C4 Part2

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

The next day early morning before sunrise, Ping Zhaofu cautiously tipped off the bed. She was carrying a candle but dared not light it, afraid it would wake Cha Xiangye up. Until she stepped onto the veranda, only dared to light up the candle.

The ladies in the kitchen were yawning, there was some sound of burning wood crackled and surprised to see fire in the stove. A petite figure was busying chopping the vegetables.

Aunt Xu looked intently and cried out in surprised, “Madam, what are you doing?”

“I’m cooking breakfast.” Ping Zhaofu looked back and smiled.

When she was in Ping family, she woke up early before dawn, cooked breakfast and would wake everyone up and fetched them water to wash up. Then she served them breakfast and ate all the leftovers before going to the field to work.

When the sun was about to rise, she had to go to the river to wash the clothes, and back to the house to dry them, then prepared lunch and sent the food to the field for Ping family to eat or wait them to come home for lunch before she could continue her work in the farm.

Before sundown, she had to return home to cook dinner. Then after dinner, she finished all the housework and laundry before allowing to go to bed. That was her life everyday when she was in Ping family…

“Are you preparing breakfast for Master?”

“Yes.” Ping Zhaofu smiled and lowered her head and continue chopping the vegetables.

Aunt Xu noticed her movements were smooth and quick, and could handle several things at the same time. It must had been used to cook last time but her handling meat skill was relatively unfamiliar. It should be because the family had no money to buy meat.

“Sure enough, people from poor family really hardworking. The former wife was not only commanding, but also would sleep until breakfast delivered to the room.”

Someone at the side was gossiping about the former wife, Aunt Xu was afraid being heard by Ping Zhaofu, she immediately twisted that lady’s arm.

“Hurry up and work.” Aunt Xu glared at the cook.

“Yes, Aunt Xu.”

The cook quickly separated and continue their work.

“Madam, since you are interested, let me first share with you about Master’s favourite food, preference and things that should be avoided when eating.” Aunt Xu took the spatula from Ping Zhaofu’s hand and handed it to the cook beside her.

“Thank you…. How do I address you?” Ping Zhaofu wiped her hands on the apron and walked to the corner with Aunt Xu so that would not hinder other people in the kitchen.

“Just call me Aunt Xu, I’m mainly in charge the kitchen.”

Then Aunt Xu shared with Ping Zhaofu about Cha Xiangye dietary preferences, including some cooking methods. Ping Zhaofu listened carefully and memorized them one by one.

Fei’er had just arrived in the kitchen, was surprised to see Ping Zhaofu.

“Today’s breakfast was prepared by Madam.” Aunt Xu handed over the tray full of food to Fei’er. “Be careful, don’t knock it down.”

The news about Xi’er three maids that were kicked out suddenly became well known to everyone in the community.

Fei’er nodded and responded that she would pay attention, and returned to the courtyard with Ping Zhaofu.

“I’ll go get Master to wake up.” Ping Zhaofu walked into the room while Cha Xiangye was still asleep on the bed.

The bed was huge, so Ping Zhaofu had to go to the bed to reach out to him. She took off her shoes and climbed onto the bed. When she was about to touch Cha Xiangye’s shoulder with her hand, and unexpectedly heard him babble.

“Mother…. it’s my fault…. please forgive me…”

She was startled when she heard those words, guessed that he must have a nightmare.

“Master…”

With her small little hand touching his shoulder, Cha Xiangye’s body turned over but still babbled. In this cold weather, his forehead was covered with sweat. Upon closer inspection, his face was red, his lips were wrinkled and dry until there was a thin and transparent layer skin on the lips.

Ping Zhaofu was no stranger to this look── he had a fever.

She guessed that it might be because she wiped his hair too slowly last night, and the room was not warm enough, which made him catch cold.

She was annoyed at her own self for being so careless and hurriedly rush out to the outer hall which almost collided with Rou’er who was holding a basin of water.

