As dusk approached, the golden rays of the setting sun fell on the man’s elegant and noble face, accentuating his deep-set eyes. Beneath his thick, sword-like eyebrows, his eyes exuded an imposing aura even without anger.
He was a strikingly handsome man. Below his high, straight nose, the corners of his thin lips seemed to naturally contain a smile, always slightly upturned, which somewhat softened the solemn and gloomy air emanating from his eyes.
Liu Miantang still remembered her first thought upon seeing him after her severe illness: though handsome, he didn’t look like the settled type, with a face that suggested a penchant for romance. Whoever became his wife would surely have a weary heart.
The ancients said one shouldn’t judge people by appearances, lest they incur divine punishment.
Still confused on her sickbed, she quickly discovered that retribution for her silent criticism had come – the scented sachet she had prepared as a gift for her future husband before marriage was now prominently hanging on this handsome young man with a flirtatious smile.
Moreover, when she heard the young physician who was taking her pulse address him as Master Cui Jiu, she vaguely guessed that she was the unfortunate wife destined for a weary heart.
When she received definitive confirmation from the physician, she felt a mix of emotions, unsure how to face this unfamiliar husband.
At that time, she was still too weak to speak much and could only lie frailty in bed, watching Cui Jiu sit nearby, carefully inquiring of the physician, “How is her condition? How long before she can speak?”
That deep, magnetic voice inexplicably brought a sense of comfort…
Lost in her thoughts, Cui Jiu had already lifted the door curtain and strode in. Seeing her staring blankly at him, he paused, remained silent for a moment, then said flatly, “I’m back.”
By her calculation, it had been over a month since she last saw him.
Unfortunately, although she and Cui Jiu had been married for several years, all memories of that time had vanished from her mind. She couldn’t possibly feel the longing of a wife missing her long-absent husband.
However, she had learned bits and pieces of their past from others, hearing that they had been a loving couple since their marriage.
Although unfamiliar, out of gratitude for Cui Jiu’s efforts on behalf of the Liu family and herself, she came to her senses, stood up, and walked over, intending to help him remove his cloak and dust it off.
But before she could get close, Cui Jiu’s long fingers had already undone the ties, tossing the satin cloak onto a nearby long chair.
Seeing him seated, Miantang went to the table, took a cup, and poured him some water, saying, “Li Mama is cooking in the kitchen and hasn’t brought hot water yet. This lukewarm water isn’t good for making tea, but husband, please at least wet your throat for now.”
As she spoke, following the etiquette she had learned from her instructor in wifely duties before marriage, she half-bowed, raising the cup to her forehead in a gesture of respect for her husband to partake.
This was the “lifting the tray to the eyebrows” gesture, the proper etiquette for a woman of the time to show respect to her husband.
Cui Jiu’s deep eyes narrowed slightly. He didn’t take the cup from her, but instead picked up a nearby book and flipped through it, saying with concern, “Doctor Zhao said that after your serious illness, you’re most susceptible to cold air and should avoid drinking such cool water.”
As he spoke, he called out towards the door, “Li Mama, bring in some hot tea!”
Li Mama was indeed efficient. In no time, she brought in a pot of fragrant hot tea.
Cui Jiu took the teacup offered by Li Mama, naturally and casually rolled up his sleeves, used the tea lid to brush away the tea froth, and elegantly took a slow sip.
When Liu Miantang had studied the art of tea with her female instructor before, she had heard about the intricacies of tea drinking – lifting the lid, brushing the tea, rubbing the cup, all had their particular methods.
At the time, watching her instructor’s fluid demonstration, she had secretly admired it. But now, observing Cui Jiu’s elegant tea-drinking posture, it seemed to make even that instructor’s manner appear somewhat crude and affected in comparison.
She only remembered that the Cui family was as wealthy as a small nation in the capital, yet they had risen from humble origins as salt smugglers and boatmen. She hadn’t expected Cui Jiu, a son of a merchant family, to possess such an air of refinement typical of the gentry class.
In comparison, she, a half-trained daughter of a fallen official family, seemed somewhat ill-matched with this jade-like gentleman sitting across from her…
After serving the tea, Li Mama respectfully withdrew, leaving Liu Miantang and Cui Jiu sitting face to face.
Such moments of privacy between them had been rare before. When she was seriously ill and bedridden, she was always attended by maids and servants. Later, when her condition improved, Cui Jiu left to manage business affairs.
Now, sitting opposite each other in the quiet room, she suddenly remembered that a wife’s duties weren’t limited to showing respect; there was also the matter of conjugal relations…
Thinking of this, she suddenly felt nervous. Although it was getting dark, she didn’t feel prepared.
However, after putting down his teacup, Cui Jiu gently inquired about her recent health and recovery.
Seeing that her husband was just making casual conversation, Liu Miantang secretly breathed a sigh of relief and answered his questions one by one.
After a few casual questions, Cui Jiu suddenly asked nonchalantly, “Since you’ve just arrived, why don’t you take some time tomorrow to walk around the town? If you see anything you’d like to buy, feel free to do so.”
