OL CH44

A few days later, Chen Tian’s body had recovered quite a bit, so he started helping Bai Su with whatever household chores he could manage. He couldn’t just dump all the work onto his “wife’s” shoulders.

Now able to walk out of his room, Chen Tian finally had the chance to meet Mother Bai. He acted extremely respectful, seizing the opportunity to farm some goodwill with his future mother-in-law.

Bai Su didn’t actually end up naming Chen Tian “Bai Dabao.” Later on, Chen Tian mentioned that he seemed to remember having the character “Chen” in his name, so Bai Su simply gave him a courtesy name: Zichen.

Hearing this familiar name, Chen Tian’s heart was filled with nostalgia, and at the same time, he breathed a sigh of relief. After all, being called “Bai Dabao” by his own partner was fine, but if outsiders heard that name, it would be incredibly embarrassing.

Chen Tian took the opportunity to ask for Bai Su’s courtesy name. Learning that his lover’s courtesy name in this life was Suzhi, he stopped calling him “Brother Bai” and switched to “Brother Suzhi,” which sounded much more intimate.

Having stayed at the Bai residence for a few days, Chen Tian had gained a fairly good understanding of Bai Su’s family circumstances.

Although his lover in this life was a scholar, perhaps because he was born into a farming family and was used to doing chores since childhood, his body was not frail or weak. Because Mother Bai’s eyesight was poor, apart from studying, Bai Su took care of almost all the household chores and frequently had to work in the fields.

In the village, every household had their own fields. However, due to Father Bai’s illness earlier, the Bai family had sold off almost all their land, leaving only about one mu (acre).

The ancient times were not like the modern era; there were no improved crops, so the year-round harvest was actually quite meager. This single mu of land was only used to grow some vegetables and grain for their own consumption.

“It’s all my fault. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have to suffer, doing so much work every day and even going down to the fields yourself. Look at this, where else would you see a honorable Scholar having to work in the fields!”

Seeing Bai Su heading out to the fields again, Mother Bai couldn’t stop wiping her tears and saying a few sorrowful words. This was a common scene in the Bai household.

Bai Su was well accustomed to this and comforted her, “Mother, this doesn’t really count as fieldwork. Staying in my room reading all day isn’t good for my health anyway. We don’t have much land, so I’ll just treat it as stretching my muscles and bones.”

Bai Su was telling the truth. Although the family didn’t look well-off, with his intellect, he actually had things to rely on. It was just that goods in the village were scarce. If they really wanted to buy nice things, they had to walk a long way to town. Ordinarily, farming families ate what they grew themselves, which was more convenient.

Bai Su didn’t want to interact too much with the surrounding people. Aside from Auntie Chunying next door, he was only nodding acquaintances with everyone else. It was perfectly normal for a farming household to farm a little land to eat vegetables. Especially since they only had one mu of land, there was absolutely no need to hire anyone.

Bai Su didn’t care about these formalities. He knew that once he passed the provincial exams, he would leave this place. Since he had decided to pursue an official career, he would definitely take his mother to the capital in the future. Therefore, he naturally didn’t want to waste any effort on their current house and property.

However, his mother was too simple and soft-hearted. Bai Su wouldn’t explain many things to her in detail.

Mother Bai was sentimental, and hearing his words, she still couldn’t help but sigh.

Chen Tian walked to the door and, hearing their conversation, hurried out with a smile to comfort Mother Bai, “Auntie, please relax. In a few days, when my injuries are healed, I will go help Brother Suzhi. I’m a rough man and I’m not afraid of hard work. Brother Suzhi is my savior. From now on, I’ll take care of all the fieldwork and household chores all by myself!”

Chen Tian’s heroic and spirited demeanor as he spoke, paired with his beautiful face, made Bai Su unable to resist wanting to laugh.

Mother Bai was also amused by Chen Tian, but she waved her hand and said, “You are a guest in our home, how could we let you do all the work! Auntie understands your intentions; you’re a good child. Our house has been quiet for so long. Now that you’re here, it’s much livelier than before. I couldn’t be happier!”

Because of Chen Tian’s presence, the atmosphere in the house instantly brightened, making Bai Su’s gaze toward him even gentler. However, neither Bai Su nor Mother Bai took the matter of him doing chores to heart. Mother Bai felt that saving someone wasn’t for the sake of getting repaid. As for Bai Su, as long as the beauty stayed at home and served as a feast for the eyes, it was enough.

At night, Bai Su took out the quilt, intending to make a pallet on the floor again, but was stopped by Chen Tian.

