The Butcher's Little Husband - Chapter 24

After the Ghost Festival in the seventh lunar month, life gradually returned to its usual dullness. 

Tian Xiaoman was forced by his Amu to stay home and learn sewing and mending. In fact, he already knew the basics, but he just couldn’t do it well—let alone embroidery.

Tian’s Amu wanted him to settle down and focus. He was getting married at the end of the year—how could he still be running around like a monkey?

Tian Xiaoman had no choice. Every day he looked listless, always saying he was sleepy or uncomfortable after only a little bit of work. If not for the fact that his ger wasn’t married yet, Tian’s Amu might have even suspected Tian Xiaoman was pregnant!

But then again, how could someone who was usually so lively and energetic not become depressed from being cooped up at home every day?

So, when Yang Xiaoguo came by early that morning with a small backpack to go play in the mountains, Tian’s Amu agreed right away.

Tian Xiaoman cheered, said goodbye, and dashed out the door with his own little backpack, like a bird finally released into the wild.

Yang Xiaoguo asked curiously, “Xiaoman, why are you so happy today?”

“Oh, you don’t know. My mom’s locked me up at home these past few days—I’m bored to death! Why didn’t you come visit me sooner!” Tian Xiaoman grumbled, still full of resentment. If he’d known getting married would be such a hassle, he never would’ve agreed in the first place!

“But I’ve been at home too! My Amu told me to practice more!” Yang Xiaoguo said honestly.

“Oh? Could it be you’ve got something going on too?” Tian Xiaoman leaned in close with an ambiguous grin.

“What? Xiaoman, what are you talking about?” Yang Xiaoguo looked puzzled. 

What kind of ‘something’ calls for needlework?

“Ugh!” Tian Xiaoman sighed in disappointment. He’d thought Yang Xiaoguo was getting married too!

But it wasn’t Yang Xiaoguo’s fault—after all, he didn’t know. The engagement had been arranged secretly between their Amus and only mentioned to their fathers. Nobody else had been told.

The two friends chatted as they walked to the back mountain. After turning a corner, they were greeted by the sight of wild fruit waiting for them.

In early autumn, a kind of wild fruit ripens. It’s green at first, then slowly turns yellow, then red, and finally purple when fully mature.

The fruit tree is a small shrub, bearing lots of fruit. The fruit itself is shaped like a tiny wine glass, quenches thirst, and leaves a sweet aftertaste. There’s a core inside that looks like a worm.

Locals call this fruit “nianzis.” It tastes good, but if you eat too much, your tongue and teeth turn dark purple. Worse, if one indulged, they had to drink a bowl of salted water afterward, otherwise they might have trouble going to the bathroom the next day.

Tian Xiaoman had learned this the hard way as a child, and ever since, he never dared to eat too many.

The two looked at the ground covered in nianzis, ate a few happily, and then started picking them. 

While they were busy, they suddenly heard footsteps and saw two or three gers approaching, laughing and joking.

“Tian Xiaoman, Yang Xiaoguo—why are you always the first ones here?” The ger leading the group was cheerful and outgoing—tall and chatty.

“Liu Sheng!” The two looked up and ran over in surprise.

“Liu Sheng, when did you get back? Why didn’t you come see us?” Tian Xiaoman had initially thought it was some nosy gerss from the village and had braced for another squabble. He didn’t expect it to be Liu Sheng!

Liu Sheng’s father used to be a street peddler. Later, business picked up, and the family opened a shop in the city. Eventually, they moved there entirely and only came back during Chinese New Year.

“I just got back this morning,” Liu Sheng said with a grin. “I stopped by your place just now—your mom said you’d gone to the mountain, so I came to find you. Oh, these two are my grandma’s nephews. They’re here visiting.”

After greeting each other, the group gathered to pick fruit and chat.

“Hey,” Liu Sheng nudged Tian Xiaoman with his elbow, lowering his voice, “I heard you got engaged? With who? That scholar Zhang?”

Back during the last Spring Festival, Liu Sheng had heard Xiaoman say he liked that scholar. He hadn’t thought it would work out.

Tian Xiaoman grimaced. “Ugh, don’t mention him. It’s not him. Let me tell you…” Then he spilled everything that had happened over the past several months.

“What?” Liu Sheng raised his voice. “Tian Xiu’er really did that?”

“Shh! Don’t be so loud! Anyway, don’t bring him up ever again!”

“Alright, alright, I won’t,” Liu Sheng said, lowering his voice again. “But you haven’t told me who you’re engaged to.”

“Just some butcher. He’s not good-looking, has no literary talent, and is no good at all!”

Liu Sheng stared at Tian Xiaoman speechlessly. 

If only he weren’t smiling and blushing while saying that—it might be a bit more convincing.

Seeing that Tian Xiaoman wasn’t going to say anything else, Liu Sheng turned to Yang Xiaoguo. “Xiaoguo, tell me—what’s Xiaoman’s future husband like?”

“Well,” Yang Xiaoguo thought for a moment. “He’s tall and big… um, his family has a lot of meat… and he bought lots of yummy stuff for Xiaoman. I even ate some!”

Liu Sheng nearly gave up on both of them. After all that questioning, neither of them could say his name or even where he lived. All they knew was that he was a tall butcher who sold pork. Liu Sheng imagined one of those greasy butchers he’d seen in town and felt a chill. If Xiaoman really ended up with someone like that, he’d be miserable!

But Tian Xiaoman had no idea what Liu Sheng was thinking. He was just feeling a little down—he hadn’t seen Li Wenxuan in a long time. What was he doing now? Was he still thinking about him—Tian Xiaoman?

As they picked fruit, their backpacks quickly filled up. It was still early, and no one wanted to go home yet.

“Let’s go look for mushrooms?” Tian Xiaoman suggested. It had rained a lot the day before yesterday—there should be some.

Everyone perked up immediately. There was a pine forest ahead, and pine mushrooms were delicious!