Fang Yu reached out and wrapped his arm around Qiao Hezhi's waist to keep him from moving away again. This time, however, Qiao Hezhi was quite docile and obediently turned back toward him. Just as Fang Yu was thinking how easy the young master was to pacify, he suddenly felt a soft, warm sensation at the corner of his mouth.
In the darkness, a person's senses were infinitely heightened. He could distinctly feel that Qiao Hezhi was... kissing him.
He hesitated, considering whether to push the person back down, but then he thought about how he had indeed wronged Qiao Hezhi somewhat. If Qiao Hezhi enjoyed this, he decided to let him continue. After all, he wasn't at a disadvantage, so he allowed Qiao Hezhi to move freely on top of him.
But this young master truly seemed... as if he had become addicted to kissing. After kissing the corner of his mouth, he moved to his cheek, and after kissing his cheek, he proceeded to the tip of his nose. He covered his entire face with wet kisses, appearing completely different from his usual refined self—more like an unbridled wild horse.
He still asked with good temper: "Young Master Qiao, have you had enough kissing? If we keep moving around like this, we'll both catch a cold tomorrow."
Qiao Hezhi had initially intended only to kiss Fang Yu's lips, but the room was too dark. After several unsuccessful attempts, he grew increasingly flustered.
His face flushed red. Fortunately, no one could see in the dark, so his courage grew. Instead of answering Fang Yu, he instead punched Fang Yu's chest. Only when he heard the man grunt did he feel the anger in his heart dissipate, and then he obediently nestled back into his embrace.
Fang Yu thought hard but couldn't comprehend Qiao Hezhi's behavior. He simply assumed he had spoiled the young master's enjoyment and upset him. At that moment, he felt somewhat like a prostitute from the pleasure quarters, selling his skin and flesh against his conscience, and the patron still wasn't satisfied and took his anger out on him.
This life of living under someone else's roof really wasn't easy~
At this moment, the master and mistress of the Qiao family, who were lying in bed, were chatting idly about everyday matters.
"Why did you move the couch away, wife? You took the quilts and told them to use less charcoal. Aren't you afraid Fang Yu might privately scold Hezhi for poor care at home?"
"Siyu reported that the two are getting closer day by day, but I never fully believed it. I feared Hezhi might have instructed the servants to say that just to set our minds at ease. This is just to truly test how things really are between the married couple."
Father Qiao frowned: "Today I actually felt what the servants said might be true. Moreover, this Fang Yu seems quite different from when he came to pay his respects before."
"Spending all day drinking and carousing outside, he's naturally lost his former timidity and submissiveness and has become glib."
Qiao Xinnian said: "I have many contacts in the city's taverns and theaters. It's true that recently he hosted banquets and entertained guests daily, but they were all scholars. Although he also had courtesans accompany them, he never stayed overnight."
Mother Qiao sighed: "Originally, we misjudged him. Who would have thought a humble scholar would change his tune so completely after marriage, and with a fierce old mother controlling the household at home."
As she spoke, Mother Qiao began to wipe her tears: "He's my only son, pampered since childhood. Hearing the servants report how he was scolded and made to kneel as punishment in his husband's house, my heart feels like it's being grilled over fire and fried in oil all day long."
Qiao Xinnian comforted her: "Since they are already married, unless it's absolutely necessary, we cannot take the worst step. Let's wait and see a bit more. Tomorrow, after Hezhi returns, I will privately give him more silver for security. If things can be resolved with money, then use money to settle them. That way, his life will be easier."
"Master, Madam." A knock suddenly sounded from outside, then the door opened. A maidservant entered to report: "They have extinguished the lamps over at Tingyu Pavilion."
"They've retired for the night?"
"Yes, this servant took a discreet look. The young master and the son-in-law are indeed resting together."
Father Qiao and Mother Qiao glanced at each other, feeling somewhat relieved in their hearts.
The next day, Fang Yu and Qiao Hezhi did not linger long at her parents' home. After eating breakfast, Qiao Hezhi was called away for a short talk, then the two bid farewell to Father and Mother Qiao.
When they came, Fang Yu hadn't prepared many gifts, thinking it was just a simple meal. But when leaving, the Qiao family had actually prepared a whole cartload of things for them to take back, making it difficult to refuse.
"Next time we come, please tell your parents not to prepare so many things."
Qiao Hezhi said: "My parents want you, Master, to visit often, so they prepare many gifts."
Fang Yu shook his head: "Doing it this way feels too much like treating me as a guest."
"Then next time I'll tell them not to prepare so much." Qiao Hezhi lowered his head and took a stack of silver notes from his sleeve, counting out several and giving them to Fang Yu: "This is the money Father gave me. I'll share half with you."
Fang Yu glanced at the silver notes, the denominations weren't huge, but they were fifty taels each. He calculated that Qiao Hezhi had likely been given a total of four hundred taels worth of silver notes in this single instance. His father-in-law was indeed very generous.
Judging by the pocket money Qiao Xinnian gave Qiao Hezhi, the dowry the Qiao family initially gave to the Fang family when he and Xiao Qiao married actually wasn't that much. They likely intended to observe the Fang family's behavior, afraid of making them too greedy too quickly. However, the Fang mother and son came from impoverished backgrounds and had never seen so much money. Although they knew a large portion of the dowry was in Qiao Hezhi's hands, their eyes nearly popped out of their heads just seeing the property deeds and shop titles they received.
Fang Yu wrapped his arms around himself, adopting a posture of someone who considered wealth beneath his notice. "I do not live off my spouse's money," he declared.
Qiao Hezhi covered his mouth with his hand and let out a soft laugh. "Does my husband truly not want this? The lunar New Year festivities are fast approaching—this is the busiest season for hosting banquets and social obligations. Besides, the streets and markets are bustling with activity, more shops are open than usual, and the variety of exquisite foods is endless... Without silver, it would truly be dull."
As he spoke, Qiao Hezhi began to withdraw the silver notes.
"Wait!"
Fang Yu quickly calculated their household's available funds and realized they were running quite low. He knew he couldn't possibly start pawning property deeds or gold and silver items at this point—what would they do if a genuine emergency arose later? Since ancient times, the year's end were always an expensive period. There were substantial costs for hosting various banquets and entertaining guests, plus they needed to prepare gifts for his teacher as a year-end token of gratitude. Furthermore, he still had ambitious plans that absolutely required capital.
As the saying goes, a true man knows when to yield and when to stand firm...
With tears in his heart, Fang Yu held out his hand: "Consider it a loan."
Author's Note:
If Little Fang doesn't repay the loan, he can only pay with his flesh (body)...
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