The Butcher's Little Husband - Chapter 56

Back home, Tian Xiaoman found that Li Wenxuan and his father were already awake, sitting in the hall drinking the hangover soup cooked by Tian Amu.

When Li Wenxuan saw Tian Xiaoman bringing Le-ge’er back, he smiled at them, then noticed something in Le-ge’er’s pocket.

“Le-ge’er, come here. Let Uncle see what you’ve got.”

Le-ge’er walked over obediently and took out a candy, handing it to Li Wenxuan. He took it and ate it, then asked, “Are there any more? Uncle wants another.”

Le-ge’er handed over another, and then, after a pause and a slight frown, took out a third one. But when Li Wenxuan tried again, Le-ge’er quickly hid behind Tian Xiaoman with a fierce little expression and said, “Bad uncle!”

He had finally managed to pronounce it clearly—though he still couldn’t quite get the word momo right.

Tian Xiaoman burst out laughing. Seeing Li Wenxuan’s deflated look, he laughed even harder, while Li Wenxuan laughed along, not at all bothered.

Tian Xiaoman looked at Le-ge’er’s aggrieved little face and pulled him toward the kitchen. “Let’s ignore the stinky uncle. Come see what yummy food Grandmu is making!”

Le-ge’er smiled sweetly, popped a peanut candy into his mouth, and began grinding it with happy little munches.

“Amu, what are you doing?” Tian Xiaoman asked before even entering.

Tian Amu was chopping up the roast suckling pig Li Wenxuan had brought, using the big kitchen cleaver meant for bones.

“I’m dividing up the pork! I’ll send some to each of the neighbors who came for the banquet so they can share in the joy,” he explained while expertly cutting the meat.

“Oh, Amu, let me help!” Tian Xiaoman seated Le-ge’er on a small stool beside them, then walked over.

Amu had already prepared some dried lotus leaves. Seeing Tian Xiaoman insist on helping, he said, “Just pick one piece from each cut I made and wrap it up in a lotus leaf. Tie it tightly.”

Each package had eight pieces, all cut to pastry-size, with a mix from various parts of the pig so no one would feel slighted. Of course, if he did want to favor someone, he could always add an extra bowl for a close friend after the regular distribution.

Tian Xiaoman was fast at wrapping. Soon, a small pile of parcels was stacked beside him.

“You and Wenxuan will come with me later. I’ll deliver these in person and let Wenxuan meet everyone,” Amu instructed.

“Okay,” Tian Xiaoman agreed, though honestly, who in the village didn’t know Li Wenxuan already? People from Xingtian Village all bought meat from him.

“What about Le-ge’er? Everyone will be carrying baskets. We can’t just let him trail behind.”

Amu thought for a moment. “Your father’s at home. Let him watch the child for a bit. We won’t be gone long.”

“Father? Can he take care of kids?” Tian Xiaoman was skeptical. 

In all his memories, his father had never taken care of children. Then again, there weren’t many children in the house anyway.

“Don’t worry, he took care of you when you were little!” Amu said confidently.

“Alright,” Tian Xiaoman squatted down and said to Le-ge’er, who was still working on his peanut candy, “Uncle and Momo need to go out for a bit. Can you stay home with Grandpa?”

Le-ge’er thought about it, then nodded. “Okay~” He wanted to be a good boy.

“Good boy!” Tian Xiaoman praised, and Le-ge’er beamed proudly.

After they packed everything, Tian Xiaoman called for Li Wenxuan, and the three of them headed out.

Back at home, only Le-ge’er and Father Tian were left. They sat on opposite sides of the room, a clear distance between them.

After a while, Father Tian went out and returned with a handful of straw.

Le-ge’er was a little nervous when he first left, but relaxed when he came back—though he still didn’t dare approach. Grandpa looked kind of stern.

But when he saw the straw, his curiosity was piqued.

Father Tian didn’t say anything. He just sat down and started weaving the straw. His fingers moved nimbly, and soon, the shape of a grasshopper began to take form.

Le-ge’er stood up on tiptoe to get a better look, still keeping his distance. Then he dragged his little stool over, inching closer without saying a word.

