"Returning to Before Husband's Castration" 《回到老公自宫前》Chapter 44

 Wang Da Xia ate a big bowl of mushrooms, he swore he wouldn’t touch mushrooms again this month. He could finally eat chicken.

Wang Da Xia picked up the serving chopsticks, like a bullied daughter-in-law he shyly reached over into the pot.

Fortunately Ding Wu didn’t force him to drink soup with the metal ladle nor Wei Cai Wei forcing mushrooms on him.

The chopsticks successfully reached its goal, but, Wang Da Xia discovered a problem, it was originally a pot of chicken and mushroom stew, the two drumsticks were split between Ding Wu and Wei Cai Wei, the small chicken was of course small, the drumsticks were the meatiest parts of it.

Just now he had only drank chicken soup, when he ate the mushrooms, Ding Wu and Wei Cai Wei basically finished the remaining chicken, only a few meatless breast bones remained, they weren’t even enough to fill the gap in his teeth.

Wang Da Xia picked up the chicken neck and ate it, luckily, the pig face gifted from manager Chen was pretty good, Wang Da Xia could eat his fill, he almost ate it all himself.

After dinner, Wei Cai Wei collected the dishes in a basket to wash them by the well.

She was accustomed to doing so from Tieling, Ding Wu would cook and she would clean.

Ding Wu poked at the fire at the stove, heating water to make tea.

He even smiled at Wang Da Xia saying: “Second young master Wang, drink a cup of tea before leaving.”

Be that as it may, there was a slight emphasis on the word “leave”. He looked welcoming but he was just smiling with evil intentions to get him to leave. A fake nobleman!

If it was usual, such a person as Ding Wu who had said a sentence would have been responded to with at least ten sentences from Wang Da Xia and he wouldn’t be able to retort, he could do this but Wei Cai Wei would break off their relationship.

Since he couldn’t say anything, he could only hide, Wang Da Xia didn’t want to spend a minute longer with Ding Wu, he helped Wei Cai Wei pick up the basket, “I’ll help you draw water.”

Ding Wu smiled, not saying anymore, he added more firewood to the stove.

The two of them arrived at the sweet water well at the end of the lane, Wang Da Xia threw the bucket into the well, lifted up a bucket of water and washed the dishes.

Wei Cai Wei saw he was willing to change so she didn’t say anything.

Wang Da Xia spoke to her, “This friend of yours, he’s not bad at cooking.”

Wei Cai Wei couldn’t help want to laugh, mockingly she asked: “Is the chicken soup tasty?”

Wang Da Xia pretended to not hear her mockery, he said: “The mushrooms are also tasty, I wonder if I will also get a stick of Gaoli ginseng— even manager Chen and Li Jiu Bao got one, only I haven’t. We went through life and death together.”

Wei Cai Wei wasn’t a petty person, she said: “Fine, I’ll give you one when we get back, go and show filial piety to Wang qianhu, after you gained benefit from someone, you will have to return the favour to that person, he won’t want to lecture you once he’s received your gift.”

Wang Da Xia felt his heart warm up on hearing this, Wei Cai Wei did actually listen when he imitated how his dad would lecture him if he went home, using Gaoli ginseng to stop his father’s mouth.

She really is good to me…but there was still Ding Wu.

Ding Wu and her will be under the same roof tonight.

Wang Da Xia probed: “Why don’t you just let me stay tonight—”

“You win an inch and want a foot.” Wei Cai Wei immediately caught onto him, “No.”

Wang Da Xia said: “I can just sleep on the floor, what’s more I’m no longer scared of ghosts, the memorial tablet is fake and it’s not like I haven’t stayed over before.”

“You can’t tell people you stayed at mine before.” Wei Cai Wei warned: “Enough, the dishes are clean, you can go home.

Wang Da Xia had no choice but to leave, after taking a few steps, he then turned back, reaching out, “Gaoli ginseng, you said you’ll give it to me.”

Besides Ding Wu even manager Chen has one so why don’t I?

Wei Cai Wei looked at her damn husband who would sometimes act like a child, she immediately had a headache, if it was another man she would have already chased him away with a rod, but this was the person she had loved for over thirty years.

She couldn’t do it, in her last life her dead husband had been so good to her so he could be a bit more demanding this lifetime.

Forget it, just consider it as her owing him from last lifetime and she needs to pay.

