My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 40 Part 3

“It’s freezing! Before, Mother would just push the door open and come in, why did I have to open it this time?”  

“You silly child, you’re married now. How can I just barge into your room? From now on, come out for breakfast yourself, I won’t bring it to you anymore.”  

Ji Taoyu quickly threw on thick clothes, bundling himself up before sitting at the table to eat the noodles.  

“Right, I almost forgot I’m married.”  

Mainly because it had only been a ceremony - eating, drinking, and daily life were still at home. When he opened his eyes, it was still his familiar room. Since he hadn’t woken up in an unfamiliar place, he didn’t feel like he’d married out yet.  

Huang Manjing sighed. Thinking that fortunately his ger hadn’t married out—otherwise, how would this personality fare?  

She quietly watched the ger happily slurping noodles, his complexion rosy and spirits high. Tentatively, she asked, “You… you don’t feel unwell anywhere, do you?”  

Ji Taoyu shook his head honestly. “No.”  

Apart from the pain when Huo Shu had poked him a couple of times during their wedding night, he hadn’t felt any discomfort. But after stopping last night, it was fine.  

That said, when Huo Shu’s large frame pressed down on him, he had almost lost his breath. If they had married as strangers, wouldn’t he have been terrified?  

Huang Manjing immediately understood the situation.  

“He really can’t indulge you any further.”  

“Huh?”  

Ji Taoyu looked at his mother in confusion.  

“Never mind. Eat up.”  

“By the way, where is he?”  

“He went into the city.”  

____

When Huo Shu rode his horse to the butcher shop, Fang He was just opening the door. Seeing him, Fang He froze slightly.  

“Brother Huo, you’re here.”  

“Mn.”  

Huo Shu responded, “Has Master Qiao come yet?”  

As soon as he spoke, an unhappy voice sounded behind him. “Oh? The groom has time to come today?”  

Huo Shu turned and saw Butcher Qiao walking over with his hands behind his back.  

His brow twitched slightly, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he followed Butcher Qiao into the shop.  

Fang He, noticing the tense atmosphere, frowned and hurried in after them.  

“You came at the right time, I just had something to discuss with you.”  

Butcher Qiao walked straight behind the counter as if bringing up an ordinary matter, taking out his knives to sharpen them on the whetstone.  

“This shop of mine is small, it can’t support too many people long-term. Now that you’re married, it must be inconvenient to come into the city every day.”  

Butcher Qiao continued, “To be honest, I originally planned to pass this shop to my son-in-law. Now that my daughter is engaged, the shop will go to him.”  

Huo Shu understood this was a dismissal. Since that was the case, he wasn’t one to cling shamelessly. “Alright. I won’t come back after this.”  

Butcher Qiao saw that Huo Shu showed no regret at all about losing the chance to inherit the shop, which made him even more displeased. Seeing how readily Huo Shu agreed, he couldn’t help but add,  

“Well, you learn fast. Even if you leave now, starting your own business won’t be hard. And even if you don’t stay in this trade, your father-in-law has connections, finding you other work won’t be difficult.”  

Huo Shu ignored the sour tone. “Thank you for your guidance all this time, Master Qiao.”  

“What guidance could I give you? I’m not that capable.”  

Huo Shu had no interest in arguing, especially since Butcher Qiao had treated him decently before. Rather than listen to more complaints, he simply cupped his hands. “I’ll take my leave.”

Butcher Qiao stared blankly at the man who had just strode away, suddenly feeling as though he had thrown a punch into cotton.  

[一拳頭打在了棉花上 (yī quántou dǎ zài le miánhua shang): lit. A fist hitting cotton; fig. Efforts met with no resistance or effect]  

It was clearly he who had driven the man out, yet somehow it seemed as though the man had quit on his own accord.  

This thought only made Butcher Qiao more irritable. With a loud clang, he threw his cleaver onto the chopping block.  

Fang He cautiously glanced at Butcher Qiao a couple of times before hurrying out after Huo Shu: "Brother Huo!"  

Huo Shu, already mounted on his horse, looked at Fang He as he ran out: "What is it?"  

Fang He gazed at Huo Shu apologetically: "About Master…"  

"It’s not your concern."  

"No, no."  

Fang He suddenly lowered his head and said, "I only found out after Master returned from the county town, he had his eye on you from the start. He originally wanted to betroth Qiao’er to you so his craft would have someone to carry it on."  

"Master had planned to discuss the marriage with you as soon as he returned, but then he suddenly heard you were already engaged. He was furious. When I proposed to Qiao’er while he was still angry, he agreed in a fit of temper. Now both families are already preparing for the wedding."  

The more Fang He spoke, the more uncomfortable he felt. Now that Huo Shu had been driven away today, his guilt only deepened: "For me to act like that at such a time… I truly feel ashamed."  

Huo Shu’s brow twitched slightly: "I have no interest in the Qiao girl, nor in the butcher shop. If your marriage can go through, that’s a good thing. Why feel guilty? All this was meant to be yours anyway."  

"But… what will you do from now on?"  

Huo Shu replied, "There are countless trades in this world. Do you think I can’t find another path? Go back. It’s fine."  

Fang He watched Huo Shu’s horse disappear into the distance and called out after him: "Brother Huo, come visit often!"  

Huo Shu waved a hand in response and guided his horse away at a leisurely pace.  

He had never intended to stick with this trade forever. It was just that his days had been occupied with matters concerning Ji Taoyu, leaving him little time to think about what he would do next.  

Even if there were changes, they should have come no earlier than next spring. Now, his plans had been abruptly disrupted.