Shen Xuanqing looked up and, seeing Lu Gu’s indifferent expression upon recognizing the deed, sighed with a wry smile. "You really don’t worry about a thing. Aren’t you afraid I’ll sell you off?"
Lu Gu held little Lingjun upright, patting the child’s back lightly. Hearing this, he didn’t panic at all. Instead, he gave Shen Xuanqing a puzzled look, because he didn’t believe those words for a second.
"If I were truly deceitful and tricked you into trusting me, with this deed in hand, I could pawn you off for some quick cash whenever I’m short," Shen Xuanqing said, placing the deed back at the very bottom of the box.
Lu Gu knew full well this was a joke. Little Lingjun rested on his shoulder, babbling softly. His eyes curved into crescents. "Even if you sold me, I wouldn’t leave. Besides, could you really bear to?"
Someone as simple-minded as him, unable to even hide his thoughts, how could Shen Xuanqing bear to sell him off? Whenever they went out, Shen Xuanqing worried he’d be cheated, so he either accompanied him personally or made sure Wei Lanxiang was around.
"If you truly could bear it, I’d leave when the time came."
Shen Xuanqing was about to say he could never bear it, who’d want such a foolish fulang anyway? Better he keep him himself. But then he suddenly heard Lu Gu’s words and immediately darkened his expression, his tone turning sharp. "Sell what? Leave where? Don’t ever mention this again."
Lu Gu’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. It was him who’d brought it up first, why was he suddenly angry?
Shen Xuanqing placed all the deeds inside the box, snapped the lid shut with a pa, and put on an extremely annoyed expression. After storing the box away and closing the chest, he sat on the edge of the bed with his arms crossed, seemingly sulking.
Standing there holding their son, Lu Gu watched his series of actions and, for some reason, was reminded of Guaizi.
Now that both yellow dogs were grown, their builds slightly smaller than Guaizi’s but still large, they sometimes played like puppies, nipping at each other. But when the play got too rough, either Guaizi or one of the yellow dogs would growl in anger, ready to fight. He’d witnessed this multiple times. On two occasions, it had been Guaizi who instigated the play-biting, yet he was the first to get mad.
Whenever he saw the dogs fighting at home, he’d grab a shoe and give their rumps a solid smack, scattering them. Or, as soon as Shen Xuanqing or Shen Yaoqing picked up a stick, the mischievous dogs would take the hint and pretend nothing had happened, separating without further tussling.
Of course, Shen Xuanqing wasn’t Guaizi or either of the yellow dogs. Lu Gu felt a little guilty for the comparison but couldn’t help secretly smiling.
Earlier, both had been joking. He didn’t understand why Shen Xuanqing was angry, but after a moment’s thought, he approached and stood before him, leaning forward to pass little Lingjun over.
Shen Xuanqing had initially wanted to turn away, but now he had no choice but to take the child—after all, it was his own child.
"I won’t mention it again, ever," Lu Gu said softly. He wasn’t skilled at coaxing others, but gentle words came easily.
His temper flared quickly but faded just as fast. Shen Xuanqing was mollified by this, though his earlier outburst left him feeling embarrassed. He sat stiffly upright, his posture rigid as he held the child without speaking—until he glanced at Lu Gu’s smiling face and couldn’t help smiling back.
"Originally, I kept the deed to guard against Du Hehua pulling some underhanded stunt to claim kinship. But now, just keeping that marriage certificate is enough. If she dares to show up, I’ll demand she produce Lu Wen. If she can’t, I’ll drive her out. Once we move to Jixing Town, we’ll be closer to the prefecture. We’ll nullify this deed, free you from servitude, and register your household at the yamen, just in time to register Lingjun’s as well."
Shen Xuanqing held his soft, fair-skinned little shuang'er, his handsome face alight with joy.
"Okay." Lu Gu was delighted. He hadn’t cared much about the deed, but if he could shed his servile status and be registered alongside Shen Xuanqing and little Ling ger in the household registry, how could he refuse?
In all his life, the farthest he’d ever been was Jixing Town. He’d heard that traveling beyond - dozens or even hundreds of miles to the border, required carrying a wooden pass as proof of being a law-abiding commoner. Soon, he’d have one of his own.
"On the way back, Eldest Brother and I locked up the shop. In a few days, once the table’s ready, we’ll take some wooden racks over and start setting up." Shen Xuanqing kissed little Lingjun and added cheerfully, "It’s just that the child’s still too young and can’t be apart from you. On opening day, if the weather’s warm, we’ll take the mule cart slowly, and you two can come along."
He meant that though the shop had been purchased just like that, it was a pity Lu Gu had to stay home with the baby. Little Lingjun was too small, and the journey would be too bumpy for them to tag along.
"Mm." Lu Gu nodded.
Shen Xuanqing continued, "We’ll likely open by month’s end. Ling ger will be six months old then. If we bundle him up well, it should be fine."
After all, this was their first time opening a business. Having Lu Gu and the child there would make the whole family complete, and all the merrier for it.
Little Lingjun, just awake and not yet swaddled, wore only thick clothes, leaving his limbs free to wave and kick energetically. His chubby little hands were small, and before anyone realized it, he’d grabbed a fistful of Shen Xuanqing’s hair, refusing to let go—all while giggling.
The sharp tug on his scalp made Shen Xuanqing tilt his head in pain. Lu Gu, who knew exactly how much that hurt, hurried to the rescue, carefully prying Shen Xuanqing’s hair free from little Lingjun’s grip. He stuffed a handkerchief into the child’s eager hands to wave around instead.
Though his scalp still stung, Shen Xuanqing paid it no mind. He continued cradling his son like a treasure, even planting a couple of kisses on little Lingjun’s cheeks and praising the strength in his tiny hands.
Once, when Shen Yan witnessed this, she had clapped her hands in delight. Back when her two elder brothers used to pull her braids, she’d always gotten mad. Now, it was their turn to suffer, what sweet revenge.
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