Once he finished, he had a simple breakfast there before heading back to the Ji house.
Listening to the sound of flowing water around him, Huo Shu’s thoughts grew clearer.
Ji Taoyu would find out about the child sooner or later. By now, his anger had likely cooled, and he was calmer.
He would talk to him properly about this matter, and whatever decision they made, they would make it together.
As for children, he had never given it much thought before. Back on the front lines, life was uncertain—he never knew when death might come. After leaving the Northern Frontier, he had assumed he would drift through life alone. Who would have thought he’d eventually settle down in Tongzhou?
But he didn’t regret his decision to stay. The days he had spent with Ji Taoyu were already the best he had known in half a lifetime.
The issue of children was his fault—he hadn’t considered it properly. He should have thought of a solution earlier instead of only pondering it when Ji Taoyu asked, making him upset and heartbroken.
Huo Shu quickened his steps back.
“How is it? Everything alright over there?”
Ji Yangzong was in the yard putting on waterproof shoes, as if preparing to go out. He asked the question as soon as he saw Huo Shu return.
"Some thatch flew off, I've already repaired it."
Ji Yangzong nodded: "Good that it's nothing serious."
"I heard You Erlang wants to expand his house and will encroach on the villagers' land. The two sides are arguing, so I should go mediate."
He added: "Have you eaten breakfast? There’s some left in the pot."
Huo Shu acknowledged with a sound. Hearing about the trouble at the You family’s place, he thought of Ji Taoyu, who loved to join in on the commotion, and asked: "Has Xiao Taozi gone over?"
"Huh?"
Ji Yangzong gave Huo Shu a puzzled look: "Didn’t he go to town? Didn’t he tell you?"
Huo Shu’s brow twitched at the words.
Seeing Huo Shu’s expression shift, Ji Yangzong said: "He said he was going to his grandfather’s place. It just rained last night, and his mother said the ground was muddy and the roads were bad, but he insisted on going."
Huo Shu headed toward the stable: "I’ll go fetch him."
Ji Yangzong didn’t say anything, watching as Huo Shu rode out of the courtyard at a rather fast pace.
He turned his head and saw Huang Manjing coming out with chicken feed, saying: "Did those two kids have a fight?"
Huang Manjing was just about to cluck for the chickens when she froze at the question.
"Nothing’s happened lately, what would they fight about?"
Ji Yangzong exhaled roughly. Seeing that Huo Shu had already gone after him, he didn’t worry too much.
Besides, living under the same roof, a little conflict between husband and wife was commonplace—he and Huang Manjing argued all the time too.
"We can ask them when they get back."
Ji Yangzong said: "I’ll head out first."
____
"What’s going on with you? Lately, you’ve been coming here so often."
Huang Yinsheng watched the young ger putting shredded herbs into the drawers in front of the wall cabinet and remarked.
"It’s not like I’ve been coming often, last time was quite a while ago. Besides, didn’t I always come here before?"
Ji Taoyu didn’t look at Huang Yinsheng, muttering to himself: "Grandfather, are you not welcoming me?"
Huang Yinsheng didn’t respond directly, cutting to the chase: "Did you fight with Huo Shu?"
"N-no."
Ji Taoyu answered guiltily.
Huang Yinsheng stepped forward, took the shredded herbs from Ji Taoyu’s hands, and tapped the label on the wall cabinet.
"Putting kudzu root into the licorice drawer—your mind’s elsewhere, and you say you’re here to help."
Ji Taoyu looked at Huang Yinsheng and, under his gaze, pursed his lips, knowing he’d made a mistake.
Huang Yinsheng took out the misplaced kudzu root but didn’t press about the reason for their quarrel.
"You’ve known Huo Shu’s quiet nature from the start, he’s never been as smooth with words as those who are good with phrases. Life together is bound to have bumps, you just have to be more understanding of each other."
Ji Taoyu pinched his fingers, his heart unsettled and unable to articulate the feeling.
Mostly, he was just frustrated: "Mm."
Huang Yinsheng could tell he probably wasn’t in the mood to listen right now and patted Ji Taoyu’s head.
"Ugh, looks like it’s going to rain again outside, this weather."
Huang Qi came in from the street, frowning: "No wonder the medical hall’s so quiet today."
Ji Taoyu turned to look. The wind howled, fluttering the banners on the street, and the sky was gloomier than when he’d come from the village earlier.
It really did seem like more rain was coming. He couldn’t help but worry—if it started raining, when would he be able to go back?
He turned away: "There are herbs drying in the backyard, I’ll go gather them."
With that, he went inside, and the Huang Qi followed.
"Brother Taoyu, if it rains later and we’re free, what would you like to eat? I’ll make it for you."
Huang Qi carried a basket of herbs and spoke to Ji Taoyu. He remembered that when Ji Taoyu fell into the water before, he’d mentioned craving Dong'an chicken.
Today, though, Ji Taoyu didn’t seem too happy and was even speaking very little.
Ji Taoyu didn’t have much of an appetite and felt eating something like that now would be a waste: "The weather’s too stuffy before rain—next time."
Huang Qi didn’t press further. Ji Taoyu carried the herbs to the storeroom and, upon returning, saw Huang Qi rushing over.
"Your husband’s here!"
Ji Taoyu’s eyebrows shot up but quickly settled as he feigned indifference: "What’s he here for?"
"He’s standing outside the back door and won’t come in. I called to him, but it’s like he didn’t hear me."
Huang Qi said: "Go call him in."
Ji Taoyu averted his gaze: "If he wants to come in, he’ll come in. I’m busy gathering herbs, no time to deal with him."
Even if Huang Qi hadn’t understood before, it was clear now that the couple had fought.
Seeing Ji Taoyu unwilling to engage, he hesitated but ultimately didn’t say anything more, turning back toward the front of the shop.
Ji Taoyu carried the basket, his eyes occasionally darting toward the back door, but no one came in.
He began to wonder if Huang Qi had lied to him—why would someone stand outside and not enter?
After gathering the last basket of herbs, he pressed his lips together and retreated into the room he usually stayed in when visiting.
Thank you for the update!
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