The Bai family only had two bedrooms, one for Mother Bai and one for Bai Su. Chen Tian was currently staying in Bai Su’s room. Bai Su let him sleep on the bed while he made a bed on the floor beside it.

Of course, Chen Tian couldn’t bear this. He had tried to persuade him many times before, but Bai Su had rejected him every time, using the excuse that Chen Tian had injuries and couldn’t be bumped into.

Although the bed wasn’t considered small, having two men who were neither short nor thin lie on it together was indeed a bit cramped. However, after all these days, Chen Tian felt that his injuries were mostly healed, and he absolutely refused to let Bai Su sleep on the floor any longer.

Even though it was currently summer and the nights weren’t cold, how could resting on the floor be as comfortable as sleeping in a bed? Besides, his Xiao Bai was just a frail and weak scholar, while he was a rough man from the military. Even if someone had to sleep on the floor, it should be him!

“Zichen, don’t be stubborn. Your injuries still need a few more days of rest to heal properly,” Bai Su said with a look of disapproval.

“No! Brother Suzhi is my benefactor. The past few days were one thing, but now my wounds have healed quite a bit. How can I still let you sleep on the floor!”

Chen Tian’s attitude was exceptionally firm tonight. Since Bai Su had been helping him change his dressing every day, he was well aware of how Chen Tian’s wounds were recovering. Seeing the other’s serious expression looking back at him, Bai Su felt a warmth in his heart and finally nodded in agreement.

Hearing this, Chen Tian instantly became happy. He hurriedly lay down on the inner side of the bed, making room for Bai Su.

Seeing Chen Tian so eager, Bai Su chuckled inwardly. After arranging the quilt, he took off his outer robe. Saying softly, “Then I’ll have to wrong Zichen a bit,” he lay down.

Just as expected, with two grown men lying on this bed, they had to press tightly against each other to fit. However, under these circumstances, neither of them said anything, both harboring some secret joy in their hearts.

Through the thin inner clothing, Chen Tian could feel the temperature transmitting from his lover’s skin, which made his mind inevitably wander with unruly thoughts. Unfortunately, in his current state, there was nothing he could do but lie there honestly. After taking a deep breath of Bai Su’s beautiful scent, it took a long while before he finally fell into a deep sleep.

Chen Tian’s body was still recovering, so he was ultimately a bit weak. Wrapped in his lover’s scent, he slept deeply and peacefully. Thus, he was unaware that after his breathing evened out, the person beside him slowly opened his eyes.

Bai Su turned his head to face Chen Tian beside him. By the moonlight, he could still clearly see that perfect face. He originally thought the other only had a face that could bewitch souls, but he didn’t expect that after a few days of interaction—every day being comfortable and joyful—he would realize that the other’s soul was actually an even more attractive existence.

Obedient and considerate, gentle and pure; though occasionally a bit careless, it didn’t detract from his cuteness. Perhaps using these words on a man felt a bit incongruous, but this was Bai Su’s direct impression of Chen Tian.

It was an encounter that began with looks. Bringing him home, Bai Su thought it was just a passing whim and that he might soon grow tired of him. But he hadn’t expected that the more they interacted, the more he liked him, causing him to unconsciously sink deeper into it, even spawning the thought of keeping this person by his side forever.

It was just that for such a beauty to reside in this humble dwelling was ultimately wronging him. If that day ever came, he would definitely forge a golden cage for him. At the thought of a luxuriously dressed beauty in red clothes inside a golden cage, with delicate gold chains wrapping around his fair neck and white wrists, Bai Su’s breathing couldn’t help but grow heavier.

If he was truly fortunate enough to have his wish fulfilled, he wondered what kind of beautiful scenery that would be…

The next day, by the time Chen Tian woke up, Bai Su had already left. On the table was a prepared breakfast, kept warm under a covered pot.

Opening it, there were two egg pancakes, a bowl of rice porridge, and a refreshing side dish. The porridge was slowly simmered from last night’s leftover refined rice—soft, thick, and full of the fragrance of rice.

Bai Su always woke up very early. In the mornings, he would read in the courtyard, or sometimes head out to run errands. Chen Tian recalled his lover telling him in advance yesterday that he had to go to the fields this morning; some farm work needed to be finished today, and he probably wouldn’t be back by noon.

Lunch had already been prepared in advance and left in the pot, and Bai Su had asked him to help heat up lunch for himself and Mother Bai when the time came. Of course, Bai Su had made sure to ask Chen Tian if he knew how to use the stove before setting his mind at ease. He also reminded him not to always secretly do chores and that he should focus on resting and healing his injuries.

