Chapter 25: Morning Greeting
A few moments later, Wei Shao sat up straight. The distance between them is freed up. Xiao Qiao exhaled a breath, then realized one of her hands still hold on his thigh.
His thigh muscles are solid, the kind that feels lean and hard. Don’t know if it was her palm or his skin, but it was hot, so she shrank back. She climb in, but a corner of her clothes was pressed underneath his feet.
Xiao Qiao tried to pull it.
Not sure if he did it on purpose, or if his leg was heavy, it didn’t move at all.
Xiao Qiao pulled again.
“Husband, you’re pressing on my clothes.” She reminded.
Wei Shao seemed to grunt from his nose. He lifted his leg slightly. Xiao Qiao was relieved. She crawled in to lie down and slept on the innermost side. In her heart, she could not help but complain.
The teaching she receives is the couple will share a bed and follow the order of men sleeping inside and women sleeping outside.
This man, probably because of habit, from the first night they lived together, slept on the outside and did not go in. Xiao Qiao cannot force him in and sleep inside herself.
But he has so many nasty habits.
She prefers to sleep outside. The space is large, and convenient to get up and down!
……
Wei Shao moved his thighs. And she withdrew her hand.
The place where she pressed her palms, it seems to be cooled down.
He is still sitting motionless. His forehead was still hurting. Tomorrow it may be a bruise.
Just now, he heard her laughing.
When he came home, he was drunk and stopped at the door. She looked concerned and asked the servants to help him.
She thought he couldn’t see the concern on her face was made out.
If she is really concerned, she will help. Or she thinks he will break her hand?
A man is inevitably like this. Married a wife. Even if they dislike her, but subconsciously demanded his wife be devoted to him.
Wei Shao is this kind of common man.
If Xiao Qiao really helps him just now, he may not let her touch.
But she did not move. Then it was her problem.
If he understands correctly, Qiao’s family was showing their goodwill to him, so they initiated a marriage.
Is this how she was taught to serve her husband? Wei Shao glanced at the figure on the inner side of the bed.
She is shrinking in the innermost. Like a motionless cat.
Wei Shao felt more comfortable in his heart. After touching his forehead again, he fell back onto the bed.
When he leaned down, he remembered when she tripped and fell upon himself.
It seems to be quite soft.
……
The next morning, Wei Shao woke up.
He drank too much last night. And he woke up with a slight headache.
He opened his eyes and saw a face. His gaze fixed.
After a short period of confusion, his consciousness sobered up.
They were quite close, just an elbow’s distance away.
In fact, more technically speaking, he himself turned inward and ended up leaning over towards her.
She still sleeps. Her long hair is disheveled on her neck. There are stains on her lips. Both sides of her face are flushed from sleep. Her eyelashes curled with playful energy.
Wei Shao’s eyes lingered on her face for a while. Out of a man’s instinct, he looked at her loose lapel.
Although they only lived together for a few nights, Wei Shao has noticed she always sleeps with her lapels covered, as if he would do something to her.
He felt a little ridiculous about her childish action.
But at this moment, since she loosens her lapel, he will look at it in passing.
Wei Shao, because of this thought, seemed to have a feeling of revenge in his heart. Glanced at her exposed delicate clavicle from the lapel a few inches below.
His bottom part is swelling up uncomfortably, and he wants to relieve himself.
At this time, Xiao Qiao’s eyelashes moved.
Wei Shao withdrew his gaze and turned over, facing out.
Xiao Qiao opened her eyes and saw Wei Shao was still asleep with his back to her. Rubbing her eyes, her gaze fell on the window outside, and her brain snapped awake.
She was up late! Overslept! It was already dawn!
It would be too late to greet Mrs. Xu!
She wanted to make a good impression on Wei Shao’s grandmother. Although she hadn’t intended to do so, after yesterday’s meeting, the idea didn’t seem so out of reach anymore.
But it’s terrible luck! Mrs. Xu just came back yesterday, and she slept like a pig the next morning!
She slept late, but Chun Niang did not knock on the door to remind her. Is it possible all the people in this west room have died in their sleep ……
Xiao Qiao wanted to cry, springing up from the bed at once.
Wei Shao opened his eyes. He looked back and frowned. Watching her fumbling from his legs and flipping over: “What’s wrong with you? Early in the morning, there are wolves chasing you?”
“Late! I’m late! It’s late to greet grandmother!”