Wei Cai Wei picked up the basket, “Follow me back to get it.”

“I’ll help you carry it.” Wang Da Xia took the basket and began to force logic by twisting his words, “I’m not doing this just for a ginseng, I only…anyway, they have some so I should do too. What they don’t have I also want, we have a relationship…right?”

Wei Cai Wei humphed, “What relationship do we have?”

Wang Da Xia: “Life and death. Isn’t that relationship worth a ginseng?”

Wei Cai Wei heard this and thought: This kid still doesn’t get it, oh well, he’s only fourteen years old, I can’t be bothered to explain to him.

The two returned, Ding Wu had already boiled the water and steeped the tea, but he wasn’t there, he had left a note, “I went to bathe.”

Wang Da Xia saw Ding Wu wasn’t around and was in great spirit, he wanted to stay and drink tea, Wei Cai Wei took a piece of Gaoli ginseng and wrapped it in a cloth, passing it to him, “Take it, go quickly.”

Wang Da Xia wanted to laze around but was forced out by Wei Cai Wei, “Go home quickly, life or death.”

Wei Cai Wei shut the door, even though she felt he was still young, but there were things she couldn’t accept: I spoil, indulge, tolerate and let you get away with things as my husband but you treat me as someone who lives or dies with you, hehe.

Wei Cai Wei was alone at home, she took a bath in the courtyard, by the time she had finished tidying up Ding Wu had also returned, fearing an inability to sleep they drank a light bamboo tea, Ding Wu pointed at the high wall next door, “That’s Wang Ya Nei’s home?”

Hearing the nickname “Wang Ya Nei”, Wei Cai Wei realised Ding Wu didn’t go to the bath house just to bathe, she smiled: “You went to the bath house to listen to gossip?”

Ding Wu nodded: “When it comes to getting information, the bath house is quicker than a tea house, everyone is naked and treat other frankly, that Wang Ya Nei is basically a celebrity in the northern city, the four pests of the northern city, as soon as I mentioned him everyone had something to say one after the other, I heard a lot, how he set off firecrackers in the toilets when he was five years old, blowing up someone’s cesspit, how he had angered ten teachers into quitting when he was ten years old, no matter how much Wang qianhu offered no one would take on the job.”

“Also selling the farm from his mother’s dowry at Sanlitun and giving it to the queen of flowers of Hongxiu brothel to redeem herself, supposedly he had fought with Chen dalang over this courtesan, a man who falls for a woman, a dandy at that…”

Ding Wu had just gone to the bath house to wash and managed to even find out how many times Wang Da Xia wet his bed as a child.

Wei Cai Wei couldn’t help stick up for her damn husband, “He’s not as bad as the rumours say, he didn’t redeem her but lent her the money, miss Jin Ying has signed a contract, he’s just too innocent, helping her out of prositution and not because of dirty thoughts.”

Ding Wu sternly said; “I feel like this Wang Da Xia has ulterior motives towards you, that’s why he acts good in front of you so you would like him, from this meal tonight alone I can see it, he’s glib in his words but wears a different expression, he’s also very good at reading people. Innocent? I don’t think so, you need to be careful, don’t get caught up with him. Your status and his are very different, if you get too close it will ruin your reputation.”

It wasn’t because Ding Wu was prejudice towards Wang Da Xia, it really was because Wang Da Xia had a reputation, Ding Wu and Wei Cai Wei were like brother and sister as well as friends, he’ll be returning to Tieling in two days time, when he left who would protect her?

Wei Cai Wei nodded, “Fine, I understand, I will be careful and keep a distance from him.”

Anyway Ding Wu was leaving in two days, she’ll promise him first so he won’t worry.

Ding Wu asked: “Really?”

Wei Cai Wei earnestly nodded, “He’s my neighbour, we’ve experienced life and death situations together, I’m practising medicine alone in the city so I also need someone to support and lend a hand. This came about by fate, I’ve only been in the capital for less than a month and has been in contact with Lu Bing, saw uncle Ding. in the future…I think there’s hope.”

She was implying if she was good to Wang Da Xia it would benefit her.

There were no feelings between a man and woman.

Ding Wu asked: “You’ve walked the streets of the capital, have your childhood memories returned, can you remember your family?”

Wei Cai Wei shook her head, “I guess they’ve already died.” She looked up at Ding Wu, “You are my family, don’t worry when you go back, I will definitely protect uncle Ding, I will follow the path of Lu Bing.”