Miantang thought for a moment and replied, “I don’t need anything. The streets are crowded and noisy. I’d rather stay at home and tidy up the place for some peace.”
The Cui family’s fortunes had declined, with valuable shops in the capital sold off. They had come to Lingquan Town to engage in the porcelain business. As all beginnings are difficult, there would be many expenses. If they didn’t economize and continued to spend lavishly as before, wouldn’t they soon exhaust their resources?
But she didn’t want to hurt her husband’s pride, so she didn’t mention anything about fearing to spend money outside.
However, speaking of this, she stood up and took out her jewelry box from the luggage trunk.
Inside were two silver notes that her maternal grandfather had sent to her through someone when she got married.
When she woke up after her serious illness, her other dowry was gone, but only her mother’s jewelry and this silver box remained intact, pressed under her cotton mattress. Later, when the family faced difficulties, Cui Jiu never asked her for the dowry box.
Now, Miantang unhesitatingly took out one note and handed it to him, saying, “I heard from Li Mama that you’ve bought a new shop in town. Great success is just around the corner. My dowry isn’t much, but consider this as an investment. When the shop opens, I can also share in some of the profits with you, husband.”
She said this to save face for Cui Jiu, rather than directly saying, “Husband, you’ve lost everything now, and I’m afraid you don’t have capital, so let me contribute some.”
Cui Jiu seemed not to have expected her to do this. He just stared at her eyes for a while without taking the note, and then said, “Aren’t you afraid of losing your dowry if the business fails?”
Seeing he didn’t take it, Miantang placed the silver note on the table and smiled, “In business, there are always gains and losses. It’s not as if one person can make all the money in the world. You using it is better than me being in the dark about it.” She looked at him hopefully, expecting him to accept it.
Miantang was originally beautiful, but if a beauty lacks spirit, she’s no more than a jade statue without a soul. When she smiled slightly, that sense of unapproachable distance like an ice beauty instantly melted away in her flower-like smile. The two shallow dimples on her fair cheeks looked extremely sweet, giving her an air of innocent girlishness.
Cui Jiu narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at her for a while before reaching out to take the silver note, saying, “In that case, I’ll keep it for you for now… But you should still go to the market. I’ve already ordered some new fabric for you at the clothes shop. Go and have a look, and if you don’t like it, you can choose something else you prefer…”
Since it was her husband’s thoughtful gesture, Miantang couldn’t refuse again, so she nodded in agreement.
At this moment, Li Mama came to ask if the master wanted to dine. Hearing the master’s affirmative response, she brought in the meal on a lacquered wooden tray.
Today’s dishes were in the Jiangnan style. The lotus root slices were stuffed with well-seasoned meat and fried to a golden crisp, the beggar’s chicken exuded the fresh fragrance of lotus leaves, and there was also a tofu soup topped with crab roe, which was exceptionally delicious.
Perhaps because the master had returned, Li Mama, who usually prepared meals carelessly, had taken extra care today.
Liu Miantang had been eating mostly rice porridge and vegetables on her journey, and it wasn’t until she saw meat that she realized how much she had craved it. She ate with great focus.
After satisfying her craving with the fragrant meat, she belatedly realized that she might have been eating improperly. She immediately filled a small bowl with tofu soup, summoned up the etiquette she had learned before marriage, and once again raised it to her eyebrows, offering it to her husband.
She had been too careless. In the past, when she was at her parents’ home, she had been scolded by her father for her poor table manners. Since then, she has always restrained herself when eating in front of others.
But now she had only thought of herself, which was inappropriate. With money being tight in the family, such full tables of food and wine were rare. Her husband, busy with business every day, must be exhausted and in need of nourishment. How could she, who stayed idle at home, eat so much?
Thinking of this, she hastily put down her chopsticks and only nibbled on rice in small bites.
Cui Jiu didn’t eat much, only occasionally picking up a few morsels with his chopsticks. Most of the time, he watched Miantang across from him eating heartily.
A beautiful woman eating was supposed to maintain elegant manners, such as chewing without showing teeth and drinking soup quietly. Unfortunately, his wife, though beautiful, ate with wide, sparkling eyes and puffed cheeks, completely focused on her food.
However, that kind of total absorption didn’t seem uncouth but rather made one feel like joining in the feast. Inadvertently, he, who hadn’t intended to eat much, ended up having a few more bites. But later, perhaps because she was full, he no longer saw her picking up food with her chopsticks.
As they sat opposite each other, both with their minds no longer on eating, the atmosphere became somewhat cold and silent.
After the meal, Cui Jiu rinsed his mouth with fragrant tea and then said to her, “A new batch of goods has arrived at the dock, and I need to go and check the inventory. I probably won’t be back tonight. You’ve had a tiring journey, so you should rest soon.”
Originally, Miantang had been secretly nervous about whether they would spend the night together, but hearing Cui Jiu say this, she let out a great sigh of relief and said in a somewhat lighter tone, “Although it’s Jiangnan, the nights can still be chilly. Husband, you should dress warmly…”
As she spoke, she took out a small padded jacket she had sewn over the past few days and handed it to her husband.