yong Ge dare to ask, "Cheng Duo, how is he…?"
Yong Ge was temporarily unsure what to call General Wei, so he kept it vague.
Actually, as soon as he walked out the door, Yong Ge guessed that Cheng Duo deliberately kept him away. Probably, he didn't want him to see the gruesome wound on his biological father. But now that hot water was sent, everything should be fine, right?
"He's fine. The arrowhead has been removed, and I asked Wei Ling to wash him up. You don't need to go over there now…" Cheng Duo said and then seemed a bit aggrieved, "Yong Ge, why don't you ask me how I'm doing?"
"What's wrong with you?" Yong Ge immediately became nervous, "Did you get injured during the fight just now?"
He walked up to Cheng Duo and touched him all over. They had tumbled around on the big bed several times, and he didn't think there was anything wrong with it. If it weren't for the presence of others in the house, he would have wanted to undo his husband's clothes and check him carefully.
"I'm not injured. I was just helping to remove the arrowhead, and now my hands are very sore." In fact, Cheng Duo's hands were covered in calluses, and he had great strength. There wasn't even a hint of redness on his hands from all the exertion.
However, this didn't prevent Yong Ge from believing him. He attentively massaged Cheng Duo's hands and said, "Cheng Duo, you've worked hard."
Cheng Duo buried his head in Yong Ge's neck, and the hot breath from his mouth made Yong Ge shrink his head a bit, but he liked being close to Cheng Duo like this, and he lowered his long eyelashes to gently smile.
He glanced outside the door, "Cheng Duo, that treasure map given by that Hu Gong, is it…"
Cheng Duo nodded, "Yes, it's from the same Hu Gong."
"Ah, doesn't that mean my father and his people… sacrificed their lives in vain?"
"Just let it be. Each person has their own destiny. Don't think too much about it."
Yong Ge also knew that he couldn't force the past. He just felt sorry for his father after hearing his story.
Wei Zhenyuan woke up on the evening of the next day. Apart from feeling weak in his limbs and some slight pain in the wound, he felt that his condition was quite good.
"General, you're awake!" Seeing him open his eyes, someone immediately asked nearby. However, he seemed to be chewing on something, and his speech was unclear. There was also a special pungent smell in the air. Wei Zhenyuan had never tasted this kind of spiciness, but it didn't prevent him from finding it fragrant.
Meng Ji didn't want to put down the bowl and quickly took a few more bites before wiping his mouth. Then he approached and asked, "General, Master Cheng said that you might want to go to the latrine after waking up. Shall I help you up?"
Wei Zhenyuan nodded and was helped up by Meng Ji with difficulty. However, when he saw Meng Ji take out a chamber pot, his face turned dark.
"No need, help me to the latrine." Wei Zhenyuan was determined and said it was non-negotiable.
Meng Ji was a bit helpless, "But Master Cheng said your wound hasn't healed completely, so it's better not to move around…"
Wei Zhenyuan glared at him, "Is he the General, or am I the General?"
Well, okay, you're the General, I'll listen to you…
Meng Ji was helpless and could only help the General put on his shoes before carefully supporting him out of the room.
As soon as they stepped outside, the air became filled with a hot and pungent smell. The hot air drifted out through the window cracks and eaves, and occasionally, the sound of his subordinates fighting over food could be heard.
"Hey, hey, what are you snatching? I caught this piece of meat, so if you want to eat, catch your own!"
"Tsk! Yu Dazui, I've even protected you from swords and arrows on the battlefield, and now you want to eat one piece of my meat?"
"That's different. I saved your life last time! It's okay to have each other's back on the battlefield, but snatching my meat is a no-no!"
Wei Zhenyuan couldn't bear it any longer and turned to look at Meng Ji, whose mouth was red from the spiciness, "What are you guys eating?"
Don't think he didn't smell it; the aroma from this guy's mouth is exactly the same as the one drifting from the other room!
Meng Ji wiped his mouth with his sleeve, feeling a bit guilty, "General, you can't eat hotpot. Your injury hasn't healed yet! Young Master has prepared some plain porridge in the kitchen. I'll get you a bowl later?"
"…"
While they were talking, the door on the east side suddenly opened, and Wei Ling, carrying the aroma of hotpot all over him, appeared at the entrance. Seeing the two of them in the courtyard, especially his little uncle glaring unhappily at him, Wei Ling paused for a moment and awkwardly said, "Little uncle, why are you up?"
Wei Zhenyuan continued to glare: If I hadn't gotten up, I wouldn't have known you guys were secretly eating tasty and spicy food behind my back!
Meng Ji quickly distanced himself from the situation and complained, "Little General, I already prepared a chamber pot for the General, but he insisted on going to the latrine himself."
Wei Ling naturally understood his little uncle's character. If it were him, he probably wouldn't want to lie in bed and use a chamber pot either.
He waved his hand at Meng Ji, "It's fine, I'll take care of it. You can go and eat."
Meng Ji happily ran off.
Wei Ling supported his little uncle and explained as they walked, "Yong Ge and Cheng Duo took care of you all night until your fever subsided at dawn. They only went back to rest after that. Everyone is a bit tired today, and Cheng Duo suggested having hotpot."
Wei Zhenyuan asked, "…Is hotpot delicious?"
Wei Ling didn't even think and nodded, "Delicious!"
"…"
"…"