The Butcher's Little Husband - Chapter 89

Li Wenxuan took the opportunity to deliver presents to the families he was familiar with in the county. After all, it was still considered the New Year before the fifteenth. 

Since they knew a little about his family situation, no one blamed him—instead, they insisted on dragging him in for a drink.

Li Wenxuan couldn’t refuse. He had a little at each house, which added up to quite a bit. You could smell the alcohol from far away. Fortunately, his alcohol tolerance was good—otherwise, he’d be drunk by now.

After finishing his shopping, he drove the cart back. 

Not far from the village entrance, he heard someone mention that Tian Xiaoman was grinding glutinous rice nearby, so he headed over.

When he arrived, someone else was already grinding rice. There was a big basin on the ground filled with soaked glutinous rice. Judging by the sack, it should be their family’s.

He looked around but couldn’t find Tian Xiaoman. 

Fu Yun’s husband noticed he seemed to be looking for someone and said, “Looking for your Xiaoman? He’s in my yard.” As he spoke, he pointed the way.

“Thanks,” Li Wenxuan smiled and thanked him, then walked over to the gate and called out, “Xiaoman, I’m back.”

Le-ge’er heard his uncle’s voice, stopped playing shuttlecock, ran over, and hugged Li Wenxuan’s leg, calling out sweetly, “Uncle~”

Of course, Li Wenxuan knew what he was after. He quickly pulled out a bag of sugar-roasted chestnuts from his coat and handed it to Le-ge’er. 

Le-ge’er happily took it and ran to Tian Xiaoman, opened the bag, and grabbed a handful to share with Tian Xiaoman and Fu Yun. But his hands were too small—he could only manage two at most.

He frowned and grabbed several more times until Fu Yun finally stopped him. Then he took the rest to share with Liu Xilin.

Fu Yun saw Li Wenxuan still standing at the door and waved him in. “Brother Li, come in. It’s fine.”

Only then did Li Wenxuan step inside.

Tian Xiaoman hadn’t said a word since he arrived. His nose was sensitive, and he immediately picked up on the strong scent of alcohol on Li Wenxuan.

Li Wenxuan sat next to him, peeled a chestnut, and brought it to Tian Xiaoman’s mouth. 

Tian Xiaoman bit into it with a scowl and chewed with exaggerated intensity.

Li Wenxuan shivered at his expression. He was certain now—he must have done something to upset Xiaoman!

Tian Xiaoman was sensible enough to follow the rule of “teach children in public, scold a husband in private,” so he didn’t start anything right there. He’d save it for later— Heh..

They chatted for a while until Fu Yun’s husband called from outside, saying Xiaoman’s glutinous rice flour was done grinding.

The water freshly ground out was white like milk. Once poured into a barrel and left to settle, the powder would sink to the bottom. After a while, you just pour out the water and retrieve the glutinous rice flour that had condensed below.

Spread the flour on a white cloth and leave it to dry outside, then store it—it keeps for a long time. 

But this time they were in a hurry, so there was no time for drying.

Tian Xiaoman asked Li Wenxuan to carry the barrel of flour back home. They’d return the container later. 

The two of them took Le-ge’er and Liu Xilin and headed back.

“Xiao Lin, come over to our place later. Your master bought the materials for making lanterns. Let’s do it together!”

Liu Xilin was thrilled. He had never been to the county town for the Lantern Festival, let alone seen the lanterns up close. And now he’d get to make them himself—he couldn’t be happier!

Tian Xiaoman smiled when he saw how happy he was. Le-ge’er was also grinning the whole time.

Li Wenxuan was driving the carriage. Hearing the laughter coming from inside made him itch to join in.

When they arrived home, Li Wenxuan helped Le-ge’er and Liu Xilin down first. He reached out to help Tian Xiaoman too—but got his hand slapped away. 

Tian Xiaoman snorted coldly and climbed down on his own, gripping the carriage frame for support.

Okay, Li Wenxuan was sure now: he had definitely made Xiaoman mad.

As Tian Xiaoman walked into the house, Li Wenxuan told the kids to play outside for a bit, then followed him in.

Tian Xiaoman sat on the bed. When he saw Li Wenxuan enter, he snorted again, turned his back, and ignored him.

Li Wenxuan quickly sat next to him, studied his expression, and asked gently, “Xiaoman, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Leave me alone!” Tian Xiaoman said stubbornly, shifting his butt further away, turning his head, though he kept sneaking glances at Li Wenxuan from the corner of his eye.

Li Wenxuan could tell he was angry. If he left him alone now, it’d really be over. So, he scooted closer and said with a coaxing tone, “What’s wrong, Xiaoman, tell me~” He deliberately put on a childish voice. 

Tian Xiaoman was disgusted and wanted to punch him. A tall, burly man talking like a spoiled brat—disgraceful! But he held back and kept ignoring him.

Sensing a crack in the armor, Li Wenxuan went all in with an even stickier tone, “Xiaoman, if you keep ignoring me, my heart hurts~” He even covered his chest and frowned in pretend pain.

He knew how lame he looked, but it didn’t matter—as long as he got Xiaoman’s attention.

