Noticing Ji Taoyu’s legs, which had been tightly gripping the horse, now loosening slightly - even bouncing a little, Huo Shu glanced up.
The ger was staring at the top of his head.
“Not scared anymore?”
Huo Shu’s lips twitched, amusement flickering in his eyes, but he didn’t tease him further.
“Look at all those wild chrysanthemums up ahead! No one’s picked them yet!”
Huo Shu followed his gaze to a slope covered in sprawling chrysanthemum vines, dotted with white daisies - a bright spot in the autumn bleakness.
“Wait here.”
Seeing Huo Shu about to leave, Ji Taoyu hunched over the saddle, panicked. “D-don’t go!”
Huo Shu paused, then reached up and lifted him back down.
Ji Taoyu’s legs felt unsteady after dismounting. He quickly shuffled to a stone stool and sat—only for the reins to be thrust into his hands.
“Hold these.”
With that, Huo Shu turned and headed for the slope.
Ji Taoyu stared blankly at the reins in his grip, then followed them to the black horse, which was now staring right at him.
He shot to his feet, stiff with panic, and called after Huo Shu, “Bro-brother Huo! I can’t hold it!”
“Just keep hold of the reins. The horse won’t run.”
As Huo Shu walked farther away, Ji Taoyu felt the reins grow unbearably heavy in his hands. He didn’t know whether to drop them or cling tighter.
Trembling, he gripped the reins and forced a weak smile at the horse.
“Y-you won’t move, right?”
The horse just stared at him, unmoving.
Ji Taoyu exhaled shakily and slowly sat back down—only for the horse to snort loudly, eyes suddenly fierce.
He leapt up again, clutching the reins, and yelled, “Bro-brother Huo! He’s going to kick me!”
The horse, hearing the near-tearful voice, seemed to reconsider and stopped snorting.
Ji Taoyu blinked back tears and cautiously sat again. This time, the horse stayed quiet.
Relieved, he sat properly, knees together, and finally relaxed. Seeing the horse behaving, he freed one hand to blow on his palm, rubbed raw by the reins.
Ger and horse waited in silence.
After a while, Ji Taoyu shifted and plucked a handful of tender goosegrass and wild chrysanthemum leaves from beside him.
He bundled them and tentatively offered them to the horse. “H-here. Want some?”
The horse suddenly turned its head, glaring. Ji Taoyu yanked his hand back.
But though the horse looked fierce - much like its owner, it didn’t seem inclined to bite. Emboldened, Ji Taoyu offered the greens again.
This time, the horse snatched them up, making Ji Taoyu jump.
But as the horse chewed contentedly, Ji Taoyu smiled. “Good, right?”
Encouraged, he reached out to pat the glossy black head—only for the horse to jerk away, refusing the touch.
Ji Taoyu huffed.
Soon, Huo Shu returned, arms full of chrysanthemums, stems and all.
The horse perked up, stretching its neck expectantly—only for Huo Shu to push its head aside.
“Enough?”
Ji Taoyu took the flowers, the bitter fragrance filling his nose.
“More than enough. Plenty to dry and use.”
The daisies were fresh, not yet wilted. His mind raced with ideas - cakes, tea, medicine…
Seeing the ger’s delight, Huo Shu’s tone softened. “Let’s go.”
With Huo Shu’s long strides, they soon reached the village entrance.
On the main road, they’d passed strangers, but now they’d meet familiar faces.
Ji Taoyu didn’t try to hide, sitting tall on the horse as they rode through.
Villagers working the fields, too wary to greet Huo Shu, called to Ji Taoyu instead:
“Tao ger, you’ve learned to ride?”
“No.”
Ji Taoyu shook his head. “I went to the city today. On the way back, the cart got stuck in a ditch. I fell and hurt my hands and legs. Brother Huo happened to pass by and gave me a ride.”
“Aiya, are you alright?”
The villagers eyed him skeptically. “Who was driving? So careless!”
Ji Taoyu described the driver - short, dark, broad-faced, and the cart’s passengers, all from other villages, who’d ganged up on him.
Another villager, returning home, overheard and chimed in:
“Must be from Yanmiao Village. I saw them still trying to haul the cart out of the ditch. Tao ger was unlucky to get that driver.”
“I rode with him once, never again. I’d rather walk than take his cart.”
The crowd, now riled up, began listing the driver’s faults - overcharging outsiders, poor service.
“Tao ger, be careful next time. Avoid his cart.”
Then, to Huo Shu: “ Yuan niangzi’s Huo-lang seems so stern, but he’s really kindhearted. Even lets people ride his horse. I heard he treasures that horse, took it to war and all.”
“Would he help you if you fell in a ditch? Give you a ride?”
A woman laughed. “Look who fell, Tao ger is so delicate, any man would pity him. I heard Huo Shu’s never married, maybe he’s angling to be the son-in-law riding a dragon.
[乘龙快婿 (chénglóng kuàixù): lit. son-in-law riding a dragon; fig. an ideal son-in-law, especially one of high status.]
“Hah, true. Us old wives don’t get that treatment.”
“But speaking of—how’d the You family’s long-standing engagement with the Ji family fall through so suddenly? There was no warning at all.”
“Who knows? Let's not speculate, there's too much gossip already.”
“The engagement is off, but both families seem unaffected. This morning, the village head's son from the neighboring village arrived at our village head's place, delivering gifts and running errands. He is still there now.”
“News spreads quickly. Tao ger is certainly lucky - it's barely been a week since the breakup, and already he's got potential suitors showing interest.”
As they passed, You Lingxiao, overhearing the chatter, clenched his fists, face dark.
Thanks for the update!
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