The Butcher's Little Husband - Chapter 9

“Wenxuan, your father and Amu are so thoughtful. They even sent us both rabbits.” Tian Amu felt a little embarrassed, knowing they were future in-laws.

“It’s nothing. My father hunts in the mountains all year round. Missing a meal here and there won’t matter.” Li Wenxuan smiled generously.

Li Wenxuan was very satisfied with this little husband-to-be. These were surely his future in-laws—of course he had to win favor. He actually wanted to stay longer to get to know his little husband better, but he had no excuse…

“Uncles, it’s getting late, and my home is far. I should say goodbye.” Li Wenxuan stood up and began to leave. “Ah…”

He took a few steps but suddenly stopped. His tall body swayed, and though he quickly straightened up, the stiffness in his posture made it clear he seemed to be in pain.

“Hey, Wenxuan, what’s wrong with you?” Tian Amu asked, concerned.

Li Wenxuan turned around, clearly trying to hold back the pain.

“It’s nothing, Uncle. A few days ago, I was hit by a wild boar while going up the mountain with my father. I think riding the horse today triggered the injury. I’ll be fine. I can endure it!” Li Wenxuan forced a smile.

Tian Amu immediately felt distressed. This was his future son-in-law, and he had hurt himself just to deliver two rabbits. How hard that must have been!

But Tian Xiaoman stared at Li Wenxuan with a cold gaze. He had been fine just moments ago—why suddenly act like he couldn’t bear the pain? Tian Xiaoman rolled his eyes. No one would believe that!

It was unclear whether the ghost believed him or not, but his Amu did, and that was enough.

“Wenxuan, don’t leave today. Stay and rest here. I’ll ask Xiaoman to stew a rabbit for you this evening. His cooking skills are excellent!”

Li Wenxuan pretended to hesitate. “This…”

“Don’t bother with formalities. You’ve already exchanged betrothal gifts; you’re part of the family. It’s no big deal for you to stay the night. Xiaoman, go clean up the room for Wenxuan.” Father Tian made the decision firmly.

“Then I’ll accept your kindness.” Li Wenxuan agreed.

Seeing the sly smile on Li Wenxuan’s face from getting what he wanted, Tian Xiaoman secretly cursed. Acting all refined—has he even looked at himself? Just a big brute!

“Amu, I’m tired. I’m going back to my room to sleep,” Tian Xiaoman decided, retreating to avoid the uncomfortable situation.

“Go ahead. You must be sleepy after eating so much,” Tian Amu waved him off without looking up, continuing to entertain Li Wenxuan.

Tian Xiaoman, alone in his room, fumed and eventually fell asleep.

When he woke up, he realized it was nearly three in the afternoon. He headed toward the kitchen for something to eat but was distracted by the sound of wood being chopped in the backyard.

Curious, he went outside and saw Li Wenxuan chopping firewood for the family. His movements were smooth and efficient. He grabbed a tree trunk with his left hand, set it on a wooden block, then raised his right hand high and brought the axe down with precision. The trunk split with a sharp snap. He repeated the process, quickly turning the wood into manageable pieces.

As Li Wenxuan worked, his sleeves rolled up to reveal muscular arms. Each chop tightened his entire upper body, exuding a kind of masculinity no weak scholar could possess.

Without realizing it, Tian Xiaoman found himself staring.

Another snap broke his train of thought.

What was I thinking just now? Tian Xiaoman shook his head, trying to clear his mind.

Not seeing his parents around, he strolled over to Li Wenxuan.

“Hey, weren’t you saying you couldn’t walk earlier? How come you’re chopping wood so well now?” Tian Xiaoman squatted in front of him, his eyes skeptical.

“I’m just chopping some firewood for my future in-laws,” Li Wenxuan replied with a smile. “Does it matter if I feel uncomfortable? Are you worried about me?”

“Shameless!” Tian Xiaoman’s opinion of him dropped further. Was he really going to start flirting already? He must have done this with plenty of other gers before. Ignoring his discomfort, he snapped, “Who cares about you? I meant, if you can chop wood, why don’t you go back? What are you even doing here?”

Li Wenxuan was about to tease him further when he spotted Tian Amu from the corner of his eye. He quickly grew serious. “Xiaoman, let me finish chopping this pile of wood for your family, then I’ll leave. Don’t worry—the rabbit is yours alone to eat.”

“Now you know your place. You—ow, ow, ow!” Tian Xiaoman was gloating when his Amu suddenly yanked his ear. He quickly begged for mercy.

“You little rascal! How can you try to chase Wenxuan away? You even made him chop all the firewood before leaving! Don’t you know he’s not feeling well?” Tian Amu scolded him, tugging harder at his ear. “You’re being selfish—he brought the rabbit for you, and now you want him to leave empty-handed?”

“…”

Tian Xiaoman had no words. There were so many holes in his Amu’s words, he didn’t know where to start. Sure, he did want Li Wenxuan to leave, but he hadn’t told him to chop all the firewood first. That was clearly Li Wenxuan’s own idea! And as for the rabbit…

He shot Li Wenxuan a hateful glare before bolting to the front yard.

Still upset, Tian Amu watched his son’s retreating back, puzzled as to why he was suddenly being so hard on Li Wenxuan. Such a good young man!

He turned to Li Wenxuan with a warm smile. “Wenxuan, stop chopping for now. I made some sour plum soup. Come, have a bowl.” After a moment, he added, “Don’t mind Xiaoman. He’s just a kid. He doesn’t mean anything by it.”

“I know, Uncle. I like his personality. I won’t get angry. Everything I’ve done has been voluntary,” Li Wenxuan replied, understanding and patient, even dropping his surname to build closeness with his future Amu-in-law.

After washing his hands in the backyard, Li Wenxuan followed Tian Amu to the dining room, where Tian Xiaoman sulked at the table.

As soon as he saw them approach, Tian Xiaoman snorted loudly in disdain.

Tian Amu ignored him and quickly served two bowls of sour plum soup, along with the glutinous rice balls he had made. Not wanting Li Wenxuan to feel awkward, he divided them unevenly—three glutinous rice balls for Li Wenxuan and only two for Tian Xiaoman.

Tian Xiaoman’s heart sank. Doesn’t he love me anymore?

He looked at his Amu with wide, pleading eyes, hoping for some sympathy. But Tian Amu cruelly refused, carrying the last bowl of sour plum soup out to Father Tian, who was busy working in the fields.

As soon as Tian Amu left, Tian Xiaoman glared at Li Wenxuan. The glutinous rice balls on his plate felt like a waste. His Amu hardly ever made them, and now he had made them just to give them away. How could he only get two? This felt like a sign that his place in the family was shifting—and it was all this man’s fault!

But when he looked again, he saw only one glutinous rice ball left on Li Wenxuan’s plate.

Is he a pig? He ate so fast! Tian Xiaoman grew even more frustrated, until he noticed something strange—now there were four plump, cute glutinous rice balls on his plate.

He looked up at Li Wenxuan, only to find him smiling at him with warmth in his eyes.

For some reason, Tian Xiaoman found him more likeable in that moment.

A little embarrassed by the prolonged gaze, he quickly lowered his head, deciding to eat the glutinous rice balls to calm himself.

Outside the door, Tian Amu smiled smugly as he watched the scene unfold. He had intentionally split the food that way, hoping to see if Li Wenxuan would care enough to give some to his son.

It was a small thing, but it meant a lot. If a man couldn’t share something as small as this, how could he be expected to compromise in bigger matters?

Old ginger really is still spicy. But this little test reflected his deep love for his son. If he weren’t his own child, who would go to such lengths to find the right solution?