Xiao Qiao couldn’t care less about him and get off the bed. Weeping and turning back.
Wei Shao rolls over and sits up. Straightening his lapel, with a sneer on his lips: “So? If you are late, will grandmother eat you?”
Of course, it’s okay for you!
Xiao Qiao muttered in her heart, somewhat resentful of him. If he hadn’t returned late last night and tossed before going to bed, she wouldn’t have overslept in the morning.
Xiao Qiao ignored him. She covered her sash and opened the door. Chun Niang and the servants in charge of washing were already standing outside on the porch. When Chun Niang saw Xiao Qiao, she said in a low voice: “Don’t be anxious, lady. The old madam has just sent word that she knows Master came back late last night. You two don’t have to get up early to greet her. Therefore, this servant didn’t wake you up.”
Xiao Qiao breathes relief. Let them come in to serve and freshen up.
Wei Shao seemed to be against her. His movement is ridiculously slow. She is already tidied up, but he is still putting on the coat. He takes a long time to tie the belt. Xiao Qiao’s eyes were on fire when she looks at him. She wants to go up and slap him. After he had finished, he ate a few bites of breakfast. He looked at Xiao Qiao and said, “Let’s go.”
Xiao Qiao followed him and walked out.
It was almost half an hour late from the regular hour of greetings. The sun had risen on the roof of the north house. They arrived at the north house. Not in yesterday’s main room, but in a living room where Mrs. Xu moves around. There were a few people inside. Besides Mrs. Zhu and Zheng Shu, there is also Wei Yan. He was in high spirits. Joking and laughing with Mrs. Xu. When he heard Wei Shao and Xiao Qiao had arrived, he stopped and turned his head.
He was not the only one. All the eyes of the rest of the people in the room looked over in unison.
Wei Shao walked in with an open face. Xiao Qiao lowered her eyes and stood with him in front of Mrs. Xu.
She had already sensed the sourness of Mrs. Zhu’s gaze.
“Grandmother, accept a bow from the granddaughter-in-law.” Xiao Qiao bowed. “Granddaughter-in-law was rude. On the second day after grandmother returned home, I was late. I beg you to punish me. I won’t dare to do it again.”
“It’s fine,” Mrs. Xu looked very kind, “It was me who told them not to disturb you. Have you eaten? If you haven’t, there is still hot soup here. You two eat.”
“I already had my meal before. Thank grandmother for her affection and understanding of my late return last night. I won’t dare next time.” Wei Shao also laughed.
Wei Yan laughed and said: “It was my fault for keeping Zhong Lin last night and not letting him leave. I’m afraid he won’t recognize the way back. In the morning, he could still get up. It is clear that sister-in-law took good care of him. If grandmother wants to blame someone, blame me.”
Xiao Qiao didn’t raise her eyes, but she felt his eyes sweeping over her as he spoke.
Mrs. Xu smiled and said: “You brothers haven’t seen each other for a long time. It’s only right to sit down and drink wine together. But next time, don’t drink too much. Lest you hurt your body.”
Wei Yan and Wei Shao answered in unison. The two brothers accompanied Mrs. Xu and talked about the birthday banquet. Mrs. Xu told them to not make a big deal and keep it simple. Then they dispersed and said goodbye. Wei Yan, Wei Shao, and the steward discussed and left. Xiao Qiao went back to the west room.
In the north room, Mrs. Xu kept Mrs. Zhu and asked Zheng Shu to leave as well. Leaving only the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in the house.
Mrs. Zhu sat with her knees on one side and saw her mother-in-law not speak for a long time. Because she had feared her for most of her life, her heart was uncertain at the moment. She hesitated, smiled, and said, “In two days it will be mother-in-law’s birthday. The entire house is busy these days, and I am not free on my side. Although we are in a rush, we are happy.”
Mrs. Xu smiled and said, “It’s just a small thing. According to my intention, there is no need to do so much. But you guys don’t want to listen, so I have to let you do it, lest you complain behind my back about not being able to fulfill your filial piety.”
Mrs. Zhu said with a smile, “Not at all. It is indeed the filial piety of the juniors. As they should be.”
The old madam nodded and looked at Mrs. Zhu with one eye. She said, “I remember Zheng’s girl is now eighteen or nineteen, right? When a girl reaches this age, if she doesn’t get married, it’s not good to keep her. You should keep in mind, if there is a suitable family, arrange for her to get married.”