094 – Coming Home
Lei Tie kept a total of fourteen people who had answered “loyal”.
“Take the rest with you,” the owner instructed the staff.
Lei Tie stood up and said to fourteen teenagers, “I’ll do a few moves and you’ll follow.”
He demonstrated the first ten moves of a boxing set.
The fourteen teenagers looked at each other as they failed to understand it. A very clean teenager first came up and neatly finished the ten moves. Except for his movements were not too ideal, he hardly made any mistakes. Then, the rest came forward to demonstrate one by one.
Lei Tie kept a total of nine teenagers that was able to remember more than half of the moves and hinted at the owner.
The owner quickly came over, “Nine people, each for 8 silver taels.”
Lei Tie nodded. He took out a 100-tael silver banknote and handed it to the owner.
“Thank you for your patronage.” The owner received the banknote and returned 28 silver taels to him.
Lei Tie took out a 2-tael ingot and threw it at him, “Buy ration for ten people for two days and hire two fast carriages.”
The owner said, “Rest assured, gongzi. We will adequately prepare them for you!”
Lei Tie sat for a short while before the owner said it was done. The two carriages were sturdy two-horse carriages and the coachmen were expert cart-drivers.
Lei Tie told the newly bought nine people to get on the carriages with their belongings. He mounted his horse and led the way in front of them to go out of the city directly.
It was already the snake hour1. The street was very busy with an endless stream of horses and carriages, and people hurrying to and fro. There was a strong smell of medicinal herbs floating in the sky of Qingtian Prefecture. When Lei Tie overheard the conversation of several passers-by, he knew that there was a large-scale auction of medicinal materials in Qingtian Prefecture these days. All the rare herbs were sold at the auction. Herbal medicine merchants from all over the country came after hearing the news. It was a good thing if one could buy precious medicinal materials to make it as the treasure of the shop.
He Sanzhou, Sihai, and Wuhu led their horses along the stream of people as they looked around and multifariously sighed at the prosperity of Qingtian Prefecture.
Lei Tie glanced at them faintly. With a sway of the reins, the black horse trotted away.
The sky of the sixth lunar month had the face of a child2. Less than an hour after departure, the dark clouds gathered in the sky. In a moment, it rained heavily. Although there was a canopy over the heads of the two coachmen sitting on the shaft, the rain still wet their clothes during the galloping of the carriage. They hurriedly took out straw-woven raincoats and put them on.
Lei Tie took out his bamboo hat and rain cape from his pouch on the girdle.
“Boom!” A lightning-struck overhead. The rain turned heavier and rapid, making the vision a little fuzzy.
Old Zhao, the coachman, had wanted to suggest the employer find a place to rest until the rain receded, but upon seeing Lei Tie did not have the slightest mean to stop, he could only continue driving the carriage but with a much slower speed.
Lei Tie turned his head and galloped back to the side of the carriage. “Go as fast as you can. I’m paying 5 taels more.”
Old Zhao gritted his teeth and stake it all. Anyway, they often worked, so their bodies were strong and not easily sick. It’s worth it if they could earn 7 silver taels for this trip.
“Alright, gongzi can rest assured!”
Lei Tie said the same thing to the other coachman. The speed of the two carriages did not decrease at all as the four horses galloped forward.
In the afternoon, the rain stopped. After resting for an hour, the party continued the journey.
The next afternoon, the party arrived in Zhaoyang County. They didn’t expect that it was raining much heavier in Zhaoyang County than that in Qingtian Prefecture. The road was muddy and hard to tread on.
In the county town, Lei Tie let everyone drink a bowl of hot tea in a tea house before going on the road again. The two coachmen looked at each other with bitter smiles and hastily got on the carriages.
In Leisurely Farm Residence, Qin Mian stood at the door of the central room. His left hand held a fruit plate and his right hand held a bamboo stick inserted into the peach picked from the space to eat. Looking at the direction of the gate through the rain curtain hanging from the eaves, he felt uneasy. Such a heavy rain, that guy Lei Tie won’t rush in the rain, right?
White Spot squatted at his feet. Its two ears sometimes perked and drooped, and its tail swept the ground, swaying left and right. It looked bored to death.
Qin Mian inadvertently saw it, making the corner of his lips curled. He also squatted down and joked, “White Spot, are you truly a wolf?”
