The Butcher's Little Husband - Chapter 8

Tian Xiaoman felt that today was particularly unlucky. He had been looking forward to playing with Yang Xiaoguo, only to find out that Yang Xiaoguo had gone with his aunt to visit his maternal relatives early in the morning. Apparently, his uncle’s wife was having another baby. This was the fourth child, and Tian Xiaoman wondered if they would continue to have children if it was still a ger.

Without Yang Xiaoguo, Tian Xiaoman wandered around the village alone. Bored, he suddenly spotted a group of gers playing shuttlecock under the big locust tree at the village entrance.

He eagerly walked over. “Add me to your game! Let me join!”

Unexpectedly, the ger leading the game, Tian Yu’er, put away his shuttlecock and ignored him. He turned to the others and said, “Let’s go. We don’t want to play here anymore.”

Tian Yu’er was from the same family as Tian Xiu’er. The last time Tian Xiu’er had fallen into the water, he happened to be in the city with his Amu. When he returned and heard about it, he was indignant and wanted to teach Tian Xiaoman a lesson. But he hadn’t expected Tian Xiaoman to stay home for over ten days, during which time he had completely forgotten about the incident.

Now, seeing Tian Xiaoman again, he remembered and deliberately isolated him, hoping to provoke him into a fight so they would appear to be in the right.

Tian Xiaoman, indeed, took the bait. He stepped forward to block them, saying, “Hey, why do you have to leave as soon as I arrive?” He hadn’t even thought about Tian Xiu’er at all, having long forgotten him.

“Hmph, this road isn’t yours! We’ll play wherever we want!” said a short, chubby boy who had never liked Tian Xiaoman. He always thought Tian Xiaoman was a show-off, flaunting his good looks while ignoring the men who tried to court him.

Realizing these gers weren’t interested in letting him join, Tian Xiaoman curled his lips in disappointment and was about to head home.

“Some people are so shameless,” the chubby boy sneered. “They pushed someone into the river, made them sick, and didn’t even apologize. And yet they still have the nerve to show their face here!”

“Yeah, I heard he even wants to marry Zhang xiucai. Why would anyone want him?” another boy added.

“Thick-skinned, still pestering him!” a third chimed in. “In my opinion, people like you should just stay at home and not embarrass your family!”

Tian Xiaoman turned around, his smile bright but his words sharp. “Who are you talking about?”

“I’ll talk to whoever answers me!” Tian Yu’er grinned, secretly pleased that Tian Xiaoman was getting angry.

He had expected Tian Xiaoman to pounce on him. This time, with more people on their side and without that fool Yang Xiaoguo, they thought Tian Xiaoman wouldn’t stand a chance.

But unexpectedly, Tian Xiaoman didn’t charge. Instead, he calmly reached into the small bag on his chest. Inside was the slingshot he had planned to use for bird hunting with Xiaoguo, along with some small clay balls he had made the day before.

Although bird hunting was no longer possible, shooting at these noisy boys seemed like a good substitute. Tian Xiaoman smiled and pointed the slingshot at the group. “Who wants to go first?”

“Tian Xiaoman, you dare?!” Tian Yu’er hadn’t expected him to be armed.

That day, Tian Yu’er was wearing new clothes that his Amu had tailored for him. He had hoped to show them off, but now they might get dirty.

“Do you think I’m afraid?” Tian Xiaoman’s voice was full of challenge. He released a clay ball from the slingshot, hitting Tian Yu’er in the calf.

“Run! Tian Xiaoman is attacking us!” The gers scattered like startled birds, stumbling in all directions as Tian Xiaoman chased after them, periodically shooting more clay balls at their backs and butts, laughing the entire time.

After sending the group running out of sight, Tian Xiaoman put away his slingshot and turned to head home for dinner. But just as he was about to leave, he felt a strong gaze on him from behind. Curiously, he turned around.

A man was riding a tall horse. He was broad-shouldered, tall, and well-built, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit with a charming smile on his face. In one hand, he held the reins; in the other, a basket.

Tian Xiaoman was disappointed—he had thought he might be encountering a legendary hero, but the man was carrying a basket! Why not a sword?

Quickly turning away, he began walking home. Though intrigued by the horse, he didn’t recognize the man. Since he was already betrothed, with a husband’s family waiting, Tian Xiaoman figured there was no point in paying him any attention.

In truth, Tian Xiaoman wasn’t thrilled about the marriage that had been arranged for him. He had hoped to marry a scholar who could pass the imperial examination and become an official’s spouse. But when he overheard the name of his future husband—Li Wenxuan—a glimmer of hope sparked in his heart.

