Chapter 23: I’ll Tell You This Evening


    The town was bustling. Yes, the new year was nigh so there were more and more vigers here. Xue Dongting and Song Yuming walked among the crowd. They happened by a couple of frequent customers of Cloudgem Lodge and they smiled in amusement when they saw Xue Dongting returning home after marrying.


    Xue Dongting naturally turned them a blind eye. Song Yuming reached out and grasped her hand tightly as he stared ahead. “When wee back we can stroll around a bit and get some things for back home.”


    “Mm,” she said absently. Song Yuming suddenly turned and looked at her hair. “That hairpin is too in, you should get a different one.”


    “What’s the big deal, it’s just for putting my hair up. Don’t waste money on that.” She was smiling, feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.


    They crossed the main road and turned down a secludedne and stopped before a white-walledpound with green roof tiles. Xue Dongting stepped up and knocked on the wooden doors. From within came the sound of footsteps and then a creak as the doors were pushed open and a pretty little face emerged.


    The girl flinched and then called out happily, “Second Sister, you’re back!”


    Xue Dongting shook her head andughed. “Yuansheng, you still have no manners! This is your… second brother-inw.”


    Yuansheng blinked her shimmering eyes and gave a sly smile. “Of course I know it’s Second Brother-inw. Come on in. Mama Qiao knew a special guest wasing over. She’s been busy in the kitchen all morning.”


    Song Yumingughed. “You must be Third Sister. Greetings.”


    Yuansheng pursed her lips in a smile and eyed Xue Dongting. She giggled. “I’ll go tell Mama Qiao!” And she ran off.


    Xue Dongting gazed at Song Yuming andughed. “Yuansheng has always been innocent and flighty. Don’t take offense.”


    He nodded. “A girl her age naturally has no worries weighing her down. That’s good!”


    Xue Dongting nced at him sideways, then looked down with a smile. “So you’re saying I have a lot of worries and am not pure and innocent enough?”


    He couldn’t help butugh. He squeezed her hand. “Every time I say something you have to find fault with it. I never knew you had such a glib tongue.”


    She scoffed and made to pull her hand away, but he held it tight. She pouted, “Maybe so, but I’m not about to get jealous of Yuansheng. Why don’t you tell me instead what’s going on with that widow from the west end!”


    Song Yuming smiled and whispered into her ear, “The past few days I haven’t done anything since you were sick, but now I see you’re really all better. If you want to know, I’ll tell you this evening.”


    She nched, suddenly all flustered. She bit her lip and red at him. She saw Mama Qiaoing toward them though, so she re up.


    Song Yuming let go of her little hand and paid his respects to Mama Qiao. “This son-inw greets Mother-inw.”


    Xue Dongting didn’t know what to think. She didn’t get how this man could turn so serious all of a sudden after the way he had spoken to her just now!


    Mama Qiao said happily, “Hurry on inside and have some tea.”


    Song Yuming looked up and saw a mistyke and several bamboo buildings along the bank. It all looked very refined. They went with Mama Qiao into the parlor and he spoke with her at length. At noon tshe went to the kitchen to get ready to serve lunch. Xue Dongting went with her to help out, leaving Song Yuming alone sipping tea in the parlor.


    Mother and daughter in the kitchen were all alone so Mama Qiao whispered, “How does he treat you?”


    Xue Dongting was still sulking over what he had said to her earlier, so she just curled her lips and huffed, “Not well.”


    Mama Qiao saw the look on her face and didn’t believe a word of it. Sheughed. “Well even if it’s not good, you’ve married him so you’ll just have to make do.”


    Xue Dongting stamped her foot and grumped, “He hasn’t done anything yet, I can alwayse back.”


    Mama Qiao frowned. “Hasn’t done anything yet?”