Imperial Husband Chapter 71

The next day. 

Feeling that his body had already recovered, Liu Rong got out of bed and prepared some food to serve Li Jin and the others. "Honored guests, please sit quickly. If it weren't for your help yesterday, my worthless life would be gone."

The water Liu Rong used to prepare the food was given to him by Li Jin, who had Ping'an deliver it through Dongzi.

After Liu Rong received so much help, he felt he must express his gratitude. To spare him the embarrassment of having no water to offer guests, Li Jin had some water delivered to him.

When Dongzi saw that Liu Rong had gotten out of bed so quickly to prepare food, he immediately became nervous. "Amu, didn't Physician Shi tell you yesterday to lie down and rest properly for a while? Why did you get up? What if something happens to your body?"

Although Liu Rong had survived, Dongzi was still haunted by what happened yesterday and was very worried that Liu Rong's body couldn't take it.

"I'm not some wealthy family's shuang'er, why would I need to be so delicate? One night's sleep is enough," Liu Rong said with a smile, rubbing Dongzi's hair. "It's you, you haven't rested well these past days because of my matters. Why are you awake so early?"

Dongzi shook his head. "Amu, I've grown up. I'm an adult now. How can I still sleep in like a child?"

Liu Rong looked at Dongzi helplessly. "You child, you sure know how to talk."

"Amu, let me help you serve the dishes. We can't keep the big brothers waiting too long." Knowing he couldn't win the argument, Dongzi simply took the work from Liu Rong's hands, setting out the cooked dishes for Li Jin and the others so Liu Rong wouldn't overexert himself.

"Alright, alright, my Dongzi is the most filial."

Liu Rong knew Dongzi's heart ached for him, and he felt increasingly that he had failed Dongzi, making the child endure so many hardships because of him.

If only his husband hadn't been taken away.

Remembering Liu Yin, who had been inexplicably arrested by the government runners, a trace of fear and unease appeared on Liu Rong's expression.

"Thank you."

Li Jin nodded to Liu Rong and thanked him.

Liu Rong said apologetically, "Honored guest, you mustn't say that. It is I who should be thanking you. It's just that what I have here is only coarse tea and simple food. If you guests aren't used to it, I..."

"This is perfectly fine, we are used to it."

Li Jin interrupted Liu Rong, promptly picking up some slightly yellowed vegetables to eat.

Given the disaster in Zhuzhou, and before the Da Xia court's grain distribution, it was already not easy for Liu Rong to have any food at all. Moreover, during his life on the run in his previous life, Li Jin had eaten everything, so he was naturally accustomed to it. 

Ying Yuan, having endured his own share of hardship, was not particular about food. As long as it satisfied his hunger, it was enough. Following Li Jin's example, he too began to eat the vegetables.

"That's good... that's good..."

Liu Rong couldn't help but sigh in relief.

Although the meal Liu Rong prepared consisted entirely of wild vegetables, with no meat at all, it was the only thing Liu Rong could offer to welcome his guests. Furthermore, Liu Rong had put considerable effort into this meal, managing to prepare the wild vegetables in several different ways, each with slightly different flavors.

"Rong Fulang seems to have something you want to ask me?"

Li Jin stopped picking up food and looked meaningfully at Liu Rong.

"Yes." Seeing that his thoughts had been discovered by Li Jin, Liu Rong replied, "Are you guests truly distant relatives of my husband?"

It was no wonder Liu Rong asked this.

When Liu Rong first met Liu Yin, Liu Yin was injured. Liu Rong couldn't bear to watch someone die in front of him, so he secretly took Liu Yin to a cave he usually used for rest when tired from work, allowing Liu Yin to recuperate.

Liu Yin was also very lucky. Not only did he survive under such simple conditions, but he also developed feelings with Liu Rong.

Later, they married and had Dongzi. It was only then that Liu Yin told Liu Rong that he had been injured because someone was trying to kill him, and his family had long been killed by the other party. Therefore, when Liu Rong heard someone outside claiming to be Liu Yin's distant relative during childbirth, his expression became so serious.

Liu Yin's original name wasn't Liu Yin, it was a name he took after coming to Liujia Village. His appearance had also changed drastically compared to when he first arrived, due to years of working in the fields. So Liu Rong wasn't worried about the people who wanted to kill Liu Yin recognizing him. The real reason he had sent Dongzi outside earlier was to find out why these strangers were claiming to be Liu Yin's relatives.

Unexpectedly, they turned out to be the noble people Dongzi met on the road, and they even helped him in his time of great trouble, which really left Liu Rong at a loss.

From Li Jin and his group's clothing alone, Liu Rong could tell they were either rich or noble and couldn't possibly want anything from his family. Yet, these very strangers, who had no connection to them, were the ones who had stepped in to help him and Dongzi without any obvious reason. This was the source of Liu Rong's deep confusion.

"No." Li Jin shook his head slightly and smiled. "The reason I said I was your husband's distant relative yesterday was simply because I couldn't bear to see Dongzi lose his amu at such a young age. Rong Fulang, you won't blame me for meddling, will you?"

"No, no, no... How could I possibly blame you? You are the benefactor of me and Dongzi."

Although Liu Rong still felt uncertain about Li Jin's story, he reasoned that a person of Li Jin's status had nothing to gain from deceiving someone like him. He shook his head, deciding to cast the doubts aside.

Li Jin asked, "I wonder if we could use the identity of your husband's distant relatives to stay at your place for a few days?"