Father Tian noticed but didn’t react. Instead, he shifted his body to block the view, pretending not to notice the creeping stool.

Le-ge’er pushed the stool again and acted like he hadn’t moved at all.

Father Tian smiled secretly and continued weaving. 

When the grasshopper was done, Le-ge’er was right beside him.

Without speaking, Father Tian fiddled with the grasshopper. 

Le-ge’er, now a bit bolder, tugged on his sleeve. “Grandpa~ Bug~”

Father Tian’s heart softened, but he didn’t hand it over right away.

Le-ge’er called again, even sweeter than before. Then, pulling out a peanut candy from his pocket, he offered it in exchange.

Father Tian’s weathered face broke into a wide grin. He accepted the candy and passed over the grasshopper.

Le-ge’er was thrilled. He plopped down on his stool and tried to imitate how Grandpa had played with the grasshopper.

Father Tian picked up a few more straws and made a dragonfly. Soon, Le-ge’er had a whole army of straw insects.

The old man and the child sat together in the sun-dappled courtyard, enjoying the warmth and peace of the moment.

Meanwhile, Tian Xiaoman and Li Wenxuan followed Amu around the village delivering meat. Every household received blessings. Li Wenxuan was smooth and sweet-tongued, calling everyone “uncle” and “auntie,” making it seem like Tian Xiaoman was a crooked tree growing in good soil.

They visited the whole village. 

Most families were home since they’d all been at the banquet—Zhang xiucai’s family, even Tian Xiu’er’s family.

As they passed by Scholar Zhang’s house on the way back, they heard loud crying and angry scolding from inside.

“You damned brat! I told you to wash the clothes, and you lost the mallet and the laundry! Do you think you’re some young master? Can’t do anything right! The villagers used to say you had skill, but I think you just like making my life miserable! What did I do to deserve this?! Bringing a good-for-nothing into my home!”

Tian Amu frowned and quickly ushered them away. 

Zhang Xiucai’s Amu was famous for his temper—if Xiaoman had married into that family, they would’ve been fighting every day.

When they got home, they heard laughter before they even stepped into the yard.

Inside, Le-ge’er was sitting on Father Tian’s shoulders, playing horse. He still had the grasshopper in his hand, his little face glowing with joy.

Father Tian galloped around the yard, making noises to amuse him. 

Tian Amu and Tian Xiaoman were stunned. Was this really him?

Le-ge’er spotted them and waved excitedly. “Momo, Uncle, Grandmu! Come play~”

Father Tian turned around, clearly embarrassed. He quickly lowered Le-ge’er and muttered, “I’m going to check if the fields need weeding,” before hurrying off.

Amu burst into laughter. “That old man is still pretending. He loves children! When Xiaoman was born, he looked just as silly. The older he gets, the more he acts.”

Le-ge’er ran over and pointed at the ground. “Grandpa made bugs! So many~”

Tian Xiaoman picked up the grasshopper and tugged on the straw on its head—its wings fluttered.

“Oh, this is fun. I didn’t know my father could do this!” Li Wenxuan leaned closer to look, his warm breath brushing Tian Xiaoman’s neck, making him squirm a little.

Amu didn’t notice. “Yes, when times were tough, he even wove baskets to sell at the market. One time, a young master bought all his baskets after seeing his grasshoppers.”

“Why didn’t he keep doing it?” Tian Xiaoman asked.

“That was pure luck. Usually, it didn’t sell well enough to survive. Once life got better, he stopped.”

“I see,” Tian Xiaoman nodded. He vaguely remembered playing with these as a child.

That day, Li Wenxuan and Tian Xiaoman stayed at the house. At night, all three of them slept together: Le-ge’er on the inside, Tian Xiaoman in the middle, and Li Wenxuan on the outside.

Late at night, Li Wenxuan got a little frisky and clumsily hugged Tian Xiaoman, only to get elbowed in the chest.

Tian Xiaoman twisted his ear and whispered, “Can’t you see Le-ge’er’s asleep here? Have you no shame?”

Li Wenxuan looked helplessly at Le-ge’er, then scooted closer again and muttered, “Xiaoman… let’s wait a while before we have kids, all right?…”

Little brats really were an obstacle to a couple’s life.