The Butcher's Little Husband - Chapter 110

The Dragon Boat Festival is approaching. Li Amu went up the mountain to gather plenty of zong leaves and returned to make zongzi. Although everyone was feeling down because there was no rain, the festival had to be celebrated.

(Translator’s Note: Zong leaves (粽叶) — Leaves (commonly bamboo or reed) used to wrap zongzi, traditional glutinous-rice dumplings. They are not eaten; they provide fragrance, shape, and protection during steaming or boiling.)

At home, Tian Xiaoman had already soaked the glutinous rice and beans. He had also pickled some bacon for the zongzi. 

The water level this year was too low, so the county didn’t organize any dragon boat races. The county magistrate was preoccupied with managing the potential famine expected later in the year.

Li Wenxuan‘s pork business was running on a schedule, every five days. Recently, he had also been protecting some merchants in the county, making a little money while gathering news from various places. Why not do both?

At this moment, Tian Xiaoman was washing clothes in the yard while Little Tuanzi napped inside. 

To keep an eye on him, Tian Xiaoman had sent Le Ge’er to play in the room. If he heard the baby cry, Le Ge’er would immediately come out and report.

“Momo, little cousin turned over!”

“Oh, it’s okay.”

“Momo momo, little cousin smiled!”

“Is he awake?”

“His eyes are still closed!”

“That’s okay.”

Tian Xiaoman was feeling quite tired. Le Ge’er would report in every so often, which was becoming more tiring than just watching the baby himself. 

After a while without hearing Le Ge’er’s voice, Tian Xiaoman grew anxious and hurried his movements.

“Momo-momo!” Le Ge’er’s voice came out a little strained. 

Tian Xiaoman looked up, into eyes brimming with tears. 

Le Ge’er was holding the little fat boy under his armpits, a puzzled expression on his face, trying to pull him out with difficulty.

The little boy’s clothes had been lifted, exposing his round belly. His small feet dangled in the air, curled up in fear. His little hands gripped Le Ge’er tightly, and he looked like he might start crying any moment.

Tian Xiaoman wiped his hands on his clothes and quickly went over to pick up Little Tuanzi. As he did, both Le Ge’er and the baby let out a simultaneous sigh of relief.

“Le Ge’er is so good. Next time, when your little cousin wakes up, just call him me. Your little cousin is so heavy like a pig, Le Ge’er can’t hold him anymore.” Tian Xiaoman patted Le Ge’er’s head, praising him.

Le Ge’er grinned, still holding onto Little Tuanzi’s hand. He liked the praise. 

Tian Xiaoman checked Little Tuanzi’s bottom and found it dry, which probably meant he was hungry.

Little Tuanzi had been weaned at just eight months old. At first, he had been upset for two days, but with Tian Xiaoman constantly making delicious food for him, he had soon accepted it.

Tian Xiaoman brought out some porridge from the stove and fed it to Little Tuanzi. 

He felt that this child was becoming more and more difficult to take care of and even pickier. He used to be fine with plain porridge, but after sitting at the table a few times, he started expecting side dishes.

Now, he would only open his mouth when Tian Xiaoman put the egg yolk on the spoon. If Tian Xiaoman didn’t do that, Little Tuanzi would whimper and ask for it. 

Sometimes, Tian Xiaoman didn’t want to indulge him, so he’d put the dish at the end of the spoon, showing it to him without feeding him. 

Little Tuanzi, though, was still inexperienced and had been fooled by his Amu several times.

After feeding the porridge, Li Amu came back, carrying a large basin of water to wash the zong leaves. 

Tian Xiaoman grabbed the stroller, put Little Tuanzi in it, and left him to watch while he worked.

He began preparing the soaked glutinous rice and beans, as well as the pickled bacon, and started wrapping the zongzi. They made triangular-shaped zongzi, with sharp edges and corners. Ten of them were strung together.

In addition to the zong leaves, they also needed a special type of long, thin leaf that, when opened, resembled a big fan. They cut it from the tree, tore it into strips, and soaked it in water to soften it before using it for the zongzi.

Both Li Amu and Tian Xiaoman were quick with their hands, and before long, dozens of zongzi were piled up in a basin. 

Le Ge’er squatted next to them, holding two small leaves, imitating their actions, and trying to make his own zongzi.

“Le Ge’er, put two leaves together first.”

Le Ge’er nodded and did as instructed.

Little Tuanzi: “Ahhh!”

“Fold the leaves and form a cylinder. Then put some rice and beans in it.” Tian Xiaoman demonstrated for Le Ge’er.

Le Ge’er followed along and placed a spoonful of rice inside.

Little Tuanzi: “Ahhh, ahhh!”

Li Amu chuckled beside them. 

