0p0 Chapter 168 Springtime Feelings
Chapter 168 Springtime Feelings
It was already late, and the people from Qingshan must have finished washing up by now. Besides, it wasn't appropriate for Ye Wanning to call other men in late at night while she was inside.
Seeing Xie Bohuai try again, Ye Wanning went over and said, "Let me help you."
"Wouldn't that be too much trouble?" Xie Bohuai asked.
"It's no trouble. It's not convenient for you to do it yourself. You can ask Qingshan and the others to help you tomorrow." Ye Wanning took the medicated oil, applied it to her thumb, and then gently spread it over the bruise.
Even though it was still early spring, Xie Bohuai took off his clothes, but his body was still burning hot.
If Xie Bohuai hadn't looked perfectly normal, Ye Wanning would have thought he was sick.
Xie Bohuai had many scars, big and small, and Ye Wanning was very careful when applying the medicated oil, but she still bumped into them a few times.
The scar was slightly raised and had a different feel to it. Afraid that Xie Bohuai would be in pain, she would ask from time to time, "Does it hurt?"
“A little,” Xie Bohuai quickly added, “but I can tolerate it.”
Ye Wanning felt she was very light, but there was nothing she could do. "Did you always get injured before?"
“When you’re out in the world, fighting is inevitable. You know, there are too many people who want me dead.” Xie Bohuai could smell the faint scent of the medicinal oil, and Ye Wanning’s fingers were icy cold. Every touch felt like a pluck at his heartstrings.
"You should be more careful in the future," Ye Wanning said.
Xie Bohuai thought Ye Wanning was afraid of becoming a widow, so he nodded and said, "Don't worry, I will cherish my life from now on."
Ye Wanning hummed in agreement, and after she had almost finished applying the ointment to one side, she asked Xie Bohuai to take off the other side of her clothes.
"No need for this. It's just a minor injury. Thank you so much. Get some rest." As he spoke, Xie Bohuai put away the medicated oil and blew out a candle in front of him.
The room darkened considerably in an instant. Seeing Xie Bohuai's reaction, Ye Wanning had no choice but to give up and turn to get into bed.
Xie Bohuai lay down as well, and the two of them tacitly remained silent and went to sleep.
When Ye Wanning woke up early in the morning, Xie Bohuai was no longer in the room, but she could still smell the faint scent of medicinal oil on her pillow.
Yunzhi brought in hot water, wringing out a towel as she said, "This morning, that idiot Qingshan came over, demanding an explanation, which almost caused Chunxi to fight with him. Chunxi said she was blind to have liked Qingshan and that she would never speak to him again."
“Qingshan is indeed a bit slow, but it’s good that she can let go.” Ye Wanning wiped her face and took Yunzhi’s busy hand. “Don’t bother with your work, I also have something to tell you. Speaking of which, you’re a few years older than Chunxi, do you have someone you like?”
"How could I have such thoughts?" Yunzhi said no. "Please don't ask. I'm not getting married. I'll stay with you for the rest of my life, and you'll treat me well."
“But I can’t always warm your bed, and there are some things I can’t do. Now you’re my maid, and you’re quite pretty; many men want to marry you. Yunzhi, I’m serious. Think it over. If you wait a few more years, it won’t be so easy to find someone.” Ye Wanning was genuinely concerned for Yunzhi. “Of course, if you’ve thought it through and are ready to spend your life with me, I’m willing. I just don’t want you to regret it later. Life is long.”
She patted Yunzhi's hand, telling Yunzhi to think it over carefully.
"Oh dear, we were talking about Chunxi, how did it get to me?" Yunzhi said embarrassedly as she carried the basin out, just in time to run into Siyan who was looking for the master.
At this moment, Xie Bohuai was reading a secret letter in his study when Si Yan came to the study and said that several brothers in the town government wanted to get married after the national mourning period, and asked Xie Bohuai if he wanted to go.
"I won't go. I'll just get some silver from the storeroom. You guys go." Xie Bohuai left, and the brothers didn't enjoy their drinking to their hearts' content.
