112 – Like Your Taciturn

“You three, help yourselves. If you have to be polite, it’s you who won’t be full. ” Qin Mian scooped himself a bowl of preserved eggs and tofu.

Lei Xiangli said thanks and ate with his head down. Presumably, he wanted to turn his unhappiness into ravenousness.

“Eldest Sister-in-law’s cooking is very delicious. I won’t be polite,” Lei Xiangzhi said with a smile.

Lei Chuntao was also very ‘fierce’. She was embarrassed to get a second helping of rice, but Lei Xiangzhi helped her.

After the meal was finished, she rushed to wash the dishes.

Qin Mian wanted to say that Aunt Quan will come to wash the dishes but he could not speak in time, so gave up. Then, he sat down on the settee with Lei Tie, Lei Xiangli, and Lei Xiangzhi.

The settee was covered with a cooling mat, making it pleasantly cool.

The person concerned was here, Qin Mian couldn’t help but care.

“Fourth Brother, what’s going on?”

Lei Xiangli tersely said, “Mother wants me to marry my cousin from Eldest Uncle’s family. I don’t like her.” There was another sentence he did not say: if I marry my cousin, she will be the second Zhao Shi.

“What are you going to do now?” Qin Mian asked.

“After talking to Father for a while, he didn’t seem willing. So, this marriage shouldn’t work.” Lei Xiangli’s low mood calmed down a little, “I’m worried that even if Mother gives up the idea of asking me to marry my cousin, she’ll find for me… another wife, which also unreliable.”

On the topic of marriage, the unmarried maiden Lei Chuntao couldn’t join in the conversation. She ate the fruits with her head down.

As a man, Lei Xiangzhi carried himself with ease and confidence, “Fourth Brother doesn’t have to be too worried about this. Mother will not deliberately find you a bad wife. No matter who she settles on, it won’t be bad if you try to find out in secret.”

Lei Xiangli looked quite helpless, “I’ve thought about it. Since Eldest (paternal) Aunt is warm-hearted but not as gossipy as other women in the village, when worst comes to worst, I’ll shamelessly ask her for help.” Marriage was a lifetime thing, he had to be meticulous.

Lei Xiangzhi nodded and said nothing. As the saying went, ‘’Thou shalt not share family scandals’’. Even if their Eldest Aunt was a close relative, she was also an outsider. Now, his fourth brother’s marriage was reduced to the point of asking for help from an outsider, making Lei Xiangzhi felt even more powerless toward his mother.

After a moment of silence, he made up his mind, “Fourth Brother, don’t you and Third Brother want to separate? I can’t mediate this matter now, but I promise you, after taking the college examination, I will persuade our parents to separate the family.”

Lei Xiangli suddenly stood up with a surprised expression, “Really?”

“A gentleman’s word [is trustworthy],” Lei Xiangzhi earnestly said.

“I thank you first.” Lei Xiangli was much more at ease.

Lei Xiangzhi said, “We’ve been disturbing Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law for a long time. Shall we go back?”

Lei Xiangli and Lei Chuntao both nodded.

“Not going to sit for a while more?” Qin Mian asked.

“No more.” Lei Xiangli was embarrassed as he said, “We’ve bothered Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law today. We’ll see you some other day.”

Qin Mian didn’t ask them to stay again, “Alright, be careful on the way.”

Coming out from Leisurely Farmhouse, Lei Xiangli suggested, “Fifth Brother, Little Sister. Let’s take a detour from the back to home.”

Lei Xiangzhi and Lei Chuntao had no objection. The three walked slowly along the perimeter wall to the back of the village. Although the sun was very bright, the three were in a good mood, walking briskly.

“Fifth Brother. Third Brother and I, we really want to separate, but your exam is the most important thing now. Don’t get distracted by this, and better focus on your study,” Lei Xiangli said, as he was worried for his youngest brother.

“Don’t worry, Fourth Brother. I have been attentive.” Lei Xiangzhi felt a lot of emotion in his heart, “Over the years, my elder brothers have taken good care of me. Sometimes when there are good things at home, even Little Sister prioritizes me. I feel ashamed. No matter what, I have to do something about this matter [separation].”

Lei Xiangli patted his youngest brother on the shoulder, “It’s good that you have been attentive. If you are affected by my affairs, I won’t have peace of mind.”

“Fourth Brother is right.” Lei Chuntao interjected, “Fifth Brother, you have a promising future. We’ll also get to bask in your light, don’t we?”

……

In mid of the seventh month, after the winery and its wall had been built, the winery opened operation. Uncle Chen was in charge of the winery, and others were hired from the village. Qin Mian only needed to master the last step of brewing and added the spiritual spring water.

When Qin Mian was worried about the name of the winery, he suddenly realized that he should create a brand. A brand was a sign of distinction that could provide the symbol of authenticity and the guarantee of consistency. Moreover, a brand was a kind of standard sign. He hoped to see that one day when people mentioned certain goods, the first thing they thought of was their family’s brand.

He gave Lei Tie a firm definition of ‘’brand’’ and asked him to help thinking of a name.

After a long time of silence, Lei Tie blurted out a few words, “Can’t think of any.”

Qin Mian rudely gave him a word, “Stupid!”

Lei Tie nodded, “En, my wife is smart.”

Qin Mian had nothing to say in reply. Should he say ‘’I’m not smart’’?

Anyway, he eventually made up his mind, “Then, just name it ‘A Glimmer of Paradise’. As for the logo of the brand, make it a full moon that has been bitten, symbolizing that using our goods will make life perfect. What do you think?”

Lei Tie nodded, “Good.”