White Spot raised its head and opened its mouth wide, “Awoo~”
Qin Mian: ……
After White Spot finished howling, it turned to look at him.
“Fine, fine, you are a wolf. A wolf.” Qin Mian stood up helplessly, ate the peach unconcernedly, and looked at the direction of the gate.
At this time, White Spot suddenly stood up, turned its head to howl at him, and ran into the rain curtain. It waggled its tail more happily than usual.
Qin Mian’s heartbeat quickened. Lei Tie is back?
He put the fruit plate on the windowsill and hurriedly caught up with it.
When passing through the gate, Gray Sheet and Black Vest barked as greeting to Qin Mian. Not receiving a response, they turned around and ran back to their house.
“Where is Little Young Master going? Why doesn’t he even take a parasol?” Aunt Fu worriedly said, “Husband, quickly take the parasol and catch up.”
“Aunt Fu, I’ll go. I’m strong.” Xile took the parasol in Aunt Fu’s hand and ran outside.
Before Qin Mian ran to the entrance of the village, he saw a black horse coming amidst the heavy rain. On the black horse sat the man who had been weighing on his mind. Two carriages followed after him.
“Neigh—”
As soon as Lei Tie saw Qin Mian, he frowned. With a press on his horse’s belly, the black horse galloped forward and didn’t stop when it came to Qin Mian. Lei Tie leaned over, easily picked up Qin Mian, and placed him at the front. His left hand pulled off his rain cape and wrapped him up. He scolded, “What are you doing running out?”
“Are you silly? Not waiting until the rain stops?”
They spoke almost at the same time.
Lei Tie hugged his wife and rubbed his lips on his wife’s side face. He didn’t say anything else, “Jia!”
Seeing a familiar black horse running over, Xile slowed down and stood on the side of the road, smiling. It turns out that Eldest Young Master has come back. No wonder.
“Xile, I’ll leave them to you,” Qin Mian left a sentence.
“Rest assured, Little Young Master!”
The black horse galloped straight to the door before stopping.
After getting off the horse, Qin Mian and Lei Tie reached out to pull the other into the bedroom at the same time.
“Change your clothes,” Qin Mian said.
He found Lei Tie’s clean clothes and threw them at him. He also found his own. He took off his wet clothes and wiped his body with a dry cloth towel.
In front of him was a shining white piece [of meat], somewhat dazzling. Lei Tie’s Adam’s apple rolled. He strode over and embraced the person.
“You—uhm!”
Qin Mian was soon brought into the midst of passion by Lei Tie. He yielded to his heart, hugged the man’s waist, and responded enthusiastically.
“Creak~” the door was pushed open.
Qin Mian was shocked and quickly pushed away Lei Tie.
White Spot ran in from the door and shook its body, swinging countless drops of water. Its brown eyes looked curiously at the two masters.
Lei Tie looked at it with his eyes narrowed.
Qin Mian stifled a laugh, quickly wiped the water off his body, and put on his dry clothes.
“Get out,” Lei Tie pointed to the door.
White Spot glanced at him, turned around, and left slowly. It was unknown whether it was intentional or unintentional that its butt hit the door panel, making the door panel creaked again. Slowly, it moved backward before touching the wall and stilled.
“Hahaha…” Qin Mian couldn’t help laughing. Sitting on the bed, he picked up Lei Tie’s clothes and threw them on him, “Put them on. Be careful not to catch a cold.”
Lei Tie saw that he was dressed neatly and put on his clothes sullenly.
Qin Mian went over and gave him a comforting kiss on his lips. “Did you have a good meal throughout the way? What do you want to eat? I’ll make it.”
“Noodle.”
Qin Mian dragged him out. “I’ll make you a noodle soup.”
They went to the central room and saw Xile standing under the eaves.
“Eldest Young Master, Little Young Master.”
“Are they all properly arranged?” Qin Mian asked.
Xile said, “They’re all arranged. There are bunk beds in the servants’ quarters, so they all live together. I asked Aunt Fu to cook noodles for them. The two coachmen are still waiting.”
Lei Tie fished out fourteen pieces of silver from his money pouch and gave it to Xile.
Qin Mian listened to the sound of rain and said, “It seems that the rain won’t stop for a while and it’s getting dark. Xile, if the two coachmen don’t mind, let them stay for a night and go back tomorrow at dawn.”
