CH 40

Chapter 40 – New Year’s Eve (2)

At that time, if Xiao Jingfeng was still around, would she be willing to leave the family and go far away?

She shook her head and refused to dwell on the past that could never be changed.

“Why did you come back so late today?  The children were all so worried.”

“Were you not worried?”

Soaking in the hot water, Xiao Jingfeng’s whole body felt very comfortable and relaxed.

“Yes, I was worried.”  She never thought that she would be worried about a man’s safety.

If this is not love, then she doesn’t know what to call this.

He did not expect she would reply to his question and was startled.  Tender feelings surged in his heart but when he thought of the bad news, his heart tightened again.

“Agulie escaped.”

Agulie……..

“Do you mean the left-hand man of Country Feng’s King?”

“Yes.  Our men found out his whereabouts, and troops were sent to encircle and capture him.  Just as he was about to be captured, a group of men in black suddenly appeared and took him away in front of us.”

That was supposed to be a great achievement but everything was in vain.

“This escape of Agulie……..what impact does it have on the imperial court?”

It was a pity.  The people in the Guard Base have been investigating that man and it had now turned into fear and suspicion.

Xiao Jingfeng’s face suddenly darkened.

“The peace talks might break down and war will resume.”

“Must he be captured alive?”

It looked like they did not want to kill Agulie and were trying to capture him alive, so the fearless and confident Agulie escaped once again.

“If captured alive, he will be a hostage.  A dead man is useless as a threat.  Therefore, we can’t use bows and arrows lest the shooting is too accurate and hits him right through his heart.”

It will be a great humiliation if the news of him escaping under their noses spreads. The commander could only issue orders to set up checkpoints at every intersection and conduct strict checks while people who are not locals would be checked thoroughly.

“Where do you think he will flee to?”

They still have to make arrests during the New Year.  So unfortunate.

“Someone saw that group of men ran off with a carriage and headed north then disappeared after leaving the city gate.”

The carriage was eventually found but it was pushed down into the ravine and smashed.  Of course, the carriage was empty.

“To the north……..isn’t that heading to the mountains here?”

Thinking of her children that were still young, Li Jing’er suddenly felt anxious and uneasy.

Upon hearing the uneasiness in her words, Xiao Jingfeng hurriedly stood up from the tub with a splash and pulled the woman standing outside the curtain to stand inside the partitioned-off section and hugged her in his arms.

“Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

“You…….you’re not dressed.”  She stiffened and tried not to look down at the part of him that was slowly hardening……..it was too obvious.

He laughed softly.  “Jing Niang, I don’t have any clothes to wear.”

“Didn’t you keep any clothes inside your backpack?”

She had specially sewn him a backpack that was similar to a modern military backpack made from animal skin that could hold a change of clothes, dry food, and water.

“It can only hold you.”  His hand moved into the folds of her clothes to cover her softness and started to rub her.

“Xiao Jingfeng!……..”  She roared softly and her two cheeks turned red.

“I want……..”  He has been leading a celibate life like a monk for three years, a lean life without meat.  After being a vegetarian for so long, it’s time for him to taste some meat.

Li Jing’er, who could not push away the man, groaned lightly.

“You…….you have to at least wait…….wait until the children are asleep.”

“Really?”  His eyes lit up like a hungry wolf.

She nodded in embarrassment and annoyance.

“I’ll agree with you this time.  Originally, I wanted to wait until after we are married the second time……..”

“No, no, no……..just this once.  If I have to wait until I’ve earned enough money for the dowry, I’ll die of suffocation.”  He was afraid she would take back her words.

No matter how much men are fed, they are beasts that can never be satisfied.  They will know everything between men and women without being taught and once they have had a taste, they will never forget the joy of eating meat.

“Then are you not putting on your clothes?  Do you really want to wait until I get angry?”

Li Jing’er stared at him reproachfully with a pounding heart.

With an aggrieved tone, Xiao Jingfeng hugged her once more before releasing her.

“I really don’t have any clothes with me.  Didn’t you sew some for me?  Just give me a set.”

“Tsk!  Which little spy leaked the secret again?!  It was obvious that I made the clothes for Uncle Niu who worked so hard driving the ox-cart……..”

While she was speaking, a hand slipped around her slender waist.

“Jing Niang…….”

“Alright!  I’ll get them for you, don’t pester me.”

She turned around and left with a blush on her face but still had the lingering feeling of a hard object pressed to her waist.

Light laughter followed the shy Li Jing’er as she walked off.

A navy blue robe with fine stitching was pulled out from the wooden cabinet.  The edge of the sleeves and hem were embroidered with the pattern of proud bamboo welcoming the frost.  The technique used on the embroidery seemed lifelike as if the overlapping slender bamboo leaves were gently swaying in the wind.

A while later, the dressed Xiao Jingfeng walked out.

“Wa!  Father looks good with the new clothes!  There’s also the scent of wood……..”

The smell is so nice……..he will request his mother to give his clothes this kind of smell too!

After being praised by his son, Xiao Jingfeng was a little smug and felt as if he was floating in the air.

“Mm, like father like son, you look nice too.  We are the handsome men of the Xiao Family.”

“Father, my surname is Li……..I’m Li Shuangming.”  Shuangming looked sympathetically at his father who suffered a blow.