“Master has a fever, give me this.” Ping Zaofu took the basin from Rou’er’s hand.

“I’ll go get the doctor immediately.” Fei’er quickly turned around and ran out of the room.

Ping Zhaofu sat on the edge of the bed, soaked and wrung out the cloth towel, then put it on Cha Xiangye’s forehead. She told Rou’er to close all the windows tightly so that the cold wind would not get in and aggravate the condition.

She took the towel and carefully wiped the sweat from his face and neck.

After a while, the doctor came, diagnosed the pulse and prescribed the prescription. Fei’er went out again to get the medicine and followed the doctor’s instruction by decocted the concoction then send it to Ping Zhaofu.

Fearing that he would choke while drinking when lying down on the bed, so Ping Zhaofu asked Rou’er to help to lift up Master and put half of the upper body leaned against the bed rail.

The half asleep and half awake Cha Xiangye, he heard a gentle voice whispering softly in his ear from time to time──

“Would you like to have some porridge?

“I’m afraid you will feel sick if you drink the medicine directly…”

“Here… drink some….”

Because of the bitterness of the medicine, he resisted like a child, a gentle voice coaxed him with great patience.

“Just one more sip…”

“Would you like some sugar?”

“You will feel better after you drink the medicine, shall we drink a little more?”

Whose voice is this?

Is it mother?

Will mother forgive me?

“Mother…” He felt his hand suddenly being hold on. “Mother?”

“I’m here…” The soft voice was very soothing.

He felt relieved and fell asleep.

☆☆☆ ☆☆☆

Cha Xiangye slept all day and night. Because of the fever, he was groggy, and only awake until the next morning.

He opened his eyes, his throat was tight, dry and itchy, and coughed uncontrollably.

Ping Zhaofu was sitting in front of the bed, leaning on the pillar to sleep and was awakened by the sudden cough. She immediately checked his condition.

“Do you want some water?”

He nodded lightly.

Ping Zhaofu called Rou’er to help her again to lift up Cha Xiangye and leaned against the bed rail, and the smart Fei’er handed over a bowl of water.

She took half a mouthful with a spoon and placed it on his lips.

“Drink slowly….”

Cha Xiangye was taken aback.

Wasn’t this sound that appeared in the dream?

He had always dreamed about his childhood. Before the accident happened, his virtuous and gentle mother used to speak in such a soft tone. In his childhood when he still loved being coquettish, he liked to lay on his mother’s lap and listened to her storytelling.

But those days were actually 20 years ago.

He opened his mouth to speak, but his throat still hurt and he had to drink half a bowl of water under her feeding before he could speak comfortably.

“You have been taking care of me?”

“Yeah.” Ping Zhaofu handed the bowl to Rou’er. “Hungry? Would you like some porridge?”

He nodded.

“Slaves will go and bring them here.” Rou’er quickly left.

“Would you like to lay down and rest first? I’ll wake you up when the porridge arrives?”

“It’s okay, let me lean on it like this, it’s uncomfortable to lie down for a long time. My back hurts…”

Ping Zhaofu nodded and helped him pull the quilt up to his chest, fearing that he would catch a cold again.

Putting her little hand on his forehead to check the temperature.

Cha Xiangye found that her hands were warm, and for him, who was still a bit chilly- with such a warm touch felt so comfortable.

“It’s still a bit hot…” Noticed that he still seemed to feel cold, Ping Zhaofu asked worriedly, “Should I add more charcoal to warm it up?”

Cha Xiangye didn’t respond, grabbing her hand directly in his palm.

One was not enough, he grabbed the other one and held it together.

The sudden intimacy made Ping Zhaofu felt a little shy.

“What’s the matter?” Why did he suddenly took her hands?

“Your hands are very warm, and felt like holding a stove.” And you don’t need to heat up the charcoal.

It was then that Ping Zhaofu realized he used her hands as a warmer.