Actually Wei Cai Wei was hoping to still rely on Li Jiu Bao, the future imperial consort Li, empress dowager Li, with just a word in the future she could free Ding Ru Kui from prison.

Ding Wu raised the cup of bamboo tea, “The next time we meet, you’ll be the most famous female doctor in the capital.”

“I’ll accept your blessing.” 

They touched cups, Ding Wu said: “I grew up in the capital, leaving when I was twelve years old, coming back to a once familiar place, things have remained the same but people have changed, I’ll help you manufacture pills tomorrow, I won’t go out and explore.”

From the son of a high official to a banished man, the huge gap between the two wasn’t easily accepted by everyone, Ding Wu was fine in Tieling, everyone had their own reasons for arriving at that border town, no one looked down on anyone, but in the capital, Ding Wu may appear to be calm but inside he was disappointed.

Wei Cai Wei said: “Fine, then sleep early, we’ll be busy tomorrow.”

Next door, Wang residence.

Wang qianhu had prepared a stomach full of words to say to Wang Da Xia but before he even opened his mouth, Wang Da Xia took out a piece of Gaoli ginseng, “This is for you old man. Dad, I need to get up early tomorrow, I have to go from the north to the south of the city to attend morning roll call at the embroidered uniform guard’s yamen and practise for the dragon boat race, can I return to my room now and sleep?”

Wang qianhu’s words were blocked by this ginseng.

Oh, he really was different with an actual job, this kid was growing up, maybe it’ll be the return of a prodigal son.

No further words were spoken that night.

Early next morning, Wang Da Xia woke up early, riding back to the embroidered uniform guard’s yamen, he made a special detour next door first, Wei Cai Wei was already awake, she was grooming herself at the dressing table in front of the upstairs window.

Wang Da Xia whistled.

Wei Cai Wei looked out from the window, Wang Da Xia waved to her on horseback, “Morning, thank you for your Gaoli ginseng, for the first time my father didn’t lecture me last night.”

The summer morning casted a layer of glow on the young man on horseback, a handsome looking hero, full of youthful energy, it was very pretty.

For a moment Wei Cai Wei couldn’t open her eyes widely, the mirror was upstairs, downstairs was the lane, the young man in the lane, a beauty smiling upstairs.

She had completely forgotten about the promise she made to Ding Wu last night.

At this moment Ding Wu also woke up, he opened the front door to bring water from the well.

Wang Da Xia saw Ding Wu come out from her house, he hurriedly retracted his hand and smile, he greeted him then urged his horse on.

Wang Da Xia got to the end of the lane, he saw there was suddenly a new tea stand there and was unexpectedly open so early, there were two guests sitting there, eating melon seeds and drinking tea.

Wang Da Xia felt suspicious, such leisurely people wouldn’t wake so early.

Hard workers would fill their stomach with bao and soy bean in the morning then go to work, who would have the time to drink tea and crack melon seeds.

There were contradictions.

Wang Da Xia was aware and asked the patrolling northern city troop, “When did that tea stand open?”

“It only opened yesterday.” 

It was too much of a coincidence, as long as it was related to Wei Cai Wei, Wang Da Xia would pay attention, he said to the northern city military: “Watch them, if there’s anything suspicious just send someone to the embroidered uniform guard’s yamen to tell me, you should also keep an eye on my neighbour, if someone causes trouble for her arrest them.”

The matter with Zhou xiaoqi could not repeat.

Wang Da Xia spurred his horse to full speed, racing to the embroidered uniform guard’s yamen for roll call, Lu Ying thought Wang Da Xia would be late, but he actually turned up on time!

Wang Da Xia signs his name on the roster, picked up his oar and said to Lu Ying: “I noticed a suspicious tea stand at the end of Tianshui lane…”

Wang Da Xia told Lu Ying of his arrangements, “The northern city military is helping me look into this, there are problems with this tea stand, it’s fishy at first glance, it might have been arranged by someone with ulterior motives.”

“E.” Lu Ying fell silent for a moment, she said: “There’s no need for the northern military to investigate, I arranged for the tea stand yesterday, the Ding family have enemies in the capital, I sent people to secretly protect Ding Wu.”

Wang Da Xia immediately put on a flattering smile, “Leader Lu has great foresight, you can think of such a great method so quickly, you really are wise! This subordinate really admires you!”