Xiao Jingfeng choked and looked resentfully at the woman who was avoiding him.

“It’s alright, I’ll change it back soon.  How can the descendants of the Xiao Family not carry the surname Xiao?”

Shuangming giggled silently to himself.

In the family, his mother is the most powerful.  If she doesn’t agree to the change, his father can’t say anything.  His mother is in charge of the family and his father is an idler.

That’s what Mother said.

“Xiao Jingfeng, come over here to take the dishes.  It’s time to eat.  Don’t wait to be served like you’re the master of the house.  I’m not a servant employed by your family.”

Li Jing’er shouted and her crisp sweet voice echoed in the stone house.

“Alright!……….  There’s an evil woman in the family, so I have to be low-key and work like a cow and horse for the family.  Ai, that’s my life!”

He winked at his son and daughters and made them laugh.

“What is that about life?”  A chilly wind suddenly blew.

Xiao Jingfeng quickly changed his words.  He held a bowl of soup in one hand and a plate of meat in his other hand and placed them on the table.

“My life is great.  With fish, meat, and vegetables, I’ll live a long life together with my wife.”

“You talk too much!”  This man!  Did he spread his mouth with honey?

“I won’t talk anymore.  A little while later, I’ll be eating dogwood berries.”

He glanced at her full bosom meaningfully and there was an unmistakable beastliness in his eyes.

Li Jing’er felt the two peaks on her chest hardening.  She lowered her head to drink the soup while her flushed face revealed the rippling of spring in her heart.

“Father, I want to eat dogwood berries too.”

Boys like to imitate their fathers and will follow whatever their fathers do, lest they fail to keep up.

As soon as Shuangming spoke, the two adults spurted out the food in their mouths at the same time.  One spurted rice while the other spurted soup and their faces turned red.  The expressions on their faces were more embarrassing than the other.

It’s all your fault!  The nonsense that you speak!  Sooner or later the child will be led astray by you!

Li Jin’ger who was angry due to embarrassment glared fiercely at Xiao Jingfeng.

Jing Niang, I’m wrong.  I’ll never speak nonsense in front of the children from now on!

Xiao Jingfeng put his hands together and begged for mercy.

“Shuangming, dogwood berries are spicy, children can’t eat them.  They can only eat when they’re grown up.”

Ai! ! !   This woman pinched him!……..

Can you be a little decent?!  If you really lead my son astray, I’ll deal with you!

The angry Li Jing’er felt even more annoyed and used ‘actions’ to tame her husband.

“You’re not allowed to eat!”  The child was very disappointed.

“It’s alright if you can’t eat.  Father brought you this but you’re not allowed to shout.”

Xiao Jingfeng pulled out something from his backpack and when Shuangming saw it, his eyes widened and he exclaimed in surprise.

“A little dagger!………”  He hastily covered his mouth when he remembered his father’s words.  He quickly drew out the dagger that was studded with gemstones and swung it left and right.

“Shuangzhen, Father didn’t forget about you……..a silver comb engraved with orchid patterns.”

She loves her hair the most and would comb her hair several times a day.

“Thank you, Father.”  Shuangzhen hugged it in her arms lovingly.

“Father, mine!……..mine!……..”  Little Sister Yue shouted.

“Yours is a bell, do the jingles sound nice?”  He shook the bell.

“Nice……..”  A little hand reached out to take the bell.

The children had all been given their presents and of course, Xiao Jingfeng would not forget about his woman.  From his chest, he took out a butterfly hairpin wrapped in a red cloth and clipped it on her shiny black hair.

“Pretty………”  The woman is more beautiful than flowers.

“Why waste money when you still have to save for the dowry.”

As she spoke, she stroked the hairpin on her hair in happiness.

“It’s only a small sum of money and it’s just to make everyone happy.  The most important is that all of you like the gifts.”

It’s worth it when one’s thought is appreciated and the main aim is to see the smiles on their faces.

***☆☆☆***

“Gentler……..gentler……..gentler…….Xiao Jingfeng, I can’t stand it……..wu!  Take it easy!  You hit……..ah!……..”

The soft sobbing sounds were similar to the sounds of a newborn cub……..sobbing, moaning, groaning, expressions of joy…….one after another……..

Lingering……..

""

The flickering flames cast lights on the two intertwined bodies that were coiled together like a snake, unfolding the most primitive rhythmic movements.  The man’s up-and-down thrusting movements were both brutal, relentless, and full of predatory strength.

The woman under him was weak and helpless like a little white flower caught in a storm.  With tears all over her face, she was unable to escape the fate of devastation and was like a falling flower as she cried.

It was not known how long had passed but the soft cries of the woman could still be heard.

“I can’t be any gentler!  My darling……..here…….it’s so comfortable…….I don’t want to come out…….just bear with it, I’m almost……….”.

“I can’t bear it anymore, get out!  Every time you’d say you’re almost done……..but after finishing, you’ll……….you’ll do it again…….I’m begging you, stop it!  Don’t……..don’t come in again……. you’ll wake the children………ah!  Gentler……….”

“Just once more……..I promise, trust me!  Jing Niang…….”

However, after promising it would be the last, it was repeated again and again.