“My hand temperature has always been high.” Even if it was winter time.

“Is your body too?”

“Huh?” Ping Zhaofu didn’t understand the meaning of a thoughtless sentence.

Cha Xiangye suddenly hugged her.

Ping Zhaofu, who was caught off guard, froze in his arms.

“Come here…” She was too far away, and there was a gap between the two.

“Uh…” Fei’er was still in the room, which made her felt little embarrassed.

Luckily, Fei’er was a smart girl, she quickly found an excuse to add water to the teapot, and quickly left the room that was filled with warmth.

Ping Zhaofu took off her shoes and went to bed, she leaned closer to him.

“Hold me,” he instructed.

Ping Zhaofu blushed, and gently hugged the mighty body.

“You are so warm.” He sighed comfortably, pulling up the quilt to cover the two of them.

“Is it better now?”

“Yes..”

Ping Zhaofu pursed her lips and smiled happily.

When Rou’er came back with the porridge, she saw the affectionate scene of the newlyweds holding each other, she couldn’t help but smiled and lightened her steps.

She lightly tapped Ping Zhaofu’s shoulder, “Here is the porridge.”

Ping Zhaofu, who was almost fall asleep, nodded and said to Cha Xiangye, “I will serve you with the porridge.”

“Madam, let me go get it for you.”

Rou’er quickly filled a bowl of porridge and handed it to Ping Zhaofu.

She was feeding Cha Ziangye bit by bit, with a skillful gesture.

He looked at her seriously on blowing the hot porridge in the cold spoon, and asked coldly, “Feeding your former husband often?”

Ping Zhaofu said, “He had always been taken care of by me, so I….”

The porridge in her hand was suddenly blown out, Rou’er on the side was almost hit by the bowl, screaming in fright.

“Go away, you don’t need to feed me!”

The sudden change of mood made Ping Zhaofu dumbfounded on the spot.

“Go!” Cha Xiangye yelled at her.

Ping Zhaofu got out of bed in embarrassment and accidentally stepped on the hot porridge. She endured the pain and stood aside.

“Rou’er, can I trouble you to feed Master the meal please?” Ping Zhaofu clasped her hands hard because of the pain.

“Yes.”

Cha Xiangye’s expression changed as soon as she said that, Rou’er was also frightened, her hands were trembling, and the bowl seemed to be shaken off at any time on her hand.

Fei’er was older and had a more stable personality, so she took over the task by taking the bowl from Rou’er’s hand and filled a half bowl of porridge headed to the bed.

“I will do it myself.”

Cha Xiangye took the bowl to himself and didn’t care about the hotness of the porridge. He drank two or three mouthful of gulps, stuffed the bowl back into Fei’er’s hand, and lay down to sleep on his own.

The three people tiptoed to clean up the porridge on the floor.

When Rou’er and Fei’er about to leave the room, they saw Ping Zhaofu had not moved.

“Madam?”

Ping Zhaofu waved at them to leave her alone.

After the two maids had left, Ping Zhaofu wiped the soles of the feet with the cloth towel. There was a piece of redness there, and it was painful when touched. For fear of blisters later, the wet cloth towel kept pressing the soles of the feet.

Why did she make him angry again?

Ping Zhaofu really couldn’t figure it out, and didn’t understand what was wrong with her response that offended him.

His temper always just like what he said: moody and unpredictable- when clouds are dark or the sudden lightning comes.

Ping Zhaofu thought that she must be more cautious in her words and deeds in the future, so as not to keep him angry, especially when he was sick now, how can she make the patient angry.

These few days, the weather was windy and getting colder and colder, and Cha Xiangye’s fever repeatedly unstable, just like his emotions, causing Ping Zhaofu to suffer a lot.

But this was not something she couldn’t bear. After all, she used to be in the Ping family and was often the object of anger, especially if Ping Guifu committed a crime, she would be scolded and beaten even if she was innocent.