Because of the incident with Liu Rong yesterday, Li Jin and the others had slept in the carriage.

"Of course, no problem."

Liu Rong thought for a moment and agreed to let Li Jin and the others stay.

After all, when Li Jin and the others arrived here, they had already used the identity of Liu Yin's distant relatives. Liu Laicai and his wife, and Liu Amo, had seen Li Jin and his group. Changing the story now might provoke gossip.

Furthermore, the house Liu Rong lived in now was built with the silver Liu Yin had brought out back then. It was much better than the other village houses and had many empty rooms, more than enough to accommodate Li Jin and his group.

It was precisely because the house Liu Rong lived in was so good that when Liu Laicai heard yesterday that Liu Rong was dying, he came over hoping to adopt Dongzi and rightfully take possession of the house Liu Rong and his family lived in.

"In that case, then please, Rong Fulang, call me A-Jin from now on."

Dongzi said with a smile, "I'm the one who cleans those empty rooms, they are very clean. I'll take you there right now."

"Dongzi, the honored guests haven't finished eating yet."

Liu Rong looked at Dongzi's eagerness to take them there immediately and smiled helplessly.

"Uh..." Dongzi's face immediately turned red, and he said sheepishly, "Then let's go over later."

Perhaps because Dongzi was such a talkative child, Li Jin and the others were in a very good mood throughout the meal.

True to his word, after clearing the table, Dongzi took Li Jin and the others to the empty rooms.

"It's just a little further ahead."

As Dongzi led the way, his eyes kept drifting guiltily to the hand of Ping'an that he had bitten the day before, but he couldn't find the words to speak.

"Dongzi, why do you keep looking at Ping'an's hand?" Li Jin, knowing what Dongzi was thinking, pretended to be puzzled and asked.

"Uh, my hand?" Ping'an, reminded by Li Jin, remembered the incident where Dongzi had bitten the back of his hand. He said carelessly, "There's nothing wrong with my hand. Dongzi, you should hurry up and lead the way, otherwise, it will be dark soon."

Dongzi retorted, "How is that possible? It's only Weishi (1-3 PM) right now!"

"Eh? You actually know how to tell time?"

Ping'an looked at Dongzi in surprise.

"My father taught me." Dongzi shot a glance at Ping'an. "You should walk faster too, otherwise, if it really gets dark, it's not my fault."

"..." 

Ping'an was speechless, not expecting to be rebutted by Dongzi like this.

"Walk faster," Dongzi urged as he moved beside Ping An. Then, in a quiet voice, he added, "I'm sorry."

This time.

Ping'an was completely dumbfounded. He subconsciously tugged on Zhou Yunting's sleeve. "Zhou Yunting, pinch me."

"Okay."

After saying this, Zhou Yunting pinched Ping'an's cheek.

"Ouch, that hurts." Ping'an looked at Zhou Yunting with a pained expression. "I asked you to pinch me, but couldn't you be gentler?"

Zhou Yunting shrugged, curling his lips playfully. "Ping'an, you're as hard to please as ever. I was just afraid if I was too gentle you wouldn't feel it and would say I did it on purpose."

Ping'an retorted, "Zhou Yunting!"

Zhou Yunting reminded him, "Alright, alright, it was my fault. We should hurry up, the young master and the others have already gone far ahead."

"Ah?" Only then did Ping'an belatedly realize that Li Jin and the others had already followed Dongzi far away. He immediately forgot that he was just angry with Zhou Yunting, grabbed Zhou Yunting's hand, and quickly ran to catch up. "That won't do, let's catch up quickly."

In just a moment.

Dongzi brought Li Jin and the others to the empty room.

The room, although simple, had all the necessary furnishings.

Dongzi looked at Li Jin and the others eagerly. "What do you think? Are you satisfied?"

"Very good."

Li Jin nodded with satisfaction.

Phew~

Hearing Li Jin say it was good, Dongzi couldn't help but sigh in relief.

To be honest, although Dongzi had appeared confident about the rooms earlier, the fact remained that Li Jin and his companions were his family's benefactors. He couldn't help but worry they might find his humble home unsatisfactory.

"I'm glad you like it. Let me help you move your things too."

"Okay."

Seeing how much Dongzi wanted to help, Li Jin agreed. However, he was careful to only let Dongzi carry the lightest items that required little effort.

It took Li Jin and his companions the entire morning to finally get everything unpacked and settled.

Dongzi reminded them uneasily, "Brother Jin, if you need anything, you must tell me. Also, there are those bad guys at the well, you must never go over there."

Li Jin nodded. "Alright. You must be tired too, you should go and rest now."

"Mm." Dongzi nodded heavily. Before leaving, he couldn't resist warning them once more, "Remember, don't go near the well."

Ying Yuan watched Dongzi's retreating back and frowned slightly. "Li... A-Jin, Dongzi repeatedly emphasized just now that we shouldn't go near the well. Could it be that something happened at the well before?"

Dongzi had mentioned before that there were bullies occupying the well, but even so, he shouldn't be so afraid of even going near it.

Although Dongzi thought he had hidden it well, they still noticed Dongzi's body trembling involuntarily.

As for Ying Yuan's form of address for Li Jin, they had decided to change it before coming to Dongzi's house. Ying Yuan was still somewhat unused to it.

"Let's find a chance to go and see for ourselves," Li Jin said.

"Mm," Ying Yuan agreed.