The Butcher's Little Husband - Chapter 122

Li Ge’er used a pointed branch to draw a firm vertical line on the wall, then counted the tally marks and nodded with satisfaction. 

In five days, Brother Lin would be back.

He was thirteen this year. Over the years, many things have changed. For instance, his parents had given him a pair of twin brothers, and his uncle and Amu also had a little cousin together.

His father had been promoted again and was now the highest-ranking official in the city. Le Ge’er’s own status had risen as well. But he didn’t enjoy staying in the provincial capital. He usually spent two or three months there each year, then returned to Willow Tree Slope.

“Le Ge’er!, time to eat!” a teasing voice called out. 

Li Le’s expression changed instantly. “Stop right there, you little brat! Who told you to call me Le ge’er!? You should call me big brother!” He chased after him.

The once-cute Little Tuanzi wasn’t sweet anymore. He no longer called him big brother in that soft, sweet voice. Now he mimicked the adults and called him Le Ge’er instead!

But the kid was bright. Even though he didn’t always seem serious, he was always at the top of his class. 

Their school was right there in Willow Tree Slope, funded by his uncle and staffed by teachers hired by his father. Students from all over the country came to study now. It was nothing like the old days, when they had to travel far just to study, only to be looked down on for being poor.

Since the money for the school came from his own family, Li Yuelin was always under close watch from the teachers. He couldn’t afford to slack off. 

He behaved okay in class, but once school was over, he was wild—climbing trees, swimming in rivers. He even knew martial arts. He was the little tyrant of Willow Tree Slope, and no kid dared defy him.

He feared no one—except his Amu. If he got into trouble and his father found out, the worst that would happen was being scolded. But if his Amu heard, it would be a mixed-doubles punishment: his father held him down, and his Amu did the beating.

Thanks to Tian Xiaoman’s guidance, this little seed didn’t grow crooked.

Le Ge’er chased after him for a while but couldn’t catch him. The boy was as slippery as a loach. He stopped, catching his breath. “Just wait! Brother Lin will be back soon. He’ll teach you a lesson!”

Li Yuelin’s expression shifted as he recalled the last time he was hung upside down. 

His voice immediately softened. “Brother, I was wrong, brother!” He ran up to Le Ge’er and tilted his head to show his ear. “You can twist it, just don’t tell Brother Lin!”

Le Ge’er grinned triumphantly and gave his ear a twist.

“AAAH!” Li Yuelin let out a pig-slaughtering scream. But Le Ge’er knew he was faking it. He hadn’t even used much strength. Still, he eased up.

“Hahaha!” A burst of laughter came from nearby. 

The two turned and saw little Li Huan.

“Huanhuan! You dare laugh at me?” Li Yuelin grinned as he walked over. “Come taste my tickling attack!”

Huan Ge’er twisted and turned, laughing until tears streamed from his eyes. He kept calling out “Le ge’er!, Brother, Amu!” trying to summon anyone to save him.

Watching the two play around, Le Ge’er suddenly remembered a joke from years ago. 

When Little Tuanzi heard that his Amu was having another baby. He had been five or six at the time. Someone told him that his Amu would stop loving him after the new baby came. He took it seriously. 

One time, after upsetting their Amu again, he dropped to his knees, hugged his leg, and sobbed, “Amu, I’m good! I’m the best! Don’t love the new brother, he’s not good!”

Everyone had been stunned at first. Then, realizing what was going on, they rushed to comfort him. 

No one expected that after the baby was born, Little Tuanzi would become the most doting older brother.

The days passed slowly, with Le Ge’er eagerly counting them. 

One morning, while he was still in bed, he heard a carriage outside the yard. He jumped up excitedly, got dressed, and ran out.

“Uncle! Brother Lin!” he called as he saw them unloading goods.

“Le ge’er!, why didn’t you sleep a bit more? Did we wake you up?” Li Wenxuan asked.

Time hadn’t changed him much—his face was more mature, more manly. In recent years, he’d raised a lot of pigs. When he couldn’t sell the pork, he turned to the smoked meat business and gradually took on the manner of a proper businessman.

Le Ge’er shook his head and went to Liu Xilin. He had been following Li Wenxuan in business for years. Maybe because he’d seen a lot, he had grown quiet, but in the business world, he’d become more capable. Li Wenxuan had watched him for a long time before deciding to hand over the business to him.

After unloading, Liu Xilin quietly handed Le Ge’er a small box, then nodded to Li Wenxuan and left.