Little Tuanzi, growing more impatient, almost climbed out of the stroller, reaching out with both hands, eager to join in. But Tian Xiaoman deliberately ignored him.

This little fool couldn’t even say “Amu” at seven or eight months old. He mostly just said “ahhh.” Tian Xiaoman had been teaching him to speak, but so far, he hadn’t said a word. It was frustrating for Tian Xiaoman.

Though both he and Li Wenxuan were not stupid, why couldn’t their child speak? Tian Xiaoman wanted to see if the baby would speak when he got upset.

Ignored by the adults, Little Tuanzi sat back down in the stroller, dejected, and began to cry in frustration.

Tian Xiaoman didn’t even glance at him. “One!”

“Ahhh—” 

Very good, the crying stopped.

It was Le Ge’er who took pity on him, offering him a small leaf. 

Little Tuanzi’s mood brightened immediately. 

Soon, he had torn the leaf into pieces and was reaching out again to start crying.

Tian Xiaoman gently swatted his hand away, and this time, it was a disaster. Little Tuanzi cried loudly, tears welling up in his eyes.

Tian Xiaoman was a little taken aback. He wasn’t usually so delicate—why was he crying now? 

Little Tuanzi had been upset before, but now he was hurt by his Amu for no reason, and he looked especially pitiful.

“My dear son, what’s wrong?” Li Wenxuan’s voice called from outside. He’d been away for three days, but as soon as he returned, he heard Little Tuanzi crying.

When Le Ge’er heard that his uncle was back, he dropped the leaf and ran out. 

Li Wenxuan picked him up and tossed him in the air twice. 

Upon hearing his father’s voice, Little Tuanzi cried even harder, stretching out his hands towards Li Wenxuan while sobbing.

Li Wenxuan set Le Ge’er down, handed him a snack, then picked up Little Tuanzi, kissing him a few times. “What’s wrong? Tell Father.”

Tian Xiaoman snorted. It would be great if this kid could actually talk! 

Although Little Tuanzi couldn’t speak, he was still able to communicate with gestures. He pointed at Tian Xiaoman and then stretched out his chubby hand to Li Wenxuan, indicating that he had been hit by his Amu. Then, he cried even harder.

Tian Xiaoman was speechless. He couldn’t even speak, but he could complain! 

Li Wenxuan kissed Little Tuanzi’s chubby hand. “Tuanzi, Father is also afraid of your Amu. Let’s go, I’ll take you out to see the horses!”

Tian Xiaoman watched the two leave with a look of contempt. So now he was the only “bad one,” huh?

The zongzi were soon wrapped up, and there were still some leaves left over. Li Amu put them away, saying she’d wrap them next time.

Tian Xiaoman stoked the fire, added the firewood, and placed the zongzi in the pot. He poured water over them, ensuring it covered the zongzi, and put the lid on. Cooking the zongzi would take time—several hours at least.

Li Wenxuan came into the kitchen and hugged Tian Xiaoman from behind. “Xiaoman, do you miss me?”

“I do,” Tian Xiaoman replied happily, then added, “I wish you’d help me with the child more. It’s so tiring taking care of him alone.”

Li Wenxuan kissed his cheek. “I’ll stay at home longer this time.”

“Mm…” Tian Xiaoman leaned back into his arms, feeling content that Li Wenxuan was home.

Little Tuanzi quickly got over his earlier anger and, just as quickly, began to compete for Tian Xiaoman’s attention. 

Tian Xiaoman, having just upset him, was eager to make it up to him. The two grew close once again.

Tian Xiaoman fed Little Tuanzi some snacks that Li Wenxuan had brought. 

Little Tuanzi ate happily, his feet kicking in the air. The only thing that upset him slightly was that his Amu ate the cakes too quickly, shrinking them down before he could.

The zongzi simmered in the pot, giving off a delicious aroma of zongzi leaves and glutinous rice. 

Little Tuanzi had never experienced such a temptation before. His tiny hands reached for the kitchen, signaling Tian Xiaoman to take him there.

Seeing how desperately he wanted it, Tian Xiaoman walked him into the kitchen.

 Little Tuanzi immediately zeroed in on the large pot of zongzi, pushing Tian Xiaoman’s hand to urge him to open it.

Of course, Tian Xiaoman wouldn’t open it. Even if the zongzi were cooked, they’d be too hard for the baby to digest.

Tian Xiaoman turned to leave, but Little Tuanzi stamped his feet, upset that he hadn’t eaten yet. 

“Mmm… Ahmm… Qi!”

Tian Xiaoman looked at him in confusion. Had he just spoken? 

Little Tuanzi, noticing Tian Xiaoman had stopped, got excited and said again, “Mmm, Qi! Qi!”

“…”

“Qi!”

“Li Wenxuan, your son can talk!!!”