119 – College Examination Has Arrived

The villagers stood in the river digging silts, the river water was turbid and muddy. Lei Xiangyi was so surprised that threw away the shovel in his hand and ran to the riverbank, but his foot stepped on empty and he fell on the mud pile. His eyes were red as he muttered to himself, “My wife is pregnant again, my wife is pregnant again…”

He forgot to notify Li Zheng as he got up and rushed home, leaving a streak of wet muddy footprints on the ground.

The villagers looked at his back with a sigh. They knew more or less about Lei Daqiang’s family. It was because Lei Xiangyi and his wife did not have a son that he practically had no position in the family. This dredging event had been going on for three days, but it was only Lei Xiangyi or Lei Xiangli that came. Lei Xiangren had never appeared. Lei Xiangyi must be looking forward to having a son this time.

After sunset, the temperature of the water lowered. Standing barefoot in the muddy water that submerged the calves, the bone-chilling air which invaded the body from the soles and the calves caused people to shiver uncontrollably.

Li Zheng raised his voice as he announced, “Alright, that’s all for today.”

As if given amnesty, the villagers rushed to the riverbank with their shovels and silt baskets or wooden buckets. They hurried to their homes as they urgently needed a basin of hot water to soak their cold feet.

When Lei Tie was on the ground, Uncle Fu and Lei-Qin Le immediately took away his shovel and bucket.

Back at Leisurely Farmhouse, Lei Tie simply washed his muddy legs by the pond before going to the house.

Qin Mian was reading at the door of the main room. Seeing the man’s figure, he put down the book and went to the kitchen to carry the hot water into the bathroom and then poured it into the bathtub.

Lei Tie heard the movement in the bathroom. He stood at the door and watched Qin Mian bend over to test the temperature of the water, and went to embrace him from behind.

“Wife.”

Qin Mian didn’t look back but the corners of his lips were tilted up. He took some spiritual spring water from the space and poured it into the bathtub, “Take a bath first. I’ll get your clothes.”

Lei Tie wanted to hold him for a while more. But when he looked down and saw the smudge on his body, he let the person go.

Qin Mian closed the bathroom door, went to the bedroom on the second floor, opened the wardrobe, and took out Lei Tie’s inner clothes, middle clothes, a silver-black long robe, a vest, and a pair of thick socks. The shoe rack was by the stairs; he grabbed a pair of clean cotton shoes.

Back on the first floor, he knocked on the bathroom door before pushing it open. He put the clothes, shoes, and socks on the chair and looked at the man in the bathtub. “You’ve been standing in the cold water for too long. Soak for a while.”

Lei Tie nodded. Only his head, neck, and wet hair could be seen, which weakened his oppressive and cold aura, and unexpectedly looked a little cute.

Somehow, Qin Mian to make fun of him, so he stepped over and leaned on the edge of the tub with his arms crossed. He teased, “I want to watch a beautiful man take a bath.”

The muscles on Lei Tie’s face twitched for a moment. He was very serious as he said, “Mandarin duck bath¹ is better.”

Mandarin… Mandarin duck bath! Qin Mian’s face was hot at once. He fled and closed the bathroom door with a bang.

He ran too fast and missed the slight but charming smile on his man’s lips.

By the time Lei Tie came out dressed neatly, Qin Mian was putting the dishes and tableware on the table. He went into the kitchen and picked up the steaming hot corn and spareribs soup. “Wife, Li Zheng said that it can be finished by tomorrow afternoon.”

“It’s should be. You’ve been soaking in the cold river for four days.” Each of Qin Mian’s hands carried a dish as he went out of the kitchen, “This year is the first time, not good to make an exception. In the future, let the servants go.”

“Don’t worry,” Lei Tie bowed and kissed him, “I have the vital spirit in my body, so I’m not afraid of cold. There’s another thing.”

“What’s it?” Qin Mian asked while he ladled up food.

“Qian Shi is pregnant.”

“Really? That’s a good thing.” Qin Mian was a little pleased, “If only she could have a son this time. Thinking of the way Lei Xiangren and his wife always acted smug because they have two sons, make me unhappy. In a while, we’ll go over and give them some good things.”

Lei Tie nodded without a shadow of a doubt.

After dinner, they went to the old house together. Qin Mian carried a wind-proof lantern, while Lei Tie carried an old hen in his left hand and a basket of pomegranates, pears, and two packages of pastry in his right hand.

The people of the old house had eaten dinner. They sat in the courtyard.

Wei Shi was now seven months pregnant. With a big belly, she looked a bit out of shape. Her face was a bit chubby, but it was not ugly. On the contrary, it added a bit of beauty. Lei Daqiang sat with her and looked at her stomach with a smile. Many old people said the baby might be a son. In three months, he would have another white and fat son.

The maidservant stood obediently behind Wei Shi, waiting for orders.

Du Shi sat opposite Wei Shi and Lei Daqiang, fixedly staring at Wei Shi’s stomach with a gloomy face.

Lei Xiangren and Zhao Shi sat on the other side. Zhao Shi was peeling melon seeds for Lei Dabao and Lei Erbao. Lei Xiangren had a handful of melon seeds in his hand; the sound of him eating the melon seed was like that of a mouse.

Lei Xiangli and Lei Chuntao sat together. They were talking in low voices.

Lei Xiangyi was holding Lei Xinxin and sat next to Qian Shi, looking at Qian Shi with a silly smile. Qian Shi’s right hand covered her stomach with her head slightly bowed with coy.