Seeing that Si Yan hadn't left yet, Xie Bohuai looked over again, his eyes asking if Si Yan had anything else to say.
Si Yan chuckled. "That's right, sir. You've finally got what you wanted, with a virtuous wife like yours. What a wonderful thing. But... we brothers are all still single."
Si Yan hadn't originally thought of this, but when he learned that even that idiot Qingshan had someone eyeing him, he was very indignant. He was clearly better than Qingshan in both appearance and ability, so why didn't anyone want him?
Xie Bohuai has several attendants around him. He himself is twenty-five years old, and Si Yan and the others are also in their mid-twenties, which is the age to get married.
Xie Bohuai had never thought about this before, but now that Si Yan brought it up, he felt he should worry about it for Si Yan and the others. "So, who have you taken a fancy to?"
"No one, you know, I'm usually very busy and rarely see any girls, so who would be interested in me? I was just thinking, could you please help me out?" Si Yan really hadn't had much contact with girls.
Xie Bohuai looked at Si Yan thoughtfully, "Now that you have an official position, do you want to marry into an official family, or...?"
“I don’t need a family of officials,” Si Yan immediately said. “My official position was arranged for me by you, sir. Others look down on me and would never agree to a marriage alliance with me. Those powerful families despise me. If we were to be married off, I would have to swallow my pride and suffer in silence. How miserable would that be?”
Si Yan understood clearly that he came from a servant background and there was no need for him to force his way into a prestigious family. He was currently a minor official, and while the aristocratic families looked down on him, ordinary people were very willing to form marriage alliances with him. Moreover, the relationships among ordinary people wouldn't be too complicated; otherwise, if anything happened in the future, he would face difficulties everywhere.
Si Yan had a clear plan for her future.
“I understand,” Xie Bohuai said. “However, I’m not good at this. I’ll talk to my wife later and ask her to make arrangements for you. When the matchmaker comes, you should all try your best. Once you get married, I will buy you a house so you’ll have a place to live.”
After reading all the letters, Xie Bohuai went to have breakfast.
When they got inside, Le Ge'er was already drooling over the fried dough, and said impatiently, "Father, hurry up, the fried dough won't taste good if it gets cold."
Breakfast consisted of fried dough sticks, porridge, pickled cabbage and shredded pork, and a plate of braised meat. Xie Bohuai was not picky about food; in the past, he would just throw something together and be done with it as long as he didn't know how.
It wasn't until Ye Wanning married into the family and brought a cook with her that the family's meals improved.
After Xie Bohuai sat down, Le Ge'er started eating. Xie Bohuai had been too busy lately to teach Le Ge'er to write, so he had hired a tutor instead.
"How is Mr. Yu?" Xie Bohuai asked.
“Mr. Yu is a bit fierce, he never smiles.” Le Ge’er finished his porridge and fried dough, feeling very satisfied. “If I make a mistake, he will slap my palm.”
“He’s shifting his hatred. I’ll go with you later,” Xie Bohuai said.
Yu Qingsheng had also passed the imperial examination, but later, due to ideological differences with his colleagues, he resigned in anger and returned home, vowing never to return to the capital. Later, while visiting his family, he encountered bandits, and Xie Bohuai saved him, thus incurring Xie Bohuai's debt of gratitude.
When Xie Bohuai was looking for a tutor for Le Ge'er, he immediately thought of Yu Qingsheng, because Yu Qingsheng did not have much reverence for imperial power, only used morality to conduct himself, did not like to flatter others, and also had considerable knowledge.
When most scholars disliked Xie Bohuai, Yu Qingsheng was a very good choice, because Yu Qingsheng would not harm Le Ge'er, and would teach diligently once he agreed.
Yu Qingsheng was unwilling to return to the capital, and was also coerced by Xie Bohuai with personal connections. He harbored resentment and became somewhat stern.
Le Ge'er said happily, "Then Father, please tell Mr. Yu not to hit my palms anymore. I can recite everything he taught me yesterday."
"Yes, I'll talk to him about it." Xie Bohuai asked Chunxi to take Le Ge'er to play in the yard for a while, as he had something to say to Ye Wanning.