The Butcher's Little Husband - Chapter 20

After about half an hour, Tian Amu finally returned.

“Xiaoman,  come help me with this!” 

Tian Xiaoman quickly ran over to help his Amu remove the basket from his back. He was surprised by the weight when he touched it.

Tian Amu began massaging his shoulders and back, exhausted from all the shopping he had done.

“Amu, why did you buy so many things?” Tian Xiaoman asked, puzzled. 

The Mid-Autumn Festival wasn’t a particularly big holiday. Was all this really necessary? It felt like they were preparing for the Dragon Boat Festival instead!

“This year is your last year at home. No matter what the festival, Amu will make it special!” Tian Amu looked at Tian Xiaoman with kind eyes, making his nose feel sore.

“Amu…” Tian Xiaoman gazed at his Amu and suddenly felt a little sad.

Li Wenxuan, noticing the sudden shift in atmosphere, interrupted, “Amu, please sit down and rest. I’ll get you a glass of water!” He thought to himself, What if Xiaoman suddenly says he doesn’t want to get married? I can’t bear to let this drag on!

“Oh,” Tian Amu took the water from Li Wenxuan’s hand and drank it all in one go, showing just how thirsty he was.

“Amu, how are we going to get all this back?” Li Wenxuan asked. “How about you wait here for another half hour? Once the meat is almost sold out, I’ll take you back in a horse-drawn carriage.”

Yes, the once-proud hero’s horse had now become a cart horse. No longer free to gallop wherever it pleased—because its master now had family obligations!

“I have things to do at home,” Tian Amu said. “How about this? I’ll take some things back first, and Xiaoman can bring the rest in your carriage later.”

“Okay,” Li Wenxuan said, happy for the chance to be alone with Tian Xiaoman.

“Amu, let me go back with you!” Tian Xiaoman frowned.

He’d come to town to help his Amu, but most of the time had been spent at the butcher stall.

“Xiaoman, be good. There’s too much stuff! Uncle Ma’s cart can’t carry all of them, and other people are buying things too. Just wait here, Wenxuan will take you home later!” Tian Amu said as he stood up, adjusting the basket of paper money. He left to find others in the village to share the cart ride home.

“…” Tian Xiaoman looked after his Amu’s back, speechless. It’s always like this! What you say is like wind and rain!

Tian Xiaoman slumped back in his seat and fiddled with the money in the cash box, making it rattle. 

Seeing this, Li Wenxuan smiled helplessly and hurried up, wanting to sell all the meat so he could take Tian Xiaoman home.

Finally, the last customer left, leaving only scraps of meat. Li Wenxuan divided them among his helpers, then called Tian Xiaoman and Niu Jin to get ready to leave.

They headed to a gatehouse near the outskirts with a large yard where people specialized in guarding horses and vehicles for only two cents a day. Though that wasn’t much, it seemed like a lot to rural folk. For instance, Uncle Ma always waited outside the county town and never brought his cart in.

Li Wenxuan had no such worries. He handed the sign to the guard, who quickly came out leading his horse.

Niu Jin grabbed the reins, smiling at Li Wenxuan and Tian Xiaoman. “Brother, let me practice more. I’m not very good at driving a horse yet! You and brother-in-law can sit inside and have a nice chat!” He winked at Li Wenxuan.

“Well, go ahead if you want!” Li Wenxuan gave him a look that clearly said, “Know your place,” before stepping into the carriage. He extended his hand, ready to help Tian Xiaoman up.

Tian Xiaoman smacked his hand away and shot him a smug look, as if to say, You underestimate me. With one push, he jumped up on his own.

Li Wenxuan laughed. 

Most gers tried to act weak in front of their fiancés, but Tian Xiaoman always wanted to compete with him.

The two men got into the carriage, and Niu Jin shouted, “Go!” The horse began moving.

Li Wenxuan glanced at Tian Xiaoman, who was watching the scenery outside. Quietly, he placed his hand on Tian Xiaoman’s. 

Tian Xiaoman was startled and pulled his hand away, but quickly restrained himself. His ears turned red.

“Xiaoman,” Li Wenxuan leaned in closer, “We’re getting married soon, right?”

“Ah?” Tian Xiaoman looked at him, confused by the question.

“You keep calling me Li Wenxuan, Li Wenxuan. Don’t you think it’s time to change that?”

“I’m absolutely not calling you husband right now! Don’t even think about it!” Tian Xiaoman glared at him warily.

Li Wenxuan was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. “Xiaoman, you’re so cute, haha!”

Tian Xiaoman was confused. Why was he laughing after being rejected? Was he stupid?

“I just want you to call me Wenxuan, or Brother Xuan or something like that. I didn’t expect this, haha! You’re already preparing to call me husband in your heart, haha!” Li Wenxuan kept laughing.

“You…” Tian Xiaoman was both embarrassed and angry, and punched Li Wenxuan. 

Li Wenxuan dodged left and right, and when Tian Xiaoman lunged at him again, he caught Tian Xiaoman’s hands and pulled him into an embrace.

“Good Xiaoman, don’t be mad. I’m just teasing you!” Li Wenxuan whispered close to Tian Xiaoman’s ear. “Honestly, I’m so happy! I really want to hear you call me husband one day!”

His words were sincere and full of affection. Tian Xiaoman had wanted to struggle, but hearing that, he softened and stayed in Li Wenxuan’s arms.

After so many days together, he had already felt Li Wenxuan’s affection, tolerance, and patience. Seeing that deep gaze, he didn’t want to disappoint him. Tian Xiaoman couldn’t deny—his heart was a little moved.

Seeing Tian Xiaoman’s attitude soften, Li Wenxuan let go of his hands. But surprisingly, Tian Xiaoman didn’t push him away. Instead, he slowly wrapped his arms around him.

Li Wenxuan was overjoyed. He could feel that Xiaoman didn’t dislike him. However, Tian Xiaoman had never reciprocated his feelings, and that made Li Wenxuan a bit frustrated. 

Now that Tian Xiaoman had finally responded, he couldn’t be happier!

Overcome with happiness, he did something that would later make him laugh at himself: he kissed Tian Xiaoman! He savored the warmth, the softness, the sweet taste. When he tried to slip his tongue in, though, Tian Xiaoman snapped out of his daze. 

Seeing Xiaoman flustered and hiding in the corner, Li Wenxuan thought regretfully, If only he had reacted a little later!

Tian Xiaoman was in shock. He didn’t expect Li Wenxuan to suddenly pounce on him, kiss him, and even try to deepen the kiss! He was so startled that he quickly covered his mouth with his hand and turned away, burying himself in the corner. His face was so hot it felt like it might burn!

When Tian Xiaoman finally managed to calm down, ready to teach Li Wenxuan a lesson, he looked up and found that Li Wenxuan had stopped. He turned his head in confusion and saw Li Wenxuan sitting there, grinning goofily. 

Tian Xiaoman couldn’t help but burst out laughing. It was rare to see Li Wenxuan looking so silly. 

Little did he know, Li Wenxuan had been acting silly for him all along.

Just as things were getting tender in the carriage, Niu Jin’s voice suddenly broke the moment. “We’re here!”

When Father Tian and the others heard the sound of the horse, they immediately knew it was Li Wenxuan bringing Tian Xiaoman home. They hurried out to help move the things, having heard Tian Amu had bought a lot of things!