Li Wenxuan! The name sounded scholarly, far more refined than Zhang Bin’s. He must be a genius.

With that hope, he stopped objecting to the marriage and accepted it happily.

But as he walked forward, he suddenly heard the sound of hooves behind him. Looking back warily, he saw the man still smiling and following him. The horse was moving at a leisurely pace, not in a hurry.

Tian Xiaoman’s heart began to race. Was he a bandit? According to the stories, mountain bandits often came down to abduct young gers from good families and force them to marry into their strongholds! What should he do? He was so good-looking; surely this man had set his sights on him!

The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became. He couldn’t help but think the man looked exactly like a bandit.

Could he make it home safely? What if this man harmed his family?

…

Li Wenxuan looked curiously at the slender young man ahead, noticing that he was walking slower and even shaking. He wondered what was wrong.

After Tian Xiaoman had chased the others away, he had glanced at him before quickly looking away. Li Wenxuan thought perhaps he recognized him and was just shy, so he followed quietly.

When the boy changed paths and peeked back to see if he was still there, it only confirmed his assumption—that the boy was leading him home.

Suddenly, Tian Xiaoman turned around, pulled out his slingshot, and aimed it at Li Wenxuan, saying fiercely, “Don’t follow me anymore. I know who you are! I’m not afraid of you! If I shout, the whole village will hear, and they’ll report you to the authorities! And—and I have a weapon, so watch out!”

If it weren’t for the tears barely hidden in his eyes and his trembling hands gripping the slingshot, Li Wenxuan might have believed him.

So he had mistaken him for a bandit! No wonder. Since Tian Xiaoman had never seen him before, how could he know that he was his fiancé?

Li Wenxuan didn’t explain. Instead, he simply turned his horse and took another road. He thought it would be more interesting to see Tian Xiaoman’s reaction once he got home.

…

Tian Xiaoman let out a sigh of relief. Luckily, he had been smart enough to scare the bandit off.

These days, bandits were getting weaker—he, a little ger, could even scare them away! Conveniently, he forgot how terrified he had been in that moment.

He hurried back home, ready to tell his father to warn the village chief, when he suddenly saw a large horse tied up in their yard!

Wasn’t that the bandit’s horse?! He had come to their house!!

Tian Xiaoman rushed inside, wanting to check if his parents were safe, but he was stunned to see the “strong man” sitting in his usual seat, holding his bowl and eating the food his Amu had made! What was going on?

“Xiaoman? Where have you been? Come and meet your future husband, Li Wenxuan!” His Amu scolded with a half-smile, pulling him toward Li Wenxuan. “Wenxuan, you haven’t met Xiaoman yet, have you? This is my little ger.”

Li? Wenxuan? Li Wenxuan?! His fiancé! Wasn’t he supposed to be a scholar? How did he turn into a strongman? Tian Xiaoman’s mind spun like a lantern reel, forgetting that it had all been just his own fantasy.

Looking at Tian Xiaoman’s changing expressions, his parents exchanged a glance. They helplessly thought, What is this child up to now?

They could only give Li Wenxuan an apologetic smile, and Li Wenxuan smiled slightly in return, showing he didn’t mind.

By the time Tian Xiaoman came back to his senses, he was already sitting on a stool, holding a bowl, mechanically shoveling rice into his mouth. Listening to his father and Li Wenxuan chatting nonstop, he ate with growing resentment, his bites larger and larger, filled with frustration.

The whole world suddenly felt absurd. The “scholar” he had dreamed of was no scholar at all!

But how could someone named Li Wenxuan not be a scholar?! Instead, he was a butcher—a pig killer! From now on, others would call him the Butcher’s Boy. Wuwuwu~ But if he was a pig killer, why wasn’t he called Li Ahu (Tiger Li), Li Aniu (Ox Li), or Li Datou (Big Head Li)? Those names fit better! 

To be called Li Wenxuan—it was trickery, cheating his feelings!

As he sulked and ate, he unknowingly finished an extra bowl compared to usual.

His Amu gave an awkward laugh. “This child must be extra hungry today. Normally he doesn’t eat this much.”

Li Wenxuan watched with interest, his face full of satisfaction as he observed Tian Xiaoman’s cheeks puffing out, his almond-shaped eyes glaring at him.

The more he looked, the more satisfied he felt. He hadn’t expected his tastes to be so peculiar.