Finally, Cha Xiangye recovered from the serious illness and resumed his daily life. Ping Zhaofu actively worked hard to be a master of the house. She kept asking Aunt Chen and Aunt Xu who were in charge for help and guidance. She gradually started to pick up.

“Madam, Lord is back.” Rou’er hurried over to the kitchen to inform.

Hearing this, Ping Zhaofu, who was preparing dinner, immediately handed the spatula to the cook beside her, “I will have to trouble you on this.”

Then she ran back to the room with Rou’er.

She took a step slower, Cha Xiangye had already entered the room, and Fei’er was already helping him to change his clothes.

“Where did you go?”

When he got home, he didn’t see his wife, which made Cha Xiangye a little unhappy, and he couldn’t help but guessing where she went.

The person who monitored her reported her whereabouts for the days as usual, the same pattern and boring routine, no special activities, and “he” did not appear either. But as soon Ping Zhaofu wasn’t at the place where Cha Xiangye thought she should be, he couldn’t help thinking and wondered if the surveillance person lazied on his job or in the matter of fact that, she had already ran to “him” for a tryst.

“I was in the kitchen,” Ping Zhaofu took over the dressing action from the maid, “…cooking dinner.”

“And nowhere else?”

“No.”

Aunt Xu had warned her not to walk around and it was best to stay in the yard as much as possible. She thought this was Cha Xiangye’s order, so she has been obediently obeyed, and the most frequent place was the kitchen.

Cha Xiangye looked at her clothes, “New clothes?”

“Yup.”

The next day when Cha Xiangye recovered from illness, the shopkeeper of the cloth shop that owned by him brought a lot of beautiful cloths. The shopkeeper personally selected a few of them and wanted to help her make clothes.

She was flattered, facing the delicate texture and beautiful fabrics, she felt dazzled and didn’t know how to choose.

In the end Rou’er and Fei’er helped her choose a few elegant designs, and asked the shopkeeper to take them back and make the clothes. The finished clothes were delivered just this afternoon. Plus she didn’t need to go to the fields anymore, eventually her skin became fairer. Her complexion made her temperament all stood out and became more elegant, more like a Mistress now.

Cha Xiangye inspected the material on her body, “It’s too simple, should embroider some patterns.”

“But I think it’s beautiful like this.” She has never worn such good clothes.

In the beginning, the shopkeeper of the cloth shop also did mentioned embroidery, but she had no idea about it, so she refused.

“You can embroider something yourself when you’re free.”

“I- I don’t know how to embroider, and I never go to school to learn all this…” Ping Zhaofu had always felt ashamed of her mediocrity, so when she asked Aunt Chen and the others for help, she was more attentive and studious.

“Didn’t you help Ping Guifu embroider purses and make clothes?”

“I can’t embroider, but I can cut clothes. I made clothes before for Guifu…”

Cha Xiangye’s eyes suddenly went cold upon hearing this.

The obvious emotional change shocked Ping Zhaofu.

He sneered, “When you got married, you never said you want to cut clothes for me.”

“Because… because your clothes are made of good materials, and my sewing skills are just average, I’m afraid it will ruin the materials.” She confessed frankly.

“Is it an excuse or insincere?”

Hearing that he was upset, Ping Zhaofu hurriedly said, “Or I will sew a cloth for you tomorrow.”

She discovered that when Cha Xiangye lost his temper easily when she usually mentioned Ping Guifu.

The usual Cha Xiangye was a gentle and a very good husband, but as soon as he talked about what she had done for Ping Guifu, he would definitely get angry.

She didn’t understand the point of his anger. Ping Guifu was just a common man, and he was no better than him from head to toe. She didn’t understand why he should care about it so much.

Could it be that he had a hatred of Ping Guifu?

“Tomorrow?” Cha Xiangye squinted at her in full of surprised.

“Yes, I will start cutting tomorrow.”

“Then I will see the clothes when I return home tomorrow.”

Like this:Like Loading...