The Butcher's Little Husband - Chapter 94

Tian Xiaoman walked down the road in a daze. 

So that’s why Li Wenxuan hadn’t come to comfort him last night—he had stayed up all night helping him sew the soles…

And yet, he still blamed him, still wanted to run back to his Amu’s house. He really wasn’t human. 

Tears streamed down Tian Xiaoman’s face like beads on a broken string. It had been so hard for him to do just one pair—how could a grown man like Wenxuan manage it all in a single night?

The fifteen coins in his hand suddenly felt scorching hot, burning his palm. He stared at them, then suddenly threw the money onto the ground and squatted on the roadside, crying his heart out.

Once the tears dried up, regret hit him like a wave. Wenxuan had worked so hard all night, and he just threw away the money? How could he do that to him?

Panicked, Tian Xiaoman looked around. Luckily the road was empty, or he’d be too embarrassed to face anyone. He bent over, butt in the air, searching frantically. In the end, he only found thirteen coins—the last two were nowhere to be seen.

Just then, Li Wenxuan returned from the county. From a distance, he spotted his young husband bent over on the roadside in a strange posture. 

He dismounted quickly and called out, “Xiaoman? What are you looking for?”

Tian Xiaoman froze. Tears welled up again as he looked at Wenxuan’s familiar, tired face. The exhaustion was written all over him, but he still smiled gently.

 Without thinking, Tian Xiaoman threw himself into Wenxuan’s arms, and Wenxuan hurried to catch him.

“Husband… wuwuwu…”

“What is it? What’s wrong? Xiaoman, who bullied you?” Li Wenxuan was flustered. Xiaoman was usually strong—if he was crying like this, he must’ve been really hurt.

“You bullied me…”

“Xiaoman, I was wrong yesterday. I’m sorry, okay? Don’t cry.” Li Wenxuan coaxed him softly.

“It’s not your fault. It’s mine. I should be the one apologizing. It’s because you’re so good to me that I’ve turned out so bad!” Tian Xiaoman sobbed into his chest, sniffling through tears and snot.

Li Wenxuan chuckled, “It’s alright, Xiaoman. I’d rather you be bad like this!” 

If Xiaoman hadn’t cared about the household, why would he have taken the sewing job? His tone was too harsh yesterday… he’d thought Xiaoman would stay angry for a long time.

“Oh right, Xiaoman—what were you looking for just now?” Wenxuan remembered the scene from earlier.

“Oh… I lost two coins,” Tian Xiaoman snapped back to the present and quickly bent down to keep searching.

“Forget it, it’s just two cents. Let’s go home, I bought you something tasty.”

“No! I have to find them!” Tian Xiaoman insisted, and Wenxuan had no choice but to help him look.

Soon enough, he spotted the missing coins under a crack in a stone.

Tian Xiaoman quickly took them, then carefully put all fifteen cents into his purse like treasure.

Seeing how happy he looked, Wenxuan took his hand, and the two of them slowly walked home together.

Hero was deeply aggrieved. Master, I’m still behind you.

…

Le Ge’er and Liu Xilin were overjoyed to see the candied haws. Le Ge’er started munching his right away, cheeks bulging like a hamster. But Liu Xilin’s wasn’t so easily earned—Li Wenxuan stuck it on a tree branch and told him he had to demonstrate everything he’d learned so far. Only if he did it perfectly would he be allowed to eat.

Liu Xilin didn’t whine or complain. His little face was serious as he began practicing kung fu. Watching his tiny arms and legs move with such focus was oddly impressive.

Li Wenxuan sat beside Tian Xiaoman, gently rubbing his sore arms. From time to time, he opened his mouth to take a bite of the white sugar cake Xiaoman fed him.

Le Ge’er held the big candied haws in his mouth, cheeks stuffed full. He really wanted to praise Brother Lin, but was afraid the candy would fall out if he spoke, so he sat there looking conflicted.

When Liu Xilin finished his performance, Li Wenxuan got up, grabbed the candied haws from the tree, and tossed it to him. “If you can’t catch it, you don’t get to eat it!”

But of course Liu Xilin didn’t miss. He leapt up and caught the stick precisely, then went to sit beside Le Ge’er, eating with great satisfaction.

Tian Xiaoman pulled Li Wenxuan back to their room and pushed him onto the bed, making Wenxuan’s heart stir. But before he could react, Xiaoman covered him with the quilt—directly over his slightly excited lower half.

“Husband, take a nap!”

Tian Xiaoman gently patted Li Wenxuan’s chest like he was coaxing a baby. 

Li Wenxuan really did fall asleep under his touch. Before drifting off, Li Wenxuan thought that his Xiaoman truly had the air of a virtuous husband and good father.