The Butcher's Little Husband - Chapter 1

In the second year of the Tianyuan era, Xingtian Village, at the Tian family residence.

The weather is clear, and a gentle breeze rustles through the air. Cicadas chirp tirelessly on the large pagoda tree at the edge of the village. Suddenly, an angry shout erupts from a small courtyard made of blue stone.

“I won’t marry! I won’t marry…! Waaaah! Mother, don’t you love me the most? I don’t want to marry so far away!”

A delicate-looking young man stands in the courtyard, tears streaming down his face. His fists clench at his sides in frustration, his stance so aggressive that it seems like he is ready to fight someone.

“My dear child… I can’t bear to let you go either…” A middle-aged woman stands nearby, hesitating to reach out and comfort him. “But what can we do? Your reputation is already ruined… No one in the surrounding villages is coming to propose anymore…”

“Who says no one? Zhang… Brother Zhang Bin says he will marry me when he comes back! You’re only agreeing to this because that other family offers a bigger betrothal gift… Waaaah!”

“Don’t you dare mention that brat Zhang Bin to me again!” A furious roar interrupts them, making both the weeping mother and son stop in surprise. They turn to look at the source of the voice.

The one speaking is the head of the Tian family, Tian Dali. He, too, is reluctant to send his precious ger all the way to Willow Slope for marriage.

But yesterday morning, when he went to the Zhang family to discuss the matter, they humiliated him mercilessly. They say things like, Your son has such a terrible temper—if he marries into our family, he’ll probably drive us old folks to our graves! And He can’t even read a single word, while our son is going to be an official in the future. How could he possibly marry some country bumpkin?

It isn’t just about losing face. Tian Dali can endure the embarrassment himself, but the fact remains—the Zhang family clearly looks down on his ger.

And now, with the entire village whispering about that incident, there is no choice. His son must marry far away.

“Waaaah! Father, you break your promise! You say I can choose for myself… I don’t care! I want to marry Brother Zhang Bin! If you agree to that other family, then you marry them yourself! I’m not doing it!”

“Enough of your willfulness! You have to marry, whether you want to or not! What Zhang Bin—don’t mention him again! His family… his family doesn’t want you!” Tian Dali clenches his pipe and takes a deep, troubled puff.

“I don’t believe it! I want to hear Brother Zhang Bin say it himself! You’re just lying to me!” The handsome young man turns around, rushes back to his room, and throws himself onto the bed, sobbing.

“This is all because you spoil him!” Tian Dali sighs, watching his little ger’s tantrum unfold. He can’t help but grumble.

“Oh, so I spoil him, do I? You didn’t?! You?!” With her son safely in his room, Mother Tian dries her tears and storms forward, yanking her husband’s ear. “He is always my sweetheart and little darling. Now he’s throwing a tantrum, and it’s my fault? You, Tian Dali, explain this to me!”

“Ouch, ouch, ouch! Wife, let go! I was wrong, I was wrong! It was me, it was me—I spoil him!”

Tian Dali instinctively begs for mercy. This woman is too fierce—it’s no wonder their precious ger ends up learning to be just as stubborn. But, truth be told…

This whole mess really is his little ger’s fault.

Five Days Ago

Tian Xiaoman dresses in what he thinks is his most beautiful outfit that day. He admires himself in the mirror for a moment before stepping out.

In the ten-mile radius of their village, Tian Xiaoman is famous for his beauty. He has delicately arched brows, large almond-shaped eyes, a small nose, and a rosy mouth. The bright red pregnancy mark on his forehead only enhances his charm.

With a happy heart, he heads toward the small river at the edge of the village. A grove of apricot trees stands there, though the blooming season has passed. The fruits on the branches have already grown to the size of walnuts, swaying gently in the wind.

Brother Zhang Bin is the only one in the village who attends the county school. He is gentle and refined, often using words Tian Xiaoman doesn’t fully understand—but that only makes him admire Brother Zhang Bin more.

One is the most knowledgeable young man in the village. The other is the most handsome. A perfect match.

Tian Xiaoman smiles at the thought.

“Ahem…” A cough sounds behind him.

“Brother Zhang Bin, you’re here—” Tian Xiaoman spins around excitedly, only to see that it isn’t the person he has been waiting for.

“What are you doing here?”

If Tian Xiaoman is the most beautiful young man in Xingtian Village, then the person before him is the most obedient and hardworking one.

“Xiaoman, are you waiting for… Brother Zhang Bin?” Tian Xiu’er asks.

“Who told you to call him that? Who told you I’m waiting for him here?” Tian Xiaoman snaps impatiently. He doesn’t like hearing his beloved’s name coming from someone else’s mouth.

