Chapter 53: Following Her up The Mountain

Ye Xiaoxian was stilling taking care of the fire in the kitchen so she wore her hair down to dry it off.

It was not long before Xiao Baoshan came in as well.

Ye Xiaoxian felt upset just from seeing him, so she turned around and ignored him.

Xiao Baoshan then found the brown sugar by himself. He cut some ginger into it and poured hot boiled water and a bowl of brown sugar tea was done.

He sat the brown sugar tea on the top of the oven and said to Ye Xiaoxian, “Have some brown sugar ginger tea. Don’t catch a cold.”

Ye Xiaoxian asked, “Ma told you to do this, right?”

“…” Xiao Baoshan hesitated.

Ye Xiaoxian had already see through this so she said sulkily, “Fine, I know. Put it down here and I will drink it!”

Xiao Baoshan paused and added, “I was in the wrong for what happened just now and thank you for sending me an umbrella in the storm!”

Ye Xiaoxian raised her head but Xiao Baoshan had already turned around and left.

This rain lasted for a whole night.

The rain abated by the next morning but it was not the right weather for going to town to put up their stall.

Moreover, the temperature was lower in a typhoon and few people would buy cold jelly to drink. It would be a waste of time even if they went there.

Xiao Baoshan did not go out today either.

Being a handyman was a part-time job anyhow. They were paid on a daily basis and were supposed to do various jobs including sailor, ship tracker, delivery man, cart driver, jiao driver. It was okay if they were free from work for a couple of days.

As they didn’t have to go out, Ye Xiaoxian stayed at home and taught Xiao Baozhu to practice Chinese characters. In fact, Xiao Baozhu wasn’t fond of reading and writing. She was not very literate herself and she complained every time she had to practice writing characters.

Ye Xiaoxian could not care less. She didn’t expect Xiao Baoshan to grow up to be a scholar but she needed to at least know how to read.

When the time reached Si, which equaled to 10:00 a.m., the rained finally stopped and so did the wind. The cloud had gone and the sun came out.

It seemed that the typhoon had already gone.

Ye Xiaoxian was sitting idly, so she was thinking to go up to the mountain to collect some Chinese mesona.

Xiao Baozhu heard that Ye Xiaoxian was going to collect Chinese mesona and she immediately said, “Sister-in-law, I’m going with you!”

“You’d better not go. Stay here to practice the characters I just taught you. I’ll check your work next time.”

Xiao Baozhu was upset all of a sudden.

When Xiao Baoshan heard that Ye Xiaoxian was going up to the mountain to pick Chinese mesona, suddenly he put down his work and said to Ye Xiaoxian, “I will go with you!”

“…” Ye Xiaoxian was in a daze for a while and then asked, “What are you going to do up there?”

Is he not afraid of being gossiped about by others when there are only two of them up a mountain?

However, Xiao Baoshan replied, “It just rained and the mountain roads are slippery. It’s safer for me to accompany you.”

“Up to you!” Ye Xiaoxian was still upset about being scolded by him last night.

The roads were indeed muddy but luckily mountains were very remote in this era and there was a lot of grass on both sides of the mountain lane. One needn’t worry about slipping so long as they stepped on the grass.

Ye Xiaoxian and Xiao Baoshan were going up the mountain one behind another. She walked very slowly and Xiao Baoshan did not increase his speed but kept a certain distance from her all the time.

The mountain air was fresh and the fragrance of mud and grass was spread everywhere. The surrounding plants were still dripping wet.

Fortunately Ye Xiaoxian was far-sighted and instead of wearing cloth shoes, she wore a pair of straw shoes which were like sandals, so it would not a problem even if they got wet.

Though it was a tough job, Ye Xiaoxian had to come and collect Chinese mesona or she might not have time to do it when the weather became bad again.

The mountain lane was quiet. There were only the footsteps of the two of them, apart from the chirping of birds.

Ye Xiaoxian felt bored walking like this so finally she paused, turning to look at Xiao Baoshan.

Xiao Baoshan stopped as well and watched Ye Xiaoxian.

“Well, don’t follow me then if you’re just going to walk without saying a word. You’re making me feel awkward!”

Xiao Baoshan was surprised for a while and he seemed to think, Why is it awkward?

“Haven’t you said to Ya’er that you’ve already got married? As you’ve already committed to being married, then aren’t I your wife?” asked Ye Xiaoxian.

“You naturally are.” Xiao Baoshan did not understand why she had asked.

“Then we are a married couple. Have you ever seen a married couple walking alongside each other without speaking? Don’t you feel awkward?” said Ye Xiaoxian sulkily.

Xiao Baoshan remained silent for a second and then he walked behind Ye Xiaoxian.

“The mountain lane is too narrow to walk shoulder to shoulder. Do you think is it alright for me walking behind you like this?” asked Xiao Baoshan.

Ye Xiaoxian. “…”

“Suit yourself!” answered Ye Xiaoxian reluctantly.

Such a thick-head!