The General Under the Skirt - Chapter 22.2

Chapter 22.2

Her injury was superficial, so it healed quickly, especially with Huo Zhao’s attentive care.

The bandages had been removed. She looked at her ankle, a hint of worry in her eyes, and said, “I wonder if it will scar.”

Huo Zhao didn’t understand her concern. He replied, “It’s on your foot. No one will see it. It’s not like it’s on your face.”

He had numerous scars himself and didn’t think much of them.

Shen Roujia mumbled, “Someone will see it.”

Huo Zhao asked, “Who would be so vulgar as to stare at your feet?”

Shen Roujia blushed slightly.

“My future husband will see them.”

Before Huo Zhao could respond to her increasingly bold words, she softly added, “Besides, you’ve seen them.”

Touché.

Honestly, he hadn’t been staring at her feet. Although they were quite pretty, her ankles were slender and delicate.

“I only saw it because…”

Shen Roujia placed her foot next to his, unfazed. “That’s not true; you even touched it.”

She had grown more at ease in his presence, not because her sentiments had shifted, but because he had been so considerate and supportive over the past two weeks. She had become a little spoiled.

Anyone who was pampered like this would become bolder.

Her dependence on him became more apparent.

Huo Zhao wanted to argue, but he couldn’t. He had touched her feet from every angle, but saying it out loud made it sound indecent.

“Why aren’t you wearing socks?”

Shen Roujia said, “I’m used to not wearing socks, and besides…”

She glanced at him and picked up another piece of cucumber. “I don’t have any socks.”

Huo Zhao finally acknowledged the issue.

Men and women were different.

He had initially thought she could use his things, but he had been naive. A young lady had different needs.

Like the menstrual belt he had made for her and the shoes he had sewn.

“I’ll take you to the market tomorrow,” he said.

Shen Roujia paused, her chopsticks hovering over her bowl. “Huh?”

He repeated, “I’ll take you to the market tomorrow.”

Shen Roujia had almost forgotten what a market or a bustling street looked like. It had been over six months since she last ventured outside. She had been confined to the ship first and then to Brother Yu’s small courtyard. She had had little contact with the outside world, so his sudden offer surprised her.

Huo Zhao raised an eyebrow and asked, “Don’t you want to go?”

Shen Roujia quickly shook her head and said, “I want to go!”

Then she hurriedly asked, “Brother Yu, are you going?”

Huo Zhao couldn’t help but flicked her little head and said, “I said I’ll take you there.”

***

The next morning, Shen Roujia woke up before sunrise. The air was cool and damp, and birds were chirping in the trees.

She got dressed and went outside, where she found Brother Yu repairing the courtyard gate.

“You’re up early,” he said.

Shen Roujia stretched. “Good morning, Brother Yu.”

After finishing the repairs, Huo Zhao dusted off his hands and said, “All right, let’s leave after breakfast.”

Shen Roujia felt excited and apprehensive about going outside. She hadn’t left the courtyard since she arrived.

“Brother Yu, why are we going to the market?” she asked.

“Just to look around,” Huo Zhao replied.

Shen Roujia blinked. “…Oh.”

***

Wearing the shoes, red dress, and ribbon he had bought and found for her, respectively, she left the house with him.

Once outside, she realized how remote his house truly was. There were barely any other houses nearby; even the neighbors who had brought the sausages had just moved in.

The further east they went, though, the more houses there were. Most of the houses had their own crops, and almost every household had a small enclosure for raising chickens and ducks.  This life wasn’t so bad. They grew most of what they needed and could barter with their neighbors for anything else.

Walking beside Huo Zhao, Shen Roujia observed the countryside with fascination. After passing several fields, she finally asked, “Brother Yu, why don’t you farm?”

Why didn’t he farm? Because he didn’t know how.

Besides, he didn’t need to. He wasn’t planning to stay there permanently, and he had plenty of money.

“No need,” he replied.

“Why not?”

Huo Zhao said casually. “I can buy whatever I need.”

Shen Roujia didn’t say anything, but she was worried about him. Even if he had money, it would eventually run out, especially now that he had to provide for her as well.

She had a healthy appetite.

She was grateful that he didn’t mind her freeloading and being constantly cared for.

She felt a pang of guilt and decided she would eat less from now on.

Huo Zhao was oblivious to her thoughts. He had long legs and walked quickly. Even when he tried to slow down for her, she still lagged behind.

It was a beautiful day. They walked side by side along the country path. His dark clothes contrasted with her red dress, and their figures were strangely harmonious.

