Seeing that Huo Shu and Ji Taoyu were satisfied, the steward considered the matter settled.
He handed the keys to the two and said, “Before Master left, he instructed us to gift two sets of porcelain ware to Village Head Ji. Since you two came to see the shop today, I’ll have the porcelain sent back with you.”
Huo Shu didn’t refuse and acknowledged with a sound.
He told the steward to attend to his own business first—they would pick up the porcelain from the workshop themselves before leaving.
The steward naturally agreed with a smile and took his leave.
Ji Taoyu held a long keychain that looped three times: “This place is really new, you can even smell the fresh wood.”
The wood used was ordinary mature timber. At this price, one couldn’t expect the merchants to build with expensive wood.
Still, they weren’t particular about such things. Ji Taoyu began calculating for Huo Shu what they’d need to buy and move in.
This place was completely empty, no furniture or utensils whatsoever.
Though it was just a storage space, it was spacious and had a courtyard. They could tidy it up nicely and turn it into a place to stay, giving them a residence in the town.
“Write down what you need, and we’ll have the people at home come later to arrange it.”
Huo Shu figured that after the autumn harvest, Uncle Fan and the others could move into the town to watch over the shop.
There wasn’t anything to sell in the shop, so there wasn’t much to guard.
It was more about giving them a new place to live.
For now, his fellow villagers from the north were all staying at the Ji family. Ji Yangzong and Huang Manjing didn’t mind, there was enough space.
But after all, he was only a son-in-law in the Ji household, and having so many people around was inevitably inconvenient.
Moreover, just by their looks, it was obvious they were outsiders—tall and burly, which would always make the villagers uneasy.
Gossip would spread, and rumors would get out of hand.
It wasn’t about assuming the worst, but if anything went missing in the village, the blame would surely fall on them.
Rural villages being wary of outsiders wasn’t anything unusual.
Huo Shu could have brushed it off, but "when entering a village, follow its customs"—they had to spare the Ji family’s reputation
Another thing—Ji Yangzong was the village head. Though not an official, he still dealt with the government often. If officials found out he was housing a group of strong laborers at home, what would they think?
After much consideration, having Uncle Fan and the others stay at the shop in the town was the best arrangement.
The two tidied up the shop for a while, then went to Wu Lianhe’s place to give back Zhao Pan’s horse.
They also told the mother and son the location of the shop so they could go there directly in the future, saving the trouble of sending messages to the village.
By the time they finished all this, it was already late again.
The two returned home with the porcelain from Jiatang Porcelain Workshop.
Luckily, the horse was fast—they had just arrived home when large raindrops began pelting the courtyard.
Amidst rumbles of thunder, the rain grew heavier, and lightning tore through the dusky sky.
Ji Taoyu stood under the eaves, watching the raindrops splash against the sun-baked ground, instantly sizzling like water on hot iron.
The chickens clucked and scurried back into their coop.
It was almost dinnertime, and after a day’s work, most farmers had already returned home. The sudden downpour didn’t catch many off guard.
Ji Yangzong was inside admiring the new tea set, insisting that Uncle Fan and the others try the tea with him.
Huang Manjing was preparing dinner.
After the meal, the sky had darkened completely.
The lightning grew brighter, and with the wind and rain, there was nothing left to do. Everyone washed up and retired to their rooms early.
When Ji Taoyu returned to his room, he noticed the window was open, and rain had splashed in, dampening the sill.
He hurried to close it, but just as he reached the window, a deafening thunderclap boomed, startling him so badly his hands went weak, and he instinctively flinched back.
“Even thunder scares you.”
A large hand reached past his shoulder and shut the window.
Ji Taoyu turned his head and saw Huo Shu, tall and imposing in the lamplight, fresh from the washroom. He let out a small sigh of relief.
Huo Shu stood bare-chested, only wearing loose trousers. His bronze skin still glistened with undried water, exuding a wild aura.
After closing the window, Huo Shu didn’t step away immediately. He stood right behind Ji Taoyu—not touching, but close.
“You smell like soapberries.”
Ji Taoyu turned and leaned in, lightly sniffing Huo Shu’s arm.
Standing side by side, Ji Taoyu only reached a little past Huo Shu’s shoulder.
Huo Shu took the opportunity to pull him into his arms, lowering his head to inhale Ji Taoyu’s scent as well.
Truthfully, he didn’t need to—he already knew Ji Taoyu carried a faint herbal aroma. It wasn’t overpowering or bitter, but refreshing, like young herbs in early spring, not yet at full potency.
Huo Shu had developed the habit of light sleep in the military, and even after leaving the frontlines, it stayed with him.
But since marrying Ji Taoyu, whether it was the calming effect of his herbal scent or something else, he had slept deeply many times.
“The rain’s made it much cooler.”
Huo Shu remarked, his chin resting against Ji Taoyu’s soft cheek.
Summer in Tongzhou was hot and humid, and even a little movement left one sticky with sweat.
In winter, Ji Taoyu would naturally curl up in his arms to sleep. But now, with the heat, if he tried to hold Ji Taoyu, he’d complain and squirm away.
It was rare for him to stay so obediently in his embrace like this.
Ji Taoyu let out a soft hum, nestling against Huo Shu.
Truth be told, he wasn’t very brave. Sudden summer storms with thunder and lightning scared him so much he’d bury his head under the blankets.
But with Huo Shu here, he felt an unprecedented sense of safety.
Huo Shu rubbed his stubbly chin against Ji Taoyu’s face. A stray gust of wind blew out the candle before they could cover it with a lampshade.
The room plunged into darkness. Letting the candle stay extinguished, Huo Shu scooped Ji Taoyu up by the waist and carried him to the bed.
Outside, the wind and rain raged, masking any other sounds. Ji Taoyu relaxed completely.
Sinking into the thin quilt, his fingertips traced Huo Shu’s pressed lips—an unspoken invitation.
Soon, the two were entwined like strands twisted into a single thread.
Just as Ji Taoyu was beginning to feel dazed, a sliver of reason told him something was off.
He pushed lightly at Huo Shu, who was leaning over him.
A husky voice came from above: “What’s wrong?”
Ji Taoyu whispered, “Did you use that thing Tianyin gave you again?”
Huo Shu didn’t answer, but Ji Taoyu wasn’t a fool, he could tell either way.
Realizing this, Ji Taoyu said, “Do you know using this means we won’t have children?”
Huo Shu replied, “I know.”
For some reason, Ji Taoyu felt a chill run down his spine, cooling the heat in his body.
He pushed Huo Shu away and slowly sat up, letting the quilt slide down his chest.
In the dimness, he couldn’t quite make out Huo Shu’s expression.
“A-Shu… you… you don’t want to have children with me?”
Thank you for the update
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