My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 24 Part 3

Huo Shu watched the man’s gloomy retreating figure, his brow furrowing.  

Was he really such a monster that Ji Yangzong was this troubled?  

Huo Shu decided against following him, he thought there was no need to frighten the old man further. Instead, he turned back toward home.  

Lost in thought, he reached the Zhao family’s courtyard gate when laughter drifted out from inside:  

"Greedy thing! Weren’t you refusing to let anyone touch you just days ago? Now you’ll lower your head for some grass, huh?"  

Pushing the gate open, Huo Shu saw his tall black steed with its mouth stuffed full of lovegrass. Normally, the proud horse would lift its head high while chewing, but today it was bowing low, just so the person squatting beside it could pat its head.  

Huo Shu’s tense expression finally relaxed at the sight of the grinning young man feeding the horse handfuls of grass, petting it happily between bites.  

"Have your knees healed?"  

Ji Taoyu peeked out from behind the horse’s flank at the sound of Huo Shu’s voice.  

"Mn."  

Yuan Huiru emerged from the house, smiling. "This horse of yours is a strange one, A-Shu. Usually, it barely eats when I feed it, just glares with those intimidating eyes and only obeys you. But today, when Tao ger approached, it started snorting. I thought it was about to bite him, but then Tao ger offered grass and it quieted right down. It even lets him touch it without kicking!"  

Huo Shu looked at Ji Taoyu. "Weren’t you afraid of horses? Now you’re feeding mine?"  

"I saw some fresh lovegrass in the herb field today. Since it carried me home the other day, I thought I’d cut some to thank it."  

Huo Shu raised an eyebrow, then suddenly smacked the black horse’s neck.  

Yuan Huiru said, "You two chat for a bit. Tao ger, let me brew you some tea."  

"Thank you, Aunt Yuan."  

Huo Shu pulled a chair over for Ji Taoyu.  

"Father said Butcher Qiao returned to the village. How did it go? Did he take you on?"  

Huo Shu nodded. "He told me to start learning tomorrow."  

Ji Taoyu smiled in satisfaction. "That’s wonderful! Now you won’t have to... idle around anymore."  

"Such eloquent congratulations. Your studies have served you well."  

Ji Taoyu’s eyes sparkled with amusement.  

Seeing his rosy cheeks and bright eyes, Huo Shu could tell he’d been doing well these past few days.  

"So happy, did that fishpond guy come by again?"  

Ji Taoyu blinked, momentarily confused, then realized Huo Shu was referring to Zhou Zheng from the neighboring village.  

Narrowing his eyes, Ji Taoyu fed another handful of grass to the horse. "Once the pond’s finished, we can raise fish and shrimp. Think of all the fish and shrimp we’ll get to eat, of course I’m happy."  

Huo Shu’s brow twitched.  

"If you need help, just ask."  

Ji Taoyu tilted his head. "Since when are you so helpful, Brother Huo? You won’t demand payment, will you? Or ‘accidentally’ get hurt and make me treat you, or insist I buy you a meal?"  

"Butcher Qiao pays a monthly wage. Now that I’ll have money, I won’t extort you."  

Ji Taoyu pressed his lips together, suppressing a laugh. "Is that so? But I’ve heard apprentices don’t earn much."  

Huo Shu confirmed flatly, "Mn."  

"Only five hundred copper coins a month before mastering the trade. Can’t compare to fishpond work, can it?"  

Ji Taoyu’s cheerful expression instantly fell. He shot Huo Shu a subtle glare.  

This man looked stern and reserved, but he had a knack for sarcasm.  

Seeing the pout forming on Ji Taoyu’s lips, Huo Shu dropped the teasing. "What are your plans these days?"  

"Reading medical books, making medicines. With the farming season slow, there’s less work at home. I might stay at Grandfather’s clinic for a few days to help prepare herbs and study."  

"Good."  

Ji Taoyu patted his hands and stood up. "The horse is fed, and it's getting late. I still need to go back to cook, so I'll take my leave now."  

"Tao ger, why not stay for lunch? Since the village head took the trouble to introduce A-Shu to Butcher Qiao, we ought to thank him properly," Yuan Huiru chimed in, seizing the moment to persuade him to stay.  

"Oh, you haven't even had tea yet."  

"We're all fellow villagers, no need for formalities."  

Ji Taoyu smiled. "There'll be plenty of chances to eat together in the future, Aunt Yuan. I’ll head back now."  

Yuan Huiru quickly added, "A-Shu, see Tao ger off, won’t you?"  

Huo Shu watched as Ji Taoyu slung his small, empty bamboo basket - perfectly sized for his frame, over his shoulder. He reached out and opened the courtyard gate for him.  

Ji Taoyu waved a hand. "It’s just a few steps home, no need to escort me."  

Huo Shu nodded. "Go on, then."  

As Ji Taoyu walked away, Yuan Huiru hurried over, clicking her tongue in disapproval.  

"You silly boy! Tao ger rarely visits, and you didn’t even walk him home? A man’s skin ought to be thicker! Just because he said not to, you actually listened? You’re too straightforward!"  

Huo Shu remained silent. Being too obvious might backfire, pushing too hard could ruin things.  

Still, he replied, "Understood."  

Yuan Huiru sighed faintly in regret but quickly consoled him. "Well, no matter. First meetings are awkward, the second will be smoother."  

"Getting accepted by Butcher Qiao today is worth celebrating. I’ll stew pork with cabbage for lunch!"  

Huo Shu acknowledged her words. Once she went inside, he quietly slipped out the gate, heading in the direction Ji Taoyu had gone.  

He lingered in the shadows until he saw the slender figure safely enter his own courtyard. 

____

The next morning, Huo Shu went to the Qiao family early.  

Butcher Qiao needed to load the livestock slaughtered the previous day onto a cart to sell at his meat shop in town.  

The village house was now mostly occupied by the butcher and his wife. Their children usually stayed in the family’s city residence, only returning when needed.  

Huo Shu arrived early and helped Butcher Qiao load the meat onto the cart. Together, they drove the donkey cart into town.