Chapter 37
Huo Shu turned and closed the window, making the room immediately warmer.
"Leaving the window wide open, aren’t you afraid of catching a chill?"
Ji Taoyu took off a soft, furry hat from his head. He touched the fluffy hem and raised his face: "A rabbit fur hat, where did you get it?"
[卧兔儿 (wò tù ér): lit. lying rabbit; fig. a type of soft, furry hat shaped like a rabbit.]
"Saw it in town this afternoon and bought one."
Hearing this, Ji Taoyu happily hugged the hat to his chest.
Seeing his delight, Huo Shu's gaze softened slightly. "You left me a note asking me to come. Did you have something to say?"
Ji Taoyu noticed the fine droplets of water on Huo Shu’s hair and clothes. He fetched a cloth, moved the charcoal brazier closer to him, and poured a cup of hot water.
Watching the figure bustling around the room without answering, Huo Shu said, "Do you need anything?"
"Wipe yourself."
Ji Taoyu handed him the cloth.
"It’s just a light rain. Doesn’t matter."
"Now that you’re in your prime, you recklessly neglect your health. You’ll regret it later."
Huo Shu took the cloth. "If you’re so concerned about my health, why make me come out in the rain at this hour?"
Ji Taoyu pursed his lips, displeased. "If you didn’t want to come, you could’ve just refused."
Seeing his puffed-up cheeks, Huo Shu couldn’t resist poking his soft, fair face. The moment his fingertip touched, it was as tender as he’d imagined.
Ji Taoyu swatted Huo Shu’s hand away.
"I didn’t say I didn’t want to. I was just teasing you."
"You know I haven’t seen you in days, yet you still say such annoying things."
Ji Taoyu pouted, seemed like he was the only one who cared.
Huo Shu shifted closer to the sulking figure. "Don’t be angry. Didn’t I buy you the hat?"
Ji Taoyu glanced at the rabbit hat in his arms and couldn’t resist stroking the soft rabbit fur again.
"Then... then take me to town tomorrow."
Huo Shu’s brow twitched. "What for?"
"People say there’s bandit trouble, so I haven’t been to town in ages. Besides, Mother says there’s no time to sew the wedding clothes ourselves, we have to go to a fabric shop in town. If I go, I can get measured and pick the fabric myself."
Ji Taoyu looked at Huo Shu. "Have yours been made?"
"No."
Huo Shu gazed at the coquettish ger and said, "Then we’ll go to Shili Cloth Shop. We can also tell Wu Lianhe about our wedding."
Seeing that Huo Shu had agreed, Ji Taoyu immediately brightened.
"What time tomorrow morning? Where should we meet?"
Huo Shu listened to the rain tapping against the window, unsure if it would still be raining tomorrow.
"I’ll come pick you up in the morning."
Ji Taoyu’s eyes curved at this.
The next day, before dawn, Ji Taoyu took out a warm tangpozi. Once the bed cooled, he gritted his teeth and got up.
[汤婆子 (tāngpózi): A traditional Chinese hand-warming vessel, typically made of brass, copper or ceramic, filled with hot water and used to warm hands, beds, or carried under clothing for personal warmth during cold weather.]
After washing his face and hands, he rummaged through his winter clothes, picking out a jacket he was somewhat satisfied with. Then he fussed at the dressing table.
Finally, he fastened his cloak—only to realize his outfit had been chosen in vain.
Ji Taoyu turned in front of the bronze mirror, then unfastened the cloak again.
By the time he was ready and stepped out, the sky had already brightened.
There was no rain that morning, but the sky was still shrouded in gray mist, not very clear.
Huang Manjing, carrying breakfast, saw her ger dressed in a pale blue jacket, his hair neatly tied and adorned with a jade hairpin.
She stared for a moment. "Why are you so dressed up at home today?"
Ji Taoyu swiftly took a plate of food from her hands and headed to the main hall. "Let’s eat, let’s eat."
Huang Manjing shook her head and called Ji Yangzong to join them.
Early that morning, Daniu, clutching two steamed buns, had been sent by Ji Yangzong to the neighboring village to order chickens and ducks for the banquet.
The family of three sat at the table, each lost in their own thoughts.
Huang Manjing pondered what was still missing from Ji Taoyu’s dowry and how to prepare the remaining items.
Ji Yangzong, meanwhile, calculated how many dishes to serve at the banquet and where to buy the livestock.
As they were lost in their plans, a knock suddenly came from outside.
"Who’s there at this hour?"
Ji Yangzong set down his bun and got up to check, only to find a little shadow trailing behind him.
He was about to tell his ger to sit down and eat when he saw Huo Shu in the courtyard.
Ji Yangzong spoke kindly, "What brings you here? Is something the matter?"
"I’m taking Ji Taoyu to town to order the wedding clothes."
Before Ji Yangzong could agree or refuse, Ji Taoyu had already dashed back inside. "Just a moment, I’ll grab my cloak!"
Ji Yangzong coughed lightly and said to Huo Shu, "Come in and have some breakfast."
"I’ve already eaten."
In no time, Ji Taoyu came running back with his cloak, slipping past his father to stand before Huo Shu. "I’ll come back right after getting measured at the cloth shop."
Huang Manjing followed them out, observing how the two seemed naturally close despite not having spent much time together.
Ji Yangzong waved his hand. "Go early and return early."
Watching them leave, Huang Manjing remarked, "You really let Xiao Taozi go out with him? Aren’t you afraid of village gossip?"
"What’s there to fear? I almost want them to talk. They’re already engaged, and the banquet is in less than a month. I doubt Huo Shu would back out like the You family."
Thank you for the chapter!!
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