“Little Young Master is very kind.” Xile nodded in agreement, “The two coachmen are also worried about this. I’ll let them know.”
Xile pulled the horse to leave and went to arrange it without hassle.
Qin Mian made Lei Tie eat a peach first. He fried two poached eggs, took out four bags of instant noodles from the space, and cooked them in a pot. Instant noodles were easier to cook than noodles. He peeled a tomato, cut it into pieces, and added them into the noodles for flavor. He also added thin slices of meat and a few pakchoi.
Lei Tie dazedly looked at the noodle soup that was emitting a delicious aroma.
Qin Mian sat down beside him and urged, “Aren’t you hungry? Quickly eat it.”
It was still raining, so the indoor was a bit cool. However, Lei Tie felt a warm current rolling in his chest. He picked up the chopsticks and ate the noodles with his head down.
Qin Mian brought in the fruit plate on the windowsill, sat back at the position beside Lei Tie, and ate the fruit with his cross-legs swaying. After Lei Tie finished the noodle, he urged him to go back to the bedroom and have a rest.
Lei Tie pulled him to lie on the bed together.
Qin Mian obediently let Lei Tie hold him. The days when Lei Tie was away, he did not sleep well. It was best to sleep on rainy days and a nap was good too.
Suddenly, Lei Tie got up from the bed and locked the door.
Qin Mian was amused. Is he afraid that White Spot will run in again?
Lei Tie kissed the tilted corner of his lips, “Wife, how is our home these days?”
“Business as usual.” Qin Mian lay sideway, stroked the man’s side neck with his right hand, and yawned, “What about you?”
“Very good.” Lei Tie gripped his hand and hugged him tightly, “Sleep.”
“I’ve been missing you these days,” Qin Mian said frankly. He raised his head and rested it on the man’s shoulder. He also lifted his right leg and put it on the man’s legs. “What about you?”
Lei Tie’s temperature that had just cooled down, flared up again, “En.”
“En what?” Qin Mian asked deliberately.
“Don’t make trouble.” Lei Tie kneaded his (QM) waist and tilted his head to look at the wall.
Qin Mian stifled a laugh and stopped teasing him. He hugged the man’s waist and closed his eyes. The familiar smell and reassuring breath made him snore in a short time.
Lei Tie turned his head, imprinted a kiss on his lips, closed his eyes, and soon fell asleep.
When the sound of the rain suddenly stopped, Qin Mian abruptly woke up from his dream. He was in a trance for a moment. He didn’t know whether he was dreaming or awake.
“Awake?” A man’s magnetic voice rang in his ear.
Qin Mian then remembered that Lei Tie was back. He looked out of the window. It was dark. The rain did stop and there was no sound outside.
“Hungry.” Qin Mian lay on Lei Tie’s body, “What about you?”
“A little hungry, too.” Lei Tie’s waist moved slightly.
Qin Mian’s ears turned hot. He jumped up, “I’ll go—”
His mouth was sealed…
The two men crumpled up the sheets with their tossing around. It was a good while before they got their clothes straightened out properly and walked out of the room.
Lei Tie, wearing only his trousers and shoes, went to the central room. He raised his long arm and lit up four wall-hanging candlesticks with a fire holder3.
“What do you want to eat?” Qin Mian looked at his strong and powerful arm with appreciative eyes. “I want to eat rice.”
Lei Tie didn’t mind, “Then cook rice.”
“Alright, let’s cook the rice.” Qin Mian went to the kitchen, “Then fry another instant noodle. I haven’t eaten it for a long time, I really miss the taste.”
Lei Tie’s footsteps paused, “Try to make it yourself later.”
Qin Mian was stunned and then laughed, “Good idea! Try it when I have time. Maybe I can do it.”
“En.” Lei Tie said, “What kind of vegetable to eat? I’ll go pick.”
“Pick some purple eggplant, some peppers, and some pakchoi.”
Note:
Footnotes
- 9.00 am to 11.00 am
- It is a metaphor for the rapid change of weather
- Previously made a note of “fire fold”. It is made of a stack of papers or burnable materials that was compressed tightly into a small cylindrical container with ember at the tip; like a burnt cigarette. The fire will lit when blowing the ember.
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