The Butcher's Little Husband - Chapter 31

After rubbing Li Wenxuan’s shoulders for quite a while, Tian Xiaoman was finally allowed to stop, lest his hands got tired.

Since Li Wenxuan didn’t know the road earlier, the carriage had stopped for a while. 

Tian Xiaoman noticed only after finishing the shoulder rub and couldn’t help asking, “Why aren’t we moving?”

“I don’t know the way to uncle’s house,” Li Wenxuan replied. “I was waiting for you to tell me!”

Tian Xiaoman looked at the two paths ahead, unsure which to choose. He remembered there should be a small pavilion along the road to his uncle’s house.

After telling Li Wenxuan, Wenxuan jumped down from the carriage, climbed a nearby tree, and looked into the distance. Sure enough, he spotted a pavilion along one of the paths. 

He jumped down and got back on the carriage. “Hyah!”

Li Wenxuan steered the horse down the left path, and the carriage moved slowly forward again.

Before long, movement stirred inside the carriage. Father Tian and Tian Amu woke up. Tian Amu lifted the curtain and saw they were nearly at his mother’s house.

Since his parents had passed away, it had been a long time since he last returned. 

According to custom, after the death of an elder, only sons could return home to pay New Year’s respects within two years; gers were not allowed. So the brothers usually gathered elsewhere for the holiday.

This year happened to be the third, and Tian Amu felt relieved at the thought of finally being able to return after the New Year. 

Seeing this, Father Tian simply held his hand tightly, saying nothing more.

Tian Amu glanced at him and smiled. The old man might look quiet, but he knew how to read a person’s heart.

Xiaoman sat in the carriage, swinging his legs and leisurely admiring the scenery. The road was narrow, just wide enough for a single carriage, with mountains and trees on both sides. Autumn leaves drifted down, carpeting the path thickly.

But Xiaoman’s attention wasn’t on those trees. What caught his eye were the ones hidden among them, branches poking out with little yellow or green spiky balls hanging down.

They were hairy chestnut trees. Their nuts weren’t as big as regular chestnuts—tiny ones squeezed into thorny shells, the largest no bigger than a thumb.

They ripened earlier than chestnuts. Peeled raw, they tasted sweet and crisp. Though small, they were best shelled into a bowl and boiled with star anise, cinnamon, and salt for a convenient snack.

Every time Tian Amu made them, Xiaoman would stuff a handful into his pouch. He wouldn’t peel them, just popped a few into his mouth, chewed until the soft chestnut flesh burst out fragrant and powdery, then spat out the shells.

The last time they’d gone up the mountain, they weren’t ripe yet. But here at his uncle’s place, they had ripened early—maybe because this side got more sun.

Thinking of them made Xiaoman hungry. He hadn’t eaten much that morning, and his stomach was starting to feel empty. Still, they were almost at his uncle’s, and there would be food soon.

The carriage went along the narrow path a while longer, until the land opened up and faint signs of habitation appeared in the distance. 

Xiaoman called out excitedly, “It’s just ahead—the one with two jujube trees at the gate!”

Li Wenxuan obediently stopped the carriage under the jujube trees. 

Xiaoman jumped down and ran toward the courtyard. “Uncle, we’re here!”

Several Shen family relatives were already sitting in the yard. Hearing Xiaoman’s voice, Shen Dajiu turned, smiling broadly. “You’re finally here. Where are your father and amu?”

Just then, Father Tian, Tian Amu, and Li Wenxuan walked in. 

After greeting them, Shen Dajiu’s gaze fell on Li Wenxuan. “So this is Xiaoman’s fiancé?”

Li Wenxuan quickly bowed. “Greetings, Uncle. I am Li Wenxuan.”

Shen Dajiu studied him. The young man’s face was firm, with righteousness in his eyes. Laughing heartily, he said, “Good, good! A fine lad! No need for such formality—come inside!”

He welcomed them in. Xiaoman was already clinging affectionately to his uncle, chattering away.

When Wenxuan entered, Xiaoman whispered to his uncle, “It’s him!”

He also looked Wenxuan over and thought he seemed quite good. 

Wenxuan bowed again.

After some greetings, the uncle led Tian Amu and Xiaoman to see the newborn baby, while Dajiu took Father Tian and Wenxuan to meet other relatives.

Inside the room, Amu saw Wang Xiaoping half-reclining against the bed, a red cloth tied around his head. The room was warm and stuffy, with a faint strange smell Xiaoman recognized as typical of a room with a newborn.

Seeing them, Wang Xiaoping’s pale face lit up with joy. “Guma, you’re here!” Among the Shen siblings, only Shen Ying was a ger, so they had only one guma, who treated them very well. Wang Xiaoping and his husband respected him deeply.