Tian Xiaoman finally couldn’t stand it anymore. He gagged dramatically, then spun around and grabbed Li Wenxuan’s ear. “You’re disgusting! Who told you to talk like that!”

Li Wenxuan didn’t resist. Xiaoman’s grip was gentle anyway. “Well, who told you to ignore me?”

“Oh? So it’s my fault now?” Tian Xiaoman raised his voice. “What did you even do today!”

“Didn’t you ask me to go shopping? I bought everything.” Li Wenxuan looked aggrieved. 

In the morning, Xiaoman had called him “husband” while asking him to buy stuff, and now he was getting his ear yanked!

“You’re still lying to me!” Tian Xiaoman tugged harder. “You reek of alcohol! Where’d you even find wine while shopping? Tell me—did you go to the red-light district?!”

Li Wenxuan howled dramatically and asked, “Wait—you know about the red-light district?”

“How could I not know? I… Hey, don’t try to change the subject! I’m asking why you were drinking! Who were you with? A man or a ger?!”

“Hm…” Li Wenxuan paused to think. Seeing Xiaoman’s expression darken, he hurriedly replied, “Maybe five or six men… and seven or eight gers?” He said it uncertainly.

“What?!” Tian Xiaoman’s eyes widened in disbelief. So it was true what they said—husbands fool around once their partner’s pregnant! “Where’d you get the money?!” 

He suddenly remembered only giving him a few taels of silver. Could it be Li Wenxuan had a stash of secret savings? Another crime added!

Seeing Xiaoman really angry now, Li Wenxuan quickly explained, “I didn’t go to the flower street! While I was out shopping, I dropped off some New Year presents from Brother Zhou and the others. They insisted I stay for a few drinks—I couldn’t say no. I only had a little!”

“What about the seven or eight gers?!” Xiaoman still looked furious.

“Pfft—” Li Wenxuan burst out laughing. Seeing Xiaoman about to strike again, he quickly grabbed his hand and held it in his arms to warm it up. “Xiaoman, that was Grandmu Zhou, Brother Li, and Zhang Xiao’er’s little ger—he’s only three!”

Tian Xiaoman felt so embarrassed for overreacting. “You tricked me!” He turned his back on Li Wenxuan again.

Li Wenxuan hugged him from behind, pressing Xiaoman’s hand to his stomach. “Xiaoman, have some faith in me. Even if you’re pregnant, I wouldn’t go looking for someone else. No matter how good anyone else is, they’re not you. I only want you.”

Tian Xiaoman could feel his warm breath in his ear and his low voice filled with sincerity—it made him happy.

“I just overthink sometimes. I’m sorry. I won’t doubt you again. Oh—did I hurt your ear just now?” He turned in his arms and touched his ear gently.

Li Wenxuan was ticklish from the touch. He kissed Tian Xiaoman’s hand several times, then turned his head to kiss his lips.

The kiss quickly turned heated. Desire stirred in both of them, and their hands began to wander.

Bang bang bang! A loud knock interrupted them, followed by Le-ge’er’s childish voice, “Uncle! Momo! Come out! Make a lamp~”

He and Liu Xilin had been messing with the materials outside for a while but couldn’t figure them out. In the end, they had no choice but to come ask the two unreliable adults for help.

Tian Xiaoman pushed Li Wenxuan away and laughed out loud. “Haha! Go, go—Le-ge’er’s calling!”

Li Wenxuan flopped back on the bed in defeat. He stressed again—he didn’t like kids! Never!

Before going out, he pulled Tian Xiaoman in for one more kiss. “I’ll deal with you tonight!”

Tian Xiaoman smiled provocatively. When the time came, he’d show off his belly and see if Li Wenxuan dared to make a move!

“Le-ge’er, what is it?” Li Wenxuan opened the door, crouched down, and asked gently.

“Uncle, we want to make lanterns. But Brother Lin and I don’t know how~” Le-ge’er’s big round eyes were full of grievance, making Li Wenxuan’s heart melt.

“Aww, the naughty lantern. Don’t worry—Uncle will teach you!” He picked Le-ge’er up and walked out.

Tian Xiaoman leaned against the quilt, watching them interact. 

Li Wenxuan really did seem to like Le-ge’er. What if their child turned out to be a boy?

Li Wenxuan patiently taught them how to make lanterns—he was learning as he went, too. 

His first lantern came out terribly. Le-ge’er and Liu Xilin stared at it, wide-eyed, as if asking, Is this the pretty lantern Momo talked about?

Li Wenxuan felt guilty. This kind of thing wasn’t meant for a rough man like him! 

But then—he was slapped in the face.

Father Li returned home.

Every year, his rest days were shorter than everyone else’s. Especially since there was no snow this year, he had more to take care of on the mountain.

Though he was a butcher, his hands were skilled. Just look at the window decorations inside and outside the house. Coincidentally, he could also make lanterns.

Li Wenxuan watched as the two kids who had just been crowding around him ran to Father Li instead, calling “Grandpa” again and again. 

He pouted—Hmph, if I really wanted to do it, I’d do it better than anyone!

Then he headed to the kitchen, ready to help Tian Xiaoman prepare Yuanxiao. 

After using all his strength to stir the filling, he was—as expected—kicked out again…