The Butcher's Little Husband - Chapter 33

The two chased each other, laughing and joking as they walked up the mountain. The weather in early autumn was sunny and comfortable. The sky was cloudless, and the path was peaceful, with only the occasional call of a bird breaking the silence. The sound of chirping echoed through the air, bringing a knowing smile to their faces.

At the end of the path, they reached a slightly larger lake. The water was clear, the bottom visible, and ripples appeared on the surface as a breeze swept through. Occasionally, water birds flew by in the distance.

Tian Xiaoman breathed deeply, then turned to Li Wenxuan. “Every time I come to my uncle’s house, I always visit here. It’s so beautiful!”

Li Wenxuan looked at him, a bit surprised. He hadn’t expected Xiaoman to be so taken with the scenery. He mimicked Tian Xiaoman’s actions, taking a deep breath, stretching his arms wide, and feeling the breeze.

Before he could fully immerse himself in the moment, Tian Xiaoman spoke up. “I want to show you something!” 

With that, he ran off to the left side of the lake, and Li Wenxuan followed, curious. Was there an even more beautiful spot?

On the left side of the lake, several boulders were scattered around. One of the boulders had a groove in the middle, dark and deep.

Tian Xiaoman approached, reached down, and dug into the groove. To Li Wenxuan’s surprise, he pulled out a small pot. It was a modest pot, just large enough to cook food for two. The lid was wrapped in oil paper, and inside were some seasonings. Li Wenxuan guessed as much—seasonings to cook with!

He kept his face blank, but inwardly thought, So my husband is still my husband. No wonder he insists on coming here every time—because he can cook and eat wild food here!

These pots were special—made by his brothers. They weren’t cheap, and they made sure to hide them so the elders wouldn’t find out. Of course, the elders already knew, but they pretended not to, not wanting to ruin anyone’s fun.

In the past, when Tian Xiaoman was younger, he came here with his brothers and cousins, and they would always cook together. But as time passed and everyone grew up, no one came here to cook anymore—except for Tian Xiaoman, who still kept the tradition alive.

“Li Wenxuan, want to go pick chestnuts? We’ll cook them in this pot later. They taste better than melon seeds!” Tian Xiaoman said, eyes shining with excitement.

Li Wenxuan looked at him, smiling without hesitation. “Sure! I’ll go with you.”

Tian Xiaoman grinned, placing the pot back into the hole in the boulder. He took Li Wenxuan’s hand and began walking up the mountain.

Li Wenxuan smiled as he held onto Tian Xiaoman’s hand, enveloping it gently with his own. 

Tian Xiaoman didn’t pull away, letting him hold his hand.

The mountain was covered with fallen leaves, and each step made a soft creaking sound. Squirrels occasionally scurried between the trees, adding a sense of liveliness to the peaceful scene.

Chestnuts usually grew on sunny slopes, and after a short search, Tian Xiaoman and Li Wenxuan found a cluster of them. Little spiky balls hung from the branches, some yellow and cracked open to reveal the chestnuts inside, while others were still green but ripe enough.

In the past, Tian Xiaoman had come prepared with a backpack and scissors to cut them, but now, without either, he wasn’t sure how to proceed. Would he have to give up on the chestnuts?

Noticing his dilemma, Li Wenxuan looked at the tree, then decided to cut the entire branch from the bottom and handed it to Tian Xiaoman. “Here, this should work!”

Tian Xiaoman grinned. “Great idea!” Together, they picked a dozen branches, and once done, Li Wenxuan gathered them into his arms.

Walking back toward the boulder, Tian Xiaoman couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Li Wenxuan, carrying the branches with ease.

Back at the boulder, Li Wenxuan gathered firewood while Tian Xiaoman used stones to crack the chestnuts. 

They worked together, and soon the chestnuts were cooking in the pot. Tian Xiaoman only added a pinch of salt, and the chestnuts, once cooked, were sweet and rich in flavor, enhanced perfectly by the salt.

They sat side by side, quietly watching the fire. There was no need for words—the tranquility of the moment spoke for itself. The bubbling of the water in the pot and the beauty of the scenery only added to the peace between them. 

Sitting next to him was someone who might just be his companion for the rest of his life. Tian Xiaoman couldn’t help but feel warm and content.

As the water in the pot slowly evaporated, the aroma of the chestnuts filled the air. Tian Xiaoman opened the lid and checked the chestnuts, then stopped the heating, allowing them to cool a bit. Once the temperature was right, the two grabbed a handful each and started eating. The chestnuts were sweet, salty, and fragrant, making it hard to stop.

They ate in silence, occasionally chatting, and both felt this simple life was truly wonderful.

Before long, the chestnuts were gone, leaving only a small amount at the bottom of the pot. 

Tian Xiaoman and Li Wenxuan exchanged a glance, a bit embarrassed. Tian Xiaoman had originally planned to leave some for his parents, but looking at the bottom of the pot, he wondered aloud, “I can’t eat any more… Can you?”

Li Wenxuan smiled sheepishly. “I think we’ve eaten it all.”

Tian Xiaoman sighed, then he untied the cloth bag from his side, drained the remaining chestnuts, and put them inside. It wasn’t much, but at least his parents could have a taste.

After cleaning up the area, washing the pot, and drying it, they returned it to its hiding place and made their way down the mountain. 

By the time they arrived, it was already dinner time. Uncle Shen’s family had set up a banquet, which, while early, was timed to accommodate relatives heading home.

Instead of just noodles, Uncle Shen had prepared several banquet-style tables for the guests. The meal was a grand affair, cooked by a chef from the village known for handling weddings and funerals. It was a celebration in every sense!

Not wanting to take up much time, Tian Xiaoman and Li Wenxuan didn’t linger. They greeted Uncle Shen and prepared to leave. 

Uncle Shen, however, brought out two bamboo baskets, each containing two pounds of noodles.

Tian Amu looked at him, puzzled. “This is enough to return a gift. What are you doing, brother?”

Uncle Shen chuckled. “Xiaoman is engaged now, and he’s an adult. This is the proper thing to do.”

Tian Amu didn’t say anything further. After one last farewell, they climbed into the carriage, two baskets of noodles in hand.

Unlike on the way there, when Xiaoman had been drowsy, he was now brimming with energy. Sitting beside Li Wenxuan, he chattered endlessly about everything he saw along the road. 

Tian Amu, overhearing the chatter, couldn’t help but feel a slight headache, Fortunately, Li Wenxuan didn’t mind. If it had been anyone else, Tian Amu thought, he would have been in trouble!