Hearing Bai Su’s words only made Chen Tian want to share his partner’s burdens even more. After eating and drinking his fill, he hurried to sweep and tidy up the whole house, and also fed the chickens and ducks.

These chores took up a good chunk of the morning. Afterward, seeing that it was about the right time, Chen Tian thought he could go heat up lunch. Furthermore, he was going to head to the fields to find Bai Su and bring him food. Come to think of it, he still hadn’t stepped outside this courtyard yet.

Chen Tian went into the kitchen, lifted the pot lid, and saw two bowls of refined rice, a plate of greens, and a portion of cured meat resting on the steaming grate. That cured meat was traded just last night when Bai Su went to Auntie Chunhua’s next door, and it tasted very good.

He skillfully lit the stove and began heating the food. Waiting idly by the side, Chen Tian naturally noticed a bamboo basket placed on a table next to the stove, seemingly covering something. Casually lifting the bamboo basket, he discovered that hidden underneath was a small basin containing coarse grain flatbreads and steamed cornbread (wotou).

Seeing this, Chen Tian frowned. Because his injuries hadn’t healed previously, Bai Su always brought his portion of food into his room, while Bai Su ate together with Mother Bai. Chen Tian had always assumed that he and Bai Su were eating the same things, but looking at the food in front of him—which he clearly hadn’t seen before—he finally realized something was amiss.

Having the original host’s memories, he naturally had an understanding of the situation in the Dongye Kingdom. Although the original host was of royal birth, having spent a long time on the battlefield, he regularly shared the joys and hardships with his soldiers, eating only coarse rice and steamed cornbread.

In a small mountain village like this, eating refined rice every day was almost impossible; only wealthy households could manage that. Ordinary families mostly ate coarse rice and sweet potatoes. Even when making porridge, it was mostly large portions of rice broth, rarely containing a few grains of rice.

But he had been eating refined rice these past few days. Every day there was some meat or fish soup, and at the very least, Bai Su would give him an egg.

Chen Tian had originally thought this meant Bai Su’s family wasn’t as poor as he had imagined, but looking at it now, it was obvious that his lover was treating himself poorly, saving all the good things for him and Mother Bai!

At this thought, Chen Tian’s eyes grew sore, and his throat felt as if something was blocking it, making him overwhelmingly uncomfortable. What virtues or abilities did he possess to have such an amazing lover!

Tightly pursing his lips, Chen Tian’s eyes turned red. He took a bite of the already cold coarse grain flatbread; it was dry, hard, coarse, and difficult to swallow. The steamed cornbread was even more like a tough rock.

Thinking that Bai Su ate this kind of thing every day made Chen Tian’s chest feel tight.

Without a word, he continued preparing lunch. He took a coarse grain flatbread and a piece of steamed cornbread and put them in the pot to serve as his own lunch. As for the portion Bai Su had left for him, he planned to take it to the fields for him in a bit.

Meanwhile, out in the fields, Bai Su pulled up a weed by his hand, stood up, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and walked over to cool off and rest under a tree not far away.

Looking at the current position of the sun, he took out two already boiled eggs and an oil-paper package from his robes. He peeled an egg and took a bite, then picked up a piece of smoked meat from the oil-paper package and stuffed it into his mouth.

Eating the delicious food in his mouth, Bai Su was calculating something else.

He was currently just a poor scholar, yet quite a few people already had their eyes on him, thinking of shoving their daughters onto him, hoping he would become an official and strike it rich in the future. If he attracted even more attention, it would probably bring even more trouble.

Before, thinking he would be leaving soon, acting a bit poor didn’t matter. As long as there were enough things at home for his mother to enjoy, he truly didn’t care about external goods. Furthermore, every time they lacked something, he had to go into town to trade for it, which was a hassle.

But things were different now. The family now had a beauty, so they couldn’t stay this impoverished. Even if it was just for a few months, Bai Su couldn’t bear to let that person suffer.

The day before yesterday, he purposely went to the bookstore he collaborated with, withdrew a little bit of the silver he had earned and stored there from writing storybooks, and bought quite a bit of refined rice and other food.

However, one should always let others remember their good deeds.

Raising his head to look at the sun that was about to reach its peak, Bai Su narrowed his eyes. The leftover coarse grain flatbreads and steamed cornbread from three days ago beside the stove should have been discovered by now, right?