“That’s not important. I just came to tell you—it’s impossible for you to be with Brother Zhang Bin,” Tian Xiu’er states firmly.

“When did you get to decide anything?! You like Brother Zhang Bin too, don’t you? But he only likes me!” Tian Xiaoman declares confidently.

“If everyone is afraid of you, do you think Brother Zhang Bin will still like you?” Tian Xiu’er’s expression carries an indescribable undertone.

“What do you mean?” Tian Xiaoman suddenly feels that something is off.

“You’ll find out soon enough…” Tian Xiu’er says as he slowly approaches Tian Xiaoman. Just as Xiaoman instinctively steps back to keep his distance, Xiu’er suddenly loses his balance and falls backward into the river.

“Help! Help!” Tian Xiu’er struggles in the water, shouting for help.

Tian Xiaoman is frozen in shock, staring at his hands as if trying to understand what just happened. Did I push him? No… I didn’t push him!

Hearing the cries, nearby villagers rush over—only to witness a startling scene.

Tian Xiu’er is floundering desperately in the water, his eyes filled with disbelief as he looks at Tian Xiaoman, still crying out for help as if begging him to save him.

Meanwhile, Tian Xiaoman stands there stiffly, staring at his hands with a guilty and uneasy expression.

With the villagers working together, they finally pull Tian Xiu’er out of the water.

Only then does Tian Xiaoman snap out of his daze. Tian Xiu’er… You did this on purpose! You’re trying to frame me!

Moments later, Tian Xiu’er’s parents arrive. His mother throws her arms around him, sobbing.

“My poor Xiu’er, how could this happen? How did you fall into the water?”

Tian Xiu’er leans weakly against his mother’s embrace, but his gaze lingers on Tian Xiaoman. “It’s nothing… It has nothing to do with Xiaoman. I was just talking to him, and I slip in by myself.”

Tian Xiaoman’s eyes widen in fury. “It has nothing to do with me?! Then why even bring up my name?!” His anger flares—this is deliberate. The way Tian Xiu’er phrases it… He is practically inviting everyone to think otherwise.

Sure enough, the villagers’ expressions shift as they glance at him suspiciously.

“I don’t mean it that way,” Tian Xiu’er says weakly, his voice trembling. “I just want to let everyone know that you weren’t jealous of me for being more capable than you, so… No, no, I fall in on my own.” Tian Xiu’er stammers, then quickly buries his face in his mother’s chest, sneaking a panicked glance at Tian Xiaoman.

The meaning behind his words is crystal clear.

Oh… So that’s what happened! The villagers exchange knowing looks. Tian Xiaoman must have been jealous of Xiuer, since everyone praises him for being more capable. Enraged, he must have pushed him into the river!

It’s entirely possible. After all, Tian Xiaoman has been spoiled since childhood, always throwing tantrums when things don’t go his way. He’s bullied plenty of the village boys—even Liu Zhuangshi’s chubby son once ends up in tears after a scuffle with him.

“You’re lying! You fall in by yourself, you liar! And now you dare frame me?!” Tian Xiaoman lunges forward, grabbing Tian Xiu’er by the collar and yanking him out of his mother’s arms.

“Oh dear, look at him! Even in front of the adults, he still wants to hit people.”

Hit someone? He’s just trying to explain himself!

“Yes, Xiaoman has always been a troublemaker. My little ger gets bullied by him all the time.”

“Xiu Ge’er has always been sensible and well-behaved. It must be Xiaoman’s fault!”

Are you all blind?! Tian Xiaoman grits his teeth, his frustration boiling over as he tightens his grip on Tian Xiu’er.

“Cough, cough…!” Tian Xiu’er suddenly starts coughing violently, as if unable to endure being held like this.

“Let him go!” Tian Xiaoman’s mother arrives in a hurry, just in time to see him glaring fiercely at Tian Xiu’er.

“Mother! He’s slandering me! I—”

Before he can finish, loud wailing drowns him out.

“Oh heavens, look at this! Has our Xiu’er ever lied since he was a child? He nearly drowned today, and not only does he refuse to blame anyone, but now he’s about to get hit!” Tian Xiu’er’s mother cries, slapping her thigh in despair.

Tian Xiaoman opens his mouth to argue, but his own mother quickly pulls him back. She knows this is a lost cause.

“Sister Wang, it’s Xiaoman’s fault. He must not have done it on purpose. How about this—you take Xiu’er home first, and I’ll call the doctor to check on him,” she says hastily.

She knows there’s no talking their way out of this today. And truth be told… Even she isn’t entirely sure whether Xiaoman pushed him or not.