Qin Mian suddenly got upset and went downstairs without saying a word. Out of the hedge gate, when he did not hear the sound of footsteps following, he was completely angry and sped up his paces. Very soon, he passed through the corner gate and went into the new processing yard. There was also a gate to the east of the processing yard for the convenience of the employees to enter and leave. This corner gate was only for the use of people who lived in Leisurely Farmhouse.

Unconsciously, Qin Mian went to the vermicelli workshop.

Lei-Qin Le was walking fast, presumably on his way out. Upon catching sight of the little young master’s stiff face, he hastily restrained his smile and respectfully saluted, “Greetings, Little Young Master.”

Qin Mian uttered an ‘’en’’, and wordlessly walked in and went around.

The female workers, who were chatting while working, turned silent in a split second when they noticed his expression. They didn’t dare to be lazy. They secretly guessed whether Qin Mian had quarreled with Lei Tie.

When Qin Mian noticed their eyes were curious and inquisitive, he was even more irritated. He walked out of the workshop and stood by the pond, feeling depressed.

It was not that he didn’t know Lei Tie’s taciturn personality. Why would he be so angry? He knew it in his heart. It was not because Lei Tie didn’t help him to think about the brand name, but because Lei Tie had been sneaking around a few days ago. He didn’t know what the man was doing behind his back. He had been patiently waiting for Lei Tie to take the initiative to tell him, but until today, Lei Tie had not confessed to him.

He wasn’t suspicious that Lei Tie was doing something that would offend him. He just didn’t like the feeling of being left aside by the man.

“Wife.”

Lei Tie’s voice sounded behind him, but Qin Mian turned a deaf ear and squatted down to watch the small fish swimming in the pond.

Lei Tie walked over and pulled Qin Mian’s wrist.

“Let go. What does this pulling and pushing look like?” Qin Mian struggled hard to get free before something was put on his wrist. He looked up and saw a bracelet on his wrist. There were sixteen round dark purple beads strung on the bracelet, which looked like wood and gave off a faint elegance scent.

He was about to speak when he saw a trace of blood on the back of his own hand. He quickly stood up and grasped Lei Tie’s hand. As expected, he saw a shallow knife mark on the man’s left index finger, “How did you get it?”

Lei Tie shook his head, “It’s nothing.”

Qin Mian understood what probably was going on. The reason why Lei Tie was secretive should be to cut and polish this bracelet. Feeling a bit guilty, he grumbled, “Tell me whatever it is you’re doing. You don’t need to hide it from me.”

“Many cuts were damaged,” Lei Tie mindlessly said.

Qin Mian understood. A man always wanted to keep a good face¹.

“Go back. I’ll rub medicine for you.” His anger completely disappeared and turned to sweetness. Holding the man’s hand, he walked a few steps and inadvertently saw that the shoes on the man’s two feet were both different. At once, he burst into laughter, unceasingly.

Lei Tie looked down. With a calm expression, he led Qin Mian to walk, “Go home. Sunlit².”

“En.” Qin Mian raised his wrist and looked at the bracelet. “What kind of wood is this? The surface is even engraved with a word?”

“Red sandalwood from ‘inside’³. It’s the ‘Fortune’⁴ word.”

Qin Mian touched the beads. He liked the bracelet very much. “You also make one for yourself some other day.”

Lei Tie nodded.

Back at home, Lei Tie went upstairs to change his shoes, and Qin Mian took out the medicine box to apply for medicine on the man’s wound. When he imagined Lei Tie putting on the shoes in a flurry with an expressionless face, the corner of his lips curled up.

“Wife, what’s funny?” Lei Tie raised Qi Mian’s chin.

Qin Mian put his arms around the man’s neck, smiling, “You think?”

“Don’t know.” Lei Tie grasped Qin Mian’s waist to lift him and placed him on his legs. He said in a low voice, “Wife, don’t resent me being taciturn.”

Qin Mian’s chest pained as though it was clutched by someone. He vigorously shook his head. It turned out that this man was not so confident sometimes. He tightly hugged Lei Tie’s waist and looked at his eyes as he seriously said, “No resentment. I like your taciturn! I wasn’t really angry just now.”

Lei Tie’s eyes were filled with tenderness as he clasped the other person’s head and gratingly rubbed his lips and tongue against the other person’s lips as if worshipping. The kiss was not fierce, but was rather slow, and yet it attacked Qin Mian’s heart inch by inch, making him lose his voice and senses. Then, he wholeheartedly responded.

Lei Tie lifted one of the other’s legs and sat him astride his lap. His arms that wound around the other’s waist seemed like they were about to crush it.

The sun gradually went to the west. When there was only a touch of golden radiance left to illuminate through the floor-to-ceiling window, the sound in the room finally stopped.

Qin Mian’s senses gradually returned. He rubbed his forehead and burning his ears. They didn’t even take off their clothes…

Can’t go on thinking downwards! He raised his head and threw it hard⁵.

Lei Tie pressed the other’s head on his chest and stroked his back. This person was his wife; his only beloved.

He stood up with Qin Mian in his arms. He went to the bookshelf, opened the third drawer, and took something out of it. Then, he put it into Qin Mian’s hand before returning to the bed and sat down.

“What is this?” Qin Mian smelled a familiar scent and knew that it was also made of red sandalwood. He tossed and turned it, and found his name was engraved on the bottom.

“Is this a seal? It looks very fine. Then, I’ll just use this seal.” He opened his pouch and put the seal in its pocket.

Lei Tie kissed his lip and put him on the bed, “Lie down for a while, I’ll heat the water.”

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Footnotes