As they walked, Shen Roujia noticed a lone white goose in a grassy marsh on the side of the road. Having never seen a goose before, she thought it was an exceptionally white duck.

She slowed down, her gaze fixed on the bird.

…Wow!

Such a white duck!

She had never seen a duck like it before.

Perhaps separated from its flock, the large duck stood in the shallow water, its orange beak and long, white neck held high. It looked at her with disdain.

Shen Roujia looked around but didn’t see any other ducks. Maybe it was lost.

…Maybe she should steal it. She could buy it a mate at the market, and they could have ducklings. Then Brother Yu would have ducks, too.

She moved closer to the duck, wanting to observe it carefully and find a good angle to catch it. She didn’t even have time to scold herself for such a shameful and despicable thought before she did it.

The duck seemed startled by her approach.

Though duck eyes were small, she could have sworn she saw a fierce gleam flash in its eyes.

“Honk! Honk!”

The large ‘duck’ flapped its wings, and its demeanor shifted suddenly from aloof to menacing.

“Honk!“

It lunged at her, its wings beating the air and splashing water on her face. Startled by the sudden attack, she ran toward Huo Zhao, who had turned around at the commotion.

“Ah! Brother Yu!”

“This duck is trying to bite me!”

Shen Roujia ran quickly, and the goose chased her quickly. When she turned around, she saw that it was almost catching up to her and stretching its neck to peck at her legs.

In a panic, she seemed to see a row of small, sharp teeth in its open mouth.

Ah! Why do ducks have teeth!

Terrified, Shen Roujia’s legs almost gave way, but thankfully, Brother Yu wasn’t far.

Huo Zhao scared the goose away in a few steps. Shen Roujia hid behind him and didn’t dare come out.

He sighed. “Why did you provoke it?”

Geese can be quite aggressive.

He had been attacked by a goose as a child. They ate that goose for two days afterward. Still shaken, Shen Roujia said, “I saw it alone. I thought it was lost…”

Huo Zhao asked, “Did you want to return it to its flock?”

Shen Roujia shook her head. “I wanted to take it home and raise ducklings.”

Huo Zhao: “… “

“First of all, you were trying to catch it. Of course it would chase you.”

“Secondly, it can’t lay ducklings; it’s a goose.”

Shen Roujia’s eyes widened in surprise. Then, realization dawned on her.

“Oh! That’s why it was so white and had teeth. I was so scared!”

Huo Zhao said, “Next time you see a goose, stay away from it, understand?”

He decided to tease her. “If it bites you, you’ll be bedridden for weeks.”

Shen Roujia’s eyes widened in alarm. “Is it really that scary? Then I’ll never go near one again!”

Huo Zhao nodded and added, “I take my eyes off you for a second, and you’re already trying to catch geese.”

Standing beside him, Shen Roujia obediently apologized. “I’m sorry.”

“Alright, we’re almost there,” said Huo Zhao.

They had been walking for almost an hour, but Shen Roujia hadn’t gotten tired because she had been chatting with Brother Yu along the way.

This market was different from the ones in the capital.

In the capital, the streets were filled with luxurious carriages. Even ordinary merchants wore fine cotton clothes. There were numerous taverns and brothels, each more opulent than the last. Every well-dressed person on the street could have been a nobleman.

This market was more… down-to-earth. Sounds of haggling filled the air. Most of the stalls sold food, and there were few entertainment establishments.

Huo Zhao bought Shen Roujia several items: two outfits, two pairs of shoes, several pairs of socks, three or four hair ribbons, and an ostentatious peony hairpin.

The rose-pink hairpin had a rather crude-looking carved flower, but it was large and eye-catching.

Huo Zhao thought it was beautiful.

Shen Roujia, accustomed to more refined jewelry, thought it was ugly. The vendor wanted one hundred copper coins for it.

However, Huo Zhao insisted on buying it for her and made her wear it.

Shen Roujia followed him closely, afraid of getting lost. Exasperated, Huo Zhao grabbed her wrist.

Her ears turned pink, the color spreading to her cheeks.

Noticing her blush, Huo Zhao whispered, “Don’t be shy; no one will misunderstand.”

Shen Roujia looked up at him, confused. “Why not?”

“They’ll just think I’m your father,” Huo Zhao said matter-of-factly.

“… “

She was sixteen and he was twenty-three; there was an age gap, but not that big of one.

Huo Zhao seemed to have some misconceptions about himself. He playfully patted her head and said, “It’s normal for a father to buy things for his daughter, isn’t it, my dear daughter?”