His grandAmu had grown increasingly stubborn with age. If he didn’t go home soon, he’d scold him endlessly. 

Ever since Le Ge’er’s father became a high-ranking official, Grandmu Liu no longer liked him spending so much time at the Li household. He didn’t want others to say his grandson was marrying above his station.

But Liu Xilin was marrying up. He liked Le Ge’er and wanted to be with him. Yet he had no scholarly achievements, only martial arts. He had thought about taking the martial exam, but going to the capital would mean leaving home for two or three months. What if something happened to his elderly grandAmu?

After much thought, he gave up on the idea and followed his master in business instead.

Le Ge’er clutched the box and slipped back into his room while no one was paying attention.

It was a mahogany box, carved with intricate patterns. 

Le Ge’er played with it for a while, then opened it to reveal a jade Buddha tied with a red string. It was beautiful.

He put it on right away, stood in front of the mirror, admired himself, then hid it inside his clothes and patted it gently.

Meanwhile, Grandmu Liu sat in the main room. When he saw Liu Xilin return, he patted the stool beside him. “Come sit.”

He obeyed, confused.

“I found a nice young ger for you,” Grandmu Liu said. “Go see him tomorrow. If it works out, marry him soon. Grandmu is old and wants to see his great-grandson before he goes.”

Liu Xilin froze. “Grandmu, you know I like Le Ge’er!”

“I know,” he sighed. “Le Ge’er is a good child. But you’re already seventeen. And Le Ge’er? He’s only thirteen. Can you wait? Even if you can, his father is a high official. He’ll marry a noble. How can he possibly marry a poor orphan like you?”

He wiped away tears. If his son and son-in-law were still alive, things might be different.

Liu Xilin was silent, stunned. For the first time, he truly felt his own powerlessness. But… he really liked Le Ge’er.

Seeing his expression, Grandmu Liu’s heart ached. But better to let go now than be rejected later. Maybe they could still greet each other in the future.

Liu Xilin lowered his head, his thoughts unreadable. Grandmu Liu assumed he was convinced and sighed before going inside.

Early the next morning, Grandmu Liu knocked on Liu Xilin’s door when he didn’t get up. There was no reply. He pushed it open.

The bed was neatly made—it didn’t look like anyone had slept in it. A letter lay on the table.

His heart sank. He grabbed the letter and ran toward the Li family’s home.

“Le Ge’er! Xiaoman! Open the door! Le Ge’er!” he shouted, banging on the door.

Le Ge’er was sweeping the yard. When he heard Grandmu Liu, he rushed to open the gate.

“Grandmu Liu? What’s wrong?” he asked, startled.

“Read it! Quick, read it!” he said, pushing the letter into his hands.

He opened it, confused.

“Grandmu, I’m an unfilial grandson…” As he read, his voice dropped lower and lower. “Brother Lin’s gone? Grandmu Liu, is he really gone?!”

Grandmu Liu burst into tears, full of regret. If he’d known this would happen, he wouldn’t have pushed so hard. Liu Xilin wrote that he was going to make a living and would only return when he was worthy of Le Ge’er.

Le Ge’er cried uncontrollably. His sobbing alarmed Li Wenxuan and the others. After reading the letter, they all wore strange expressions.

Who said Le Ge’er was going to marry into nobility? They thought the family had already silently accepted the two children’s relationship. Otherwise, who would let a teenage boy spend all day at another family’s home?

And Liu Xilin might not know his own worth, but did he think Le Ge’er didn’t know it either? The young man’s pride must’ve taken a serious blow, prompting this decision.

“Don’t cry, Le ge’er!. Uncle will go find him!” Li Wenxuan promised.

He pulled every string he had, but Liu Xilin had vanished. If he hadn’t sent money and letters back to Grandmu Liu and Le Ge’er every few months, they would’ve thought he was dead.

Le Ge’er was gloomy for a long time, breaking everyone’s hearts. But later he said, “No matter how long Brother Lin is gone, I’ll wait for him.” 

While waiting, he took care of Grandmu Liu in Brother Lin’s place.

And so the wait lasted three years.

At sixteen, Le Ge’er was in his prime—well-educated, kind, and courteous. Matchmakers were practically breaking down their door by the time he was fourteen.

But he never accepted anyone.

Until one day, a long convoy entered the village. Sitting in the lead carriage was the one he’d been dreaming of for years…