“Yes, I came to see you and the baby. Dear child, you’ve truly endured hardships, but now they’re over,” Tian Amu said, sitting by the bed and gently touching his head.

At those words, Wang Xiaoping’s eyes brimmed with tears. The past two years have been bitter. Most who married the same year had already borne children; even those who married later had news. Only he had none.

Fortunately, his husband’s family never blamed him. On the contrary, they treated him well. 

But even his own parents sometimes showed disappointment, bringing it up whenever he visited. Villagers whispered that he was barren and the Shen family’s eldest might have no heirs.

Just when he was about to give up, he unexpectedly conceived. The Shen family rejoiced and told him to take good care. Whether a boy or a ger, the child would be their treasure.

Holding back tears, Xiaoping gently lifted the baby from the bed. “This little one is blessed. Everyone came to see him as soon as he was born. His father named him Tianci—Heaven’s Gift. Brother Tao gave him the nickname An’an, hoping he’ll live peacefully all his life.”

Tian Amu took the baby carefully, studying him. At just three days old, his skin was still red, his wrinkled face like that of an old granny. Yet Tian Amu could already see the Shen family’s features faintly in his brows and eyes. 

Smiling, he said, “This child looks wonderful—just like his father when he was born!”

Leaning against Tian Amu’s shoulder, Xiaoman looked at the baby. He thought the little one was rather ugly—like… like the little monkey Wenxuan had given him! But thinking that way made the baby seem kind of cute.

Then hearing Tian Amu say the baby resembled his eldest cousin, Xiaoman was sure he was lying. His cousin was handsome—how could he look like a monkey?

Xiaoman looked from the baby to Wang Xiaoping, suddenly remembering a question that had puzzled him for ages. “Brother-in-law, how did little An’an come out? Was he pulled from your armpit?”

Wang Xiaoping was stunned. After a moment, his face flushed red. He almost laughed but held it back. 

Shen Amu, however, laughed aloud, and Tian Amu was also greatly amused.

Xiaoman, seeing their expressions, was puzzled. Did he say something wrong? Why were they laughing?

Shen Amu finally stopped laughing and said mysteriously, “Xiaoman, you’ll know once you’re married. No rush now, haha.”

Xiaoman sulked. He’d asked this question many times since childhood, and the adults always gave the same answer!

Perhaps the noise woke the baby. He furrowed his tiny brows, smacked his soft lips, and suddenly began to cry.

“Guma, let me have him. He must be hungry—I’ll feed him,” Xiaoping said. 

Tian Amu handed the baby over, and Xiaoping prepared to nurse, then hesitated.

Tian Amu understood. “Xiaoman, go play outside. See if your second uncle has arrived.”

Xiaoman was displeased. He wanted to watch the baby eat, but once again he was sent away!

He walked out pouting, making the others laugh. 

“He’s just spoiled,” Tian Amu said with a shake of his head. “I wonder what he’ll be like once he’s married.”

Shen Amu comforted him. “Little brother, I think Xiaoman is wonderful—pure-hearted, lively, and adorable.”

Tian Amu smiled, took out a red cloth bundle, and opened it. Inside lay a pair of tiny silver bracelets engraved with cloud patterns, each with two little bells. They looked very cute.

Xiaoping was startled. “Guma, you’re too kind. I can’t accept this!”

“Why not? When his father was born, my family was poor, and I couldn’t afford a gift. Now I’m giving them to his son—it’s the same!” Tian Amu insisted, tucking the bundle under his pillow.

Shen Amu added, “It’s fine, just accept it. It’s your guma’s good will. You and Tao’er just need to show him filial piety in the future.” He was actually surprised. His younger brother had already brought two hens and a bolt of fine cotton cloth—considered a generous gift in the countryside. Who knew there was more? And his son-in-law had brought four big pig’s trotters—the best food for a woman in confinement!

They chatted a while. During this time, Xiaoping fed the baby, who soon fell asleep again.

“Amu, Second Uncle’s here!” Xiaoman called softly from outside, careful not to wake the baby.

Tian Amu heard and went out with Shen Amu to greet his younger brother.

Once they left, Xiaoman slipped back inside, disappointed to see the baby already asleep. He looked at Xiaoping and, since he was alone, asked again, “Brother-in-law, tell me—how was the baby really born?”

Embarrassed, Xiaoping hesitated. Urged again and again, he muttered vaguely, “The way he went in is the way he came out. Now stop asking, Xiaoman.”

The answer only confused Xiaoman more. What went in? What came out?