“It’s like no one’s ever been pregnant,” Zhao Shi murmured, her right hand unconsciously touched her abdomen. Since Erbao’s birth, she never got pregnant again. It would be great if she could have a son again.

“Eldest and Eldest Daughter-in-law are here.” Wei Shi was the first to discover Qin Mian and Lei Tie.

Qin Mian politely said, “How are you, Little Mother?”

Wei Shi stroked her bulging abdomen, and her face was full of maternal brilliance. She said in a soft voice, “Thank you for your concern. I’m fine. My baby is very well-behaved.”

When Qin Mian and Lei Tie entered the gate, Lei Daqiang’s expression sunk and he turned a blind eye to them.

As soon as Lei Dabao and Lei ErBao saw the basket in Lei Tie’s hand, their eyes turned bright. They only took a timid look at the basket and did not dare to get close to it.

Lei Tie went to Lei Xiangyi and handed him the items in his hands.

Qin Mian nodded to Lei Xiangyi with a smile, “Congratulations to Third Brother and Third Brother’s wife. These things are for Third Brother’s wife to supplement the body.”

Lei Xiangyi said with a happy smile, “Thank you, Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law.”

“Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law are considerate.” Qian Shi stood up and was courteous to Qin Mian and Lei Tie. Her bright eyes were quite elated. Even though it was unknown whether the baby was male or female, she was pregnant before Zhao Shi after all.

Du Shi’s hands reached out to Lei Xiangyi as she said, “Old Three, give it to me. I’ll kill the chicken tomorrow and cook soup for your wife.”

Lei Xiangyi didn’t move, “Mother, I’ll take it first. I’ll stew it for my wife tomorrow.”

“Third Brother, what can a man like you cook? Better leave it to Mother,” Zhao Shi chipped in.

“I can learn. Mother and Second Sister-in-law don’t need to worry.” Although Lei Xiangyi spoke with a smile, there was a little coldness in his eyes.

Qin Mian turned a blind eye to the undercurrent between them, “You talk, we’re going back.”

Not long after Qin Mian and Lei Tie left, Lei Xiangyi stood up and said to Qian Shi, “Wife, I remember that Eldest Brother asked me to send some vegetables to Double Xiang House a few days ago. I’m going to ask him when it’s appropriate to deliver it.”

Qian Shi gently smiled, “Husband, you go.”

Lei Xiangyi went out of the courtyard and quickly caught up with Qin Mian and Lei Tie.

“Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law.” Lei Xiangyi said it directly, “Fifth Brother said that he would help me and Fourth Brother to separate from the family after he finished the college examination. I want to ask you about something.”

Lei Tie nodded slightly and motioned him to say it.

“By that time, my wife and I want to move out. But…” Lei Xiangyi’s face was a little red, “we don’t have much money in hand, so I want to ask you to lend me some. At that time, we’ll build a mud-brick house to live in. I can pay back after selling coal.”

Lei Tie looked at Qin Mian; Lei Xiangyi also looked at Qin Mian, with a teasing meaning.

Qin Mian angrily glared at Lei Tie. What did this mean? Did he not allow Lei Tie to even make decisions for such a small matter?

Lei Tie gently stroked his wife’s head and asked Lei Xiangyi, “How much?”

Lei Xiangyi said, “5 taels are enough.”

Qin Mian frankly said, “Third Brother, you can have the money tomorrow. We’ll lend you 10 taels. If there is money to spare, use it to supplement your wife’s body. You don’t need to pay it back in a hurry. Just pay whenever you have more money.”

Lei Xiangyi thought that soon, he could finally dispel the clouds and see the sun. The rims of his eyes were slightly red as he said gratefully, “Thank you, Eldest Sister-in-law and Eldest Brother.”

Since they were Lei Tie’s younger brothers, it was not good for Qin Mian to favor one over the other, so he added, “You can secretly mention this to Fourth Brother. If he wants to move out after the separation, we can also lend him some money.”

Lei Xiangyi sighed with emotion, “Fourth Brother and I have trouble Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law a lot.”

“It’s fine, go back.” Qin Mian waved his hand, not to mind.

The sky was getting dark. Lei Tie took out the fire holder from his bosom, lit the lantern, took it from Qin Mian’s hand, and held his hand with the other hand.

In the dusky night sky, a dot of flame flickered, quiet and leisurely.

“Is this alright, in the open?” Qin Mian shook the hands they held together.

Lei Tie said, “The ground has pits.”

Qin Mian raised his eyebrow. He had walked this road multiple times, how could he not know if there was a pit? But the man’s big palm was very warm, he was reluctant to let go.

“Fifth Brother’s college examination is in a few days, should we do something?”

Lei Tie thought for a moment, “Give money?”

Qin Mian glanced at him with amusement. “Typical. But I can’t think of what to give him. Might as well give him a set of writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.”

In the mid of the tenth month, the day of the college examination arrived. The college examination was held in Qingyun Academy and presided over by the academic administration sent from prefecture town. There were two tests, one test per day.

Lei Daqiang took Du Shi and Lei Xiangli to stay in Zhaoyang County one day in advance. They would accompany him outside the academy during the college examination.

Qin Mian’s family was busy fishing in the pond, so they didn’t go together. To not let people in the old house feel that they were uncaring toward Fifth Brother, Qin Mian gave Lei Xiangzhi 5 taels and offered to pay for the accommodation of Lei Daqiang, Du Shi, and Lei Xiangli in the county town – they gave 5 taels to Lei Daqiang.

Thank you, Elaine!

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