The Butcher's Little Husband - Chapter 120

“Boss, two more dishes over here!”

“Shopkeeper, it’s sixty cents, right?”

“Oh, these peanuts are great. Can we have another plate?”

Another busy day had begun. For Yang Xiaoguo, he truly enjoyed this kind of life.

Maybe it was because he had spent so much time with Xiaoman, but Yang Xiaoguo, who used to only care about eating, had also come to love the feeling of making money. He hadn’t known how to do math or keep accounts before, but later, Brother Tian Fu taught him.

Speaking of Brother Tian Fu—Yang Xiaoguo’s first impression of him was as Xiaoman’s older brother, a warm and kind man who treated Xiaoman especially well. He was always smiling, polite to everyone, and never bullied like other did.

When did he start thinking about Brother Tian Fu so often? Was it when they spent a whole morning catching little fish together? Or was it when Xiaoman said that Brother Tian Fu matched his standards for a husband?

Yang Xiaoguo couldn’t say for sure. Somehow, Tian Fu had simply lodged himself in his mind.

Xiaoman had always been his closest friend, but ever since he got married, he rarely saw him anymore. After all, Willow Tree Slope was so far from Xingtian Village.

They used to do everything together. Now, Yang Xiaoguo was left on his own. Even going to the mountains to pick wild fruits didn’t feel the same anymore. The fruits didn’t taste as sweet as they used to.

The village gers had never liked him or Xiaoman. Mostly they disliked Xiaoman, but he’d always been lumped in by association. 

He wasn’t as good-looking or as clever as Xiaoman, and his Amu often compared them. But Yang Xiaoguo never minded, because Xiaoman had always treated him well—really, really well.

Now that Xiaoman was gone, he became the sole target. They called him things like “follower” to his face. He wasn’t good at talking back or fighting, so he just endured it. It wasn’t a big deal, he told himself. He’d always been someone who could let things go.

But his silence made them bolder. They even started taking his things. 

One time, while they were pulling at his backpack and tossing his stuff around again, a voice rang out from a distance.

“What are you doing?”

He turned and saw—it was Brother Tian Fu!

The bullies scattered immediately, looking flustered. After all, Tian Fu and his brother Tian Shou were considered successful young men around here. Both were skilled, came from good families, and were popular among the village elders. Uncle Tian was often approached with marriage inquiries.

“Xiao Guozi, are you okay?” Tian Fu came over with concern, a large cart full of supplies trailing behind him.

Yang Xiaoguo shook his head. They hadn’t hit him—there weren’t many like Xiaoman who would fight head-on.

“Hop in. Let’s go to my place first. I brought some things for Grandmu Yang. You can take them back later.”

Without hesitation, Yang Xiaoguo got in. In many ways, he was a very simple, honest child.

The cart was packed full—almost like someone was moving house.

“Brother Tian Fu, are you bringing all your stuff back? Aren’t you supposed to stay in the provincial capital?”

“Yeah, I finished my apprenticeship. My master sent me home.” Tian Fu joked, but Yang Xiaoguo looked at him with such concern that he quickly explained himself. “I just didn’t want to stay in the city to cook. I’ve been away for years, and my parents are getting older. I want to be near them now.”

Yang Xiaoguo nodded. That made sense. Ever since Xiaoman got married, the Tian parents hadn’t been as cheerful. So he would often help out at their house, keeping them company.

His Amu had mentioned it before, and Xiaoman had also asked him for help. But even without being asked, he would’ve done it—Tian Amu had always treated him just like Xiaoman.

After dinner at the Tian house, he brought the things home. His Amu was surprised.

“Where did all this come from?”

“Brother Tian Fu is back and brought gifts for our family,” he said, opening the bags to find mostly food. He tore into a bag of pastries with a happy grin.

His Amu figured he must like the Tian family a lot, so he brought up the marriage agreement he and Tian Amu had quietly discussed. Now that Tian Fu was back for good, it was time to arrange things between the two children.

Yang Xiaoguo was stunned.

H-He was going to marry Brother Tian Fu?

Since Xiaoman got married, he’d always assumed he’d be matched to someone eventually. He’d even imagined what kind of person he might marry. 

But now that fantasy had become reality—and it was Tian Fu? He didn’t know how to react.

Worse yet, Brother Tian Fu had just seen him being so greedy with the pastries. Would he hate him now?

Yang Xiaoguo was secretly distressed, but Tian Fu was quite happy—he’d already heard about it from his Amu. Honestly, he wasn’t surprised. His Amu had “subtly” asked him about it several times.

The round-faced boy had always had such a soft and generous heart.

In fact, Tian Fu had once tricked him. He had thought Yang Xiaoguo was easy to fool and had convinced him to play hide-and-seek—then told him to hide in an old house and wait. The naïve boy agreed, squeezed behind a cabinet, and waited faithfully.

Tian Fu went off with the other boys to collect bird eggs, only returning at dinnertime.

Just as he was stuffing food into his mouth, Yang Amu knocked anxiously on the door. “Xiaoman, have you seen my Xiaoguo? He hasn’t come home yet!”

Xiaoman, mouth full of food, looked up and said, “No, I haven’t seen him today.”

As Tian Amu tried to console him, Tian Fu froze.

Could that little idiot still be hiding there?

He jumped up from the table, grabbed a steamed bun, and dashed off before even finishing his excuse. 

Tian Amu was so furious, he later planned to give him a good spanking—”Stir-Fried Bamboo Shoots with Pork” style.

He ran all the way to the abandoned house, which looked like a monster’s gaping mouth in the dark. Scared but determined, he went inside.

“Xiaoguo? Xiaoguo, are you there?” he called out.

And then, he saw a pair of little feet sticking out from behind the cabinet.

This little fool—he couldn’t even hide properly!

He walked over to find Yang Xiaoguo, eyes swollen with tears but completely silent, holding his mouth tightly as if afraid to cry. When he saw Tian Fu, he sobbed and threw himself into his arms.

“Brother Fu, you finally found me!”

Tian Fu didn’t get punished that day—because he “found” Yang Xiaoguo…

Big red lanterns were strung high, bright red couplets adorned the pillars, and firecrackers boomed nonstop. Tian Fu watched as his elder brother carried Yang Xiaoguo out, and silently said to himself:

“Xiaoguo, I found you.”

Author’s Note:
Ahhh sorry for the delay in this extra chapter!